Bush has berated Nato members reluctant to send troops to Afghan hotspots, demanding they must accept "difficult assignments". Speaking ahead of a Nato meeting in Latvia, Mr Bush said members must provide the forces the alliance needs. Several Nato nations have caveats that keep their troops out of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan, where Taleban forces are strengthening. The difficulties of the Afghan mission are due to dominate the two-day summit. The US president, who led the campaign to topple the Taleban regime five years ago, echoed the earlier words of Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. But the Dutchman had also sought to strike an upbeat note, saying that the Afghan operation - Nato's first outside Europe - was "mission possible", and that it might even be able to start pulling out from 2008. "We need to be frank about the risks," he said, "but we also need to avoid over-dramatising."... http://news.bbc.co.uk censor News |
Editor - 07:50:00 11-28-06 |
Iran: US exit key to Iraq peace |
US troops must leave Iraq if security is to be restored, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said during talks with the Iraqi president. The instability of Iraq was detrimental to all countries in the region and the US had no hope of improving the situation, Ayatollah Khamenei said. President Jalal Talabani is in Tehran to try to secure Iran's help in curbing the escalating violence in Iraq. The US is also interested in involving Iran, but it is unclear at what price. On his way to a Nato summit in Latvia, President Bush said in order for the US to open a dialogue with Iran, the Iranians would have to "verifiably suspend" its nuclear fuel enrichment programme, which could be used in weapons production. But although Washington may find it awkward seeing Iran as a growing powerbroker in Iraq, correspondents say, direct talks between Iran and Iraq to resolve the crisis may to some extent let the Bush administration off the hook... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6190662.stm
full News |
Editor - 07:47:00 11-28-06 |
Ethiopian 'clash' with Islamists |
Ethiopian forces have exchanged fire with Islamists in a strategic town north of Somalia's capital, officials of the powerful Islamic movement say. The Union of Islamic Courts chairman Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told a rally in Mogadishu that Ethiopian forces began shelling Bandiradley at 0300 GMT. Earlier this month, Islamists captured the town near semi-autonomous Puntland, which has strong ties to Ethiopia. There is no independent confirmation of the fighting and no Ethiopian reaction. Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the Islamists represented a "clear threat" to his country which he said was prepared for conflict following repeated Islamist calls for a holy war. The UIC, which is backed by Ethiopia's rival, Eritrea, and now controls much of southern Somalia, has denied claims by Ethiopia and the weak Somali transitional government that it has links to al-Qaeda.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6191536.stm
full News |
Editor - 07:45:00 11-28-06 |
Truce declared in peace wreath battle |
A subdivision has withdrawn its threat of $25 daily fines against a homeowner who put a Christmas wreath shaped like a peace sign on the front of her home.Homeowner Lisa Jensen told The Associated Press on Monday that the board of directors of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association had apologized, called the incident a misunderstanding and had withdrawn its request for the wreath's removal.Jensen was ordered to take the wreath down when some residents in her 200-home subdivision saw it as a protest of the Iraq war. Bob Kearns, president of the board, also said some saw it as a symbol of Satan.The homeowners' association demanded Jensen remove the wreath from her house, saying it doesn't allow flags or signs that are considered divisive.... http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/28/peace.wreath.ap/index.html?eref=rss_us
full News |
Editor - 07:37:00 11-28-06 |
Afghanistan set to dominate Nato talks |
George Bush today appealed to Nato countries for more troops in the war in Afghanistan, while Tony Blair urged the alliance to show "determination". With Afghanistan set to dominate the Nato summit in the Latvian capital, Riga, both leaders called for a renewed effort to defeat a resurgent Taliban. "To succeed in Afghanistan, Nato allies must provide the forces Nato military commanders require," Mr Bush told a joint news conference with the Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, in Tallinn on his way to Latvia. "Like Estonia, member nations must accept difficult assignments if we expect to be successful." However, the US president ruled out any talks with Iran until it suspends its uranium enrichment programme.... http://www.guardian.co.uk/nato/story/0,,1959100,00.html
full News |
Editor - 07:33:00 11-28-06 |
Princeton Donors Want Their Millions Back Family Says School Didn't Use $35M 1961 Gift As Stipulated: To Train Diplomats |
The family that in 1961 made one of the biggest donations in the history of academia to Princeton University wants their money back. Relatives of Charles S. and Marie Robertson said the couple wanted their gift to be spent solely to educate graduate students for careers in government, especially as diplomats for the United States. But the family now says the university has not churned out many diplomats and large portions of the gift — now worth more than $750 million — have been used for other purposes. The family wants to take the money back so it can give it to a school that will carry out its mission. ... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/28/national/main2211409.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._2211409
full News |
Editor - 07:27:00 11-28-06 |
|
post The Good, The Bad and The Ugly |
|