Pakistan: Propagandavideo zeigt deutsche Dschihad-Kolonie
WELT ONLINE: Ein neues Propagandavideo einer Dschihad-Organisation aus dem pakistanischen Grenzland zeigt in bislang unbekanntem Umfang die Anwesenheit deutscher Islamisten in den Terrorlagern. Sie rufen deutsche Muslime zum Dschihad auf und präsentieren eine deutschsprachige Kolonie radikaler Gotteskrieger.

Schauen Sie Welt TV Video hier an.
Erneut ist ein deutschsprachiges Terrorvideo aus der afghanisch-pakistanischen Grenzregion im Internet veröffentlicht worden. Zu sehen sind darin mehrere deutschsprachige Islamisten, Kämpfer der Islamischen Bewegung Usbekistans (IMU), darunter auch die schon bekannten Bonner Brüder Mounir und Yassin Chouka.

Zum ersten Mal tauchen auch bislang aus Propagandafilmen unbekannte Dschihadisten aus Deutschland auf. Sie nennen sich “Abu Askar” oder “Abu Safiyaa”, und werben für den Kampf gegen die Ungläubigen.

Gezeigt werden in dem fast einstündigen Propagandafilm hauptsächlich Kampfszenen im pakistanischen Grenzgebiet, das Alltagsleben in den Trainingslagern der IMU sowie eine längere Predigt von Yassin Chouka alias “Abu Ibrahim”. >>> Von Florian Flade | Samstag, 03. Oktober 2009

BAE Systems Ready to Admit Guilt over Corruption Allegations
THE TELEGRAPH: BAE Systems is ready to plead guilty and accept what is expected to be a record fine in order to bring a swift end to the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) six-year investigation into allegations of corruption in Africa and eastern Europe.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that the company and its lawyers now want the opportunity to review the SFO's case and examine the evidence against it before trying to agree a deal.

Senior sources at the defence giant, Britain's biggest manufacturer, have held talks with the SFO to try to establish common ground on the facts of the case but these have ground to a halt, culminating in last week's statement from the SFO which said it was intending to seek the Attorney General's consent to prosecute the company.

BAE is hoping that the SFO will restart the talks with a view to it gaining a clearer understanding of the evidence against it and the provenance of the evidence. It wants to establish common ground between the two sides. If that process succeeds the company would be willing to plead guilty to certain charges and begin talks about a punishment. However, the company has trenchant views about what would be a proportionate and appropriate fine.

It is expected to refer to past financial penalties levied by the SFO when framing its negotiating position and believes a range of previous fines of £6.6m up to £19m is relevant. However, the SFO is understood to have indicated a fine of £200m to £300m would be suitable. >>> Amy Wilson and Rowena Mason | Saturday, October 03, 3009

Army Chief Warns of 'Terrifying Prospect' of Failure in Afghanistan
THE TELEGRAPH: The head of the British Army, General Sir David Richards, has issued a wake-up call to the public by warning of the "terrifying prospect" of a defeat in Afghanistan.

General Sir David Richards attends a conference on the UK armed forces in central London. Photo: The Telegraph
In an unprecedented intervention, the chief of the general staff described the conflict as "this generation's war" and added that failure by Nato would have an "intoxicating effect" on militant Islam.

In his first interview as the head of the Army, Sir David told The Sunday Telegraph that if Britain and Nato failed in Afghanistan the risks to the western world would be "enormous" and "unimaginable".

He said: "If al-Qaeda and the Taliban believe they have defeated us – what next? Would they stop at Afghanistan? Pakistan is clearly a tempting target not least because of the fact that it is a nuclear-weaponed state and that is a terrifying prospect. Even if only a few of those (nuclear) weapons fell into their hands, believe me they would use them. The recent airlines plot has reminded us that there are people out there who would happily blow all of us up."

The general's intervention comes at a crucial time, with the US General in charge of operations in Afghanistan calling for more troops to be sent to the country to fight the Taliban.

