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Date Posted: 19:04:22 11/06/07 Tue
Author: part 2
Subject: Re: November 6, 2007
In reply to: part 1 's message, "November 6, 2007" on 19:02:43 11/06/07 Tue

Atomic Energy Development Is Russian Priority

Nov. 5 (LPAC) -- There is no alternative to the development of
the atomic energy industry in light of a consistent decrease in
hydrocarbon deposits, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei
Ivanov emphasizedid during a Nov. 2, meeting of the government
commission on industry, transport, and technology. He said that
Russia needed to visibly increase nuclear power production, to
escape energy shortages in the future.
Ivanov reiterated that the government had approved the
federal target program on the development of the atomic energy
industry from 2007 to 2010. According to the program, nuclear
power should account for up to 18% of Russia's energy production
in 2015 and for 30 percent in 2030. (rap)

High Speed Rails Are In America's Future

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--A fact known to the over 25 million Americans who
took a train instead of a car or airplane for a trip this year,
that trains are energy efficient, pollute less, run in bad
weather, and cost less when compared to the other modes of
transport was the cover story of {Parade} magazine, the most
widely circulated magazine in the United States, which appears as
an insert in most Sunday newspapers in every part of the country.
The mini-feature detailed how France, Spain, Japan and China have
all built "high-speed rail systems" while the U.S. rail network
over the last 30 years has been dismantled. Europe and Asia's
trains travel 150 mph to 300 mph while America's limp along at
speeds under 100 mph relying on aging equipment and shared tracks
with freight railroads. The story also played up maglev.
The feature notes that a few pockets of rail route upgrades
-- one Chicago to St. Louis route and the Philadelphia to
Harriburg line -- have been so successful with ridership up 50%
on the first, that Congress approved $150 million in Federal
matching funds for state projects. But with such meager sums the
U.S. will not catch up with Europe and Asia, and the Bush
Administration, the story noted, has even moved to chop those
funds.
One bill to up the funding, {Parade} notes, is the
Lautenberg-Lott Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act.
The bill just passed the U.S. Senate on Oct. 29, and not only
provides dedicated funding for the national Amtrak network but
also sets up funding for state projects. The U.S. will have to
invest much more than few billion dollars a year to ensure a 21st
Century rail network is finally built here. [mjf]

Lessons of Colombia: Great Projects Win Elections!

BOGOTA, Nov. 5 (LPAC)--The Oct. 28 Mayoral elections here proved
that the Presidential candidate who steps forward to campaign for
building rail corridors to connect Colombia with the "World
Land-Bridge," will win the elections in 2010, Maximiliano
Londono, president of LaRouche Association of Colombia, reports.
Everyone acknowledges that the deciding factor in the
victory of Samuel Moreno as Mayor of Bogota, the second most
important political post in the country, was Moreno's commitment
to build a subway in the nation's capital. Moreno received nearly
a million votes, whomping his opponent who insisted Colombia
couldn't afford anything like a subway.
President Alvaro Uribe heard the voters' message. After
having campaigned openly against Moreno, hysterically repeating
for months that no money could be found to build any subway, on
Nov. 3, the President conceded that the national government
could, and would help finance the subway's construction.
Mayor-elect Moreno welcomed the announcement, as an
admission that Colombians can think big: "The national government
is saying, from the mouth of the President himself, and just as
we have said, that there is no reason to fear great projects."
During the campaign, the LaRouche Youth Movement in Colombia
mobilized Bogota's citizens, including dozens of youth activists
from Moreno's campaign, to demand not only a subway, but for
Colombia to join the great project that will define the next 50
years: the global network of railroads running across Eurasia,
across the Bering Strait, and down to the tip of South
America--the World Land-Bridge. [mlp/ggs]

