Elected on a platform of populist economics, then adopted Wall St ideology.

Bill, like Barack, was elected on a platform of populist economics, then adopted Wall St ideology.

A Christmas Reminder : Afghan Massacre revisited.

War Made Easy

War Made Easy reaches into the Orwellian memory hole to expose a 50-year pattern of government deception and media spin that has dragged the United States into one war after another from Vietnam to Iraq.

Mad as Hell Movie - Network Television

Rise in executive power during Bush's tenure

ANP: journalist James Risen speaks about the rise in executive power during Bush's tenure.

Leila Fadel - view of the surge

Another Hussein? . . . part 2.
Leila Fadel: The surge is not well understood in the US Pt2

Only one thing definite, the US presence brought much more death and destruction to the Iraqi civil society, when compared to Saddam Hussein(I) records.

Another Hussein ? - this time leading the world's most powerful country

Within 3 weeks of his election he appointed all the political dregs who brought on the unending wars of the past two decades, the economic policy makers responsible for the financial crash and the deepening recession castigating tens of millions of Americans today and for the foreseeable future. We can affirm that the election of Obama does indeed mark a historic moment in American history: The victory of the greatest con man and his accomplices and backers in recent history.[read more]


OBAMA & GATES , OBAMA's VIETNAM?

Nothing speaks to Obama’s deep and abiding commitment to become the savior of the US empire as clearly as his willingness to appoint to the highest position of policy making the most mediocre failed politicians and generals merely because of their demonstrated willingness to pursue the course of military-driven empire building even in the midst of a collapsing domestic economy and ever more impoverished and drained citizenry.

Just as Obama’s electoral campaign and subsequent victory will go into the annals as the political con-job of the new millennium, his economic and political appointments will mark another ‘historic’ moment: The nomination of corrupt and failed speculators and warmongers. Let us join the inaugural celebration of our ‘First Afro-American’ Imperial President, who wins by con and rules by guns!

Call a Spade a Spade!!

President of UN General Assembly urges Israel to be recognized as an Apartheid State.

Zaid was under fire, now fired from UMNO

No natural justice, Just kill it !
Sounds very hadari (civilised)
will Zaid dies or will UMNO dies?




Is sacking former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim a loss for UMNO or Zaid?

Pragmatism trumps change.

Lawrence Korb and Phyllis Bennis discuss the significance of Obama's foreign policy appointments.

US torturing females in Afghan & Iraqi prisons.

British Muslim journalist Yvonne Maryam Ridley

British Muslim journalist Yvonne Ridley has sharply criticized the US for its inhumane treatment of female detainees in Afghanistan.

In a press conference with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan last Tuesday, she also questioned the arrest of a Pakistani female doctor on charges of 'attacking' two US soldiers in Kabul.

The former Taliban hostage condemned the detention of neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, saying it was a scenario beyond even Hollywood scriptwriters.

"She has been continuously abused over the five-year period since she and her children were kidnapped," the Daily Times quoted Ridley as saying.

"There are many Muslim women held captive by American forces and if the public remained silent, they would lose their sisters forever," she added.

Ridley also expressed doubt over the identity of Prisoner No. 650, an unknown woman believed to have been raped and tortured in Bagram prison.

“I can tell you categorically Prisoner 650 is not Dr. Aafia,” continued Ridley.

US sources have claimed that Prisoner 650 was repatriated to her country of origin three years ago.

She said prisoners who fled the notorious Bagram prison have recounted the story of a female detainee who was "brutally tortured" and "repeatedly raped."

"The cries of a helpless woman used to echo in the jail that prompted prisoners to go on a hunger strike," she concluded.

Iraqi females suffer in US custody

Iraqi women in the US custody

Hundreds of Iraqi women are being held under humiliating conditions in the US custody in Iraq, without being charged, a report indicates.

According to released Iraqi prisoners, female detainees are being raped by US troops and forced into undressing in front of the guards, Wisam Al-Bayati, Press TV correspondent in Baghdad reported Sunday.

"What I have suffered inside American prisons is so terrible that I can't express in words" a former prisoner told Press TV. She explained that she was detained during a US raid on her house in Diyala.

"They took me to get information about my husband and they kept me for one year and a half without being charged," she added.

The report said most of the female detainees are being held only for being married to Iraqi 'wanted fighters'. The occupiers use the arrest to put the Iraqi fighters under pressure.

Human rights activists in Iraq have urged the world community to bring to trial the violators of human rights in the country, but no step has been taken so far.

Watch Video The Case in Iraq

presstv-Iran

Capitalism is bankrupt

Their system creates recession, hunger and climate chaos, but they want you to pay.

Until A few weeks ago, supporters of free market capitalism were confident enough to proclaim that their system was the only way that the world could be organised. Now their certainties have vanished.

The economic crisis that started in banking and finance has spread quickly to the wider economy. Now it threatens to engulf whole countries, bringing untold misery to millions.

Belarus, Hungary, Iceland, Pakistan and Ukraine all stand on the brink of bankruptcy. Beyond them are even bigger countries – including Poland, Russia, Argentina and Turkey – whose economies are in danger of collapse.

As their currencies slide and exports falter, all of these countries have been forced to borrow heavily just to ensure that they can pay their bills.

Some have so little in their foreign exchange reserves that they will only last a matter of weeks without an injection of cash. They have been forced to beg the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency loans.

But the IMF – an organisation dominated by the rich countries of the West – will only extend its help at a price.

During past crises, it has demanded swingeing cuts in government budgets, privatisation of industries and the liberalisation of markets. Struggling nations are now preparing themselves for the worst.

