Maravot's News of the World

12.02.04 US moves bases; Bush leaves Koizumi holding the bag for East Asian Security; Franks shrugged

President Bush's plan for East Asian security has apparently not been very well conveyed to his ally Japan. In order to carry on the war in Iraq the Bush administration stated that it would cut back on its bases in Europe (Germany), Japan and, last but not least, South Korea – which is what it has been doing. These reductions would help support the ongoing Iraqi invasion (2nd anniversary is March 2005). Meanwhile, seeing a bad situation getting worse, the Bush administration has been trying to figure out how to raise troop strength more in Iraq without the "D" word: "Draft." Raising the troop strength to 150,000 in Iraq to help guarantee "Iraq's peaceful and fair elections" is about all the US could muster, as of this date. We must recall that American generals have gone on record at the time the invasion of Iraq was launched that 400,000 troops would be needed. From the moment of those prescient proclamations the Bush administration has insisted that it could manage the war with lean and clean forces – clean, meaning with a minimum of support. They sent the troops in with Humvees designed for the beach or maybe as dune buggies. "How about armored vests and armored vehicles?" someone asked. "Huh?" General Franks shrugged.

(Those of you who are not military experts but live in towns where military bases were once located may appreciate where I am going with this) Waging war costs money as well. The Bush administration has run up a record debt and has reached a point where it really can't borrow much more, since every upward spike in the debt causes a downward spike in the value of the dollar. Economies that use the dollar for transactions, such as the oil trade, or Japan or China and a few European banks, can't afford a downward slide in the dollar.

Possible seat of generals for Asian Pacific: Highlander model of the Barcalounger

Area of the Kuril islands disputed

When the dollar slides – like an oiled baby bumped off a Louis XVI chair by a wily cat – they are left with a choice to devaluate their own currency to make up for the Bush administration's bad economics.

Along with the decline of the dollar is the decline in US trade, Americans aren't buying as much from overseas. And if you are Japan the closing of bases can be bad news. For all of the shoemakers, candlestick makers and toy stores next to the bases move out along with the bases. In fact, an entire city moves out along with a base, as it closes. For you who are history buffs and have seen a bit of Europe, you will note that all of the ruined castles once had villages around them to support them when they were guarding their realms. The castles are gone and the cities around them are nothing but ruins – except Versaille, but Versaille never was intended to be a castle – just a nice place to visit if you dressed as a properly attired fop. And of course if you pandered enough to king Louis XIV who built it you could live there (about 5,000 people lived in the castle). The problem with that deal was that lords and barons had to give up their own castles in order to properly rub shoulders with the panderers in Versaille's courts. A Japanese shogun used the same idea, and while both worked in consolidating their realms, the example didn't work as well in the halls of the White house under the Bush administration, as it would appear, since it attracted too many whores – sorry, I got a bit off topic there...I think.

So the Bush administration is scrambling troops to Iraq, the old American castles world wide are falling down, and the world – thanks to George W. Bush – is at war worldwide against an enemy of America. The world is less secure.

Here's the problem from a Japanese point of view: If the US moves its bases in Japan and relocates its headquarters to Guam (Guam is an island in the middle of the Pacific – near Midway Island – that breaks up the monotony of an endless 12-14 hour flight from San Francisco or Tokyo), then the move of the bases means that Japan must be responsible for maintaining the peace in East Asia. It could be invaded, struck by a sudden North Korean or Chinese attack (over China's oil exploration) and it would have to defend itself alone, with the generals of its old ally puffing on cigars in a barcalounger, designed especially for viewing baseball games, out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Then there is also the ongoing quarrel Japan is having with Russia over the South Kuril islands. The Russian people in on-the-street interviews said they were willing to go to war over that problem. It turns out that the Kuril islands are mineral rich. So we have to add to Japan's threats the growing Russian threat.

Suddenly places that were not wanted by the old empires are wanted these days. Such is the world.

