The	O	O
Kimberley	O	O
Provincial	O	O
Hospital	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
would	DSE	ESE
probably	DSE	ESE
know	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
whether	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
patients	O	O
had	O	O
Congo	O	O
Fever	O	O
.	O	O

Medical	O	O
Department	O	O
head	O	O
Dr	O	O
Hamid	O	O
Saeed	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
's	O	O
blood	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Institute	O	O
for	O	O
Virology	O	O
in	O	O
Johannesburg	O	O
for	O	O
analysis	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
two	O	O
sets	O	O
of	O	O
tests	O	O
--	O	O
for	O	O
illnesses	O	O
other	O	O
than	O	O
Congo	O	O
fever	O	O
--	O	O
arrived	O	O
back	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
night	O	O
and	O	O
were	O	O
negative	O	ESE
.	O	O

A	O	O
set	O	O
of	O	O
tests	O	O
specifically	O	O
for	O	O
Congo	O	O
fever	O	O
were	O	O
still	O	O
outstanding	O	O
.	O	O

Saeed	O	O
said	DSE	O
indications	O	O
were	O	O
that	O	O
those	O	O
tests	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
negative	ESE	ESE
too	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
his	DSE	O
opinion	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
woman	O	O
--	O	O
was	O	O
suffering	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
tick	ESE	O
bite	ESE	O
fever	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
have	O	O
similar	O	O
symptoms	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
woman	O	O
was	O	O
admitted	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
hospital	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
after	O	O
complaining	DSE	DSE
of	O	ESE
severe	O	ESE
joint	O	ESE
pains	O	ESE
.	O	O

She	O	O
also	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
skin	O	O
rash	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	O
vomiting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
patient	O	O
told	O	O
hospital	O	O
authorities	O	O
she	O	O
became	O	O
sick	O	O
after	O	O
being	O	O
bitten	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
tick	O	O
about	O	O
four	O	O
months	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
the	O	O
woman	O	O
's	O	O
condition	O	O
had	O	O
deteriorated	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
showing	O	O
improvement	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
afternoon	O	O
she	O	O
was	O	O
conversing	O	O
with	O	O
her	O	O
husband	O	O
after	O	O
being	O	O
semi-comatose	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
morning	O	O
.	O	O

Between	O	O
one	O	O
and	O	O
10	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
Congo	O	O
Fever	O	O
are	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
annually	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
about	O	O
20	O	O
to	O	O
25	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
patients	O	O
dying	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
statistics	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
virology	O	O
institute	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
total	O	O
of	O	O
158	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
Congo	O	O
Fever	O	O
were	O	O
diagnosed	O	O
in	O	O
southern	O	O
Africa	O	O
between	O	O
1981	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

Early	O	O
symptoms	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
disease	O	O
include	O	O
severe	O	O
headaches	O	O
,	O	O
red	O	DSE
eyes	O	DSE
,	O	O
fevers	O	O
and	O	O
cold	O	ESE
chills	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
body	O	ESE
pain	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
vomiting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
disease	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
contracted	O	O
if	O	O
a	O	O
person	O	O
is	O	O
bitten	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
certain	O	O
tick	O	O
or	O	O
if	O	O
a	O	O
person	O	O
comes	O	O
into	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
blood	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Congo	O	O
Fever	O	O
sufferer	O	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	O
completed	O	O
the	O	O
afforestation	O	O
of	O	O
4,000	O	O
hectares	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
six	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
municipal	O	O
forestry	O	O
bureau	O	O
revealed	O	O
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
planted	O	O
trees	O	O
mainly	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
major	O	O
five	O	O
areas	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
severely	O	ESE
endangered	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
sandy	O	ESE
wind	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Cai	O	O
Baojun	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
bureau	O	O
in	O	O
charge	O	O
of	O	O
forest	O	O
planting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
shifting	O	O
dunes	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
suburbs	O	O
and	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
successfully	O	O
controlled	O	O
by	O	O
green	O	O
barriers	O	O
of	O	O
trees	O	O
and	O	O
grass	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	O	O
also	O	O
helped	O	O
upgrade	O	O
the	O	O
city	O	O
's	O	O
forest	O	O
proportion	O	O
to	O	O
43	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
23	O	O
percentage	O	O
points	O	O
higher	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
metropolitan	O	O
average	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
200-metre	O	O
belt	O	O
of	O	O
trees	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
planted	O	O
on	O	O
each	O	O
side	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Yongding	O	O
,	O	O
Chaobai	O	O
,	O	O
Dasha	O	O
and	O	O
Wenyu	O	O
rivers	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
previously	O	O
the	O	O
city	O	O
's	O	O
most	O	O
desertificated	O	O
land	O	O
.	O	O

Forestry	O	O
experts	O	O
said	O	O
dry	O	O
weather	O	O
and	O	O
temperature	O	O
fluctuations	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
cause	O	O
of	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
repeated	O	O
breaching	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
embankments	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Yongding	O	O
and	O	O
Chaobai	O	O
rivers	O	O
also	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
desertification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
with	O	O
heavy	O	O
sand	O	O
being	O	O
deposited	O	O
by	O	O
floods	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
2005	O	O
,	O	O
50	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
of	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
land	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
both	O	O
urban	O	O
and	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
covered	O	O
with	O	O
trees	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
green	O	O
belts	O	O
have	O	O
helped	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
crops	O	O
from	O	O
sand	O	O
,	O	O
wind	O	ESE
,	O	O
drought	O	O
and	O	O
floods	O	O
to	O	O
guarantee	O	O
grain	O	O
production	O	O
,	O	O
Cai	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
will	O	O
invest	O	O
6	O	O
billion	O	O
yuan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
US$	O	O
720	O	O
million	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
hitting	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
sources	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Forestry	O	O
Administration	O	O
.	O	O

Private	O	O
organizations	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
being	DSE	DSE
encouraged	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
help	O	O
fight	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
vice-director	O	O
Li	O	O
Yucai	O	O
.	O	O

Favourable	O	O
taxation	O	O
policies	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
be	O	O
given	O	O
to	O	O
people	O	O
engaged	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
transformation	O	O
of	O	O
desertificated	O	O
land	O	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
was	O	O
struck	O	O
by	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
several	O	O
times	O	O
this	O	O
spring	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	DSE
is	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
sand	O	O
from	O	O
northern	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Inner	O	O
Mongolia	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
floating	O	O
dust	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
city	O	O
's	O	O
uncovered	O	O
construction	O	O
sites	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
causes	O	O
.	O	O

Tajikistan	O	O
:	O	O
drug-busting	O	ESE
hampered	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
obsolete	O	ESE
equipment	O	ESE

Moscow	O	O
,	O	O
5	O	O
July	O	O
:	O	O
Due	O	O
to	O	O
poor	O	O
technical	O	O
equipment	O	O
,	O	O
Tajikistan	O	O
seizes	O	O
only	O	O
10	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
drugs	O	O
transited	O	O
through	O	O
its	O	O
territory	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
Director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Tajik	O	O
anti-drug	O	O
agency	O	O
Rustam	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
has	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Since	O	O
our	O	O
technical	O	O
equipment	O	O
is	O	O
far	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	ESE
perfect	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
we	O	ESE
perhaps	ESE	ESE
seize	O	O
even	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
10	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
said	DSE	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Thursday	O	O
edition	O	O
of	O	O
Nezavisimaya	O	O
Gazeta	O	O
.	O	O

Out	O	O
of	O	O
2,200	O	O
kg	O	O
of	O	O
drugs	O	O
seized	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
in	O	O
Tajikistan	O	O
,	O	O
only	O	O
837	O	O
kg	O	O
were	O	O
seized	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
inside	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	O
agency	O	O
seriously	ESE	O
needs	DSE	O
equipment	O	O
for	O	O
detecting	O	O
drugs	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
special	O	ESE
devices	O	ESE
for	O	O
inspecting	O	O
large	O	O
automobiles	O	O
and	O	O
cargoes	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
his	O	O
service	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
enough	O	O
communications	O	O
equipment	O	O
,	O	O
either	O	O
.	O	O

Paris	O	O
,	O	O
July	O	O
11	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
will	O	O
become	O	O
totally	ESE	ESE
dependent	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
few	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
causing	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
to	O	O
lose	ESE	O
control	ESE	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
own	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
French	O	O
weekly	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Nouvel	O	O
Observateur	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Beijing	O	O
is	O	O
unlikely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
annex	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
by	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	O
its	O	O
deployment	O	O
of	O	O
missiles	O	O
along	O	O
its	O	O
coastal	O	O
provinces	O	O
opposite	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
is	O	O
instead	O	ESE
resorting	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
smarter	ESE	ESE
tactics	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
bringing	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
authorities	O	O
to	ESE	O
heel	ESE	O
through	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
businessmen	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
eager	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
explore	O	O
the	O	O
mainland	O	O
Chinese	O	O
market	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
weekly	O	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	O
attracted	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
US$	O	O
50	O	O
billion	O	O
in	O	O
investment	O	O
from	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
thus	O	O
far	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
Taipei	O	O
authorities	O	O
bowed	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
pressure	ESE	DSE
from	DSE	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
businessmen	O	O
to	O	O
lift	O	O
restrictions	O	O
on	O	O
investment	O	O
in	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
speed	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
capital	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
arch	ESE	O
rival	ESE	O
.	O	O

Barring	ESE	O
any	O	O
reversal	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
trend	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
weekly	O	O
quoted	O	O
U.S.	O	O
magazine	O	O
Business	O	O
Weekly	O	O
as	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Beijing	O	O
might	ESE	O
bring	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
knees	ESE	O
without	O	O
firing	O	O
one	O	O
bullet	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	O
factor	O	O
which	O	O
might	ESE	O
deter	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
military	ESE	O
adventurism	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
is	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
readiness	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
fight	DSE	DSE
Beijing	O	O
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
will	ESE	O
bear	ESE	O
witness	ESE	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
determination	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
remain	O	O
a	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
magazine	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
publication	O	O
quoted	O	O
Wu	O	O
Guoguang	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
professor	O	O
at	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
any	ESE	O
concessions	DSE	O
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
trigger	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
defection	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
Asian	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
fold	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
leaders	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
blink	ESE	ESE
on	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
issue	O	ESE
either	O	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
an	O	O
independent	O	O
state	O	O
in	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
would	ESE	O
boost	ESE	O
the	O	O
schisms	O	O
in	O	O
Tibet	O	O
and	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
and	O	O
threaten	ESE	O
the	O	O
regime	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
magazine	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Although	ESE	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
scant	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
conflict	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Nouvel	O	O
Observateur	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
buildup	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
southern	O	O
coastal	O	O
provinces	O	O
still	O	O
makes	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	O
heavily	ESE	O
armed	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
next	O	O
only	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
dangerous	ESE	ESE
flashpoint	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
21st	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

Taleban	O	O
commanders	O	O
have	O	O
prepared	O	O
themselves	O	O
for	O	O
new	O	O
offensives	O	O
on	O	O
positions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Front	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Salvation	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
in	O	O
some	O	O
regions	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
reports	O	O
from	O	O
Afghan	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
high-ranking	O	O
Taleban	O	O
commanders	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Mola	O	O
Abdorrazaq	O	O
Akhond	O	O
and	O	O
Mola	O	O
Abdol	O	O
Qahir	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
phonetic	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
visited	O	O
the	O	O
front	O	O
line	O	O
in	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
northeastern	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Takhar	O	O
Province	O	O
yesterday	O	O
morning	O	O
,	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

Over	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
dispatched	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
of	O	O
northern	O	O
Balkh	O	O
Province	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Mazar-e	O	O
Sharif	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
command	O	O
of	O	O
Qayum	O	O
and	O	O
Hashim	O	O
to	O	O
Takhar	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
troops	O	O
were	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Dara-e	O	O
Suf	O	O
area	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Samangan	O	O
Province	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
led	O	O
by	O	O
commander	O	O
Yari	O	O
and	O	O
commander	O	O
Samar	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Dehdadi	O	O
military	O	O
fort	O	O
near	O	O
Mazar-e	O	O
Sharif	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Taleban	O	O
senior	O	O
commander	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Abdorrazaq	O	O
Nafis	O	O
has	O	O
instructed	O	O
the	O	O
Mazar	O	O
military	O	O
fort	O	O
to	O	O
supply	O	O
battle	O	O
zones	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
necessary	O	O
means	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Taleban	O	O
have	O	O
also	O	O
launched	O	O
an	O	O
offensive	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Andarab	O	O
area	O	O
in	O	O
Baghlan	O	O
Province	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
military	O	O
experts	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	ESE	O
possible	ESE	O
that	O	O
clashes	O	O
will	O	O
resume	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
and	O	O
UIFSA	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
regions	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
and	O	O
weeks	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
weeks	O	O
Europe	O	O
and	O	O
America	O	O
witnessed	DSE	O
the	O	O
arrangement	O	O
of	O	O
important	ESE	ESE
international	O	O
conferences	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
guarantee	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
stability	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
or	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
instead	ESE	ESE
deteriorate	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
conditions	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
dealt	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
ban	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
for	O	O
light	O	O
arms	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Genoa	O	O
Conference	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
much	O	O
wider	O	O
and	O	O
extended	O	O
agenda	O	O
,	O	O
had	O	O
two	O	O
common	O	O
features	O	O
between	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
large	O	O
and	O	O
numerous	O	O
bodies	O	O
of	O	O
dissidents	O	O
were	DSE	O
opposing	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
wishes	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
interests	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
a	O	O
small	O	O
but	O	O
powerful	O	O
group	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
second	O	O
feature	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
both	O	O
conferences	O	O
ended	O	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
effective	ESE	ESE
result	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
taken	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
resolutions	DSE	O
adopted	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
lacked	ESE	ESE
conclusiveness	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
operational	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
dealt	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
environment	O	O
and	O	O
examined	O	O
the	O	O
condition	O	O
of	O	O
world	O	O
climate	O	O
,	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
appraised	ESE	ESE
as	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
exception	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
relative	ESE	ESE
success	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

After	O	O
two	O	O
weeks	O	O
of	O	O
discussion	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
exchange	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
views	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
Conference	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
pay	DSE	ESE
heed	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
resolute	DSE	ESE
demands	DSE	ESE
advanced	DSE	ESE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
participants	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
emphatically	DSE	ESE
insisted	DSE	ESE
on	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
imposition	O	ESE
of	O	O
a	O	O
ban	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
light	O	O
weaponry	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
paying	DSE	O
heed	DSE	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	O
tantamount	ESE	O
to	O	O
endorsement	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
demand	DSE	DSE
launched	DSE	O
by	DSE	O
those	O	O
countries	O	O
;	O	O
rather	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
result	O	O
came	O	O
out	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
compromise	O	O
solution	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
relative	DSE	O
back	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
group	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
joint	DSE	O
demand	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
stand	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
countries	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
was	O	O
encountered	O	O
by	O	O
firm	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
of	O	O
America	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

American	O	O
delegates	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
maintained	DSE	O
that	O	O
any	ESE	O
restriction	O	O
or	O	O
ban	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
,	O	O
possession	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
carrying	O	O
of	O	O
light	O	O
armaments	O	O
was	O	O
practically	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
limiting	O	O
the	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
action	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
of	O	O
American	O	O
citizens	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
equal	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
reducing	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
margin	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
while	ESE	O
possessing	O	O
arms	O	O
for	O	O
self-defense	O	O
is	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
factor	ESE	O
that	O	O
breeds	ESE	O
insecurity	ESE	O
.	O	O

Critics	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
margin	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
up	DSE	O
held	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
instead	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
heeding	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
wishes	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
protecting	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
of	O	O
world	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
above	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
safety	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
own	O	ESE
citizens	O	ESE
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
paid	DSE	ESE
more	DSE	ESE
attention	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
interests	O	O
of	O	O
corporations	O	O
and	O	O
huge	ESE	O
arms	O	O
producers	O	O
and	O	O
military-industrial	O	O
complexes	O	O
that	O	O
reap	O	O
tremendous	ESE	O
profits	O	O
annually	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
such	O	O
armaments	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
It	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
noted	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
issues	O	O
moved	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
were	DSE	O
declared	DSE	O
unofficial	O	O
and	O	O
lacking	ESE	O
validity	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
legal	O	O
force	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
participating	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O
-RRB-	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Sentences	O	O
are	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
The	DSE	O
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
conferences	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
subsequently	O	O
gained	O	O
even	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
prominence	O	ESE
,	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
Genova	O	O
;	O	O
perhaps	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
results	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
obtained	O	ESE
''	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
which	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
subsequent	O	O
intense	DSE	DSE
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
frustration	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
leading	O	O
industrial	O	O
states	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
governments	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
long	O	O
and	O	O
varied	O	O
agenda	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
:	O	O
economic	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
anti-missile	O	O
shield	O	O
defense	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
environmental	O	O
protection	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
crises	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Balkans	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
moratorium	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
accumulated	O	O
debt	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
...	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
They	O	O
meant	DSE	O
to	O	O
reach	O	O
some	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
agreement	DSE	O
or	DSE	O
understanding	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
those	O	O
issues	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
unexpected	ESE	O
events	O	O
left	O	O
all	O	O
that	O	O
in	O	O
limbo	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
uncertainty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
conference	O	O
opened	O	O
with	O	O
fierce	DSE	O
demonstrations	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
opponents	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
maintained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
concocted	ESE	O
by	O	O
globalization	O	O
is	O	O
in	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
poverty	ESE	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
Italian	O	O
police	O	O
intervened	O	O
and	O	O
roughly	ESE	O
handled	O	O
the	DSE	O
demonstrations	DSE	O
,	O	O
things	O	O
got	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
the	O	O
already	ESE	O
volatile	ESE	O
situation	O	O
reached	ESE	O
boiling	ESE	O
point	ESE	O
,	O	O
violent	O	O
clashes	O	O
broke	O	O
out	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
killing	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
protestor	O	ESE
overshadowed	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
issues	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
whole	ESE	O
incident	ESE	O
was	O	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
unprecedented	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
history	O	O
of	O	O
European	O	O
democracies	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	O
prompted	O	O
a	O	O
whole	ESE	O
range	ESE	O
of	O	O
controversies	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
debates	DSE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
safely	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
claimed	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Genoa	O	O
have	O	O
influenced	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
overshadowed	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
the	ESE	O
very	ESE	O
conferences	ESE	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Bonn	O	O
;	O	O
whereas	ESE	O
,	O	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
onset	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
weak	ESE	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
Genoa	O	O
was	O	O
foreseeable	DSE	O
for	O	O
most	O	O
observers	O	O
.	O	O

Because	ESE	O
,	O	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
very	ESE	O
start	ESE	O
it	O	O
could	ESE	DSE
be	ESE	DSE
predicted	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
subject	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
developed	O	O
and	O	O
capitalist	O	O
states	O	O
were	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
come	O	O
across	O	O
fierce	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
by	O	O
dissident	O	O
groups	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
in	O	O
poor	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Regarding	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
proposed	O	O
Anti-Missile	O	O
Defense	O	O
System	O	O
too	O	O
,	O	O
neither	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
nor	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
European	ESE	O
Union	ESE	O
,	O	O
had	O	ESE
shown	O	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
enthusiasm	DSE	ESE
;	O	O
rather	ESE	O
they	O	O
had	O	DSE
all	O	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
their	O	O
reserves	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
.	O	O

Concerning	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
protection	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
emission	O	O
of	O	O
toxic	O	O
and	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
warming	O	O
up	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
planet	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
climate	O	O
too	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
somehow	ESE	O
related	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
agenda	O	O
of	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
,	O	O
America	O	O
had	O	O
relentlessly	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
its	O	O
paradoxical	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
-RSB-	O	O
position	DSE	O
and	O	O
particular	O	DSE
stance	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
developed	O	O
states	O	O
by	O	O
her	O	O
previous	O	O
abandonment	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Whereas	O	O
,	O	O
beforehand	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
anticipated	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
hoped	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	DSE	O
agreements	DSE	O
reached	O	O
at	O	O
Genoa	O	O
would	O	O
help	O	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
beneficial	ESE	O
results	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Bonn	O	O
conference	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
eagerness	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
playing	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
intermediary	O	ESE
role	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
crisis	O	O
has	O	O
given	O	O
rise	O	O
to	O	O
fierce	DSE	O
competition	DSE	O
between	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
until	ESE	O
each	O	O
party	O	O
seeks	O	DSE
its	O	O
own	O	O
particular	O	O
interest	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
until	O	O
the	O	O
rivalry	O	O
persists	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
question	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
remain	O	O
unresolved	ESE	O
.	O	O

What	O	O
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
was	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
remarkable	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
conferences	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Genoa	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
most	O	ESE
decisions	DSE	ESE
made	O	ESE
,	O	O
were	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
interests	DSE	O
and	O	O
tastes	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
particular	O	O
groups	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
lobbies	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

Here	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
views	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
two	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
prominent	O	O
characters	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
Genoa	O	O
Conference	O	O
.	O	O

Jacques	O	O
Chirac	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
responding	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
protests	DSE	DSE
leveled	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
opponents	O	O
of	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
had	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
They	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
present	DSE	ESE
themselves	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
defenders	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
poor	ESE	ESE
...	O	O
''	O	O

Similarly	O	ESE
,	O	O
Gerhard	O	O
Schroeder	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
German	O	O
Chancellor	O	O
,	O	O
too	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
participants	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
meeting	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
true	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
elected	ESE	O
representatives	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
these	O	O
political	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	ESE
point	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
interesting	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
calls	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	DSE
reflection	ESE	DSE
:	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
these	O	O
leaders	O	O
reject	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
interference	O	O
of	O	O
others	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
condition	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
destiny	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
poor	O	ESE
nations	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
while	ESE	ESE
present	DSE	ESE
themselves	O	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
competent	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
make	O	O
far	ESE	O
reaching	ESE	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
then	ESE	O
it	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
said	ESE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
only	ESE	O
the	O	O
elected	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
leaders	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
nation	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
people	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
this	O	O
does	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
entitle	ESE	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
act	O	O
as	O	O
representative	O	O
or	O	O
legal	O	O
attorney	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
people	O	O
worldwide	ESE	O
!	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Exclamation	O	O
mark	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
In	ESE	O
view	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
criticisms	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
made	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
perhaps	ESE	ESE
be	O	O
also	ESE	O
considered	O	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
representative	O	O
of	O	O
powerful	ESE	O
corporations	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
placed	O	O
the	O	O
whole	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
under	O	O
their	O	O
influence	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
result	ESE	O
of	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
also	O	O
controlling	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
politics	ESE	O
globally	ESE	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
too	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
agenda	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
tackle	O	O
and	O	O
discuss	DSE	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
urgent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
indispensable	ESE	ESE
factors	O	ESE
concerning	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
life	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
humankind	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
remarkable	ESE	O
feature	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
conference	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
joint	O	DSE
resolution	O	DSE
adopted	O	DSE
by	O	O
180	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
worldwide	ESE	O
--	O	O
in	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
protection	O	O
of	O	O
environment	O	O
,	O	O
and	ESE	O
above	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
reducing	O	O
the	O	O
emission	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
--	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
isolated	O	O
America	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
undeniable	ESE	ESE
way	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
isolation	O	O
that	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	ESE
spite	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
discrediting	ESE	ESE
-LSB-	O	O
undermining	ESE	O
-RSB-	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
declining	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
comply	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
resolution	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	ESE
forced	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
least	ESE	ESE
make	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
promise	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
cooperate	O	O
in	O	O
preventing	O	O
an	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
air	O	O
pollution	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
recap	O	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
there	ESE	ESE
ever	ESE	ESE
existed	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conferences	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Genoa	O	O
questions	O	O
regarding	O	O
:	O	O
promotion	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
improvement	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
conditions	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
defusing	ESE	O
regional	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
global	ESE	O
crises	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
conflicts	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
checking	ESE	O
unleashed	ESE	O
competition	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
rearmament	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
reduction	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
gap	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
mainstream	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
peripheral	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
...	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
addressed	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
appropriate	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
serious	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
worthy	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
solution	O	O
could	O	O
be	O	O
adopted	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
opportunity	O	O
was	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
easily	ESE	ESE
lost	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
the	O	O
meetings	O	O
flopped	ESE	O
completely	ESE	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
regards	ESE	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
conference	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Meeting	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
gatherings	O	O
like	O	DSE
the	O	O
Hague	O	O
meeting	O	O
and	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
conference	O	O
have	O	O
proved	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
failed	ESE	O
experiences	ESE	O
,	O	O
nevertheless	ESE	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
climatic	O	O
and	O	O
atmospheric	O	ESE
crises	ESE	ESE
are	O	ESE
growing	O	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
optimistic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
hopeful	ESE	ESE
about	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
success	O	ESE
of	O	O
such	O	O
protocols	O	O
and	O	O
pacts	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
agreements	O	O
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
they	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
protected	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
any	O	ESE
sanctions	O	ESE
.	O	O

COLOMBO	O	O
,	O	O
Sept	O	O
16	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Tamil	O	O
Tiger	O	O
rebels	O	O
launched	O	O
a	O	O
flotilla	O	O
of	O	O
boats	O	O
to	O	O
attack	O	O
a	O	O
ferry	O	O
carrying	O	O
1,200	O	O
troops	O	O
in	O	O
northern	O	O
Sri	O	O
Lanka	O	O
Sunday	O	O
,	O	O
hours	O	O
after	O	O
an	O	O
explosive-laden	O	O
boat	O	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
ram	O	O
a	O	O
navy	O	O
gunboat	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
suicide	O	O
mission	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
cluster	O	O
of	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
20	O	O
boats	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
separatist	O	O
Liberation	O	O
Tigers	O	O
of	O	O
Tamil	O	O
Eelam	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
LTTE	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
mounted	O	O
the	O	O
pre-dawn	O	O
attack	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
MV	O	O
Pride	O	O
of	O	O
South	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
Point	O	O
Pedro	O	O
coast	O	O
,	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Sanath	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
navy	O	O
gunboats	O	O
and	O	O
helicopter	O	O
gunships	O	O
repulsed	O	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
attack	O	O
and	O	O
first	O	O
reports	O	O
indicated	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
two	O	O
rebel	O	O
craft	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
blown	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
no	O	O
immediate	O	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
casualties	O	O
.	O	O

Fighting	O	O
continued	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
exchange	O	O
of	O	O
fire	O	O
in	O	O
high	O	O
seas	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
navy	O	O
had	O	O
called	O	O
in	O	O
more	O	O
gun	O	O
ships	O	O
to	O	O
beat	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
the	O	O
guerrillas	O	O
,	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
ship	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
about	O	O
26	O	O
miles	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
42	O	O
kilometres	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
away	O	O
from	O	O
Point	O	O
Pedro	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
attack	O	O
started	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
There	O	O
are	O	O
no	O	O
casualties	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
moment	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
ship	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
regular	O	O
ferry	O	O
transporting	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
northeastern	O	O
port	O	O
of	O	O
Trincomalee	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
northern	O	O
peninsula	O	O
of	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
1,200	O	O
soldiers	O	O
aboard	O	O
the	O	O
ferry	O	O
.	O	O

Hours	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
ferry	O	O
incident	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
navy	O	O
fast	O	O
attack	O	O
craft	O	O
encountered	O	O
an	O	O
explosive-laden	O	O
boat	O	O
which	O	O
blew	O	O
up	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
apparent	ESE	O
Tamil	O	O
Tiger	O	O
suicide	O	O
mission	O	O
,	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
navy	O	O
craft	O	O
had	O	O
approached	O	O
the	O	O
small	O	O
boat	O	O
thinking	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
distress	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
elderly	O	ESE
man	O	ESE
,	O	O
a	O	O
teenager	O	O
and	O	O
another	O	O
person	O	O
onboard	O	O
had	O	O
put	O	O
up	O	O
a	O	O
white	O	O
flag	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
it	O	O
neared	O	O
the	O	O
boat	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
came	O	O
under	O	O
attack	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
navy	O	O
vessel	O	O
retaliated	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
fishing	O	O
boat	O	O
exploded	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
All	O	O
three	O	O
people	O	O
onboard	O	O
that	O	O
boat	O	O
evaporated	O	O
,	O	O
indicating	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
packed	O	O
with	O	O
explosives	O	O
to	O	O
ram	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
navy	O	O
fast	O	O
attack	O	O
craft	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
navy	O	O
vessel	O	O
escaped	O	O
serious	O	O
damage	O	O
or	O	O
casualties	O	O
.	O	O

