Author Archives: Gunjan Priya

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Bomb Blast in Lebanon Targets UN convoy

Bomb blast along the streets of Beirut targeted a convoy of Italian peace keepers who are in the country under the mandate of the UN.
It is reported that the attack injured six of the soldiers. It was the first time since 2008 that such an incidence is to happen in the country.

An Italian general who spoke to the press after the attack said that the bomb was planned specifically against the Italian peace keepers. General Santi Bonfanti who was the second in command of the UN peace keepers in Lebanon said that one of the wounded soldiers had undergone surgical operation and that another soldier is to go for a surgical operation.

He said that the other soldiers were in good conditions. The general was speaking to the Italian television. The explosion was planted for the soldiers along the Sidon highway. The explosion made a severe mark on the road.
Italy was one of the countries that contributed soldiers for peace keeping in Lebanon. The soldiers have maintained a relative peace in the country until the recent attack. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. This was the first time that an incident like this has happened in the country since 2008. It would be recalled that a similar attack killed the former prime minister of the country.

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British Air force to use Bunker Busting Bombs against Gaddafi

The Royal Air Force is to use bunker busting bombs against Moamar Gadhafi in Libya. The 2,000 lb bomb is to destroy Gadhafi command centers. The bomb which is about 14ft long has the capability of punching through reinforced concrete. It is expected to be deployed within days by the Royal air force which is part of the NATO military campaign against the government of Col. Moamar Gadhafi in Libya.

The bombs were used during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The arrival of the bomb will strengthen the ability of NATO to ground the operations of Gadhafi forces. It will target military installations in the country and will reduce civilian casualties.

It will be recalled that the prime minister of Britain David Cameron has said that the British government will send apache helicopters to destroy key installations under the command of Col Gadhafi. Last Friday the RAF and other jets destroyed guard towers located at the Bab Al- Aziziyah complex of Col Gadhafi. It was reported that Gadhafi is hiding in different hospitals in Tripoli to escape being killed by the NATO bombs.

Meanwhile Russia a strong ally of Col Gadhafi has called on him to step down and safe the country further destruction.

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Obama Polish Tour; Military Relationship Tops Agenda

President Barack Obama has rounded up his European tour with a visit to strong ally Poland. President Obama who was part of the G8 meeting visited some countries in Europe which include Iceland, Britain and to eastern European countries where he visited Poland. Obama wanted to use the tour to the eastern European countries to ensure them of American co-operation in area of defense.

President Obama’s visit to Eastern Europe was part of his campaign to reassure the international community that the issue of Trans Atlantic alliance remains strategic to the defense of America and the world. He also wanted to ensure military cooperation between the former Russian allies.

The president had a talk with the prime minister of Poland. The president after having a discussion with the polish president Bronislaw Komorowski extended the olive branch to Russia. He cleared the air on the issue of missile defense saying that it is strategic to the defense of the country.

The NATO missile defense the president said would explore the possibility of cooperating with Russia. The president had a discussion with the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev at the G8 meeting. The president said that he will maintain the relationships that exist between the two countries. A relationship he has worked very had to improve since 2009.

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G8 leaders hail pro-democracy changes in Arab World

The world most powerful countries which constitute the G8 countries are supporting the Arab Spring. They also demanded that the Libyan leader Col Moamar Gadhafi should step down. The group also promised to provide billions of dollars to the countries that are experimenting on democratic governments.

Although the meeting did not announce the total figure financial figure they are going to give to the Arab world but the Tunisian finance minister said that the amount could be up to $40 billion dollars. The group observed that democracy is the foundation for stability and economic growth. The meeting also had a meeting with the post revolutionary prime ministers of Tunisia and Egypt who pleaded with the G8 countries to aid their countries in their reform program.

The meeting was attended by presidents and prime ministers of the G8 group of countries. The prime minister of Britain, Canada, France Italy as well as Japan attended on the second day which was also the final day for the conference. The meeting was hosted by France president Mr. Nicholas Sarkozy. He is also the chairman of the summit. They also critical examined the situation in those countries that are resting change in their countries. They specifically mention Syria and Libya.

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Republican Candidate defeated in N.Y. election over Medicare issue

The outcome of the special elections that was conducted in New York has shown that the Americans have more confidence on the Democratic party policy on Medicare than the Republican Party. The republicans paid for it as they lost the seat they have traditionally held for than 40 years in New York.

An independent poll conducted agreed that it was the issue of Medicare more than any other issue that made the voters to choose the democratic candidate Katty Hochul over the Republican Jane Corwin who was a sitting member of the house. The democratic is already seeing the outcome of the election as a clear evidence that the Republican policy on Medicare is backfiring.

The outcome of the election may have affected the senate rejection of the house bill for the Medicare policy by 57 to 40 votes. Even some republicans voted against the party position when the senate conducted their vote over the issue. Boosted by the outcome of the New York election the chairman of the democratic party congressional campaign committee Steve Israel boasted that the party will win up to 97 seats in the House of Representatives in 2012 which is more than the 68 seats that they lost in last elections.

