Nato success against Taliban in Afghanistan 'may be exaggerated'
Report says kill-or-capture raids are not a surgical tactic as claimed and use of the word 'leader' is suspect
The success of one of Nato's principal tactics against the Taliban – targeted night raids aimed at killing or capturing leaders of the insurgency – may have been exaggerated to make the military campaign in Afghanistan look more effective, according to a report published on Wednesday.
The study shows that for every "leader" killed in the raids, eight other people also died, although the raids were designed to be a precise weapon aimed at decapitating the Taliban on the battlefield by removing their commanders.
Robert Fisk: Democratic governments don't deal with terrorists – until they do
In three decades, the Israelis have freed 7,000 prisoners in return for 19 Israeli prisoners
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Once upon a time, we lived in a world where democratic governments did no deals with "terrorists". No country promoted this nonsense more than Israel. And no Israeli leader repeated the mantra so often as one B Netanyahu Esq. After all, America never "gave way" to "terrorists". No deals would ever be done by Britain.
Indeed, if France were to release 1,000 prisoners for one French hostage – heaven forbid – Obama, La Clinton and Cameron would be loud in their fury at French cowardice. But yesterday there came not a squeak from Washington or London about Israel's latest "deal" with its supposedly "terrorist" enemies: 1,027 Palestinians for one Israeli soldier.
Amnesty urges Libya to
tackle 'stain' of detainee
abuse
Libya's interim authorities must end arbitrary detention and abuse of inmates, Amnesty International says.
The BBC 13 October 2011
In a report, the London-based rights group said it had uncovered evidence of torture and ill-treatment of thousands of people detained in recent months.
Sub-Saharan Africans suspected of being Col Muammar Gaddafi's mercenaries were particularly targeted, it said. The NTC pledged to look into the claims.
There are unconfirmed reports Col Gaddafi's son Mutassim has been seized.
Killer caption joker goes around Globe
Glenda Kwek October 13, 2011
A caption writer for a major Canadian newspaper has used a celebrity photo gallery to poke fun at the rich and to praise the "Occupy Wall Street" protesters - earning an instant Twitter fan club.
The 29 images in the "Celebrity Photos of the Week", published on The Globe and Mail's website, combined photographs of Hollywood stars at events with people holding placards at the demonstrations across the United States.
"Yes, stars came out in force last week to show their support for the brave little people taking part in Occupy Wall Street," an introduction to the gallery said.
Alleged assassination plot heightens Iran-Saudi tension
Allegations that Iran sought to kill the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. have given rise to new drama. It comes as the two Mideast powers seek to outmaneuver each other at a time of regional upheaval.
October 13, 2011
The two Middle Eastern powers have been battling for preeminence in the Muslim world for decades but the alleged Iranian plot to assassinate a Saudi Arabian ambassador has heightened the tension between them during a time of intense regional upheaval.
The new drama has arisen as Saudi Arabia and Iran seek to outmaneuver each other in matters such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the future of Iraq and the bloody political uprisings sweeping much of the region. Their mistrust, fueled in part by sectarian strain, is sharpened by Iran's nuclear development program and Saudi Arabia's long-standing ties to the U.S., Tehran's most potent enemy.
The new drama has arisen as Saudi Arabia and Iran seek to outmaneuver each other in matters such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the future of Iraq and the bloody political uprisings sweeping much of the region. Their mistrust, fueled in part by sectarian strain, is sharpened by Iran's nuclear development program and Saudi Arabia's long-standing ties to the U.S., Tehran's most potent enemy.
| South Korean opposition resists US trade pact |
Democratic Party seek to block ratification of the accord on the grounds that it is a "one-sided" deal.
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Last Modified: 13 Oct 2011
South Korea's opposition party has said it will strongly resist any bid to force a sweeping free-trade agreement with the US through parliament, following ratification of the dealy by US congress.
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) urged opposition legislators on Thursday to swiftly approve the long-delayed deal but the Democratic Party (DP) says the pact is one-sided.
The GNP was negotiating with the opposition to try to pass the deal along with 14 related bills this month.
The GNP has an overwhelming majority in the legislature. But with a general election next April, it has been reluctant to pass the legislation through the house and spark a televised repetition of past scuffles.
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