Full excerpts, links up now at
http://www.zianet.com/insightanalyticalTomorrow at Buzzflash.com
WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2003
1//The Independent, UK--US RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED BY GORDON BROWN (Gordon Brown will contrast "British values" with those of America today in a conference speech bound to delight Labour critics of Tony Blair's closeness to President George Bush…it will be his emphasis on a "British" approach to policy that will appear to map out a possible post-Blair alternative for delegates furious with the Prime Minister's perceived cosiness with Mr Bush. The Chancellor will in particular amend one of Mr Blair's favourite phrases about transatlantic relations, stating that Britain should be "more than a bridge between Europe and America". It should instead act as a "beacon" for other countries.)
2//The Moscow Times, Russia—OPINION: PUTIN’S SINISTER AFGHAN ANECDOTE(Then, in the summit's most revealing and least-noted moment, Putin shared an example of why it's good to be friends: "I have never said this in public
," Putin said. "When counterterrorist operation began in Afghanistan, we were approached by people, through several channels, we were approached by people who intended to fight against Americans in Afghanistan. And if by that time President Bush and I had not formed an appropriate relationship, as we have, so no one knows what turn the developments in Afghanistan would have taken."… Whatever this was, it was not a good thing. Nor is it good that the Russian president would trot out such an ominous anecdote. It almost works as a mafia-style threat: Deal with me -- some of my partners are real gorillas, and I can only hold them back so long.)
3//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey--MILITARY OUTLINES POSSIBLE LOCATION FOR IRAQ TROOPS (The proposed location for troops starts 150 kilometers south of the Turkish-Iraqi border and passes through the critical Altinkopru point, located between Erbil and Kirkuk and currently controlled by the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), CNN Turk television said… According to media reports, one major source of disagreement encountered in talks with U.S. officials is a Turkish demand for military posts across northern Iraq. Turkey says these posts would ensure the safety of troops as they are transported to their duty areas and would be critically important for the logistical supply of troops. But the United States, heeding objections from Kurdish groups, is cautious about Turkish demands for posts in northern Iraq, reports said.)
4//The Hindustan Times, India--PAK READY TO PUSH 1,600 TERRORISTS INTO J&K (In a bid to step up terrorism in a big way in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan's ISI has revived support bases along the Line of Control and the International Border, closed after September 11, from where around 1,600 trained terrorists are set to infiltrate, top security sources said on Sunday… The report has been brought to the notice of the United States as proof about Pakistan's direct involvement in terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and its efforts to revive terrorist support set up closed after September 11 attacks.)
5//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--THREE OF A KIND: INDIA, CHINA AND RUSSIA (As the foreign ministers of India, China and Russia meet this week in New York as part of a trilateral process that began two years ago, diplomatic observers and analysts are busy appraising the strategic implications of their growing affinity. Some see it as leading to the establishment of a "strategic triangle" to save the world, particularly Asia, from the uncertainties of a unipolar world that resulted from the collapse of Soviet Union… this cooperation, though just started, has already gained strong momentum, largely because of the deteriorating world security environment since the US invasion and occupation of Iraq that has exposed the fault lines in the unipolar world system much sooner than would have otherwise happened.)
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