Target Centermass

Category: Middle East

  • Iran Rejects Kerry’s Nuclear Proposal

    What did the individual viewer think of John Kerry’s performance at Thursday’s foreign policy debate? That answer probably depends on the viewer’s fondness for smoke and mirrors. Well, some of the smoke is clearing.

    Iran has dismissed a proposal by U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry, that Tehran be provided nuclear fuel if it agrees to give up its fuel-making capabilities.

    Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Sunday it would be “irrational” to abandon its nuclear technology in exchange for supplies from overseas. He said there is no need for Iran to “beg” from other countries.

    During a debate last week with President Bush, Mr. Kerry suggested supplying Iran with nuclear fuel for generating electrical power, echoing a proposal made by several western European nations. The Bush administration and some international observers have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program, including work on enriching uranium, is only for peaceful purposes.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency has demanded Iran freeze its uranium enrichment activities. Iran has refused.

    I’m sure Kerry has a plan to convince Iran to change its stance. It’s probably typed up (in MS Word using Times New Roman) and filed away with his plan to get more troops and participation in Iraq from our erstwhile European “allies.”

  • Italians Fall out of Love with ‘Two Simonas’

    The words and actions of the two recently-released Italian hostages have quickly splintered a fawning Italian public.

    Italy’s adoration of the “two Simonas”, the women aid workers abducted in Iraq, began to sour yesterday, as the extent of their sympathy for the Iraqi fight against the allied occupation became clear.

    In their first big interviews given since their release in return for a reported $1 million ransom on Tuesday, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, both 29, gave their backing to insurgents opposing the allied forces.

    ….

    [Pari said,] “If you ask me about terrorism, I’ll tell you that there is terrorism and there is resistance. The resistance struggle of people against an occupying force is guaranteed by international law.”

    The women’s comments are likely to cause renewed anger in government circles, following their call soon after their release for Italy’s peacekeeping forces to be withdrawn.

    ….

    After they were taken hostage on Sept 7, the two Simonas achieved iconic status in Italy and the conservative government and the opposition put aside their differences to work together for the women’s release.

    But as the Turin newspaper La Stampa said yesterday, national unity has been short lived since their arrival home, wearing kaftans and thanking their captors in Arabic for their release before the cameras of the Al-Jazeera stellite television network.

    When these two were first seized, I pointed out that an al-Jazeera article showed that these two had been specifically targeted. The reason was not immediately obvious. It now is — the terrorists knew they were potentially valuable as mouthpieces for Islamist villainy. Shrewd … and accurate.

  • Female Italian Captives Freed, Possibly Ransomed

    It seems the story of the deaths of two Simonas was greatly exaggerated. The pair of Italian women, held hostage since Sept. 7, are now home free.

    Two Italian women aid workers held hostage in Iraq for three weeks have returned home to cheers and tears, with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi leading the welcome party at Rome’s Ciampino airport.

    Simona Pari and Simona Torretta were freed by their Iraqi captors earlier on Tuesday and were immediately whisked by plane back to Italy, where they have unwittingly become national heroines thanks to their ordeal.

    News of their release sparked scenes of joy across the country, while Italian and world leaders breathed a sigh of relief that the crisis had ended without bloodshed.

    When the women were first seized, I posted a handful of possible outcomes, including the following:

    The Italian government may have to make some hard choices – bail out of the war, deal with the scumbags, or stand firm and risk the lives of women, possibly leading to an upheaval on the home front….

    I then concluded that there may end up being no winners and a “quick release is the only way to prevent losses for all involved.”

    Well, it seems that the Italian government did end up having to face those hard choices and, according to the Reuters article, apparently decided on dealing with the Islamist bastards.

    A Kuwaiti daily said earlier on Tuesday the women’s captors had agreed to free them for a $1 million (550,000 pounds) ransom.

    An Italian political source told Reuters a ransom was paid but it was less than $1 million. Berlusconi himself made no mention of a ransom when he announced the release of the two women to parliament.

    He said the secret services had located their whereabouts earlier this week, but rather than risk using violence to secure their release, the Italian government had preferred to negotiate.

    Italy bought temporary peace at home and secured a far better deal than the Philippines managed in their $6 million wimp-out. One has to ask, though, at what future price? How many deaths can be financed with this ransom?