ECONOMICS

Citigroup: Troubles Deepen

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--Citigroup Inc.'s profit engine has seized up,
writes Bloomberg News, as it reports todays announcement from
CitiCorpse that it has an additional $11 billion loss, due to the
sub-prime mortgage debacle leaving millions of Americans without
a home. Following the news it had a 5.6% fall in New York trading
of its stock. Overall it stock has plunged 36% in 2007, twice as
much as Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. This collapse could
wipe out half of the firm's profit so far this year, Bloomberg
surmises.
Today's $8-11 billion write-down, the Corpse said, is on the
value of sub-prime mortgages and collateralized debt obligations,
which are securities backed by bonds and loans. This write-down
could cut its net income by $5 billion to $7 billion in the
fourth quarter it estimates, using current market prices. The new
write-down shaves Citigroup's third-quarter profit to $2.21
billion, less than the $2.38 billion it reported just weeks ago.
Such is the sinking ship Robert Rubin has hesitatingly
agreed to take temporary charge of as of today. [mjf]

The 'Genius' Goldman Sachs Firm Reported Fake Third Quarter
Profits

Nov. 5 (LPAC)-- Even amid the world financial meltdown, as
many of the world's largest banks reported for the third quarter,
immense write-downs and loan losses, Goldman Sachs reported that
it made a $2.8 billion profit. The alleged success was presented
as Goldman Sachs' talent as "financial wizards."
Now, Goldman's magic wand is snapped, and it appears that
Goldman is not only hiding large losses, but may have more
impending losses than most other banks.
A new accounting rule, SFAS157, which is scheduled to go
into effect at the end of the first quarter 2008, would require
that banks divide their "tradeable assets" -- i.e., the loans
that they have made, the mortgage-backed securities that they
own, etc. -- into three "levels" according to how easy it is to
get a market price for them. Level 1 assets would have quoted
prices in active, liquid markets. At the other extreme, Level 3
assets would only have assets which are very difficult to get a
market price for, largely because they are untradeable. The
gimmick is the banks are permitted to value Level 3 assets
{according to the bank's own internal model.} Needless to say,
the banks would not devalue their Level 3 assets, but claim that
they are worth their full original purchase price.
Goldman Sachs decided to disclose its Level 3 assets during
the third quarter 2007, six months before required to do so.
Goldman classified a whopping $72 billion of assets as Level 3.
Further, Goldman claimed profits from its Level 3 assets; in
reality, had it actually valued them properly, it should have
been taking a huge write-down.
To understand how large this would be, when Nomura
Securities exited the U.S. mortgage business and sold its
mortgage portfolio, during the third quarter, it took a
write-down of 28% on these assets, according to the Nov. 3 {Asia
Times}. Were that percent applied to Goldman Sachs' Level 3
assets, Goldman would be required to write off $20 billion in
assets, which is 56% of Goldman's capital base of $36 billion,
seriously imperiling the company. Goldman's boast of
third-quarter profits is a chimera.
The Goldman Sachs dangerous accounting gimmick was also
employed by Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan Chase, and Bear Stearns.
[ref/cbi]

Winter Heating-Oil Crisis Looms in Northeast; Mass. Official
Blasts Speculation

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--Many low-income people in the Northeastern
United States could be left without heat this winter, as
international oil prices are heading toward the $100-a-barrel
level.
Last winter, 1.5 million families in the region got
assistance in paying their heating bills. The number is expected
to surge this year, says the Wall Street Journal, and both state
and federal lawmakers are scrambling to come up with emergency
funds.
The Journal also reports that hundreds of smaller fuel
dealers could go bankrupt because their customers have
fixed-price contracts, while the dealers' prices are
skyrocketing.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin
blasted Washington regulators for not taking swift action to
deter hedge funds and speculators from helping to drive crude-oil
prices to record levels. "This is going to hurt our economy in
New England," said Galvin, noting that home heating-oil prices
are already at record highs for this time of year in
Massachusetts. Galvin dashed off letters to the SEC and other
regulators but has gotten no response to his concerns about the
role of speculators in driving oil prices toward $100 a barrel,
according to the Boston Globe.
Galvin has compared the current energy market to the
subprime-mortgage market before its recent collapse. [ews/rja]

Baltimore Sun Trumpets Distorted, False Explanation Of
Baltimore's ``Death Zones''

