The other news

Remember Iraq?

The level of sectarian, insurgent, and terrorist violence in Iraq continues to be unacceptably high. Yesterday there were nearly 50 violent deaths across the country. Not all of the news is bad. One province, al-Muthanna in the south, is now responsible for its own security. Diyala province is under the control of the Iraqi Army. U. S. military fatalities have decreased every month since April.

Remember Mexico?

The presidential election in Mexico still has has not been certified after more than a month. The recount continues but doesn’t seem to be revealing the widespread fraud that Lopez Obrador’s supporters have alleged. Several thousand AMLO supporters demonstrated at the Mexican tax office and before the Televisa network news offices on Friday.

The teachers’ strike in Oaxaca continues. One marcher was shot dead on Thursday.

How about North Korea?

North Korea is apparently working with Iran on long-range missiles, possibly utilizing Chinese technology.

Speaking of Iran…

Iran continues to resist suspension of its nuclear enrichment in defiance of the United Nations Security Council Resolution passed last month:

IRAN today repeated its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment activities as called for in a UN resolution, threatening instead to withdraw from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Iran doesn’t accept suspending its uranium enrichment,” the official IRNA agency quoted parliamentary speaker Gholam-Ali Hadad-Adel as telling Parliament.

“If the result of our being part of international organisations and the IAEA is to be deprived of our absolute right (in nuclear matters), there is no reason for us to continue to be part of such organisations,” he said.

The UN Security Council has given Iran until August 31 to halt enrichment and reprocessing activities or face possible sanctions.

The resolution was pushed through after Iran ignored a previous non-binding deadline and failed to respond to an international offer of incentives in exchange for a moratorium on nuclear fuel work.

Iran has repeatedly insisted its nuclear programme is for civil purposes only despite Western concerns that it may be cover for an attempt to develop the bomb.

3 comments… add one
  • kreiz Link

    Rick Moran: “But the sad fact is that the forces representing anti-modernism, anti-Semitism, and genocide are in the ascendancy today over those who represent freedom, tolerance, and civilization.”

  • betty Link

    How about Pakistan?

    They plan to build facilities that will increase their bomb production by 50 per year. Plenty to sell to the Arabs.

    Yet we don’t worry about Osama’s home away from home.

  • Betty, other than the major base we have in Jacobabad and the three small bases we have in Pakistan (some of the forces are alleged to be assisting the Pakistanis, er, guard their nuclear weapons) and hoping that Musharraf stays in good health I’m not sure what we can do about Pakistan.

    About the best we can hope for is to cultivate good relations as best we can and keep our powder dry. Probably the most effective way we could undermine what relationship we have would be by border incursions into Waziristan.

    We’re certainly not going to invade Pakistan. They’re a big country with lots of soldiers and equipment not to mention nuclear weapons. They’re at least as cooperative with us as most Muslim countries viz. the recent UK plot in which much of the police work was Pakistani police work.

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