    Italy is still in the game, but they just handed a lot of chips to the bad guys playing by a different, ruthless set of rules.

  • Abducted CNN Producer Released

    Let me take a moment to pat my own back. Last night, after CNN producer Riad Ali was kidnapped by Palestinian bandits, I posted the following:

    First, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have to disavow involvement and, if it turns out they have any influence on these bandits, will work to ensure a safe and quick release. They have to avoid biting the hand that feeds them which, in this case, is a friendly international media.

    Today, CNN is reporting that Ali has been set free by his captors.

    CNN producer Riad Ali was released Tuesday, almost 24 hours after he was abducted by armed gunmen, and is now in the custody of Palestinian police.

    ….

    Shortly before his release, a videotape surfaced in which Ali explained he was being held by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a militant offshoot of Arafat’s Fatah movement.

    I called it, but it seemed pretty obvious, to be honest.

  • CNN Producer Abducted in Gaza

    CNN is reporting that one of its Gaza Strip contingent was brazenly kidnapped today.

    A group of armed men abducted a CNN producer [Riad Ali] in Gaza City on Monday.

    ….

    CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman said he, Ali and CNN photographer Mary Rogers had left their Gaza office in a taxi when a white Peugeot pulled in front of them, blocking their way, around 6:35 p.m. (11:35 a.m. ET).

    Wedeman said a man in his early 20s and dressed in civilian clothes emerged from the car, stuck a revolver through the taxi window and “said to me in Arabic, ‘Which one of you is Riad?’ ”

    “We were dumbstruck at first, but Riad then said, ‘I am Riad.’ And then other men got out of the car that had pulled in front of us, and they were carrying AK-47 assault rifles, and they said to Riad, ‘Get out of the car,’ ” Wedeman said.

    He said Ali was forced into the back of the Peugeot, which then drove away. No one was injured.

    Wedeman said the kidnappers made no attempt to cover their faces.

    Wedeman said CNN has contacted Palestinian security authorities in Gaza, but there was no new information on Ali’s status.

    Ali, who is an Arab, has worked for the network for about two years, traveling extensively in Gaza and the West Bank as part of his assignments.

    The article states that no claims of responsibility have been made. Hamas has condemned the act, stating “this ugly incident is a violation of the sanctity of journalism and contradicts the morals of the Palestinian people.”

    I have little faith in Hamas’ concern with contradicting morals. However, I do have a couple of thoughts on this, which should be pretty obvious or I wouldn’t have blogged it.

    First, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have to disavow involvement and, if it turns out they have any influence on these bandits, will work to ensure a safe and quick release. They have to avoid biting the hand that feeds them which, in this case, is a friendly international media.

    Unless, of course, I’m right about my second thought. Noting that Ali was specifically targeted, he may be suspected of collaborating with the Israelis. If this is the case, and it should be noted I base this possibility on little but suspicion, Riad Ali is a dead man.

  • France Wants U.S. Pullout on Agenda

    France is placing restrictions on its participation in a possible international conference on Iraq. The unusual thing is that I have no problems with the French demands, as they are stated in this article.

    France said Monday that it would take part in a proposed international conference on Iraq only if the agenda included a possible U.S. troop withdrawal, thus complicating the planning for a meeting that has drawn mixed reactions.

    Fine, a possible U.S. withdrawal can be discussed. Our representatives, however, are allowed to smirk and chuckle at will. During this portion of the conference, speaking with a mockingly silly French accent is encouraged.

    Paris also wants representatives of Iraq’s insurgent groups to be invited to a conference in October or November, a call that would seem difficult for the Bush administration to accept.

    Fine, we’ll invite the terrorists. There will be no promises of safe passage, or even survival. Body cavity searches to be expected prior to each session.

    Otherwise, I couldn’t care less if France participates. They bring no value to the table unless they are bearing croissants.

    France needs to realize that, short of a Kerry victory in November, they could be whining and cringing their way into international obsolescence. I, personally, do not think of them as an ally. Instead, they are an obstruction, freely selling arms to any country, be that customer friend or foe to the U.S., and occasionally asking us to rescue them or take over their messes.