In any event the Bush administration has apparently left Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan turning six different ways from Sunday (an American figure of speech meaning "too many options and totally confused"). [The Japanese dilemma: Daily Yomiuri]\
Mel Copeland

12.02.04 Austrailia refuses to sign non-aggression pact

Australia refused to sign a non-aggression pact with the southeast Asian nations during the Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos. Its reason for not joining New Zealand, Russia, China and others in signing the treaty is that it reserves the right of preemptive strikes if threatened by terrorists. Russia had previously made a similar declaration, following Bush's lead, and Russia's willingness to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation is a sign of hope in a gloomy Bush-aligned world. [More on the non-aggression pact: bignewsnetwork via http://tajikistannews.net/]

12.02.04 Kurdistan region of Iraq booming without war

Employment is booming in northern Iraq. Suleimaniyah, an area once impoverished, is receiving an influx of foreign companies and increasing regional investment. The Kurdish region of Iraq is a safe place compared to the rest of the country. [More>>dailystar.com]

12.02.04 UN tells Israel to stop violating Lebanese airspace

The UN said 8 air violations involving 16 aircraft were recorded over Lebanon's airspace Wednesday. The aircraft attract anti-aircraft fire from the Lebanese army or Hezbollah guerrillas, who played a key role in ending the Israeli occupation. Israel had occupied the area 22 years and pulled out in 2000, but continued overflights. Thursday the United Nations asked Israel to stop the overflights violating Lebanese airspace. [More>>haaretzdaily.com]

12.02.04 Syria rejects Sharon's terms for peace talks

The Syrian government on Thursday afternoon rejected Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's proposal to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad "under the right circumstances." "We have proposed a resumption of negotiations without conditions," Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara told a press conference jointly held with visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Mulki.

"I now notice that the Israeli prime minister is setting conditions on Syria, and that is unacceptable," al-Shara said. [More>>Jerusalem Post and Haaretz Daily]

12.02.04 Egyptian president advises Palestinians to work with Sharon

President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday described Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as the Palestinians' "best chance for peace." He voiced the opinion that Sharon is capable of making peace with the Palestinians if he wants to. [More..Jerusalem Post and Haaretz Daily]

12.02.04 All trapped miners are dead

All 166 miners trapped underground in a coal mine gas blast, the worst mining case ever reported in China, were confirmed dead yesterday. [More>>xinhuanet]

12.02.04 Auto sales slump in China

The booming auto sector in China you were told about a few days ago by the major networks isn't what we thought it would be. The latest news out of China is that auto sales have plunged. Apparently the growing middle class that was supposed to be fueling the boom didn't hear the good news about how well they were doing – as a report says, referring to the middle class, "only to discover it's not quite there." [More>>xinhuanet]

12.02.04 Solving the problem in Cyprus is a key to peace in the EU

Turkey insists that the problem between Turkey and Cyprus must be solved with its application to be admitted to the European Community (EU). Cyprus has been a member of the EU, but only the southern half of the island is in the EU. The northern half is a territory of Turkey. The capital city of Cyprus, Nicosia, is divided by a wall – like the Berlin Wall – where the Turkish / Cypriote border passes. In 1985, when I was there, people who lived on the southern side of the wall could not cross into the Turkish side, even to visit a family grave, where they once lived. Tourists were allowed through, however. The Turks complained about the Greeks in general: "The Greeks stir up storms in a glass of water with a toothpick," and the Greeks required (in answer) people coming from Turkey to Greek islands to wipe off their shoes on a mat on the dock before disembarking. They didn't want Turkish soil on Greek land. I didn't have to undergo the labor of cleaning Turkish soil off my shoes, but a friend with whom I had met several times in the Middle East related the custom to me as we were aboard ship heading for Haifa. Also, the Cypriote Greeks in Nicosia warned us not to go to Turkey, and if we should choose to do so we should guard our cigarette lighters, for (they said) "there are few cigarette lighters in Turkey and the Turks will steal them. I was surprised in arriving in Bodrum, Turkey, however, to find cigarette lighters all over the tabac stands. So you can understand there are ancient, hard feelings between the Greeks and the Turks (something like the Kashmir and Palestine situations – maybe Musharraf can get this problem packaged into the Kashmir and Palestine issues.) In any event, Foreign Minister Abd Allah Gul said on Thursday Ankara will not recognize the Greek Cypriot government of EU member Cyprus until a durable solution is found to the 30-year conflict between the divided island's Turkish and Greek communities. [More on Abd Allah Gul's statement: Al-Jezeera]

Mel Copeland

12.02.04 Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's office & the "Iran's secrets to Israel" papers

