Text Fwd: Bahraini MP: Arab Turmoil U.S. Greater/Broader/New Mideast Plot / Russia's Putin Warns West Against Whipping Up Mideast "Democracy"

Stop NATO
Bahraini MP: Arab Turmoil U.S. Greater/Broader/New Mideast Plot
Russian Information Agency Novosti
February 24, 2011

Bahrain lawmaker accuses U.S. of being behind Arab revolutions

-"These riots and revolutions we are observing today in Arab countries are the
implementation of the global U.S. project entitled 'New Middle East.' This
program started with Iraq [2003], followed by Lebanon [2005]."

Manama: The popular unrest in Arab countries that led to the fall of regimes in
Tunisia and Egypt is part of a U.S.-designed strategic project dubbed "New
Middle East," a Bahraini deputy said Thursday.

The term "New Middle East" was introduced in 2006 by then U.S. Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice. Analysts say the project defines Washington's policy on
a vast territory including the Arab countries and Central Asian states.

"These riots and revolutions we are observing today in Arab countries are the
implementation of the global U.S. project entitled 'New Middle East.' This
program started with Iraq, followed by Lebanon," Bahraini deputy and journalist
Samira Rajab told RIA Novosti.

"A new stage of its implementation that will take at least a decade started from
2011," she said, adding that the U.S. strategy in the region is aimed at
weakening the ruling regimes and introducing opposition groups into their
governments.

A wave of unrest, which has already toppled authoritarian regimes in Tunisia and
Egypt, is sweeping through the Muslim world, stoking mass popular uprisings in
Libya, Bahrain and Yemen.

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Stop NATO
Russian Information Agency Novosti
Russia's Putin Warns West Against Whipping Up Mideast "Democracy"
February 24, 2011

Putin warns against whipping up democratic processes

-Asked by European media whether he felt any concern about events in the Middle
East and their possible "echo" in the North Caucasus, Putin replied in the
affirmative, but added that the impact of those shocks would be felt not only in
the North Caucasus, but in all countries, including those in Europe.

BRUSSELS: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned Moscow's partners in
the West against attempts at whipping up democratic processes in other countries
in connection with the ongoing events in North Africa. He was speaking at a
joint news conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso,
devoted to the results of the full-scale meeting of the Russian government and
the EU Commission.

Asked by European media whether he felt any concern about events in the Middle
East and their possible "echo" in the North Caucasus, Putin replied in the
affirmative, but added that the impact of those shocks would be felt not only in
the North Caucasus, but in all countries, including those in Europe.

"We are concerned, firstly, about the number of casualties in the events in
North Africa. We are concerned about that despite the soothing claims a rise to
power or growth in the influence of radical groups in northern Africa are
unlikely."

"And if that really happens, it cannot but affect other parts of the world,
including, of course, the North Caucasus," he said.

"As you may know,??continued Putin, ? Today we express concern about what is
happening in Libya. Please, to take note of the fact that the North African cell
of al-Qaeda, too, is concerned about what is happening in Libya. Is that just a
coincidence???

Having made this historical allusion, Putin recalled that the former leader of
the Iranian revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, before his return to Tehran and the
overthrow of the Shah's regime had lived in Paris, and the Western policy of
"inoculation of democracy??in the Palestinian territories caused bloody
conflicts and brought to power Hamas, very unpleasant for many in the West.

"The people are to be allowed to decide their own fate and their own future,?? he said. ? We must give them an opportunity to build their own destiny in a
natural way without any interference from outside."

"Society must move toward democratic institutions, toward self-regulation,
towards its own system, with reliance on the internal processes of development,"
underlined the prime minister.
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Text Fwd: Korea to Send 1,000 Troops for PKO

* Image source/caption: same as the link below

'Yu Myung-hwan, Foreign Minister'

Korea Times
12-31-2009 16:05
Korea to Send 1,000 Troops for PKO
By Kim Sue-young, Staff Reporter

South Korea plans to send more than 1,000 troops to participate in U.N. peacekeeping operations (PKO) in 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Thursday.

In a report to President Lee Myung-bak on its policies for the New Year, the ministry also vowed to make the G20 Summit in Seoul in November a success.

``Given its international status, it is appropriate to send more than 1,000 troops to PKOs,'' a ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

He said that disputed areas in Africa were being reviewed for operations, but details on the exact numbers and locations will be determined after consultations with the U.N.

Currently, Korea has 401 troops, the 39th largest among U.N. member countries, stationed in more than 10 countries including Lebanon, India and Pakistan.

The ministry also plans to place emphasis on the G20 Summit, a meeting of the world's 19 largest economies and the European Union.

It will appoint embassy officials to participating nations to encourage local entrepreneurs to support the summit.

President Lee will broaden his summit diplomacy toward the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, the report said.

``Lee focused on upgrading partnerships with four powers in his first year in office, and in 2009, he placed the emphasis on Asia,'' the official said.

``But this year's summit diplomacy will be centered on the other three regions,'' he added.

