Just Foreign Policy News
November 5, 2009
Washington Post Slants Afghan News with Biased News Header
The Washington Post prefaces news articles about Afghanistan and Pakistan with the header: "The AfPak War: Combating Extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan." Even the article on Matthew Hoh’s resignation – in which Hoh argued the opposite, that the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan was fueling the insurgency – carries this header. Urge the Washington Post to retire this biased news header.
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/wapo-header
Background: WaPo Slants Afghan News with Biased News Header
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/394
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Summary:
U.S./Top News
1) Adm. Mullen said he expected the Pentagon to ask Congress in the next few months for emergency financing to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though President Obama pledged to end the practice of paying for the conflicts with supplementals, the New York Times reports. Representative Murtha cited $40 billion last week as a hypothetical amount for the supplemental financing request. The number represented a standard calculation of $1 billion for every 1,000 troops deployed. Defense officials said the final request would depend on the number of additional troops Obama decided to send to Afghanistan. The request is likely to ignite objections from Democrats who are increasingly alarmed about the war in Afghanistan, and it could become a vehicle for a battle between Obama and his liberal Democratic base, the Times says. Defense Department officials say they are likely to need more money even without an increase in troops.
2) Threats by coup leaders in Honduras to renege on a deal to restore President Zelaya that was brokered by the United States are putting Washington’s credibility is on the line, writes Mark Weisbrot in the Guardian. Tuesday night, Thomas Shannon, the US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, told CNN en Espanol that the US plans to recognise the November elections whether or not Zelaya is restored. This would put Washington on a collision course with the rest of the hemisphere, including Brazil. According to diplomats close to the negotiations, both Shannon and Hillary Clinton had given assurances that last week’s accord would bring Zelaya back to the presidency.
3) Australian Defence Minister John Faulkner has told the US that Australia will not be sending any extra troops to Afghanistan, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports.
4) Paraguay’s President Lugo fired Paraguay’s military chiefs Wednesday, a day after denying he had worries about a coup amid calls for his impeachment, AP reports. The new military commanders must be approved by the Senate.
Honduras
5) Efforts to create a unity government aimed at ending Honduras’ political standoff appeared to be dragging past Thursday’s deadline, with the overthrown president warning that failing to act was a risky endeavor, AP reports. An accord forged last week with the help of U.S. diplomats gave the two sides until Thursday to install a government with supporters of Zelaya and his rival, Roberto Micheletti, who was named president by Congress after Zelaya was removed in a June 28 coup.
Israel/Palestine
6) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, citing dismay over the progress of U.S.-brokered peace talks, said Thursday he does not want to run for reelection when his term ends in January, the Washington Post reports.
Iraq
7) The Iraqi Parliament failed again on Thursday to approve a law to regulate a national election in January, deepening doubts about whether the nation can hold its election on schedule, the New York Times reports. A member of the Independent High Electoral Commission, the government agency that organizes elections, said she would wait until Parliament met on Sunday to decide whether to postpone the election.
Contents:
U.S./Top News
1) Pentagon Expected To Request More War Funding
Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, November 5, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/05military.html
Washington – The nation’s top military officer said Wednesday that he expected the Pentagon to ask Congress in the next few months for emergency financing to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though President Obama has pledged to end the Bush administration practice of paying for the conflicts with so-called supplemental funds that are outside the normal Defense Department budget.
The financing would be on top of the $130 billion that Congress authorized for the wars just last month.
The military officer, Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not say how much additional money would be needed, but one figure in circulation within the Pentagon and among outside defense budget analysts is $50 billion.
Representative John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who is chairman of the House appropriations defense subcommittee, cited $40 billion last week as a hypothetical amount for the supplemental financing request. The number represented a standard calculation of $1 billion for every 1,000 troops deployed.
Defense officials said the final request would depend on the number of additional troops Mr. Obama decided to send to Afghanistan. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, has asked for 40,000 more troops on top of the 68,000 American troops already there.