Tiger	O	O
guerrillas	O	O
,	O	O
leading	O	O
a	O	O
campaign	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
independent	O	O
homeland	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
northeast	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
several	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	O	O
navy	O	O
and	O	O
merchant	O	O
ships	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
using	O	O
boats	O	O
carrying	O	O
suicide	O	O
bombers	O	O
on	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
dozen	O	O
naval	O	O
craft	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
LTTE	O	O
staged	O	O
a	O	O
kamikaze-style	O	O
assault	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
merchant	O	O
vessel	O	O
in	O	O
June	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
explosives-laden	O	O
boat	O	O
rammed	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
bulk	O	O
cargo	O	O
carrier	O	O
,	O	O
MV	O	O
Mercs	O	O
Uhana	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
approached	O	O
the	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
peninsula	O	O
carrying	O	O
food	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
essentials	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
embattled	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Twenty-one	O	O
crewmen	O	O
were	O	O
rescued	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
another	O	O
seven	O	O
went	O	O
missing	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
attack	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
September	O	O
1999	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Sri	O	O
Lankan	O	O
navy	O	O
fought	O	O
Tiger	O	O
rebel	O	O
boats	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
northeastern	O	O
coast	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
the	O	O
guerrillas	O	O
from	O	O
seizing	O	O
a	O	O
Chinese	O	O
merchant	O	O
vessel	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Tiger	O	O
flotilla	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
moving	O	O
towards	O	O
the	O	O
14,000-tonne	O	O
MV	O	O
Yugi	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
confronted	O	O
by	O	O
navy	O	O
gun	O	O
boats	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
32	O	O
crew	O	O
members	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
hurt	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Tigers	O	O
in	O	O
August	O	O
1997	O	O
seized	O	O
the	O	O
6,000-tonne	O	O
MV	O	O
Princess	O	O
Kash	O	O
off	O	O
Mullaitivu	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
northeastern	O	O
coast	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
vessel	O	O
was	O	O
taking	O	O
supplies	O	O
to	O	O
private	O	O
traders	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
peninsula	O	O
.	O	O

Government	O	O
forces	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
civilians	O	O
depend	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
vital	O	O
sea	O	O
route	O	O
to	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
them	O	O
with	O	O
supplies	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
route	O	O
is	O	O
held	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Tiger	O	O
rebels	O	O
.	O	O

Merchant	O	O
vessels	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
warned	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
operate	O	O
several	O	O
miles	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
coast	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
being	O	O
detected	O	O
by	O	O
rebels	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
northeastern	O	O
seaboard	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
navy	O	O
takes	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
route	O	O
when	O	O
transporting	O	O
weapons	O	O
and	O	O
troops	O	O
to	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
.	O	O

TAIPEI	O	O
,	O	O
Sept	O	O
26	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
reiterated	O	DSE
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
full	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
as	O	O
Washington	O	O
prepared	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
reprisals	O	O
against	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
On	ESE	O
behalf	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
official	O	O
name	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
extend	DSE	DSE
our	DSE	DSE
full	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
any	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
act	O	O
against	O	O
terrorists	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Chen	O	O
said	O	DSE
while	O	O
meeting	O	O
Oregon	O	O
governor	O	O
John	O	O
Kitzhaber	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
``	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
stand	ESE	ESE
idly	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
''	O	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
``	O	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
were	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
challenge	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
disruption	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
mankind	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Chen	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
released	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
office	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
ROC	O	O
government	O	O
will	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
firmly	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chen	O	O
again	O	O
voiced	DSE	DSE
his	DSE	DSE
condolences	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
families	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
Americans	O	O
killed	O	O
when	O	O
hijacked	O	O
planes	O	O
plunged	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
on	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

Chen	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
came	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
was	O	O
massing	O	O
forces	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
reprisals	O	O
against	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
the	O	O
prime	ESE	O
suspect	ESE	O
Usama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
in	O	O
hiding	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tien	O	O
Hung-mao	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
vowed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
back	DSE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
in	O	O
fighting	O	O
terrorism	O	O
saying	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
had	O	O
``	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
option	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
but	ESE	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
so	O	O
,	O	O
despite	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
lack	O	ESE
of	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
ties	O	O
between	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
his	O	O
inauguration	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
backpedalled	ESE	O
from	DSE	O
his	O	O
predecessor	O	O
Bill	O	O
Clinton	O	O
's	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
engagement	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
April	O	O
Bush	O	O
approved	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
package	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
since	O	O
1992	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
has	O	O
remained	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
arms	O	O
supplier	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
despite	O	O
switching	DSE	O
diplomatic	DSE	O
recognition	DSE	O
from	O	O
Taipei	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
in	O	O
1979	O	O
.	O	O

Leaders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
probably	ESE	ESE
withheld	DSE	ESE
their	DSE	ESE
breath	DSE	ESE
Monday	O	O
evening	O	O
while	O	O
watching	O	O
on	O	O
television	O	O
what	O	O
Russian	O	O
President	O	O
Vladimir	O	O
Putin	O	O
was	O	O
about	O	O
to	O	O
say	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
Putin	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
they	O	O
rubbed	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
palms	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
length	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
amounted	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
expected	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
great	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
that	O	O
towers	ESE	O
over	ESE	O
Afghanistan	ESE	O
has	DSE	O
committed	DSE	O
itself	DSE	O
to	O	O
overthrow	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Taliban	O	O
system	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
pledged	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
``	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
military	O	O
operation	O	O
''	O	O
now	O	O
being	O	O
prepared	O	O
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
has	O	O
exceeded	ESE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
positive	ESE	ESE
neutrality	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
Soviet	O	O
Union	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
pursued	DSE	DSE
during	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
War	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
whose	O	O
continued	O	O
validity	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
leaders	O	O
also	O	O
regarded	DSE	O
as	O	O
desirable	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Putin	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
open	O	O
former	O	O
Soviet	O	O
military	O	O
airfields	O	O
to	O	O
American	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
three	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
former	O	O
Soviet	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Central	O	O
Asian	O	O
countries	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
regarded	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
dramatic	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

These	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
Tajikistan	O	O
,	O	O
Uzbekistan	O	O
and	O	O
Turkmenistan	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
these	O	O
are	O	O
sovereign	O	O
states	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
final	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
would	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
hands	O	O
,	O	O
people	O	ESE
familiar	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
actual	ESE	ESE
balance	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
power	O	ESE
indicate	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
these	O	O
states	O	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
done	ESE	O
nothing	ESE	O
,	O	O
had	O	O
Moscow	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
different	O	O
thing	O	O
to	O	O
happen	O	O
.	O	O

One	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
underestimate	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
significance	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Russia	O	O
has	O	O
opened	O	O
its	O	O
airspace	O	O
.	O	O

True	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Putin	O	O
only	O	O
permitted	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Americans	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
deliver	O	O
via	O	O
Russian	O	O
airspace	O	O
aid	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
theater	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
military	O	O
operations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
i.e.	O	O
not	O	O
soldiers	O	O
and	O	O
weapons	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
this	O	O
amounts	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
such	ESE	ESE
high	ESE	ESE
degree	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
Russian-American	O	ESE
cooperation	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
wartime	O	ESE
situation	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
have	ESE	O
never	ESE	O
attained	ESE	O
during	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
10	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
Putin	O	O
has	O	O
established	O	O
the	O	O
prospect	O	O
of	O	O
taking	O	O
further	O	O
steps	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
regard	O	O
.	O	O

Accordingly	ESE	O
,	O	O
Russia	O	O
has	O	O
joined	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
coalition	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
virtually	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
reservation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
has	ESE	O
written	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
name	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Moscow	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
registration	ESE	O
page	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
side	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
become	O	O
an	O	O
ally	O	O
,	O	O
and	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
what	ESE	O
he	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
making	DSE	O
this	DSE	O
complex	DSE	ESE
decision	DSE	ESE
was	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
easy	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O

Reformers	O	O
told	DSE	O
Putin	O	O
all	ESE	O
along	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
rare	ESE	ESE
opportunity	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Russia	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
become	O	O
integrated	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
civilized	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

But	DSE	O
main	O	O
stream	O	O
Russian	O	O
military	O	O
policy	DSE	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
to	O	O
keep	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
distance	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
America	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
historically	ESE	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
educating	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Taliban	ESE	O
that	O	O
had	ESE	O
caused	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
demise	ESE	O
of	O	O
Soviet	O	O
occupation	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
a	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
consideration	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
differed	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
above	O	ESE
two	O	ESE
proved	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
decisive	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
had	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
with	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
no	DSE	DSE
greater	DSE	DSE
desire	DSE	DSE
than	O	O
to	DSE	O
present	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
the	O	O
Chechen	O	O
independence	O	O
movement	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
chapter	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
He	DSE	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
succeed	ESE	O
with	O	O
that	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
far	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
criticized	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	O
than	DSE	O
recognized	DSE	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
policy	DSE	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	O
time	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
taught	ESE	DSE
a	ESE	DSE
lesson	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
had	ESE	DSE
promised	ESE	DSE
everything	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
nice	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Putin	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
almost	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
aside	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnia	O	O
``	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
interpreted	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
context	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
struggle	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
reality	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Putin	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
a	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
regarding	ESE	O
Chechnia	ESE	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
understanding	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
or	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
look	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
receive	O	O
what	O	O
he	O	O
sought	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
a	O	O
quick	O	O
response	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
namely	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
would	O	DSE
continue	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
encourage	DSE	DSE
political	O	O
dialogue	O	O
between	O	O
Moscow	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Chechen	O	O
insurgents	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
one	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
fail	ESE	ESE
taking	ESE	ESE
note	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
response	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
upon	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Chechens	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
unconditionally	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
without	ESE	O
delay	ESE	O
to	O	O
terminate	O	O
every	ESE	O
contact	ESE	O
with	O	O
international	O	O
terrorist	O	O
groups	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
accept	DSE	DSE
Putin	O	O
's	O	O
offer	DSE	O
to	O	O
make	ESE	O
peace	ESE	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
we	O	O
view	DSE	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
warning	DSE	DSE
against	O	O
the	O	O
background	O	O
that	O	O
Putin	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
always	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
Usama	ESE	O
Bin	ESE	O
Ladin	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
behind	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
Chechen	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
we	O	O
were	DSE	O
witnessing	DSE	O
a	O	O
late	DSE	O
recognition	DSE	O
of	O	O
Moscow	O	O
's	O	O
views	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Russian	O	O
President	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
understood	DSE	DSE
this	O	DSE
American	O	DSE
recognition	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
Berlin	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
center	O	O
of	O	O
stormy	DSE	ESE
celebration	DSE	ESE
,	O	ESE
he	O	ESE
vindicated	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
himself	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
deeper	ESE	ESE
truth	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
seen	ESE	ESE
behind	ESE	ESE
terror	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
argued	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
had	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
not	O	O
continued	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
keep	ESE	O
alive	ESE	O
during	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
several	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Cold	ESE	ESE
War	ESE	ESE
stereotype	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
threat	O	ESE
from	O	O
the	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
concentrated	ESE	O
instead	ESE	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
common	ESE	O
enemy	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
twin	O	O
towers	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
collapsed	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Accordingly	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
your	ESE	ESE
turn	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
think	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Putin	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Feeling	DSE	DSE
like	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
ally	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
ask	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
a	O	O
place	O	O
for	O	O
Russia	O	O
almost	ESE	O
inconspicuously	ESE	O
-	O	O
in	O	O
NATO	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
joke	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
yesterday	ESE	O
.	O	O

Today	ESE	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
threshold	O	O
of	O	O
expansion	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
longer	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
joke	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Belgian	O	O
premier	O	O
says	O	O
EU	O	O
leaders	O	O
will	O	O
discuss	O	O
American	O	O
strikes	O	O
at	O	O
summit	O	O

The	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
operations	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
mistakes	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
caused	O	ESE
unease	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
majority	O	O
's	O	O
ranks	O	O
in	O	O
Belgium	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
senators	O	O
spoke	O	O
about	O	O
this	O	O
on	O	O
Mise	O	O
au	O	O
Point	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
programme	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
television	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
PRL	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Liberal	O	O
Reform	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
PSC	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Christian	O	O
Social	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
opposition	O	O
party	O	O
continue	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
strikes	O	O
but	O	O
criticize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
humanitarian	O	O
operations	O	O
are	O	O
taking	O	O
place	O	O
alongside	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

Ecolo	O	O
and	O	O
Agalev	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
ecologist	O	O
parties	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
are	DSE	O
asking	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
ending	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bombing	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
the	O	O
PS	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Socialist	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
Senator	O	O
Jean	O	O
Cornil	O	O
still	DSE	O
supports	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
being	O	O
increasingly	DSE	ESE
critical	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Guy	O	O
Verhofstadt	O	O
has	O	O
announced	O	O
on	O	O
Flemish	O	O
television	O	O
that	O	O
Europe	O	O
will	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
actions	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
next	O	O
Friday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
19	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
in	O	O
Gent	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
northwest	O	O
of	O	O
Brussels	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
informal	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
EU	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
heads	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
and	O	O
government	O	O
summit	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
Oil	O	O
national	O	O
oil	O	O
company	O	O
's	O	O
enterprises	O	O
produced	O	O
4.9	O	O
m	O	O
t	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
first	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
nine	O	O
months	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
11.6	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
up	O	O
year	O	O
on	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
extraction	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
over	O	O
and	O	O
above	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
-	O	O
336,000	O	O
t	O	O
-	O	O
was	O	O
possible	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
launching	O	O
of	O	O
new	O	O
wells	O	O
and	O	O
measures	O	O
taken	O	O
to	O	O
intensify	O	O
the	O	O
production	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
company	O	O
's	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
reports	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
extraction	O	O
was	O	O
possible	O	ESE
thanks	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
company	O	O
's	O	O
active	O	O
investment	O	O
policy	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
conducted	O	O
since	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
says	DSE	O
.	O	O

Capital	O	O
investments	O	O
in	O	O
production	O	O
increased	O	O
by	O	O
37	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
nine	O	O
months	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
compared	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
period	O	O
of	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

Capital	O	O
was	O	O
invested	O	O
in	O	O
renewing	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
facilities	O	O
,	O	O
increasing	O	O
volumes	O	O
of	O	O
drilling	O	O
and	O	O
wells	O	O
and	O	O
upgrading	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
company	O	O
processed	O	O
1,697,000	O	O
t	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
and	O	O
fully	O	O
provided	O	O
the	O	O
Atyrau	O	O
oil	O	O
refinery	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
west	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
with	O	O
oil	O	O
.	O	O

Kazakh	O	O
Oil	O	O
paid	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
34bn	O	O
tenge	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
is	O	O
148	O	O
tenge	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
budget	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
period	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
60	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
up	O	O
year	O	O
on	O	O
year	O	O
...	O	O

18	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
government	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
separating	O	O
its	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaign	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MOFA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Stanley	O	O
Kao	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
MOFA	O	O
's	O	O
North	O	O
American	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Department	O	O
,	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
amid	O	O
mounting	DSE	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
compromise	ESE	ESE
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
interests	O	O
in	O	O
exchange	O	O
for	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
global	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Kao	O	O
said	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
trip	O	O
to	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
is	O	O
mainly	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
annual	O	O
informal	O	O
leadership	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
Economic	O	O
Cooperation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
APEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
forum	O	O
to	DSE	O
seek	DSE	O
expansion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
coalition	O	O
.	O	O

Prior	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
departure	O	O
for	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	DSE
during	O	O
his	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
mainland	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
reaffirm	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Jiang	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
policy	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
see	O	O
a	O	O
peaceful	ESE	ESE
solution	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
disputes	DSE	ESE
between	DSE	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
.	O	O

Kao	O	O
said	O	O
several	O	O
senior	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
reassurances	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
seek	DSE	DSE
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaign	O	O
at	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
expense	ESE	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
in	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
sincerity	ESE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	DSE
promising	DSE	DSE
not	O	O
to	O	O
mix	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
its	O	O
counter-terrorism	O	O
drive	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
relevant	O	O
US	O	O
officials	O	O
have	O	O
on	O	O
many	O	O
occasions	O	O
reaffirmed	DSE	DSE
similar	DSE	O
commitments	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
ROC	O	O
.	O	O

Commenting	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
waiving	O	O
sanctions	O	O
that	O	O
bar	O	O
sales	O	O
of	O	O
military-related	O	O
equipment	O	O
to	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	O	O
MOFA	O	O
is	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
obtain	O	O
more	O	O
information	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
view	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
balance	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
power	O	O
is	O	DSE
critical	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
ROC	O	O
's	O	O
national	O	O
security	O	O
.	O	O

Noting	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
consistently	DSE	ESE
attached	DSE	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
regional	O	O
stability	O	O
and	O	O
security	O	O
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
robust	ESE	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
package	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
struck	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
signifies	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	O
serious	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
security	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Against	O	O
this	O	O
backdrop	O	O
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
ROC	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
optimistic	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
defense	O	O
cooperation	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
foreign	O	O
wire	O	O
service	O	O
report	O	O
from	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
quoted	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
US	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
official	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
has	DSE	O
no	DSE	O
plans	DSE	O
to	O	O
ease	O	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
told	O	O
reporters	O	O
traveling	O	O
with	O	O
Powell	O	O
en	O	O
route	O	O
to	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
APEC	O	O
meeting	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
unequivocally	DSE	O
denied	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
was	O	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
such	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
,	O	O
specifically	O	O
to	O	O
allow	O	O
sales	O	O
of	O	O
spare	O	O
parts	O	O
for	O	O
mainland	O	O
Chinese-owned	O	O
helicopters	O	O
as	O	O
another	O	O
weapon	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
There	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
no	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
sale	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
waiver	O	ESE
contemplated	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Post	O	O
quoted	O	O
US	O	O
officials	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
was	O	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
waiver	O	O
of	O	O
sanctions	O	O
imposed	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
1989	O	O
Tiananmen	O	O
Square	O	O
crackdown	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
to	O	O
allow	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
parts	O	O
for	O	O
Black	O	O
Hawks	O	O
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
sold	O	O
to	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1980s	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
helicopters	O	O
were	O	O
designed	O	O
for	O	O
high	O	O
altitudes	O	O
typical	O	O
of	O	O
much	O	O
of	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
its	O	O
Afghan	O	O
border	O	O
.	O	O

Afghanistan	O	O
is	O	O
now	O	O
under	O	O
US	O	O
bombardment	O	O
for	O	O
refusing	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
hand	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
suspect	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
Saudi-born	O	O
dissident	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Usama	O	O
Bin	O	O
Ladin	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
readies	O	O
for	O	O
war	O	O

ZIMBABWE	O	O
is	O	O
amassing	O	O
huge	O	O
quantities	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
and	O	O
ammunition	O	O
using	O	O
two	O	O
African	O	O
allies	O	O
in	O	O
preparation	O	O
for	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
crucial	O	ESE
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
established	O	O
.	O	O

Financial	O	O
Gazette	O	O
investigations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
one-and-a-half	O	O
months	O	O
have	ESE	O
revealed	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Congo	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
DRC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Namibia	O	O
are	O	O
helping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
circumvent	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
to	O	O
buy	O	O
huge	O	O
quantities	O	O
of	O	O
guns	O	O
and	O	O
bullets	O	O
for	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
ballot	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
was	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
Harare	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
by	O	O
Europe	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
on	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
appalling	ESE	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
record	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
investigations	O	O
show	O	O
that	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
is	O	O
importing	O	O
and	O	O
massing	O	O
an	O	O
assortment	O	O
of	O	O
guns	O	O
at	O	O
army	O	O
bases	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
in	O	O
preparation	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
violent	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
guns	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
arriving	O	O
secretly	O	O
at	O	O
Suri	O	O
Suri	O	O
airbase	O	O
in	O	O
Chegutu	O	O
before	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
distributed	O	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
military	O	O
bases	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
farms	O	O
where	O	O
self-styled	ESE	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
have	O	O
established	O	O
bases	O	O
to	O	O
intimidate	O	ESE
voters	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
bulk	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
weapons	O	O
have	O	O
arrived	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
DRC	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
cargo	O	O
plane	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
weapons	O	O
consist	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
significant	O	O
portion	O	O
of	O	O
French-made	O	O
guns	O	O
,	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
top	O	O
government	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
distributed	O	O
to	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
central	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
party	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
strategy	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
massive	O	O
depletion	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
armoury	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
participation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
three-year-old	O	O
DRC	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
finding	DSE	O
it	DSE	O
extremely	DSE	ESE
difficult	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
replenish	O	O
its	O	O
arms	O	O
stocks	O	O
because	O	O
its	O	O
traditional	O	O
and	O	O
cheaper	O	O
arms	O	O
suppliers	O	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
refusing	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
it	O	O
arms	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
had	O	O
forced	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
to	O	O
implement	O	O
some	ESE	O
unpalatable	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
grounding	O	O
of	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
entire	O	O
fleet	O	O
of	O	O
Hawk	O	O
fighter	O	O
aircraft	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
refusal	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
spare	O	O
parts	O	O
.	O	O

Virtually	O	O
all	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
have	DSE	O
severed	DSE	O
ties	DSE	O
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
imposed	O	O
an	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Although	O	O
we	O	O
can	O	O
still	O	O
buy	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
from	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
Russia	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
greater	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
our	O	O
fairly	O	O
priced	O	O
weapons	O	O
,	O	O
ammunition	O	O
and	O	O
spares	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
sourced	O	O
from	O	O
mainly	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
Sweden	O	O
,	O	O
France	O	O
and	O	O
others	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
can	O	O
no	O	O
longer	O	O
buy	O	O
arms	O	O
from	O	O
Europe	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
moment	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
here	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
a	O	O
top	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Defence	O	O
source	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
left	O	O
with	O	O
no	ESE	O
alternative	ESE	O
but	O	O
to	O	O
buy	O	O
some	O	O
weapons	O	O
via	O	O
our	O	O
allies	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
DRC	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
access	O	O
to	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
European	O	O
weapons	O	O
that	O	O
we	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
preference	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Defence	O	O
Minister	O	O
Sydney	O	O
Sekeramayi	O	O
declined	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
comment	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
the	O	O
allegations	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
sanctions	ESE	O
busting	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
massing	O	O
of	O	O
guns	O	O
at	O	O
army	O	O
bases	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Just	O	ESE
avoid	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
now	O	ESE
.	O	O

I	O	O
am	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
going	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
comment	DSE	O
on	O	O
that	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Sekeramayi	O	O
said	O	O
yesterday	O	O
before	O	O
immediately	O	O
cutting	O	O
off	O	O
his	O	O
telephone	O	O
.	O	O

Asked	O	O
why	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
French	O	O
origin	O	O
were	O	O
finding	O	O
their	O	O
way	O	O
into	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
Jerome	O	O
Sautier	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
counsellor	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Lieutenant	O	O
Colonel	O	O
Dault	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
defence	O	O
attache	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
France	O	O
was	O	O
not	O	O
selling	O	O
any	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
said	O	O
they	O	O
had	DSE	O
no	DSE	O
knowledge	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
arrival	O	O
of	O	O
French	O	O
arms	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
but	O	O
said	O	O
France	O	O
sold	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
several	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
could	O	O
in	O	O
turn	O	O
re-sell	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
said	O	O
they	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
whether	DSE	O
this	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	O	O
military	O	O
relationships	O	O
with	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
have	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
instance	O	O
,	O	O
sold	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
many	O	O
French-speaking	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
arms	O	O
can	O	O
in	O	O
turn	O	O
be	O	O
re-sold	O	O
by	O	O
those	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Sautier	O	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
illegal	O	O
arms	O	O
trafficking	O	O
outside	O	O
the	O	O
authority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
secretary	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Namibian	O	O
High	O	O
Commission	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
,	O	O
Mati	O	O
Jose	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
had	DSE	O
no	DSE	O
knowledge	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
Namibia	O	O
helping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
to	O	O
bust	O	O
the	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
DRC	O	O
's	O	O
ambassador	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Mawapanga	O	O
Mwanananga	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
reached	O	ESE
for	O	O
comment	O	O
.	O	O

Authoritative	O	O
military	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
training	O	O
and	O	O
arming	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	O	O
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
is	O	O
re-elected	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
ballot	O	O
which	O	O
must	O	ESE
be	O	O
held	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
March	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
bases	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
established	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
throughout	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	O	O
in	O	O
those	O	O
areas	O	O
which	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
army	O	O
camps	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
will	O	O
operate	O	O
from	O	O
these	O	O
bases	O	O
,	O	O
their	O	O
main	DSE	DSE
objective	DSE	DSE
being	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
it	O	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
to	O	O
campaign	O	O
in	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
.	O	O

Opposition	O	DSE
supporters	DSE	DSE
would	O	DSE
also	O	O
be	O	O
harassed	O	O
and	O	O
ejected	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
to	O	O
disable	O	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
voting	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
constituencies	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
have	O	O
in	O	O
fact	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
armed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
opposition	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
said	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
that	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
supporters	DSE	O
who	O	O
smashed	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
's	O	O
vehicle	O	O
and	O	O
thwarted	O	O
his	O	O
planned	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
's	O	O
structures	O	O
in	O	O
Sanyati	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
were	O	O
armed	O	O
with	O	O
guns	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
senior	O	O
government	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
sympathize	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
change	DSE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
but	O	O
judging	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
groundwork	O	O
that	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
am	DSE	DSE
afraid	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
I	O	O
do	O	DSE
n't	O	DSE
see	O	DSE
that	O	O
change	O	O
coming	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
Jose	O	O
Maria	O	O
Aznar	O	O
,	O	O
told	O	O
Argentine	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
that	O	O
Spain	O	O
has	DSE	O
absolute	DSE	O
confidence	DSE	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
Madrid	O	O
has	DSE	O
placed	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
strategic	DSE	ESE
bet	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
on	O	O
Argentina	O	O
overcoming	O	O
its	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
official	O	O
sources	O	O
in	O	O
Spain	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
a	O	O
private	O	O
dinner	O	O
held	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
16	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
at	O	O
Moncloa	O	O
Palace	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
seat	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
presidency	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
leaders	O	O
examined	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
problems	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
electoral	O	O
setback	O	O
suffered	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
governing	O	O
Alliance	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
held	O	O
Sunday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
14	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
sources	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
dinner	O	O
attended	O	O
by	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
both	O	O
also	O	O
took	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
inauguration	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Second	O	O
International	O	O
Congress	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Language	O	O
in	O	O
Valladolid	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
center	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
that	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Economy	O	O
Minister	O	O
Rodrigo	O	O
Rato	O	O
,	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Mariano	O	O
Rajoy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Josep	O	O
Pique	O	O
were	O	O
also	O	O
present	O	O
.	O	O

Rato	O	O
explained	O	O
the	O	O
macroeconomic	O	O
measures	O	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
applied	O	O
in	O	O
Spain	O	O
to	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
Government	O	O
is	DSE	O
aiming	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
a	O	O
zero	O	O
deficit	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
,	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
also	O	O
spoke	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
Ibero-American	O	O
Summit	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
place	O	O
this	O	O
November	O	O
in	O	O
Lima	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
and	O	O
Latin	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Spanish	O	O
leader	O	O
also	O	O
took	O	O
advantage	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occasion	O	O
to	O	O
tell	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
about	O	O
his	O	O
last	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
--	O	O
which	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
15	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
--	O	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
progress	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
operations	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
that	O	O
conversation	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
Aznar	O	O
also	O	O
spoke	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
president	O	O
told	O	DSE
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
.	O	O

Tehran	O	O
,	O	O
Oct	O	O
21	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
--	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
heading	O	O
a	O	O
high-ranking	O	O
delegation	O	O
,	O	O
arrived	O	O
here	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
one-day	O	O
official	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
president	O	O
was	O	DSE
officially	DSE	DSE
welcomed	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
Mehrabad	O	O
International	O	O
Airport	O	O
by	O	O
Minister	O	O
of	O	O
Mines	O	O
and	O	O
Metals	O	O
,	O	O
Eshaq	O	O
Jahangiri	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
informed	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
his	O	O
Iranian	O	O
counterpart	O	O
President	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Khatami	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
avenues	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
increase	O	O
oil	O	O
price	O	O
.	O	O