At home, the Government has come under increasing pressure for the way it has handled the war, with critics saying the armed forces have been under-resourced. >>> Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent | Saturday, October 03, 2009

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: General Sir David Richards: 'We can't afford to lose the war in Afghanistan' >>> Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent | Sunday, October 04, 2009

Thirty 'High-risk' Terrorists to Be Released Early
THE SUNDAY TIMES: UP to 30 “high-risk” terrorists — including some of the most dangerous men in Britain — are due to be released from jail in the next year.

More are being freed in the wake of a ruling by Britain’s most senior judges that long sentences for terrorist crimes could “inflame” rather than deter extremism.

An analysis of appeal court cases shows that of the 26 terrorism cases it has heard, 25 have led to men with terrorism convictions having their sentences reduced.

Others are being released because they serve only part of their term. In response, Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary, said the Tories were considering longer sentences for terrorists.

The leniency of the British appeal court to some convicted terrorists contrasts with America where they can be locked up for their whole lives.One man designated “high risk” and due to be freed soon is Andrew Rowe, a Muslim convert who was found guilty of having notes on how to fire mortar bombs.

Rowe was sentenced to 15 years in 2005. He is due to be freed next April after his sentence was reduced to 10 years. Others who have had their sentences cut include some of those who helped the failed suicide bombers of July 21, 2005 and two of those convicted of soliciting murder during the Danish cartoons protest. >>> David Leppard | Sunday, October 04, 2009

Tony Blair, the EU President No One Really Wants

THE SUNDAY TIMES: The reluctant vote in favour of further European integration by the Irish this weekend may usher Tony Blair into a new role as titular head of the European Union — despite most of Europe being reluctant to have him.

The former prime minister is the leading candidate to become the European Union president for a want of alternatives rather than any enthusiasm.

With the Irish having finally ratified the Lisbon treaty, all that remains is for the Czech and Polish presidents to sign it and authorise the creation of two new key posts in the EU hierarchy: the president of the European council of heads of state, popularly known as the EU president, and that of high representative for common foreign and security policy, in effect a foreign minister.

The Swedish prime minister, who holds the rotating presidency of the EU, indicated last week that he wanted the president and foreign minister to be appointed by the end of this month.

Blair owes his 6-4 odds for the job to the fact that the offices will probably be divvied up between the social democrat and conservative blocs among the EU heads of state. Although Blair appears to be disliked by all parties, especially by his supposed allies on the left, he may end up being elected because of the lack of another suitable candidate from the social democrat group.

Only two other possible social democratic candidates have emerged — Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister, and Felipe Gonzalez, a former prime minister of Spain — and neither has the international clout of Blair. The same is true of the potential conservative candidates Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg, and Jan Peter Balkenende, his Dutch equivalent.

The president will be elected by all 27 EU leaders, but the attitude of France and Germany is crucial. French diplomats last week indicated that Blair remained the preferred choice of President Nicolas Sarkozy, putting the ball into the court of Angela Merkel, the newly re-elected German chancellor. Blair is disliked intensely by Berlin for his role in the Iraq war and his perceived failure to contribute to Britain’s European integration.

“The only thing he cared about during his premiership was the City and that mentality has led to the current global crisis,” said Michael Gahler, an MEP from Merkel’s Christian Democrat party. “He is good at making speeches but he does not deliver.”

However, the Germans consider the post of the president to be far less significant than that of the foreign minister, who will also be vice-president of the commission and, in effect, be able to shape a common foreign and security policy and have leverage over commissioners addressing other areas.

Although her party’s favourite is said to be Juncker, Merkel, like Sarkozy, will be concerned with keeping at least a relatively pro-EU British politician in the spotlight. >>> Bojan Pancevski in Brussels | Sunday, October 04, 2009

Humiliation for Gordon Brown over US Plan for G4 Elite Without Britain
MAIL ONLINE: Labour last night faced humiliation with the prospect of Britain missing out on a place in a new elite club of economic superpowers.

Reports in the United States claim President Barack Obama is keen to establish a top table of global economies which would leave Britain on the sidelines.

The proposal will put further pressure on Chancellor Alistair Darling and Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Britain also faces dismissal from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The so-called Group of Four (G4) would comprise the biggest global economies: America, Japan, China and the Eurozone countries.