In Pakistan, where already millions cannot afford food or the fuel to cook it with, the government has announced the ending of fuel subsidies and the removal of a cap on gas and electricity prices. This is to be accompanied by big cuts in government spending.

In Hungary, the government has suggested a massive assault on its state pension and the slashing of pay as part of the bailout of the economy.

If the past is anything to go by, the IMF will endorse these measures but demand much more for its money.

The economic shockwave that is spreading across the world is not confining itself to poorer economies. Already the Bank of England estimates the cost of the financial crash at $2.8 trillion – a sum so big that it defies comprehention.

And despite the billions spent on bank bailouts, scores of British firms announced major redundancies this week.

We are told that these shutdowns are inevitable and that it is pointless to resist. There is simply a lack of a demand for the goods that are produced, it is said.

But while goods pile up unsold and workers are laid off, millions of people go without the things they need because they can’t afford to buy them.

And the skills and machinery in each closing factory could offer solutions to some of the greatest problems facing humanity. For example, engineers who once made cars could be employed to make generators for alternative sources of energy.

We have the resources to build a better world. So far, the stranglehold of capitalism has been a barrier. Now it is up to us all to ensure that its hold is broken.

---

© Copyright Socialist Worker

Dirompak selepas kereta dilanggar

KOTA BHARU 24Okt. - Seorang guru perempuan cedera ditoreh dengan pisau oleh tiga penjenayah sebelum barangan berharga dan wang tunai miliknya bernilai RM25,000 dilarikan dalam satu kejadian di Kampung Peria, Kuala Krai, pagi kelmarin.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira pukul 7.30 pagi, mangsa berusia 34 tahun yang mengalami kecederaan di tangan kiri diberi rawatan pesakit luar di Hospital Kuala Krai (HKK), setelah membuat laporan polis beberapa jam kemudian.

Ketua Polis Daerah Kuala Krai, Supritendan Abdul Rahman Jaafar berkata, kejadian berlaku apabila sebuah kereta lain melanggar kereta mangsa dari belakang ketika memandu bersendirian ke sekolahnya di kampung berkenaan.

Bagaimanapun jelasnya, sebaik mangsa keluar untuk melihat kerosakan yang dialami, dua lelaki dari kereta terbabit turut keluar, tetapi terus memaksa guru itu masuk semula ke dalam keretanya.

"Mangsa di bawa ke sebuah ladang sawit, tetapi ketika berada di dalam kereta, seorang daripada penjenayah bukan sahaja mengugut mangsa malah tangannya dicucuk dan dikelar dengan pisau Rambo," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Katanya, mereka meragut rantai leher serta semua barang kemas yang dipakai mangsa, dianggarkan bernilai RM20,000 di samping wang RM1,000

hasil kutipan yuran murid lain-lain barangan berharga di dalam beg tangannya.Abdul Rahman menambah, selepas kejadian itu, mangsa ditinggalkan di tempat kejadian bersama keretanya dan tetapi penjenayah terbabit mengambil kunci kereta sebelum melarikan diri dengan kereta yang dipandu rakan mereka.

Mangsa, ujarnya, terpaksa berjalan kaki beberapa kilometer sebelum tiba di jalan utama bagi mendapatkan bantuan orang awam untuk dihantar ke hospital tersebut dan membuat laporan polis di balai berdekatan.

Beliau berharap, orang ramai yang terserempak dengan lelaki menaiki kereta jenis Proton Wira Aeroback yang rosak di bahagian depan supaya menghubungi segera balai polis berdekatan atau menghubunginya menerusi talian 09-9666222, bagi membantu siasatan berhubung kes tersebut.

MCA PRESS STATEMENT - On Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Kenyataan Media: MCA bosan kempen fitnah oleh UMNO!

Berikut ialah kenyataan media yang dikeluarkan oleh MCA yang mengutuk tindakan UMNO menganiayai Anwar Ibrahim:

"MCA PJ UTARA 7 BRANCHES PRESS CONFERENCE THE SAIFUL BUKHARI MEDICAL REPORT TUESDAY 29 JULY 2008, 11AM"

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press.
We meet here today because we, being members of 7 branches of MCA PJ Utara representing more than 1000 members of MCA, wish to do our civic duty to the Rakyat.

We note that MCA cannot remain silent anymore, lest we be accused (if not already accused) of being accomplices to diabolical conspiracies. In particular, we refer to the medical report widely publicized on the internet by Malaysia Today, Malaysiakini and countless other blogs.

We had also taken the liberty to check on the comments contained in the medical report dated 28 June 2008 conducted on Mohd Saiful Bukhari Bin Azlan by Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, the Medical Officer at Hospital Pusrawi Sdn Bhd. Three doctors we have checked with have stated that the comments meant that the results for the alleged sodomy is 'negative'. They also confirmed that a Doctor can never change a medical report. Assuming that the said medical report is true – and we call on Hospital Pusrawi to confirm or deny this – then:

We call on the Police, the Attorney-General, the MCA top leadership and the UMNO top leadership to immediately reveal in full all the evidence against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and stop withholding vital evidence and decide to charge, or not to charge, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Deputy IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar should also refrain from making statements that the internet reports on the said medical report were aimed at confusing the people when, in the same breath, he declines to comment on the medical report.

Such statements by the Deputy IGP only serve to further the perception that the police is pulling out all stops to withhold evidence crucial to the innocence of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a fellow citizen of our country, while at the same time fabricates, or attempts to fabricate, evidence against a fellow citizen of our country.

This "bogus charge" fiasco is also causing untold damage and hurt to our economy, our integrity as a nation. Daily, we are being compared to countries like Zimbabwe and other countries where despotic rulers reign.We cannot in all conscience be a party to the machinations by executive arms of the government to withhold/fabricate evidence against a citizen of our country.