Four people from a pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington were served with subpoenas before a grand jury as the FBI investigates whether Israel spied on the Pentagon. The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) had its files and 4 employees subpoenaed Wednesday. FBI has been investigating whether a Pentagon analyst in Rumsfeld's office passed secret papers to Israel about Iran. [More>>Al-Jezeera]

12.02.04 New meeting for progress in the Middle East and North Africa

The first meeting of G8 nations, Middle East and North African nations will take place in Morocco December 11. The meeting is called, "Forum for the Future," and will explore economic and cooperative ventures among the nations. The Morocco meeting will bring together foreign affairs and finance ministers from more than 20 countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa region, along with G8 counterparts and representatives from regional and international organizations. [More>>dailystar.com]

12.01.04 Not to forget the hate merchants

As one reads about more intense hatred around the world it is worthwhile, perhaps, to pause and think about the responsibility of the world press and those contributing to the press as to what happened to a particular "hate monger, " Julius Streicher, in 1947.

Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher who was hanged

Streicher was hanged after his conviction in the Nuremberg Trials. The trials concluded that a good part of the anti-Semitic actions (genocide, etc.) perpetrated by Nazi Germany were egged on by Streicher through his newspaper, Der Stuermer from 1922 until 1933, his other publications and his other activities. A summary of the "Jew Baiting" for which he was accused and hanged is at http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/Streicher.htm. [photo National Archives – see University of South Florida, http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/gallery/14459.htm]
The testimony recorded against him reflects what we might expect to hear from a hate monger:

In a speech which Streicher made in 1922 in Nurnberg, after abusing the Jews in the first paragraph, he went on to say:

"We know that Germany will be free when the Jew has been excluded from the life of the German people." (M-11).

In a speech in 1924 he stated:

"I beg you and particularly those of you who carry the cross throughout the land to become somewhat more serious when I speak of the enemy of the German people, namely, the Jew. Not out of irresponsibility or for fun do I fight against the Jewish enemy, but because I bear within me the knowledge that the whole misfortune was brought to Germany by the Jews alone.

"I ask you once more, what is at stake today? The Jew seeks domination not only among the German people but among all peoples. The communists pave the way for him. Do you not know that the God of the Old Testament orders the Jews to consume and enslave the peoples of the earth? The government allows the Jew to do as he pleases. The people expect action to be taken. You may think about Adolf Hitler as you please, but one thing you must admit. He possessed the courage to attempt to free the German people from the Jew by a national revolution. That was action indeed." (M-12).

In a speech in April 1925 Streicher declared:

"You must realize that the Jew wants our people to perish. That is why you must join us and leave those who have brought you nothing but war, inflation, and discord. For thousands of years the Jew has been destroying the nations. Let us make a new beginning today so that we can annihilate the Jews."(M-12).

When one reads these and many other statements made by Streicher – words he used to condemn others and were in the end used to condemn him to death – one is reminded how much they resemble statements commonly being made throughout the world press today – but against different peoples. Fatwas against the Jews issued by Moslem clerics could have been written by Streicher. George W. Bush's comment on his "crusade" against the [Islamic] terrorists could have been written by Streicher. Many teachings in Christian churches, Jewish Synagogues and Islamic mosques resounding over prayers every sabbath, could have been written by Streicher.

Yesterday, Nov. 30, during the Peterson trial in Redwood City, near San Francisco, the mother of Stacy Peterson cried out, pointing at the defendant, "It was not necessary for you to murder your wife and her baby – you could have divorced her!"

For a man and a wife to maintain peace between themselves, or two differing societies to maintain peace between themselves, there is the need for human compassion. Not the kind of compassionate conservatism George W. Bush applies, but compassion with prudence. The ancients have reminded us time and again the need to have prudence. Socrates, in fact, insisted that his students first acquire prudence before they try to acquire skills in speaking and efficiency in affairs. "For he believed that those faculties, unless accompanied by prudence, increased in their possessors injustice and power for mischief." [Xenophon, Memorabilia IV.III]

