The EU should be stronger and more united. Great Britain should belong to the Union.
Die EU sollte stärker und geeinter sein. Großbritannien sollte der Union angehören.
L'UE devrait être plus forte et plus unie. La Grande-Bretagne devrait appartenir à l'Union.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Ahmadinejad is a joke! Or at least he would be if he weren't so dangerous
President George W Bush has condemned Iran's "inexcusable behaviour" after its capture of 15 Royal Navy personnel.
The US leader added that he would "strongly support" the British government over the crisis.
However, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has attacked the UK as "arrogant and selfish".
He insisted that "British occupier forces" trespassed into Iranian waters and that his country's border guards had displayed "skill and bravery". Bush attacks Iran over captives
YAHOO NEWS (UK): The 15 British sailors seized in the Gulf may face trial and legal moves have been launched, Iran's ambassador to Moscow has said.
"It is possible that the British soldiers who entered into Iranian waters will go on trial for taking this illegal action," Ambassador Gholamreza Ansari told a Russian television channel.
"The legal phase concerning these British soldiers has started and if charges against them are proven, they will be punished," said Ansari. British sailors may face trial
“Entschuldigung von London verlangt” - NZZ: Iran bereitet ein Gerichtsverfahren gegen die 15 britischen Soldaten vor, die seit acht Tagen in iranischem Gewahrsam sind. Das gab der iranische Botschafter in Russland bekannt. London habe sich bisher nicht für den Vorfall entschuldigt. Die britische Regierung zeigte sich unbeeindruckt. Iran will britischen Soldaten den Prozess machen
Der saudische König warnt Teheran vor einem US-Angriff! - WELTONLINE: Der Konflikt um die verschleppten britischen Marinesoldaten spitzt sich zu. Die Bundeskanzlerin verteidigt die scharfe Erklärung der EU-Außenminister zur der Geiselkrise im Iran. Unterdessen warnt der saudische König Teheran vor einem US-Angriff. Kanzlerin Merkel begrüßt starkes Signal der EU
Blair is left to make a statement of disgust after the airing of another video from captured British troops
THE TIMES: European foreign ministers failed last night to back Britain in a threat to freeze the €14 billion trade in exports to Iran, as the hostage crisis descended into a propaganda circus.
THE TELEGRAPH: It is one thing to be disliked; quite another to be despised. Iran would not have kidnapped our Servicemen without having considered our rules of engagement, our diplomatic isolation and our likely military response, and made a rough calculation of how likely they were to get away with their piracy.
There was a time when British citizenship afforded a degree of protection from foreign harassment. When the half-mad King of Abyssinia interned two of our diplomats in 1868, we sent an expeditionary force of 13,000 British and Indian troops on a nine-month rescue mission. When Gordon was besieged at Khartoum in 1884, public opinion demanded a relief expedition, whose failure to arrive in time contributed in no small part to the downfall of the government.
During the Don Pacifico Affair in 1850, when Britain blockaded Piraeus in order to secure compensation for a Portuguese moneylender who had been born in Gibraltar, Palmerston assured his countrymen that "a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel confident that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England will protect him from injustice and wrong". If the Iranians hate us, let them also fear us
BBC: A Muslim classroom assistant sacked for refusing to remove her veil in lessons has lost an appeal against a ruling that she was not discriminated against.
Aishah Azmi, 24, was asked to remove the veil after Headfield Church of England School in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said pupils could not understand her.
Mrs Azmi refused and was sacked after an employment tribunal ruled she was not the victim of discrimination. Veil row assistant loses appeal
The Foreign Office describes the latest “confession” as “disgraceful exploitation”
BBC: A second member of the Royal Navy crew captured in the Gulf has apologised for trespassing in Iranian waters in a broadcast on Iranian television.
He was quoted as saying: "We entered Iranian waters without permission and were arrested by Iranian coastguards.
