"UPI Hears", United Press International, Jan 5, 2004
Insider notes from United Press International for Jan. 5
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In a sign that things in Iraq are not quite as rosy as the Pentagon spin-doctors would have our troops believe, Web administrators in one of the military bases in Baghdad have blocked access to the Electronic Iraq Web site. The official explanation for the action is that "unnecessary" and "advocacy group," which they've decided that eIraq is. EIraq spokeswoman Laurie King-Irani commented, "The blocking of the site by the army is really counterproductive because as the daily attacks on U.S. forces indicate, the commanders of U.S. armed forces in Iraq are culturally illiterate and operating in a very nebulous environment, where they need all the information they can get." Computer-savvy soldiers can still access the information by clicking on Google's cached version of the site.
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United Press International January 5, 2004 Monday
HEADLINE: UPI Hears...
DATELINE: WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI)
Insider notes from United Press International for Jan. 5
One of the most striking financial stories of 2003 was the rise of the euro against the dollar in the most visible sign of increasing European integration as an economic powerhouse. Now Nobel Prize-winning economist, one of the fathers of the euro, has called for a global currency. In an interview with French paper Liberation, Robert Mundell declared, "With the emergence of the euro and its instability against the dollar, Europe, the U.S. and the Asian powers should come together and create a new international monetary system. But don't cash in your greenbacks just yet; Mundell continued, "Of course, one would keep the dollar and the euro. This international currency would be used in the large international exchanges, for movements of capital and commercial transactions." Mundell's theories laid the intellectual groundwork for the euro, as he was a leading member of the 1972 EU's economic and monetary union study group, whose work paved the way for the single currency.
Following Pakistan's disclosures about its covert proliferation activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Islamabad has taken a further step toward nuclear transparency by presenting its arch-rival India with upgraded lists of its nuclear facilities and installations under a bilateral agreement, exchanging lists under the Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations Agreement for the 13th successive year. Pakistan will give its list of nuclear installations to the Indian High Commission officials, while Indian External Affairs Minister would hand over its list to Pakistani diplomats.
The Agreement primarily covers nuclear power plants and research institutions, stipulating that both countries must list nuclear installations to exempt them from attacks in the event a war between them.
Turkey is striving mightily to break the logjam on Cyprus before the Greek portion of the island formally joins the EU, with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan predicting a "just" settlement being reached between the two ethnic communities before the island's May 1 accession date. Ever the optimist, Erdogan also predicted that Turkey will be able to start its own accession talks with the European Union in December 2004. The EU has long insisted that Turkey should facilitate a solution on the island, dropping hints that the action may in turn accelerate Turkey's own membership. Turkey is getting some support within the EU for its eventual entry, with EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen criticizing Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union for their opposition to Turkey's membership. Germany's conservative parties are opposing Turkish membership on the grounds that Turks have a different culture and religion than present EU member nations.
The love affair between "New Europe's" Bulgaria and Washington continues apace. FBI will open an office in Bulgaria in the summer 2004. The new office will have its hands full, as it will serve as an anti-terror center for the Balkans. Bulgarians up to 35 years of age will be eligible for employment at the FBI office. Bulgaria has already proved its commitments to Washington's policies, opening its airspace to coalition forces during the Iraq campaign and contributing 480 soldiers under Polish command to peacekeeping duties in Iraq. Five Bulgarian soldiers died in a car bombing attacks in Kerbala on Dec. 27, while another 27 have been wounded. In a further sign of growing Western ties, Gen. James Jones, chief commander of NATO forces in Europe, will arrive in Sofia on Jan. 8 to discuss the construction of U.S. bases and Bulgaria's future role as a member of the alliance. Tomorrow a second contingent of Bulgarian troops and personnel will depart from Burgas for Iraq. During the Soviet era, Bulgaria was the most politically loyal of all eastern European satellite states.
In a sign that things in Iraq are not quite as rosy as the Pentagon spin-doctors would have our troops believe, Web administrators in one of the military bases in Baghdad have blocked access to the Electronic Iraq Web site. The official explanation for the action is that "unnecessary" and "advocacy group," which they've decided that eIraq is. EIraq spokeswoman Laurie King-Irani commented, "The blocking of the site by the army is really counterproductive because as the daily attacks on U.S. forces indicate, the commanders of U.S. armed forces in Iraq are culturally illiterate and operating in a very nebulous environment, where they need all the information they can get." Computer-savvy soldiers can still access the information by clicking on Google's cached version of the site.
Insider notes from United Press International for Jan. 5