News Round Up - 08 Sep 06

Pakistan & Afghanistan. Musharraf, while visiting Afghanistan, stressed the importance of putting aside differences and focusing on jointly crushing the Taliban. Meanwhile, NATO on Friday will discuss the possibility of sending more troops into Afghanistan. Operation Medusa has now killed approximately 300 Taliban with a large group still cornered.

Iraq. Control of the Iraqi Army was formally handed to Iraq on Thursday. Iraq also executed 27 prisoners for murder and rape. A government is forming and beginning to control its security.

Lebanon. The air blockade has been lifted, but Israel vows to keep sea blockade in effect until international naval forces arrive to patrol the sea lanes. For all his failures in the war, Olmert is playing his diplomatic cards very well to ensure Hezbollah armanent reinforcement is as difficult as possible. Israel will have all forces out of Lebanon on 22 Sep 06. Meanwhile, Spain has pledged 1,100 troops to UNIFIL. Saudi Arabia announces it will pay all school fees for academic year 2006-07.

Britain. Blair to step down in May 07 due to internal wrangling in the Labour party.

Iran. Khatami states that talks with Iran could start if the US and EU would talk to Iran without preconditions. Meanwhile Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday the current opposition to Iran’s peaceful nuclear program has been ’calculated’, expressing hope that the US will not repeat what it has been through in the past. He also noted that his country should not be denied a nuclear program. I only have one thing to say. Iran signed the NPT stating they would not seek nuclear weapons, yet their "nuclear energy" program is geared towards acquiring nuclear weapons, else they could seek differnt type of reactors and not pursue heavy water reactors to give them plutonium.

Al Qaeda. A recruitment video was released by Al Qaeda on Thursday.