Speaking for the motion, "We'd be better off without religion", at a debate held in Westminster on March 27; Professor Richard Dawkins, Professor A.C. Grayling and Christopher Hitchens. Speaking against: Rabbi Julia Neuberger, Professor Roger Scruton and Nigel Spivey. The debate was chaired by Joan Bakewell
Blair pays the price of not being firm, decisive and tough with the Iran from the start
Letter is seen as attempt to dictate British foreign policy and heap humiliation on Prime Minister
THE TIMES: Iran twisted the knife in the hostage crisis last night, releasing a letter said to be from the captured servicewoman Faye Turney in which she called for British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq.
The letter, in which Tehran appeared to be using the hostages to try to dictate British foreign policy, was apparently designed to heap humiliation on Tony Blair.
Melanie Phillips on the appeasement of Iran and the weak response of the British government to an “act of war”
”Yet in its response to these events, Britain seems to be in some kind of dreamworld. There is no sense of urgency or crisis, no outpouring of anger. There seems to be virtually no grasp of what is at stake. ...
... What on earth has happened to this country of ours, for so many centuries a byword for defending itself against attack, not least against piracy or acts of war on the high seas?
Twenty-five years ago, we re-took the Falklands after the Argentines invaded. Faced with an act of war against our dependency, Mrs Thatcher had no hesitation. Aggression had to be fought and our people defended. It was the right thing to do.
Can anyone imagine Mrs T wringing her hands in this way over Iran’s seizure of our Marines?” - Melanie Phillips
MELANIE PHILLIPS: Admiral Lord Nelson must be revolving in his grave. While on patrol in the Shatt-al-Arab waterway between Iran and Iraq, 15 Royal Marines and sailors were seized by Iran on a trumped up charge that they had entered Iranian waters. Six days on and there is no sign of their release. On the contrary, Iran has stepped up its aggression, threatening to charge the kidnapped marines with espionage and even denying them British consular access. The Appeasement of Iran
Kennen diese Leute eigentlich nichts Anderes als Kämpfen und Töten?
WELTONLINE: Das Mullah-Regime hat die angekündigte Freilassung der einzigen Frau unter den 15 Soldaten bis auf weiteres verschoben. Grund sei das „politische Tamtam", das London veranstalte. Teheran droht der britischen Regierung mit harten Gegenmaßnahmen. Nervenkrieg um britische Soldaten verschärft
Faye Turney is alleged to have called for the British government to withdraw from Iraq!
YAHOO NEWS (UK): Iran has published a new letter allegedly written by Leading Seaman Faye Turney in which she supposedly calls for British forces to withdraw from Iraq. The letter also asks the British Government why it allowed the British captives to stray into Iranian waters. New letter from captive in Iran
BBC: US President George W Bush joked about sliding ratings and his post-White House plans as he lampooned himself at an annual press dinner on Wednesday.
"A year ago my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the Supreme Court had just withdrawn, and my vice-president had shot someone.
"Ah, those were the good ol' days," he said, to applause from the audience.
Journalists were also treated to a Karl Rove rap at the meal where presidential self-deprecation is the tradition. Bush serves up the jokes at meal
Iran plays ‘cat and mouse’ with Great Britain, with the intention of humiliating the British still further
BBC: Iran may delay its plan to release the only woman among 15 captured Royal Navy crew because of the UK's "incorrect attitude", an official has said. Seized sailor’s release in doubt
HAARETZ: The first conference of Israeli Arab lesbians was held Wednesday in Haifa by the organization Asawat ("Voices").
The discussions dealt with homosexuality in the Arab public and the so-called "triple discrimination" of being women, lesbian and Arab in Israel.
News released in the past two weeks of plans to hold the conference aroused bitter opposition in the southern branch of the Islamic Movement, members of which demonstrated Wednesday outside of the Haifa auditorium where the conference was planned.
Should women be sent into harm’s way to defend our nation?
BBC: Women now make up almost one in 10 of Britain's military personnel.
While they had served in a number of important roles since World War II, it was only in the early 1990s that the traditional gender barriers began to come down.
The separate branches of the military for women - the Wrens for the navy and Wracs for the army - were scrapped.
Out went differences like separate ranks and even different coloured badges for women who had served alongside the navy.