Yesterday, Nov. 30, George W. Bush spat out in a televised interview in Canada to the effect that "Of course, if the security of the United States were threatened by Saddam Hussein I would take him out." We have to ponder this one a bit, since the world was a witness to the threat that Saddam Hussein was to the United States, and we all witnessed that the accusations under which George W. Bush launched the war on Iraq to take out Saddam Hussein just were not supported by the evidence found in the ruins of Iraq. We all witnessed over the years Saddam Hussein brandishing his rifle in front of crowds as he crowed against the United States (who had him highly constrained through sanctions, a limited area of operation with "no fly zones" in the north and south of Iraq, oversight inspections, etc.). Rumors and facts – called propaganda – having to do with Weapons of Mass Destruction were cast over our airwaves and in the United Nations through Bush administration testimony. Bush gave Saddam Hussein an ultimatum to get rid of his weapons of mass destruction or face the consequences of an American invasion. We heard many nations plea that the weapons inspectors should be allowed to complete their investigation before any act of war proceeds. Ignoring the pleas, Bush invaded anyway, even castigating other UN members for not giving him support in the venture.

The destruction taking place in Iraq, as a result of Bush's arrogant behavior, he now justifies as a mission of "freeing people." That's exactly what Streicher was trying to do and he was hanged for it.

Mel Copeland

12.01.04 Musharraf repeats position: Kashmir and Palestine disputes ripe for solution

Repeating his position voiced last week, President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday underscored that the disputes of Kashmir and Palestine are ripe for solution. He said that failure was not an option any more. Expressing this to the Argentine media the president said that he desired peace. Referring to his meeting with the Indian prime minister in New York and the joint statement issued, President Musharraf emphasised that he saw light at the end of the tunnel but there could not be clapping with one hand alone. "Pakistan is ready, India will have to come along," he added. [More>>jang.com]

12.01.04 Dollar drops, oil prices rise

An interesting Nov. 30 article by Christian E. Weller and Scott Lilly investigates a correlation between the drop in the dollar and rise in oil prices. Since oil producers sell their products in dollars, if the dollar drops, they would lose money. Weller and Lilly speculate that the producers may be compensating for their expected loss through the drop in the dollar by a proportionate increase in the price of oil. Their measurements note that the rise in the price of oil in euros is less marked than in dollars. [More>>americanprogress.org]

12.01.04 European heatwaves increasing

Richard Black, BBC environment correspondent, writes, "Emissions of greenhouse gases have more than doubled the risk of European heatwaves similar to last year's, according to a study by UK scientists. In 2003, temperatures across western Europe soared by several degrees Celsius above normal – and five degrees in the case of Switzerland. It is thought that the unusually hot summer caused tens of thousands of excess deaths. Details of the study appear in the latest issue of the journal Nature." [More>>BBCnews]

12.01.04 Not a gunfight at the OK corral, just a visit of Powell to Haiti

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 – US Secretary of State Colin Powell and his delegation escaped an intense gunfight that erupted outside Haiti's presidential palace on Wednesday. No one in the delegation was hurt. Other scheduled talks with Haitian leaders will be relocated, a senior State Department official said.

12.01.04 Japanese minister wants Security Council over-hauled

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima said on Wednesday that all permanent members of the UN Security Council should be treated the same as other members. "Japan considers it unfavorable to have permanent Security Council members that have veto power and those that don't have it," Takashima said. But the spokesman added that Japan would bow to the majority within the UN "if it is the consensus of the international community". [More>>Al-Jezeera]

12.01.04 Another coal mine explosion in China – 13 dead

With 166 workers believed dead in the Shaanxi province coal mine explosion, China endured another mine explosion in Guizhou province. The coal mine explosion killed 13 miners, with three others missing. A total of 49 workers were underground when the explosion occurred. [More>>xinhuanet via Al-Jezeera]

12.01.04 Egyptian troops to beef up Israeli-Egyptian border

Egypt and Israel have reached an accord to add 750 Egyptian troops to the Israeli-Egyptian border at Gaza to stop smuggling into Gaza. The accord modifies the 1979 Camp David agreement that allowed only a few Egyptian policemen to guard the border. [More>>haaretzdaily.com]

12.01.04 More troops heading for Iraq

The US Department of Defense announced that more troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are being deployed to Iraq in anticipation of the January 30 elections in Iraq. At least two Army brigades that are now operating in Iraq will have their tours extended by two months, until after the election [More>>AP, New York Times]

12.01.04 Morgan Stanley's chief Asian economist warns against devaluing China's currency

BEIJING, Dec. 1 – Morgan Stanley's chief Asia economist Andy Xie warns China against devaluing its currency. He says it could damage the economy and create an economic "bubble" like Japan. China will be trapped with low growth, low interest rates and low inflation but a strong currency. He says that the macro economic situation in China resembles that of Japan when its currency was pressed to revalue during its fast growth period. At the moment 1.2 billion dollars of speculator money is in China waiting for a revaluation of the RMB.