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White House asks Pakistan to target militants

The US government has handed the names of specific militant leaders which she wants Pakistani authorities to help track down. The names include 4 extreme Islamic leaders.

The first name on that list is the man acknowledged to be the deputy for Osama Bin Laden Ayman al-Zawahiri. Other names on that list are the operational commander of an Islamic network known Haqqani. His name is Siraj Haqqani. He is the head of the group that is most deadly among the Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. He is described as the next Osama Bin Laden. The other name in the list includes Atiya Abdel Rahman. He is a Libyan and he is the operational chief of al Qaeda.

This information was revealed by Pakistani intelligent. It was part of the discussions going on between the two intelligent groups. The names according to the Pakistani officials should be a target for joint operations between the American intelligent and Pakistani intelligent.

However US secretary of State Mrs. Clinton said that they did not give specific names but said that the death of Osama Bin Laden has caused a turning point in relationships between America and Pakistan and said that Pakistan must do much to tackle terrorism or America will cut the $2 billion aid program.

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Serbian military officer Mladic likely to face extradition

A judge in Belgrade Serbia has ruled Friday that the former Serbian military officer can be extradited to the world court sitting in Hague to face charges on the atrocities he committed. Ratko Mladic was arraigned before the court. However he has three days to appeal against the ruling.

The arrest and subsequent arraignment of Mladic a former Serbian army general who was accused of being the mastermind of the worst atrocities committed against mankind in Europe since the end of the Second World War was a major breakthtough. He was accused of supervising the massacre of over 8000 Muslims during the Bosnia war that lasted between 1992 and 1995.

His capture is a major breakthrough towards allowing the 2 neighboring countries from joining the European Union. It is expected that his arrest and subsequent prosecution will begin the process of healing the old wound and animosities between the two countries.

It was surprised to the world how the former army general was able to evade for more than 15 years after the massacre. The 60 year old general has developed ill health and his son said that his health is failing and called for international medical experts to examine him. With the decision of the judge it is now clear that he would be transferred to The Hague unless he appealed against the decision.

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Republicans to flay Obama on Israel policy in campaign

The last visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to US has opened another contentious issue in the American politics. The prime minister had disagreed with President Obama’s policy on 1967 border.

The prime minister was applauded as he addressed the congress on the state visit. Republicans have already started making issue over Obama’s 1967 border. Republican congressional leaders and presidential aspirants have agreed with Netanyahu that it is only land swap and not 1967 border that would bring lasting peace in the Middle East.

The Obama statement was a big political miscalculation because the American Jews always have more confidence in Democratic Party than the republicans. In the past the Jews have bank rolled the funding of the democratic candidates. The republicans wanted to cash in on this blunder to eliminate the millions of dollars that the Jews would have donated to aid the Obama 2012 rerun bid.

They are not expecting to use this to win the loyalty of the Jews. The republicans are doing calculations on how they will win the votes in the swing states.

It was the view of John Bolton that this mistake by Obama could make the Jews, pastors and evangelists who are very critical of Islam to support the republicans in 2012 elections.

It is apparent that the democrats are worried by Obama statement by the way they tried to over applaud the republicans during the speech by Netanyahu. Already some democratic leaders in the house have started distancing themselves from Obama over the issue.

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US judge rules rampage suspect incompetent

A federal judge in America ruled on Wednesday that Jarel Loughner is incompetent to stand trial; reason being that he is mentally unbalanced. Loughher was arraigned before the court for opening fire on a constituent event in January which led to the death of about 6 people and 12 other people sustaining injuries.

The judge Larry Burns had earlier suspended proceedings on the case when the accused misbehaved and sent him to Springfield psychiatric center for examination. He was suspected to be suffering from schizophrenia. However the case was adjourned to September 21 to enable prosecution continue with the case, at that time it was expected that the accused would have become mentally balanced enough to understand the 49 charges that were laid against him.

It is feared that the accused would never get the emotional competence again and he will remain in the facility for the rest of his life. However the prosecutors are optimistic that by the time the court reconvenes again for the case on September that Loughner would have improved mentally for him to face justice for the multiple crimes and the charges that are laid against him. The court officials are having a review of the proceeding to ascertain the veracity of the statement that was credited to him for the short relieve on the trial.

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Netanyahu sets tough agenda for peace negotiations

The prime Minister of Israel Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu addressed American congress where he asked the Palestinians back to the negotiation table but with a tough stance on some of the issues that divided the two sides. He told congress that the Israeli government is prepared to make concessions in exchange for peace.

His speech to the congress was immediately rejected by the Palestinian officials who declared that the stance of Israel is equivalent to declaration of war against the people of Palestine.

It appears that the speech was accepted by the American law makers who greeted his speech with resounding ovation. The prime minister has presented a proposal that would lead to two separate nations that would be co existing with each other. The proposal that was presented by the prime minister according to him would lead to what he called viable, prosperous and an independent Palestinian state. The speech was high mark of the prime minister’s visit to US thus ending the row that has greeted the Obama 1967 border line agenda.

The prime minister is one of the few world leaders who had the special privilege of appearing before the US congress twice. He told the congress that Israel is ready to make some concessions including land.