4 New Messages
Digest #4499
Messages
Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:01 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://news.
Xinhua News Agency
September 23, 2012
U.S. open to having troops in New Zealand
WELLINGTON: The United States said it would be open to having troops based in New Zealand if that was acceptable to the New Zealand Government.
Speaking on TVNZ's Q+A program broadcast on Sunday, U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said his country was keen to help New Zealand improve its defence capability.
Panetta said having American troops based in New Zealand could be part of that.
"If New Zealand feels that that's something they would support and want, we certainly are more than ready to engage them in that kind of relationship. I think it would be very helpful; we do exercises together," Panetta said.
"My approach to this as Secretary of Defence is, whatever we can do to try to help New Zealand develop its capabilities and build a stronger friendship, I'm prepared to do," he added.
Panetta said if New Zealand's defence capability is improved, it will be better for security in the Asia-Pacific region.
The U.S. Defence Secretary announced on Friday during his visit to New Zealand that America had lifted a ban on New Zealand Defence Force vessels visiting American ports, further thawing relations after a 26-year stand-off on nuclear issues.
Panetta met Prime Minister John Key and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman during his brief visit, the first in 30 years by the most senior person in the Pentagon.
============
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Xinhua News Agency
September 23, 2012
U.S. open to having troops in New Zealand
WELLINGTON: The United States said it would be open to having troops based in New Zealand if that was acceptable to the New Zealand Government.
Speaking on TVNZ's Q+A program broadcast on Sunday, U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said his country was keen to help New Zealand improve its defence capability.
Panetta said having American troops based in New Zealand could be part of that.
"If New Zealand feels that that's something they would support and want, we certainly are more than ready to engage them in that kind of relationship. I think it would be very helpful; we do exercises together," Panetta said.
"My approach to this as Secretary of Defence is, whatever we can do to try to help New Zealand develop its capabilities and build a stronger friendship, I'm prepared to do," he added.
Panetta said if New Zealand's defence capability is improved, it will be better for security in the Asia-Pacific region.
The U.S. Defence Secretary announced on Friday during his visit to New Zealand that America had lifted a ban on New Zealand Defence Force vessels visiting American ports, further thawing relations after a 26-year stand-off on nuclear issues.
Panetta met Prime Minister John Key and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman during his brief visit, the first in 30 years by the most senior person in the Pentagon.
============
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Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:48 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://english.
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2012
US threatens sanctions against Ukraine urging Tymoshenko's release
The US Senate has threatened to introduce sanctions against the Ukrainian authorities over jailing the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
The Senate has adopted a resolution that stressed that the Tymoshenko trial was “politically motivated”. The document urges her immediate release in particular due to her poor health condition..
The resolution also urges to the US State Department to recall the ambassador from Kiev and halt the work of the embassy.
The senators have agreed that it is necessary to stop contacts between NATO and Ukraine until Tymoshenko is released.
The resolution is not binding and does not oblige the US State Department or Ukraine’s authorities to react on it.
------------
http://www.itar-
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2012
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calls declarative US Congress’ resolution
KIEV: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it inexpedient to comment on the US Congress’ resolution on Ukraine for the declarative and non-binding character of the document, Ukraine’s local media report, referring to the press service of the Foreign Ministry, which said Kiev had always considered the US Senate as an example of parliamentary, of high standards of democracy, of paramount of right, and of following of democratic procedures.
However, the document on doubtful procedure, which was adopted there, is difficult to consider seriously.
“The authors of the resolution on Yulia Timoshenko tried at any expense to be ahead of protests from other senators against this document, they made corrections in a hurry, and suggested the Senate adopt the resolution “audibly” just several minutes the Congress’ session is over, where only half a dozen members of the upper house of the American parliament were present,” the foreign ministry said.
The ministry’s comment says “Timoshenko’s supporters have done everything to launch in Ukraine’s information space another falsified reason for loud, groundless discussions and discrediting of upcoming parliamentary elections. These efforts contradict Ukraine’s national interests and are doomed to failure.”