Venezuelan	O	O
Minister	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Luis	O	O
Alfonso	O	O
Davila	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
senior	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
are	O	O
accompanying	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Tehran	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Khatami	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OPEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
join	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
prevent	DSE	O
a	O	O
steep	O	O
fall	O	O
in	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
persistent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
deliberate	ESE	ESE
fuelling	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
cycle	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
Palestinian	O	ESE
territories	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
pushing	O	ESE
our	O	ESE
already	ESE	ESE
turbulent	ESE	ESE
region	O	ESE
towards	O	ESE
inevitable	ESE	ESE
chaos	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
behaviour	O	ESE
further	ESE	ESE
confirms	ESE	ESE
what	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
long	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	DSE
interested	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
pursuing	O	O
its	O	O
expansionist	ESE	O
designs	O	O
on	O	O
occupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
and	O	O
Arab	O	O
land	O	O
than	O	O
in	O	O
engaging	O	O
in	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
peace-making	O	ESE
--	O	O
a	O	O
route	O	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
require	O	O
its	O	O
unreserved	ESE	DSE
commitment	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

And	O	O
therefore	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
blatantly	ESE	ESE
obstructed	ESE	ESE
all	O	ESE
international	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
European	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
regional	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
consolidate	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli-Palestinian	O	O
ceasefire	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
prerequisite	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Mitchell	O	O
and	O	O
Tenet	O	O
recommendations	O	DSE
.	O	O

Many	O	O
observers	O	O
inside	O	O
and	O	O
outside	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
had	O	DSE
rightly	ESE	DSE
feared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
callously	ESE	ESE
exploit	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
Sept.	O	ESE
11	O	ESE
tragedy	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
US	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
intensify	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
accelerate	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
aggression	ESE	ESE
against	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
Palestinians	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
crush	ESE	ESE
their	O	ESE
efforts	O	ESE
towards	O	ESE
claiming	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
freedom	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
independence	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Sharon	O	O
government	O	O
is	O	O
doing	ESE	O
exactly	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
total	ESE	ESE
disregard	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
utter	ESE	ESE
defiance	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
disrespect	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
advice	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
London	O	O
,	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
other	O	O
governments	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
restraint	ESE	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
quick	ESE	O
return	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
negotiating	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
opts	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
brute	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
in	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
exit	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
,	O	O
can	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
be	O	O
achieved	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
resumption	O	O
of	O	O
peace	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Mitchell	O	O
report	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Tenet	O	DSE
understandings	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
expects	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
friends	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
it	O	O
with	O	O
understanding	ESE	DSE
,	ESE	O
cooperation	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
full	ESE	DSE
support	ESE	DSE
in	O	O
confronting	O	O
the	O	O
perpetrators	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
devastating	ESE	O
attack	O	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
centres	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
instead	ESE	O
of	O	O
reciprocating	O	O
,	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
that	O	O
since	O	O
its	O	O
creation	O	O
has	O	O
benefited	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
from	O	O
US	O	O
protection	O	O
and	O	O
backing	DSE	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
turned	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
fair-weather	ESE	ESE
friend	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Its	ESE	O
self-seeking	ESE	ESE
manipulation	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
tragedy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	O
Tel	ESE	O
Aviv	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
noticed	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
affected	ESE	ESE
every	ESE	ESE
corner	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
earth	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
adds	O	O
yet	ESE	O
another	ESE	O
burden	ESE	O
upon	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
likening	DSE	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
invasion	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
assassinations	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
and	O	O
Osama	O	O
Ben	O	O
Laden	O	O
is	O	O
abhorrent	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
deceptive	ESE	ESE
ploys	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
negate	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
President	O	O
Yasser	O	O
Arafat	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
National	O	O
Authority	O	O
have	O	O
and	O	O
are	O	O
still	O	O
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
while	O	O
under	O	O
attack	O	O
,	O	O
doing	O	O
their	O	O
utmost	ESE	O
to	O	O
demonstrate	O	O
their	O	O
unambiguous	ESE	DSE
commitment	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
stop	O	O
violence	O	O
,	O	O
maintain	O	O
the	O	O
ceasefire	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
get	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
negotiations	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
is	O	O
engaged	O	O
in	O	O
handling	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
crises	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
our	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
that	O	O
Sharon	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
realise	DSE	O
that	O	O
predatory	ESE	ESE
behaviour	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
tolerated	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
long	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

There	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
evident	ESE	ESE
international	O	ESE
resolve	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
put	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
end	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
Arab-Israeli	O	ESE
conflict	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
aspects	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
calls	DSE	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
London	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
realisation	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Palestinian	O	ESE
statehood	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
part	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
settlement	O	ESE
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	DSE
viewed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
leadership	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
guarantee	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
peace	O	O
and	O	O
security	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
continued	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
aggression	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
history	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	ESE
shown	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
again	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
recipe	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
disaster	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Islamabad	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
new	O	O
Governor	O	O
of	O	O
Punjab	O	O
,	O	O
retired	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Khalid	O	O
Maqbool	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
winner	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Hilal-e-Imtiaz	O	O
Military	O	O
medal	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
born	O	O
on	O	O
9	O	O
March	O	O
1948	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
joined	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
Army	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
1966	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
1971	O	O
Pak-India	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
served	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
infantry	O	O
regiment	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Kashmir	O	O
front	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
his	O	O
career	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
remained	O	O
as	O	O
Brigadier	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Infantry	O	O
Division	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
Corps	O	O
Commander	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
served	O	O
as	O	O
chief	O	O
instructor	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Defense	O	O
College	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Command	O	O
and	O	O
Staff	O	O
College	O	O
,	O	O
Quetta	O	O
.	O	O

Lt.	O	O
General	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Retd	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Khalid	O	O
Maqbool	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
defense	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
attache	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
Embassy	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
for	O	O
two	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
half	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
Military	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Governor	O	O
of	O	O
Balochistan	O	O
,	O	O
retired	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Rahimuddin	O	O
Khan	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
law	O	O
graduate	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Punjab	O	O
University	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
received	O	O
his	O	O
Masters	O	O
of	O	O
Science	O	O
degree	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
wing	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Defense	O	O
College	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
passed	O	O
the	O	O
Infantry	O	O
Officer	O	O
's	O	O
Advanced	O	O
Course	O	O
and	O	O
Senior	O	O
International	O	O
Defense	O	O
Management	O	O
Course	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

Retired	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Khalid	O	O
Maqbool	O	O
is	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Baloch	O	O
Regiment	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
promoted	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
rank	O	O
of	O	O
Lt.	O	O
General	O	O
on	O	O
28	O	O
October	O	O
1998	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
Corps	O	O
Commander	O	O
of	O	O
Lahore	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
became	O	O
the	O	O
Chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Accountability	O	O
Bureau	O	O
on	O	O
26	O	O
September	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
retired	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
Army	O	O
on	O	O
27	O	O
October	O	O
2001	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	O
nominated	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
Governor	O	O
of	O	O
Punjab	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	O
one	O	O
daughter	O	O
.	O	O

Moscow	O	O
,	O	O
6	O	O
November	O	O
:	O	O
Three	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
launched	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
space	O	O
centre	O	O
in	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
units	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Space	O	O
Forces	O	O
at	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
have	O	O
begun	O	O
preparations	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
sixth	O	O
launch	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Proton-K	O	O
booster	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Proton	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
launched	O	O
on	O	O
23	O	O
November	O	O
will	O	O
put	O	O
a	O	O
satellite	O	O
into	O	O
orbit	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Defence	O	O
Ministry	O	O
's	O	O
needs	O	O
.	O	O

Autonomous	O	O
tests	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
booster	O	O
are	O	O
under	O	O
way	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
assembly	O	O
and	O	O
testing	O	O
hangar	O	O
at	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
is	O	O
simultaneously	O	O
being	O	O
loaded	O	O
with	O	O
fuel	O	O
components	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Space	O	O
Forces	O	O
reported	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
26	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Progress	O	O
M1-7	O	O
transport	O	O
spaceship	O	O
should	O	ESE
be	O	O
launched	O	O
from	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Space	O	O
Station	O	O
.	O	O

Its	O	O
launch	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
modernized	O	O
Soyuz-FG	O	O
booster	O	O
designed	O	O
and	O	O
manufactured	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Progress	O	O
aerospace	O	O
centre	O	O
in	O	O
Samara	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
engines	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rocket	O	O
's	O	O
second	O	O
and	O	O
third	O	O
stages	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
modernized	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
this	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
launch	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
modernized	O	O
booster	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Aerospace	O	O
Agency	O	O
,	O	O
Rosaviakosmos	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
one	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
on	O	O
21	O	O
May	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
launch	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Zenit-2	O	O
booster	O	O
produced	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Dnipropetrovsk	O	O
Yuzhmash	O	O
enterprise	O	O
is	O	O
preliminarily	O	O
scheduled	O	O
for	O	O
30	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rocket	O	O
will	O	O
put	O	O
a	O	O
Meteor-3M	O	O
hydrometeorological	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
into	O	O
orbit	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
their	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
Bayt	O	O
Jala	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Qalqilya	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
withdrew	O	O
from	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
they	O	O
maintained	O	O
the	O	O
siege	O	O
and	O	O
closure	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
city	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
suffering	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
citizens	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
Ramallah	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
like	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
suffering	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
citizens	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
Bayt	O	O
Jala	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Qalqilya	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
roadblocks	O	O
,	O	O
affecting	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
medical	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
educational	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
social	ESE	O
life	ESE	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
seen	ESE	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
suffering	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
main	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
perhaps	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
suffering	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
the	O	O
continuing	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
heavy	ESE	ESE
burden	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
citizens	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
correction	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
mistake	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Government	O	O
made	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
reoccupy	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
cities	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
assassination	O	O
of	O	O
Israeli	O	O
minister	O	O
Rehav	O	O
`	O	O
am	O	O
Ze'evi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
reoccupation	O	O
was	O	O
a	ESE	O
kind	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
collective	ESE	O
punishment	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
inhabitants	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
cities	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
villages	O	O
around	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
villages	O	O
that	O	O
constitute	O	O
an	O	O
organic	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
vital	ESE	O
extension	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
cities	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
destroyed	O	O
buildings	O	O
and	O	O
installations	O	O
in	O	O
those	O	O
cities	O	O
,	O	O
arrested	O	O
dozens	O	O
of	O	O
citizens	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
killed	O	O
dozens	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	O
showed	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
right-wing	O	O
coalition	O	O
in	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	DSE	O
pursuing	DSE	O
an	O	O
occupational	O	O
policy	O	O
and	O	O
is	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
,	DSE	O
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
firm	ESE	O
national	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
to	O	O
freedom	O	O
,	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
policy	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
disregards	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
establish	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
just	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
based	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
regain	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
freedom	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
,	O	O
is	ESE	O
reflected	ESE	O
in	O	O
statements	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
brag	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
large	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
or	O	O
arrested	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
reflected	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Israeli	O	O
coalition	O	O
has	O	O
no	O	O
agreed-upon	O	O
political	O	O
plan	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
settlement	O	O
plans	O	O
and	O	O
initiatives	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
attributed	O	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
Israeli	O	O
official	O	O
or	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
unable	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
meet	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
minimum	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
Palestinian	O	ESE
demands	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

These	O	O
initiatives	O	O
and	O	O
plans	O	O
largely	ESE	O
try	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
keep	ESE	O
as	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
hegemony	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
as	O	O
many	O	O
settlements	O	O
as	O	O
possible	O	O
on	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
lands	O	O
,	O	O
resources	O	O
,	O	O
airspace	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
crossing	O	O
points	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
approach	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
rights	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Government	O	O
is	ESE	O
playing	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
cat	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
mouse	ESE	ESE
game	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
trying	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
use	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
factor	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
perpetuate	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
occupation	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	DSE	ESE
also	DSE	ESE
working	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
push	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
Palestinians	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
into	O	ESE
new	ESE	ESE
labyrinths	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
tunnels	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
inside	O	O
the	O	O
old	O	ESE
tunnels	O	ESE
,	O	O
to	ESE	O
distract	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
and	O	O
central	O	O
demands	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
cycle	O	O
of	O	O
reoccupation-withdrawal-reoccupation	O	O
is	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
approach	O	O
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
secret	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
lies	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
full	O	O
Israeli	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
occupied	O	O
in	O	O
1967	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
termination	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupational	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
presence	O	O
in	O	O
these	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
way	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
peace	O	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
lie	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
devious	ESE	ESE
methods	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
circumvent	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
inalienable	ESE	ESE
Palestinian	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Such	O	ESE
methods	O	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
complicate	ESE	ESE
things	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
add	ESE	O
fuel	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
raging	ESE	ESE
fire	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Energy	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Ernesto	O	O
Martens	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
admitted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
unfeasible	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
guarantee	DSE	O
the	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
revenues	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
Finance	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
maintains	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
estimate	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
export	O	O
platform	O	O
in	O	O
2002	O	O
will	O	O
average	O	O
1.825	O	O
million	O	O
barrels	O	O
per	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
$	O	O
17.00	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
One	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
talk	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
depth	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Finance	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
's	O	O
people	O	O
to	O	O
hear	O	O
the	O	O
criteria	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
that	O	O
benchmark	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
declining	DSE	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
details	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
manner	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
federal	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
secretariats	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
crude	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Criteria	O	O
for	O	O
Economic	O	O
Policy	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Martens	O	O
admitted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
volume	O	O
of	O	O
crude	O	O
exports	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
achieved	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
Pemex	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Mexican	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
figures	O	O
,	O	O
between	O	O
January	O	O
and	O	O
September	O	O
the	O	O
daily	O	O
exports	O	O
of	O	O
barrels	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
exceed	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
of	O	O
1.71	O	O
million	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
September	O	O
alone	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
this	O	O
average	O	O
dropped	O	O
to	O	O
1.64	O	O
million	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Preliminary	O	O
Criteria	O	O
for	O	O
Economic	O	O
Policy	O	O
2002	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
text	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
presented	O	O
to	O	O
Congress	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Finance	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
estimated	DSE	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
$	O	O
17.00	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
mixture	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
predicted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
export	O	O
platform	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
1.825	O	O
million	O	O
barrels	O	O
per	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
volume	O	O
appears	ESE	O
large	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
economic	O	O
context	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
have	O	O
fallen	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
1999	O	O
levels	O	O
.	O	O

Hence	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OPEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
its	O	O
meeting	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
whether	O	O
or	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
its	O	O
worldwide	O	O
crude	O	O
production	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
effort	O	O
to	O	O
shore	O	O
up	O	O
energy	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Traditionally	O	O
,	O	O
Mexico	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
OPEC	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
;	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
analysts	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	DSE	O
now	DSE	O
tend	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
world	O	O
consumer	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
that	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
adversely	ESE	O
affected	ESE	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
possible	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
crude	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

George	O	O
Baker	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
Energy	O	O
Intelligence	O	O
,	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
In	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
event	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
Government	O	O
gives	DSE	DSE
priority	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
its	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
game	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
risks	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

And	DSE	ESE
it	O	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
,	O	O
at	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
given	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
,	O	O
OPEC	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
bill	ESE	O
for	O	O
not	O	O
collaborating	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
supply	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
economy	O	O
is	O	O
very	O	O
closely	O	O
linked	O	O
to	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
hence	ESE	O
no	O	O
oil	O	O
producer	O	O
,	O	O
whether	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
OPEC	O	O
or	O	O
not	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
disadvantageous	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
.	O	O

Frederic	O	O
Lasserre	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
energy	O	O
sector	O	O
analyst	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
firm	O	O
Societe	O	O
Generale	O	O
,	O	O
held	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mexico	O	O
's	O	O
close	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
prevents	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
from	O	O
becoming	O	O
more	DSE	O
committed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
OPEC	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
US	O	O
authorities	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
have	O	O
it	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Mexico	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
trading	O	O
partner	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
close	O	O
to	O	O
OPEC	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
observed	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
prices	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
gave	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
reminder	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
that	O	O
prompted	O	O
Mexico	O	O
to	O	O
collaborate	O	O
with	O	O
OPEC	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
was	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
Ken	O	O
Miller	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
firm	O	O
Purvin	O	O
&	O	O
amp	O	O
;	O	O
Gertz	O	O
,	O	O
included	O	O
an	O	O
additional	O	O
factor	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Mexico	O	O
sought	O	DSE
out	O	O
the	O	O
leading	O	O
producers	O	O
:	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
and	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
prices	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
because	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
competition	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
market	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
in	O	O
US	O	O
territory	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
pointing	O	O
out	O	O
that	O	O
prices	O	O
have	O	O
not	O	O
yet	O	O
fallen	O	O
as	O	O
low	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
did	O	O
then	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1998	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
oil	O	O
mixture	O	O
averaged	O	O
$	O	O
10.17	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
:	O	O
now	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
lowest	O	O
levels	O	O
have	O	O
reached	O	O
$	O	O
14.00	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
.	O	O

Miller	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
worldwide	O	O
economic	O	O
slowdown	O	O
has	O	O
shrunk	O	O
the	O	O
demand	O	DSE
for	O	O
energy	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
could	ESE	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
independent	O	O
producers	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
operate	O	O
in	O	O
coordination	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
cartel	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	O	ESE
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
researcher	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
UNAM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
National	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
University	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Economics	O	O
Department	O	O
,	O	O
Angel	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Vega	O	O
,	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
Fox	O	O
administration	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
fiscal	O	O
reform	O	O
available	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
ruled	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Mexico	O	O
might	ESE	O
collaborate	O	O
with	O	O
OPEC	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
event	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
more	O	ESE
serious	O	ESE
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Miguel	O	O
Garcia	O	O
Reyes	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
specialist	O	O
in	O	O
petroleum	O	O
geopolitics	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
College	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mexico	O	O
's	O	O
distancing	O	O
from	O	O
OPEC	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
more	ESE	O
intensified	ESE	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
emphasized	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
Now	O	O
Mexico	O	O
is	O	O
positioned	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
two	ESE	O
fronts	ESE	O
:	O	O
it	O	O
recognizes	DSE	DSE
the	ESE	O
need	ESE	O
for	O	O
reducing	O	O
the	O	O
supply	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	DSE	O
policy	DSE	O
is	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
support	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
supply	O	O
it	O	O
with	O	O
more	O	O
crude	O	O
if	O	O
it	O	O
should	O	ESE
become	O	ESE
necessary	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	DSE	O
terms	O	O
of	O	O
market	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
exports	O	O
do	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
play	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
OPEC	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
and	O	O
1999	O	O
lent	ESE	O
credibility	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
achieved	O	O
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
of	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Promises	ESE	DSE
Are	ESE	O
Cheap	ESE	O

The	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
three	O	O
cuts	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
production	O	O
thus	O	O
far	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
purpose	O	O
of	O	O
preventing	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
prices	O	O
from	O	O
becoming	O	O
weaker	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
not	ESE	O
kept	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
promises	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

THE	O	O
ABDUCTION	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
French	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
has	ESE	O
introduced	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
dimension	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
kidnap-for-ransom	O	O
pestilence	ESE	O
that	O	O
has	O	DSE
spread	O	DSE
dramatically	O	DSE
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
10	O	O
months	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
kidnap	O	O
gang	O	O
freed	O	O
her	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
driver	O	O
within	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
of	O	O
seizure	O	O
.	O	O

No	O	O
ransom	O	O
was	O	O
paid	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
abduction	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
delivered	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
devastating	ESE	ESE
blow	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
capacity	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Macapagal	O	O
administration	O	O
to	O	O
crack	O	ESE
down	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
kidnap	O	ESE
syndicates	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
grim	ESE	ESE
statistics	O	ESE
trotted	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
by	O	O
Teresita	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese-Filipino	O	O
anti-crime	O	O
``	O	O
crusader	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
who	O	O
has	DSE	O
relished	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
role	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Cassandra	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Philippine	ESE	O
National	ESE	O
Police	ESE	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
1992	O	O
when	O	O
organized	O	O
crime	O	O
became	O	O
a	O	O
leading	O	O
preoccupation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
agenda	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
victims	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
predatory	ESE	O
syndicates	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
's	O	O
compatriots	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese-Filipino	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	DSE
conventional	DSE	DSE
explanation	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
because	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
wealth	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
logical	ESE	O
prey	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
to	O	O
extract	O	O
ransom	O	O
money	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
perverse	ESE	O
form	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
nationalist	ESE	O
racism	ESE	O
and	O	O
redistribution	O	O
of	O	O
national	O	O
wealth	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Abu	O	O
Sayyaf	O	O
kidnapping	O	O
of	O	O
foreigners	O	O
in	O	O
Sipadan	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
Dos	O	O
Palmas	O	O
,	O	O
Palawan	O	O
,	O	O
broke	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
ethnicity	O	ESE
pattern	O	ESE
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
seizure	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
driver	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
in	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
gangs	O	O
struck	O	O
at	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
immunity	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
somehow	DSE	O
respected	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
organized	O	O
syndicates	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seizure	O	O
sent	DSE	DSE
alarm	DSE	DSE
bells	DSE	DSE
ringing	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
repercussions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
home	O	O
governments	O	O
and	O	O
countries	O	O
are	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
damaging	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
prolonged	O	O
hostage-taking	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Abu	O	O
Sayyaf	O	O
of	O	O
French	O	O
,	O	O
German	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
,	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
and	O	O
Finnish	O	O
nationals	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Estrada	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
President	O	O
Joseph	O	O
Estrada	O	O
had	O	O
to	O	O
cancel	O	O
visits	O	O
to	O	O
Paris	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
European	O	O
capitals	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
after	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
told	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
receive	O	O
a	O	O
hostile	DSE	O
reception	DSE	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
public	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
lengthy	O	O
impasse	O	O
of	O	O
negotiations	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
hostages	O	O
'	O	O
release	O	O
.	O	O

From	O	O
my	O	O
own	O	O
sources	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Philippine	O	O
National	O	O
Police	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
driver	O	O
went	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
Bicutan	O	O
at	O	O
around	O	O
10	O	O
a.m.	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
call	O	O
from	O	O
school	O	O
authorities	O	O
who	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
her	O	O
son	O	O
had	O	O
some	O	O
accident	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
about	O	O
six	O	O
armed	O	O
men	O	O
in	O	O
uniforms	O	O
blocked	O	O
her	O	O
brand-new	O	O
car	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
no	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
plate	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
at	O	O
Better	O	O
Living	O	O
Subdivision	O	O
,	O	O
Paranaque	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
boarded	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
gang	O	O
drove	O	O
the	O	O
car	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
vicinity	O	O
while	O	O
they	O	O
interrogated	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
for	O	O
about	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
hijackers	O	O
asked	O	O
them	O	O
for	O	O
money	O	O
--	O	O
one	O	O
million	O	O
pesos	O	O
was	O	O
mentioned	O	O
--	O	O
which	O	O
she	O	O
had	O	O
supposedly	ESE	O
withdrawn	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
bank	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
told	O	O
them	O	O
she	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
such	O	O
money	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
she	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
wife	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
French	O	O
diplomat	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
gunmen	O	O
let	O	O
her	O	O
go	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
PNP	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
mistaken	O	O
identity	O	O
,	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
explain	O	ESE
why	O	O
it	O	O
took	O	O
the	O	O
gang	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
to	DSE	O
know	DSE	O
the	O	O
identity	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
lady	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
detaining	O	O
them	O	O
for	O	O
about	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
drove	O	O
her	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
driver	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
squatters	O	O
'	O	O
area	O	O
and	O	O
dropped	O	O
them	O	O
off	O	O
near	O	O
the	O	O
Bicutan	O	O
exit	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
not	O	O
before	O	O
they	O	O
took	O	O
her	O	O
necklace	O	O
and	O	O
wallet	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
take	O	O
her	O	O
ring	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
pieces	O	O
of	O	O
jewelry	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
gang	O	O
fled	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
car	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
took	O	O
a	O	O
tricycle	O	O
home	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
details	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
crime	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
swift	O	O
release	O	O
are	ESE	O
less	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
than	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
political	O	ESE
implications	O	ESE
.	O	O

Whether	O	O
the	O	O
incident	O	O
was	O	O
plain	O	ESE
holdup	O	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
PNP	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
see	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
abduction	O	O
reinforced	O	O
the	O	O
growing	DSE	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
governments	O	O
that	O	O
there	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
breakdown	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
law	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Macapagal	O	O
administration	O	O
is	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
control	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
perception	DSE	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
fueled	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
crime	O	O
statistics	O	O
of	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
represents	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
pessimistic	DSE	ESE
outlook	DSE	ESE
in	O	ESE
contrast	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
more	DSE	ESE
dismissive	DSE	ESE
outlook	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
PNP	O	ESE
whose	O	ESE
statistics	O	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
less	ESE	ESE
alarming	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
's	O	O
statistics	O	O
,	O	O
derived	O	O
mainly	O	O
from	O	O
non-official	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
paint	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
grim	ESE	ESE
picture	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	DSE	ESE
ignored	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
PNP	O	O
ca	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
burying	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
head	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
sand	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
offering	O	ESE
explanations	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
,	O	O
rather	O	O
than	O	O
check	O	O
the	O	O
rise	O	O
of	O	O
kidnappings	O	O
.	O	O

Ang-See	O	O
's	O	O
close	O	O
collaboration	O	O
with	O	O
former	O	O
PNP	O	O
chief	O	O
,	O	O
now	O	O
Sen.	O	O
Panfilo	O	O
Lacson	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
open	O	O
secret	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
administration	O	O
officials	O	O
wonder	DSE	DSE
whether	O	O
she	O	O
paints	DSE	O
doomsday	DSE	O
scenarios	DSE	O
just	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
embarrass	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
administration	ESE	O
and	O	O
to	DSE	O
portray	DSE	O
the	O	O
contrast	O	O
in	O	O
performance	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
PNP	O	O
under	O	O
Lacson	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
PNP	O	O
leadership	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	DSE	O
no	DSE	ESE
love	DSE	ESE
lost	DSE	ESE
with	O	ESE
Lacson	O	ESE
.	O	O

Since	O	O
the	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
had	O	O
previously	O	O
been	O	O
immune	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
predatory	O	O
attacks	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
gang	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
abduction	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
naturally	ESE	O
has	DSE	O
generated	DSE	O
anxieties	DSE	DSE
among	O	O
foreign	O	O
governments	O	O
about	O	O
how	O	O
safe	O	O
their	O	O
diplomats	O	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
abduction	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
fake	ESE	O
kidnap-for	O	O
-	O	O
ransom	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
act	O	O
to	O	O
demonstrate	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
incapacity	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
put	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
under	ESE	O
control	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
reasoning	O	DSE
behind	O	DSE
this	O	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
gangs	O	O
were	O	O
after	O	O
ransom	O	O
money	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
matter	ESE	O
whether	O	O
their	O	O
victims	O	O
belonged	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
perception	DSE	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
message	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
abductions	O	O
staged	O	O
by	O	O
some	O	O
groups	O	O
that	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
fail	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
embassies	O	O
here	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
,	O	O
French	O	O
,	O	O
German	O	O
and	O	O
Japanese	O	O
,	O	O
have	DSE	O
issued	DSE	O
advisories	DSE	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
nationals	O	O
warning	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
of	O	O
risks	O	ESE
when	O	O
travelling	O	O
in	O	O
some	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
advisories	DSE	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
prompted	O	O
by	O	O
domestic	ESE	O
lawlessness	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
turbulence	ESE	O
rather	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
possible	O	O
outbreak	O	O
of	O	O
insidious	ESE	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
associated	O	O
with	O	O
al-Qaida	O	O
and	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
and	O	O
provoked	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
rate	O	O
syndicates	O	O
are	O	O
abducting	O	O
targets	O	O
--	O	O
regardless	O	ESE
of	O	O
their	O	O
ethnic	O	O
identity	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
status	O	O
--	O	O
with	ESE	O
impunity	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
faces	O	O
a	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
direct	ESE	O
challenge	ESE	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
capacity	O	O
to	O	O
govern	O	O
from	O	O
the	ESE	O
specter	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
lawlessness	ESE	O
than	O	O
from	O	O
the	ESE	O
daunting	ESE	O
problem	ESE	O
of	O	O
sparking	O	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
amid	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
economic	O	O
downturn	O	O
.	O	O

