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

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (48041)	3/13/2005 10:46:04 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Kurds and United Alliance officials have said that both sides have agreed that Iraq would not become an Islamic state, a desire also expressed by the country's most powerful Shiite cleric — Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. United Alliance and Kurdish politicians refined plans to form a coalition government that officials said include an agreement not to turn the country into an Islamic state, a foreign news agency reported on Sunday. In political developments, the country's main Shiite and Kurdish coalitions were putting the finishing touches on an agreement they hope to sign on Monday forming a coalition government. The Kurds have agreed that conservative Islamic Dawa party leader Ibrahim al-Jaafari will be Iraq's prime minister.The Kurds were concerned with al-Jaafari's conservative brand of Islam and that he may not be a strong supporter of federalism — which they have insisted on. To allay Kurd concerns the Kurds and alliance officials are now declaring that both sides have agreed that Iraq would not become an Islamic state.

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (48041)	3/13/2005 12:29:18 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Israel has drawn up secret plans for a combined air and ground attack on Iran to foil its nuclear ambitions if diplomatic pressure fails to deter the Islamic Republic, a media report said here on Sunday. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's inner cabinet gave the "initial authorisation" for an attack at a private meeting last month on his ranch in the Negev desert, a report in The Sunday Times said. Israel's defence forces "have used a mock-up of Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant in the desert to practice destroying it", it said. Their tactics reportedly include airstrikes by F-15 fighter planes and raids by teams from Israel’s elite Shaldag commando unit. The plans have been discussed with American officials who, the paper said, have indicated provisionally that they will not stand in Israel's way if all international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear projects failed. The report came out even as both US and Iran signalled a softening in their respective stances on the issue. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday that America would support Britain, France and Germany in offering economic incentives to Tehran for abandoning its nuclear programme. Israel responded cautiously to the American announcement. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he believed diplomacy was the only way to deal with the issue, but warned, "the idea that this tyranny of Iran will hold a nuclear bomb is a nightmare, not only for us but for the whole world." Meanwhile, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Saturday said, "We are ready to cooperate with the world to give more certainty that Iran is not moving toward the creation of nuclear arms."

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (48041)	3/13/2005 7:26:59 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

In the world infested with terror demigods,psychopaths, and obsessed megalomaniacs, somewhere in the hinterlands around the globe the remnants and tentacles of possible future terror chain are being eliminated or tracked; a successful policy means a working alliance with nations which matter, a defined goal of closure of established sanctuaries and a new beginning in a land where earlier terror ruled the territory! 700 troops, nine helicopter gunships involved in action-Six arrested in North Waziristan military operation MIRANSHAH: Six persons were taken into custody for questioning in a big military operation involving more than 700 troops and nine helicopter gunships in the remote Shawal valley of North Waziristan tribal agency on Sunday. Tribal sources in Miranshah and Shawal valley said the six men were locals and belonged to the Warhika Janikhel Wazir sub-tribe. They were flown in military helicopters first to Miranshah, headquarters of North Waziristan, and then to Bannu for interrogation. One of them was identified as Noor Nawaz, another was the son of one Aslam, while two others were the son and nephew of a tribesman named Khan alias Khanakay. The remaining two couldn’t be identified. The sources in Shawal valley said the troops searched 36 homes looking for militants and sophisticated arms. They said the six men nabbed in the operation were held for possessing heavy weapons. In one home, some sleeping bags were found. But tribesmen insisted that keeping heavy weapons was nothing unusual in North Waziristan and the government knew the situation. They also pointed out that the authorities had agreed with a tribal jirga that the tribal people could keep heavy weapons. Authorities in Miranshah and Peshawar said the six men would in all probability be freed in the next few days after undergoing some interrogation. Military spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said 10 persons were arrested during the operation. Two troops sustained injuries when a hand-grenade exploded while being handled by a soldier. Reports said the hand-grenade fell from the soldier’s hand, causing an explosion that caused injuries to two soldiers. They were flown in a chopper first to Miranshah, then to Wana for treatment in a military hospital. Subsequent reports said they were shifted to Bannu and hospitalised at the Combined Military Hospital. The use of a large number of soldiers and gunship helicopters fuelled speculation that the target was either foreign militants or Abdullah Mahsud, the most wanted tribal militant from neighbouring South Waziristan. According to tribal sources, the troops didn’t meet any resistance as they encircled Manhah village in the forested Shawal valley, which borders Afghanistan. They said the operation started during the night and continued until 4.30 pm Sunday. Ground troops began deploying late Saturday and occupied vintage points to plug escape routes. Helicopters kept flying between Miranshah, Shawal valley, Bannu and Wana the whole day to ferry more troops, particularly the army commandoes who are part of the Rapid Reaction Force based outside the tribal areas. The over flights by gunship helicopters scared away the people and fanned speculations about the intent of the intense aerial activity. Tribal sources said the military organised the raid on the basis on a tip-off. However, the troops couldn’t lay hands on any foreign or local militant. It appeared that the suspects hiding there slipped away before the operation.