[Peace-discuss] Just Foreign Policy News, September 6, 2006

[Robert Naiman]

Just Foreign Policy News
September 6, 2006

On the web: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/index.html
To subscribe: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

Summary:
U.S. Politics
Democrats and some Republicans appear to agree on one thing as the
election approaches: attacking Defense Secretary Rumsfeld is a way to
lift them to victory. (The Senate may vote today or tomorrow on a
resolution calling for Rumsfeld to resign; the Congressional
switchboard is 202-225-3121.)  Key Republican senators have drafted a
legislative plan for special military trials of suspected terrorists
granting defendants rights that the White House has sought to
proscribe. Under the plan, military trials would be governed by a law
that explicitly ensures that defendants have the right to know the
evidence against them. The Administration also wants to allow military
prosecutors to introduce evidence collected during coercive
interrogations that fall short of torture and evidence obtained
through hearsay.
Iran
Ever since the IAEA report Thursday, US officials have insisted that
it sealed their case. Iran, they argue, has refused the Security
Council's demand that it cease enriching uranium. But the same report
also noted that Tehran had made little progress in setting up new
equipment at its main nuclear site, at Natanz, to enrich uranium. In
the last few days diplomats from the European Union and Russia have
cited that finding to bolster the case that there is no urgency and no
crisis, the New York Times reports. Russia has now said it will
consider supporting economic sanctions against Tehran for defying UN
resolutions, the BBC reports.
Iraq
American support for the Iraqi news media has waned, writes Ali Fadhil
in an NYT op-ed. The Times reports that Iraq's Sunni-Shiite
bloodletting is driving many Iraqis to change their names to mask
their background.
Lebanon
U.N. Secretary-General Annan said Wednesday a national consensus in
Lebanon was needed to disarm Hezbollah militants, rather than using
force. Annan reiterated that U.N. peacekeepers monitoring the
cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah would help Lebanon. But ''the
mandate is clear: The troops are not there to disarm Hezbollah.''
Israel said it will lift its sea and air blockade of Lebanon on
Thursday as it faced widespread international pressure more than three
weeks after a cease-fire took effect. Lifting of the blockade will
allow Lebanon to begin rebuilding and resuming normal trade and life
much more quickly.
Palestine
Thousands of Palestinian security force members joined an expanding
strike over wages the Hamas-led government has not paid. Some health
care workers also stopped work briefly on Tuesday, and most teachers
have stayed away from their classrooms since schools reopened Saturday
after the summer break.
Jordan
When Nabeel Jaoura, a blacksmith and father of five, opened fire on
Monday at a group of tourists, killing a Briton, he became the latest
in a new breed of terrorist, stirred by boiling anger and frustration,
and taking matters into his own hands, the Times reports.
Pakistan
Pakistan's top army spokesman has insisted government forces will
arrest al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden if they find him in the
country, the BBC reports. Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan's comments came after
a US network broadcast remarks by him saying Bin Laden would remain
free if he was "a peaceful citizen".

In this issue:
U.S. Politics
1) Candidates of Both Parties Turn Criticism of Rumsfeld Into Political Chorus
2) GOP Senators Differ With President on Military Trials
Iran
3) Nuclear Déjà Vu: Now It's Iran That Does or Doesn't Intend to Make
Nuclear Weapons
4) Ahmadinejad Proposes Debate With Bush
5) Iran-EU nuclear talks postponed
Iraq
6) Iraq's Endangered Journalists
7) To Stay Alive, Iraqis Change Their Names
Lebanon
8) Annan Says Consensus Needed in Lebanon
9) Israel to Lift Sea, Air Blockade on Lebanon
Palestine
10) Many in Palestinian Security Forces Join Strike Over Pay
Jordan
11) Typical of a New Terror Threat: Anger of a Gunman in Jordan
Pakistan
12) Pakistan denies Bin Laden 'gaffe'

--------
Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org