In a related article in China View, China's economy is expected to grow 8% in 2005 according to a Nov. 30 report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) [More>>xinhuanet]

12.01.04 US business group may invest $100 billion in Southeast Asia

The U.S.-ASEAN-Business Council, which represents some of the top corporations in the United States, took part in a business summit which took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' meeting in the Laotian capital. The group said Tuesday that it could invest $100 billion in Southeast Asia by 2006. [More>>bignewsnetwork.com]

12.01.04 Fallujah the 21st century Guernica?

Asia Times journalist Pepe Escobar says that when the Iraqis write their history they may compare the [ongoing] offensive in Fallujah to Guernica. While Picaso's famous painting, "Guernica" (1937) in the Prado Museum, Madrid, comes into mind for Americans who are interested in wall hangings, the now priceless work of art remembers a horrifying event history will never forget.

**Left – Guernica today (link below); right – Painting of "Guernica," Pablo Picasso, Prado Museum**

Guernica was the capital of the Basque region and bombed heavily by German planes to put down a Basque rebellion at the request of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. Basque separatists continue to seek independence from Spain. Escobar makes a strong argument for the comparison of the US bombing and assault on Fallujah to the Nazi bombing of Guernica. What is different today, from 1937 Nazi Germany and its sponsored dictatorships, is the lightspeed communication possible through the internet. We no longer depend upon large media to get news, for we can obtain it through multitudes of "bloggers" and independent media organizations. A PBS eyewitness story on the Guernica disaster is at: http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/guernica/glevel_1/1_bombing.html.
[Escobar's story is at atimes.com]

12.01.04 New oil deal between India and Russia in the making

MOSCOW , Dec. 2 (Asia Times article by Sergei Blagov) – India may be committing billions of dollars to develop oil and gas fields in Russia. A series of hydrocarbon deals is likely to be clinched during President Vladimir Putin's December visit to India. Russia and India have long discussed investments by India's Oil & Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) in Russia. "Russian companies are keen to invest heavily in India in core sectors like energy," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov announced on the eve of Putin's trip, which is due to start on Friday. He indicated that Moscow was "looking at possible cooperation in oil and gas." India already holds a 20% stake in the energy-rich Sakhalin-1 block. The Sakhalin-1 project is to begin natural-gas production in late 2005. It is likely to generate up to 8 million tons of oil and 9.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year eventually. The $12 billion project at Sakhalin-1 Exxon-Mobil is run by Exxon-Mobil with a 30% stake in the project, while Sodeco of Japan has a 30% share and Russia's Rosneft 20%. [More>>atimes.com]

12.01.04 Ukranian Parliament passes Yanukovych "no confidence" vote

KIEV, Dec. 1 – (RIA Novosti's Viktor Demidenko) - Ukraine's Parliament, the Rada, today passed a vote of no-confidence in the Viktor Yanukovych government, adopting a resolution that it be dissolved and a new cabinet of ministers be formed to replace it. The motion got through with 229 "yes" votes, three votes above the threshold. Only one MP of the 240 in attendance voted against.

The full title of the adopted resolution is "On Stabilization of the Political, Social and Economic Situation in Ukraine and Prevention of Anti-Constitutional and Separatist Actions Threatening the Country's Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity." Parliament proposed outgoing President Leonid Kuchma and Rada Speaker Vladimir Litvin form an interim "government of public confidence" to fill in the power vacuum until a new president is elected. [More>>rian.ru]

12.01.04 Russia rolls out new naval ships

Russia will be putting new ships in sea trials 2006, said Vladimir Kuroedov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, in an interview with RIA Novosti. Tests of the Korvet-type warships and the new submarine APL-995 of the Borei type will begin in 2006. The 100 meter long Korvet vessels have 2,000 tons displacement and incorporate updated attack missile systems: antiship, antiaircraft, antisubmarine with a new artillery system. The nuclear powered Borei submarine has 17,000 tons displacement,170 meters long with a crew of 130, features a leading-edge underwater noise-suppression system. It will be equipped with twelve strategic solid-fuel missiles. [More>>rian.ru]

12.01.04 Russia announces ambitious space program

MOSCOW Nov. 29 – Russia's new space program promises new vigor. Since 1989 when the budget was 6.9 billion roubles (then $4.3 billion) it has languished, with current funding being 20 percent less than that of 1989. However, state funding for the space program has been growing in the last few years. Allocations surged by 71.2% in 2002 as against 2001, and exceeded the 1999 figure by 300%. In 2003 and 2004 annual growth was 30%. The draft 2005 federal budget stipulates 18,269.63 billion roubles for the Federal Space Program, or 133.47% of the 2004 level.