Nov. 5--Lyndon LaRouche's commissioned study of the population
collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, "Deindustrialization Creates
`Death Zones' in Baltimore," (EIR, Jan. 6, 2006), has been
mimicked and distorted in two Baltimore Sun front-page feature
stories on Nov. 4 and 5, authored by medical reporter Jonathan
Bor. Baltimore, according to the Sun, now ranks second only to
Miami, Florida in the spread of AIDs among all U.S. cities, with
an incidence of 1,074 cases per 100,000 population.
Part One of the Sun's feature, entitled "An Epidemic's
Unseen Cause," blames the huge increase in rate of HIV/AIDS in
Baltimore on infected prostitutes supporting drug-addictions,
ignoring all economic factors. EIR showed that the population
reduction in Baltimore City, and the lowering of its life
expectancy, was the result of deindustrialization and the shift
to low-paying service jobs during the 1970s.
The "high-incidence" areas for AIDS and sexually-transmitted
diseases identified in the Sun's zip code maps broadly coincide
with the "death zone" U.S. Census tract areas identified in the
LaRouche study. EIR will have more to say. [agg]

Why the HBPA Is Urgent: $100 Million New York Mortgage Program
Has Stopped One Foreclosure!

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--The New York State $100 million "Keep the
Dream" program announced three months ago by Governor Eliot
Spitzer, to save homeowners from foreclosure, has helped exactly
one homeowner so far, according to a report in today's {New York
Post}, and an earlier report in Long Island {Newsday}.
When the program was announced, officials expected to rescue
500 to 700 at-risk homeowners from the sub-prime catastrophe,
{Newsday} said. Many homeowners have requested assistance, said
an official of the New York Mortgage Agency, but only one
homeowner has been actually able to qualify for the program.
{Crain's New York Business} says that 1,250 homeowners in
New York City alone are expected to lose their homes through
foreclosure by the end of this year, which, the magazine says, is
just the tip of the iceberg. [ews]

Capping Usurious Interest Rates Called `Un-American'

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--The going interest payment for borrowing $100 from
what used to be called a loan shark--but now has been laundered
to become the "payday lending industry"--is $15 for two weeks.
That amounts to an annual interest rate of more than 400%.
Several states, including Maryland, North Carolina, and West
Virginia, have capped the rate the sharks can collect at the
still outrageous rate of 36% a year. In the District of Columbia,
it's an only slightly-less outrageous 24%. And 13 states have
outlawed the usurious practice altogether. But in Virginia, a new
move to impose even the 36% cap is being called "un-American."
"The government should stay out of the business of
regulating payday loan rates," writes Ben Glass, editor of
Injuryboard.com. "Yes, make sure loan terms are disclosed. Yes,
make sure Fair Debt Collection rules are followed. But no, don't
tell a business the amount of profit they can earn. That's simply
un-American." If a cap of 36% were imposed, the sharks say,
they'd go out of business.
The Bureau of Financial Institutions reports that in
Virginia in 2006, nearly 434,000 people (out of a population then
estimated at 7,640,000) took out more than 3.5 million payday
loans. Nationally, NPR's Marketplace reports, lending payday
loans is now a $40 billion "industry."
Last year a bill to cap the interest rate at 36% died in the
Virginia legislature. Starting this September, municipalities
across the Commonwealth began passing ordinances that imposed
caps and limited locations where the sharks could ply their
trade. This is creating momentum to again try to get some cap
imposed statewide.
For a payday loan, the mark writes the shark a check for the
amount he is borrowing, plus the shark's fee. The check is
post-dated to the mark's next payday, at which time the shark
cashes the check. [fhb]

BBC Gloats: `Foreclosure Wave Sweeps America'

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--With the above headline, and under the byline of
Steve Schifferes, "BBC economics reporter, Cleveland, Ohio," the
BBC fairly gloats about the financial crisis in the United
States, focussing on housing foreclosures. "A wave of
foreclosures and evictions," says the lead sentence, "is about to
sweep the United States in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage
lending crisis."
Mixing cause and effect, the reporter then says, "This could
destabilize the U.S. housing market and may also lead to further
turmoil in financial institutions, who collectively own $1
trillion (480.6 billion pounds) worth of sub-prime debt."
The article notes that one in ten homes in Cleveland now is
vacant; that Deutsche Bank Trust, acting on behalf of
mortgage-owning investment pools, is the company making the most
foreclosures in the city; that one in eight of all
owner/occupiers in Cleveland will face eviction this year; and
that there have already been 1.7 million foreclosure proceedings
in the country so far this year.
Then, after citing these and other statistics, the reporter
hauls out a quote that fits to a tee the Brit feudal outlook.
"There is a natural level of foreclosures that goes on in an
economy in good times and bad...it's part of the nature of how
our economy works." The words of Robert Steel, the current U.S.
Treasury Under Secretary for Domestic Finance. [fhb]

