27.3.2007 by admin.

Subverting Iran Washington’s Covert War inside Iran by Gregory Elich

Global Research, March 23, 2007

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Much attention has been given to the Bush Administration’s preparations for possible war against Iran as well as its drive to impose sanctions. Meanwhile, a less noticed policy has been unfolding, one that may in time prove to have grave consequences for the region. There is a covert war underway in Iran, still in its infancy, but with disturbing signs of impending escalation. In the shadowy world of guerrilla operations, the full extent of involvement by the Bush Administration has yet to be revealed, but enough is known to paint a disturbing picture. The provision of aid to anti-government forces offers certain advantages to the Bush Administration. No effort needs to be expended in winning support for the policy. Operations can be conducted away from the public eye during a time of growing domestic opposition to the war in Iraq, and international opinion is simply irrelevant where the facts are not well known. In terms of expenditures, covert operations are a cost-effective means for destabilizing a nation, relative to waging war. There is nothing new in the technique, and it has proven an effective means for toppling foreign governments in the past, as was the case with socialist Afghanistan and Nicaragua. In Yugoslavia, U.S. and British military training and arms shipments helped to build up the secessionist Kosovo Liberation Army from a small force of 300 soldiers into a sizable guerrilla army that made the province of Kosovo ungovernable. The very chaos that the West did so much to create was then used as the pretext for bombing Yugoslavia. According to a former CIA official, funding for armed separatist groups operating in Iran is paid from the CIA’s classified budget. The aim, claims Fred Burton, an ex-State Department counter-terrorism agent, is “to supply and train” these groups “to destabilize the Iranian regime.” (1) The largest and most well known of the anti-government organizations is Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), operating out of Iraq. For years MEQ had launched cross-border attacks and terrorist acts against Iran with the support of Saddam Hussein. Officially designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in 1997, and disarmed of heavy weaponry by the U.S. military six years later, Washington has since come to view MEK in a different light. Three years ago, U.S. intelligence officials suggested looking the other way as the MEK rearmed and to use the organization to destabilize Iran, a recommendation that clearly has been accepted. (2) Accusing MEK of past involvement in repressive measures by former president Saddam Hussein, the current Iraqi government wants to close down Camp Ashraf, located well outside of Baghdad, where many of the MEK fighters are stationed. But the camp operates under the protection of the U.S. military, and American soldiers chauffeur MEK leaders. The Iraqi government is unlikely to get its way, as the MEK claims to be the primary U.S. source for intelligence on Iran. (3) U.S. officials “made MEK members swear an oath to democracy and resign from the MEK,” reveals an intelligence source, “and then our guys incorporated them into their unit and trained them.” Reliance on the MEK began under Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with the direction of Vice President Dick Cheney, and soon MEK soldiers were being used in special operations missions in Iran. “They are doing whatever they want, no oversight at all,” said one intelligence official of the MEK’s American handlers. (4) The Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), is another organization that conducts cross-border raids into Iran. Israel provides the group with “equipment and training,” claims a consultant to the U.S. Defense Department, while the U.S. gave it “a list of targets inside Iran of interest to the U.S.” Aid to guerrilla groups, the consultant reports, is “part of an effort to explore alternative means of applying pressure on Iran.” (5) It has been noted that PJAK has recently shown an impressive gain in capability during its operations, both in terms of size and armament, a fact that can surely be attributed to Western support. (6) Jundallah (God’s Brigade) is an extremist Sunni organization operating in Sistan-Balochistan province that has been launching armed attacks, planting explosives, setting off car bombs, and kidnapping. Based in Pakistan, it is unclear if this group is connected with the Pakistani organization of the same name, which has ties with Al-Qaeda. (7) Jundallah denies that it has any links to either Al-Qaeda or to the U.S. But Iranian officials claim that a recently arrested Jundallah guerrilla has confessed that he was trained by U.S. and British intelligence officers. There is no way to verify that such a confession has actually taken place, nor its reliability as it may have come as a result of coercion, but the claim would not be inconsistent with U.S. policy elsewhere in Iran. (8) It is probable that in the coming months the Bush Administration will expand support for anti-government forces in order to more effectively destabilize Iran and gather intelligence. Already U.S. Special Forces are operating in Iran collecting data, planting nuclear sensors, and electronically marking targets. Separatist forces have cooperated in those efforts. “This looks to be turning into a pretty large-scale covert operation,” comments a former CIA official. U.S. and Israeli officials are establishing front companies to help finance that covert war. (9) To fully capitalize on ethnic discontent along Iran’s periphery, the U.S. Marine Corps has commissioned a study from defense contractor Hicks and Associates on Iran and Iraq’s ethnic groups and their grievances. (10) That these separatist organizations clearly engage in terrorism hasn’t deterred the Bush Administration from backing them. The potential for baneful consequences is considerable. CIA support for the anti-Soviet and anti-socialist Mujahedin in Afghanistan spawned a worldwide movement of Islamic extremism. Western support for ethnic secessionists shattered Yugoslavia and the invasion of Iraq fired the flames of ethnic discord and made a shared life impossible. It remains to be seen if the Bush Administration can succeed in achieving its goal of effecting regime change in Iran. That process could have devastating consequences for the people of Iran. Those officials in the Bush Administration who advocated and implemented covert operations “think in Iran you can just go in and hit the facilities and destabilize the government,” explains a former CIA official. “They believe they can get rid of a few crazy mullahs and bring in the young guys who like Gap jeans, [and] all the world’s problems are solved. I think it’s delusional.” (11) Gregory Elich is the author of Strange Liberators: Militarism, Mayhem, and the Pursuit of Profit. Gregory Elich is a frequent Global Research contributor. http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Liberators-Militarism-Mayhem-Pursuit/dp/1595265708

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27.3.2007 by admin.