In came the chance for women to take on new roles from serving on ships at sea to flying RAF fighter jets or army helicopters. Women on the military frontline
Iran tries to humiliate the UK and hardens its attitude
BBC: Iran has offered to let UK officials visit the 15 Royal Navy personnel who were captured in the Gulf on Friday.
Iran's foreign minister also said the only woman being held, Faye Turney, who has been interviewed on Iranian state television, could be released.
But he said the stand-off would be resolved only if the UK stated that the sailors and marines had been in Iranian waters last Friday, which it denies. Iran offers UK access to sailors
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Bewaffnete Koranschüler in Islamabad, unter ihnen zahlreiche Mädchen, haben ein Bordell angegriffen und die Leiterin, zwei weitere Frauen sowie zwei Polizisten in ihre Gewalt gebracht. Die Polizei nahm daraufhin einige Schülerinnen fest, und es kam zu Protesten. Ein Leiter der „Jamias Hafsa Madrassa“, von der der Angriff ausging, drohte am Mittwoch damit, eine „Kampagne gegen die Regierung“ zu beginnen, sollten seine Schülerinnen nicht freigelassen werden.
In der Koranschule wurde die Aktion mit den Worten verteidigt, man habe das Recht, sich gegen „unmoralische Aktivitäten“ zu wehren. Entsprechende Aufforderungen an die Polizei, das nahe gelegene Bordell zu schließen, seien ungehört verhallt. Gegenüber der Deutschen Presse-Agentur sagte ein Direktor der Koranschule, die Bordellleiterin werde nun „umerzogen“. Die Koranschule, die im Herzen der Hauptstadt steht und zur bekannten „Roten Moschee“ gehört, hatte in den vergangenen Wochen mehrfach Aufsehen hervorgerufen. Islamistinnen stürmen Bordell
BBC: Riots at a train station in the French capital, Paris, have become an issue in the upcoming presidential election.
The government's candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy, said police were justified in arresting an alleged fare dodger - the action that sparked the riots.
Socialist candidate Segolene Royal said the clashes resulted from Mr Sarkozy's failures as interior minister.
About 100 youths clashed with police at the Gare du Nord station after a dispute over a train fare.
Rioters smashed windows and attacked vending machines and shops, after objecting to the treatment of a man arrested for jumping a ticket barrier.
Transport officials said the man punched two ticket inspectors who asked for his ticket as part of a routine inspection. Paris riot becomes an election issue
War or peace, it’s Israel’s call says Prince Saud al-Faisal
DAILY TELEGRAPH: The "lords of war" will decide Israel's future if it rejects a blueprint for peace crafted by the entire Arab world, Saudi Arabia's veteran foreign minister warned yesterday.
As leaders began gathering in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for today's summit of the Arab League, Prince Saud al-Faisal told The Daily Telegraph that the Middle East risks perpetual conflict if the peace plan fails.
Under this Saudi-drafted proposal, every Arab country would formally recognise Israel in return for a withdrawal from all the land captured in the war of 1967.
This would entail a Palestinian state embracing the entire West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital. Every Arab country will almost certainly endorse this blueprint when the Riyadh summit concludes tomorrow. Prince Saud said Israel should accept or reject this final offer. Accept peace plan or face war, Israel told by David Blair
Disturbing news for peacemakers: "The Arab culture is inferior", say over 37% of Israelis polled
Recent poll reveals steep rise in racist views against Arabs in Israel; many participants feel hatred, fear when overhearing Arabic, 75 percent don’t approve of shared apartment buildings
YNET NEWS: Over half of the Jewish population in Israel believes the marriage of a Jewish woman to an Arab man is equal to national treason, according to a recent survey by the Geocartography Institute.
The survey, which was conducted for the Center Against Racism, also found that over 75 percent of participants did not approve of apartment buildings being shared between Arabs and Jews. Sixty percent of participants said they would not allow an Arab to visit their home.
Five hundred Jewish men and women participated in the poll, which was published Tuesday.
According to the survey, racism against Arabs in Israel has seen a sharp rise since a similar survey was conducted two years ago. ’Marriage to an Arab is national treason’ by Rose Nahmias
The seeds of capitalism’s own destruction are being sown!
