Blair Moves On From Iraq, UK--New World Media Watch....

[Gloria]

Up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com

WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR SEPTEMBER 15, 2004

1//The Scotsman, UK--BLAIR MOVES ON FROM IRAQ…(The car bomb which killed them claimed 47 lives outside the police station. As if to underline the message, minutes later insurgents shot dead a dozen Iraqis in a police van patrolling the town of Baquba. And in London, Tony Blair gave a speech about the environment - the day after proclaiming "I’m back" to the Trades Union Congress. His audience could be forgiven for thinking the job in Iraq was close to being done…Instead of issuing the reinforcements demanded by commanders in the field, Mr Blair and Mr Bush have united in persuading their electorate that the worst has passed, willing the bad news away from the front pages. On both sides of the Atlantic, officials talk as if the problem is an internal matter being handled by Ayad Allawi, their hand-picked prime minister - as if he was a vehicle to outsource the blame. This will not last long. Mr Allawi, and the 25 million souls in Iraq, rely completely on the resolve of the West to finish what we started - to deliver the vision of democracy which was the only legitimate basis of the Iraq war. Around the scenes of death yesterday, Iraqis soon gathered with fists in the air, shouting: "Bush is a dog".)



2//The Independent, UK--LABOUR CONFERENCE TO HEAR ANTI-WAR PLEAS (Labour critics of Tony Blair plan to demand the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq at the party's annual conference in Brighton in a fortnight. Activists have tabled a raft of hostile motions in an attempt to scupper Mr Blair's hopes that the party will rally behind him ahead of the general election expected next May. Rebels will also try to trigger a formal leadership challenge to Mr Blair, but this is expected to be quashed by party managers…Several local parties have submitted "contemporary motions" that strike at the heart of the Prime Minister's strategy…The motion urges the conference to call on the Government "to dissociate the United Kingdom from the occupation by withdrawing British forces from Iraq". It has been backed by a coalition of groups including Labour Against the War, the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and the Campaign Group of Labour MPs.)



3//The Moscow Times, Russia--PAPERS SAY KREMLIN MOUNTING A ‘COUP’ (President Vladimir Putin's plan to fight terrorism by seeking stronger Kremlin control over society is "a coup" that shows "disregard for the Constitution," Russian newspapers said Tuesday. Western countries voiced similar concerns over what they saw as a step back from democracy."Putin Disregards the Constitution" declared a front-page headline in Kommersant, which like other newspapers dedicated their front pages to articles about Putin's announcement Monday to get rid of the popular vote for regional leaders and to change the way the State Duma is elected.)



4//The Daily Times, Pakistan--US AND RUSSIA SECRETLY REMOVE URANIUM FROM UZBEKISTAN (The United States and Russia carried out a secret operation last week to remove weapons-grade uranium from the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, whose government is facing growing Islamist unrest, said the Energy Department. But the removal also coincided with escalating criticism of President George W Bush by his democratic rival in the November 2 election, Senator John Kerry, who has accused the White House of being lax in confronting the spread of nuclear material around the world. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said on Monday the one-day operation, implemented last Thursday, was crucial for enhancing international security.)

5//The Dawn, Pakistan--‘ARMS FOR PEACE’ EXPO OPENS: PRESIDENT VOWS TO GUARD NATIONAL HONOUR (President General Pervez Musharraf said here on Monday that Pakistan had no offensive designs against any country and only wanted to safeguard its honour and integrity. Inaugurating Ideas-2004 defence exhibition at the Expo Centre, the president said maintaining conventional and non-conventional weapons was a guarantee for peace in the region. "Our arms are for peace," he added…The president spoke highly about successful collaboration with China and France in defence equipment production. He said he was glad to see participation from an increased number of companies, delegations and exhibitors in Ideas-2004.)

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[ScrewyRabbit]

1. Blair tries to move on, but sucking sound of quagmire

...keeps his feet in place.

[hadrons]

2. I love this line ....

Mr Blair and Mr Bush have united in persuading their electorate that the worst has passed, willing the bad news away from the front pages.

[Matilda]

3. And I like this line too -

"On both sides of the Atlantic, officials talk as if the problem
is an internal matter being handled by Ayad Allawi, their hand-picked
prime minister - as if he was a vehicle to outsource the blame."

Yep - got it in one, that's exactly what he is.