Israeli officer sells weapons to terrorists in Iraq
Wed, 07 Mar 2007 22:44:47 Ma’ariv Daily has reported that an Israeli retired officer sells weapons to terrorist groups in Iraq.

Shmoel Avivi, an Israeli retired officer, had established a firm in Iraq 2 years ago, which secretly sold arms to terrorist groups in Iraq, Ma’ariv reported.

Amnesty International reported that Avivi was one of the biggest weapon dealers in the Middle East.

Iraqi sources earlier announced that terrorist attacks in Iraq were backed by the intelligence agencies of CIA and Mossad and the secret agents of Iraqi former regime.

Earlier, Iraqi parliament security commission chairman Hadi Ameri had accused the occupying soldiers of secretly directing the terrorist attacks and forming terror squads in Iraq.

MB/KB

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070326&articleId=5188 

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27.3.2007 by admin.

“Die Statusfrage ist wichtig, Entwicklung überlebenswichtig”

Das Kosovo braucht einen Notplan zum wirtschafltichen Überleben dringender als die Unabhängigkeit, meint Analystin Knaus im derStandard.at-Gespräch

“Die Statusfrage lenkt die politische Elite sosehr ab, dass niemand mehr daran denkt, wie es mit der Entwicklung des Landes weitergeht”. Verena Knaus, Analystin der European Stability Initiative, macht sich Sorgen um die ökonomische Zukunft des Kosovo. Tatsächlich investiert zum Beispiel die EU in dem 10.000 Qudratmeter großen Gebiet den Großteil der Fördergelder in den Aufbau des Justizwesens und in die Strukturen der Exekutive. Eine Millarde Euro gab die Europäische Kommission über die Europäische Agentur für Wiederaufbau seit 1998 aus.Die Eckdaten im Kosovo sind seit Jahren besorgniserregend. Die Arbeitslosigkeit liegt bei über 50 Prozent, das monatliche Einkommen sinkt in den letzen Jahren stetig, zwei Drittel der Bevölkerung lebt im strukturschwachen ländlichen Raum, nur ein Viertel ist am Kanalisationsnetz angeschlossen, selbst in der Hauptstadt Pristina. “Hier eine Entwicklung zu bewirken wird eine der größten Herausforderungen der Zukunft werden,” meint Knaus.

Hohe Erwartungen

Eine Zukunft, die trotz bevorstehender Statusklärung alles andere als gewiss ist. Spätestens im Sommer, so ist in kosovarischen Medien zu lesen, wolle man eine endgültige Lösung der Statusfrage, so lange reiche die Geduld noch. Die Erwartungshaltung, erzählt Verena Knaus im derStandard.at-Gespräch, dass sich die Dinge mit der Klärung der Statusfrage ändern, ist hier unheimlich groß”. Zwar versuchen kosovarische Politiker die Erwartungen zu zügeln, der große finanzielle “Schock der Unabhängigkeit” stehe aber noch bevor.

Schließlich soll das Kosovo seinen Anteil an den Vermögenswerten und Schulden des zerbrochenen Staates Jugoslawien selbst übernehmen. Und außerdem, so Verena Knaus, wird die Umsetzung selbst eine kostspielige Sache werden. Allein der Aufbau eines Staatsapparates werde Unmengen an Geld verschlingen. So bleiben die Investitionen in die bitter notwendige Infrastruktur vorerst weiter hintan gestellt.

Internationale Geber

Zwar wurde eine Internationale Geberkonferenz einberufen, um den finanziellen “Schock” anhand einer Prioritätenliste aus Pristina abzufedern, aber auch die soll sich vor allem auf die Umsetzung des Status´ konzentrieren. Wieviel Geld die Internationale Gemeinschaft dafür zur Verfügung stellt, ist allerdings noch unklar.

Das Kosovo tut viel für eine offizielle Identität als unabhängiger Staat. Eine eigene Flagge, die Staatsbürgerschaft, eine Hymne, es geht vor allem darum, die serbische Souveränität über die Provinz hinter sich zu lassen. “Für die albanische Mehrheit ist es eine unglaubliche Erleichterung, dass es kein Zurück mehr nach Serbien gibt, da wird auch in Kauf genommen, dass es kein unmittelbares Vorwärts gibt,” analysiert Verena Knaus, die seit Jahren wissenschaftliche Feldforschung im Kosovo betreibt.