We	ESE	O
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
al-Qaida	O	ESE
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
to	O	O
bring	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
turmoil	ESE	O
,	O	O
create	ESE	ESE
uncertainties	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
business	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
frighten	ESE	O
tourists	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
investors	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
perception	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
President	O	O
Macapagal	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
she	O	O
is	O	O
organized	ESE	O
,	O	O
knows	ESE	DSE
her	ESE	O
economics	ESE	O
,	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
her	ESE	ESE
homework	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
unscathed	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
scandals	ESE	O
that	O	O
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
rubbed	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
her	ESE	O
skin	ESE	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
scandal-mongering	ESE	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	ESE	O
downside	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
deterioration	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
order	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
her	O	ESE
nemesis	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
is	O	O
undoing	ESE	O
all	O	O
her	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
initiatives	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
stage	O	O
to	DSE	O
project	DSE	O
the	O	O
Philippines	O	O
as	O	O
a	ESE	O
staunch	ESE	O
ally	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
coalition	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
diplomats	O	O
raise	DSE	DSE
questions	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
her	O	O
priorities	DSE	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
think	DSE	ESE
she	O	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
travelling	ESE	ESE
too	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
while	O	O
internal	O	O
problems	O	O
sap	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
energy	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
she	O	O
has	O	O
misplaced	ESE	O
strategic	ESE	O
priorities	ESE	O
in	O	O
her	O	O
overseas	O	O
visits	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
fire	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
raging	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	O
home	ESE	O
,	O	O
these	O	O
sources	O	O
say	DSE	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
or	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Her	O	O
hoses	O	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
directed	O	O
at	O	O
internal	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
has	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
enemies	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	O
home	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
elsewhere	ESE	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
November	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Many	O	O
Chinese	O	O
farmers	O	O
have	O	O
begun	O	O
growing	O	O
crops	O	O
in	O	O
computer-controlled	O	O
rooms	O	O
instead	O	O
of	O	O
tilling	O	O
fields	O	O
with	O	O
spades	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
apply	O	O
fertilizer	O	O
,	O	O
water	O	O
fields	O	O
and	O	O
treat	O	O
insect	O	O
pest	O	O
with	O	O
equipment	O	O
controlled	O	O
by	O	O
computers	O	O
in	O	O
intelligent	O	O
farm	O	O
workshops	O	O
.	O	O

Their	O	O
products	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
high	O	O
quality	O	O
and	O	O
great	O	DSE
variety	O	DSE
,	O	O
are	O	O
shipped	O	O
to	O	O
supermarkets	O	O
and	O	O
hotels	O	O
and	O	O
sold	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
good	O	ESE
price	O	ESE
.	O	O

More	O	O
than	O	O
150	O	O
agro-technological	O	O
guiding	O	O
systems	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
in	O	O
Yunnan	O	O
,	O	O
Anhui	O	O
,	O	O
Jilin	O	O
and	O	O
Hainan	O	O
provinces	O	O
to	O	O
teach	O	O
farmers	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
cultivate	O	O
grain	O	O
crops	O	O
,	O	O
vegetables	O	O
,	O	O
fruit	O	O
and	O	O
aquatic	O	O
products	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
20	O	O
demonstration	O	O
zones	O	O
built	O	O
between	O	O
1998	O	O
and	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
grain	O	O
output	O	O
was	O	O
increased	O	O
by	O	O
2	O	O
billion	O	O
kg	O	O
,	O	O
saving	O	O
640	O	O
million	O	O
yuan	O	O
in	O	O
production	O	O
costs	O	O
.	O	O

Xinjiang	O	O
Uygur	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
cities	O	O
of	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
are	O	O
experimenting	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
satellite	O	O
positioning	O	O
technology	O	O
for	O	O
accurate	O	O
control	O	O
of	O	O
fertilizer	O	O
application	O	O
.	O	O

With	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
impression	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
excursion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
top	O	O
brass	O	O
to	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
change	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
picture	ESE	O
much	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
game	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
continuing	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Buenos	ESE	O
Aires	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
,	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
creditors	O	O
are	O	O
preparing	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
debt	O	O
negotiation	O	O
with	DSE	O
various	DSE	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
mind	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
one	DSE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
revealed	O	O
piecemeal	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
tour	O	O
headed	O	O
by	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Domingo	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
has	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
irritating	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
bankers	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	DSE	O
they	DSE	O
prefer	DSE	DSE
Daniel	O	O
Marx	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
not	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
minister	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
confrontational	ESE	O
style	ESE	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
El	O	O
Cronista	O	O
was	DSE	O
told	DSE	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
source	O	O
from	O	O
an	O	O
investment	O	O
bank	O	O
who	O	O
followed	O	O
the	O	O
visit	O	O
closely	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
issue	O	O
has	O	O
various	O	O
aspects	O	O
:	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
minister	O	O
's	O	O
gradual	O	ESE
loss	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
credibility	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
confusion	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
role	O	O
of	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Frenkel	O	O
and	O	O
Merrill	O	O
Lynch	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
team	O	O
's	O	O
apparent	ESE	ESE
lack	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
strategy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
Alliance	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
obvious	ESE	O
domestic	ESE	O
difficulties	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
creditors	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
mind	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
negotiation	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
represented	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
more	ESE	O
heterogeneous	ESE	O
steering	O	O
committee	O	O
than	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
1980	O	O
's	O	O
:	O	O
not	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
large	O	O
banks	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
portfolio	O	O
administrators	O	O
,	O	O
pension	O	O
funds	O	O
,	O	O
insurers	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
investors	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Emerging	O	O
Markets	O	O
Creditors	O	O
Association	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
EMCA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
meets	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
case	O	O
,	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
a	O	O
letter	O	O
to	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
consultation	O	O
process	O	O
is	O	O
an	ESE	O
important	ESE	ESE
part	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
solution	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
cautioning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Argentina	O	O
negotiates	O	O
with	O	O
its	O	O
creditors	O	O
now	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
direct	O	O
effects	O	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
chances	O	O
of	O	O
gaining	O	O
access	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
markets	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
say	O	O
`	O	O
take	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
leave	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
,	O	O
'	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
local	O	O
swap	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
source	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
example	O	O
.	O	O

Marx	O	O
understands	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
the	ESE	O
importance	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
menu	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
for	O	O
gaining	O	O
the	O	O
creditors	O	O
'	O	O
good	DSE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Among	O	O
the	O	O
latter	O	O
there	DSE	O
is	DSE	O
consensus	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
remission	O	O
of	O	O
capital	O	O
and/or	O	O
interest	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
there	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
options	ESE	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
geared	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
of	O	O
each	O	O
one	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	DSE
concern	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
negotiation	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
generated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
leading	O	O
role	O	O
given	O	O
to	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Frenkel	O	O
,	O	O
Merrill	O	O
Lynch	O	O
's	O	O
international	O	O
vice	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
source	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
As	O	O
an	O	O
adviser	O	O
,	O	O
he	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
useful	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
Merrill	O	O
Lynch	O	O
bothers	DSE	DSE
many	O	O
other	O	O
creditors	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
creditors	O	O
interpret	DSE	ESE
strategy	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
mean	DSE	ESE
a	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
definition	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
negotiable	O	ESE
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
source	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
A	O	O
key	ESE	O
man	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
finance	O	O
secretary	O	O
:	O	O
he	O	O
must	O	O
specify	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
fiscal	O	O
margin	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
spoke	DSE	O
even	DSE	ESE
more	DSE	ESE
clearly	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
finance	O	O
secretary	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
Marx	O	O
is	O	O
sufficiently	ESE	ESE
patriotic	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
has	O	O
a	O	O
pleasant	ESE	ESE
personality	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
he	O	O
knows	ESE	DSE
enough	ESE	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
good	ESE	O
negotiator	ESE	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
he	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
disaster	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
was	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
response	DSE	O
.	O	O

On	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
hand	ESE	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
now	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
creditors	O	O
do	O	O
not	O	O
see	O	O
any	O	O
signals	O	O
of	O	O
concrete	DSE	O
support	DSE	O
from	DSE	O
the	O	O
G-7	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
paper	O	O
published	O	O
yesterday	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
CS	O	O
First	O	O
Boston	O	O
bank	O	O
noted	DSE	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
most	O	O
recent	O	O
statements	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
suggest	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
G-7	O	O
support	DSE	O
-RRB-	O	O
is	O	O
unlikely	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
we	ESE	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
precluding	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
surprises	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Faced	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
Crisis	O	O
,	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
Accentuates	DSE	O
His	DSE	O
Influence	DSE	O

Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Adalberto	O	O
Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
continued	O	O
to	O	O
cultivate	O	O
his	O	O
new	O	O
role	O	O
as	O	O
conciliator	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
counterparts	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Mercosur	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Common	O	O
Market	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
minister	O	O
's	O	O
current	DSE	O
priority	DSE	O
involves	O	O
binding	ESE	O
wounds	ESE	O
opened	O	O
by	O	O
his	O	O
colleague	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Ministry	O	O
,	O	O
Domingo	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
regional	O	O
union	O	O
in	O	O
general	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Brazil	O	O
in	ESE	O
particular	ESE	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
risk	ESE	O
zone	ESE	O
.	O	O

Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
has	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
failed	ESE	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
matters	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
ministry	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
Chinese	O	O
colleague	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
preparing	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
he	O	O
will	O	O
meet	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
will	O	O
travel	O	O
there	O	O
from	O	O
Buenos	O	O
Aires	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
evident	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
weeks	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
has	DSE	O
taken	ESE	O
responsibility	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
a	O	O
fundamental	ESE	O
task	ESE	O
:	O	O
to	O	O
tone	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
Cavallo	O	O
's	O	O
tendency	ESE	O
toward	ESE	O
confrontation	ESE	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
conduct	O	O
has	DSE	O
heightened	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
suspicion	DSE	DSE
aimed	O	DSE
at	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
disadvantageous	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
risking	ESE	ESE
his	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
future	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
president	O	O
,	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
ultimately	ESE	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
participate	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
's	O	O
order	DSE	O
.	O	O

Finance	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Daniel	O	O
Marx	O	O
has	O	O
again	O	O
handled	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
negotiations	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
restructuring	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
debt	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
management	O	O
by	O	O
Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
foreign	O	O
minister	O	O
convinced	DSE	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
political	ESE	O
disadvantage	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
entailed	O	O
by	O	O
leaving	O	O
that	O	O
official	O	O
aside	O	O
,	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
verge	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
complex	O	O
dialogues	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Treasury	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
multilateral	O	O
and	O	O
financing	O	O
agencies	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
meetings	O	O
at	O	O
Olivos	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
weekend	O	O
of	O	O
3-4	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
appoint	O	O
Marx	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
negotiator	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
fine	O	O
print	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
agreements	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
latter	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
reached	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
event	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
holders	O	O
of	O	O
Argentine	O	O
bonds	O	O
agree	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
swap	O	O
the	O	O
instruments	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
yield	O	O
high	O	O
interest	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
others	O	O
with	O	O
rates	O	O
not	O	O
exceeding	O	O
7	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

Cavallo	O	O
had	O	O
delegated	O	O
his	O	O
debt	O	O
swap	O	O
strategy	O	O
to	O	O
external	O	O
advisers	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
attorney	O	O
,	O	O
Horacio	O	O
Liendo	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
economist	O	O
,	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Frenkel	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
foreign	O	O
minister	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
personally	O	O
about	O	O
the	ESE	O
leap	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
void	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
represented	O	O
by	O	O
leaving	O	O
Marx	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
negotiations	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
smooth-flowing	ESE	O
dialogue	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
staff	O	O
officials	O	O
.	O	O

Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
's	O	O
management	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
when	O	O
there	O	O
was	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
deluge	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
doubts	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
sustainability	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
announced	O	O
by	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
hours	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
had	DSE	O
feverish	DSE	O
contacts	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
international	O	O
diplomats	O	O
and	O	O
leaders	O	O
.	O	O

Resulting	O	O
from	O	O
these	O	O
dialogues	O	O
were	O	O
communiques	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
G-7	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Treasury	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
contents	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
discussed	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
those	O	O
agencies	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
putting	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
letterhead	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Seoul	O	O
,	O	O
Nov.	O	O
19	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Yonhap	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
recent	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
details	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
is	O	O
putting	O	O
local	O	O
exporters	O	O
on	O	O
alert	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
at	O	O
its	O	O
seventh	O	O
session	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
Marrakech	O	O
,	O	O
Morocco	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
prescribes	DSE	O
an	O	O
obligatory	O	O
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
put	O	O
into	O	O
effect	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
export	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
heavily	ESE	ESE
damaged	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
agreement	DSE	O
to	O	O
get	O	O
30	O	O
leading	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
EU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
lessen	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
amounts	O	O
as	O	O
high	O	O
as	O	O
95	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
levels	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1990	O	O
's	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
business	O	O
circle	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
exports	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
damaged	ESE	O
in	O	O
direct	O	O
and	O	O
indirect	O	O
ways	O	O
from	O	O
2008	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
will	O	O
begin	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
regulated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
reason	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
industrial	O	O
structure	O	O
depends	O	O
heavily	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
export	O	O
of	O	O
products	O	O
including	O	O
not	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
durable	O	ESE
appliances	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
as	O	O
air	O	O
conditioner	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
automobiles	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
should	O	O
meet	O	O
intensified	O	O
environmental	O	O
standards	O	O
before	O	O
they	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
shipped	O	O
overseas	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Also	O	O
,	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
are	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
make	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
standards	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
trade	O	O
barrier	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
pressures	DSE	O
from	O	O
advanced	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
get	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
its	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
is	O	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
strengthen	O	ESE
.	O	O

South	O	O
Korea	O	O
ranked	O	O
ninth	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
largest	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
producers	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
per-capita	O	O
emissions	O	O
were	O	O
also	O	O
close	O	O
to	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
advanced	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
this	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
possibly	ESE	O
avoid	O	O
pressures	DSE	O
to	O	O
match	O	O
the	O	O
cuts	O	O
of	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
particular	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	DSE
likely	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
persuade	DSE	DSE
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
including	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
earlier	O	O
than	O	O
planned	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
secure	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
backed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
industries	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
handicapped	ESE	O
by	O	O
stringent	O	O
rules	O	O
that	O	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
simply	ESE	ESE
ignore	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
declared	O	DSE
its	DSE	DSE
intention	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
discuss	DSE	O
its	O	O
duty	ESE	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
down	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
from	O	O
2018	O	O
,	O	O
there	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
little	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
will	O	O
wait	O	O
until	O	O
then	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
things	ESE	O
go	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
transform	O	ESE
the	O	O
current	O	O
industrial	O	O
structure	O	O
into	O	O
an	O	O
environment-friendly	O	O
one	O	O
and	O	O
minimize	O	O
industries	O	O
which	O	O
use	O	O
a	O	O
host	O	O
of	O	O
energy	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
petrochemicals	O	O
and	O	O
cement	O	O
manufacturing	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
pour	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
money	ESE	O
into	O	O
businesses	O	O
to	O	O
promote	O	O
energy	O	O
efficiency	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
an	O	O
April	O	O
survey	O	O
of	O	O
416	O	O
firms	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
conducted	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Korea	O	O
Chamber	O	O
of	O	O
Commerce	O	O
and	O	O
Industry	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
KCCI	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
60	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
total	O	O
respondents	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
will	O	O
greatly	ESE	O
influence	ESE	O
local	O	O
firms	O	O
But	O	O
only	O	O
28.4	O	O
percent	O	O
replied	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
rushing	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
conform	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
's	O	O
requirements	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
provide	O	O
domestic	O	O
firms	O	O
real	ESE	O
aid	ESE	O
like	O	O
tax	O	O
reductions	O	O
and	O	O
environmental	O	O
technology	O	O
development	O	O
rather	O	O
than	O	O
abstractly	ESE	DSE
recommend	ESE	DSE
domestic	O	DSE
firms	O	DSE
promote	O	DSE
energy	O	O
efficiency	O	O
and	O	O
lower	O	O
energy	O	O
consumption	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
an	O	O
industry	O	O
source	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Unless	ESE	O
measures	O	O
that	O	O
comply	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
are	O	O
mapped	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
early	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
competitiveness	O	O
in	O	O
manufacturing	O	O
sectors	O	O
will	ESE	O
weaken	ESE	O
soon	ESE	O
.	O	O

Researchers	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Weizmann	O	O
Institute	O	O
in	O	O
Rehovot	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Technion	O	O
in	O	O
Haifa	O	O
have	O	O
developed	O	O
a	O	O
computer	O	O
so	O	O
tiny	O	O
that	O	O
a	O	O
trillion	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
could	O	O
fit	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
laboratory	O	O
test	O	O
tube	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
``	O	O
computers	O	O
''	O	O
are	O	O
biological	O	O
molecules	O	O
,	O	O
using	O	O
DNA	O	O
for	O	O
software	O	O
and	O	O
enzymes	O	O
for	O	O
hardware	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
can	O	O
solve	O	O
a	O	O
billion	O	O
mathematical	O	O
problems	O	O
a	O	O
second	O	O
.	O	O

Such	O	O
tiny	O	O
devices	O	O
could	ESE	O
one	O	O
day	O	O
fit	O	O
into	O	O
cells	O	O
and	O	O
supervise	O	O
biological	O	O
processes	O	O
,	O	O
or	ESE	O
even	ESE	O
synthesize	O	O
drugs	O	O
.	O	O

DNA	O	O
strands	O	O
exist	O	O
in	O	O
almost	O	O
every	O	O
body	O	O
cell	O	O
--	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
biological	O	O
software	O	O
that	O	O
tell	O	O
each	O	O
cell	O	O
and	O	O
molecule	O	O
what	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	O	ESE
you	O	O
look	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
mechanism	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
cell	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
lot	O	O
of	O	O
what	O	O
goes	O	O
on	O	O
inside	O	O
is	O	O
computation	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
do	O	ESE
n't	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
teach	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
cell	O	ESE
new	O	ESE
tricks	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
we	O	ESE
just	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
put	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
existing	O	ESE
tricks	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
right	O	ESE
order	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Prof.	O	O
Ehud	O	O
Shapiro	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Weizmann	O	O
Institute	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
headed	O	O
the	O	O
research	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
scientists	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
DNA-based	O	O
computers	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
over	O	O
existing	O	O
computers	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
silicon	O	O
chips	O	O
.	O	O

Artificial	O	O
chips	O	O
have	O	O
reached	O	O
their	O	O
limits	O	O
and	O	O
ca	O	O
n't	O	O
get	O	O
any	O	O
smaller	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
,	O	O
say	DSE	O
the	O	O
scientists	O	O
,	O	O
tiny	O	O
DNA	O	O
strands	O	O
can	O	O
store	O	O
huge	ESE	O
amounts	O	O
of	O	O
information	O	O
in	O	O
minuscule	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
--	O	O
one	O	ESE
cubic	O	ESE
centimeter	O	ESE
of	O	O
DNA	O	O
can	O	O
store	O	O
more	ESE	O
information	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
trillion	ESE	O
CDs	O	O
.	O	O

Prof.	O	O
Shapiro	O	O
says	O	DSE
the	O	O
molecular	O	O
computer	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
kind	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
computers	O	O
with	O	O
DNA	O	O
input	O	O
and	O	O
output	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
made	O	O
before	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
always	O	O
involved	O	O
a	O	O
laborious	O	O
series	O	O
of	O	O
reactions	O	DSE
,	O	O
each	O	O
requiring	O	O
human	O	O
supervision	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Previous	O	O
biological	O	O
computers	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
size	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
room	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
supervisors	O	O
and	O	O
computer	O	O
equipment	O	O
worked	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Shapiro	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
method	O	O
,	O	O
all	O	ESE
you	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
get	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
answer	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
put	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
ingredients	O	ESE
into	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
test	O	ESE
tube	O	ESE
,	O	O
mix	O	O
them	O	O
together	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
check	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
output	O	O
is	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

For	O	O
now	O	O
biological	O	O
computers	O	O
only	O	ESE
know	O	ESE
how	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
answer	O	ESE
simple	O	ESE
questions	O	ESE
with	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
yes	O	ESE
''	O	O
or	O	O
``	O	O
no	O	ESE
''	O	O
response	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
typical	O	O
question	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
:	O	O
In	O	O
the	O	O
sequence	O	O
``	O	O
AAB	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
there	O	O
an	O	O
equal	O	ESE
number	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
As	O	ESE
and	O	O
Bs	O	O
?	O	O

Nevertheless	O	ESE
,	O	O
several	O	O
researchers	O	O
worldwide	O	O
have	O	DSE
hailed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
computers	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
important	ESE	O
new	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
work	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
I	ESE	ESE
've	ESE	ESE
seen	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
far	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Eric	O	O
Baum	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
computer	O	O
scientist	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
NEC	O	O
Research	O	O
Institute	O	O
in	O	O
Princeton	O	O
,	O	O
New	O	O
Jersey	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
he	O	O
questions	DSE	DSE
whether	ESE	O
biomolecular	O	O
computers	O	O
will	ESE	O
ever	ESE	ESE
become	O	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
useful	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
are	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
step	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
direction	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Professor	O	O
Shapiro	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
growing	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
scientists	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
DNA-based	O	O
computers	O	O
may	ESE	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
a	ESE	O
number	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
useful	ESE	O
applications	ESE	O
--	O	O
they	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
planted	O	O
inside	O	O
cells	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	O
watch	O	O
for	O	O
irregularities	O	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
synthesize	O	ESE
drugs	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
computer	O	O
simulates	O	O
the	O	O
cell	O	O
's	O	O
natural	O	O
mechanisms	O	O
with	O	O
an	O	O
accuracy	O	O
level	O	O
of	O	O
99.8	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

Natural	O	O
DNA	O	O
processes	O	O
also	ESE	O
involve	O	O
inaccuracies	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
corrected	O	O
by	O	O
other	O	O
genes	O	O
,	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Shapiro	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
almost	ESE	ESE
impossible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
reach	O	O
absolute	O	O
accuracy	O	O
using	O	O
biological	O	O
systems	O	O
.	O	O

However	DSE	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
uses	O	O
for	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
computers	O	O
are	O	O
designated	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
level	O	O
of	O	O
accuracy	O	O
is	O	O
adequate	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

So	O	ESE
how	O	ESE
does	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
computer	O	ESE
work	O	ESE
?	O	O

Let	O	O
's	O	O
say	O	DSE
the	O	O
computer	O	O
wants	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
know	O	DSE
whether	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
times	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
DNA	O	O
type	O	O
appears	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
DNA	O	O
section	O	O
is	O	O
odd	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
even	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
DNA	O	O
section	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
input	O	O
''	O	O
--	O	O
is	O	O
inserted	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
chemical	O	O
solution	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
enzymes	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
computer	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
hardware	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
DNA	O	O
sections	O	O
are	O	O
added	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
act	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
software	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
software	O	O
section	O	O
sticks	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
help	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
enzyme	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
tip	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
is	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
labeled	O	DSE
as	O	O
having	O	O
an	O	O
odd	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
sequences	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	O
enzyme	O	O
then	O	O
cuts	O	O
the	O	O
section	O	O
and	O	O
reveals	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
sequence	O	O
.	O	O

Each	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
B	O	ESE
''	O	ESE
appears	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
label	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
changes	O	O
from	O	O
``	O	O
even	O	ESE
''	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
odd	O	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
back	O	O
again	O	O
.	O	O

Once	O	O
the	O	O
computer	O	O
has	O	O
dissected	O	O
the	O	O
entire	O	O
input	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	O
determine	O	O
whether	O	O
the	O	O
sequence	O	O
appeared	O	O
an	O	O
even	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
odd	O	ESE
number	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
times	O	ESE
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
label	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
output	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
computer	O	O
can	O	O
also	O	O
do	O	O
other	O	O
calculations	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
checking	O	O
whether	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
sequence	O	O
appears	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
least	O	ESE
once	O	ESE
,	O	O
or	O	O
at	O	O
most	O	O
once	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
inserting	O	O
different	O	O
types	O	O
of	O	O
software	O	O
DNAs	O	O
.	O	O

Kazakh	O	O
president	O	O
optimistic	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
future	O	O
of	O	O
CIS	O	O

Moscow	O	O
,	O	O
29	O	O
November	O	O
:	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
President	O	O
Nursultan	O	O
Nazarbayev	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	O
arrived	O	O
in	O	O
Moscow	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
10th	O	O
anniversary	O	O
summit	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
of	O	O
Independent	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
upon	O	O
his	O	O
arrival	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
29	O	O
November	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
certain	ESE	ESE
apathy	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
commonwealth	O	O
has	O	O
developed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
member	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Making	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
point	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Soviet	O	O
republics	O	O
``	O	O
have	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
completely	ESE	ESE
fallen	ESE	ESE
apart	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
have	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
formed	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
sufficiently	ESE	ESE
strong	ESE	ESE
alliance	ESE	ESE
on	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
new	O	ESE
basis	O	ESE
either	O	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
a	O	O
real	ESE	O
unification	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
place	O	O
after	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
,	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
have	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
more	ESE	O
reasons	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
union	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
this	O	O
tendency	O	O
reflects	ESE	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
cultural	O	O
traditions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
were	O	O
formerly	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Soviet	O	O
Union	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
current	O	O
summit	O	O
will	ESE	O
hopefully	ESE	O
allow	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
lay	O	O
new	O	O
ways	O	O
towards	O	O
rapprochement	O	O
.	O	O

Concerning	O	O
the	O	O
delimitation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
between	O	O
Kazakhstan	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Nazarbayev	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
is	O	O
continuing	O	ESE
without	O	ESE
any	O	ESE
disagreements	DSE	ESE
and	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
mutual	DSE	ESE
respect	DSE	ESE
for	O	ESE
each	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
interests	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
documents	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
delimitation	O	O
are	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
be	O	O
signed	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

Getting	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
problem	O	O
of	O	O
broadening	O	O
all-round	O	O
cooperation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
Nazarbayev	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
factor	O	O
-	O	O
globalization	O	O
-	O	O
is	O	O
accelerating	O	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
stand	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
sidelines	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
this	O	O
global	O	O
tendency	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
president	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Nuevo	O	O
Laredo	O	O
,	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
6	O	O
Dec	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
A	O	O
pollero	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
immigrant	O	O
smuggler	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
suspected	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
having	O	O
facilitated	O	O
the	O	O
entry	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
of	O	O
illegal	O	O
aliens	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
investigated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
informed	O	O
this	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Attorney	O	O
General	O	O
Francisco	O	O
Cayuela	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
preliminary	O	O
investigations	O	O
indicate	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
gang	O	O
of	O	O
Mexican	O	O
Saul	O	O
`	O	O
El	O	O
Guero	O	O
'	O	O
Medina	O	O
specialized	O	O
in	O	O
smuggling	O	O
illegal	O	O
aliens	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
car	O	O
theft	O	O
.	O	O

Medina	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Matamoros	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
and	O	O
which	O	O
borders	O	O
Brownsville	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Texas	O	O
,	O	O
mid-south	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
investigated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Federal	O	O
Bureau	O	O
of	O	O
Investigation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
FBI	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Guillermo	O	O
Narvaez	O	O
,	O	O
Tamaulipas	O	O
Ministerial	O	O
Police	O	O
Chief	O	O
of	O	O
Police	O	O
,	O	O
confirmed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Ministerial	O	O
Police	O	O
discovered	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
El	O	O
Guero	O	O
''	O	O
Medina	O	O
's	O	O
gang	O	O
operated	O	O
from	O	O
Matamoros	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	O
branches	O	O
in	O	O
India	O	O
,	O	O
Brazil	O	O
,	O	O
Guatemala	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
,	O	O
Honduras	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
El	O	O
Salvador	O	O
.	O	O

Narvaez	O	O
explained	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
FBI	O	O
has	O	DSE
requested	O	DSE
information	O	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
gang	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
used	O	O
false	O	O
documents	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
resident	O	O
cards	O	O
,	O	O
licenses	O	O
,	O	O
social	O	O
security	O	O
numbers	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
seals	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
Texas	O	O
Justice	O	O
Department	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
authorities	O	O
began	O	O
to	O	O
investigate	O	O
this	O	O
gang	O	O
's	O	O
activities	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
possible	O	O
connection	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
arrest	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
Brazilians	O	O
and	O	O
another	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
Iranians	O	O
in	O	O
Texas	O	O
in	O	O
October	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
discovered	O	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
illegal	O	O
immigrants	O	O
were	O	O
carrying	O	O
false	O	O
documents	O	O
.	O	O