UNITED STATES

BAE Confirms That DOJ Still Investigating

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--The U.S. Justice Department's investigation
of BAE is still actively ongoing, despite the Justice
Department's policy of silence on the matter, a BAE spokesman
confirmed to EIR today.
In an article in the Louisville Courier-Journal about Senate
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's earmarks for BAE plants in his
state of Kentucky, BAE spokesman Greg Caires was quoted as
saying: "We continue to cooperate with the ongoing Department of
Justice investigation, and it would be inappropriate for us to
comment further at this time." EIR then spoke with Caires, who
said that he had issued the above statement on Nov. 3, and he
also directly confirmed that the Justice Department investigation
of BAE is still open and ongoing.
In late June, BAE itself disclosed that the DOJ was
investigating it for possible violations of the Foreign
Corruption Practices Act. The probe revolves around millions in
bribes paid by the British to Dick Cheney's favorite Saudi,
Prince Bandar.
Meanwhile, in the British Parliament, the U.K. Home
Secretary is still refusing to respond to questions as to why the
Home Office hasn't yet complied with the U.S. request for
documents and evidence, or when the Home Office expects to comply
with the Aermican request. The most recent response was from the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Home Office, on October 15,
which was that, "The request is receiving careful consideration.
It is not appropriate to speculate on a time scale for a decision
on its execution." On Oct. 30, the Home Secretary refused to
answer further questions, stating that it is not possible to
respond "in the time available before Prorogation" -- which
refers to the wrap-up of the current Parliamentary session. [ews]

Erdogan: U.S.-Turkish Relationship Being Tested

Nov. 5 (LPAC) --There was a sharp contrast between the White
House "photo op" with President George W. Bush and Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and what Erdogan told reporters at
the National Press Club, where he said there were two main issues
on the agenda: the U.S. House of Representatives' resolution on
the Armenian genocide of 1915, and the PKK problem in northern
Iraq. He described both of these issues as important tests in the
U.S.-Turkish relationship.
On the House Armenia resolution, Erdogan charged that the
U.S. Congress is engaged in a political judgment of Turkey which
"has the potential to deeply damage our strategic cooperation."
It is important, he said, that this resolution not be discussed
on the floor of the Congress. He went on further to say that the
allegations of genocide against Armenians in 1915 have not been
proven, that in 2005, the Turkish government offered, in a
letter, to take up the issue by establishing a Joint Historical
Commission that would examine, not only Turkish archives from the
period, but also any others that contain relevant documents. "If
genocide can be proven, then we're ready to settle," he said, but
there is no proof of genocide against Armenians. "Those who claim
genocide should prove it." He concluded in this that "we aim to
reach a common understanding" on that history but that there
still has been no reply to the 2005 letter.
On the PKK problem, Erdogan was unambiguous, that Turkey has
the right to defend itself and will exercise that right without
question. He emphasized that Turkey has been engaged in diplomacy
with the Iraqi government, including its Kurdish representatives
for quite some time on the issue, including as recently as Oct.
26, when a high-ranking Iraqi government delegation went to
Turkey to discuss the problem. "Turkey has no patience to deal
with measures that have no results. Turkey expects action from
the United States and Iraq to put an end to the PKK," he said. He
warned that Turkey is "on the point of using our rights," which,
he said, come from international law. He noted that 507 members
of the Turkish parliament voted for the motion authorizing a
military incursion to attack PKK camps in northern Iraq, and only
19 voted against it. "This is a reflection of the sentiments of
the Turkish people," he said. [cjo]

Bush Sidesteps the Only Questions Allowed at Press Conference
with Turkey's Erdogan