It would have enormous clout over international economic affairs, an arena in which Britain has for many years punched above its weight.

Ironically, if the G4 were made up entirely of individual countries and not the Eurozone, the UK would gain admittance as its national economy is in fourth place internationally.

The proposal has yet to be finalised but international financial sources last night dismissed Britain’s hopes that the Eurozone place at the table could be broadened to comprise the whole European Union.

A key qualification for membership is the ability to deliver on monetary commitment and currency pledges. The Eurozone shares a currency but the EU does not.

Conservative MP Graham Brady, a member of the Treasury Select Committee, said: ‘This is especially embarrassing for a Prime Minister who presided over Britain’s economy since 1997 and used to pride himself on his economic mastery.’

The snub would mean the loss of Britain’s independent voice in high-level economic diplomacy for the first time since the economic summits of the mid- Seventies, held in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. >>> Dan Atkinson, Mail On Sunday Economics Editor | Saturday, October 03, 2009

L'Irlande dit 'oui' à l'Europe
leJDD.fr: Brian Cowen, Premier ministre irlandais, a officiellement déclaré samedi la victoire du "oui" lors du référendum de ratification du traité de Lisbonne. 67,13% des votants ont penché en faveur de l'Union européenne.

Recalé au premier tour, accepté au second. Le 'oui' au référendum sur le traité européen de Lisbonne l'a emporté en Irlande. Le Premier ministre irlandais, Brian Cowen, a officiellement annoncé que 67,13% de ses concitoyens avaient accepté le texte: "Aujourd'hui, le peuple irlandais a parlé d'une voix claire et forte. C'est un grand jour pour l'Irlande et c'est un grand jour pour l'Europe", a-t-il affirmé en début d'après-midi, accompagné de plusieurs ministres. En 2008, le 'non' irlandais avait jeté le doute sur l'avenir du traité censé adapter les institutions européennes à une Union élargie, qui doit être ratifié par les 27 États membres pour entrer en vigueur.

Le score officiel en faveur du traité s'est fixé à 67,13% des votants. C'est bien mieux que ce qu'avait annoncé Billy Timmins, directeur des élections pour le parti d'opposition Fine Gael, qui estimait la victoire des partisans du "oui" à 60%. Vendredi soir, un membre du Fianna Fail, le parti au pouvoir, évoquait "un vote favorable à environ 53%", selon des sondages officieux de sortie des urnes. Un encouragement pour la République tchèque et la Pologne >>> | Samedi 03 Octobre 2009

Israel Names Russians Helping Iran Build Nuclear Bomb
THE SUNDAY TIMES: Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has handed the Kremlin a list of Russian scientists believed by the Israelis to be helping Iran to develop a nuclear warhead. He is said to have delivered the list during a mysterious visit to Moscow.

Netanyahu flew to the Russian capital with Uzi Arad, his national security adviser, last month in a private jet.

His office claimed he was in Israel, visiting a secret military establishment at the time. It later emerged that he was holding talks with Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, and President Dmitry Medvedev.

“We have heard that Netanyahu came with a list and concrete evidence showing that Russians are helping the Iranians to develop a bomb,” said a source close to the Russian defence minister last week.

“That is why it was kept secret. The point is not to embarrass Moscow, rather to spur it into action.”

Israeli sources said it was a short, tense meeting at which Netanyahu named the Russian experts said to be assisting Iran in its nuclear programme. >>> Uzi Mahanimi Tel Aviv Mark Franchetti and Jon Swain | Sunday, October 04, 2009

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Revealed to Have Jewish Past
THE TELEGRAPH: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's vitriolic attacks on the Jewish world hide an astonishing secret, evidence uncovered by The Daily Telegraph shows.

A photograph of the Iranian president holding up his identity card during elections in March 2008 clearly shows his family has Jewish roots.

A close-up of the document reveals he was previously known as Sabourjian – a Jewish name meaning cloth weaver.

The short note scrawled on the card suggests his family changed its name to Ahmadinejad when they converted to embrace Islam after his birth.