Serbische Minderheit

Aus ihrer Sicht eine uneinschätzbare Variable: die Reaktion der serbischen Minderheit auf das Statuspaket. “Das Gros der serbischen Minderheit hat aber nur das Verlangen nach Deeskalierung und Ruhe.” Über die Details der serbischen Selbstbestimmungsrechte sollen Serben und Albaner im Februar verhandeln. Die UN-Resolution könnte bis Mitte des Jahres verabschiedet werden, falls Russland sich als Serbiens “Schutzmacht” nicht quer legt. Spätestens dann müsste der wirtschaftliche Aufbau des Kosovo in die Gänge kommen.

Was ohne eine europäische Perspektive nicht funktionieren wird. 2006 wurde Kosovo bereits in das neu gegründete Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Programm der EU aufgenommen, das ab 2007 die zukünftige Beitrittsländer zentralisiert unterstützt soll. Rund 60 Millionen Euro sind in den nächsten Jahren für den Kosovo reserviert. Laut Knaus ein Tropfen auf den heißen Stein. (mhe/ derStandard.at, 2.2.2007)

27.3.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Romania to withdraw troops from Iraq before Christmas

27/03/2007

BUCHAREST, Romania — Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu announced on Monday (March 26th) his decision to withdraw Romanian troops from Iraq before Christmas, under a schedule to be hammered out with Romania’s coalition partners. Tariceanu noted that all the countries participating in military operations in Iraq have already announced their plans for drawdowns. The subject has long been a source of disagreement between him and President Traian Basescu. Romania has 605 troops in Iraq. (Ziua - 27/03/07; Mediafax, AFP - 26/03/07)

Rumänien zieht seine Truppen aus dem Irak ab, bis Weihnachten

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27.3.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Croatian oil company sued for endangering public health

27/03/2007

Alarming air quality levels have been tied to a spike in cancer rates in Sisak, home of the Croatian state-owned oil refinery INA.

By Natasa Radic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb– 27/03/07

Croatia’s INA and its refinery in the industrial city of Sisak are being sued by the municipal government for exceeding the permitted concentration levels of dangerous gases. Now the town of Sisak is seeking compensation of 1.5m euros from the Croatian state, INA’s largest shareholder.

After environmental activists in Sisak proved that the concentration of hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide levels exceed the refinery’s regulatory standards, the government decided to take measures to protect the public from further health threats.

More than 50,000 people live in the potential pollution zone, some 50km southeast of Zagreb. Sisak has always been a centre of chemical industry and home of the largest oil refinery in Croatia. Most people living in the area work for it or in the chemical plants.

Although residents have long noticed an odor, it was not considered a health threat. However, initial air tests suggest otherwise.

According to the Association of Cancer Patients of Sisak, the air pollution has led to more cancer-related illnesses. Women in Sisak mostly suffer from breast cancer, while the male population is affected by lung cancer. The rates are, according to the Association, unusual and alarming.

Most of the blame is directed at the oil refinery. Local politicians say they are not satisfied with the amount requested in the lawsuit and are advising the community to seek much more. This marks the first time that a local population in Croatia has sued government authorities for endangering their health.

The Health Ministry is researching the cancer rates in Sisak, with final results expected by the end of June. Health Minister Neven Ljubicic said that research done for the period between 1991 and 2000 suggested Sisak had an average number of cancer-related illnesses.

The management of INA has promised to do all it can to meet health and environmental standards, while refusing to admit that the increased concentration of sulphur gases is connected with its facilities in the area.

So far, the Environment Ministry has sent 12 different inspection teams to the refinery to monitor the situation.

http://setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2007/03/27/feature-03 

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27.3.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Italians to reconstruct Gjirokastra’s airport

27/03/2007

Among other goals, the 15m-euro project is intended to help provide a boost for regional tourism.

By Erlis Selimaj for Southeast European Times in Tirana – 27/03/07

Albania’s Gjirokastra airport will receive a makeover.
The Italian government, through a joint project with NATO structures, will undertake a project to rebuild and remodel the Gjirokastra airport in southern Albania. The renovated airport will be used for both civilian and military purposes. Authorities hope it will provide a boost for regional tourism and serve local and foreign businesses.

Mediterranean tourism requires proper infrastructure and developed markets. The initiators of the Gjirokastra project hope the makeover will help achieve this.

“It is a project which has to be taken seriously and we are looking forward to its completion,” said Brigadier General Aldo Piccoti, the Italian military representative working in the framework of NATO forces.

The first phase of rehabilitation should be completed in September. At that time, Italy’s Aero-Club plans to hold a special tour, bringing members of Italy’s business community to Gjirokastra via private jet.

“Our aim is to promote tourism in the city,” Deutsche Welle radio quoted Italian consul general Lorenzzo Tomassini as saying. The airport remodel will cost 15m euros.

Albanian authorities are hoping to develop not only Gjirokastra, but also the southern cities of Saranda and Vlora, as top destinations. They would like to connect all three cities as hubs for domestic air flights. Vlora’s Bisht-Poro airport is also being rebuilt by the Italian Defence Ministry in the framework of NATO programmes.

At the moment Albania has only one international airport, which is undergoing a makeover and extension. Another, Kukesi Airport in the northeast, is under construction.

 http://setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2007/03/27/feature-02

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