Archive for July 6th, 2008
UK: David Miliband backs French plans for stronger EU defence role
That’s what the Telegraph reports.
France, which now holds the EU’s rotating presidency, has announced that deepening military cooperation between member states will be a key priority. A European military staff, planning cell and defence agency already exist. In the past, Britain opposed giving the EU any hand in defence policy, fearing this would undermine Nato and the Atlantic alliance with the United States. But Mr Miliband offered broad support for France’s plans.
Perhaps first he must state what is Europe for him. Because it seems that Milliband would like better an alliance with Russia and North African countries than with US.
Tags Technorati: David Milliband, UK, European Union, EU defence role
Al-Qaeda’s safe havens
Right now, those safe havens for terror training are Pakistan, Somalia (where the pirates are just profiting also of the total lack of Government that it’s been totally absent for some time now) and Argelia. Precisely the NYT published an interview with the leader of Al-Qaeda for an Islamic Maghreb (former GSPC), Abdelmader Droukdal:
The New York Times: What have you gained from your relation with Al Qaeda, and conversely what has Al Qaeda gained from your joining?
Abdelmalek Droukdal: As we mentioned in our previous answer that our joining to Al Qaeda wasn’t a deal that we try to gain something out of it, as many of those who call themselves experts in jihadi groups promote. In reality, they are way far from the real understanding of the jihadi ancestral movement (¡!) We say that we realized and we got from this joining many goals. The most important one is that we believe that we won and acquired the pleasure of God by following his order. God’s says “hold on to the rope of God and do not be dispersed.” If there was nothing to realize from this joining except following the order of this verse, we would never hesitate to do so.
Secondly, we realized a condition and a reason for victory. If difference and division are causes of weakness and defeat as it was mentioned in our religion “And fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power departs.” (Koran: Chapter 8, Verse 46). Unity is a reason of strength and victory. This is a universal norm that even the infidels are aware of. All these mass-groupings and the international alliances are proof of that. We Muslims must be the ones who apply this universal norm.
Thirdly, by this unity we brought grief and sorrow to our enemies the Jews and apostates and crusaders.
Meanwhile Morocco has arrested 35 people, accused of being recruiters for Al-Qaeda to carry out operations in Iraq and Algeria.
Tags Technorati: Al-Qaeda, terrorism, Al-Qaeda for an Islamic Maghreb, Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Abdelmader Droukdal
US blogger has been charged with insulting a Singapore judge
Tags Technorati: USA, Singapore, freedom of expression, freedom in the blogosphere, blogosphere
They keep on insisting
in demanding that Maclean should be censored, whatever CHRH has said:
A Canadian Islamic Congress leader has a letter in today’s Globe & Mail (h/t BCF) that continues to defend their attempts to censor Maclean’s magazine via the Human Rights Commissions/Tribunals across Canada.
the National Executive Director of the CIC (seems to have found) a sentence that, at best, is lukewarm in finding evidence of hate:
“An argument could be made that the material in the complaint bears some of the hallmarks of hate … [in] that it does portray persons of the Muslim faith in a negative light based upon broad generalizations, and therefore may expose persons of the Muslim faith to hatred or contempt.”
The actual decision was to dismiss the complaint, meaning that the CHRC considered the finding that the CIC’s Imam included in his letter, and found it wanting in any meaningful way.
Tags Technorati: freedom of speech, Canada, Maclean, Canadian Islamic Congress, CIC
Human Rights Foundation accuses Correa of HR abuses
From HR Foundation website:
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) released a letter yesterday in response to the accusations made by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa regarding a May 12 letter from HRF denouncing human rights violations. At that time, HRF condemned violations resulting from the Tax Equity Reform Law enacted by Ecuador’s Constituent Assembly, namely: restrictions of the right of citizens to take part in public affairs and restrictions of their rights to due process and access to justice.
In his response of May 20, President Correa accused HRF of defending the “interests of Ecuador’s oligarchies and political elites.” President Correa added that HRF’s work is an act of “insolence” since it “dares” to “revise” the current Ecuadorian constitutional reform system with a “clear ideological bias.” President Correa’s letter suggests that HRF dedicate its resources to “more legitimate causes, instead of defending particular interests.”
In the letter sent yesterday, HRF reminds President Correa that he has failed to respond to two other letters sent earlier this year (dated February 20 and March 18), in which HRF denounced numerous human rights violations perpetrated by “Ecuador’s political elites,” specifically the army and government officials. These violations include the arbitrary arrest and incarceration of Guadalupe Llori, Governor of Orellana, first imprisoned for terrorism charges which were dropped due to lack of evidence. She remains in prison on equally unsubstantiated charges of embezzlement. HRF believes that her continued imprisonment is a result of her expression of opinions critical of President Correa.
Tags Technorati: Human Rights Foundation, Human Rights abuses, Correa, Ecuador, Guadalupe Llori, freedom of expression.
South America condemns EU migrant law
This is truly interesting: the immigrants’ countries condemn the EU law that finally is trying to control the immigration. By this move, they show they don’t really care what happens to their nationals, who don’t have medical care, legal job prospects or real protection as they don’t exist for the EU countries they have arrived to.
Under the new rules, an illegal immigrant can be detained for a maximum of six months. This period is extendable by a further 12 months under certain conditions if, for example, the immigrant fails to co-operate with the authorities.
In a joint declaration, they rejected “every effort to criminalise irregular migration and the adoption of restrictive immigration policies, in particular against the most vulnerable sectors of society, women and children”.
The statement also noted “the necessity to fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance”.
It was signed by the seven presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, and ministers from associate Mercosur members Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
All South American leaders have spoken about this, but among all I like this:
Uruguay’s leader Tabare Vazquez said: “Nobody emigrates for fun, they do it out of necessity.”
I would like to know what measures South American countries have taken to end that “necessity”. All I see is that they spend a lot of money on socialist policies and none on really combatting poverty.
Of course, racism must be fought against, but not only the one supported by Caucasian / white population. All races have individuals who are racist, so why are Caucasian / whites always blamed for it?
