February, 2008 | UN-Truth

Angelina Jolie's article in the Washington Post

Angelina Jolie’s article in the Washington Post should have been labeled a public service advertisement — it was just another UN fundraising appeal, certainly written by a UNHCR hack, but falsely disguised as a newspaper article. Entitled

Iraqi execution apparently imminent

It is the first execution of Iraq’s former leaders that has been approved by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, and two Iraqi vice presidents, apparently fulfilling all the legal requirements in the present Iraqi penal code in a way that the executions of (1) Saddam Hussein and (2) his half-brother Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti (whose head was [&hel...

Cuba signs the two most basic human rights treaties

Apparently, Cuba announced on 10 December – International Human Rights Day — its intention to sign the two most basic human rights treaties. The two treaties — the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights — are both derived from the Universal Declaration o...

Israeli journalists – a critique

Thanks to the extended excerpt and the link posted on the Angry Arab blogspot, I came upon this excellent article by Yonatan Mendel, an Israeli (former) journalist, which is published in the current issue of the London Review of Books “This is not to say that Israeli journalism is not professional. Corruption, social decay and […]

Long-term deal: Egyptian gas flows to Israel

Israel’s Minister for National Infrastructure, Brigadier General (reserve) Binyamin (Fuad) Ben Eliezer said in Jerusalem last week that he expects natural gas will be flowing from Egypt to Israel by the beginning of March, in an undersea pipeline from El Arish to Ashkelon. Ben Eliezar, who belongs to the Labor Party, said that gas was […]

UNSC resolution on Iran may be slightly delayed

The Associated Press reported that “[UNSC] diplomats said Wednesday that the vote was likely to be delayed until next week to try to get four non-permanent members who have expressed concern about the resolution to back it. The five veto-wielding permanent council members — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — have already agreed [&h...

Serbian reaction – Final spasm or first tremor?

Well written, these phrases, from the NYTimes: “the feelings of anger, sorrow and betrayal over the loss of Kosovo cut across all segments of Serbian society. The world is waiting to see whether the riots on Thursday were the final spasm of anger in Serbia or the first tremor in a new Balkan earthquake. The […]

UPDATE: Jose Ramos Horta recovering, but still in intensive care

…And the UN Security Council extended the mandate, on Monday, of the UN Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) for another full year, as UNMIT announced in Dili the surrender of one a wanted fugitive, apparently “a follower of Alfredo Reinado, the opposition leader who was killed during the attack on President Jose Ramos-Horta” ...

Cautious update – satellite shoot-down reduces risk from hazardous chemical

Not 24 or even 48 hours after the satellite shoot-down by a (ballistic) missile fired from a U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific some 130 miles up into space at a speed of 17,000 miles per hour, but days later, there is a qualified statement of success. The AP reported that “The Pentagon said Monday […]

Is Russia upping the ante on Kosovo? Is the EU? NATO? The UN?

The Associated Press is reporting just now that ” Serbia’s minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, crossed the border Monday to visit Serb communities in Kosovo. The top UN official in Kosovo, Joachim Ruecker, said he allowed Samardzic into Kosovo on the condition that he issue a public statement ‘making it very, very clear that ...