Therefore, we urge the Police, the Attorney-General and the government to treat all our citizens fairly, with transparency, without withholding of crucial evidence and with the proper application of the rule of law.

MCA PJ Utara Branches:
MCA SS2 Town Centre

MCA SS2 "MCA SS4

MCA Taman People's Park

MCA Gardenia Centre

MCA Taman Mayang

MCA Damansara Baru Contact Persons:
Mr LEE CHONG BENG [Chairman, MCA SS2 Town Centre] at 012-3987851

Mr PETER CHEN [Legal Advisor] at 012-6824902 ".

Cops arrest Anwar ahead of agreed time limit

Anwar was due to report to police today, but police went to find him first. KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has agreed to turn up at 2pm today to give his statement to the police, faces possible arrest if he fails to keep his word again. Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested outside his home, his lawyer has said. Mr Anwar was stopped by several police officers outside his home and taken to police headquarters. His lawyer said no reason was given for the arrest, which came shortly before Mr Anwar was due to give a statement to police over sodomy allegations. The former deputy prime minister denies the allegations, which he says are aimed at ending his political comeback. . . more Lapuran dalam Bahasa Malaysia

Cop vs cops in Gemas

GEMAS: A policeman has lodged a report against all his colleagues including his superiors allegedly over dissatisfaction on how the monthly bribes from those operating illegal activities was being distributed.

In retaliation, one of his superiors, a sergeant, lodged another police report against the policeman, a lance corporal, for allegedly selling station property to scrap dealers.

A source said the lance corporal, in his 40s, was dissatisfied with his superiors for allegedly taking the lion’s share of the bribes while the rank and file received very little.

“In fact, the complainant claimed that he did not get a sen,” the source said.

The report was lodged earlier this week.

The sergeant, in an apparent tit-for-tat, lodged another report against the lance corporal alleging that he had sold some old wooden and iron furniture from the police station to a dealer.

“His colleagues even know where the dealer is operating from,” the source said.

State police chief Datuk Osman Salleh confirmed that a report has been lodged.

“We are investigating the claims made by the lance corporal. We do not want to make conclusions straightaway as the allegations are serious,” he said.

He said all the policemen were still on duty and have not been asked to go on leave.

He said action would be taken against his men if the claims were true.

It is understood that the Anti-Corruption Agency has also started a probe.

Friday July 11, 2008; By SARBAN SINGH - Staronline

Graft cost country RM10 billion a year

Statistics made available to theSun show the ACA's performance is dismal -- it has only investigated 10.1% or just 7,223 cases out of the total of 71,558 reported between 2000 and 2006.

Yong said World Bank statistics show that corruption can reduce the country’s growth rate by between two and four per cent and this translates to a loss of up to RM10 billion a year.

Of the total number of cases reported in that seven-year period, only 4.1% or 2,905 people were arrested, 1.8% or 1,287 persons charged/prosecuted and only 0.7% or 524 actually convicted.

Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said the country risks dropping further on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) if immediate efforts are not taken to put ACA in order. Malaysia has remained at the 43rd spot for the past two years.

In 2003, the country was at the 37th spot, before sliding to the 39th spot in 2004 and gradually to its current position.

“At present, there is less than satisfactory public confidence in the ACA. It is about time the ACA is free from the control of the PM’s office as this will ensure greater transparency, integrity and accountability.”

Navaratnam added it was also time for ACA to be made up of credible people, especially as it will be made a commission soon as announced by the prime minister shortly after the general election.

When contacted, ACA director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said it will be hard for Malaysia to emulate Hong Kong’s success in anti-corrution efforts.

He added that the ACA has no problem if it is placed under Parliament. “We are constantly striving to be the best and it doesn't matter under whom we work.” . . read all

What have early Police interference done?

It does not matter whether we Malaysians believe PI Bala or not. Police Interference has done it. The end result has been achieved, which is to neutralize his credibility as a witness.

With his second SD of retraction, without explaining what was the “duress” which coerced him to make shocking disclosures linking Najib with Altantunya, Subramaniam has succeeded in making even those who had doubted his first SD to come around to believe it – while achieving very little effect in creating doubt among those who had believed his first SD.

Balasubramaniam’s lawyer for his first SD, Americk Singh Sidhu, told Malaysiakini that Balasubramaniam received a phone call from the police soon after his press conference yesterday to report to the Brickfields police station.

“I advised him that as a law-abiding citizen, he should go and see them. So I fetched him to the Brickfields police station at 4.45pm yesterday and I haven’t heard from him since,” he said stressing that he has failed to contact Balasubramaniam since this news broke out. . . more

Reliable Foreign News Agency Malaysia's Anwar seeks sanctuary

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:28:29

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is facing sodomy charges, has sought refuge at the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar said threats had been made against his life, as a result he has taken refuge at the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur on the invitation of the ambassador, AFP reported Sunday. . . more

Kenyataan Anwar dari kedutaan Turki . . . more

KENYATAAN MEDIA PROTES Berhubung PERHIMPUNAN AMAN

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

KENYATAAN MEDIA PROTES

Berhubung

PERHIMPUNAN AMAN

PROTES SEJUTA RAKYAT 678

Sekretariat PROTES telah mendapat panggilan daripada ramai pihak yang inginkan kepastian berkaitan tarikh sebenar bagi Himpunan Aman PROTES Sejuta Rakyat. Justeru, kami sekali lagi ingin mengulangi bahawa PROTES telah menetapkan satu TARIKH MUKTAMAD bagi himpunan ini iaitu :

6 Julai 2008 ( 6.7.08) Bersamaan Hari Ahad
Jam 9 Pagi
Bertempat Di Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya, (Berhadapan Amcorp Mall)
Selangor

Justeru, PROTES menegaskan bahawa tiada lagi sebarang pindaan tarikh bagi Himpunan Aman PROTES Sejuta Rakyat ini.

