Differences Emerge as Loya Jirga Begins/New World Media Watch

[Gloria]

Excerpts, links up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR DECEMBER 15, 2003

1//Inter Press Service, Italy--FUTURE UNCERTAIN AS SADDAM UNEARTHED (Analysis by Jim Lobe) (Bush's resignation to more resistance reflected much of the reaction to the day's news, as lawmakers and analysts described the capture as a potentially major breakthrough that would not necessarily, however, prove decisive. Indeed, some specialists warned even before Sunday's announcement that Saddam's death or detention would prove largely irrelevant to the difficult problems faced by U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, both because loyalty to Hussein -- or even to his Ba'ath Party -- had ceased to be a catalyst for the insurgency long before and because the complex internal political situation in Iraq has begun to fuel more tension and violence in any event.)



Related: Juan Cole “Informed Comment” -- Juan Cole is Professor of History at the University of Michigan--REFLECTIONS ON THE CAPTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN (What is the significance of the capture of Saddam for contemporary Iraqi politics? He was probably already irrelevant.)



2//Daily Times, Pakistan--DIFFERENCES EMERGE AS LOYA JIRGA BEGINS (Differences over the shape of Afghanistan’s new constitution emerged Sunday shortly after the opening of a landmark convention to debate and ratify the document which will pave the way for the war-ravaged country’s final transition to democracy. “Every government has made constitutions for themselves,” said Abdul Hafiz Mansour, an elected delegate for Kabul.)



3//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--SYRIA SET TO BECOME MORE ISOLATED AFTER US SANCTIONS (The law, which restricts US exports and business investment, downgrades US-Syrian diplomatic ties, imposes travel restrictions on Syrian diplomats in the United States, "darkens the interests of the two countries", said Daklallah. But Syrian Oil Minister Ibrahim Haddad denied that the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act would affect the country. "There will be no impact," Haddad told AFP at a meeting of Arab oil ministers in Cairo, answering questions about the effect of the legislation on Syria and US companies working with it. "It might affect companies, but it will not affect us," he said. On Tuesday, Syria signed a European Union association accord, expected to give a new lease of life to reform efforts, after five years of talks.)

4//The Guardian, UK--EUROPE SUMMIT ENDS IN CHAOS ON CONSTITUTION (Coming hard on the heels of EU splits over the war against Iraq, the breakdown means that plans for a new European president elected by member states, a new foreign minister and a greater role on the world stage for the EU as a balance against America have been put on ice… French President Jacques Chirac said the failure only strengthened his desire for a 'pioneer group' of countries moving towards ever closer political union - leaving reluctant partners including Britain to form an 'outer ring'.)



5//The Moscow Times, Russia--KASYANOV: A KYOTO PLAN IN THE WORKS (Russia is preparing a "special action plan" to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov told Japanese media in an interview published Friday. Kasyanov, due to make a three-day visit to Japan from Monday for talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, gave no deadline for ratifying the treaty, saying only "it will take longer than expected."…Russia may agree to targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in return for the European Union softening conditions on energy pricing ahead of Russia's membership in the World Trade Organization, trade lawyers said.)