The Sabourjians traditionally hail from Aradan, Mr Ahmadinejad's birthplace, and the name derives from the Jewish for "weaver of the Sabour", the name for the Jewish Tallit shawl in Persia. The name is even on the list of reserved names for Iranian Jews compiled by Iran's Ministry of the Interior.

Experts last night suggested Mr Ahmadinejad's track record for hate-filled attacks on Jews could be an overcompensation to hide his past.

Ali Nourizadeh, of the Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies, said: "This aspect of Mr Ahmadinejad's background explains a lot about him.

"Every family that converts into a different religion takes a new identity by condemning their old faith.

"By making anti-Israeli statements he is trying to shed any suspicions about his Jewish connections. He feels vulnerable in a radical Shia society."

A London-based expert on Iranian Jewry said that "jian" ending to the name specifically showed the family had been practising Jews.

"He has changed his name for religious reasons, or at least his parents had," said the Iranian-born Jew living in London. "Sabourjian is well known Jewish name in Iran." >>> Damien McElroy and Ahmad Vahdat | Saturday, October 03, 2009

Tories Warn of British Backlash to Blair ‘Presidency’
TIMES ONLINE: William Hague warns European leaders today to expect a backlash if they make Tony Blair the first president of Europe.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary told The Times: “There could be no worse way to sell the EU to the people of Britain.”

He dangled the prospect of a referendum in Britain to take back powers from Brussels, even if a “yes” vote in the Irish Republic leads to the rapid ratification of the Lisbon treaty. He also indicated that the Tories would use a Blair presidency to mobilise opposition in such a vote on Britain’s relationship with Europe.

Mr Hague was speaking as Conservatives gathered in Manchester for their party conference, and before the result of Ireland’s vote on the Lisbon treaty is declared today. Hours before polls closed at 10pm last night turnout was reported to be higher than last year, when Ireland voted “no”. The Government hopes that a good turnout will favour the “yes” side. >>> Rachel Sylvester, Alice Thomson and Francis Elliott | Saturday, October 03, 2009

Sign ePetition: Stop Blair ! : Petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as "President of the European Union" >>>

MAIL ONLINE: 'President Blair' awaits Irish 'yes' vote and a new life of EU luxury (including expenses MPs would die for and a salary as big as Obama's) >>> Ian Drury | Friday, October 02, 2009

Lockerbie Bomber Defends Internet Campaign
THE TELEGRAPH: The Lockerbie bomber has defied prosecutors and his American victims’ families by publishing more documents as part of his internet campaign to clear his name.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi said he did not want to further upset those “profoundly affected” by the atrocity, in which 270 people were killed.

But he argued that the furore surrounding his release showed it was in the “wider public interest” to publish the documents, which formed part of his second appeal against his conviction.

Megrahi, who is terminally ill, dropped the appeal only days before being freed from prison on compassionate grounds and his return to Libya, where he was given a hero’s welcome.

Two weeks ago he published an initial 300-page dossier of evidence, but relatives of his American victims said they were disgusted by his “lobbying” campaign and there was no new evidence in the information posted online.

Elish Angiolini, Scotland’s Lord Advocate, the most senior prosecutor, has accused Megrahi of attempting to “retry his case in the media” and said the only way he could clear his name is in a courtroom.

She pointed out the decision to drop the appeal “was taken voluntarily” and was not a precondition for Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish justice minister, to free him.

Stung by the criticism, the bomber defended his actions as he published of the second tranche of documents on his website, www.megrahimystory.net. >>> Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor | Friday, October 02, 2009

Snub for Barack Obama as Rio Hosts 2016 Olympic Games
Rio's Copacabana beach erupted upon hearing the result. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: The International Olympic Committee handed President Obama a humiliating defeat today after his home town of Chicago made a shock early exit in the race to become host of the 2016 Olympics, with Rio de Janeiro declared the winner.

A massive beachside crowd erupted in Rio as Brazil’s victory was announced - ushering in a new world order in sport - but there was stunned silence among the throng gathered in Chicago’s Daley plaza.