It was reported in the Financial Times on Saturday last week (March 17, 2007) that Aston Martin (James Bond’s favourite sports car) has been sold by Ford Motor to a consortium which is to finance the LBO (leveraged buy-out) according to strict Islamic principles. This deal appears to be the deal they don’t want you to know about, since it has hardly been reported in the mainstream media at all.
Ford Motor agreed to the sale for £479m to a consortium organised by Dave Richards, a motor racing entrepreneur.
The financing of this LBO “will be financed in an exclusively shariah-compliant way”, David Testa said, the executive director of West LB, the German bank appointed to arrange £225m of the quasi debt finance to back the LBO. It is believed that this is the first time that Islamic finance has been used in the West for an LBO. The Islamic financial focus has arisen because Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co are two Kuwaiti groups that invest in accordance with Shari’ah principles of investment, which eschew, of course, conventional Western, capitalist-style financing arrangements.
It is said that there is a rapid growth in the Islamic finance sector, a sector which is said to have grown substantially and is said to have assets already in excess of $300bn, or approximately £155bn, worldwide. Further, it is worth noting that Western investment banks like West LB, Deutsche Bank, Citigroup, and Barclays are becoming more and more involved in Islamic finance, too.
The Financial Times went on to say that we shall have to wait and see to know whether these financiers will also ban “factors deemed to be non-Koranic” such as “martini-swilling spies to market the iconic brand”.
It should be noted that it would seem fair to say that the 'great and the good' in the world of Western finance have little realisation of the implications of their greed, or else, if they do, then they are insouciant about them. For capitalism, this really must be a step in the wrong direction. The élite in the business world seem not to realise, still less understand, that Islamic economics is not the same as Western capitalism. These two economic systems are diametrically opposed, just as Islam is diametrically opposed to Judeo-Christianity.
It is sad to say that we are sowing the seeds of our own destruction, and the people at the top are too dumb to see it!
CNBC World - Islamic Finance: Applying religion to economics
Europeans ‘favour using all means, including military force, to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons’
Iran’s brinkmanship has entered a new and potentially dangerous phase. The 15 Royal Navy personnel captured on Friday were moved to Tehran yesterday, presumably for propaganda purposes. So far, calls for their safe return by Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, have fallen on deaf ears, as have her demands for a full explanation from Tehran.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, is playing an obvious game. Last night the United Nations security council was voting in New York on extending sanctions against Iran, banning arms exports and freezing assets of individuals and companies involved in its nuclear and weapons programmes. The security council tested the water with limited sanctions in December. Last night’s vote was aimed at ratcheting up the pressure.
Welcome muscle is coming from other quarters, too. Russia is reported to have issued an ultimatum threatening not to supply fuel to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant unless it suspends its uranium enrichment programme. Moscow is also said to be withdrawing its engineers from the plant, concerned at the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. Now Iran’s state-run media have accused Russia of being an “unreliable partner”. Keep up the pressure
THE SUNDAY TIMES: Two thousand years ago Roman soldiers united enormous territories from Britain to Athens, from the Rhine to the Iberian peninsula, by the sword. Europe has survived many destructive wars and the collapse of empires. It overcame the dictatorship of tyrants and the horrors of Nazism, but at the same time lived through the Renaissance and sowed the seeds of democracy. It was Europe that formulated the noble ideas of humanism and the Enlightenment, which formed the foundation of European civilisation.
As often happens, history made an astonishing turn — it was in Rome, the Eternal City, where 50 years ago treaties were signed that laid the foundation for a new association of European nations, based not on force or coercion but on common aspirations and values.
The treaties of Rome were in many respects innovative and almost revolutionary for their time. Many wounds of the second world war had still not healed. But the signatory countries demonstrated the political will to work out a joint strategy of cooperation and integration while overcoming the burdens of the past.
The founding fathers of the pan-European movement dreamt about “the prosperity, peace and independence of the continent”. They were right in guessing the future, realising that security and wellbeing are indivisible. The establishment of the European communities on March 25, 1957 had an enormous influence in shaping contemporary Europe. European Union states have been able to further the rights and freedoms of citizens and achieve economic and social progress.