The US Congress adopted a resolution which threatens political sanctions against Ukraine’s authorities for keeping in prison the country’s former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko. The document reads that the trial had been politically motivated and she should be set free immediately, as she requires medical treatment.
The resolution, drafted at the initiative of James Inhofe, a senator representing the Republican Party, urges the Department of State not to issue US entry visas for Ukrainian officials responsible for the imprisonment and bad treatment of Yulia Timoshenko, as well as for the bad treatment of over a dozen of political leaders connected with the Orange Revolution of 2004.
Besides, the senators urged Ukraine “to have parliamentary elections in October by honest and transparent ways, in compliance with standards of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.”
The US legislators expressed concern that “the continuing imprisonment of Timoshenko threatens the worsening of relations between the United States and Ukraine.”
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http://www.unian.
UNIAN
September 21, 2012
Hryshchenko: Ukraine not to react on calls of EU to release Tymoshenko
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Konstyantyn Hryshchenko states that Ukraine will not react to calls of the European Union to released imprisoned ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko.
K. Hryshchenko said this in an interview to Die Presse, Ukrainska Pravda reports. Commenting on the fact that the EU puts the signing of an Agreement on Association with Ukraine in dependence on the freeing of Yu. Tymoshenko K. Hryshchenko, noted: “We are not about to do anything. Our judicial system should work and rely on facts”.
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http://www.unian.
UNIAN
September 17, 2012
Condoleezza Rice sends Yulia Tymoshenko letter of support
Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has written a letter to former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in jail for more than a year, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
"Today I met with Condoleezza Rice. She gave me a letter addressed to Yulia Tymoshenko and expressed her support and solidarity," Hryhoriy Nemyria said today on Channel 5. The letter will be delivered to the ex-premier by her lawyers.
============
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http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
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============
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2012
US threatens sanctions against Ukraine urging Tymoshenko's release
The US Senate has threatened to introduce sanctions against the Ukrainian authorities over jailing the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
The Senate has adopted a resolution that stressed that the Tymoshenko trial was “politically motivated”. The document urges her immediate release in particular due to her poor health condition..
The resolution also urges to the US State Department to recall the ambassador from Kiev and halt the work of the embassy.
The senators have agreed that it is necessary to stop contacts between NATO and Ukraine until Tymoshenko is released.
The resolution is not binding and does not oblige the US State Department or Ukraine’s authorities to react on it.
------------
http://www.itar-
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2012
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry calls declarative US Congress’ resolution
KIEV: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it inexpedient to comment on the US Congress’ resolution on Ukraine for the declarative and non-binding character of the document, Ukraine’s local media report, referring to the press service of the Foreign Ministry, which said Kiev had always considered the US Senate as an example of parliamentary, of high standards of democracy, of paramount of right, and of following of democratic procedures.
However, the document on doubtful procedure, which was adopted there, is difficult to consider seriously.
“The authors of the resolution on Yulia Timoshenko tried at any expense to be ahead of protests from other senators against this document, they made corrections in a hurry, and suggested the Senate adopt the resolution “audibly” just several minutes the Congress’ session is over, where only half a dozen members of the upper house of the American parliament were present,” the foreign ministry said.
The ministry’s comment says “Timoshenko’s supporters have done everything to launch in Ukraine’s information space another falsified reason for loud, groundless discussions and discrediting of upcoming parliamentary elections. These efforts contradict Ukraine’s national interests and are doomed to failure.”
The US Congress adopted a resolution which threatens political sanctions against Ukraine’s authorities for keeping in prison the country’s former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko. The document reads that the trial had been politically motivated and she should be set free immediately, as she requires medical treatment.
The resolution, drafted at the initiative of James Inhofe, a senator representing the Republican Party, urges the Department of State not to issue US entry visas for Ukrainian officials responsible for the imprisonment and bad treatment of Yulia Timoshenko, as well as for the bad treatment of over a dozen of political leaders connected with the Orange Revolution of 2004.