  • Israel’s Bunker Bomb Buy Irks Iran

    Iran is rattling its scimitars at an announced sale of bunker-buster munitions from the U.S. to Israel.

    Iran has said it will react “most severely” to any Israeli action against its nuclear facilities, issuing the warning after Israel said the United States was selling it 500 bunker buster bombs.

    Israeli military officials said Tuesday that the Jewish state will receive nearly 5,000 smart bombs, including the 500 one-ton bombs that can destroy two-yard-thick (two-meter-thick) concrete walls.

    In 1981, Israel bombed Iraq’s nuclear reactor before it could begin operating.

    On Wednesday Israel said that Iran would never abandon plans to develop nuclear weapons and called for quick action by the U.N. Security Council “to put an end to this nightmare.”

    Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, asked Wednesday about the sale of the monster bombs, told reporters: “Israel has always been a threat, not only against Iran, but all countries.”

    Look, the idea that Israel is a threat to “all countries” is absolutely ridiculous. Have they had a militaristic history? Of course. The Israelis have, since the birth of their nation, always faced game seven, lose-one-and-done. However, they have never seriously threatened to push any of their hostile neighbors into the sea.

    Iran’s position in this matter is equally dire. The oppressive Islamic government is not popular and, by focusing on Israel and the U.S., is keeping up the long-held Arab state tradition of trying to use misdirection in pointing outwards at the cause of internal problems. As is always the case, we’re talking about the Great and Little Satan, the U.S. and Israel. The future of Iran’s current ruling class is also further jeopardized by the threat of a possible democratic neighbor in Iraq.

    Simply put, without nukes, Iran and the rest of the Arab muslim world is no longer a serious, viable military threat to the existence of Israel. Israel knows this and is willing to make this purchase (and any strike thus enabled) to keep the balance as it is. Iran’s rulers need to proceed, at least with their support of the terrorists in Iraq, because time is not on their side.

    U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, responding to a question about an Israeli attack on Iranian facilities similar to the Iraqi strike, said: “We’re talking about diplomacy and political efforts to stop this movement on the part of the Iranians toward a nuclear weapon.”

    “We’re not talking about strikes. But every option always, of course, remains on the table.”

    This is the correct U.S. position — take nothing off the table.

    Israel’s announcement of the purchase came after the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible military sale to Israel worth as much as $319 million.

    The agency said in a June 1 press release that the sale “will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”

    The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Tuesday that funding for the sale will come from U.S. military aid to Israel.

    Sweet. Happy freakin’ early Channukah, amigos. Hopefully, you won’t need to do the world’s dirty work again, although, if so, we know how it feels.

  • Website Claims Italian Women Executed in Iraq

    An Islamist website has posted a claim that the two female Italian aid workers kidnapped on Sept. 7 have been executed.

    A group calling itself the Jihad Organization says it has executed two Italian female hostages in Iraq.

    The organisation has reportedly issued a statement on an Islamist website, but the authenticity of the claim can not be confirmed.

    Referring to aid workers Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, without naming them, it says the pair were executed after the Italian government failed to pull out of Iraq.

    I posted my thoughts on how dangerous this particular kidnapping was to all involved parties. My newest prediction: do not expect videos of this terroristic barbarism to be posted anytime soon, if ever. There is absolutely no benefit to the Islamist bastards in doing so. If a video does surface, it will only confirm that we are not fighting sick, twisted wackos, but rather sick, twisted wacko morons.

    If the story of these murders is true, it will be interesting to watch Italy’s reaction, as well as that of the muslim world.

  • Terrorist Group Claims Two Aussies Kidnapped

    A terrorist group in Iraq is claiming to have nabbed two Australian nationals.

    Two Australian security contractors yesterday became the latest foreigners to be kidnapped in Iraq after militants apparently ambushed their convoy on a road outside Baghdad.

    In a statement, a group calling itself the Islamic Secret Army said it would execute both men “without a second chance” unless their government pulled its troops out of Iraq within 24 hours.

    The group said it had seized the Australians, together with two east Asian nationals, in the town of Samarra, a Sunni militant stronghold effectively in the hands of the insurgents.

    Is no news since the claim actually good news?