They had expected their city to win after Mr Obama had flown in Air Force One to Copenhagen, where the vote took place, to make a personal, last-minute appeal to the IOC delegates, along with his wife Michelle and the television star Oprah Winfrey.

The disbelief in Chicago after the city was knocked out first with the least number of votes symbolized the shock felt across America at such a crushing defeat and the fact that the IOC had delivered such a public humiliation to Mr Obama.

A White House spokesman said that Mr Obama was “disappointed” at the decision, but insisted that he was not sorry to have gone to Copenhagen. >>> Ashling O’Connor in Copenhagen, Tim Reid in Washington and James Bone in Chicago | Friday, October 02, 2009

Rio de Janeiro Wins Right to Stage 2016 Olympic Games
THE TELEGRAPH: The International Olympic Committee struck a blow for the developing world and delivered a stunning rebuke to the United States and President Barack Obama on Friday, selecting Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 summer Games after a dramatic election that saw Chicago dumped out in the first round. >>> Paul Kelso in Copenhagen | Friday, October 02, 2009



Obama’s Olympic Failure Will Only Add to Doubts about His Presidency

TIMES ONLINE: There has been a growing narrative taking hold about Barack Obama’s presidency in recent weeks: that he is loved by many, but feared by none; that he is full of lofty vision, but is actually achieving nothing with his grandiloquence.

Chicago’s dismal showing today, after Mr Obama’s personal, impassioned last-minute pitch, is a stunning humiliation for this President. It cannot be emphasised enough how this will feed the perception that on the world stage he looks good — but carries no heft.

It was only the Olympic Games, the White House will argue — not a high-stakes diplomatic gamble with North Korea. It is always worthwhile when Mr Obama sells America to the rest of the world, David Axelrod, his chief political adviser, said today. But that argument will fall on deaf ears in the US. Americans want their presidents to be winners.

Mr Obama was greeted — as usual — like a rock star by the IOC delegates in Copenhagen — then humiliated by them. Perception is reality. A narrow defeat for Chicago would have been acceptable — but the sheer scale of the defeat was a bombshell, and is a major blow for Mr Obama at a time when questions are being asked about his style of governance. >>> Tim Reid in Washington | Friday, October 02, 2009

Bloomberg: Gay Marriage Is "No. 1 Priority"
ADVOCATE.COM: New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg reinforced his commitment to marriage equality legislation on Thursday, telling an audience of gay supporters that he had talked with state senate leaders earlier that day and told them that moving the bill is the “number one priority.” >>> Julie Bolcer | Friday, October 02, 2009

Sikh Policeman Wins £10,000 Award after Turban Row
THE GUARDIAN: Officer ordered to take off turban for riot training wins discrimination case

A Sikh policeman ordered to remove his turban to do riot training was awarded £10,000 compensation today by an employment tribunal.

PC Gurmeal Singh, who joined Greater Manchester police in 2004, had objected to removing his turban for the course on religious grounds.

After a three-week hearing in Manchester, he was awarded £3,500 for indirect racial and religious discrimination and £6,500 for harassment after suffering psychological damage, injury to feelings and personal injury.

In a meeting with a sergeant to discuss the riot training, he was told: "Can you not take that thing off … this is what you signed up for."

Singh, 31, was also asked whether he could modify his turban. He told the tribunal he feared he would be made to look like a comic character from Only Fools and Horses, where in one episode Del Boy Trotter tries to sell 200 "crash turbans" for fashion-conscious motorbike-riding Sikhs in Peckham – the motorcycle helmets had cloth wrapped around them.

Singh said he suffered panic attacks, stress and palpitations and was off sick over the issue during the long-running dispute. >>> Press Association | Friday, October 02, 2009

Gay Penguins Book Is Most Banned
BBC: Authors, artists and musicians are due to gather at a library in San Francisco to protest against the banning of books in schools and libraries in the US.

The event, part of the 27th annual Banned Books Week, has been organised by the American Library Association.

Since 2001 bans on 3,736 books and other materials have been requested.

