Keelty Contradicts PM on Iraq Link/Australian--New World Media Watch

[Gloria]

Full excerpts, links at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR MARCH 15, 2004

1//The Scotsman, UK--IRAQ WAR PREPARATION WAS A ‘SHAMBLES’ (The British campaign in Iraq was crippled by "shambolic" preparations that led directly to the deaths of servicemen in the field, a damning report by MPs will declare this week. The extensive review - which represents the most damaging criticism yet of the war - finds that defence chiefs committed a raft of planning blunders and mistakes in the lead-up to war, leaving their troops hopelessly exposed to attack… The report, written by Westminster’s Labour-dominated Defence Committee, is published this week on the eve of the first anniversary of last year’s strikes on Iraq.)



2//TypicallySpanish.com, Spain—THE GENERAL ELECTION (Spain has clearly demonstrated her belief in democracy with a General Election on Sunday notable for its high turnout – 77%, and the choice of the Spanish people to punish the governing Partido Popular and give power to the PSOE Socialists…The result comes as a surprise – no poll forecasted such a turnaround and observers say that the tragic terrorist attack last Thursday in Madrid played a central part in the result…It's a harsh end to eight years in power for José María Aznar, considered by many to have given Spain four years of good government in his first term, but of letting an overall majority in the second term go to his head. His outright support for President Bush and Tony Blair in the war in Iraq was opposed by as many as 90% of the Spanish people, and the terrorist attack which killed 200 in Madrid last Thursday is seen as coming as a direct result of Spain's support for the war.)



3//The Australian, Australia--KEELTY CONTRADICTS PM ON IRAQ LINK (The nation's police chief, Mick Keelty, has contradicted a key government claim – that the terrorist threat against Australia had not been increased by its decision to commit troops to Iraq. In the wake of the Madrid bombings, Mr Keelty also echoed an assessment from other national security chiefs that terrorists would strike at Australia…"The reality is, if this turns out to be Islamic extremists responsible for this bombing in Spain, it's more likely to be linked to the position that Spain and other allies took on issues such as Iraq," Mr Keelty told the Nine Network's Sunday program.


4//The Moscow Times, Russia--EDITORIAL: PUTIN TAKES US BACK TO THE FUTURE (Even though Putin is extremely popular and would surely have won anyway in a relatively free and fair election, the Kremlin felt the need for heavy-handed intervention in the electoral process, which was mitigated only by an effort to provide a few rival candidates, such as Irina Khakamada and Nikolai Kharitonov, with token television coverage. The Kremlin's behavior not only reveals the degree of its occupants' insecurity, it also provides a clear indication that Putin and his entourage are playing for keeps in a game that stretches to 2008 and well beyond. The system of "managed democracy" in place has a natural tendency towards heavy-handedness because nothing can be left to chance -- and that means keeping a tight lid on any rival candidate, such as Sergei Glazyev, who could conceivably become a threat to Putin installing his chosen successor in 2008.)



5//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates--SAUDI ARABIA LIKELY TO HOLD MUNICIPAL COUNCIL POLLS IN OCTOBER (Saudi Arabia's first elections are likely to take place in October - and a decision on whether to give women the vote will be made soon, senior officials said yesterday. Nevertheless, a prominent media source told Gulf News that it is hard to expect elections to be held in October as it coincides with Ramadan. It is likely that the civic polls could be held before or after Ramadan, he said.)

[Gloria]

1. Kick for overnight crowd....

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