But it was only the end of the cold war that brought about real conditions for the fulfilment of the “fundamental” European idea — the unification of the continent. This was “the peace dividend” following the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The Russian people’s choice in the early 1990s did not merely expand the space of freedom on the continent but actually determined the path of further European integration.
In many respects this choice was defined by the history of Russia. In terms of spirit and culture Russia is an integral part of European civilisation. Our people made an invaluable contribution to its development. (Cont'd): Russia is Europe’s natural ally by Vladimir Putin
FIFTEEN British sailors and marines arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards off the coast of Iraq may be charged with spying. A website run by associates of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, reported last night that the Britons would be put before a court and indicted.
Referring to them as “insurgents”, the site concluded: “If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offences.”
The warning followed claims by Iranian officials that the British navy personnel had been taken to Tehran, the capital, to explain their “aggressive action” in entering Iranian waters. British officials insist the servicemen were in Iraqi waters when they were held.
European Union leaders have joined a gala concert in Berlin celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bloc, which was founded by the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
The concert, conducted by Britain's Sir Simon Rattle, will be followed by dinner for the 27 leaders at German President Horst Koehler's residence.
Berliners will also join events at city clubs and museums throughout the night.
A leader's summit on Sunday will endorse a statement emphasising the EU's achievements and challenges ahead.
Chancellor Angela Merkel will use the event to relaunch the debate on the EU's stalled constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. EU celebrates its 50th birthday
Why do we tolerate this nonsense from Muslims? They say: “The killing of non-Muslims is legitimate!”
Haven't these Muslims got a nerve? They come to our country and talk disparagingly about us. We should kick such people OUT! Forthwith! We don't have to put up with this nonsense. They are in our country. We are not in theirs. It's high time that our politicians had the balls to point this out to them. By the way, it’s good to see, at last, some anti-dhimmitude from the BBC!:
By giving tax advantages for Shariah-compliant finance in his budget, Brown starts turning the world of finance Islamic green!
The chancellor has introduced legislation which will now treat these Sukuk transactions as being similar to conventional bond transactions, thereby removing the tax disadvantage for its use.
This change should lead to a sharp increase in the usage of these kinds of Islamic financing instruments - not only by businesses which want to be Shariah-compliant, but also by other businesses which want to diversify their investor base and tap into the immense pool of Islamic finance in the oil rich Middle East.
The chancellor has not only created the framework for London to emerge as the leader in the global Islamic finance industry but his changes are likely to be replicated in many other countries.
Islamic finance will move from being niche to the mainstream as a viable and valid financing option for all. - Darshan Bijur
BBC: Changes to the tax system unveiled in the Budget will potentially make the UK a key world centre in the development of Islamic finance - a market currently estimated to be worth $400bn globally.
Islamic finance is based on Islamic principles and jurisprudence (Shariah).
The basic Shariah prohibitions are on the earning (or payment) of interest, speculation, contractual uncertainly and transactions which are overly advantageous to one party at the expense of another.
The Shariah also prohibits any participation in weapons, pork, gambling, pornography and alcohol businesses.
Overcoming most of these prohibitions is very difficult in the conventional finance system.
The Islamic finance industry has thus developed various Shariah-compliant structures in order to provide investment opportunities and to meet the financing needs of businesses and investors who want to comply with the Shariah. Islamic finance: From niche to mainstream by Darshan Bijur
YAHOO NEWS: The Government is demanding the "immediate and safe return" of 15 British sailors and Marines who are being held by Iranian forces. They were taking part in a routine operation boarding merchant ships in Iraqi territorial waters when they were seized by Iranian naval vessels.
The sailors and Marines had completed a successful inspection of one ship, reportedly a dhow, when the group and their two boats were surrounded.
BBC: Fifteen British Navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.
The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.