Saul	O	O
Medina	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
in	O	O
Matamoros	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	O
14	O	O
stolen	O	O
vehicles	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
possession	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
safeguarding	O	O
9	O	O
illegal	O	O
aliens	O	O
,	O	O
among	O	O
them	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
Indian	O	O
origin	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	DSE
perfect	ESE	DSE
agreement	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
polls	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
popularity	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
recent	O	O
study	O	O
by	O	O
Alfredo	O	O
Keller	O	O
has	O	O
confirmed	O	O
the	DSE	O
resounding	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
sustained	ESE	O
fall	ESE	O
of	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
approval	DSE	O
rating	DSE	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
had	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
study	O	O
was	O	O
conducted	O	O
among	O	O
a	O	O
sample	O	O
of	O	O
1,000	O	O
adults	O	O
from	O	O
different	O	O
socioeconomic	O	O
groups	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
,	O	O
Maracaibo	O	O
,	O	O
Valencia	O	O
,	O	O
San	O	O
Cristobal	O	O
,	O	O
Barquisimeto	O	O
,	O	O
Maracay	O	O
,	O	O
Barcelona	O	O
,	O	O
Puerto	O	O
La	O	O
Cruz	O	O
,	O	O
Puerto	O	O
Ordaz	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Maturin	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
most	ESE	O
telling	ESE	O
result	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
half	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
necessary	ESE	O
to	O	O
remove	O	O
Chavez	O	O
from	O	O
office	O	O
to	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
crisis	O	O
.	O	O

From	O	O
this	O	O
group	O	O
,	O	O
49	O	O
percent	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
a	O	O
hypothetical	O	O
replacement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	O	O
place	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
institutional	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
whereas	O	O
5	O	O
percent	O	O
agree	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
using	O	O
forceful	O	O
means	O	O
.	O	O

Against	O	O
this	O	O
54	O	O
percent	O	O
,	O	O
43	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
prefer	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
let	O	O
him	O	O
govern	O	O
until	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
term	O	O
in	O	O
2007	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
recorded	O	O
trend	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
approval	O	DSE
rating	O	DSE
also	O	O
registered	O	O
a	O	O
drop	O	O
.	O	O

Whereas	O	O
his	O	O
approval	O	DSE
rating	O	O
reached	O	O
84	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
disapproval	O	DSE
rating	O	O
reached	O	O
11	O	O
percent	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
1999	O	O
,	O	O
both	O	O
ratings	O	O
crossed	O	O
one	O	O
another	O	O
at	O	O
46	O	O
percent	O	O
in	O	O
August	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
disapproval	O	DSE
rating	O	O
reached	O	O
58	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
approval	O	DSE
rating	O	DSE
,	O	O
33	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
result	O	O
also	ESE	O
reflects	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
collapse	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
myth	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
polarization	ESE	ESE
between	ESE	ESE
rich	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
poor	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
applied	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
only	O	O
20	O	O
percent	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
rich	O	O
and	O	O
powerful	O	O
are	DSE	O
against	DSE	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
78	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
are	O	O
many	O	O
poor	O	O
who	O	O
oppose	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
study	O	O
shows	ESE	O
a	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
pronouncement	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
favor	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
calling	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
referendum	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
redraft	O	DSE
the	O	O
Constitution	O	O
and	O	O
restore	O	O
the	O	O
balance	O	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
:	O	O
75	O	O
percent	O	O
agreed	O	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
referendum	O	O
,	O	O
whereas	O	O
20	O	O
percent	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

Although	ESE	O
Chavez	O	O
'	O	O
edge	O	O
in	O	O
voter	O	O
's	O	O
preference	DSE	DSE
continues	O	DSE
to	O	O
shrink	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
effects	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
divided	O	O
opposition	O	O
still	O	O
keep	O	O
him	O	O
in	O	O
first	O	O
place	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
which	ESE	O
shows	ESE	O
the	O	O
strength	O	O
of	O	O
radical	ESE	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Given	O	O
several	O	O
names	O	O
of	O	O
possible	O	O
presidential	O	O
candidates	O	O
,	O	O
25	O	O
percent	O	O
voted	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
leader	O	O
;	O	O
21	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Henrique	O	O
Salas	O	O
Romer	O	O
;	O	O
16	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Julio	O	O
Borges	O	O
;	O	O
13	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Alfredo	O	O
Pena	O	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
5	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Francisco	O	O
Arias	O	O
Cardenas	O	O
.	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Caracas	O	O
El	O	O
Universal	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Internet	O	O
version	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Spanish	O	O
on	O	O
8	O	O
December	O	O
carries	O	O
a	O	O
related	O	O
153-word	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
indicates	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
latest	O	O
polls	O	O
conducted	O	O
by	O	O
four	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
leading	O	O
firms	O	O
show	O	O
a	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
popularity	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
Datanalisis	O	O
'	O	O
November	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
57.4	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
feel	DSE	O
as	ESE	O
bad	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
than	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
past	O	ESE
and	O	O
55.3	O	O
percent	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
their	O	O
main	ESE	O
problems	ESE	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
population	O	O
's	O	O
disapproval	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
job	O	O
reaches	O	O
93	O	O
and	O	O
88.4	O	O
percent	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
insecurity	O	DSE
and	O	O
unemployment	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
respectively	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	O	O
held	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
would	O	O
still	O	O
win	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
his	O	O
lead	O	O
collapsed	O	O
from	O	O
40	O	O
to	O	O
24	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

Popular	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Caracas	O	O
Mayor	O	O
Alfredo	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Pena	O	O
climbed	O	O
from	O	O
5.5	O	O
to	O	O
16.8	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Caracas	O	O
El	O	O
Universal	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Internet	O	O
version	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Spanish	O	O
on	O	O
9	O	O
December	O	O
carries	O	O
a	O	O
related	O	O
684-word	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
indicates	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Luis	O	O
Christiansen	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
Consultores	O	O
21	O	O
polling	O	O
firm	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
facing	O	O
two	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
four	ESE	O
key	ESE	O
ingredients	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
decline	O	O
of	O	O
any	O	O
government	O	O
:	O	O
Unresolved	O	O
major	O	O
problems	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
's	O	O
popularity	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
third	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
perception	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
incapable	ESE	ESE
leader	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
already	O	O
happening	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fourth	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
are	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
a	O	O
substitute	O	O
leader	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
factor	O	O
deals	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
general	DSE	DSE
mood	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Venezuelans	O	O
'	O	O
level	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
optimism	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
currently	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
;	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
feeling	DSE	DSE
pessimistic	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
difference	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
back	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
'	O	O
candidacy	O	O
raised	DSE	DSE
expectations	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

This	O	O
lasted	O	O
two	O	O
years	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
feeling	DSE	DSE
pessimistic	DSE	ESE
again	O	ESE
.	O	O

To	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
president	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
misfortune	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
80	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
solution	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
unemployment	O	O
problem	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
Christiansen	O	O
explains	DSE	O
,	O	O
`	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
Venezuelans	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
see	DSE	O
unemployment	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
problem	O	O
that	O	O
could	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
solved	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
blame	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
on	O	O
Chavez	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
incapacity	ESE	O
.	O	O

Four	O	O
of	O	O
every	O	O
10	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
are	DSE	O
blaming	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
problem	O	O
on	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O
'	O	O

As	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
factor	O	O
,	O	O
43	O	O
percent	O	O
find	DSE	O
nothing	ESE	ESE
positive	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

Chavez	DSE	O
'	O	O
strengths	ESE	O
include	O	O
his	O	O
personal	O	O
qualities	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
27	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
clear	ESE	DSE
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
work	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
17	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
words	ESE	O
,	O	O
Christiansen	O	O
points	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
these	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
strengths	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
campaigning	O	O
candidate	O	O
instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	O	O
president	O	O
with	O	O
three	O	O
years	O	O
in	O	O
office	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
two-thirds	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
consider	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
problems	ESE	O
shows	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
losing	O	ESE
strength	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
third	O	ESE
aspect	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
stability	O	ESE
:	O	O
The	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
ability	O	O
to	O	O
keep	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
shrinking	ESE	O
.	O	O

Finally	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Consultores	O	O
21	O	O
analyst	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
extreme	O	O
Chavez	O	O
opponents	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
42	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
is	O	O
larger	O	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
extreme	O	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
could	ESE	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
a	O	O
confrontation	O	O
for	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	O	DSE
that	O	O
Chavez	O	O
still	O	O
leads	O	O
voter	O	O
's	O	O
preference	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
28	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
-RSB-	O	O

ANKARA	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
A.A	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
21.12.2001	O	O
-	O	O
Yasin	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
,	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
SP	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Felicity	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
's	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Group	O	O
,	O	O
claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
programs	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
International	O	O
Monetary	O	O
Fund	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
are	O	O
implemented	O	O
experience	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	O
the	O	O
social	ESE	O
explosion	ESE	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
occurred	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	O
began	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
he	O	O
held	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
TBMM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Turkish	O	O
Grand	O	O
National	O	O
Assembly	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
by	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mr.	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
State	O	O
Minister	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Kemal	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Dervis	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
former	O	O
Argentine	O	O
Economics	O	O
Minister	O	O
Domingo	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
fate	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
IMF	O	O
programs	O	O
were	O	O
implemented	O	O
,	O	O
have	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
suffered	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
taking	ESE	DSE
lessons	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
the	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	ESE
spoke	DSE	ESE
as	O	ESE
follows	O	ESE
:	O	O
``	O	O
This	O	O
government	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
finally	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
social	ESE	O
explosion	ESE	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
befallen	ESE	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Yesterday	DSE	O
,	O	O
Argentina	O	O
as	O	ESE
well	O	ESE
was	DSE	ESE
being	DSE	ESE
portrayed	DSE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
everything	ESE	ESE
there	ESE	ESE
were	ESE	ESE
going	ESE	ESE
fine	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
Argentina	O	O
was	O	O
having	ESE	ESE
success	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Well	DSE	O
,	O	O
until	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	O
brought	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
point	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
death	ESE	O
,	O	O
just	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
there	O	O
's	O	O
a	O	O
transitory	O	O
motion	O	O
that	O	O
's	O	O
seen	O	O
in	O	O
corpses	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
what	ESE	O
happened	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Argentina	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Noting	DSE	O
that	O	O
a	O	O
temporary	ESE	O
golden	ESE	O
age	ESE	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
experienced	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
IMF	O	O
knows	DSE	DSE
very	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
how	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
calculate	O	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
when	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
deliver	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
actual	ESE	ESE
death	ESE	ESE
blow	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
delivered	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
blow	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
hit	ESE	O
Argentina	ESE	O
.	O	O

What	DSE	O
you	O	O
're	O	O
calling	O	DSE
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
ideal	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
kingdom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Those	O	O
who	O	O
use	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	O
,	O	O
explaining	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
is	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
forces	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
money	ESE	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
these	O	O
latter	O	O
``	O	O
toy	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
palms	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
hands	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	O
responded	DSE	O
as	O	O
follows	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
journalist	O	O
's	O	O
question	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
whether	O	O
Argentina	O	O
had	O	O
intentionally	O	O
been	O	O
brought	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
current	O	O
situation	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
There	O	O
's	O	O
a	O	O
fantasy	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
kingdom	ESE	O
that	O	O
utilizes	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
.	O	O

Those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
behind	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
behind	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
business	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
use	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	O
.	O	O

Just	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
Kemal	ESE	O
Dervis	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
our	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
if	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
able	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
orient	ESE	O
Turkey	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
choose	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
able	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
whatever	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
want	ESE	DSE
with	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
government	O	O

Claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
family	O	O
structure	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
solidarity	O	O
in	O	O
Turkey	O	O
are	O	O
different	O	O
from	O	O
those	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
charged	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
means	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
Family	O	O
Law	O	O
,	O	O
efforts	O	O
are	O	O
underway	O	O
to	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
these	O	O
.	O	O

Criticizing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
policies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	ESE
spoke	DSE	ESE
as	O	ESE
follows	O	ESE
:	O	O
``	O	O
With	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
Prime	ESE	O
Minister	ESE	O
,	O	O
this	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
brought	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
prosperity	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
it	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
just	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
dragged	ESE	ESE
along	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

With	DSE	O
these	ESE	O
three	ESE	O
musketeers	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
a	O	O
reference	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
three-party	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
this	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
dragged	ESE	ESE
along	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
wo	ESE	O
n't	ESE	O
get	ESE	O
anywhere	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Yasin	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
also	O	O
criticized	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
program	O	O
wherein	O	O
classical	O	O
Turkish	O	O
`	O	O
divan	O	O
'	O	O
literature	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
taught	O	O
in	O	O
schools	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
instead	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
pre-Republic	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
post-Republic	O	ESE
literature	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
taught	O	ESE
.	O	O

Stating	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
intended	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
bring	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
onto	O	O
the	O	O
agenda	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
oversight	O	O
mechanisms	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
No	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
wage	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
nation	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Criticizing	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
well	O	O
the	O	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
Kemal	O	O
Alemdaroglu	O	O
as	O	O
rector	O	O
of	O	O
Istanbul	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
failure	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
discuss	ESE	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Higher	O	O
Education	O	O
Research	O	O
Commission	O	O
had	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
instrumental	ESE	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
charged	DSE	O
that	O	O
President	O	O
Ahmet	O	O
Necdet	O	O
Sezer	O	O
had	O	O
appointed	O	O
Alemdaroglu	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
aware	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
allegations	ESE	DSE
concerning	ESE	DSE
him	ESE	O
.	O	O

Responding	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
question	O	O
,	O	O
Yasin	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
asserted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
controversial	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
2002	O	O
calendar	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
prepared	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
SP	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
rather	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
calendar	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
made	O	O
news	O	O
had	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
composed	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
private	O	O
firm	O	O
.	O	O

France	O	O
's	O	O
Chirac	O	O
talks	O	O
to	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
's	O	O
Musharraf	O	O

Paris	O	O
,	O	O
28	O	O
December	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
:	O	O
President	O	O
Jacques	O	O
Chirac	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
``	O	O
de-escalation	ESE	O
''	O	O
between	O	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
during	O	O
a	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
28	O	O
December	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
evening	O	O
with	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
President	O	O
Pervez	O	O
Musharraf	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Elysee	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
French	O	O
presidency	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
French	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
spending	O	O
the	O	O
seasonal	O	O
holiday	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Bregancon	O	O
fort	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Var	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
department	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
took	O	O
the	O	O
initiative	O	O
of	O	O
telephoning	O	O
his	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
opposite	O	O
number	O	O
to	DSE	O
convey	DSE	O
``	O	O
his	O	O
very	DSE	DSE
strong	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
at	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
rising	DSE	DSE
tension	DSE	DSE
between	DSE	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
source	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Everything	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
done	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
everyone	ESE	O
to	O	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
de-escalation	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mr	O	O
Chirac	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
cycle	O	O
will	O	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
dangerous	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
ordered	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Central	O	O
Intelligence	O	O
Agency	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CIA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
assassinate	ESE	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
opponents	O	O
wherever	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
they	O	O
may	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
!	O	O

This	O	O
directive	O	O
is	O	O
issued	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	O
claiming	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
lead	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fight	ESE	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
throughout	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
Imam	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
God	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
satisfied	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
issued	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
fatwa	DSE	O
against	O	O
Salman	O	O
Rushdie	O	O
for	O	O
insulting	DSE	O
the	O	O
Prophet	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
peace	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
upon	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
holy	ESE	O
Koran	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
protested	DSE	DSE
against	O	O
the	O	O
fatwa	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
said	DSE	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	O
act	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
against	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
and	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
crushed	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
principles	ESE	O
!	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
coordinated	O	O
move	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
all	O	O
recalled	DSE	O
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
Tehran	O	O
in	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
under	ESE	O
pressure	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

By	O	O
clarifying	O	O
the	O	O
Imam	O	O
's	O	O
edict	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
insulting	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
Prophet	O	ESE
was	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
violating	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
millions	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
throughout	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
was	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
simply	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
directive	O	O
from	O	O
God	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
confirmed	O	O
by	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
clerics	O	O
throughout	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

Now	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	O
issued	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
assassination	ESE	ESE
order	DSE	ESE
against	O	ESE
millions	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
beings	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
having	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
proof	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
documentation	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
therefore	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
appropriate	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
all	O	O
Islamic	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
withdraw	O	O
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
were	ESE	O
honest	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
blaming	DSE	DSE
Iran	O	O
for	O	O
violating	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
then	O	O
they	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
recall	ESE	O
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

After	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	ESE
violating	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
being	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
but	ESE	ESE
many	ESE	ESE
many	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
beings	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
following	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
blow	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
received	O	O
on	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
take	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
pre-historic	ESE	ESE
times	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
obvious	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
country	ESE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
put	DSE	ESE
up	DSE	ESE
with	DSE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
cruelty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

No	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
allow	DSE	ESE
this	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
achievement	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
discovery	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
God-given	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	ESE	O
achieved	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
research	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
wasted	ESE	ESE
away	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
thinks	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
silence	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
justice-seeking	DSE	ESE
cries	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
peoples	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
with	O	O
the	ESE	O
sound	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
explosions	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
7-ton	ESE	O
bombs	ESE	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
thinks	O	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	ESE
justify	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
inhuman	ESE	ESE
behavior	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
shadow	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
noise	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

OVER	O	O
2,374	O	O
Bayelsa	O	O
State	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
received	O	O
free	O	O
medical	O	O
services	O	O
for	O	O
various	O	O
ailments	O	O
,	O	O
courtesy	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Niger	O	O
Delta	O	O
Development	O	O
Commission	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NDDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
breakdown	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
statistics	O	O
of	O	O
patients	O	O
that	O	O
benefited	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
exercise	O	O
showed	O	O
that	O	O
106	O	O
received	O	O
general	O	O
surgeries	O	O
,	O	O
20	O	O
had	O	O
eye	O	O
cataract	O	O
operations	O	O
,	O	O
260	O	O
got	O	O
eye	O	O
glasses	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
988	O	O
others	O	O
had	O	O
general	O	O
consultations	O	O
.	O	O

Apart	O	ESE
from	O	O
Odi	O	O
whose	O	O
people	O	O
topped	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
beneficiaries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
they	O	O
got	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
733	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
2	O	O
,	O	O
374	O	O
persons	O	O
treated	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
other	O	O
councils	O	O
which	O	O
participated	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
free	O	ESE
health	O	ESE
care	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
Kolokuma/Opukoma	O	ESE
,	O	O
284	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
Kaiama	O	O
,	O	O
213	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
among	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O

Co-ordinator	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
Mr	O	O
Sean	O	O
Nortman	O	O
,	O	O
told	O	O
reporters	O	O
that	O	O
52	O	O
volunteers	O	O
from	O	O
various	O	O
fields	O	O
in	O	O
medicine	O	O
help	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
a	O	ESE
reality	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
combined	O	O
goal	DSE	O
of	O	O
providing	O	O
free	O	O
quality	O	O
health	O	O
care	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
dispensing	O	O
of	O	O
prescribed	O	O
drugs	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
undertaking	O	O
surgeries	O	O
that	O	O
came	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
medical	O	O
site	O	O
daily	O	O
,	O	O
we	ESE	O
made	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
we	O	O
come	O	O
in	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
health	O	O
advice	O	O
and	O	O
education	O	O
,	O	O
hopefully	ESE	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
further	O	O
problems	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Nortman	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
journalists	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
NDDC	O	O
Executive	O	O
Director	O	O
,	O	O
Finance	O	O
and	O	O
Administration	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Timi	O	O
Alaibe	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
choice	O	O
of	O	O
Odi	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
deliberate	ESE	O
policy	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
still	O	O
recovering	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
trauma	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1999	O	O
sad	ESE	O
incident	O	O
a	DSE	O
sense	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
belonging	ESE	O
.	O	O

Alaibe	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
commission	O	O
was	DSE	O
genuinely	ESE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
change	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
tide	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
things	ESE	O
in	O	O
Bayelsa	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
NDDC	O	O
states	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
long	ESE	O
neglected	ESE	O
over	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
investigation	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
oil	O	O
spillage	O	O
that	O	O
occurred	O	O
in	O	O
Umudike	O	O
Ohaji	O	O
Egbema	O	O
council	O	O
in	O	O
Imo	O	O
State	O	O
which	O	O
left	O	O
eight	O	O
persons	O	O
dead	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
others	O	O
injured	O	O
is	O	O
ready	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
member	O	O
representing	O	O
the	O	O
Ohaji	O	O
Egbema	O	O
Oguta	O	O
Federal	O	O
Constituency	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
Tony	O	O
Okere	O	O
disclosed	O	O
this	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
while	O	O
fielding	O	O
questions	O	O
from	O	O
reporters	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
constituency	O	O
office	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
presented	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
house	O	O
as	O	O
soon	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
resumes	O	O
sitting	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
compositions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
committee	O	O
included	O	O
representatives	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Directorate	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Resource	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
National	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Corporation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NNPC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
Shell	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
host	O	O
community	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	O	ESE
justice	O	ESE
and	O	O
fairness	O	O
,	O	O
law	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
only	O	O
one	O	O
party	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
NDDC	O	O
,	O	O
Okere	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
commission	O	O
of	O	O
siting	O	O
projects	O	O
in	O	O
non	O	O
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
warning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
might	O	ESE
derail	ESE	O
from	O	O
its	O	O
set	DSE	O
objectives	DSE	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
Angela	O	O
Merkel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
chairwoman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Christian	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
job	O	O
had	O	O
long	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
open	ESE	O
secret	ESE	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
no	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
she	ESE	O
knew	ESE	DSE
how	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
she	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
prepared	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
go	ESE	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
uncertainty	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
which	O	O
her	O	O
rival	O	O
,	O	O
Bavarian	O	O
Premier	O	O
Edmund	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Christian	O	O
Social	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
's	O	O
Bavarian	O	O
sister	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
also	O	O
shrouded	DSE	O
himself	DSE	O
that	O	O
made	O	O
the	DSE	O
question	DSE	O
of	O	O
who	O	O
would	O	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
parties	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
22	O	O
September	O	O
elections	O	O
as	O	O
chancellor	O	O
candidate	O	O
against	O	O
incumbent	O	O
Gerhard	O	O
Schroeder	O	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
exciting	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
has	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
long	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
from	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
refusal	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
sacrifice	ESE	ESE
himself	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
election	O	O
that	O	O
once	ESE	ESE
looked	ESE	ESE
impossible	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
win	ESE	O
,	O	O
through	O	O
his	O	O
statement	DSE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	ESE
under	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
circumstances	ESE	ESE
run	O	ESE
against	O	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
wishes	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
Ms.	O	O
Merkel	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
willingness	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
take	ESE	O
her	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
divisive	O	ESE
vote	O	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
necessary	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
carefully	ESE	ESE
tread	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
path	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
candidacy	O	O
,	O	O
spurred	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
by	O	O
many	O	O
and	O	O
reined	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
by	O	O
others	O	O

But	O	O
he	O	O
let	ESE	ESE
slip	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
opportunities	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
turn	ESE	ESE
back	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
because	O	ESE
the	O	O
forces	O	O
that	O	O
drive	O	O
him	O	O
--	O	O
his	O	O
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
affect	O	O
change	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
sense	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
duty	DSE	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
peers	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
ambition	O	DSE
--	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
permit	ESE	ESE
him	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
pass	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
biggest	ESE	ESE
chance	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
life	ESE	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
seized	O	O
it	O	O
once	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
preferred	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
chairwoman	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
has	ESE	O
always	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
the	O	O
basic	O	O
premise	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
CSU	O	O
chairman	O	O
to	DSE	O
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
candidacy	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bigger	O	O
sister	O	O
party	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
course	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
guarantee	ESE	ESE
success	ESE	ESE
at	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
polls	O	ESE
--	O	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
solidarity	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
campaign	O	O
.	O	O

Certainly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
has	ESE	O
done	ESE	O
everything	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
to	O	O
spare	ESE	O
himself	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
mentor	O	O
,	O	O
Franz	O	O
Josef	O	O
Strauss	O	O
.	O	O

Rather	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	ESE
himself	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
waited	O	O
to	O	O
be	DSE	O
called	DSE	O
.	O	O

Having	O	O
marginalized	ESE	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
grandees	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
afford	ESE	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
the	O	O
chancellor	O	O
candidate	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
lurch	ESE	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
cogent	ESE	ESE
argument	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
Mr.	O	ESE
Stoiber	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
favor	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
he	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
running	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
hopeful	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
ticket	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
last	ESE	ESE
resort	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
CDU	O	O
chose	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
because	ESE	O
it	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
victory	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
is	ESE	O
floundering	ESE	O
,	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
seriously	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
thought	ESE	ESE
six	O	O
months	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Union	O	O
parties	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
wished	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
their	O	O
campaign	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
ranks	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
turn	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Stoiber	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nonetheless	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
will	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
made	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
realize	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
command	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
his	O	O
power	O	O
base	O	O
lies	O	O
in	O	O
Munich	O	O
and	O	O
not	O	O
in	O	O
Berlin	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
invitation	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
kingmakers	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
accept	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
crown	ESE	O
comes	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
cost	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nor	DSE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
Mr.	DSE	ESE
Stoiber	DSE	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
any	DSE	ESE
illusions	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
means	O	ESE
to	O	O
lead	O	O
an	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
,	O	O
although	ESE	O
he	O	O
can	DSE	DSE
be	DSE	DSE
confident	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
knowledge	DSE	O
that	O	O
what	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
stake	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
Edmund	ESE	ESE
Stoiber	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
nor	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Union	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
Germany	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
.	O	O

Havana	O	O
,	O	O
January	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Cuba	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
create	O	O
obstacles	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
hold	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
war	O	O
prisoners	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
of	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
said	O	DSE
in	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	DSE
expressed	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
holding	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
prisoners	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
territory	O	O
.	O	O

Guantanamo	O	O
is	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
territory	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
create	O	O
obstacles	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
transfer	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
prisoners	O	O
there	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
in	O	O
U.S.	O	O
hands	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
-	O	O
American	O	O
War	O	O
in	O	O
1898	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
give	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
sealed	O	O
from	O	O
Cuba	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
heavily	O	O
guarded	O	O
,	O	O
27	O	O
-	O	O
kilometer	O	O
perimeter	O	O
fence	O	O
,	O	O
despite	O	O
Cuban	O	DSE
objection	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
its	O	O
continued	O	O
existence	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
country	O	O
would	O	O
maintain	O	O
close	O	O
contacts	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
personnel	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
first	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
20	O	O
war	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
arrived	O	O
Friday	O	O
afternoon	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
southeastern	O	O
tip	O	O
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
about	O	O
1,000	O	O
kilometers	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Havana	O	O
.	O	O

JAMMU	O	O
,	O	O
India	O	O
,	O	O
Jan	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Four	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
soldiers	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
Saturday	O	O
in	O	O
cross-border	O	O
shelling	O	O
in	O	O
Kashmir	O	O
,	O	O
Indian	O	O
officials	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Lieutenant	O	O
Colonel	O	O
H.S.	O	O
Oberoi	O	O
said	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
troops	O	O
had	O	O
started	O	O
shelling	O	O
Indian	O	O
border	O	O
villages	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Krishna	O	O
Ghati	O	O
area	O	O
of	O	O
Poonch	O	O
,	O	O
255	O	O
kilometres	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
158	O	O
miles	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
northwest	O	O
of	O	O
Jammu	O	O
,	O	O
Kashmir	O	O
's	O	O
winter	O	O
capital	O	O
.	O	O

Indian	O	O
forces	O	O
retaliated	DSE	O
,	O	O
killing	O	O
four	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
soldiers	O	O
and	O	O
destroying	O	O
six	O	O
bunkers	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
there	O	O
were	O	O
no	O	O
Indian	O	O
casualties	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
some	O	O
homes	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
deserted	O	O
by	O	O
villagers	O	O
,	O	O
were	O	ESE
damaged	O	ESE
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
Jan.	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Yonhap	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Criminals	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
increasingly	O	O
preying	ESE	O
on	O	O
Korean	O	O
travellers	O	O
and	O	O
residents	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
of	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
opening	O	O
of	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
in	O	O
1992	O	O
.	O	O

Over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
three	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
15	O	O
Koreans	O	O
were	O	O
murdered	O	O
,	O	O
177	O	O
were	O	O
assaulted	O	O
,	O	O
95	O	O
kidnapped	O	O
or	O	O
illegally	O	O
confined	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
64	O	O
robbed	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Korean	O	O
Embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
said	O	O
Saturday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
figures	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
feared	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
higher	O	O
since	O	O
many	O	O
cases	O	O
were	O	O
not	O	O
reported	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
embassy	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
most	O	O
frequent	O	O
crimes	O	O
involved	O	O
the	O	O
loss	O	O
or	O	O
theft	O	O
of	O	O
Korean	O	O
passports	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
.	O	O