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--President George Bush avoided answering the only
questions put to him at a joint "media availability" at the White
House with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today. In
his opening remarks, W observed, "In order to chase down people
who murder people, you need good intelligence." That is why, he
said that he and the prime minister have agreed that a
"tripartite arrangement" among top military men in the U.S. and
Turkish governments, as well as Gen. David Petraeus in Iraq to
provide intelligence on the PKK terrorists in northrn Iraq. Bush
also said, "The prime minister strongly urged that the United
States work with leaders to cut off money flows to the PKK."
Bush then noted that he briefed the prime minister on Condi
Rice's call to Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, in which
she conveyed that "we expect there to be elections as soon as
possible and that the President should remove his military
uniform." This in response to Musharraf's declaration of a state
of emergency and the suspension of elections there.
For his part, Erdogan noted that he and Bush discussed "the
dissolving of the terrorist camps, the capture of leaders of the
terrorist organization or the steps that may be
necessary--cutting off logistical support, etc."
In the Q&A, no questions were addressed to the Turkish Prime
Minister. Bush sidestepped answering two questions: What would be
the U.S. response if Turkey crossed the Iraqi border to attack
the PKK? And, What will he do if Musharraf doesn't take Bush's
advice about restoring democracy as quickly as possible? [fhb]

A Hue and Cry Springs Up to Override Bush Water Bill Veto

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--George Bush's "I don't give a dam" veto of the
Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is headed for an override
vote in Congress as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
announced today a vote is scheduled for Tuesday Nov. 6. The
Senate is likely to follow suit as the WRDA bill had veto-proof
majorities when it was passed -- 381 to 40 in the House and 81-12
in the Senate.
Critically, the $23 billion WRDA bill authorizes upgrading
locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River
systems which are critical to the nation's economy. Over 50% of
America's locks and dams are past their 50-year design life span.
This is an infrastructure catastrophe waiting to happen, and Bush
said screw you.
Within hours of Bush's veto, a hue and cry went up from both
Republicans and Democrats criticizing Bush for his stubborn
refusal to fund the water projects. In the Senate, Sen. John
Thune (R-S.D.) predicted, "Congress will override the President's
veto. It is important to South Dakota and all states that benefit
from navigable waters that are used for agricultural
commodities." Missouri Sen. Kit Bond (R), a champion of WRDA and
usually a staunch supporter of President Bush, promised to lead
efforts in the Senate to override the Bush veto.
Rep. Hoyer insisted, "This is another example of this
President obstinately standing in the way of bipartisan
legislation. Yet again, the President is isolated on a matter of
national significance. As with Iraq, children's health care and
other national priorities, the President continues to stand in
the way of progress." [mjf]

EUROPE

MI5 Sounds Terror Alert in Britain

Nov. 5, (LPAC)-- With the image of U.S. Vice President Dick
Cheney, no doubt, before him, Jonathan Evans, the new head of
Britain's MI5 (their version of the FBI), gave the keynote speach
to the assembled Society of Editors conference, today. Clearly
trying to whip the British press into line, Evans did his best to
paint an image of a "terrorist under every rock," saying that
today's threat is "the worst in MI5's 98-year history." Not only
have the number of individuals having "links with terrorism" gone
from 1,600 to 2,000 in just the last year, but the true number
might actually be double that, he just doesn't know. Terrorist
incidents are not simply "random plots," but rather are clearly
because al-Qaeda "has a clear determination to mount terrorist
attacks against the United Kingdom." In addition, terror plots,
which used to come solely from "tribal areas of Pakistan," can
now come from anywhere, like Iraq, or even Somalia. In fact, you
might even call it an "al-Qaeda franchise," or an "al-Qaeda
brand." Then came the clincher: They are out to get the children,
radicalizing, "indoctrinating and grooming" the youth. "As I
speak, terrorists are methodically and intentionally targetting
young people and children in this country," he said.
Then, directly addressing the editors of the nation's
collected media, he declared that, although their numbers have
increased to almost 4,000, MI5 could not do it alone. To win the
fight against terrorism "requires a collective effort in which
government, faith communities, and wider civil society [i.e., the
press] have an important part to play," he said. Indeed, Dick
Cheney would be proud. [mpb]

