Blair Warns of "Rather Nasty Rightwing Campaign"--and MORE

[Gloria]

Full excerpts and LINKS up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytica
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR APRIL 6, 2005



1//The Guardian, UK--BLAIR WARNS OF ‘RATHER NASTY RIGHTWING CAMPAIGN’ (. … . The Labour leader last night warned Labour MPs and peers at Westminster of a "rather nasty rightwing campaign" by the Tories after his Conservative rival Michael Howard used the first day of campaigning to launch an assault on the "smirking politics of Mr Blair". With four polls this week showing Labour's lead over the Tories down to 2-3 points and opposition supporters more determined to turn out on May 5, Tony Blair is also fearful of apathy and defections. . … . Dismissing both "the smirking politics of Mr Blair and the woolly thinking of the Liberal Democrats", Mr Howard claimed that the prime minister was "already secretly grinning about the prospect of his third victory." This may be a clear indication of the kind of subliminal underdog's language Mr Howard's team is expected to deploy over the next 30 days. . … . If turnout falls below the abysmal 59% in 2001 or Labour gets back on a sharply falling share of the vote, the authority of the government - and Britain's democracy - may be damaged.)



2//The Toronto Star, Canada--TORIES WON’T TRIGGER A ELECTION – FOR NOW (The Conservatives will decide whether to trigger an election after a publication ban is lifted on shocking testimony at the sponsorship inquiry, deputy Conservative leader Peter MacKay says.The sensational details delivered by Liberal-friendly ad executive Jean Brault could become public this week. And the Tories will judge whether the wave of public anger over the sponsorship scandal becomes enough of a deluge to carry them into office, MacKay suggested.

"If they lift the publication ban, then and only then will we be able to assess how the public reacts to it — but the directions it's going right now, it's extremely serious," MacKay said.)



3//The Daily Star, Lebanon--JORDAN’S ABDULLAH PICKS NEW PREMIER AND DEMANDS FRESH CABINET (Jordan's King Abdullah II has tasked academic Adnan Badran with forming a new government to push for faster political reforms after criticism of the two-year-old Cabinet of Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez. "We are determined in the coming phase to accelerate the pace of reform," the monarch said in a letter to Badran. The nomination follows criticism of the Fayez government by Abdullah over its performance at an Arab summit last month, and comes as Jordan faces pressure from Western allies, namely the United States, for failing to carry out satisfactory reforms. . … . U.S. officials expressed their displeasure with the lack of political progress during talks last month in Washington with Abdullah, a senior official said, noting that the U.S. is one of Jordan's main financial backers.)



4//The Daily Times, Pakistan--PAKISTAN, CHINA SIGN TRADE AND ANTI-TERROR AGREEMENTS (Pakistan and China resolved on Tuesday to safeguard each other’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The resolve was made in a “Treaty of Friendship” signed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao after a detailed discussion on bilateral, regional and international issues. The two countries signed 22 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance bilateral cooperation in defence, trade, development, diplomacy, education and research. Aziz called the treaty historic, saying the two countries do not have such a treaty or agreement with any other country.)



5//EurasiaNet.org/Open Society Institute, US--RUMBLINGS OF DISCONTENT HIT UZBEKISTAN’S JIZZAKH PROVINCE (The tremors of Kyrgyzstan’s revolution are being felt in neighboring Uzbekistan. According to a prominent human rights activist in Tashkent, a people’s power movement is coalescing in Jizzakh Province. To counter the rise of popular opposition, representatives of President Islam Karimov administration are reportedly employing vigilante squads. … . Karimov heads one of the most repressive regimes in Central Asia, jailing thousands of Uzbeks for engaging in non-state-sanctioned forms of political and religious expression. Officials in Tashkent defend their actions, saying tough measures are needed to counter Islamic militant efforts to destabilize the country. In addition to trying to keep a tight lid on all forms of political dissent, Karimov’s administration has steadfastly resisted economic reforms. The result has been a potentially volatile build-up of popular frustration. The trouble in Jizzakh Province appears to have little connection to Islamic radicalism.)

[Warren Stupidity]

1. so is there an outcome

that doesn't put the tories in power but delivers enough of a smackdown to force blair to resign and GB to de-neoclown itself?

[Gloria]

2. Yes. If Labour loses a large number of seats....it will spur Blair

on to keep his promise. He has said in the past that he would only stay another year or so if he won a third term.

The article has the details on the number of seats that would indicate that Blair would have to go because he had very little support to stay...

[Godai Kyoko]

3. Why did he call the election in the first place?

I thought he still had a couple of years left in his term?

[Swamp Rat]

4. Blair should know, he works for them. n/t