Besides, the senators urged Ukraine “to have parliamentary elections in October by honest and transparent ways, in compliance with standards of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.”
The US legislators expressed concern that “the continuing imprisonment of Timoshenko threatens the worsening of relations between the United States and Ukraine.”
------------
http://www.unian.
UNIAN
September 21, 2012
Hryshchenko: Ukraine not to react on calls of EU to release Tymoshenko
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Konstyantyn Hryshchenko states that Ukraine will not react to calls of the European Union to released imprisoned ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko.
K. Hryshchenko said this in an interview to Die Presse, Ukrainska Pravda reports. Commenting on the fact that the EU puts the signing of an Agreement on Association with Ukraine in dependence on the freeing of Yu. Tymoshenko K. Hryshchenko, noted: “We are not about to do anything. Our judicial system should work and rely on facts”.
------------
http://www.unian.
UNIAN
September 17, 2012
Condoleezza Rice sends Yulia Tymoshenko letter of support
Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has written a letter to former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in jail for more than a year, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
"Today I met with Condoleezza Rice. She gave me a letter addressed to Yulia Tymoshenko and expressed her support and solidarity," Hryhoriy Nemyria said today on Channel 5. The letter will be delivered to the ex-premier by her lawyers.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
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stopnato-subscribe@
============
Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:30 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.china.
Beijing Review
September 24, 2012
Play fair
====
[T]he Pentagon chief reiterated U.S. commitments to Japan while meeting with Japanese officials, saying that the U.S.-Japan Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty applied to the Diaoyu Islands, indicating that Washington has an obligation to fight alongside Tokyo if the territories in question are attacked.
[T]he U.S. military and strategic alliance with Japan has emboldened the latter to lay claims on a territory upon which it holds no sovereignty at all. The United States has thus taken a biased stance over the Sino-Japanese contention for decades.
====
When two people quarrel over an old feud, how is a close friend of one of the parties involved likely to react? He may take the side of his friend, angering the other party and possibly leading to a bigger fight in the end. Or he can try to be a peacemaker, persuading the two to calm down and settle their differences in a more conciliatory and effective manner. Clearly, the latter is the right attitude to take.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta planned to play the role of mediator in the current territorial dispute between China and Japan. Before he paid a visit to China, he made an unexpected detour to Tokyo, where he remarked that the United States would not take sides on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, but wished for China and Japan to exercise restraint and solve the dispute by diplomatic means. However, the Pentagon chief reiterated U.S. commitments to Japan while meeting with Japanese officials, saying that the U.S.-Japan Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty applied to the Diaoyu Islands, indicating that Washington has an obligation to fight alongside Tokyo if the territories in question are attacked.
With Japanese authorities' arbitrary move to "nationalize" China's Diaoyu Islands, tensions between China and Japan have been rising, marked by a looming possibility of further clashes or even confrontations. China and Japan are major players in many global and regional economic and political issues, so peace and cooperation between the two countries will only help the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. It would be in the best interest for the two nations, as well as the United States, to work toward preventing the crisis from escalating.
A growing number of Chinese citizens believe the United States has sowed the seeds of the feud between China and Japan. Its unilateral and illegal return of the jurisdiction over the islands to Japan, in violation of legal-binding global agreements, has resulted in de facto Japanese control of the islands. Furthermore, the U.S. military and strategic alliance with Japan has emboldened the latter to lay claims on a territory upon which it holds no sovereignty at all. The United States has thus taken a biased stance over the Sino-Japanese contention for decades. Chinese people across the world are watching to see whether it will again adopt a partial approach.
China is determined to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and will never make even the slightest concessions under any circumstances. To defuse the rising tensions in East Asia, Japanese authorities have no choice but to revoke the absurd and unjustifiable act of "buying" the Chinese territory.