London Times Expose of Saudis as "Hub of World Terror";
Half-Truth, Half-Coverup

Nov. 5, 2007 (LPAC)-- Calling the Saudi Kingdom the ``Hub of
World Terror,'' the London Sunday Times of Nov. 4, ran an
``expose'' on the Saudi empire's relation to international
terrorism--but painting it as only a ``Saudi-U.S.'' problem. In
an accompanying ``comment,'' the Times' Bronwen Maddox writes
that the U.S. had ``urged'' the U.K. to mediate the relationship
(and bring the Saudis to support the current Middle East
negotiations).
The Times lists the past and present sins of Saudi Arabia,
never once mentioning the multibillion-dollar al-Yamamah swap
arrangement and slush fund set up for Saudi Prince Bandar bin
Sultan, by which much of this network of terror is financed.
Lyndon LaRouche, who caused political shockwaves on Oct. 10,
2007 when he identified, at his international webcast that 9/11
was an "inside job" about which he could only disclose a fraction
of what he knows, commented that the Times piece reflects his
"blowing the whistle" on 9/11. The British are still covering up
their role in international terrorism, but some circles liked the
"sound of the whistle" and are exposing some elements of the
network behind 9/11.
The Times says that 55% of the foreign fighters on the
ground in Iraq are Saudis, according to NBC News, as are over
half of the foreign detainees at Baghdad's Camp Cropper. These
detainees have to be isolated because of the poisoning effect
they have on others, through preaching their extremist Wahhabist
form of Islam. Over the years, the Saudis have operated both as a
fountain of funds, and as an international sanctuary for
al-Qaeda-connected terrorists, including, years ago, Osama bin
Laden himself.
Things started to change at the time of the first Gulf War
in 1991. Bin Laden attacked the Saudis for cooperation with the
U.S., eventually leading to the revocation of his citizenship. In
1996, al-Qaeda first reached onto domestic territory with the
bombing of the Khobar Towers, where among the victims was one
Saudi national. And, of course, the Times notes that 15 of the 19
supposed 9/11 attackers were Saudi nationals.
The Saudis still present a mixed picture, says the Times.
Although anti-terrrorist measures have been promised, they have
not been realized. The money still flows, albeit now in
suitcases, instead of more easily traceable wire transfers.
Domestic arrestees are usually given ``consultation,'' instead of
jail time. Of those who are jailed, their families receive often
assistance, even reaching as far as Guantanamo Bay.
The Times ominously ends with a quote from Rachel Bronson,
head of the Council on Foreign Relations' Middle East desk, who
asks ``Do we want to take on the Saudis at this moment?'' [mpb]

Bavarian Industrial Sector Favors for Maglev Development

Nov. 5 (LPAC) -- Reviewing the Nov. 3 rally in Munich of 13,000
opponents of maglev technology, a source in the Munich municipal
administration said in a discussion today that it is deplorable
that so many people would rally to protest against a
forward-oriented technology, but that actually, the silent
majority of citizens in the city and region are for maglev.
Furthermore, Bavaria's industrial sector, notably the many
smaller firms that produce components for the Transrapid system,
such as for the Shanghai project, are definitely in favor of the
technology.
The source agreed that it would make sense to present the
Munich Transrapid project as a segment of a future, long-range
project, such as into the south, e.g. Italy, or, as some people
propposed some years ago, a maglev between the airports of Munich
and Frankfurt. It is indeed a problem that the governing Bavarian
party, the Christian Social Union, has overemphasized the local
aspect of the Munich maglev, the source said, adding that the
Transrapid originally was developed in Munich, and 30 years ago
ran on a test track there. It actually is a "Munich technology,"
and people should be proud of it. The source agreed that those
who want the maglev train should display more public commitment,
rather than leave the streets to anti-technology protesters.
Social Democratic Munich Mayor Christian Ude's populism
against maglev is all the more absurd, as the fully state-funded
project which he opposes would burden the municipal budget with
not a single euro, whereas Ude's proposed commuter train would
burden the budget considerably, the source said. (rap)