Persiapan ke arah perhimpunan ini sedang giat berjalan lancar dan pihak penganjur telahpun menyediakan pelbagai pengisian menarik kepada para peserta himpunan yang datang dari seluruh negara.

Segala bentuk pengisian himpunan itu nanti adalah selari dengan matlamat PROTES untuk memaklumatkan rakyat darihal isu berkaitan harga minyak, pengagihan kekayaan Petronas, salah guna kuasa dan salah tadbir urus kewangan negara yang menatijahkan keadaan di mana rakyat menjadi mangsa kerakusan dan kelemahan pentadbiran yang ada.

Pidato penerangan ini akan disampaikan oleh Pemimpin-Pemimpin kanan Pakatan Rakyat dan juga Pemimpin Badan-Badan NGO yang bergabung di dalam PROTES.

Kami juga ingin memaklumkan bahawa PROTES sedang berusaha untuk membawa semua Menteri Besar dan Ketua Menteri bagi Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat, Ahli-Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan dan Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat Pakatan Rakyat ke acara Himpunan Aman ini bagi membuktikan kepedulian dan kebersamaan mereka dalam memahami derita dan perit jerih rakyat kesan akibat kenaikan harga minyak yang begitu mendadak pada 4 Jun 2008 yang lepas.

Sebagai reaksi terhadap isu semasa berkaitan harga minyak yang dibahaskan di Parlimen baru-baru ini, PROTES berpandangan bahawa Kerajaan dan Ahli-Ahli Parlimen BN jelas mengkhianati mandat dan kepercayaan rakyat bila mana meluluskan satu usul yang menyokong langkah kerajaan menaikkan harga minyak yang telah dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat pada 23 Jun 2008 yang lepas.

Tindakan tersebut tidak dapat diterima rakyat dan jelas merupakan satu lagi taktik murahan untuk mereka memancing perhatian dan pemahaman rakyat kononnya di samping usaha memaksakan legitimasi palsu (tidak popular) ke atas tindakan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi menaikkan harga minyak.

PROTES melihat usul tersebut sengaja dibentangkan dan dibahaskan dalam Parlimen semata-mata meredahkan kemarahan rakyat atas keputusan unilateral Perdana Menteri selepas beberapa MT UMNO sendiri mengesahkan bahawa kenaikan harga minyak tidak pernah dibincangkan sama ada di dalam Mesyuarat MT UMNO mahupun Mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi BN.

Justeru, usul tersebut bukannya untuk kebaikan rakyat tetapi merupakan satu usaha paksa bagi memulihkan kepercayaan rakyat, penyokong serta pemimpin BN sendiri kepada Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang senantiasa konsisten untuk tidak konsisten dalam janji-janjinya.

Sehubungan dengan itu, PROTES menggesa seluruh rakyat yang terbeban dengan kenaikan harga minyak ini tanpa mengira ideologi politik masing-masing agar TURUN pada 6.7.2008 (678) nanti untuk menunjukkan protes mereka yakni “Protes Rakyat” atas tindakan tidak berperi kemanusiaan pihak pemerintah.

Akhirnya, PROTES sekali lagi mengulangi pendirian tegasnya bahawa hak berhimpun dan meluahkan perasaan adalah hak asasi yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia Perkara 10. Justeru, rakyat tidak harus dihalang daripada mempraktikkan hak mereka yang jelas dijamin oleh Perlembagaan negara.


Hormat Daripada,
GABUNGAN MEMBANTAH KENAIKAN HARGA BARANG [PROTES]


t.t

AIMAN ATHIRAH AL JUNDI
Sekretariat

26 Jun 2008, Khamis
Kuala Lumpur

Iran War Resolution May Be Passed Next Week

Introduced less than a month ago, Resolution 362, also known as the Iran War Resolution, could be passed by the House as early as next week.

“Imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran” can be read to mean that the president should initiate a naval blockade of Iran. A unilateral naval blockade without UN sanction is an act of war. . . more

A blogger Says:

The mystery of our vanising oil money - Malaysian Case

Firstly, since Pak Lah took the helm, Petronas has contributed RM 146.5 billion to the government. Petronas has been in operation since 1974 and contributed a total of RM 336 billion to the government. Pak Lah's first 4 years in office received 43.6% of Petronas' 35 years of total contributions. It is more than what Mahathir received in 20 years, inflation adjusted. And it does not even include this year's contributions!

I am shocked beyond words by what I discovered today. The level of corruption and mismanagement by the Barisan Nasional government is much much worst than my wildest imagination. I am so sick and disgusted that I just want to cast the whole Barisan Nasional government to hell right away. Right now I will not hesitate for a moment to lend my support to Pakatan Rakyat to step in to take over the government.

Do I believe that Anwar is able to bring down the price of petrol and give Sabah and Sarawak 20% oil royalty? I have no doubt that he can, if he manages to gain back the control of the oil money. I do not agree with his oil policy, but at least with Pakatan Rakyat there is hope that ordinary people like us are able to participate to bring about the right changes. . . read more

Cluster Bombs - reality & its banning

30 years after the Vietnam war, 78 million unexploded US cluster bombs remain scattered across Laos.

111 countries ban the use of cluster bombs, except Israel, Russia, China, India, Pakistan and the US.

