November 18, 2010
“The first casualty in war is truth”
The Cactus Times
Major Breakthrough in Middle East Negotiations?
(Tel Aviv, UP)
Sources have learned that at a meeting between U.S. and Israeli
negotiators in Israel, the two groups have created a breakthrough in the Middle East peace
process. Evidently American negotiators have persuaded the Israeli government to create a sixmonth freeze on any further settlements in the West Bank but evidently not in East Jerusalem.
News of the negotiations spread fast across the Israeli political system. The right-wing parties in
the coalition government immediately announced that if the deal is accurate, they will withdraw
from the coalition, and call for a vote of no confidence in the Knesset. Should that turn out to be
the case, the Prime Minister will either have to call for new elections, or seek to form another
coalition before the vote.
Meanwhile, the American Secretary of State informed the Palestinian authority of the
negotiations with Israel, and asked for a joint meeting of the three parties, to be convened in
Miami today. As we go to press, it is not clear if the Palestinian Authority has responded in the
affirmative.
At the same time the Israeli government announced that it is extremely concerned about the
upcoming meeting in Turkey over Iran’s “nuclear ambitions”. It is unclear to the Israeli
government whether or not this meeting is sought to sidestep the official actions that have been
taken against Iran by the UN Security Council, sanctioning its activities.
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Indian Prime Minister Addresses Indian Parliament
(Delhi, API) In a formal address to the Indian Parliament, the Prime Minister, speaking to both
domestic and external audiences, made the following remarks:
In the past several days, the Indian government has decided that it is in the best interest of our people
to mobilize a minimal number of troops to the Kashmiri region of our country. The presence of the
Indian military can assure the necessary aid reaches the region and any future terrorist insurgents that
may still be operating within our territory can be removed.
This mission is not one of religious divide. This effort is being conducted for the good of all India.
Countless innocent Indian citizens, both Muslim and Hindu, have lost their lives over the years due to
the carelessness of Pakistani government. We must stand as a united India against the foreign threat
and let them know that the Indian people will not idly stand-by as foreign powers massacre its citizens!
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As the Qu'ran states, "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you and turn them out from where
they have turned you out..." (2:190-191)
Together, "May your weapons be strong to drive away the attackers, may your arms be powerful
enough to check the foes, let your army be glorious, not the evil doer." (Rig Veda 1-39:2).
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As Life Heats Up in South Asian Crisis
(Hong Kong, Reuters) Following on the heels of the limited Indian mobilization, a second wave
of terrorist bombing in Kashmir, and Pakistani intransigence to curb terrorist activity from within
its own borders, there appears to be heightened readiness stage of alert by Chinese troops at the
South China command, across the contested borders with India.
Meanwhile, American sources indicate that Pakistan is moving troops into its area of control in
Kashmir, although the number of troops and their location at this time is not clear. The Indian
government, in an indirect communication with Pakistan, indicated to the U.S. that it would not
tolerate an enhanced military Pakistani presence on the border of Indian controlled Kashmir. As
a result, the entire Indian military has been placed on the highest state of alert.
This appears to be the most significant crisis between the two nuclear-armed states since their
previous militarized dispute several years earlier.
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Pakistan Appears to Do an About Face on U.S. Actions within its
Borders
(Karachi, AP) Under enormous pressure from internal instability, border skirmishes across the
Afghan border, and now the growing conflagration with India over Kashmir, evidently the
Pakistani government has allowed the U.S. to continue missile strikes in the Waziristan region of
Pakistan, aimed at Taliban and Al Queda groups.
The assumption is that the U.S. will then assist the Pakistani government in its dealings with
India as the two countries appear to be moving ever closer to war over terrorism in Kashmir.
A confidential source within the Pakistani military establishment indicated to this reporter however
that the military is amazed at this turn of events: “our sovereignty is at play here” he said.
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US Russian START Treaty Being Revived?
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(Washington, API) Unnamed White House sources, speaking off the record, indicated that a
breakthrough may be imminent in their negotiations with Senate Republicans, and especially
Senator Jon Kyl regarding the signing of the Start treaty. “It cost us about $110 billion in nuclear
weapons modernization” the source said. President Obama appeared assured when the topic was
raised by a group of visitors from Mexico. It was learned as well that the U.S. government is
seeking clarifications over the progress of the Start ratification with Russian Foreign Ministry
officials.
Meanwhile in another, very rare show of bipartisanship, Senate Minority leader McConnell (R,
Kentucky) applauded the Israeli decision to halt future settlements and return to the negotiations
table, and thus indirectly praising the Obama administration for its actions in the Middle East.
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