SOUTHWEST ASIA

Palestinian Source: Annapolis could be called off

Nov. 5 (EIRNS)--An unnamed Palestinian source told the Israeli
online daily, Ynet.com (published by Yediot Ahronot), that
Palestinian President Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) would call off
the Annapolis peace meeting unless U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice presents the Palestinians with a ``reasonable
formula'' for a joint Palestinian-Israeli success. He also said
it was very likely that the meeting would have to be postponed.
There has been no progress on a proposed declaration of
principles and that Abu Mazen therefore would like to postpone
the meeting.
``However, if we do have to participate, we expect the U.S.
and the Quartet to pressure Israel heavily, so as not to allow
the summit to hurt Abbas' image or become a weapon in the
Palestinian opposition hands. If the conference fails, this would
be the last nail in the coffin of negotiations. The public's
faith in the diplomatic process is nonexistent as it is, and any
failure in the summit would turn the process into a corpse,'' the
source said. ``Therefore, it's better to cancel the conference
than to hold a conference that would end in failure.'' [dea]

Dichter: Syria Ready for Peace; Are Israel and the U.S.?

Nov. 5 (EIRNS)--Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter,
speaking at the Saban Forum in Jerusalem is quoted saying, "Many
of us are confused between information and intelligence. A
country which wants to use its military might needs information,
but a country which wants to use its political force needs
intelligence. We have information indicating that Syria is
mentally prepared for a peace process with Israel. The question
is whether are we or the U.S. are prepared for it," according to
the Jerusalem Post.
Also present at the forum was former CIA director George
Tenet, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin,
and former Mossad chief Efraim Halevi.
The Jerusalem Post reminded its readers that in August
Dichter had made similar statements for the record: "Any
diplomatic initiative is preferred over war, whether in Syria or
Lebanon," Dichter had told the Jerusalem Post, adding that
negotiations with Syria were "legitimate."
"If there is someone to talk to on the other side, we should
talk. Israel can initiate this or turn to a third party. We have
paid similar territorial concessions in the past when we signed
peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt." [dea]

U.S. Sanctions Hit Iran Infrastructure Projects

Nov. 5 (LPAC) -- The World Bank has moved to suspend payments for
major infrastructure projects in Iran, in response to new U.S.
sanctions on leading Iranian banks, according to a report in
today's {San Francisco Chronicle}. Officials said $5.4 million in
payments has been suspended for four projects, "involving
earthquake relief, water and sanitation, environment management
and urban housing." While they do not expect the suspensions to
be permanent, the bank has no plan to resume payments because it
is having trouble finding banks in Iran through which to route
them. Until now, World Bank payments have all gone through Bank
Melli, one of Iran's largest banks, but Bank Melli has now been
accused of being involved in nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
Also listed were two other institutions, Bank Mellat and Bank
Saderat. "At this point, the World Bank is looking for alternate
ways to support these projects," said an official. "It is unknown
how difficult that might be. It is not that easy to find
alternatives. We have no answer on how or when at this point."
[mpb]

PKK Fighters Threaten Actions Against Iran

Nov. 5 (EIRNS)--The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) is transferring
fighters from northern Iraq into Iran in preparation for an
attack by the Turkish army. Osman Ocalan, brother of the
imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, told the British daily,
The Independent, ``the PKK has decreased its forces in Iraqi
Kurdistan and they are moving to Iran. It is part of PKK tactics
that when they feel pressure in one country they move to
another.''
According to background discussions held by EIRNS, the
Independent's report is likely to be part of the operation
against Iran, which has been cooperating with Turkey and Syria
against the British-promoted Kurdistan separtist operation, which
was a core element in the Sykes-Picot schemes to divide the oil
patch between British and French imperialists after World War II.
The Independent plays up Ocalan's claims that the PKK has
just under 7,000 fighters. ``There are 2,750 in Turkey. Another
2,500 are in border areas of Iraq and 1,500 are in Iran.'' He
said that it is the PKK's war in Iran that is escalating. ``In
the last six months the PKK has started a war against Iran. There
are more and more fighters in Iranian Kurdistan and the Iranian
Kurds support the PKK strongly.''
Even the Independent reports that the U.S. condemns the PKK
if it attacks Turks, but supports its operation in Iran, where it
is called the PJAK and where they have killed 150 soldiers and
police.
Ocalan claims that his brother is suffering health problems
in the Turkish prison where he is serving a life sentence and
that could be one reason for the Turkish attacks, but it is clear
that the Iran escalation is at the center. Other sources confirm
that Osman Ocalan, after he ``broke'' with the PKK, set up shop
in Irbil, Iraq, and like all other Turkish Kurdish factions, is
fully integrated into the Iraqi Kurdistan political scene. Osman
Ocalan has his own political party called the Patriotic
Democratic Party (PWD). [dea]