The Royal Navy said it was doing everything it could to secure the release of its personnel, who are based on HMS Cornwall. UK sailors captured at gunpoint
Länder wollen Ausnahmeregelungen für Bierzelte oder Eckkneipen
Ein einheitliches Rauchverbot in deutschen Gaststätten wird es vorerst nicht geben. Die Ministerpräsidenten der Bundesländer einigten sich darauf, dass Ausnahmen möglich sein sollten. So soll in kleinen Kneipen weiterhin gequalmt werden dürfen. Löchriges deutsches Rauchverbot
”We have taken the path of true Islam and our aim in defeating Saddam Hussein lies in the fact that we consider him the main obstacle to the advance of Islam in the region.” – Sadeq Khalkhali, Chief Judge of the Islamic Revolutionary Court [Source: The Iran Threat: President Ahmadinejad and the Coming Nuclear Crisis - Alireza Jafarzadeh]
In his excellent book, The Iran Threat: President Ahmadinejad and the Coming Nuclear Crisis, Alireza Jafarzadeh, an Iranian resident in the United States, informs us about Iran’s goals for Iraq. “The Islamic Republic of Iran's number-one foreign policy agenda,” Jafarzadeh informs us, “is and always has been, exporting its extremist brand of Islamic rule to the rest of the Middle East and the world.” “Iraq, given its Shiite-majority population, important Shiite shrines, and long border with Iran, has been the most advantageous starting point for achieving this goal. Far from being simply a theory or a sensationalized viewpoint, the mullahs’ global ambitions are a fact written into Iran’s constitution. Article 11 spells out Iran’s “duty” to create a political “unity” of Muslims throughout the world.”
“In accordance with the sacred verse of the Quran [“This your community is a single community, and I am your Lord, so worship Me” (21:92)] … the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran … must constantly strive to bring about the political, economic, and cultural unity of the Islamic world.”
Sobering facts!
According to Jafarzadeh, “Khameini and his mullahs greeted the 2003 Iraqi invasion as a golden opportunity to step in and remake Iraq in their own image.”
Ahmad Jannati, chairman of Iran’s Guardian Council said the following on December 30, 2005: We are happy with all that has happened in Iraq, including the elections and the victory of the encompassing and Islamic alliance. … A stable Islamic rule is being established in the country.”
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had said in a radio address in 1980 that Saddam Hussein was “Satan’s puppet”. How convenient it has been for the Iranians that America and Great Britain have done their dirty work for them and have ridden Iraq of Saddam Hussein, thus leaving the path clear for Iran to achieve its goals!
"I was 18 years old when a democratic revolution came to my country [Portugal]. Before we could not read the books or listen to the music we wanted. I am radical on these matters. If there is an excess of freedom, it is better to have excess than less."
Europe's citizens must be on their guard against political correctness and moralising politicians, says the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.
The former Portuguese premier and centre-Right politician is concerned that freedom can be the loser in European culture wars over climate change, cheap air travel, Islam and free speech.
"We should be aware of people who, sometimes for good reasons, try to establish what I call private moral codes, for this or that, be it climate change, religious behaviour or any kind of social behaviour," he says. 'Political correctness is killing our freedoms' by Bruno Waterfield
English is the lingua franca of the United States of America
I have never understood why Americans have allowed Spanish, as a language, to grow and grow in the States.
Having just returned from a vacation in the States, I couldn’t help but notice when I was there that Spanish is growing in importance. So many things one buys in the supermarket are labelled both in English and Spanish.
The lingua franca of the States is still English. Immigrants should be encouraged to learn the language of their host nation. That, of course, is English.
I have myself lived as a foreigner in a country which has a different tongue. In my case it was Switzerland, and the lingua franca was German. I did my utmost to learn that language.
Looking back on it, I wouldn’t have wished to have it any other way. I was ‘forced’ to learn the language of the country I lived in; and that, today, is to my benefit. It will be to the immigrants' benefit also if they are 'forced' to learn English. So the States should do the same: immigrants should be made to make the effort. In the long-run, it is kinder to them. It helps them not one jot to be mommy-coddled. If immigrants wish to become a part of the country in which they have chosen to live, and if they wish to be upwardly mobile, then it is imperative that they adopt the language of that country. It’s time to get tough!
