Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (95733)	4/24/2003 7:33:58 AM
From: maceng2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

WMD won't do it; they don't have any. [I find this news story too funny. UK government minister Jack Straw has made lots of ground as being perceived as an able senior politician. He was regarded as a numpty by many during Labours lean years in opposition.] Iraq weapons 'will not be planted' news.bbc.co.uk Jack Straw has dismissed suggestions that coalition forces would "plant" weapons of mass destruction to justify the war in Iraq. The UK foreign secretary said "immense care" would be taken to check the veracity of any weapons finds. Mr Straw was speaking in a special edition of BBC News Interactive's phone-in programme Talking Point. Asked why no weapons of mass destruction had yet been found, Mr Straw said Saddam Hussein had been skilful in hiding such weapons and had had "months of warning" as the international community debated how to tackle Iraq. He admitted that the task of finding weapons would be "difficult". But he said Saddam Hussein's regime had possessed weapons of mass destruction in the past, including 10,000 litres of anthrax. He said: "We very much hope that we do find a full account of this anthrax, but whatever we do find depends on the degree to which the Iraqi regime concealed those weapons." Mr Straw has played a key role in the Iraq crisis, and recently stressed the importance of the UN in post-war Iraq. Analysis: Jack Straw forges post-war alliances Since becoming Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary in June 2001 he has also been involved in EU expansion talks, the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe and the Middle East peace process. The Talking Point programme is being carried live on BBC News Online and on digital News 24. Mr Straw was answering questions from all over the world. The programme will also be broadcast on World Service radio and World TV on Sunday, 27 April at 1400GMT/1500BST.

To: Dayuhan who wrote (95733)	4/25/2003 11:00:24 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

NEW YORK TIMES---Sounds like the NK went out of their way to piss off the Chinese. >>>>> Chinese analysts and Asian diplomats said they were bewildered by Pyongyang's negotiating strategy, which seemed to be equal parts bluster and belligerence. They said it succeeded only in alarming its neighbors and potentially forcing China, which had been trying to play a mediating role between North Korea and the United States, to take a more decisive role in pressuring its onetime Communist ally. "This is a major slap in the face to China, which had really stuck its neck out to make these talks happen," said Shi Yinhong, a leading expert on international relations at Beijing's People's University. "China will certainly consider whether it needs to take a new approach to the North Korean problem, including the possibility of stepping up the pressure." China is North Korea's largest trading partner and its largest source of food and economic aid. Beijing's cooperation is seen as essential if the United States and its allies around the region seek to increase North Korea's isolation by reducing its energy supplies or restricting its exports. Mr. Shi said he did not expect that China would move immediately to cut off aid. But he said the Beijing leadership was not likely to acquiesce to the introduction of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. "China will absolutely not accept this," Mr. Shi said. "It's a nightmare for our national security."<<<< nytimes.com