Is Iraq turning into a US colony?

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:42:55

An Interview with Mustafa Malik by Afsaneh Ostovar, Press TV, Tehran


A proposed security treaty between the Iraqi government and Washington has drawn strong criticism from the Iraqi nation. Under the treaty, the US would be allowed to set up permanent military bases in the country and US citizens would be granted immunity from legal prosecution. Many critics say the treaty will turn Iraq into a de facto US colony.

The following is an interview with the prominent Washington-based journalist, Mustafa Malik on the issue. He served as a Pakistani diplomat and speech writer for Pakistani Prime Minister and Vice President Nurul Amin.

Mustafa writes for the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, Atlanta Constitution, Miami Herald, St Louis Post-Dispatch and other US newspapers.

Q. The proposed long-term security treaty between the Iraqi government and the US has faced growing criticism inside Iraq. Do you envision any way out of this treaty?

A. I don't, as long as the Iraqi government feels it needs the US military forces for self-preservation. The post-Saddam Hussein governments of Iraq have been the outcome of the US invasion, and they all have been protected by the invading force. If and when the Maliki government feels it can operate from outside the Green Zone, it would seek a way out of a security arrangement with the United States.

Q. With respect to the strong reaction of the Iraqi nation to the controversial treaty why isn't the issue put to a referendum?

A. Because the issue will be defeated by an overwhelming majority of Iraqi Arabs (both Shia and Sunni), who make up nearly four-fifths of the Iraqi population.

Q. Washington statesmen keep blaming some certain elements for the ongoing insecurity and unrest inside the war-torn Iraq. Have they proposed the treaty to quell insurgency and restore stability to the country?

A. What do you mean by "insurgency?" Some of the violence is sectarian and needs to be resolved through an equitable power-sharing arrangement among the Iraqi factions. The Americans shouldn't be drawn into it and can't do much about it. Some of the violence targets the American military occupation of Iraq and probably will fester as long as the American forces remain in Iraq.

Q. Maliki has reassured the Iraqis that no agreement would be sealed with the United States if Iraq's sovereignty is jeopardized, but what the treaty is suggesting, runs counter to the Iraqi government's pledges. What do you make of it?

A. The presence of a foreign military force outside the jurisdiction of Iraqi courts would be an infringement on Iraqi sovereignty. The contradiction in the Iraqi government's positions that you have mentioned reflects the government's desperation to keep the American security umbrella over itself. After all, most of the leaders who have led the various post-Saddam Iraqi governments in Baghdad came in from outside on the backs of American tanks, and they feel they need American protection.

Q. With respect to the US previous agreements with countries like Japan and South Korea which have all enabled it to have a long-term presence in the region, how does this deal serve the military, economic and political interests of the United States?

A. The Americans went into Iraq partly because they wanted to make it the bastion of US military power in the Persian Gulf -- after they had been compelled to abandon their Sultan City airbase. Jay Garner, the first US proconsul in Iraq, publicly said the United States would have bases in Iraq for "decades". I doubt, though, that the Iraqi people would allow permanent US military bases in Iraq.

Q. What are the consequences of this agreement on the people of Iraq and the Middle East?

A. A main consequence of any significant US military presence in Iraq would be further escalation of anti-Americanism and the strengthening of Islamic movements in the region.

Q. Under this treaty US forces would be granted permanent presence in Iraq while the Iraqi civilians have demanded the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. What is the priority here? Why is the Iraqi government falling for this political legerdemain?

A. As I said, the Iraqi government in the Green Zone feels the need for American protection against its own people. During his just-ended visit to Tehran, Mr. Maliki reiterated that the American forces in Iraq would not be allowed to operate against Iraq's neighbors, which clearly means that they could be used only against the Iraqis. I have known Iraq for four decades, and I would be surprised if it remains hospitable to American forces very long.

What will Pak Lah Bring to Kelantan? Part 2

3) The JPP

The JPP is suppose to handle and channel development funds from the Federal government. On the micro level, Federal government distributes these development funds through their own village heads, officially designated as Penyelia Pembangunan Mukim and locally in Kelantan, they are known as 'Tok Ngulu UMNO'. Hence effectively, creating a state within a state and a parallel state government.

Well that was good - with the formation of JPP the people of Kelantan can compare apple to apple a Federal government machinery to a state machinery. Conclusion, a foregone case, for PAS kept winning and recently with a much better margin, proving that JPP does the BN more harm than good - the BN should realized by now that the JPP assist them losing the state longer to PAS. This may have led to Pak Lah (the PM) to rethink and quickly abolished JPP Sabah and to "negrikan" the whole JPP both structurally and staffing wise - was it a move to prevent Sabah BN MPs from jumping to Pakatan Rakyat? Or worst still, the people asking their Representatives to jump party!

To the people of Kelantan, the general feeling is that the Kelantan government is more 'end-user' or rakyat friendly, more integrity, more transparent, more accountable and does what in the general good of the people of Kelantan. As opposed to the JPP, whose interest is to build cronies who are financially tied up with the BN Feds. Through this network of ‘financial interest’ UMNO had high hopes of getting a great party machinery who could garnered more votes and translate in BN winning over the states.

There is another front that PAS is winning is Kelantan. Kinship relation among Kelantanese is a very big deal. The norm was, in every kampong, it is a public knowledge that which family supports which party. That may have been the crucial factor why the winnings of either side is only limited to circa a 1000 or so for the Parliamentary seats. But in the last election, PAS was able to break that cultural bound. PAS is gaining sympathizers within the family whose traditional allegiance have been to UMNO. They certainly voted PAS, quietly and unknowingly to their kinsmen but with full conscience. This explain the reason why in many constituencies PAS is winning 4 or 5 times more than the normal margins. Why? The hands of JPP extended to abuse funds for very localized projects like repairing of Masjids.