In recent years, And Tango Makes Three - based on a true story and centring on gay penguins in New York's Central Park Zoo - has had the most ban requests.

The book's authors are Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell.

In a statement to the BBC on Friday, Mr Richardson said: "It's regrettable that some parents believe reading a true story about two male penguins hatching an egg will damage their children's moral development.

"They are entitled to express their beliefs, but not to inflict them on others."

Reasons given by organisations and individuals for their requests to get it removed from public shelves, include "anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group".

Other works featuring in the most-challenged books list for 2008 include Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials and Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. Parents' concern >>> | Thursday, October 01, 2009

Keywords
Please note that Blogger is acting strangely this afternoon. There must be server problems, since it is not possible to place keywords under the posts. As soon as Blogger’s problems have been resolved, the appropriate keywords will be placed under each one. – Mark

Fillon double le budget dédié à la vidéosurveillance
LE FIGARO: Le premier ministre a présenté vendredi un plan de prévention de la délinquance et d'aide aux victimes consistant en un renforcement de mesures existantes.

François Fillon, le premier ministre de la France. Photo : Google Images
C'est la conséquence de l'avertissement lancé par Nicolas Sarkozy fin mai, et répété en septembre, après l'annonce d'une baisse des résultats dans le cadre de la lutte contre la délinquance. François Fillon a présenté vendredi à l'issue d'un comité interministériel qu'il a tenu à Villeneuve-la-Garenne, dans les Hauts-de-Seine, un plan dit de prévention de la délinquance et d'aide aux victimes. Plan constitué principalement d'un renforcement de dispositifs déjà existants. François Fillon a d'ailleurs voulu se justifier sur ce sujet en expliquant : «La prévention de la délinquance, c'est une action de long terme (...) c'est une action qui ne se satisfait pas de coups d'éclat». >>> J.B. (lefigaro.fr) Avec AFP et AP | Vendredi 02 Octobre 2009

Grausamer Video-Beweis: Pakistans Militär misshandelt Verdächtige
Welt TV Video hier anschauen
Videoaufnahmen aus Pakistan enthüllen, mit welcher Brutalität das pakistanische Militär gegen mutmaßliche Komplizen der Taliban vorgeht. Obwohl die Verdächtigen abstreiten, Terrorhelfer zu sein, werden auch alte Männer ausgepeitscht, getreten und geschlagen.

Community Organizer College

Vatican Issues Lisbon Treaty Warning to Irish Voters
THE TELEGRAPH: The Vatican has made an unexpected last-minute intervention on the eve of Ireland's Lisbon Treaty referendum with a warning the European Union threatens the country's "identity, traditions and history".

As Irish voters go the polls for a second time on the treaty, "No" campaigners have seized on comments made by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, during the Pope's visit to the Czech Republic.

The comments followed unhappiness in the Vatican that the EU refused to recognise Europe's Christian heritage in the text of the Lisbon Treaty.

The EU has also upset Catholics in the past by ruling abortion provision should be treated as a "medical service" no different from any other treatment.

"Individual European countries have their own identity. The EU prescribes its laws or views to them and they do not have to fit with their traditions and history. Some countries are logically resisting this – for example, Ireland," said Cardinal Bertone.

"If Europe recognised homosexual couples as equal to marriage, for example, it would go against its own history. And it would be right to stand against it. The Church wants to encourage states in this."

Coir, a Catholic group that has claimed that religious faith and Ireland's anti-abortion laws are under threat from the EU, welcomed the comments.

"We are very pleased that Cardinal Bertone has come out and said explicitly that the EU is imposing secular values on Ireland," said spokesman Brian Hickey. "It is because the EU has a secular agenda that we are resisting the Lisbon Treaty.

Noel Treanor, the Bishop of Down and Connor, last week lined up with mainstream political parties to tell churchgoers that they could vote for the Lisbon Treaty "without reserve and in good conscience".

But Declan Ganley, the leader of Libertas, which is campaigning for a No vote, said Cardinal Bertone represented the Church's true position. >>> Bruno Waterfield in Galway | Thursday, October 01, 2009