Summary: U.S. In his UN speech, Chavez urged Americans to read Chomsky's book, "Hegemony or Survival," to become aware of the dangerous policies of the Bush Administration. He also referred to President Bush as "the devil." Some said he sought to counter Bush's campaign against Iran, like one who distracts the bull, shouting, "Over here!" Others said he wanted to promote Chomsky's book, but feared that without something flashy he would not generate headlines like, "Chavez urges Americans to read Chomsky."
World opinion does not favor aggressive international measures to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to a BBC poll. Asked what the international community should do if Iran continues to produce nuclear fuel, the most popular approach is using only diplomatic efforts (39%), while only 11% favor military strikes. In no country are military strikes supported by more than one in three. (US: 21%.) Economic sanctions garner only 30% support. (US: 45%.) In two European countries taking the lead in dealing with Iran, majorities oppose doing more than pursuing diplomatic approaches: France (54%) and Great Britain (53%).
The Department of Justice backed away Wednesday from a denial by Attorney General Gonzales of responsibility for the treatment of a Canadian seized by American authorities in 2002. The man was deported to Syria, where he was imprisoned and beaten.
The Bush administration had to empty its secret prisons and transfer terror suspects to the military-run detention centre at Guantánamo in part because CIA interrogators had refused to carry out further interrogations and run the secret facilities, according to former CIA officials, the Financial Times reports.
Iran Iran's President said today his country would be willing to negotiate over a suspension of its nuclear program under "fair" and "just" conditions, terms Iranian officials have generally used to mean withdrawal of the threat of UN sanctions.
Over the objections of the administration and Jewish groups that boycotted the event, President Ahmadinejad squared off with the nation's foreign policy establishment, parrying with members of the Council on Foreign Relations, then asking whether they were simply shills for the Bush administration.
"By causing war and conflict, some are fast expanding their domination, accumulating greater wealth, while others endure poverty," President Ahmadinejad said in his speech to the General Assembly yesterday. "Some seek to rule the world relying on weapons and threats while others live in poverty. Some occupy the homelands of others, interfering in their affairs and controlling their oil and resources, while others are bombarded daily in their own homes, their children murdered in the streets."
The US and its partners have set another deadline in hopes that Iran will agree to terms paving the way for substantive talks on its nuclear program. Under the plan, Iran will have until early October to agree to suspend its nuclear activities as the negotiations take place, the Washington Post reports.
Iraq A UN report said 5,106 people in Baghdad died violent deaths in July & August, a number far higher than in reports that have relied on figures from the city's morgue.
Attacks against U.S. troops have increased since al-Qaeda in Iraq's new leader urged insurgents to target American forces, a U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.
A Pentagon assessment finds an overwhelming majority of Iraq's Sunni Muslims support the insurgency fighting U.S. troops and the Iraqi government, ABC reports.
Torture may be worse now in Iraq than under former leader Saddam Hussein, the UN's chief anti-torture expert says.
Palestine The Bush administration expressed support Wednesday for efforts by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to establish a national unity government with Hamas, but said the US would continue to withhold aid from the Palestinian Authority.
IMF-World Bank The World Bank and IMF are poorly suited to lead the flow of aid to Africa, which would be more effective if it was distributed in line with a nation's needs, not competing donor interests, a U.N. agency said.
In this issue: U.S. 1) Chavez urges Americans to read Chomsky 2) BBC Poll Shows Iran's Nuclear Ambitions Cause Concern, But People Want a Negotiated Settlement 3) Justice Dept. Amends Remark on Torture Case 4) CIA 'Refused to Operate' Secret Jails Iran 5) Iranian Leader Drops Hints on Nuclear Halt 6) Iran's Leader Relishes 2nd Chance to Make Waves 7) Iran Who? Venezuela Takes the Lead in a Battle of Anti-U.S. Sound Bites 8) Early October New Deadline for Iran Iraq 9) U.N. Finds Baghdad Toll Far Higher Than Cited 10) Since Threat, Attacks on U.S. Troops Have Risen 11) Insurgency Gains Alarming Support Among Iraq's Sunni Muslims 12) Iraq torture 'worse after Saddam' Palestine 13) U.S. Supports Abbas in Bid to Assemble Unity Cabinet IMF-World Bank 14) World Bank, IMF unsuited for Africa aid-U.N. agency
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-------- Robert Naiman Just Foreign Policy www.justforeignpolicy.org
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