Iraq to Restore Death Penalty After 30th (re: Saddam)--New WMW

[Gloria]

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


WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR JUNE 7, 2004

1//The News International, Pakistan--IRAQ TO RESTORE DEATH PENALTY AFTER 30TH (Iraq is to restore the death penalty after the return of sovereignty later this month, in a measure which could affect ousted president Saddam Hussein, Justice Minister Malik Dohan al-Hassan said on Sunday…The justice minister, less than a week after his appointment, was adamant that Saddam deserved no less than the firing squad.)



2//The Independent, UK--BLAIR ADMITS EUROPE AND IRAQ WILL COST LABOUR VOTES(Tony Blair admitted yesterday that his decision to support President George Bush over Iraq will cost him votes in this week's elections and was a "problem" for the party. The Prime Minister, in an interview with Radio 4's The World This Weekend, sought to downplay expectations of an electoral breakthrough in the European, London and local elections on Thursday, and said Iraq was "always going to be difficult" for Labour…An ICM poll yesterday of 202 marginal constituencies found that Mr Blair could gain a 107 majority for a third term, down from 165 at the last election. But if Gordon Brown was leader Labour ratings would shoot up in marginal seats.)



3//The Japan Times, Japan--WILL KOIZUMI KEEP DISTANCE FROM BUSH AT G-8 SUMMIT?(Fresh off a high-profile diplomatic dash to North Korea, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will be heading into next week's annual Group of Eight summit at Sea Island, Ga., with a stronger hand than usual. His popularity is on an upswing, and the nation's economy is sputtering back to life after a long slumber. But some analysts say he might want to keep a bit of distance between himself and U.S. President George W. Bush…"People are beginning to feel that America's Iraq policy was a failure, and that Koizumi made a great mistake by going along with it," said Jin Igarashi, a professor at Tokyo's Hosei University. "He should use the summit to make suggestions or present Japan's positions. But I fear he will just nod along with Bush.")



4//eTaiwanNews.com, Taiwan--TOKYO, SEOUL SHAPE MILITARY TO NEW THREATS (South Korea and Japan said yesterday they're realigning their militaries to face terror threats in Asia while Australia's defense minister said his country would help the United States "in any way" to maintain security in the region. The comments followed a speech by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who urged countries in the Asia-Pacific area to ratchet up maritime patrols and warned that terrorists could strike again. Masahiko Hori, director general of international affairs for Japan's Defense Agency, said Tokyo is considering "utilizing military power for a policing purpose" to protect inbound sea cargo from attack.)



5//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--AGILE US MILITARY OF FUTURE EYES NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN BASES (The United States is close to deciding whether to spend tens of millions of dollars establishing permanent joint training facilities in northern Australia for its military forces.The Defence Minister, Robert Hill, told the Herald yesterday that he expected a decision in principle next month on a plan that could bring thousands of American soldiers, marines and air force personnel to train at upgraded Australian bases…The US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, who met Senator Hill at the conference, said the US was streamlining the deployment of its forces around the world. "We don't want to be in a static defence mode," he said. "We want to be in a more agile arrangement.)

[LittleApple81]

1. They and the bushistas cannot allow Saddam to talk. I bet he dies before

they even have a trial.

[LittleApple81]

2. Thanks for the post. n/t

[bluestateguy]

3. As long as it's their decision, I have no problem

All of us here want full and real sovereignty for Iraq, so if they choose to have the death penalty, that's their prerogative. If it's being pushed on them by the White House that's another matter.

While I vitriolically opposed the war from Day One, I will not be crying in my beer if Saddam Hussein is executed.

[daleo]

4. A quick kangaroo court, then execution

There is no way Saddam will be allowed to testify - he knows too much about BFEE and St. Ronnie and their involvement with giving him the poison gas used against the Iranians.