During the past week, demonstrations have been staged in a number of Chinese cities to protest Japan's territorial assertion. Some demonstrations have regrettably turned violent. These irrational expressions of anger must end, Japan must act responsibly and the United States should remain impartial, so that all sides can play fair.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Beijing Review
September 24, 2012
Play fair
====
[T]he Pentagon chief reiterated U.S. commitments to Japan while meeting with Japanese officials, saying that the U.S.-Japan Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty applied to the Diaoyu Islands, indicating that Washington has an obligation to fight alongside Tokyo if the territories in question are attacked.
[T]he U.S. military and strategic alliance with Japan has emboldened the latter to lay claims on a territory upon which it holds no sovereignty at all. The United States has thus taken a biased stance over the Sino-Japanese contention for decades.
====
When two people quarrel over an old feud, how is a close friend of one of the parties involved likely to react? He may take the side of his friend, angering the other party and possibly leading to a bigger fight in the end. Or he can try to be a peacemaker, persuading the two to calm down and settle their differences in a more conciliatory and effective manner. Clearly, the latter is the right attitude to take.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta planned to play the role of mediator in the current territorial dispute between China and Japan. Before he paid a visit to China, he made an unexpected detour to Tokyo, where he remarked that the United States would not take sides on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, but wished for China and Japan to exercise restraint and solve the dispute by diplomatic means. However, the Pentagon chief reiterated U.S. commitments to Japan while meeting with Japanese officials, saying that the U.S.-Japan Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty applied to the Diaoyu Islands, indicating that Washington has an obligation to fight alongside Tokyo if the territories in question are attacked.
With Japanese authorities' arbitrary move to "nationalize" China's Diaoyu Islands, tensions between China and Japan have been rising, marked by a looming possibility of further clashes or even confrontations. China and Japan are major players in many global and regional economic and political issues, so peace and cooperation between the two countries will only help the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. It would be in the best interest for the two nations, as well as the United States, to work toward preventing the crisis from escalating.
A growing number of Chinese citizens believe the United States has sowed the seeds of the feud between China and Japan. Its unilateral and illegal return of the jurisdiction over the islands to Japan, in violation of legal-binding global agreements, has resulted in de facto Japanese control of the islands. Furthermore, the U.S. military and strategic alliance with Japan has emboldened the latter to lay claims on a territory upon which it holds no sovereignty at all. The United States has thus taken a biased stance over the Sino-Japanese contention for decades. Chinese people across the world are watching to see whether it will again adopt a partial approach.
China is determined to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and will never make even the slightest concessions under any circumstances. To defuse the rising tensions in East Asia, Japanese authorities have no choice but to revoke the absurd and unjustifiable act of "buying" the Chinese territory.
During the past week, demonstrations have been staged in a number of Chinese cities to protest Japan's territorial assertion. Some demonstrations have regrettably turned violent. These irrational expressions of anger must end, Japan must act responsibly and the United States should remain impartial, so that all sides can play fair.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:43 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://usa.chinadai
China Daily
September 24, 2012
US playing dual role
====
As early as 2005, Japan's Defense Agency had prepared a plan to defend the remote islands south of Kyushu and Okinawa against a possible "invasion" from China. The plan said Japan should dispatch 55,000 GSDF troops, and planes, warships and submarines if the remote islands were attacked. The possible reasons for such an attack, the report said, were the Diaoyu Islands dispute...
The US began test-flying MV-22 Ospreys in Okinawa on Sept 21. Since the Japanese see the airplane-helicopter hybrid as crucial leverage in a territorial dispute with China, the US is encouraging Japan to stay away from a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the issue.
====
Any discerning person can see the motive behind the joint drill between Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps in Guam on Saturday. It was the first exercise of its kind, held purportedly to enhance the two countries' capabilities to defend remote islands from "foreign assault".
Tension between China and Japan had mounted further on Friday night as scores of Japanese policemen landed on China's Diaoyu Islands. But instead of taking steps to defuse the tension, Japan started the joint drill, which GSDF claimed was not aimed at any specific island or third country.