As in the previous years, half of the allocations will go to the International Space Station, needed for Russia to honor its commitments. The Russian Soyuz space vehicle acts as an emergency escape craft, maintains fuel reserves and also rotates crews prior to the resumption of US shuttle flights. Future space exploration will continue to focus on biological space experiments; space observatory experiments to monitor five to ten radio-wave sources - active galaxy nuclei and a super-massive black hole in the center of the galaxy - in coordination with ground facilities conducting radio-optical observations; The Phobos-Grunt project to land probes on Mars' satellite, Phobos in 2009; a continuatin of the Coronas-Photon project; and solar-activity forecasts: A craft must be positioned as far away from the Earth as possible to predict solar activity. Russian scientists have put forward the Klipper project, which is designed to launch several tiny solar-sail satellites. The pressure of the solar wind in the sails will move the craft three to four million kilometers away from Earth, which will give scientists more time to issue warnings about "dangerous" occurrences in space. [More>>rian.ru]

11.30.04 China unhappy over Dalai Lama's visit to Russia

BEIJING, Nov. 30 – A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tuesday described Russia's allowing the Dalai Lama to visit the country as something "incomprehensible," and hoped Russia would strictly follow principles on the Tibet issue enshrined in the political documents between the two countries. "The Dalai Lama is a politician in exile disguised as a religious figure, and engages in separatist activities against China," said spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue at a press conference.

China opposes the move of any country that has diplomatic relations with China to allow the Dalai Lama to visit it in any name or form, she added. According to an Interfax news agency report, the Dalai Lama arrived in Elista, capital of the Republic of Kalmyk, on Monday to begin his visit to Russia. [xinhuanet.com]

11.30.04 Outflow of capital from Russia slows

Russian Finance Minister Aleksey Kurdrin, during a press conference Monday, said that the outflow of capital from Russia stopped in the fourth quarter of the current year. According to forecasts from finance ministry specialists, the rate of foreign investments in Russia during the fourth quarter of 2004 exceeded the rate of the capital outflow by two billion dollars. Specialists believe that the notorious Yukos case became one of the main reasons, which cut the volume of foreign investments in Russia. Aleksei Kudrin, however, disagreed with such an opinion. The minister stated that the capital outflow had been caused with more attractive interest rates abroad. In addition, the Central Bank of Russia has been hampering the ruble rate. The bank crisis in summer has also played a negative role at this point. [More>>pravda.ru]

11.30.04 "The dollar is depreciating and it is not managed," complains Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao

BEIJING, Nov. 30 – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has cricicized the United States for not taking measures to halt the slide in the dollar and insisted that China will not revalue the yuan under pressure. "We have to ask a question. The US dollar is depreciating and it is not managed," he told reporters in Laos late Sunday when asked about pressure to change the yuan's decade-old peg to the dollar.

"What is the reason for that? Shouldn't the relevant parties adopt measures?" he asked. Turning the tables on the United States, he contrasted the lack of US attention to its currency with China's attitude during the Asian financial crisis seven years ago. "China is a responsible country," he said. "In 1997, during the financial crisis, we maintained the basic stability of the yuan and made the kind of contribution that we should." [More>>xinhuanet.com]

11.30.04 More than 300 people feared dead from Philippine flood

A storm in the Philippines triggered flash floods and landslides that left thousands homeless and more than 300 dead. The floods came a week after a storm, that left about 160 people dead or missing, had hit the Philippines. The worst-hit area was Quezon province, east of Manila, where houses, bridges and roads were swept away. Another storm, nicknamed Nanmadol, is approaching the islands. Officials warn it is more powerful than the last one. [More>>bbc.co.uk via Tajikistannews.net]

