"The WAR on error"
The Eastern Catholic Churches have the task to promote Christian unity, especially with the Orthodox, said Benedict XVI when receiving in audience the patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts.
"In her proclamation of the Gospel and her service of charity, the Church wishes to cooperate with all men and women of good will in building a global community in which hatred and intolerance, injustice and violence will give way to mutual understanding, reconciliation and generous cooperation in the pursuit of the common good."
A group of Germans kicked out of Poland after World War II want restitution for lost property, arguing in a complaint that their human rights were violated when Eastern Europe's boundaries were redrawn and they were driven from their homes. "The expulsion of the German population, according to some international legal experts, amounted to genocide, or at least to crimes against humanity with the purpose of dispossessing them of property without any compensation."
"If the Germans want money for the property they lost they should address their demands to the US, Britain and the heirs of the Soviet Union." The Polish Prime Minister slammed what he called Germany's return to nationalist ideology and "radical" questioning of history. "We observe in Germany a process deeper than a simple attitude of one government or another. It's a re-nationalization of politics, an exceptionally radical calling into question of historical judgements."
The Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, stared disaster in the face yesterday as a crucial coalition ally threatened to resign and withdraw his party's support.
French foreign policy
France debates the need to move beyond its traditional spheres of influence.
In their loftier moments Brussels politicians say that languages are an expression of the European Union's unity in diversity. What they seldom admit is that languages are a logistical and expensive headache, as well as a cause of nationalistic squabbles. All these could increase when the tally of official languages in the EU rises from 20 to 23 on January 1st 2007, with the addition of Romanian, Bulgarian and Irish.
How did the European Union come to this pass with Turkey—and with enlargement in general?
In addition to lending Merkel their support on Friday, the European Union leaders warned Iran and Syria against meddling in the affairs of their neighbors and demanded they adopt more "responsible" stances if they hope to improve ties with the bloc.
European leaders emerged from a two-day summit in Brussels on Friday touting a tougher stance on European Union membership requirements. At the same time, several questions about the future makeup of the Union remain unresolved.
The initial enthusiasm evoked by the US Iraq Study Group report in official European political circles has rapidly subsided. The first feelings of relief have been replaced by scepticism and reserve, with tensions simmering beneath the surface. What the European elites regarded as a possible light on the horizon has dissipated and now the prevailing view is that the report and its reception in America could prove to be the starting point for fresh inter-European and transatlantic tensions.
"As Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, our shared Abrahamic faith compels us to work together for peace with justice for Israelis, Palestinians and all peoples in the Middle East. As Americans, we again ask the United States to make peace in the Middle East an urgent priority."
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas threw down a challenge to the government of the militant group Hamas yesterday by calling fresh elections, raising tensions that have already prompted warnings of civil war.
Arrogance, greed, and ignorance have described Bush’s method of play in the Middle East. He and his neocon string-pullers have been playing as if they had magic X-ray glasses to see through everyone’s cards. Now there is a possible royal flush on the table… a Saudi Arabian Royal Flush. Right now, it seems that Saudi Arabia holds the real cards. So, does the U.S. take the hint and play along? Can it continue its game of suicide poker? Or is it really more a game of Arabian Roulette?
"Hizbullah defeated Israel in the war. This is the first war Israel lost. They [US] hoped Israel would do it. You cannot come to another country and order it to launch a war, but there was hope, and more than hope, that Israel would do the right thing. It would have served both the American and Israeli interests."
The president of the weak transitional government has ruled out further peace talks with the Islamist militia controlling most of southern Somalia.
Japan’s parliament enacted laws yesterday to create a full-fledged defence ministry and to instill patriotism at schools, breaking two taboos lingering since defeat in the Second World War.
Iran will host an international conference on the personality of Prophet Mohammad in Berlin on Saturday. Organized by the cultural section of the Islamic Republic of Iran Embassy, the meeting will center on various aspects of the character of Prophet Mohammad.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here today that certain Western states and media showed an illogical reaction to an international conference held in Tehran on Holocaust.
Iran will exact painful revenge on countries opposed to its nuclear program if the U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions on Tehran, the country's chief nuclear negotiator said. "Imposing sanctions on Iran will not help resolve the issue. If they want to deprive Iran of its nuclear work they are making a big mistake. If they want to act in a way to decrease our capabilities through sanctions we will be obliged to use painful methods in return."
Knesset Member Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said that he believes the United States will not settle for sanctions and diplomatic moves, and will eventually attack Iran. Steinitz expressed his great hope that the US will attack Iran, saying he believes that "the US will attack Iran and hit it in order to thwart its nuclear ability, as the diplomatic activity has failed."
The escalating tension between Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the current Saudi National Security Advisor and former Saudi Ambassador to the US, and Prince Turki al-Faisal, who only this this week resigned his position as Saudi Ambassador in Washington, is taking some new and disturbing turns. Insiders report that Bandar has "essentially assured" the Vice President that Saudi Arabia could be moved to accept and possibly support American military action against Iran. Another source has reported to me that Bandar himself strongly supports Cheney's views of a military response to Iran.
What consequences would a nuclear war between Israel and Iran, or between Pakistan and India, have for the world's climate? Scientists have now created a computer model of what might happen. The results are alarming - even for experts.
"I think he has been trapped by his own rhetoric." But to those who know Bush best, the president's approach is not surprising. Bush hears many opinions and thus believes that "his knowledge is more complete than anyone who is advising him."
The tension between the Bush administration and the members of the Iraq Study Group, illustrates the widening chasm between old-guard U.S. imperialists and "Israel-first" neoconservatives. The divisions are setting the stage for a major battle between the two camps. Expect Baker to wheel out the heavy artillery and fight tooth-and-nail to reassert the primacy of the American ruling class. "The Lobby" may be powerful, but it’s going to be tough going to take the country away from the people who believe they own it. The struggle between the political heavyweights is about to break out into open warfare.
Two days of economic talks between the United States and China that ended inconclusively on Friday have raised the ante for the administration of George W. Bush in one of its main international economic challenges: nudging China toward adjusting its policies and convincing Congress that a nudge is enough for now.
The economy, the Fed and the markets.
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