As early as 2005, Japan's Defense Agency had prepared a plan to defend the remote islands south of Kyushu and Okinawa against a possible "invasion" from China. The plan said Japan should dispatch 55,000 GSDF troops, and planes, warships and submarines if the remote islands were attacked. The possible reasons for such an attack, the report said, were the Diaoyu Islands dispute and China's exploration for marine resources in the East China Sea. The report at best was wild speculation.
The Diaoyu Islands dispute is a delicate issue, and the US is responsible for creating it. First, it wrongly grouped them with Ryukyu Islands (known as Okinawa today) to take over their administration in 1951. Second, it handed them over to Japan, rather than China, in 1972.
Now that it has become a covert part to the Diaoyu Islands dispute, it has the chance of absolving itself by playing a constructive role to resolve it. But it seems it is interested only in making the issue thornier.
The US began test-flying MV-22 Ospreys in Okinawa on Sept 21. Since the Japanese see the airplane-helicopter hybrid as crucial leverage in a territorial dispute with China, the US is encouraging Japan to stay away from a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the issue.
During his recent visit to China, US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta reiterated that Washington would not take sides in territorial disputes in the region. But while in Japan, which he visited before China, he said the US-Japan security treaty also covered the Diaoyu Islands.
The US pivot to Asia and the rebalancing of its armed forces are aimed at just one thing: containing China's rise.
We hope Washington is not running with the hare and hunting with the hounds?
China Daily
September 24, 2012
US playing dual role
====
As early as 2005, Japan's Defense Agency had prepared a plan to defend the remote islands south of Kyushu and Okinawa against a possible "invasion" from China. The plan said Japan should dispatch 55,000 GSDF troops, and planes, warships and submarines if the remote islands were attacked. The possible reasons for such an attack, the report said, were the Diaoyu Islands dispute...
The US began test-flying MV-22 Ospreys in Okinawa on Sept 21. Since the Japanese see the airplane-helicopter hybrid as crucial leverage in a territorial dispute with China, the US is encouraging Japan to stay away from a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the issue.
====
Any discerning person can see the motive behind the joint drill between Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps in Guam on Saturday. It was the first exercise of its kind, held purportedly to enhance the two countries' capabilities to defend remote islands from "foreign assault".
Tension between China and Japan had mounted further on Friday night as scores of Japanese policemen landed on China's Diaoyu Islands. But instead of taking steps to defuse the tension, Japan started the joint drill, which GSDF claimed was not aimed at any specific island or third country.
As early as 2005, Japan's Defense Agency had prepared a plan to defend the remote islands south of Kyushu and Okinawa against a possible "invasion" from China. The plan said Japan should dispatch 55,000 GSDF troops, and planes, warships and submarines if the remote islands were attacked. The possible reasons for such an attack, the report said, were the Diaoyu Islands dispute and China's exploration for marine resources in the East China Sea. The report at best was wild speculation.
The Diaoyu Islands dispute is a delicate issue, and the US is responsible for creating it. First, it wrongly grouped them with Ryukyu Islands (known as Okinawa today) to take over their administration in 1951. Second, it handed them over to Japan, rather than China, in 1972.
Now that it has become a covert part to the Diaoyu Islands dispute, it has the chance of absolving itself by playing a constructive role to resolve it. But it seems it is interested only in making the issue thornier.
The US began test-flying MV-22 Ospreys in Okinawa on Sept 21. Since the Japanese see the airplane-helicopter hybrid as crucial leverage in a territorial dispute with China, the US is encouraging Japan to stay away from a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the issue.
During his recent visit to China, US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta reiterated that Washington would not take sides in territorial disputes in the region. But while in Japan, which he visited before China, he said the US-Japan security treaty also covered the Diaoyu Islands.
The US pivot to Asia and the rebalancing of its armed forces are aimed at just one thing: containing China's rise.
We hope Washington is not running with the hare and hunting with the hounds?