11.30.04 Pilot whales and dolphins stranded in Australia

Long-finned pilot whales and bottle-nosed dolphins stranded on Sea Elephant Beach on Tasmania's King Island in Australia November 29. Over 100 of the mammals mysteriously beached themselves in a mass stranding which was repeated at another beach on the island states' south-east coast. More than three-quarters of Australia's whale strandings occur in Tasmania. [China Daily/Reuters]

11.30.04 Iran's freezing of uranium enrichment activites verified by IAEA

Monday the IAEA announced that Iran has frozen all uranium enrichment activities, following Tehran's accord to add 20 disputed centrifuges to the activities suspended. The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei said Monday, "We have already verified these 20 centrifuges and they are under (the) agency surveillance system. We have now therefore completed our verification of Iran's decision to suspend all enrichment and reprocessing related activities." ElBaradei made the announcement as he headed into a meeting of his International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to AFP. [More>>Iranmania.com]

11.30.04 United Nations to be restructured

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 – The United Nations on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping proposal to overhaul the organization, including the Security Council, in what would be the biggest UN reform since its founding in 1945. [jang.com]

11.30.04 Health crisis in Iraq, especially for children

Medact, a UK-based medical charity, said on Tuesday that the ongoing conflict in Iraq has produced a public health disaster. Many thousands of deaths and injuries and high levels of illness have been produced by the conflict. It says that there has been an alarming recurrence of previously well-controlled communicable diseases, including diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections and typhoid, especially among children. [More>>Al-Jezeera]

11.30.04 Economic growth in 2005 will be sluggish due to oil prices

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said the world is experiencing an oil-induced "pervasive sense of uncertainty." It said Tuesday that growth will dampen next year but rebound in 2006. The Paris-based organisation with 30 member countries cut its growth forecasts for most leading economies in 2005. It said: ≥Households seem to have been lacking confidence OECD-wide.≤ It publishes its economic outlook twice a year. [More>>Financial Times]

11.30.04 Red Cross files reports on Guantánamo abuse

According to a confidential report filed by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the American military has intentionally used psychological and sometimes physical coercion "tantamount to torture" on prisoners at Guanánamo Bay, Cuba. These complaints were filed in a confidential report with the US government, subsequent to the Red Cross review during most of the month of June. Their team concluded that doctors and medical workers had committed "a flagrant violation of medical ethics." [More>>New York Times via Financial Times]

11.30.04 British Embassy in Iraq says dangers in Iraq are growing

BAGHDAD Nov. 30 – Journalist Patrick Cockburn in Baghdad reports, "Disintegrating security in Baghdad was underlined in a sombre warning yesterday from the British embassy against using the airport road or taking a plane out of Iraq. The embassy says a bomb was discovered on a flight inside Iraq on 22 November. It shows that insurgents have been able to penetrate the stringent security at Baghdad airport. The embassy says its own staff have been advised against taking commercial planes.

The warning is in sharp contrast to more optimistic statements from US military commanders after the capture of Fallujah in which they have spoken of "breaking the back of the insurgency.'" [More>>news.independent.co.uk]

11.30.04 Tom Ridge resigns while boss is ducking abuse in Canada

Tom Ridge has resigned as Homeland Security Secretary. His news conference was held at 12:00pm.

The news conference was scheduled at the time George W. Bush entered Ottawa, welcomed by Prime Minister Paul Martin. Because of considerable protests and hecklers the President decided not to address the Canadian Parliament and has deferred any public speeches until his visit Wednesday to Halifax. Halifax received over 300,000 passengers from the US when flights were redirected there on 9/11.

11.30.04 Rumsfeld facing war crimes case in Germany & petition for victims filed with OAS

BERLIN (Reuters) Nov.30 – Lawyers acting for a US advocacy group will today file war crimes charges in Germany against senior US administration officials for their alleged role in torture at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. According to the group, German law allows war criminals to be investigated where ever they may be living. Those named in the case to be filed include Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, former Central Intelligence Agency chief George Tenet and eight other officials. [More>>Reuters.co.uk via first draft.com; See also Al-Jezeera]

A petition was filed earlier by the San Francisco based Association of Humanitarian Lawyers et al., with the Organization of American States (OAS). The petition intends to seek remedies for victims from the US attacks on hospitals and clinics in Falluja. The petition was submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States on be