Last	O	O
year	O	O
alone	ESE	O
,	O	O
1,800	O	O
Korean	O	O
passports	O	O
were	O	O
reported	O	O
missing	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
--	O	O
1,000	O	O
in	O	O
Shenyang	O	O
,	O	O
Liaoning	O	O
Province	O	O
,	O	O
400	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
and	O	O
200	O	O
in	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Missing	O	O
passports	O	O
find	O	O
their	O	O
way	O	O
to	O	O
human	O	O
traffickers	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
About	O	O
90	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
foreigners	O	O
'	O	O
missing	O	O
passports	O	O
are	O	O
Korean	O	O
's	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
missing	O	O
passports	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
used	O	O
mostly	O	O
for	O	O
crimes	O	O
like	O	O
illegal	O	O
entry	O	O
,	O	O
downgrading	ESE	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
credibility	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
crimes	O	O
committed	O	O
by	O	O
Koreans	O	O
has	O	O
also	O	O
been	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
the	O	O
crimes	O	O
are	O	O
illegal	O	O
trafficking	O	O
or	O	O
forgery	O	O
of	O	O
passports	O	O
,	O	O
drug	O	O
production	O	O
and	O	O
transportation	O	O
,	O	O
smuggling	O	O
,	O	O
overstaying	O	O
visas	O	O
and	O	O
drunk	O	O
driving	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
1.6	O	O
million	O	O
Koreans	O	O
travelled	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
up	O	O
from	O	O
1.34	O	O
million	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
Korean	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
hit	O	O
16,000	O	O
,	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
any	O	O
other	O	O
country	O	O
;	O	O
Japan	O	O
trailed	O	O
with	O	O
15,000	O	O
students	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
government	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attack	O	O
on	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
City	O	O
was	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
act	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

Yet	ESE	O
it	O	O
refuses	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
treat	O	O
those	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
war	O	O
as	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
refers	DSE	O
to	O	O
them	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
unlawful	ESE	ESE
combatants	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
entitled	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
protection	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1949	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
signed	O	O
and	O	O
which	O	O
sets	O	O
out	O	O
rules	O	O
for	O	O
treating	O	ESE
enemy	O	ESE
soldiers	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
shackles	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
houses	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
unprotected	O	ESE
chain	O	ESE
link	O	ESE
compounds	O	ESE
-LRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
of	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
places	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
threatens	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
intense	ESE	ESE
interrogation	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	DSE	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
convenient	ESE	O
for	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
it	O	O
sets	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
dangerous	ESE	ESE
precedent	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
soldiers	O	O
who	O	O
face	O	O
capture	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Canada	O	O
's	O	O
.	O	O

Perhaps	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
perverse	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
have	O	O
rules	O	O
for	O	O
warfare	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
perverse	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
so	O	O
,	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
19th	O	O
century	O	O
,	O	O
most	O	O
nations	O	O
that	O	O
call	DSE	ESE
themselves	O	ESE
civilized	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
adhered	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
rules	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
1949	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
specifies	O	DSE
that	O	O
any	O	O
belligerents	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
-	O	O
be	O	O
they	O	O
regular	O	O
soldiers	O	O
,	O	O
militia	O	O
members	O	O
or	O	O
volunteers	O	O
``	O	O
operating	O	O
in	O	O
or	O	O
outside	O	O
their	O	O
territory	O	O
even	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
this	O	O
territory	O	O
is	O	O
occupied	O	O
''	O	O
-	O	O
must	O	ESE
be	O	O
accorded	O	O
prisoner	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
status	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
convention	O	O
exempts	O	O
only	O	O
those	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
spies	O	O
and	O	O
saboteurs	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
do	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
clearly	O	DSE
identify	O	DSE
themselves	O	O
as	O	O
belligerents	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
clearly	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
meant	ESE	O
to	O	O
apply	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
Al	O	O
Qa'ida	O	O
fighters	O	O
captured	O	O
after	O	O
vicious	ESE	O
battles	ESE	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
fighters	O	O
who	O	O
made	O	O
no	O	O
secret	O	O
of	O	O
who	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
,	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
supporting	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
who	O	O
they	O	O
thought	DSE	DSE
their	O	O
enemies	O	O
were	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
then	ESE	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	ESE
were	ESE	ESE
dealt	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
properly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
less	ESE	ESE
leeway	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
must	O	O
be	O	O
treated	O	O
humanely	O	ESE
.	O	O

Their	O	O
captors	O	O
are	DSE	O
forbidden	DSE	O
from	O	O
inflicting	O	O
``	O	O
outrages	ESE	ESE
upon	O	ESE
personal	O	ESE
dignity	O	ESE
''	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
inhumane	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
degrading	ESE	ESE
treatment	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
required	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
their	O	O
captors	O	O
information	O	O
beyond	O	O
name	O	O
,	O	O
rank	O	O
and	O	O
serial	O	O
number	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
convention	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
must	O	ESE
``	O	O
be	O	O
quartered	O	O
under	O	O
conditions	O	O
as	O	O
favourable	O	O
as	O	O
those	O	O
for	O	O
forces	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detaining	O	O
power	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
billeted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

To	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
precise	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
treated	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
jailed	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
U.S.	ESE	O
at	O	O
its	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

Those	O	O
detainees	O	O
,	O	O
brought	O	O
shackled	O	O
,	O	O
shaved	O	O
and	O	O
blindfolded	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
kept	O	O
in	O	O
chain	O	O
link	O	O
pens	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
constant	O	O
glare	O	O
,	O	O
night	O	O
and	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
halogen	O	O
lamps	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
The	O	O
blindfolding	O	O
,	O	O
deliberate	O	ESE
disorientation	O	ESE
,	O	O
discomfort	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
constant	O	ESE
light	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
staples	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
police	ESE	O
states	ESE	O
all	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
idea	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
break	O	O
down	O	O
the	O	O
inmate	O	O
,	O	O
weaken	O	ESE
him	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
lack	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
sleep	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
thereby	O	ESE
make	O	ESE
him	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
pliable	O	ESE
when	O	O
the	O	O
interrogators	O	O
begin	O	O
their	O	O
serious	O	O
work	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
is	DSE	O
brazen	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
flouting	ESE	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
secure	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
knowledge	DSE	O
that	O	O
neither	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
citizens	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
allies	O	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
complain	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Indeed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
many	O	O
Americans	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
Canadians	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
probably	ESE	ESE
think	DSE	ESE
anyone	O	ESE
connected	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	DSE	O
terror	O	O
attacks	O	O
deserves	ESE	ESE
whatever	ESE	ESE
he	ESE	ESE
gets	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

There	O	O
are	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
problems	O	O
with	O	O
this	O	O
understandable	ESE	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	O
knee-jerk	ESE	O
,	O	O
response	O	O
.	O	O

First	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
assumes	DSE	O
that	O	O
those	O	O
selected	O	O
for	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
are	O	O
connected	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
.	O	O

Maybe	ESE	ESE
some	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
-LRB-	O	ESE
although	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
idea	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
line	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
specified	O	O
just	O	O
who	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
holding	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

More	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
though	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
is	ESE	O
using	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
broadest	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
brooms	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
sweep	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
detainees	O	O
for	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

American	O	O
intelligence	O	O
agencies	O	O
-	O	O
doubly	DSE	ESE
embarrassed	DSE	ESE
by	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	O
foresee	DSE	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attack	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
inability	O	O
to	O	O
locate	O	O
Usama	O	O
Bin	O	O
Ladin	O	O
-	O	O
are	ESE	O
probably	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
picky	ESE	ESE
about	O	O
who	O	O
they	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
intense	O	ESE
interrogation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
more	ESE	ESE
fundamental	ESE	ESE
problem	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
though	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
logic	O	ESE
.	O	O

Is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
?	O	O

Many	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
including	O	O
me	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
saw	DSE	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
monstrous	ESE	ESE
criminal	ESE	ESE
outrage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
rather	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
act	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
war	O	ESE
.	O	O

But	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
determined	DSE	DSE
otherwise	O	ESE
.	O	O

By	O	O
treating	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
as	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
was	O	O
able	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
call	O	ESE
into	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
right	O	ESE
of	O	O
self-defence	O	O
mandated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
if	ESE	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	O
act	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
then	O	O
it	ESE	O
becomes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
weird	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
monstrous	ESE	O
.	O	O

Both	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
City	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
are	O	O
legitimate	O	ESE
wartime	O	ESE
targets	O	ESE
-	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
economic	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
latter	O	O
military	O	O
.	O	O

Anyone	O	O
waging	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
targeted	O	O
Manhattan	O	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
damaging	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
economy	O	O
-	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
attack	O	O
did	O	O
.	O	O

So	O	O
if	ESE	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	O
act	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
why	O	O
are	O	O
those	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
aftermath	O	O
not	O	O
treated	O	O
as	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
?	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	DSE	ESE
considered	DSE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
self-defence	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
to	O	O
invade	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Why	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
considered	ESE	ESE
equally	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Afghans	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
allies	O	O
to	O	O
resist	O	O
this	O	O
invasion	O	O
?	O	O

These	O	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
abstract	ESE	ESE
questions	O	ESE
.	O	O

Countries	O	O
sign	O	O
on	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
not	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
altruistic	DSE	O
but	O	O
to	DSE	O
ensure	DSE	O
that	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
soldiers	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
well	O	O
treated	O	O
if	O	O
captured	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
assumption	DSE	O
is	DSE	O
that	O	O
what	O	O
we	O	O
do	O	O
to	O	O
them	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
done	O	O
to	O	O
us	O	O
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
us	ESE	ESE
hope	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
instance	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
terrible	ESE	ESE
equation	ESE	ESE
does	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
hold	O	ESE
.	O	O

Uganda	O	O
:	O	O
Voice	O	O
of	O	O
Africa	O	O
radio	O	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
nationwide	O	O
coverage	O	O
by	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
2002	O	O

Voice	O	O
of	O	O
Africa	O	O
Radio	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
VOA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
expand	O	O
its	O	O
network	O	O
to	O	O
cover	O	O
all	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
's	O	O
production	O	O
manager	O	O
,	O	O
Hajji	O	O
Isa	O	O
Sebi	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	O
station	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	O
yet	O	O
a	O	O
year	O	O
old	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	O
will	O	O
reach	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
country	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
have	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
equipment	O	O
required	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Sebi	O	O
was	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
5	O	O
January	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
closing	O	O
a	O	O
Bwavu	O	O
Mpologoma	O	O
Project	O	O
business	O	O
skills	O	O
training	O	O
course	O	O
at	O	O
Kyaggwe	O	O
Road	O	O
Primary	O	O
School	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
course	O	O
was	O	O
organized	O	O
by	O	O
Uganda	O	O
Change	O	O
Agent	O	O
Association	O	O
and	O	O
VOA	O	O
.	O	O

Sebi	O	O
also	O	O
gave	O	O
out	O	O
certificates	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
profound	ESE	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
has	O	O
coincided	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
wave	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
social	DSE	O
tension	DSE	O
during	O	O
recent	O	O
days	O	O
.	O	O

Riots	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
widespread	DSE	O
strikes	DSE	O
,	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
government	O	O
buildings	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
plundering	O	O
of	O	O
stores	O	O
have	O	O
left	O	O
scores	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
dead	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
casualties	O	ESE
.	O	O

Public	O	DSE
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
an	O	O
increase	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
people	DSE	O
's	DSE	O
anger	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
have	O	O
finally	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
collapse	O	O
of	O	O
Fernando	O	O
Delaroe	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
following	O	O
several	O	O
days	O	O
of	O	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Because	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
misguided	ESE	ESE
policies	O	ESE
of	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
politicians	O	O
,	O	O
Argentina	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
state	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
stagnation	ESE	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
fourth	O	O
consecutive	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
unemployment	O	O
rate	O	O
has	O	O
passed	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
hard	O	O
currency	O	O
is	O	O
continuously	O	O
being	O	O
devalued	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
debts	O	O
are	O	O
around	O	O
$	O	O
132	O	O
billion	O	O
and	O	O
poverty	O	O
is	O	O
dominating	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
country	O	ESE
like	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
virus	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
important	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
Argentina	O	O
has	O	O
enjoyed	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
's	O	O
advice	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
execution	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
policies	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
main	ESE	O
problem	ESE	O
that	O	O
caused	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
shock	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
restrictive	ESE	O
economic	O	O
policies	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
adopted	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
advice	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
IMF	O	O
experts	O	O
.	O	O

Incidentally	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
riots	O	O
also	O	O
occurred	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
's	O	O
announcement	O	O
of	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
debts	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
paralyzed	ESE	O
economy	O	O
was	O	O
unable	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
tolerate	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
hardline	ESE	O
policies	O	O
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
finally	ESE	O
resulted	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
witnessing	ESE	O
today	ESE	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
IMF	O	O
officials	O	O
deny	DSE	DSE
any	O	O
connection	O	O
their	O	O
policies	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
reports	O	O
indicate	O	O
that	O	O
now	O	O
an	O	O
IMF	O	O
executive	O	O
delegation	O	O
is	O	O
actively	O	O
making	O	O
changes	O	O
to	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
.	O	O

Another	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
connections	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
economy	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
country	O	O
has	O	O
attracted	O	O
a	O	O
large	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
foreign	O	O
investment	O	O
by	O	O
international	O	O
companies	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
continent	O	O
to	O	O
Europe	O	O
.	O	O

Some	ESE	O
$	O	O
76	O	O
billion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
132	O	O
billion	O	O
debt	O	O
is	O	O
accounted	O	O
for	O	O
by	O	O
foreign	O	O
loans	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
were	O	O
lavished	ESE	O
on	O	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Anyway	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
now	O	O
in	ESE	O
addition	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
investor	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
is	ESE	DSE
ignoring	ESE	DSE
its	ESE	DSE
commitments	ESE	DSE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
current	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
heat	O	O
of	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
introduced	O	O
new	O	O
initiatives	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
them	O	O
are	O	O
halting	O	O
the	O	O
payment	O	O
of	O	O
debts	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
execution	O	O
of	O	O
supportive	O	O
actions	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
controlling	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
state	O	O
expenses	O	O
,	O	O
attempts	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
employment	O	O
,	O	O
giving	O	ESE
food	O	ESE
help	O	ESE
and	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
out	O	O
new	O	O
loans	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
new	O	O
monetary	O	O
policies	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
there	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
ambiguous	ESE	O
points	ESE	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
:	O	O
1	O	O
--	O	O
What	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
is	ESE	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
global	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
and	O	O
how	O	O
much	O	O
effect	O	O
will	O	O
it	O	O
have	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
economies	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
present	O	O
stagnation	O	O
?	O	O

2	O	O
--	O	O
What	O	ESE
reaction	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
likely	O	ESE
from	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
international	O	O
institutions	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
policies	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
instance	O	O
halting	O	O
the	O	O
payment	O	O
of	O	O
debts	O	O
?	O	O

3	O	O
--	O	O
Finally	ESE	O
,	O	O
what	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
awaits	ESE	O
Argentina	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
crisis-stricken	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
?	O	O

As	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
transported	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
cells	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
enters	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
stage	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
completely	O	O
different	O	O
from	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
armed	O	O
confrontation	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Amidst	O	O
the	O	O
heat	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
battles	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
background	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
double	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
that	O	O
hit	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
international	O	O
opinion	O	DSE
is	O	DSE
now	O	DSE
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
overlook	DSE	O
some	O	O
inhumane	ESE	O
practices	O	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
made	O	O
on	O	O
this	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
front	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
has	O	O
changed	O	O
fundamentally	ESE	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
batches	O	O
of	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
started	O	O
arriving	O	O
one	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
to	O	O
Guatanamo	O	O
base	O	O
shackled	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
caged	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
cages	ESE	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
no	O	O
longer	O	O
than	O	O
eight	O	O
feet	O	O
and	O	O
wider	O	O
than	O	O
six	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
attention	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
moved	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
to	O	O
follow	O	O
what	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
``	O	O
uncomfortable	ESE	ESE
situation	O	ESE
''	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
has	O	O
prompted	O	O
two	O	O
of	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
closest	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
express	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
concern	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
were	O	O
transported	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
treated	O	O
in	O	O
captivity	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
obvious	ESE	O
that	O	O
statements	DSE	O
by	DSE	O
US	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
are	O	O
``	O	O
illegitimate	ESE	ESE
fighters	O	ESE
''	O	O
upon	O	O
home	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
convention	O	O
on	O	O
POW	O	O
's	O	O
does	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
apply	O	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
helped	ESE	ESE
alleviate	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
concern	DSE	ESE
over	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
abandoning	ESE	O
its	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
until	O	O
now	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
well-known	O	O
commitment	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
principles	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
justice	ESE	O
in	O	O
treating	O	O
the	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
continued	ESE	O
US	O	O
ambiguity	ESE	O
in	O	O
using	O	O
the	O	O
title	O	O
of	O	O
prisoners	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
specifically	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
or	O	O
``	ESE	O
illegitimate	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
combatants	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
trying	O	O
them	O	O
in	O	O
private	O	O
and	O	O
closed	O	O
martial	O	O
court	O	O
,	O	O
do	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
help	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
United	O	ESE
States	O	ESE
maintain	O	ESE
international	O	ESE
sympathy	DSE	ESE
with	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
war	O	ESE
.	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
campaign	O	O
of	O	O
Western	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
heightens	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	DSE
become	O	DSE
urgent	ESE	DSE
for	O	DSE
Washington	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
clarify	O	DSE
its	DSE	DSE
stand	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
treating	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
destiny	O	O
so	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
it	O	O
would	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
recorded	O	O
in	O	O
history	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
number	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
in	O	O
weeks	O	O
and	O	O
lost	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
reputation	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
commitment	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
principles	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
took	O	O
centuries	O	O
to	O	O
gain	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
13	O	O
January	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
proudly	DSE	O
announced	DSE	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
gathering	O	O
of	O	O
pro-	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
elements	O	O
that	O	O
beginning	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
travel	O	O
documents	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
an	O	O
addition	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
English	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
was	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
gift	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
groups	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
another	ESE	O
dangerous	ESE	O
signal	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
promoting	DSE	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
split	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
motherland	ESE	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
maintain	ESE	ESE
sharp	ESE	ESE
vigilance	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
this	O	O
move	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
passports	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
has	DSE	O
long	DSE	ESE
premeditated	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
carefully	O	DSE
planned	O	DSE
,	O	O
and	O	O
gradually	O	O
implemented	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
early	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
notified	O	O
various	O	O
departments	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
``	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
use	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
official	O	O
''	O	O
symbol	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
name	O	O
tags	O	O
,	O	O
seating	O	O
plates	O	O
,	O	O
menus	O	O
,	O	O
guest	O	O
books	O	O
,	O	O
writing	O	O
paper	O	O
and	O	O
invitations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
avoid	O	O
using	O	O
the	O	O
symbol	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
national	O	O
emblem	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
should	O	O
replace	O	O
it	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
symbol	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
national	O	O
flat	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

If	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
absolutely	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
feasible	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
should	O	ESE
use	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
symbol	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
plum	O	ESE
blossom	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
May	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
activist	O	O
Yao	O	O
Jiawen	O	O
claimed	O	DSE
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
instructed	O	O
its	O	O
``	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
English	O	O
translation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
on	O	O
passports	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
name	O	O
all	O	O
overseas	O	O
agencies	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
''	O	O
agencies	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
caused	O	O
strong	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
from	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
various	O	O
aspects	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
had	O	O
to	O	O
respond	O	O
in	O	O
low	O	O
key	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
19	O	O
June	O	O
,	O	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
met	O	O
with	O	O
``	O	O
legislators	O	O
''	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Progressive	O	O
Party	O	O
and	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
publicly	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
addition	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
English	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
passports	O	O
''	O	O
was	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
imperative	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

We	DSE	O
should	ESE	ESE
notice	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
passports	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
isolated	ESE	O
incident	ESE	O
.	O	O

Its	O	O
harm	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
limited	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
incident	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
lies	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
step	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
to	O	O
promote	DSE	O
its	O	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
once	O	O
made	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	O	O
``	O	O
four	O	O
noes	O	O
and	O	O
one	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
''	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
``	O	O
four	O	O
noes	O	O
''	O	O
are	O	DSE
pledges	DSE	DSE
``	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
declare	O	DSE
independence	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
title	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
push	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
`	O	ESE
state-to-state	O	ESE
relations	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
included	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
constitution	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
promote	O	O
a	O	O
referendum	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
status	O	O
quo	O	O
in	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
independence	O	O
;	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
abolish	O	ESE
the	O	O
guiding	O	O
principle	O	O
of	O	O
national	O	O
unification	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Unification	O	O
Commission	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
month	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
changed	O	O
his	O	O
tone	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
92	O	DSE
consensus	O	DSE
''	O	DSE
was	ESE	DSE
a	ESE	DSE
``	ESE	DSE
consensus	ESE	DSE
''	ESE	DSE
without	ESE	DSE
any	ESE	DSE
consensus	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
August	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
preached	DSE	O
again	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
unification	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
necessarily	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
final	ESE	O
choice	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
manufactured	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	O	ESE
``	O	O
three	O	O
acknowledgements	DSE	O
and	O	O
four	O	O
suggestions	DSE	DSE
''	O	O
and	O	O
then	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
strait	O	O
``	O	O
are	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
subordinated	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
each	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
do	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
represent	ESE	O
each	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	DSE	O
his	O	O
2001	O	O
New	O	O
Year	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
proposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
ambiguous	ESE	ESE
``	O	ESE
conformity	O	ESE
theory	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
takes	O	O
the	O	O
tone	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
unification	ESE	O
but	O	O
promotes	ESE	O
independence	O	O
in	O	O
nature	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
May	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
his	O	O
``	O	O
conformity	O	ESE
theory	O	ESE
''	O	ESE
was	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
unification	O	O
,	O	O
nor	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
conformity	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
gradually	DSE	O
promoted	DSE	O
the	O	O
so-called	O	ESE
``	O	O
correcting	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Recently	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
``	O	O
Press	O	O
Bureau	O	O
''	O	O
stopped	O	O
using	O	O
the	O	O
symbol	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
map	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
concerned	O	O
forced	O	O
a	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
NGO	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
word	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
English	O	O
annual	O	O
.	O	O

Now	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
add	O	O
the	O	O
English	O	O
word	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
travel	O	O
documents	O	O
.	O	O

All	ESE	O
these	ESE	O
activities	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
'	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
policies	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
separating	O	O
from	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
ideology	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
culture	O	ESE
,	O	O
history	O	O
,	O	O
education	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
all	ESE	O
attempts	O	O
to	O	O
separate	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
from	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
change	O	O
its	O	O
status	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
purpose	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
create	O	O
conditions	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
public	O	O
announcement	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
events	O	O
fully	ESE	O
indicates	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
has	O	O
not	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
not	DSE	O
given	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
stance	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
used	O	O
the	O	O
method	O	O
of	O	O
nibbling	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
promote	DSE	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
promotion	DSE	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
is	O	O
from	O	O
his	O	O
misjudgment	ESE	O
of	O	O
two	O	O
situations	O	O
:	O	O
the	O	O
internal	O	O
situation	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
external	O	O
situation	O	O
.	O	O

Internally	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
legislative	O	O
''	O	O
election	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
's	O	O
recognition	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
his	O	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Support	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Lee	O	O
Teng-hui	O	O
and	O	O
overseas	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
forces	O	O
makes	O	O
him	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
great	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
difficulties	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
deadlock	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
's	O	O
confidence	ESE	DSE
crisis	ESE	O
should	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
agenda	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
'	O	O
top	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Irresponsible	ESE	O
promotion	DSE	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
intensification	O	O
of	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
ties	O	O
are	O	O
definitely	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
blessings	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Externally	O	ESE
,	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
are	O	O
increasingly	O	ESE
improving	O	ESE
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
will	O	O
visit	O	O
China	O	O
soon	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
made	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
change	O	O
its	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
policy	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
exaggerated	ESE	O
Sino-US	O	O
conflicts	O	O
and	O	O
placed	DSE	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
seeking	ESE	O
benefits	ESE	O
from	O	O
such	O	O
conflicts	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
unwise	ESE	ESE
idea	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
worth	ESE	ESE
special	ESE	ESE
attention	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
mainland	O	O
's	O	O
stance	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
never	O	ESE
changed	O	ESE
.	O	O

Taiwan	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
inseparable	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
.	O	O

Any	DSE	O
type	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
absolutely	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
permitted	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
mainland	O	O
has	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
greatest	ESE	DSE
sincerity	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
peaceful	ESE	O
unification	ESE	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
also	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
determination	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
necessary	O	O
preparations	O	O
for	O	O
preventing	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
all	O	O
separatist	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
cling	ESE	ESE
obstinately	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
course	O	ESE
and	O	O
continue	O	O
its	O	O
steps	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
intensify	ESE	ESE
cross-strait	O	O
relations	O	O
and	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
certainly	ESE	ESE
eat	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
bitter	ESE	ESE
fruit	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Tomorrow	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
announce	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
plan	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
complete	O	O
elimination	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
monetary	O	O
standard	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
conversion	O	O
of	O	O
deposits	O	O
and	O	O
loans	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
those	O	O
owing	O	O
less	O	O
than	O	O
$	O	O
100,000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
conversion	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
done	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
to	O	O
one	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
owe	O	O
between	O	O
$	O	O
100,000	O	O
and	O	O
$	O	O
300,000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
conversion	O	O
rate	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
1.2	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
making	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
difference	O	O
between	O	O
this	O	O
rate	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
dollar	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
will	O	O
help	O	O
out	O	O
the	O	O
banks	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
El	O	O
Cronista	O	O
reported	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
giving	O	O
them	O	O
a	O	O
bond	O	O
or	O	O
certificate	O	O
against	O	O
future	O	O
revenues	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
tax	O	O
on	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
exports	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
5	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
assistance	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
will	O	O
reportedly	O	O
provide	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
4	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Debts	O	O
of	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
$	O	O
300,000	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
converted	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
.	O	O

Barring	O	O
last	O	O
minute	O	O
changes	O	O
,	O	O
no	O	O
announcement	O	O
is	DSE	O
expected	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
allowing	O	O
the	O	O
peso	O	O
to	O	O
float	O	O
freely	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
or	O	O
about	O	O
changes	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
timetable	O	O
for	O	O
easing	O	O
bank	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
these	O	O
restrictions	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
were	O	O
established	O	O
by	O	O
Domingo	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
and	O	O
tightened	O	DSE
by	O	O
his	O	O
successor	O	O
,	O	O
Jorge	O	O
Remes	O	O
Lenicov	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
savers	O	O
are	O	O
barred	O	O
from	O	O
accessing	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
65	O	O
billion	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
pesos	O	O
and	O	O
mainly	O	O
dollars	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
on	O	O
deposit	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
constraint	O	O
,	O	O
combined	O	O
with	O	O
the	ESE	O
difficulties	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
withdrawing	O	O
money	O	O
for	O	O
daily	O	O
use	O	O
from	O	O
salary	O	O
direct-deposit	O	O
accounts	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
heightened	O	ESE
social	O	ESE
unrest	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
people	O	O
have	DSE	O
staged	DSE	O
marches	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
banging	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
pots	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
pans	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
other	DSE	O
demonstrations	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
prevailing	O	O
economic	O	O
situation	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
analysts	O	O
feel	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
fledgling	O	O
Duhalde	O	O
administration	O	O
is	ESE	O
making	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
ending	O	O
convertibility	O	O
without	O	O
first	O	O
resolving	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
arise	O	O
from	O	O
this	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
foregone	DSE	O
conclusion	DSE	O
here	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
tried	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
convince	DSE	DSE
Cavallo	O	O
to	O	O
abandon	O	O
the	O	O
one-to-one	O	O
peg	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
orderly	O	O
fashion	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
minister	O	O
and	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
later	O	O
stepped	O	O
down	O	O
,	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
such	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
drove	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
further	ESE	ESE
away	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
lending	DSE	O
any	DSE	O
support	DSE	O
.	O	O

Its	O	DSE
last	O	DSE
show	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
8	O	O
billion	O	O
in	O	O
aid	O	O
to	DSE	O
support	DSE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
zero	O	O
deficit	O	O
''	O	O
tactic	O	O
.	O	O