The request is likely to ignite objections from Democrats on Capitol Hill who are increasingly alarmed about the eight-year-old war in Afghanistan, and it could become a vehicle for a battle between Mr. Obama and his liberal Democratic base.
[…] The White House had little comment on Admiral Mullen’s remarks. "The president’s budget provides a full-year funding for anticipated costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he has made clear his intent to fund these wars through the normal budgeting process," Tommy Vietor, a White House spokesman, said in an e-mail message. "No decisions have been made about additional costs related to new resource requests from the Department of Defense."
Although the size of any request would depend on the number of extra forces sent, Defense Department officials say they are likely to need more money even without a buildup. Robert F. Hale, the Pentagon comptroller, recently told staff members of the House Appropriations Committee that it would be hard to get through September 2010 with $130 billion, regardless of a troop increase, said a Congressional staff member who did not want to be identified as discussing internal matters. Mr. Hale declined to comment.
[…] In April, before the current Pentagon budget was passed, the Obama administration asked Congress for approval of an emergency $83.4 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through Sept. 30. The administration said the money was needed because legislation passed during the Bush administration provided only enough money to pay for the wars through midyear.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said at the time that the request was unavoidable and that it would be the last outside the normal budget process.
2) Deal or no deal in Honduras
After brokering Manuel Zelaya’s return to power in Honduras, the US must force the coup government to honour the agreement
Mark Weisbrot, Guardian, Wednesday 4 November 2009 21.30 GMT http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/nov/04/honduras-zelaya-agreement-obama-clinton
Last Friday an agreement was reached between the de facto regime in Honduras, which took power in a military coup on 28 June, and the elected president Manuel Zelaya, for the restoration of democracy there.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, in announcing what she called a historic agreement, said: "I cannot think of another example of a country in Latin America that … overcame such a crisis through negotiation and dialogue." Hopefully this will turn out to be true.
But the ink was barely dry on the accord when leaders of the coup regime indicated that they had no intention of honouring it. Some of them clearly saw the agreement as just another delaying tactic. They have talked of postponing congressional approval of the accord until after the 29 November elections, or even voting not to restore Zelaya.
If the Honduran congress delays or rejects the restoration of Zelaya, it will violate the clear intent of the accord. The agreement states: "The decision the national congress adopts should establish a basis for achieving the social peace, political tranquility and democratic governability the society requires and the country needs." This and other language makes it clear that the negotiators – who have the ability to deliver the votes in congress – agreed on Zelaya’s restoration.
[…] Those in the administration who think they can now wash their hands of the accord and let the coup leaders turn their back on it had better think twice. The Obama team has embarrassed itself enough by having to be pressured by the rest of the hemisphere to tell the coup government that Washington would not recognise the 29 November elections without prior restoration of Zelaya. Just a few weeks earlier, the Obama administration had blocked the Organisation of American States from passing a resolution to this effect.
But now Washington’s credibility is really on the line. The Obama team brokered this accord and got a commitment from the coup leaders. If they go back on it, how much will the Obama administration’s word be worth on anything else? Everyone knows that Washington has the ability to force the coup regime to comply. There are billions of dollars of its assets in the US that could be frozen or seized. Seventy percent of the country’s exports go to the US. The coup regime has no international legitimacy and no standing to challenge the US under international treaties for any economic sanctions that might be invoked.
[…] Tuesday night, Thomas Shannon, the US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, told CNN en Espanol that the US plans to recognise the November elections whether or not Zelaya is restored. This would definitely put Washington on a collision course with the rest of the hemisphere, including Brazil. Furthermore, according to diplomats close to the negotiations, both Shannon and Hillary Clinton had given assurances that last week’s accord would bring Zelaya back to the presidency.
[…] Obama now has a choice. He can force the coup regime to honour the accord or lose further credibility among governments in the hemisphere and the world.
3) Faulkner Rules Out Afghan Troop Increase
Lisa Millar and John Shovelan, Australian Broadcasting Corp., Thu Nov 5, 2009 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/05/2734229.htm
Defence Minister John Faulkner has told his American counterparts that Australia will not be sending any extra troops to Afghanistan.
