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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (48029)	3/12/2005 1:55:01 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Take responsibility, demands Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld wants the State Department to put more pressure on countries to take custody of some of their people who are held at the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, a senior defense official said. The military has transferred 65 prisoners from the prison in Cuba to their home countries, but some nations, not identified, have largely ignored American requests for transfers, officials said. Spokesman Richard Boucher said the State Department is working with the Pentagon to identify detainees who no longer need to be held and work with other governments to ensure a smooth transfer. Some 545 people from about 40 countries are held at Guantanamo Bay, many of them prisoners from the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Already, the military has released 211 detainees from Guantanamo, including 146 who were freed outright.

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (48029)	3/14/2005 4:33:00 PM
From: malibuca	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Do you ever stop spreading false information about what is REALLY happening in Pakistan? Whatever became of the integrity that you consistently herald? Tell the readers of your thread what is really happening in Pakistan. You know perfectly well, that little has been done to deal with the madrassas - the seminaries that Rice referred to - that are spreading hatred of the West and particularly against the US. You also know that anti-Americanism is rife and growing throughout Pakistan. It is not limited to the radical elements but extends to all segments of the population in Pakistan. Here is the reality that you will not post since it does not fit into your agenda. This is from Dawn - the premier newspaper in your country: "The CRS, which advises Congress and writes policy briefs for US lawmakers, has covered developments up to Feb 14 in its latest report on Pakistan. US CONCERNS: Notwithstanding its cooperation with the US in the war against terrorism, Pakistan is probably the "most anti-American country" in the world today, says the report. Pakistan is "probably the most anti-American country in the world right now, ranging from the radical Islamists on one side to the liberals and Westernized elites on the other side," says the report. Adding to US concerns about Pakistan's domestic political developments are increasing signs of "Islamization" and anti-American sentiments, says K. Alan Kronstadt, who is in charge of analysing Asian Affairs for the CRS. While Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf "vowed" in August 2003 to "finish off extremism," he notes, Islamic extremists routinely denounce Pakistani military operations in western tribal areas, resist government attempts to reform religious schools that teach militancy, and harshly criticize Islamabad's cooperation with the US government." dawn.com

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (48029)	3/16/2005 7:22:07 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50167

Pakistan model state for Muslim world: Rice- "Pakistan is a model country for the Muslim world," Rice said. In Washington, she had stated that she would push General Musharraf on "commitment to a democratic path" for his country. Rice also held a separate meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and exchanged views on Pak-US relations, regional security and other important regional and international issues. Holds talks with Musharraf, Shaukat; president seeks US support for Kashmir solution; formal talks today By Naveed Ahmad ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived here Wednesday evening on the second stop of her six-nation tour of South and East Asia after breaking the hype built around an announcement on the sale of F-16 fighter jets. In her meeting with President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday, Rice praised him "for his bold vision for South Asia and initiatives to promote peace and stability in the region". An official press note said the American official also appreciated Pakistan’s support for stability and reconstruction of Afghanistan. The more significant talks are scheduled for Thursday (today) when the two parties focus on multifarious issues, including the war on terror, supply of military hardware, situation in Afghanistan, high-technology trade (also nicknamed "glide path" cooperation), Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Islamabad-New Delhi talks, free trade agreement, cooperation for regional and international peace with economic. Musharraf and Rice expressed satisfaction at "the excellent cooperation between Islamabad and Washington with the latter reaffirming Washington’s commitment to have a broad-based and sustainable partnership with Pakistan. She told Musharraf that the United States was "stepping up support to Pakistan’s plans for socio-economic development and looking ways into ways to expedite defence cooperation". The president urged the American administration to lend its support to the efforts aimed at resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in keeping with the aspiration of the Kashmiri people. Musharraf underscored "normalisation in the region would not be possible without a settlement of the core dispute". He was assisted by Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri while the American top diplomat was accompanied by Ambassador Ryan C Crocker. "Pakistan is a model country for the Muslim world," Rice said. In Washington, she had stated that she would push General Musharraf on "commitment to a democratic path" for his country. Rice also held a separate meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and exchanged views on Pak-US relations, regional security and other important regional and international issues. "There is a need for US help to ensure regional peace," Shaukat told the US secretary of state. The prime minister said Pakistan was working for peace in the region. This is not only Rice’s first visit to the region since she became the top US diplomat in January but also the first of the continent. Rice will fly to the Afghan capital Kabul early today and then return to Islamabad later the same day for over three-hour formal talks with her counterpart Khurshid Kasuri and other officials. Although the hype about the sale of F-16s in Pakistan and India did not materialise yet the issue is still going to figure high in the meeting. "The issue of F-16s has become far more complex after the nuclear scandal while the United States is ready to discuss the same with the two countries. Pakistan would press Washington get more than 70-odd aircraft besides a total upgrade of its existing fleet," said well-placed source in Islamabad. According to him, the trade off for Islamabad was too big as the United States would sell Patriots to India if "we get the latest version of F-16s". Another well-placed official source told The News, "Significant part of the talks focus on the ‘Glide Path’ cooperation or next steps in strategic cooperation on the nuclear realm which out of uranium enrichment". US and India are already engaged in high-technology trade which is intended to build stronger economic ties to complement the strategic partnership between the two nations. If there is an agreement on the issue, it would allow the expansion of trade in hi-tech areas, space launch equipment and the nuclear industry. Although the US agrees with Pakistan’s need to join her "Washington wants to protect certain red lines that it had with respect to proliferation" because of fears the trade could be diverted for weapons, sources said. Under a three-phase plan, the country has to take a series of steps, such as strengthening domestic export control laws. The United States would respond with enhanced market opportunities. The United States blocked the sale of nuclear or nuclear related technologies used for peaceful purposes (health, agriculture, industry etc) for both India and Pakistan after the 1998 nuclear tests. Now that Islamabad and New Delhi have come far ahead of the nuclear threshold capability, "Pakistan believes the blocking of the technology is not logical as the same cannot be used for non-peaceful goals" an official said. "We’ve had a very productive set of discussions with the Indians over the last almost two years now about these issues and how close we could get to satisfying their interests without crossing the so-called red lines," he said, adding the glide path was a way of bringing to closure this debate. A diplomatic source, however, said the US strategic partnership in high technology realm would not be identical for both the South Asian neighbour. The agreement on glide path would have enormous consequences for the American businessmen. The glide path would also include supply of equipment used in nuclear application in health, agriculture and other peaceful research areas. Pakistan may also seek the United States support for entry into an elite international group fighting the spread of nuclear weapons - the 44-member Nuclear Suppliers Group. Analysts believe the South Asians are expecting too much from her first visit which is ‘more of an introductory one’ and there would not be big announcement at the end, something which was witnessed in India on Tuesday. Ershad Mahmud, a columnist and specialist on Kashmir, said, "We should be reading her lips as to how she refers to the core dispute between the two nations. Does cross-border terrorism rhetoric echo once again in her evening press talk?" He believes that the US Secretary of State’s comment would reflect her style of handling booth the ‘strategic partner’ nations in complex South Asia. An American journalist however, suggests during her six-nation visit, there would be a lot to notice as to how differently Rice carries the US message than Colin Powell, a known moderate face of the Bush administration. Back home, Rice is seen as a leading neo-conservative and a hardliner more sensitive to US energy needs.