Additionally, Lee will promote a tripartite summit with China and Japan in May and negotiations for free trade agreements with the two neighboring countries.

The ministry will increase its Official Development Assistance (ODA) in a bid to extend its role in international society.

``We are seeking to increase ODA to 0.13 percent of GNI (growth national income) from the current 0.1 percent in 2009, and to 0.25 percent in 2015,'' the official said.
Korea joined the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD, a group of donors, last month.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: Assembly Panel Passes Bill on Rapid Dispatch of Peacekeeping Troops

Korea Times
12-24-2009 22:54
Assembly Panel Passes Bill on Rapid Dispatch of Peacekeeping Troops
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The National Assembly Judiciary Committee passed a motion Thursday to improve the nation's ability to response to a United Nations request for the dispatch of peacekeeping forces (PKFs).

The motion, which had already been passed the Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee, calls for allowing the government to decide on the location, troop level, and equipment of PKF deployments before getting parliamentary approval.

The motion calls for deploying up to 1,000 troops.

Under the current law, the government is required to obtain parliamentary approval when it wants to send a PKF overseas. Under the system, it typically takes six to seven months to train the troops and receive approval from the Assembly, which critics say is too long to meet U.N. requirements.

The motion is expected to be ratified during the plenary session, as ruling and opposition lawmakers agree on the need for a system facilitating rapid PKF deployment.

``So far, discussions on the deployment have to be made after parliamentary approval. Therefore, the schedule has been frequently delayed and South Korea has failed to secure favorable locations for its troops as other countries have taken them first,'' Rep. Song Min-soon of the main opposition Democratic Party said.

Since his inauguration early last year, President Lee Myung-bak has pledged to raise Korea's international profile by participating in more peacekeeping operations (PKO) around the world.

Seoul is the 10th-largest donor to U.N. PKOs, but its troop contribution is only the 39th largest.

Currently, some 400 South Korean troops are taking part in U.N. operations, including the 350-strong Dongmyeong Unit stationed in Lebanon.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: Lee Touts Global Role of Military

* Image Source/ Caption: Yonhap News

'Lee attends Armed Forces Day ceremony
Oct. 1, GYERYONG, South Korea -- President Lee Myung-bak (R) reviews troops during a celebration marking the 61st anniversary of the South Korean armed forces at Gyeryongdae military compound, some 165km south of Seoul, on Oct. 1. (Yonhap)'

Korea Times
0-01-2009 18:15
Lee Touts Global Role of Military
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak pledged Thursday to further increase the South Korean military's global role and missions to respond to new types of threats and match the country's economic power.

Lee called for building a ``highly efficient and multifunctional'' military to support his government's ``Global Korea'' policy.

``Our military should not neglect efforts to cope with the world's fast changing security environment,'' the President said in a speech at a ceremony to mark the 61st anniversary of the founding of the nation's armed forces. The ceremony took place at the Gyeryongdae military compound in South Chungcheong Province, attended by some 3,200 incumbent and former military leaders, war veterans and citizens.

``North Korea's threat is becoming more diverse, and new global threats, such as terror and piracy on the open seas, are on the rise. And the international community's expectations for our country and military has also increased,'' Lee said.

To satisfy these needs, he added, South Korea's military should be developed and overhauled further to become an advanced military capable of playing diverse roles at home and abroad.

Lee referred to Seoul's hosting of the G20 summit next year as an example of the country's ever-upgraded global status.

``The hosting of the G20 summit reflects that South Korea now stands in the center of the global stage beyond the Asian region,'' he stressed.

South Korea has dispatched thousands of troops to Iraq, Afghanistan and other regions as part of a coalition of peacekeeping member states.

Currently, about 350 troops are stationed in Lebanon as part of United Nations forces there. Hundreds of other naval seamen are also conducting anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia.

The President reaffirmed a stronger posture against North Korea, which has been constantly developing its asymmetrical military capability.

``I want to make it clear that our values and principles (of the security on the peninsula) will remain unchanged despite the need for dialogue with the North,'' he said. ``Our military should not be swayed by any outside factors. When our military readiness is firm, the chance for inter-Korean dialogue and peace will come earlier.''

The ceremony included a parade by the honor guards of the three military services, the conferment of medals to war veterans, and a performance of military arts and tactical sky diving.

Also included is a ceremonial flight of 21 helicopters, including AH-1Ss and UH-60s, and T-50 supersonic jets.

Under the Defense Reform 2020 package initiated in 2005, the number of South Korean forces will be downsized from the current 650,000 to 520,000 in stages. Instead, the military plans to introduce more advanced weapons systems to offset the decrease in troop levels.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

No Sanction agaict the NK! Dialogue with the NK!

* Original site/ images
Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea(SPARK)

* SPARK English site

118th Anti-US imperialism rally on July 14, 2009

Stop the sanction against the NK!
Open the direct dialogue between the US-NK!
Oppose the redraft to Afghanistan!
Oppose the Re-Extension of the draft to Lebanon !
Denounce the USFK enforcement for the ensuring the rental of the USFK family housing!

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