3) Limiting the circulation and distribution of harakah.

When Harakah was reduced to a publication for PAS members only and KDN also permitted it to be publish once in two weeks. It was not the end of the world PAS as far as communication with the Malaysian public is concerned.

PAS do learn from the experience of others. PAS knew that Imam Khomeini ideas of an ‘Islamic state’ based on the concept of Vilayat-ul-Faqih was spread through cassettes when his books were no longer available from the book shops in Iran and he was physically out of Iran. Under intense interrogation of Savak, the Shah’s secret police and under their laughter, for the Imam’s lacking of resources, it was on record that Imam Khomeini cool reply was ‘the resource to finance my movement is in the pockets of my supporters’.

With that kind of background builds up the confidence of his supporters and increases the numbers of his sympathizers. When Khomeini, went home to Qum after his return from his exile in Paris, he had to rush back to Tehran to help crystallized his “Vilayat-ul-Faqih”. Thats after some 98% of the voters voted for the establishment of ‘Vilayat-ul-Faqih’ as opposed to a secular state to replace the Shah’s regime.

PAS creativity in handling the communication shortcoming is a par excellence in itself. PAS progressively graduated from selling cassettes, to compact disks (CDs), to using the electronic media, made possible by the rigorous development in field of ICT. Harakahdaily.net became PAS’s mouth piece. Tun Dr Mahathir realized that. It is a sheer lack of intelligence for the BN under Pak Lah and his level 4 ‘smart boys’ to rule out the electronic without borders media, name calling bloggers. Only one day to admit their oversight after losses on the ground. In this aspect, it can be safely claimed or concluded that PAS is a decade ahead of UMNO or BN. It is a lesson well taught to all the opposition parties and learned well by them all. PAS do leads the way for change.

Today, every UMNO ‘upcoming’ politician who thinks of staying ‘relevant’ in the political area has a blog. Pemuda UMNO just launch a new site. Pak Lah advertises on RTM for online feedbacks to him. What used to be, was - if you want to know the developments of DSAI’s (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s)– health condition or political wise, whatever, the only way was to visit RPK sites. You can never find satisfactory reports from the main-stream media. Looking back, it was through these news that RPK, became a notoriously well informed blogger and built up a reputation of a site worth visiting.

The way ahead for Pak Lah.

The politics have change, the mentality have metamorphose The people of Kelantan understand that within each of their capacity and responsibility, the State and Federal government have to deliver social and infrastructural development to the State of Kelantan or else stop collecting taxes. What the federal government fails to recognize is to bring back faith, wins the hearts and minds of the people. Beside all the promises to clean up corruption, restore faith in the judiciary or put the police act together, there is a need to announce, in Kelantan, for example, the following 5 points position of the Federal BN government which should be included:-

1. Honour the federation agreement
2. Disband JPP in Kelantan
3. Promise not to create anymore JPP or any other mechanisms that will usurped a state rightful means to organize the distribution of wealth or / and ownership over their own resources – like what had taken place in Terengganu, in any state in future.
4. Liberalized the media with a promise not to interfere in any media, more so the electronic media except by law enacted base on popular method or basis.
5. Stop harassing those who run the electronics media, such as bloggers – using the draconian ISA or Sedition Acts laws. Let personal scores be square out through laws pertaining to ‘individual rights, liberty and protection’.

beside all the development projects and financial packages.

The end

What will Pak Lah Bring to Kelantan?Part 1

What will Pak Lah bring to Kelantan? Part 1

I believe that Pak Lah's next visit - will be Kelantan, what will he bring to Kelantan?

The people of the State of Kelantan have been unique, with a unique political history since Independence. If I am not mistaken Perikatan (the Alliance) failed to rule Kelantan, after the1969 racial riot Perikatan "kautim" PAS into a "Malay Unity" front to form a bigger front or alliance under a new entity called Barisan National (BN), which includes many other "racial based parties", Then PAS was driven out of BN after Tun Razak. Riots were instigated in Kelantan for political motives and the BN manged to take over Kelantan. said to be due to the ingenuity of Ku Li . Then, in a twist of history, with Ku Li new party the Semangat 46 (S46), assistance and cooperation PAS-S46 coalition wiped out then whole Kelantan's DUN, yes UMNO or BN = 0 !

Then BN says PAS would survived only 3 months. Initially there was an attempt, to ‘play around’ the Federation agreement. The Federal government, initially delayed their obligatory disbursement to the state coffers. The BN Federal government formed the Federal Development Department or JPP (Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan).The BN Federal government banned Harakah too - then approved it but reducing it from a daily publication for the public, to one with a limited circulation to members only and to be published only once every forth-night.

Lets us view one by one, the BN moves above, whatever the motives were is not our concerned, we will only critically viewed it from the end results that materialized as a result of such a move.

1) The 3 months survival ultimatum.

PAS did not only survived running the state government more than 3 months or for more than 18 years to date. Over and above that, PAS introduces a rakyat friendly measures, what the Federal government initially called, 'moves that will bring economic harm to the state (Kelantan)'. Firstly, PAS did not only transfer their accounts to Bank Islam but abolished interest for state government loans to their civil servants. PAS government introduces, a five days work per week and a sixty days maternity leave. Which were later copy-cat by BN. Insurance for OAP (Old age pensioners).