Such	O	O
budgetary	O	O
discipline	O	O
turned	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
thus	ESE	O
shattering	ESE	O
the	O	O
rigid	O	O
convertibility	O	O
system	O	O
and	O	O
putting	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
sectors	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
commission	ESE	O
.	O	O

Lack	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
confidence	DSE	ESE
led	O	O
to	O	O
massive	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
of	O	O
savings	O	O
into	O	O
safer	O	O
places	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
outflows	O	O
forced	O	O
some	O	O
banks	O	O
to	DSE	O
ask	DSE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
to	O	O
set	O	O
limits	O	O
.	O	O

Cavallo	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
think	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
the	O	O
curbs	O	O
on	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
former	O	O
Minister	O	O
Roque	O	O
Fernandez	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
while	O	O
influential	O	O
businessman	O	O
Arnaldo	O	O
Musich	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
FIEL	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Latin	O	O
American	O	O
Economic	O	O
Research	O	O
Foundation	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
-	O	O
Techint	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
inexcusable	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Burdensome	O	O
Legacy	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
provisional	O	O
governments	O	O
that	O	O
took	O	O
over	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
abbreviated	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
administration	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
quickly	DSE	O
to	O	O
end	O	O
the	O	O
currency	O	O
board	O	O
system	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
until	ESE	ESE
tomorrow	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
month	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
taking	ESE	O
office	ESE	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
it	O	O
announce	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
plan	O	O
to	O	O
overcome	O	O
the	ESE	O
worst	ESE	O
crisis	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
history	O	O
.	O	O

Duhalde	O	O
will	O	O
confirm	O	O
that	O	O
$	O	O
2	O	O
billion	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
made	O	O
available	O	O
immediately	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
mitigate	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
social	O	ESE
disaster	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
money	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
approved	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Inter-American	O	O
Development	O	O
Bank	O	O
.	O	O

Accompanied	O	O
by	O	O
Remes	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
will	O	DSE
talk	O	DSE
tomorrow	O	DSE
about	O	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
assistance	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
for	O	O
:	O	O
to	O	O
fulfill	O	O
the	O	O
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
create	O	O
a	O	O
million	O	O
jobs	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
basic	O	O
health	O	O
care	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
undertake	O	O
small	O	O
infrastructure	O	O
projects	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
mention	O	O
imminent	O	O
political	O	O
reform	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
call	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
Congress	O	O
to	O	O
enact	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
remarks	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
solely	O	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
about	O	O
which	O	O
millions	O	O
of	O	O
Argentines	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
been	DSE	ESE
obsessed	DSE	ESE
for	O	ESE
some	O	ESE
years	O	ESE
now	O	ESE
.	O	O

Mortgage	O	O
loans	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
debts	O	O
of	O	O
small	O	O
and	O	O
mid-sized	O	O
companies	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
automotive	O	O
loans	O	O
under	O	O
$	O	O
100,000	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
paid	O	O
back	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
identical	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
same	O	O
will	O	O
go	O	O
for	O	O
secured	O	O
loans	O	O
under	O	O
$	O	O
300,000	O	O
and	O	O
personal	O	O
loans	O	O
of	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
$	O	O
10,000	O	O
.	O	O

Debts	O	O
over	O	O
these	O	O
amounts	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
repaid	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
defray	O	O
20	O	O
cents	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
debtors	O	O
will	O	O
actually	O	O
pay	O	O
1.2	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
banking	O	O
restrictions	O	O
will	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
being	O	O
,	O	O
remain	O	O
unchanged	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	DSE	O
tacit	DSE	O
assumption	DSE	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
timetable	O	O
for	O	O
easing	O	O
them	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
speeded	O	O
up	O	O
``	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
soon	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
conditions	O	ESE
permit	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
``	O	O
coupons	O	O
''	O	O
for	O	O
savers	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
buy	O	O
things	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
their	O	O
frozen	O	O
funds	O	O
as	O	O
collateral	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
break	O	O
down	O	O
the	O	O
budget	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
and	O	O
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
issue	O	O
currency	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
controlled	O	O
manner	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
exceed	O	O
3.5	O	O
billion	O	O
pesos	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
undertake	O	O
the	O	O
difficult	O	O
task	O	O
of	O	O
reversing	O	O
the	O	O
sudden	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
wealth	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
4.9	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
without	O	O
pushing	O	O
inflation	O	O
beyond	O	O
15	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
dollar	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
allowed	O	O
to	O	O
float	O	O
as	ESE	O
soon	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
possible	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
promised	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
.	O	O

Everything	ESE	O
depends	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	O	O
anticipated	O	O
aid	O	O
of	O	O
between	O	O
$	O	O
15	O	O
billion	O	O
and	O	O
$	O	O
20	O	O
billion	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
what	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
requested	DSE	O
of	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

Adjustment	O	O
Index	O	O
Will	O	O
Be	O	O
New	O	O
Variable	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
points	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
Duhalde	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
plan	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
based	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
monetary	O	O
benchmark	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
govern	O	O
the	O	O
issuance	O	O
of	O	O
pesos	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
refunding	O	O
of	O	O
deposits	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
frozen	O	O
in	O	O
accounts	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
this	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
Jorge	O	O
Remes	O	O
Lenicov	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
team	O	O
has	O	O
developed	O	O
an	O	O
index	O	O
or	O	O
formula	O	O
including	O	O
such	O	O
parameters	O	O
as	O	O
projected	O	O
annual	O	O
inflation	O	O
rates	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
issuance	O	O
of	O	O
money	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
system	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
financial	O	O
tool	O	O
for	O	O
redrafting	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
contracts	O	O
involving	O	O
economic	O	O
activity	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
,	O	O
post-convertibility	O	O
era	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
similar	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Celic	O	ESE
''	O	O
index	O	O
that	O	O
Brazil	O	O
uses	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Unidad	O	O
de	O	O
Fomento	O	O
''	O	O
that	O	O
Chile	O	O
used	O	O
until	O	O
August	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
monetary	O	O
benchmark	O	O
that	O	O
Brazil	O	O
employs	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
Chile	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
common	O	O
one	O	O
in	O	O
today	O	O
's	O	O
world	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
inflation	O	O
target	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
target	O	O
a	O	O
rule	O	O
is	O	O
developed	O	O
to	O	O
determine	O	O
the	O	O
interest	O	O
rate	O	O
needed	O	O
to	O	O
hit	O	O
the	O	O
target	O	O
for	O	O
price	O	O
rises	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
money	O	O
issued	O	O
thus	O	O
winds	O	O
up	O	O
being	O	O
a	O	O
function	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
variables	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
a	O	O
target	O	O
in	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
monetary	O	O
policy	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
tool	O	O
for	O	O
promoting	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
.	O	O

Until	O	O
August	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
Chile	O	O
had	O	O
an	O	O
incremental	O	O
adjustment	O	O
mechanism	O	O
that	O	O
included	O	O
an	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
band	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
ceiling	O	O
and	O	O
floor	O	O
.	O	O

Monetary	O	O
adjustments	O	O
were	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
what	O	O
was	O	O
called	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
unidad	O	O
de	O	O
fomento	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
an	O	O
indexing	O	O
system	O	O
that	O	O
included	O	O
various	O	O
price	O	O
indices	O	O
and	O	O
adjusted	O	O
contracts	O	O
in	O	O
accordance	O	O
with	O	O
actual	O	O
changes	O	O
.	O	O

Brazil	O	O
started	O	O
using	O	O
an	O	O
inflation	O	O
target	O	O
once	O	O
its	O	O
1999	O	O
devaluation	O	O
stabilized	O	O
the	O	O
real	O	O
and	O	O
achieved	O	O
low	O	O
inflation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
explained	O	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
theoretically	DSE	O
saw	DSE	O
tools	O	O
like	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
unidad	O	O
de	O	O
fomento	O	O
''	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
of	O	O
adjusting	O	O
the	O	O
deposits	O	O
of	O	O
savers	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
remain	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
restrictions	O	O
until	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
index	O	O
will	O	O
persumably	ESE	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
applied	O	O
for	O	O
another	O	O
two	O	O
or	O	O
three	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
ruled	O	O
out	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
may	O	ESE
include	O	O
loans	O	O
already	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

Renes	O	O
is	O	O
working	O	O
alongside	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
technicians	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
,	O	O
World	O	O
Bank	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
Treasury	O	O
Department	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
of	O	O
Brazil	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
services	O	O
were	O	O
also	O	O
used	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
crises	O	O
in	O	O
Mexico	O	O
and	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
.	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Buenos	O	O
Aires	O	O
Ambito	O	O
Financiero	O	O
in	O	O
Spanish	O	O
on	O	O
1	O	O
February	O	O
adds	O	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
following	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
measures	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
announced	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
:	O	O
''	O	O
`	O	O
Dirty	O	O
'	O	O
float	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
to	O	O
abolish	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
1.4	O	O
pesos	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
move	O	O
towards	O	O
a	O	O
single	O	O
,	O	O
floating	O	O
rate	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
will	O	O
intervene	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
only	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
sudden	O	O
swings	O	O
.	O	O

Intermediate	O	O
solutions	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
completely	DSE	O
ruled	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
periodic	O	O
adjustments	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
a	O	O
crawling	O	O
peg	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
or	O	O
a	O	O
band	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	O
oblige	O	O
the	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
to	O	O
intervene	O	O
by	O	O
selling	O	O
dollars	O	O
to	O	O
defend	O	O
a	O	O
given	O	O
value	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
peso	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
wait	O	O
until	O	O
it	O	O
had	O	O
sealed	O	O
an	O	O
accord	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
before	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
float	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
negotiations	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
several	O	O
weeks	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
Remes	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
flying	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
until	O	O
14	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
idea	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
move	O	O
ahead	O	O
before	O	O
receiving	O	O
international	O	O
aid	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
released	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
2.6	O	O
billion	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
pending	O	O
disbursement	O	O
since	O	O
December	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
bolster	O	O
reserves	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
peso	O	O
is	O	O
allowed	O	O
to	O	O
float	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Total	O	O
release	O	O
of	O	O
salary	O	O
direct-deposit	O	O
accounts	O	O
:	O	O
All	O	O
employees	O	O
will	O	O
soon	O	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
access	O	O
their	O	O
entire	O	O
salary	O	O
by	O	O
making	O	O
cash	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
from	O	O
savings	O	O
accounts	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
will	O	O
completely	O	O
eliminate	O	O
the	O	O
ceiling	O	O
of	O	O
1,500	O	O
pesos	O	O
per	O	O
month	O	O
that	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
January	O	O
version	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
banking	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
measure	O	O
will	O	O
benefit	O	O
only	O	O
the	O	O
4	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
workers	O	O
who	O	O
earn	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
amount	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
until	O	O
now	O	O
was	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
danger	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
team	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
aware	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
any	O	O
additional	O	O
money	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
will	O	O
go	O	O
straight	O	O
into	O	O
purchases	O	O
of	O	O
dollars	O	O
since	O	O
this	O	O
could	O	ESE
represent	O	O
the	O	O
percentage	O	O
of	O	O
income	O	O
that	O	O
an	O	O
individual	O	O
is	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
save	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
measure	O	O
is	O	O
designed	O	O
to	O	O
send	O	O
a	O	O
signal	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
people	O	O
gradually	O	O
regain	DSE	DSE
confidence	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Raising	O	O
the	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
ceiling	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
regular	O	O
savings	O	O
accounts	O	O
to	O	O
1,500	O	O
pesos	O	O
a	O	O
month	O	O
was	DSE	O
under	DSE	DSE
consideration	DSE	DSE
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
for	O	O
now	O	O
the	O	O
limit	O	O
of	O	O
1,200	O	O
a	O	O
month	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
apply	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	O	ESE
of	O	O
gradual	O	O
increases	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Deposits	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
:	O	O
Time	O	O
deposits	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
rate	O	O
.	O	O

Once	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
converted	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
refund	O	O
timetable	O	O
for	O	O
dollar	O	O
deposits	O	O
will	O	O
initially	O	O
be	O	O
maintained	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
other	O	O
words	O	O
,	O	O
refunds	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
begin	O	O
until	O	O
January	O	O
2003	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
an	DSE	O
agreement	DSE	O
is	O	O
reached	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
and	O	O
economic	O	O
conditions	O	O
improve	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
timetable	O	O
will	ESE	O
likely	ESE	ESE
be	O	O
moved	O	O
forward	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
people	O	O
can	O	O
get	O	O
cash	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
possibility	O	ESE
of	O	O
keeping	O	O
a	O	O
portion	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
deposit	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
President	O	O
Duhalde	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
requested	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
been	O	ESE
altogether	O	ESE
ruled	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
legal	O	O
problems	O	O
with	O	O
implementing	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
time	O	O
deposits	O	O
in	O	O
pesos	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
refund	O	O
timetable	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
maintained	O	O
;	O	O
it	O	O
provides	O	O
for	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
in	O	O
cash	O	O
as	O	O
of	O	O
March	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Installment	O	O
checks	O	O
for	O	O
time	O	O
deposits	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
money	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
refund	O	O
timetable	O	O
may	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
for	O	O
purchases	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
with	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
credited	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
deposit	O	O
accounts	O	O
.	O	O

Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
only	O	O
to	O	O
purchase	O	O
items	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
cars	O	O
and	O	O
apartments	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
12	O	O
,	O	O
18	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
24	O	O
installments	O	O
into	O	O
which	O	O
time	O	O
deposits	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
divided	O	O
,	O	O
depending	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
amount	O	O
,	O	O
may	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
endorsed	O	ESE
.	O	O

Transfer	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
deposit	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
authorized	O	O
only	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
purchase	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
account	O	O
holder	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
move	O	O
it	O	O
from	O	O
one	O	O
bank	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
big	ESE	O
drawback	ESE	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
system	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
hardly	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
be	DSE	ESE
willing	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
real	O	O
estate	O	O
for	O	O
peso-denominated	O	O
installment	O	O
checks	O	O
that	O	O
can	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
cashed	O	ESE
sometime	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
future	O	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
,	O	O
though	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
smaller	O	O
transactions	O	O
or	O	O
to	O	O
pay	O	O
for	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
purchase	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Issuance	O	O
of	O	O
bonds	O	O
indexed	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
value	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
will	O	O
soon	O	O
start	O	O
issuing	O	O
bonds	O	O
in	O	O
pesos	O	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
another	O	O
alternative	O	O
to	O	O
purchasing	O	O
dollars	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
is	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
issue	O	DSE
very	O	DSE
short-term	O	O
bills	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
30	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
now	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
indexed	O	O
to	O	O
any	O	O
ongoing	O	O
depreciation	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
arrangement	O	O
with	O	O
an	O	O
attractive	O	O
implicit	O	O
interest	O	O
rate	O	O
could	O	O
also	O	O
be	O	O
devised	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
easy	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
course	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
to	O	O
drum	O	DSE
up	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
in	O	O
full-fledged	O	O
default	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
No	O	O
withholding	O	O
on	O	O
oil	O	O
exports	O	O
:	O	O
In	O	O
conclusion	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
reverse	O	O
itself	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
20	O	O
percent	O	O
tax	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
planning	O	DSE
to	O	O
levy	O	O
on	O	O
these	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

`	O	O
We	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
raised	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
money	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
sending	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
bad	ESE	ESE
signal	ESE	ESE
overseas	O	ESE
by	O	O
discriminating	O	O
between	O	O
sectors	O	O
,	O	O
'	O	O
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
senior	O	O
source	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Ministry	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
any	O	O
event	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
industry	O	O
may	O	ESE
be	O	O
asked	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
advance	O	O
on	O	O
taxes	O	O
due	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
had	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
under	DSE	O
consideration	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
weeks	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	O
any	O	O
withholding	O	O
arrangement	O	O
is	O	O
implemented	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
apply	O	O
to	O	O
all	O	O
exports	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	ESE
just	O	ESE
some	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Bonds	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
to	O	O
compensate	O	O
banks	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
banks	O	O
will	O	O
receive	O	O
long-term	O	O
government	O	O
bonds	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
as	O	O
compensation	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
losses	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
arise	O	O
from	O	O
conversion	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
balance	O	O
sheets	O	O
.	O	O

Estimates	O	O
are	O	O
that	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
arrangement	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
devised	O	O
the	O	O
red	O	O
ink	O	O
will	O	O
total	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
12	O	O
billion	O	O
pesos	O	O
or	O	O
some	O	O
$	O	O
6	O	O
billion	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
banks	O	O
have	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
this	O	O
option	O	O
.	O	O

They	DSE	O
wold	DSE	O
rather	DSE	O
hold	O	O
a	O	O
financial	O	O
claim	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
than	O	O
place	O	O
the	O	O
entire	O	O
burden	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
debtors	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
forced	ESE	O
to	O	O
declare	O	O
bankruptcy	O	O
if	ESE	O
they	O	O
got	O	O
no	O	O
relief	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Phase	O	O
1	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
swap	O	O
remains	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
:	O	O
Banks	O	O
,	O	O
Pension	O	O
and	O	O
Retirement	O	O
Fund	O	O
Management	O	O
Companies	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
insurance	O	O
companies	O	O
exerted	DSE	DSE
strong	DSE	DSE
pressure	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
prevent	ESE	O
all	O	O
accounts	O	O
from	O	O
being	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
managed	O	O
to	O	O
keep	O	O
their	O	O
bonds	O	O
in	O	O
foreign	O	O
currency	O	O
and	O	O
are	O	O
supposed	O	O
to	O	O
start	O	O
collecting	O	O
interest	O	O
this	O	O
April	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
before	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
move	O	O
ahead	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
debt	O	O
rescheduling	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
international	O	O
and	O	O
local	O	O
investors	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
swap	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
-RSB-	O	O

KABUL	O	O
,	O	O
Feb	O	O
3	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Fresh	O	O
fighting	O	O
has	O	O
broken	O	O
out	O	O
between	O	O
rival	O	O
warlords	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
northern	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Mazar-i-Sharif	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
Sunday	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
to	O	O
two	O	O
hour	O	O
''	O	O
battle	O	O
Saturday	O	O
between	O	O
forces	O	O
loyal	DSE	O
to	O	O
Uzbek	O	O
warlord	O	O
General	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Rashid	O	O
Dostam	O	O
and	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
rival	O	O
Tajik	O	O
commander	O	O
Atta	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
,	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
official	O	O
Mira	O	O
Jan	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

No	O	O
one	O	O
was	O	O
injured	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fighting	O	O
stopped	O	O
when	O	O
local	O	O
authorities	O	O
intervened	O	O
,	O	O
Jan	O	O
told	O	O
AFP	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
minor	O	O
clash	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
investigations	O	O
are	O	O
continuing	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
will	O	O
identify	O	O
the	O	O
culprits	ESE	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
clashes	O	O
and	O	O
punish	ESE	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
reported	O	O
clash	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
fortnight	O	O
involving	O	O
the	O	O
forces	O	O
of	O	O
Dostam	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
deputy	O	O
defence	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Tajik	O	O
fighters	O	O
.	O	O

Dostam	O	O
's	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
ethnic	O	O
Tajiks	O	O
loyal	DSE	O
to	O	O
former	O	O
Afghan	O	O
president	O	O
Burhanuddin	O	O
Rabbani	O	O
previously	O	O
battled	O	O
in	O	O
Kunduz	O	O
province	O	O
,	O	O
east	O	O
of	O	O
Mazar-i-Sharif	O	O
,	O	O
leaving	O	O
11	O	O
dead	O	O
.	O	O

Dostam	O	O
and	O	O
Rabbani	O	O
's	O	O
factions	O	O
are	DSE	O
seen	DSE	O
as	O	O
uneasy	O	O
partners	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fragile	O	O
Northern	O	O
Alliance	O	O
that	O	O
fought	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
militia	O	O
from	O	O
1996	O	O
until	O	O
the	O	O
hardline	O	O
Islamic	O	O
regime	O	O
crumbled	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
face	O	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
bombing	O	O
in	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

Jan	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
fighting	O	O
between	O	O
local	O	O
commanders	O	O
a	O	O
symptom	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
23	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
devastated	ESE	O
Afghanistan	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
These	O	O
battles	O	O
have	O	O
always	O	O
happened	O	O
in	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
occur	O	O
usually	O	O
for	O	O
personal	DSE	O
interests	DSE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
factional	O	O
infighting	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
raised	DSE	DSE
fears	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
long-standing	O	O
ethnic	O	O
rivalries	O	O
could	O	O
again	O	O
split	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
defeat	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
was	O	O
delivering	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
Speech	O	O
to	O	O
both	O	O
Senate	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
Congress	O	O
on	O	O
29	O	O
January	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
unprecedented	ESE	O
wordings	ESE	O
he	O	O
lashed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
DPRK	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
labeling	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
reacted	DSE	DSE
strongly	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	O
counter-attacked	DSE	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
this	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
natural	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
rational	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Some	O	O
senior	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
officials	O	O
and	O	O
experts	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Western	O	O
allies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
criticized	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
is	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
more	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
untenable	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Albright	O	O
:	O	O
First	O	O
to	O	O
Launch	DSE	O
Attack	DSE	O

On	O	O
1	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
interviewed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Broadcasting	O	O
Corporation	O	O
,	O	O
Madeleine	O	O
Albright	O	O
,	O	O
former	O	O
US	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
,	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
remark	DSE	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	O
gross	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
Bush	O	O
currently	O	O
uses	O	O
in	O	O
handling	O	O
foreign	O	O
affairs	O	O
has	ESE	O
caused	ESE	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
things	O	O
``	O	O
in	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
utterly	ESE	ESE
disorderly	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	O
``	O	O
lost	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
putting	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
together	O	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
gross	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O
She	O	O
is	DSE	O
particularly	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
listing	O	O
the	O	O
DPRK	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
way	O	O
of	O	O
doing	O	O
things	O	O
will	ESE	O
possibly	ESE	O
cause	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
lose	DSE	O
popular	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
among	DSE	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

Albright	O	O
particularly	DSE	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
she	O	O
had	DSE	O
contacted	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
reached	DSE	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
DPRK	O	O
.	O	O

Whereas	ESE	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
``	O	O
single-handedly	ESE	ESE
destroyed	ESE	ESE
''	DSE	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
relationship	O	O
she	O	O
had	O	O
established	O	O
with	O	O
Korea	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Clinton	O	O
age	O	O
.	O	O

Albright	O	O
also	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
stage	O	O
is	ESE	O
very	ESE	ESE
complicated	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
issue	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
questions	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
still	ESE	DSE
needs	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
aid	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Iran	ESE	O
.	O	O

Carpenter	O	O
,	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
non-governmental	O	O
research	O	O
organization	O	O
the	O	O
Cato	O	O
Institute	O	O
,	O	O
holds	DSE	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
by	O	O
name	O	O
is	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
understand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
It	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
strange	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
Bush	O	O
to	O	O
include	O	O
Korea	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
Korea	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
actively	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
terrorist	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

Furthermore	O	ESE
,	O	O
``	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
evidence	O	O
in	O	O
our	O	O
hands	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
nuclear	O	O
project	O	O
has	O	O
all	O	O
along	O	O
been	O	O
frozen	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
mid-1990s	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
why	O	O
Bush	O	O
listed	DSE	DSE
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
one	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
terrorist	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Some	O	O
commentaries	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
including	O	O
Korea	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
list	O	O
would	O	O
irritate	DSE	O
Korea	O	O
and	O	O
would	ESE	O
cause	ESE	O
Japan	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Republic	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Korea	ESE	O
-LRB-	ESE	O
ROK	ESE	O
-RRB-	ESE	O
feel	ESE	DSE
disturbed	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

An	O	O
analytical	O	O
article	O	O
carried	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
including	O	O
Iran	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
list	O	O
is	ESE	O
all	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
astonishing	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
article	O	O
says	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
tried	DSE	DSE
hard	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
establish	DSE	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
last	O	O
fall	O	O
and	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
appreciation	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
condemnation	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Iran	O	O
also	O	O
indicated	O	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
case	O	O
US	O	O
pilots	O	O
were	O	O
hit	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
landed	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
would	O	O
give	O	O
them	O	O
assistance	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
analyst	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
worried	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
attack	DSE	O
on	O	O
Iran	O	O
would	ESE	O
possibly	ESE	O
forfeit	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
recent	ESE	O
efforts	ESE	O
.	O	O

Carpenter	O	O
also	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
way	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
door	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
improving	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
completely	ESE	O
blocked	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
that	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
unfortunate	ESE	ESE
part	ESE	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
cast	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
chance	ESE	O
for	O	O
improving	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

Now	DSE	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
completely	ESE	ESE
closed	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
door	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
improvement	O	O
of	O	O
ties	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

Difficult	O	O
for	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
France	O	O
To	O	DSE
Agree	O	DSE
with	O	O
US	O	O

After	O	O
he	O	O
set	DSE	O
forth	DSE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
theory	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
met	O	O
with	O	O
increasing	DSE	O
attacks	DSE	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
US	O	O
closest	O	O
allies	O	O
also	DSE	O
thought	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	O
hard	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remark	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
report	O	O
carried	O	O
in	O	O
British	O	O
Daily	O	O
Telegraph	O	O
on	O	O
2	O	O
February	O	O
said	O	O
that	O	O
British	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Jack	O	O
Straw	O	O
queried	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
theory	ESE	ESE
set	DSE	O
forth	DSE	O
in	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
thinking	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
remark	ESE	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
attempts	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
use	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
anti-terror	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
play	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
party	ESE	O
politics	ESE	O
.	O	O

Straw	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
had	DSE	O
become	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
closest	DSE	O
allies	DSE	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
''	O	O
incident	O	O
,	O	O
now	O	O
they	ESE	O
may	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
longer	ESE	ESE
stand	ESE	ESE
shoulder	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
shoulder	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

French	O	O
President	O	O
Jacques	O	O
Chirac	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
subscribe	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
theory	ESE	ESE
advanced	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
.	O	O

Chirac	O	O
's	O	O
assistant	O	O
indicated	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
good-and-evil	DSE	ESE
view	DSE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
conform	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
actual	O	ESE
conditions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
present-day	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
French	O	O
presidential	O	O
office	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
make	O	O
open	O	O
comments	O	O
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
only	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
what	O	O
Bush	O	O
says	O	DSE
is	O	O
directed	O	O
mainly	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
annual	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Economic	O	O
Forum	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
NATO	O	O
Secretary	O	O
General	O	O
George	O	O
Robertson	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
charging	DSE	DSE
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
with	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
produce	O	ESE
evidence	O	ESE
.	O	O

Observers	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
maintain	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
NATO	O	O
Secretary-general	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
indicates	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
feels	DSE	DSE
uneasy	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
policy	O	O
which	O	O
seems	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
be	ESE	DSE
determined	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
expand	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
scope	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
anti-terror	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

White	O	O
House	O	O
and	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
Hasten	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Smooth	DSE	O
the	O	O
Matter	O	O
Over	O	O

In	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
bid	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
alleviate	O	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
sentiments	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
official	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
discretely	DSE	DSE
assured	DSE	DSE
US	O	O
allies	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
does	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
hint	O	DSE
to	O	O
take	O	O
military	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
admonishes	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
subordinates	O	O
that	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
mass	O	O
media	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
spirit	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
literal	O	ESE
meaning	O	ESE
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
strictly	ESE	ESE
acted	O	ESE
upon	O	ESE
to	O	O
avoid	ESE	O
causing	ESE	O
doubts	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
external	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
1	O	O
February	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	O
collect	O	O
various	O	O
statements	O	O
and	O	O
send	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
embassies	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
countries	O	O
worldwide	O	O
,	O	O
so	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
calm	O	ESE
down	O	ESE
foreign	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
negative	DSE	DSE
reactions	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Richard	O	O
Boucher	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
will	O	O
send	O	O
all	O	O
relevant	O	O
information	O	O
and	O	O
summaries	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
information	O	O
to	O	O
our	O	O
embassies	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
places	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
to	ESE	O
facilitate	ESE	O
understanding	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
related	ESE	O
arguments	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

