Israel’s defenders mobilize, threaten By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON – Faced with what the Wall Street Journal calls “one of Israel’s worst international relations disasters in years”, the right-wing leadership of the so-called “Israel Lobby” has been pulling out all the stops to defend the Jewish state against global outrage over its deadly seizure of a Gaza-bound vessel in international waters carrying humanitarian supplies early on Monday morning. Its biggest concern for now is to prevent the administration of US President Barack Obama from distancing itself in any way – let alone joining in the almost universal condemnation – from the … Continue reading Likud USA tries to further isolate the US

Five steps to sanity By I.A. Rehman dawn The moment the custodians of state power start treating some of the people as second-class citizens they push the latter into a high-risk alley. – Photo on file The priority demands of sanity (dictionary meaning: reasonable and rational behaviour) are determined by the challenges a society faces. Today Pakistan’s supreme need is the adoption of a rational response to the menace of extremist elements operating, without due sanction, under the banner of belief. The horrific dimensions of last Friday’s carnage in Lahore can be judged from the fact that even those who … Continue reading Five steps to sanity – DeMullahfication!

A handy name for an enemy By Jawed Naqvi dawn.com Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force soldiers take oath during a graduation parade on the outskirts of Srinagar, India, Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Hundreds of newly recruited soldiers will join Indian soldiers fighting separatist Islamic guerrillas in Kashmir and Maoist rebels in different parts of India. – AP Photo It’s baking hot in Delhi, but there is a spring in the walk of its Pakistani diplomatic community. Some are savouring the prospects of a new posting, reward for helping their country weather the storm that came with the Mumbai terror … Continue reading Zionist-Hindu-Maoists! – A handy name for an enemy?

Not every adult is a paedophile, a terrorist or a mass murderer As the Cumbria shootings show, there’s no such thing as safe. Stop spending money on the security lobby that is running amok in the public sector Simon Jenkins guardian.co.uk The toughest lesson to draw from the Whitehaven tragedy is that there might be no lesson at all. We cannot stop people having rows at home or work, taking leave of their senses, finding a gun and going berserk. Such things rarely happen. But even the most authoritarian state must allow some personal liberty, and everyone accepts the resulting risk. … Continue reading PM David Cameron and the bitchy attitude of the Met Police!

Rapes show extent of prejudice against India’s north-east Female migrants to Delhi from India’s north-east are increasingly being subjected to sexual attacks made worse by police attitudes Aruni Kashyap guardian.co.uk Last week, after a local Assamese daily reported that another woman from India’s north-east had been raped in the country’s capital, a lot of my friends in Delhi started to get calls from anxious parents. A friend hoped her mother hadn’t read the papers that day since they would worry and ask her to return home. Delhi is an unsafe city for women. Almost all women here face sexual harassment … Continue reading Female migrants to Delhi from India’s north-east are increasingly being subjected to sexual attacks

Attack complicates new sanctions on Iran By Barbara Slavin WASHINGTON – Israel’s lethal confrontation with pro-Palestinian activists in the Mediterranean is complicating United States strategy toward Iran and undermining the likelihood of a solid sanctions victory at the United Nations. US officials sought on Tuesday to separate the two issues and said they are still actively pursuing a fourth round of punitive measures against Iran in the UN Security Council. “We intend to continue to move ahead a resolution in New York focused squarely on the reality – that Iran has thus far been unwilling to engage with the international … Continue reading Nethanyahu complicates new sanctions on Iran

By Aunohita Mojumdar KABUL – The three-day peace jirga (council) that began on Wednesday is being projected by the international community – at least officially – as a critical moment in Afghanistan’s history. The Taliban, it seems, also gave the event priority, launching a three-man suicide squad armed with rockets at the opening ceremony. Two blasts and sporadic gunfire were heard in the air-conditioned tent as Karzai delivered his opening address, while a third took place just 200 meters from the venue. “Sit down, nothing will happen,” said the Aghan president. “I have become used to this. Even my three-year-old … Continue reading Afghans talk, Taliban shoot

By Simon Thurlow Until Monday morning, the Mavi Marmara (Blue Marmara) had an undistinguished, if industrious, career. Relentlessly plying Istanbul’s passenger routes, the ship carried hundreds of thousands of commuters and holidaymakers through the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. It is doubtful whether any of those passengers would have remembered her name; they were certainly not aware that they were on board one of a very select group of sea-going vessels that have permanently altered world politics. The list includes the HMS Victory, the Bismarck, the General Belgrano – and now the Mavi Marmara. Nearing the end of her … Continue reading Israel founders in international waters

Train terror puts India’s Maoists on defensive By Sudha Ramachandran BANGALORE – Despite a string of successful attacks in recent weeks, India’s Maoists are on the defensive. A horrific train crash, which they are believed to have triggered, has evoked widespread condemnation, including from those who the government describes as “Maoist sympathizers”. Public outrage over the high casualties – about 148 people were killed and over 200 injured – seems to have prompted the Maoists to distance themselves from the attack. Early on Friday morning, the Mumbai-bound Jnaneshwari Express derailed at Jhagram in West Bengal‘s West Midnapore district, a Maoist … Continue reading India’s Maoists on defensive