Despite all the "kerenah" or problems created by the Federal government, the state government emerged even stronger, with the PAS Chief Minister (MB) , leading by example. In Kelantan then, in a straight fight, generally, either party would only win with a margin of around a 1,000 for a Parliamentary seat. Today, the sway or margin had gone in favour of PAS though S 46 left the coalition, dissolved the party and asked their members to join UMNO en masse. PAS state government still managed to win enough seats to have a control over the state.

The only explanations that this can take place is because the Chief Minister had won the battle of the heart and minds of the people without much extra financial promises, for the people knew that Kelantan is not a rich state. This is rear in the Malaysian political history, where the promise of development and ‘bringing in projects’ been the bulwark of UMNO or BN modus operandi.

2) Islamic Bank accounts. – the domino effect.

Before the transfer, the state had had an account with Bank Bumiputra – a conventional banking bank form by UMNO after a Malay economic congress, that foresee having a bank is a necessity, to assist the Malay to be more vibrant in the economic sphere.

After the transfer, Bank Bumiputra opened an Islamic Banking subsidiary call Bank Muamalat. Bank Muamalat still keep a branch in Kota Bharu near Kota Darulnaim, the State government administrative center complex.

Other banks followed suit, including foreign banks like HSBC, start up their own Islamic banking alternative within their own banking set-up.

Part 2, insyaAllah – will continue with JPP and Harakah,(stop here to avoid long readings).

Welcome to "dogs eat dogs" world.

Aiyya, now it is really turning into a "dogs eat dogs" world - among our Federal Government Ex-Leaders, Leaders and wannabe Leaders. Justice Chin joiningin from the court.

Keep it coming, we want to see both sides of the coin, so as to "know" more about the coin.

Other than "oppressive measures" and "negative reports" against 'parti lawan (opposition party)' (me avoiding using an inappropriate term - parti pembangkang) or "their initiatives" like BERSIH, the news - no less, are full of squabbles among BN 'warlords' in a very ungentlemanly and unkind manner.Sanusi was replaced as UIA President. Disciplinary actions were requested on personalities like Rais Yatim and Muhyiddin Yassin for making statements contrary to the President, Pak Lah's position. Has Ku Li failed to create an avalanche of EGMs.

Remember what was the promise, the Federal Government gave when there were, said to be excess of cash from oil revenues for not using much of it to subsidize the price control. Yesss, the promise was to use the cash to revamp the KL public transport system. No news afloat the they are going to scrap Rapid KL and privatize the KL public transport system. Che Det has something to say or reveal on this Rapid KL, thing.

Opposition Makes List of Future Movement Attacks

07/06/2008 The ruling bloc is exploiting the Lebanese National Opposition's commitment to the Doha Agreement article on stopping media campaigns and incitement to portray itself and its supporters as the victims of alleged attacks by opposition supporters. The Lebanese National Opposition issued a memorandum to President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM-designate Fouad Saniora as well as the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces commands. The paper included a list of attacks [since the Doha conference was being held] against citizens by Mustakbal (Future Movement) cadres and individuals. According to opposition sources, the memorandum included 37 incidents in the Tarik el-Jdideh region (the stronghold of Future Movement) with at least three shooting incidents, tossing grenades, beating, stabbing, tossing stones, threatening families and store owners, erecting roadblocks and checking the IDs of passengers, burning factories, banning the owners of some damaged stores from rebuilding them and attacking other stores and motorcycles. The memorandum said that these attacks have also targeted many employees working in firms located in the Tariq el-Jdideh region. It also listed the names of 28 perpetrators, including a member of an official security service and two other Palestinians affiliated with the Future Movement. The paper also listed a number of attacks against civilians in the Na'meh and Haret el-Na'meh regions as well as the names of 16 perpetrators, all of them Future Movement members. The memorandum added that the assailants who attacked Hussein Baghdadi in the Bshamoun region were also members of the Future Movement. According to the memorandum, the Masna' region (near the border with Syria) had witnessed cases of kidnap carried out by Future Movement members just when the Doha conference was being held. It added that Tripoli had witnessed similar cases as well as attacks on residents and stores. The memorandum stated in detail what happened when a Lebanese army vehicle carrying two arrested individuals in the Mal'ab al-Baladi region was attacked, the two arrested young men were nearly stabbed to death and soldiers were beaten by Future Movement members including Imad Zaghloul who was shot and injured two days ago in Beirut. Mohamad Shmaysani - Almanar

Hariri Suspends Talks on New Cabinet Line-up

05/06/2008 Source Al-manar

While Lebanese were hoping the national unity government, agreed on in Doha, would finally see light to put an end to all disputes over ministerial seats and open the way for stability and prosperity in the country, an unexpected decision by MP Saad Hariri's Future Parliamentary bloc is likely to stall the whole process.

Without prior notice, the Future bloc announced Wednesday suspending talks over the cabinet line-up, under the pretext of an individual incident a day earlier near the Kuwaiti embassy in Beirut. Armed men reportedly opened fire at one Future Movement official in the area. He was identified as Imad Zaghloul.

Hariri put his decision in the framework of protest at what he called slack security in Beirut in the wake of repeated security breaches," urging Arab intervention to investigate facts.

Speaking to the Arab daily Al-Hayat, Hariri called on the Arab ministerial committee to "dispatch an Arab envoy immediately to investigate the facts in Beirut to guarantee implementation of the security part of the Doha agreement." "Does this atmosphere help solve the problems facing the cabinet line-up?" Hariri asked, claiming that "persistent attacks and provocations only complicate matters instead of turning a new page."

The unpredicted decision coincided with a visit made by Prime Minister-Designate Fouad Saniora to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that was the first of its kind since the end of parliamentary consultations last week.

