DEBKAfile Exclusive: Blair paves the way to his Damascus mission by lambasting the Iraq war as a disaster and inviting European pressure on Israel for concessions to Syria
November 18, 2006, 7:37 PM (GMT+02:00)
As a down-payment for buying Syrian president Bashar Asad's cooperation on Iraq, Blair will try and coerce Israel to accept talks with Syria for the return of the Golan captured in the 1967 war.
Deb's note: as if "this" would solve anything. Clueless leadership.If Islamic militancy is not stopped today, we'll go through World War Three tomorrow,' US Middle East chief warns
November 18, 2006, 1:59 PM (GMT+02:00)
Addressing a Harvard University audience Saturday, Army Gen. John Abizaid compared the rise of militant ideologies such as the force driving al Qaeda to the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s.
More...UK prime minister Tony Blair admits Western intervention in Iraq has been a disaster
November 18, 2006, 11:23 AM (GMT+02:00)
In an interview with David Frost for the new al Jazeera English language channel Saturday, Blair also said Syria and Iran could play a constructive role' in the Middle East. He added that it was completely absurd' to suggest that talking to the countries amounted to appeasement.' The British premier stressed securing progress in the Middle East would have great symbolic importance.' Blair gave the interview as Chancellor Gordon Brown met UK troops on his first visit to Iraq, and promised an extra £100m ($188m) over three years to help rebuild the country's economy.
Spain, France and Italy push Middle East peace initiative that does not require Hamas government recognition of Israel
November 18, 2006, 11:05 AM (GMT+02:00)
The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, a Palestinian national unity government, exchange of prisoners, talks between Israeli prime minister and Mahmoud Abbas and an international team of ceasefire monitors.
There is also a European offer to host a new peace conference. DEBKAfile: The three largest European contributors to the expanded UN force in Lebanon are pushing to expand their role to the Israel-Palestinian front.
More...UN General Assembly carries Arab condemnation of Israel on Gaza by 156-7 vote, no mention of Palestinian missiles
November 18, 2006, 12:15 PM (GMT+02:00)
Cited was Israel's Nov. 8 artillery misfire on Beit Hanoun which killed 19 civilians, but no mention was made of systematic Palestinian cross-border missile offensive against Israeli civilians. US ambassador John Bolton said the assembly resolution, which is mostly symbolic, was one-sided and unbalanced.'
More...Nasrallah tells his Hizballah followers in S. Lebanon: Siniora government will soon be ousted
November 14, 2006, 1:41 PM (GMT+02:00)
It will soon be replaced with a clean government,' he said. Six pro-Syrian ministers including Hizballah quit the Lebanese government Saturday, breaking up unity coalition talks and aiming to torpedo Foud Siniora's initiative for an international tribunal to try the men implicated in the Feb. 2005 murder of the Lebanese politician Rafiq Hariri last year, including relatives of Bashar Asad's.
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Maranatha!
Deborah
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