On his first visit to Washington as Defence Minister, Senator Faulkner met with congressional members, military commanders and his American counterpart, Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
He has told them Australia will not be adding to the 1,550 soldiers it already has in Afghanistan.
[…]
4) President Lugo Fires Paraguay’s Military Chiefs
Associated Press, November 4, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/04/world/AP-LT-Paraguay-Lugo.html
Asuncion, Paraguay – President Fernando Lugo fired Paraguay’s military chiefs Wednesday, a day after denying he had worries about a coup amid calls for his impeachment.
In a statement given to journalists at the presidential palace, Lugo named new commanders for the army, air force and navy without explaining his reasons. The new chiefs will assume their posts Thursday, said the statement signed by the president.
There was no immediate reaction from the military or from the political opposition, which controls Congress.
The new military commanders must be approved by the Senate. Lugo did not immediately submit a formal request for their approval Wednesday, but he did schedule promotions and retirements for other military officers for Nov. 11, meaning more changes could happen soon.
The shuffling in the military command came only one day after Lugo, a left-leaning former Roman Catholic bishop, publicly dismissed speculation about a possible coup as he struggles with Congress over implementing economic and social changes.
[…]
Honduras
5) Honduras nears deadline for new unity government
Juan Zamorano, Associated Press, Thursday, November 5, 2009 4:42 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110503265.html
Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Efforts to create a unity government aimed at ending Honduras’ four-month political standoff appeared to be dragging past Thursday’s deadline, with the overthrown president warning that failing to act was a risky endeavor.
"Today is a momentous day," ousted President Manuel Zelaya told Radio Globo from the Brazilian Embassy, where he is holed up under threat of arrest. "Congress has a great role in solving this conflict. If it is not in session to reverse the coup and achieve peace and national reconciliation, the agreement will no longer be fulfilled."
An accord forged last week with the help of U.S. diplomats gave the two sides until Thursday to install a government with supporters of Zelaya and his rival, Roberto Micheletti, who was named president by Congress after Zelaya was removed in a June 28 coup.
[…]
Israel/Palestine
6) Palestinian President Abbas says he does not want to run for reelection
Howard Schneider, Washington Post, Thursday, November 5, 2009 3:17 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110501638.html
Jerusalem – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, citing dismay over the progress of U.S.-brokered peace talks, said Thursday he does not want to run for reelection when his term ends in January.
His 15-minute address on Palestinian television nevertheless remained equivocal as to whether he actually intends to leave office in a matter of weeks. Such a move would throw an already chaotic Palestinian political system into full disarray.
Analysts said it was possible Abbas was merely venting frustration over a dialogue with the United States and Israel that has undercut him politically without producing any progress toward creation of a Palestinian state.
"I do not want to run," the 74-year-old leader said, stopping short of a declarative plan to retire. With a list of detailed steps he thinks are needed to move peace talks forward, the speech seemed designed to leave options open while exerting pressure on Israel and the Obama administration.
[…]
Iraq
7) Another Miss on Iraqi Election Law Raises Prospect of Damaging Delay of Vote
Timothy Williams and Sa’ad Izzi, New York Times, November 6, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/world/middleeast/06iraq.html
Baghdad – The Iraqi Parliament failed again on Thursday to approve a law to regulate a national election in January, deepening doubts about whether the nation can hold its election on schedule.
American military officials have said a postponement of the country’s Jan. 16 parliamentary election could delay the withdrawal of American troops out of fear for Iraq’s political stability.
Hamdia al-Hussaini, a member of the Independent High Electoral Commission, the government agency that organizes elections here, said she would wait until Parliament met on Sunday to decide whether to postpone the election. Earlier in the week, Faraj al-Haideri, the head of the electoral commission, warned that if a law was not passed by Thursday, he would recommend a delay because there would be insufficient time to print ballots and perform other preparatory work.
"We are going to wait until the end of the day Saturday to see what they do," Mrs. Hussaini said.
[…]
–
Robert Naiman
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