Saniora informed Berri on the Future bloc decision, what prompted the Speaker to call up Hariri in an effort to redirect things. Berri assured Hariri that Beirut's security would improve, stressing what should be done is that a new government assumes, through its security, military and judiciary bodies, responsibilities and protect citizens regardless of their political or sectarian affiliations.

The individual incident reminded of other recent security incidents in Beirut parallel to the many breaches by the pro-loyalty media to the media truce as stipulated in the Doha Accord.

For his part, Saniora said the issue must be "looked into,' yet insisted on continuing talks to form the longed for national-unity government.

After meeting Berri, he told journalists the government formula was progressing rapidly and reiterated he is not committed to a specific time to announce the new government as much as he's committed to the "quality of the government."

According to the Lebanese daily As-Safir, Saniora didn't brief Berri of any line up formula for the new cabinet, citing (opposition and loyalty) demands that still need to be addressed.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman said on Wednesday there are some obstacles that are hindering the formation of the new cabinet, but stressed that all obstacles can be overcome through dialogue.

Speaking to a delegation of Arab ambassadors, Suleiman denied earlier reports that some foreign parties were pressuring him to nominate certain people for the next cabinet. "There is no party that can pressure the Presidential Palace in Baabda We are only ready to move under the pressure of national and Arab interests," Suleiman stressed.

Sabah in Turmoil - was given a bait ( Bergelora - Dapat Umpan )

Dr Hatta’s Blog - Sabah Bergelora

Malaysian PM & Sabah CM

.. . and representatives from Sabah have painted the picture that Sabah is not getting the same treatment as other states in the Peninsular Malaysia. For us who are just step into parliament this revelation is shocking. BN propaganda had put faith in us all this while that there had been an equal distribution of development. But it seems that had been nice in the news but not in reality (indah khabar dari rupa).

We are certain that the complains from Sabah is real and has its basis. What bothers us is the high hope given to BN by the representatives from Sabah. It may be due to the Eastern culture practice by us all. It is sad that the top leadership is not sensitive and had taken it easy, especially the complaints are made through innuendos. I proposed that these leaders from Sabah do something daring and concrete: fights for their rights through Pakatan Rakyat. Pakatan has the ambition and will to do justice to all, irrespective of differences in religion, race or political affiliations – more so if the differences is just due to geographical location. Do think about the offer and we are willing to wait.

Selasa, 2008 Mei 13 - rendered into English by e-team

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Sunday, 01 June 2008 KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced a series of changes sought by Sabahans, known as the ‘Kaamatan gifts’.

State Barisan Nasional component party leaders, who met Abdullah here on April 17, had unanimously asked for the abolition of the Sabah Federal Development Department (JPPS) and its operations be placed directly under the state government’s supervision.

The Prime Minister’s Department formed JPPS during the PBS administration when Sabah was under opposition rule. The closure ends a 17-year wait by state government leaders to scrap the department. The department was set up in 1991 under the Implementation Coordination Unit.

Like Kelantan, when the state fell to Semangat 46 and PAS, JPP was established to plan, coordinate and monitor implementation of federal government development projects. At the press conference yesterday, Abdullah explained that he decided to abolish the department (JPPS) after considering the state government’s request.

The Incentives In Brief:

Abolition of the Department of Federal Development Sabah

• Abolilion of the Department of Federal Development Sabah (Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan Sabah, JPPS) with immediate effect
• The Sabah State Development Office (SDO) will handle the Prime Minister’s special allocations and monitor implementation and progress of federal government projects.
• The allocation from the Federal Government 11 different ministries would be channeled directly to the various Sabah state agencies.

Illegal Immigrants

• a high-powered Cabinet committee to tackle the illegal immigrants to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datuk will discuss and solve the perennial illegal immigrants problem in the state.
• Two additional temporary detention center would be built in Sabah the number of five.

Measures for Poverty Eradication

• Form a Focus Group for poverty eradication.
• Use a new distribution formula for development in future.

Special Project

• He also announced that a 300MW (Megawatt) power station would be built in Kimanis, Papar, under a joint venture with Petronas and Yayasan Sabah.

Special additional allocation

• The prime minister also announced a RM1 billion allocation from the prime minister’s special allocation to be distributed according to development requirements in Sabah. The funds would be managed by the Prime Minister’s Department.
• As well as an additional RM400,000 allocation for each state constituency.

Special announcement

• The Prime Minister also announced a Professor from Sabah, Datuk Profesor Kamaruzaman Ampong appointment as the new Vice Chancellor for Universiti Malaysia Sabah berkuat effective 18 Jun.

The PAS state government of Kelantan welcome the move. Kelantan Local Government, Tourism and Culture Committee Chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must have had strong reasons for fulfilling Sabah's demand for the abolition of the department.

Takiyuddin said, "With the abolition, development projects can now be implemented more smoothly and faster.We hope the same decision can be made in the case of Kelantan because the establishment of the department had caused an overlap of authority."

Terengganu is facing a similar problem which is slightly different. The ‘Oil royalty’ is not going to the state government. Somehow after PAS took over for one term, the ‘Oil royalty’ was changed to ‘wang ehsan’ and it passed through a third party and claimed to have been utilized for undertaking development projects or projects that are beneficial to the people. It was not given back to the state though the BN had ruled the state for a term before the last election.

How long will Kelantan and Terengganu have to wait, before things are corrected? Or is the federal government bent in trying to punish the people of Kelantan for not voting his party into power in the state? Again lest we forgot, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was given the nickname of “the father of announcement” in his previous term in office. There are many things yet to be seen, for instance – will there be ‘hidden hands’ between the Prime Minister coffers and the Sabah state bursary.