SOUTH ASIA

Washington Upset with Musharraf, Considers Punitive Measures

Nov. 5 LPAC--Upset with Paksitan's President Gen. Pervez
Musharraf for declaring a state of emergency in Pakistan on
Nov.3, U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice has said in Jerusalem
on Nov. 5 that the United States would review its $150
million-a-month assistance program to Pakistan, in response to
the declaration of emergency rule. There are reports that
Secretary Rice, on her way back from Israel, may arrive in
Pakistan at anytime, to get first-hand knowledge of the
prevailing political situation.
At the White House, spokeswoman Dana Perino urged Musharraf
to hold free and fair parliamentary elections in January as
scheduled, and for the general to take off his uniform. "The
government of the United States is deeply disturbed by the
proclamation of emergency in Pakistan," she said. "We cannot
support a path that does not put them back on the road to
democracy."
Pentagon's spokesman said Undersecretary of Defense for
Policy Eric Edelman was supposed to head a U.S. delegation for
the talks beginning on Nov. 6, but he will not go until political
conditions in Pakistan improve. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary
Robert Gates called on President Musharraf to return his country
to a constitutional democracy.
Fury in Washington centers around its observation that
President Musharraf has declared the state of emergency to
scuttle the scheduled holding of general elections in January
2008 to bring back democracy in Pakistan. On Nov. 5, President
Musharraf promised foreign diplomats that planned elections would
be held and defended his controversial decision to impose a state
of emergency, state media said. However, the emergency laws in
Pakistan allows the martial law administrator not to hold general
elections for at least one year. [RMA]

What Triggered the State of Emergency in Pakistan?

Nov. 5 (LPAC)--Depending on what is intended for the future of
Pakistan, there seem to be many answers to that question. For the
"democracy" crowd in the U.S., Europe or in Pakistan, the answer
is invariably the following: Musharraf did that to scuttle the
general elections and not allow Benazir Bhutto, or any other
democratic leader, to share power with the military.
The answer to the same question to some others in Pakistan
will provoke an answer which says President Gen. Pervez Musharraf
did that to silence the growing power of Pakistan's judiciary.
The Supreme Court, with 17 judges, was about to nullify as
unconstitutional the Presidential election which Musharraf won
handily on Oct. 6, they claim.
But, other Pakistanis would identify the unstable security
situation within the country, pointing out that the security was
deteriorating too rapidly and was in the process of dividing the
military into two opposing camps. Therefore, the declaration of
emergency was to provide Pakistan's only functional institution,
the military, a breather, and to sort out some things.
On Nov. 4, a day after the state of emergency was declared,
the Lahore-based English news daily, {The Daily Times}, in its
editorial, said: "The militia of Fazlullah, the warlord of Swat,
has defeated the paramilitary forces sent in to bring peace to
the people of the valley..." Although Islamabad has denied such a
disaster, {The Daily Times} pointed out that "what al-Qaeda wants
is territory from where it can operate freely at the global
level. (Already most of the bombers in Europe are trained in
Waziristan.) Defeats suffered by Pakistani security forces have
created a {fait accompli} of what in old parlance was called loss
of territory. The instrument of control over this territory is
sought through the enforcement of a sharia (Islamic laws) that
differs a great deal from the inclusive sharia in force in the
country." The report also said the Pakistani security forces have
told journalists in Swat that they will not fight against their
own people at the behest of the United States and others.
On Nov. 5, Pakistani media released reports which suggest
the Pakistani military has released 25 arrested and convicted
al-Qaeda activists from Pakistani prisons in order to get the
release of 200 Pakistani soldiers held captive in North
Waziristan.
Get the picture of the level of crisis that Pakistan is
undergoing for joining the brainless war on terror designed by
the neo-cons of Bush Administration? [RMA]

*** END OF BRIEFING ***

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