    IT WAS a good sign that those claiming to have kidnapped two Australians in Iraq had not released the names of their alleged hostages, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

    ….

    Mr Howard said the Department of Foreign Affairs was yet to verify whether a kidnapping had actually occurred, or whether it was a hoax, but said in past kidnapping cases, the names of those held had been released and their passports displayed on television.

    In fact, maybe the claim holds as much water as CBS’ Killian documents.

    Australia has accounted for all its nationals known to be working in Iraq following a claim by a radical Islamic group to have kidnapped two Australians, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said Tuesday.

    “At this stage we can find no evidence that any Australians are missing or have been kidnapped, but nevertheless we’ve got to be cautious in what we say because further information could turn up as the day goes on,” Downer said.

    He said the Australian embassy in Baghdad had accounted for all 88 civilian Australians registered with it.

    “We have also checked with four companies that we know employ Australians and those companies have all accounted for the Australians,” Downer said in a television interview.

    “There is, though, one of those four companies that is doing a recheck to finally clarify the situation,” he said.

    Let’s hope that this is nothing. However, with elections pending in Australia, one would expect that further moves by the scumbags against our allies are likely to be attempted thanks to the Spanish example.

  • Women Hostages Seized in Baghdad Raid

    The abduction today of two Italian women in Baghdad may prove to be the biggest test to date for Italy and the Coalition of the Willing.

    Armed to the teeth, the kidnappers beat up a hapless guard, dragged a screaming Iraqi hostage by her hair and took off in broad daylight.

    Two Italian women — Simona Pari and Simona Torretta — and an Iraqi man were also abducted when 20 gunmen stormed a Baghdad villa housing the headquarters of two Italian humanitarian organisations today without firing a single bullet.

    The unusual abduction of women is likely to further alarm foreigners already on edge from widespread kidnappings.

    Per al-Jazeera, it appears that these two women were specifically targetted by the terrorists.

    Iraqi journalist Abd Allah Khudair told Aljazeera: “The operation only took five minutes.”

    “A three-car force broke into the organisation’s building and tied the hands of one of the staff and threw the others on the floor”.

    “The militants asked the names of the staff until they reached Simona Pari and the office head, Simona Torretta, who were captured by the militants,” Khudair added.

    At this point, any particular significance of these two is unknown, but the abduction immediately sent the Italian government scurrying.

    Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was to return to Rome on Tuesday for an emergency cabinet meeting following the reported kidnapping of two Italian women in Iraq, officials said.

    Berlusconi, currently in northern Italy, was immediately informed of the abduction of the two, who were working for the Italian charity Un Ponte Per Baghdad (Bridge to Baghdad) in the Iraqi capital.

    A top Berlusconi aide has called an emergency meeting of all ministers concerned to discuss the situation in Iraq following the kidnapping of the women, who have been identified as Simona Pari and Simona Torretta.

    ….

    Italy, a strong supporter for the US-led war in Iraq, is still recovering from the execution of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni.

    The kidnapped reporter was murdered on August 26 after Rome refused to bow to demands from the militant group to pull its troops out of the country.

    This was a bold and dangerous move by the terrorists, and there may eventually be no winners in this game. After all, change the nationality and this becomes the possible nightmare scenario that is still looming over the U.S. military after women were allowed on, over or near the battlefield.

    There are many possible ways this can play out for all involved:

    • The terrorists risk an immediate backlash from the muslim community for involving civilian women
    • The Italian government may have to make some hard choices — bail out of the war, deal with the scumbags, or stand firm and risk the lives of women, possibly leading to an upheaval on the home front
    • If Italy stands firm, the terrorists may execute the women, but this will almost certainly have a tremendous negative fallout in the Islamic world
    • It’s a crapshoot how Italy and some other nations would react to such an execution — knuckle under or come out guns a’blazing
    • The U.S. is forced to ride a razor’s edge here, capable of little (barring a storybook rescue), with much potentially gained and much potentially disastrously lost.

    A zero-sum game? Who knows? Perhaps a quick release is the only way to prevent losses for all involved. I’m not even going to pretend to predict the effect of execution videos hitting the internet in this case. My best hopes go out for these women, and the civilized world better pay close attention to how this one unfolds.