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http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical/current.htmTomorrow at Buzzflash.com
WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
1//The Moscow Times, Russia--BUSH SR. PAYS VISIT TO PUTIN IN SOCHI (An unidentified Kremlin official told Interfax and Itar-Tass on Saturday that a central theme of talks between Putin and the elder Bush would be the development of Russian-U.S. relations in the past decade and the opportunities presented by the upcoming summit…Bush was expected to deliver the keynote speech at a dinner hosted by the Carlyle Group, the capital management giant that is creating a $500 million private equity fund with Alfa Group.)
2//Inter Press Service, Italy--ANALYSIS: BOTH SIDES IN TERROR WAR BLOODIED, BUT UNBOWED (Both the Bush administration and al-Qaeda -- most recently through the public release Wednesday of a video and audiotape allegedly of Osama bin Laden himself -- are claiming that each has the other right where he wants him (including in Iraq) and exhorting their friends and allies to fight harder for final victory. And while few contest the notion that Washington has made substantial progress in dismantling al-Qaeda itself, its broader aim of defeating radical Islam and the ''jihadists'' who draw their inspiration from bin Laden seems as elusive as the Saudi renegade himself. As Daniel Benjamin, a senior counter-terrorism official under the Clinton administration, put it in the 'Los Angeles Times' on Thursday, the Bush balance sheet is a ''mixture of tactical success and strategic slippage''.)
3/The Japan Times, Japan--JAPAN MULLS BILLIONS IN IRAQ AID (Japan is considering pledging several billion dollars in reconstruction aid for projects in Iraq that are running behind schedule due in part to the worsening security situation there, government sources said Saturday.Despite its fiscal difficulties, Japan is prepared to make the pledge at an international conference of donors that is scheduled for late October in Madrid, the sources said…Some in Tokyo fear the government may be pressured to give around $10 billion, close to the $13 billion it contributed during the 1991 Gulf War, as it takes more time to dispatch the SDF, according to the sources.)
4//The Times of India, India--SHARING AMERICA’S PAIN IN IRAQ (Last week, defence minister George Fernandes pointed out what has been obvious but not stated since the American request first came in: Given its own overstretch, India cannot afford to send forces to Iraq…Ideally what the Americans want is a Rashtriya Rifles division, lightly armed, but experienced in dealing with proto-insurgency situations. But such a force is simply not available, not since it has become clear in the last three months that far from improving, the situation in the Kashmir valley is deteriorating… For countries thinking about sending forces, there has been a major fundamental change since May. Then the issue was all about dividing the spoils, now it is about sharing the pain. Countries like India that are being asked to provide large forces wonder just what their threshold of pain could be, or, for that matter what the American ceiling is.)
5//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates--VIOLENT RALLIES RULED OUT DURING BUSH VISIT (President Gloria Arroyo has ruled out violent protest rallies during the upcoming visit of US President George W. Bush, but many militant groups have vowed to push through with their scheduled 16-hour protest actions on October 18…Thirty-four days ahead of Bush's arrival, the government has already raised the alert level against foreign and Philippine-based militants. "We are prepared for any eventuality," said Bunye, adding that a joint police and military action has been in place to sanitise Metro Manila of terrorists, destabilisers, and coup plotters.The government was embarrassed when the State Department announced that the US President would shorten his visit to eight hours. Many said it was a sign that Washington could not trust the security situation in the Philippines.)
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