An	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
official	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
US	O	O
diplomats	O	O
to	O	O
countries	O	O
concerned	DSE	O
are	O	O
authorized	O	O
to	O	O
explain	O	O
to	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
may	DSE	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
doubts	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
is	O	O
aimed	O	O
at	O	O
dispelling	O	O
various	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
doubt	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
about	O	O
to	O	O
dispatch	O	O
troops	O	O
to	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
enlightened	ESE	O
officials	ESE	O
in	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
patch	O	O
up	O	O
''	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
statements	O	O
,	O	O
especially	O	ESE
his	O	O
latest	O	O
one	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
reckless	ESE	DSE
threats	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
namely	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
day	O	O
after	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
threat	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
crush	ESE	ESE
these	O	ESE
countries	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
use	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
developing	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
,	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Powell	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
before	O	O
the	O	O
Senate	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Relations	O	O
Committee	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
characterizing	DSE	DSE
these	O	O
counties	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
mean	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
intends	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
invade	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
added	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
initiate	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
dialogue	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
we	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
work	O	O
with	O	O
our	ESE	O
friends	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
allies	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
on	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
such	ESE	O
regimes	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

These	DSE	O
are	O	O
fine	ESE	ESE
words	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
they	O	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
reflect	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
reality	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
the	O	O
hard-line	ESE	O
wing	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
comprising	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Dick	O	O
Cheney	O	O
,	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
Adviser	O	O
Condoleezza	O	O
Rice	O	O
have	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
final	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
in	O	O
running	O	O
affairs	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
have	ESE	O
direct	ESE	O
influence	ESE	O
on	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
.	O	O

Oddly	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
speculations	DSE	DSE
swirled	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
that	O	O
Powell	O	O
listened	O	O
to	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
threats	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
like	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
citizen	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
read	O	O
the	O	O
speech	O	O
before	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
delivered	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
he	O	O
was	ESE	O
supposed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
virtue	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
post	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
he	O	O
subsequently	DSE	O
denied	DSE	DSE
these	O	DSE
speculations	DSE	DSE
does	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
mean	ESE	DSE
they	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
baseless	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

At	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
rate	ESE	O
,	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Powell	O	O
's	O	O
remark	O	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
readiness	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
enter	DSE	O
dialogue	DSE	O
with	O	O
these	O	O
``	O	O
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
friends	ESE	O
on	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
them	O	O
involves	ESE	O
some	ESE	ESE
contradictions	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

For	O	O
he	O	O
affirmed	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
first	DSE	O
speech	DSE	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
dialogue	ESE	O
with	O	O
Iraq	O	O
until	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
it	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
accepted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
arms	O	O
inspectors	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
current	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
will	ESE	O
consult	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
closest	O	ESE
allies	O	ESE
,	O	O
whether	O	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
or	O	O
its	O	O
followers	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Third	O	O
World	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
already	DSE	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
``	O	DSE
punish	ESE	DSE
''	O	O
any	O	O
country	O	O
it	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
poses	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
danger	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Hebrew	O	O
State	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
lumped	DSE	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
mislead	ESE	ESE
Arabs	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
Muslims	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
create	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
Islam	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
alone	ESE	ESE
targeted	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
these	O	O
days	O	O
ruled	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
alliance	ESE	O
between	O	O
two	O	O
main	O	O
lobbies	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
arms	O	O
lobby	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
lobby	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
sees	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	O
world	DSE	O
through	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
eyes	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Ari'el	ESE	O
Sharon	ESE	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
therefore	O	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
expect	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
is	O	O
facing	O	O
a	O	O
recession	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
repeat	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
father	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
being	O	O
defeated	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
elections	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
economic	O	O
factors	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
is	DSE	O
therefore	ESE	O
planning	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
trigger	ESE	O
wars	ESE	O
here	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
there	ESE	O
to	O	O
revive	O	O
the	O	O
flagging	O	O
arms	O	O
industry	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
run	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
typical	ESE	O
Texan	ESE	O
mentality	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
closer	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
cowboys	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
civilized	ESE	O
mentality	ESE	O
that	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
dialogue	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
coexistence	ESE	O
among	O	O
peoples	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
mentality	O	O
simultaneously	ESE	O
raises	ESE	DSE
apprehensions	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	O
resentment	ESE	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
international	O	O
economic	O	O
prosperity	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
built	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
stability	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
wars	ESE	O
.	O	O

A	ESE	ESE
catastrophe	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
engulf	ESE	ESE
every	ESE	ESE
country	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
industry	O	O
progressed	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
expense	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
security	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
stability	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
keeping	O	ESE
Arafat	O	ESE
captive	O	ESE
,	O	O
under	ESE	O
siege	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupying	O	O
forces	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
an	ESE	O
affront	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	ESE
dignity	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
International	ESE	O
justice	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
powder	ESE	O
keg	ESE	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
point	O	ESE
explode	O	ESE
,	O	O
devastating	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
remains	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
Israeli	O	ESE
security	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
same	O	O
security	O	O
that	O	O
Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
assassin	ESE	O
,	O	O
uses	DSE	ESE
as	DSE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
excuse	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
instigate	ESE	ESE
struggles	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
wars	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
promote	ESE	O
instability	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
pretends	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
besieges	O	DSE
Arafat	O	O
because	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
unable	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
confront	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
Palestinian	O	ESE
resistance	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
natural	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
guerilla	ESE	O
operations	ESE	O
successively	O	O
occur	O	O
,	O	O
even	O	O
inside	O	O
the	O	O
fortified	O	O
settlements	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
begins	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
wonder	DSE	DSE
whether	ESE	O
the	O	O
accusations	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
was	DSE	O
planning	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
instructing	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Israeli	O	O
targets	O	O
despite	ESE	O
his	O	O
captivity	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
round-the-clock	O	O
Israeli	O	O
surveillance	O	O
,	O	O
were	ESE	O
founded	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
only	ESE	O
interpretation	ESE	O
for	O	O
these	DSE	O
accusations	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
has	O	O
formidable	ESE	O
supernatural	ESE	O
powers	ESE	O
that	O	O
enable	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
defend	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
homeland	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
the	O	O
unlimited	ESE	O
capabilities	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupying	O	O
forces	O	O
equipped	O	O
with	O	O
all	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
mighty	ESE	O
US	O	O
weapon	O	O
technology	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
failure	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
US-made	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
machine	ESE	O
to	O	O
settle	O	O
this	O	O
unequal	ESE	ESE
battle	O	ESE
became	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
farcical-yet-provocative	ESE	O
,	O	O
statements	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
minister	O	O
of	O	O
defense	O	O
now	O	O
present	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
helping	O	DSE
aggressive	ESE	DSE
Israel	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
a	O	O
traitorous	ESE	O
agent	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
could	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
terms	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
assassinate	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
certain	ESE	O
the	O	O
Ben	O	O
Eliezer	O	O
's	O	O
hallucination	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
mere	ESE	ESE
expression	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
persuade	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
accept	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
brutality	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupying	O	O
forces	O	O
'	O	O
practices	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
even	O	ESE
embody	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
bankrupt	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Israeli	ESE	ESE
criminal	ESE	ESE
extremism	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
gain	ESE	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
its	O	O
continuing	O	O
occupation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

Ben	O	O
Eliezer	O	O
's	O	O
raving	ESE	O
coincided	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
arrival	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
assassin	ESE	O
boss	O	O
Sharon	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
exerting	DSE	O
pressures	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
persuade	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
that	O	O
removing	O	O
Arafat	O	O
could	ESE	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
surrender	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
halt	O	O
violence	O	O
as	ESE	O
he	ESE	O
calls	ESE	DSE
it	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
and	O	O
Ben	O	O
Eliezer	O	O
never	ESE	O
stopped	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
consider	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
no	O	ESE
patriotic	O	ESE
Palestinian	O	O
could	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
substitute	O	O
agent	O	O
to	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
,	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
gang	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
symbolizes	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
struggle	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
this	DSE	O
attitude	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
showed	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
true	DSE	ESE
hostility	DSE	ESE
for	O	O
a	O	O
leader	O	O
and	O	O
chairman	O	O
elected	O	O
by	O	O
his	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
peace	O	O
Envoy	O	O
Burns	O	O
has	O	O
expressed	O	O
this	O	O
after	O	O
his	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
president	O	O
Mubarak	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	DSE
declared	O	DSE
that	O	O
US	O	O
contacts	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
with	O	O
Arafat	O	O
considering	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
elected	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
chairman	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
wish	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Burns	O	O
's	O	O
statements	O	O
reflect	O	O
a	O	O
true	ESE	ESE
position	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
signals	O	O
a	O	O
return	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
balance	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
position	O	O
in	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
reality	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Palestinian-Israeli	O	ESE
struggle	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
,	O	O
gentlemen	ESE	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
assassin	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	DSE	O
realize	DSE	O
that	O	O
injustice	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
last	ESE	ESE
long	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
security	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israelis	O	O
depends	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
'	O	O
regaining	O	O
their	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
besieging	O	DSE
Arafat	O	O
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
has	O	O
turned	O	O
him	O	O
into	O	O
the	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
Mandela	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	O
struggle	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
foretells	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
's	O	O
claims	O	O
will	O	O
inevitably	ESE	ESE
falls	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
how	ESE	ESE
long	ESE	ESE
Sharon	ESE	ESE
humiliates	ESE	ESE
Arab	ESE	ESE
dignity	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
relaying	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
protection	O	O
and	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
forgot	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
principles	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
role	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
defending	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
international	ESE	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Italian	O	O
farmer	O	O
charged	O	O
with	O	O
illegally	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
cattle	O	O

Benevento	O	O
,	O	O
13	O	O
February	O	O
:	O	O
A	O	O
67-year-old	O	O
farmer	O	O
from	O	O
Benevento	O	O
near	O	O
Naples	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
today	O	O
on	O	O
charges	O	O
of	O	O
illegally	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
cattle	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
man	O	O
was	O	O
caught	O	O
by	O	O
police	O	O
while	O	O
secretly	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
a	O	O
cow	O	O
at	O	O
his	O	O
farm	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
meat	O	O
was	O	O
confiscated	O	O
and	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
tested	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
if	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
contaminated	O	O
with	O	O
``	O	O
mad	O	O
cow	O	O
''	O	O
disease	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
bovine	O	O
spongiform	O	O
encephalopathy	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
had	O	O
stepped	O	O
up	O	O
farm	O	O
inspections	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
of	O	O
Campania	O	O
amid	O	O
heightened	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
illegal	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
practices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
wake	O	O
of	O	O
Italy	O	O
's	O	O
first	O	O
suspected	DSE	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
vCJD	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
fatal	O	O
brain-wasting	O	O
human	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
BSE	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
case	O	O
concerns	O	O
a	O	O
23-year-old	O	O
woman	O	O
from	O	O
Menfi	O	O
in	O	O
southwest	O	O
Sicily	O	O
whom	O	O
health	O	O
officials	O	O
said	DSE	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
had	O	O
almost	ESE	ESE
certainly	ESE	ESE
contracted	O	O
the	O	O
disease	O	O
in	O	O
Italy	O	O
and	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
five	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

Federico	O	O
Piccoli	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
top	O	O
neurologist	O	O
at	O	O
Palermo	O	O
hospital	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
helping	O	O
to	O	O
treat	O	O
the	O	O
woman	O	O
,	O	O
immediately	O	DSE
warned	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
further	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
vCJD	O	O
in	O	O
Sicily	O	O
were	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
expected	ESE	ESE
because	O	ESE
``	O	O
the	O	O
illegal	O	ESE
slaughter	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
animals	O	ESE
still	O	ESE
goes	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
here	O	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	O
comments	O	O
were	DSE	O
immediately	DSE	DSE
contested	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
meat	O	O
industry	O	O
representatives	O	O
and	O	O
vet	O	O
associations	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
Green	O	O
party	O	O
said	DSE	O
yesterday	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
evidence	ESE	O
that	O	O
illegal	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
practices	O	O
were	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rise	ESE	O
in	O	O
several	O	O
southern	O	O
regions	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Campania	O	O
,	O	O
Sicily	O	O
and	O	O
Puglia	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
meat	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
entering	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
food	ESE	O
chain	ESE	O
.	O	O

Italy	O	O
launched	O	O
a	O	O
BSE	O	O
cattle-testing	O	O
programme	O	O
in	O	O
January	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
compliance	O	O
with	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
regulations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
so	O	O
far	O	O
56	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
mad	O	O
cow	O	O
''	O	O
disease	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
detected	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
a	O	O
Hizbullah	O	O
attack	O	O
against	O	O
Israel	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
requested	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
efforts	O	O
be	O	O
deployed	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
,	O	O
official	O	O
sources	O	O
disclosed	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
an	O	O
American	O	O
message	O	O
was	O	O
delivered	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
claims	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Hizbullah	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
contemplating	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
new	O	O
military	O	O
operation	O	O
to	O	O
mark	O	O
the	O	O
anniversary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
assassination	O	O
of	O	O
then-Hizbullah	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Abbas	O	O
Mussawi	O	O
.	O	O

Mussawi	O	O
was	O	O
killed	O	O
on	O	O
Feb.	O	O
17	O	O
,	O	O
1992	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli	O	O
helicopter	O	O
fired	O	O
a	O	O
missile	O	O
into	O	O
his	O	O
car	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
fears	DSE	DSE
were	ESE	O
based	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
Israeli	O	O
information	O	O
about	O	O
such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
likelihood	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Security	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
had	O	O
reinforced	O	O
security	O	O
measures	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese-Israeli	O	O
border	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
having	O	O
adopted	O	O
a	O	O
series	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
precautionary	O	O
procedures	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

For	O	O
that	O	O
purpose	O	O
,	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
were	O	O
deployed	O	O
en	O	O
masse	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
48	O	O
hours	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Lebanese	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	O
avoided	DSE	O
publicly	O	O
commenting	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
message	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
sources	O	O
reaffirmed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
remained	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
its	DSE	O
position	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
violations	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
's	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	O
Blue	ESE	O
Line	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
are	O	O
usually	ESE	O
committed	ESE	O
by	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
Israel	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	O	O
all	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
provocative	ESE	O
activities	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
one	O	O
official	O	O
source	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
referring	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
particular	DSE	O
to	O	O
air	O	O
raids	O	O
and	O	O
other	ESE	O
aggressive	ESE	O
acts	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
Lebanon	ESE	O
.	O	O

Lebanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
curb	O	O
such	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
infractions	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
source	O	O
added	DSE	O
,	O	O
rather	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
adopt	DSE	DSE
Israeli	O	DSE
claims	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
seek	DSE	DSE
security	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
state	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
a	O	O
government	O	O
official	O	O
in	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
politicians	O	O
recently	O	O
,	O	O
hostility	DSE	O
toward	O	O
Hizbullah	O	O
has	O	O
grown	ESE	O
tremendously	ESE	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
months	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
official	O	O
did	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
rule	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
seeing	O	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
animosity	ESE	ESE
reflect	ESE	ESE
negatively	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
and	O	O
Syria	O	O
-	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
in	O	O
general	O	O
-	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
eve	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
summit	O	O
scheduled	O	O
for	O	O
March	O	O
in	O	O
Beirut	O	O
.	O	O

TAIPEI	O	O
,	O	O
Feb	O	O
17	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
is	DSE	O
keeping	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
wary	DSE	O
eye	DSE	O
on	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
China	O	O
visit	O	O
despite	O	O
assurances	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
that	O	O
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
interests	O	O
would	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
traded	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
trip	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
had	DSE	O
guaranteed	DSE	O
Taipei	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
dilute	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	O
backing	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
better	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Chang	O	O
Siao-yueh	O	O
told	O	O
AFP	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Through	O	O
some	O	O
proper	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
told	DSE	O
that	O	O
there	ESE	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
surprises	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
during	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
top	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
handling	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
affairs	O	O
,	O	O
Richard	O	O
Bush	O	O
--	O	O
no	O	O
relation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
--	O	O
also	O	O
sought	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
ease	DSE	O
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
during	O	O
a	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
He	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
are	ESE	O
getting	ESE	O
better	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Joseph	O	O
Wu	O	O
,	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
National	O	O
Chengchi	O	O
University	O	O
's	O	O
Institute	O	O
of	O	O
International	O	O
Relations	O	O
.	O	O

Richard	O	O
Bush	O	O
is	O	O
chairman	O	O
and	O	O
managing	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Institute	O	O
in	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AIT	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
body	O	O
authorised	O	O
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
to	O	O
handle	O	O
exchanges	O	O
since	O	O
it	O	O
switched	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
recognition	O	O
from	O	O
Taipei	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
in	O	O
1979	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
president	O	O
embarked	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
week-long	O	O
tour	O	O
of	O	O
Asia	O	O
late	O	O
Saturday	O	O
with	O	O
stopovers	O	O
in	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
will	O	O
meet	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
on	O	O
February	O	O
21	O	O
and	O	O
22	O	O
.	O	O

Wu	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
believed	DSE	DSE
overall	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
interests	DSE	O
were	O	O
protected	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
knocks	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
because	ESE	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
enjoyed	O	O
``	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
''	O	O
among	O	O
decision-makers	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
announced	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
2001	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
arms	O	O
package	O	O
to	O	O
Taipei	O	O
since	O	O
1992	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
four	O	O
Kidd-class	O	O
destroyers	O	O
,	O	O
eight	O	O
diesel	O	O
submarines	O	O
and	O	O
12	O	O
P-3C	O	O
submarine-hunting	O	O
aircraft	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sale	O	O
infuriated	DSE	DSE
Beijing	O	O
which	O	O
regards	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
an	ESE	O
integral	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
territory	O	O
awaiting	O	O
reunification	O	O
,	O	O
by	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
if	ESE	ESE
necessary	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Before	O	O
leaving	O	O
for	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
discuss	O	O
with	O	O
Beijing	O	O
trade	O	O
issues	O	O
arising	O	O
from	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
entry	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Organisation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terror	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fate	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
peaceful	O	O
resolution	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
sovereignty	O	O
dispute	O	O
between	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
which	O	O
split	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
in	O	O
1949	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwanese	O	O
officials	O	O
are	DSE	O
nonetheless	DSE	ESE
concerned	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
speech	O	O
through	O	O
videoconference	O	O
to	O	O
hundreds	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
American	O	O
students	O	O
from	O	O
Harvard	O	O
,	O	O
Yale	O	O
,	O	O
Columbia	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
US	O	O
universities	O	O
,	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Annette	O	O
Lu	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
obstruct	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
ties	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
As	ESE	ESE
usual	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Beijing	O	O
will	ESE	O
try	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
best	ESE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
persuade	DSE	DSE
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
into	O	O
saying	O	O
something	ESE	O
disadvantageous	ESE	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
Asian	O	O
trip	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
mindset	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
impair	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
healthy	O	ESE
interaction	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
has	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
an	O	O
ad	O	O
hoc	O	O
group	O	O
to	O	O
monitor	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
Asia	O	O
trip	O	O
around-the-clock	O	O
and	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
,	O	O
Chang	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	O	O
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
de	O	O
facto	O	O
embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
similar	O	O
task	O	O
.	O	O

Compounding	O	O
fears	DSE	DSE
is	O	DSE
speculation	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
may	O	ESE
sign	O	O
a	O	O
fresh	O	O
communique	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
issues	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
and	O	O
prevention	O	O
of	O	O
nuclear	O	O
proliferation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
have	O	O
sealed	O	O
three	O	O
joint	O	O
communiques	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1970s	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
was	O	O
issued	O	O
during	O	O
then-president	O	O
Richard	O	O
Nixon	O	O
's	O	O
landmark	O	O
trip	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
1972	O	O
while	O	O
another	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
signed	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Ronald	O	O
Reagan	O	O
era	O	O
,	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
gradually	O	O
reduce	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Wu	O	O
defended	DSE	DSE
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
cautious	O	O
approach	O	O
,	O	O
warning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Beijing	O	O
could	ESE	O
try	O	O
to	O	O
use	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
to	O	O
gain	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
upper	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
interest	DSE	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
harmed	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
leaders	O	O
took	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
occasion	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
making	DSE	ESE
remarks	DSE	ESE
unfavorable	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
failed	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
defend	ESE	DSE
Taipei	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Wu	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Taipei	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
angered	DSE	DSE
when	O	O
then-president	O	O
Bill	O	O
Clinton	O	O
pledged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
three	O	O
nos	O	O
''	O	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
China	O	O
visit	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
.	O	O

Clinton	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
independence	O	O
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
two	O	O
Chinas	O	O
''	O	O
or	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
should	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
member	ESE	O
of	O	O
any	O	O
organisation	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
statehood	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
requirement	O	O
.	O	O

TOKYO	O	O
,	O	O
Feb	O	O
18	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	DSE	O
Monday	O	O
that	O	O
all	ESE	O
options	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
even	O	ESE
as	O	O
Germany	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
against	DSE	O
any	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
adventure	ESE	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
Iraq	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
Asian	O	O
tour	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
dismissed	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	O
chilly	DSE	O
reception	DSE	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	ESE
rhetoric	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
telling	DSE	O
reporters	O	O
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
will	O	O
keep	O	O
all	ESE	O
options	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
resolve	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
issues	ESE	O
peacefully	ESE	O
,	O	O
whether	O	O
it	O	O
be	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
or	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
speaking	O	O
next	O	O
to	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
lumped	DSE	O
those	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
together	O	O
in	O	O
what	O	O
terms	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
language	O	O
that	O	O
has	DSE	O
riled	DSE	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
renewed	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
pledge	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
thwart	ESE	O
terrorist	O	O
groups	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
mate	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
''	O	O
with	O	O
regimes	O	O
hoping	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
acquire	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
nations	O	O
will	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
is	O	O
extended	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
People	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
love	ESE	DSE
freedom	ESE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
we	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
allow	ESE	ESE
nations	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
nations	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
terrible	ESE	ESE
history	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
nations	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
so	ESE	ESE
dictatorial	ESE	ESE
they	O	ESE
're	O	ESE
willing	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
starve	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
,	O	O
we	ESE	O
ca	ESE	O
n't	ESE	O
allow	ESE	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
mate	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
terrorist	ESE	O
organizations	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Asked	O	O
about	O	O
French	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Hubert	O	O
Vedrine	O	O
's	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	O	O
''	O	O
concept	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
simplistic	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
understand	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
happens	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
arena	O	O
;	O	O
people	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
things	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	DSE	O
the	O	O
leaders	O	O
I	O	O
've	O	DSE
talked	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
exactly	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
needs	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
happen	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
our	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
just	ESE	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
history	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
given	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
unique	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
defend	ESE	O
freedom	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
arrived	O	O
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
Sunday	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
week-long	O	O
trip	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
take	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
Seoul	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
held	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
effort	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
leaders	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
``	O	O
specifically	O	DSE
''	O	DSE
talk	O	DSE
about	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
any	O	O
other	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
travel	O	O
to	O	O
Seoul	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
day	O	O
will	O	O
visit	O	O
the	O	O
heavily	O	O
fortified	O	O
no-man	O	O
's	O	O
land	O	O
between	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
and	O	O
communist	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
maintains	O	DSE
some	O	O
37,000	O	O
troops	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Korean	O	O
peninsula	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
de-militarised	O	O
zone	O	O
dividing	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
from	O	O
its	O	O
hardline	O	O
communist	O	O
northern	O	O
neighbour	O	O
``	O	O
one	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
places	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
earth	ESE	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
his	O	O
tough	DSE	DSE
stand	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
P'yongyang	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
provoked	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
Seoul	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
President	O	O
Kim	O	O
Tae-chung	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
five-year	O	O
term	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
prise	O	O
the	O	O
hermit	O	O
state	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
isolation	O	O
.	O	O

South	O	O
Korean	O	O
ministers	O	O
fear	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
tough	DSE	ESE
talking	DSE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
put	ESE	ESE
back	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
Kim	O	O
's	O	O
so-called	O	O
Sunshine	O	O
Policy	O	O
of	O	O
establishing	O	O
a	O	O
permanent	O	O
peace	O	O
.	O	O

Angry	DSE	DSE
anti-US	DSE	DSE
protests	DSE	DSE
erupted	DSE	O
in	O	O
Seoul	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
arrival	O	O
with	O	O
police	O	O
storming	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Chamber	O	O
of	O	O
Commerce	O	O
and	O	O
detaining	O	O
32	O	O
students	O	O
occupying	O	O
the	O	O
building	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
three-hour	O	O
occupation	O	O
,	O	O
protesters	O	O
hurled	O	DSE
leaflets	O	DSE
proclaiming	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
war	ESE	O
freak	ESE	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
diplomats	O	O
say	O	DSE
Bush	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
seek	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
Kim	O	O
's	O	O
Nobel	O	O
Prize	O	O
winning	O	O
policy	O	O
by	O	O
offering	DSE	O
new	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
North	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
remaining	DSE	O
firm	DSE	O
about	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
missile	O	O
sales	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
feared	DSE	DSE
chemical	O	O
and	O	O
biological	O	O
weapons	O	O
programmes	O	O
.	O	O

North	O	O
Korea	O	O
remains	DSE	ESE
unconvinced	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
calling	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
the	ESE	O
head	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
an	ESE	ESE
empire	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O
Its	O	O
state	O	O
media	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
last	O	O
week	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
``	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
bellicose	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
heinous	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
president	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
added	DSE	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
was	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
intended	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
fan	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
hysteria	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
US	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
no	O	O
firm	O	O
military	O	O
plans	O	O
exist	O	O
for	O	O
expanding	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terror	O	O
launched	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
said	DSE	O
late	O	O
Sunday	O	O
that	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
President	O	O
Saddam	O	O
Hussein	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
go	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	ESE	O
've	ESE	ESE
made	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
secret	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	O
we	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
much	ESE	O
safer	ESE	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
regime	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
deserve	ESE	O
instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
regime	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
Adviser	O	O
Condoleezza	O	O
Rice	O	O
told	O	O
CBS	O	O
television	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
Baghdad	O	O
,	O	O
under	O	O
UN	O	O
sanctions	O	O
since	O	O
its	O	O
1990	O	O
invasion	O	O
of	O	O
Kuwait	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
developing	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
Baghdad	O	O
insisted	DSE	DSE
Sunday	O	O
it	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
threat	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
threatening	ESE	ESE
Iraq	O	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
contrary	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
are	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
ones	ESE	O
attacking	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
round	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Ath-Thawra	O	O
,	O	O
mouthpiece	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Baath	O	O
party	O	O
in	O	O
Baghdad	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
Iraq	O	O
possessed	O	O
such	O	O
weapons	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
threaten	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

How	ESE	O
could	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
threaten	ESE	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
possesses	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
that	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
destroy	ESE	ESE
entire	ESE	ESE
planets	ESE	O
?	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
Berlin	O	O
,	O	O
Germany	O	O
's	O	O
chief	O	O
government	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Uwe-Karsten	O	O
Heye	O	O
told	O	O
journalists	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
federal	O	O
government	O	O
can	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
imagine	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
interest	DSE	O
in	O	O
engaging	O	O
in	O	O
an	ESE	O
adventure	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Iraq	ESE	O
.	O	O

Chancellor	O	O
Gerhard	O	O
Schroeder	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
pledged	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
undivided	ESE	ESE
support	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
a	O	O
week	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Germany	O	O
is	DSE	O
ready	DSE	O
for	O	O
risks	O	ESE
,	O	O
including	O	O
military	O	O
ones	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
adventures	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
insisted	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
right	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
allies	ESE	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
informed	O	O
and	O	O
consulted	O	O
about	O	O
US	O	O
plans	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
German	O	O
government	O	O
spokesman	O	O
said	DSE	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
useful	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
UN	O	O
observers	O	O
could	ESE	O
enter	ESE	O
Iraq	O	O
again	O	O
to	O	O
check	O	O
for	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
.	O	O

German	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Joschka	O	O
Fischer	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
sharply	DSE	DSE
criticised	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
remarks	DSE	O
,	O	O
telling	DSE	O
a	O	O
newspaper	O	O
that	O	O
such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
concept	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
gets	ESE	ESE
us	ESE	ESE
nowhere	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Iran	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	DSE	O
long	DSE	ESE
had	DSE	ESE
tense	DSE	ESE
relations	DSE	O
with	O	O
its	O	O
western	O	O
neighbor	O	O
,	O	O
voiced	DSE	DSE
opposition	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
US	O	O
strike	O	O
against	O	O
Iraq	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
solved	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
peaceful	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
initiatives	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
secretary	O	O
general	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
more	O	O
active	O	O
role	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Kamal	O	O
Kharazi	O	O
told	O	O
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
also	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Iraq	O	O
gives	O	O
a	O	O
favourable	ESE	O
response	O	O
and	O	O
allows	DSE	O
UN	O	O
weapon	O	O
inspectors	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

Kharazi	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
150	O	O
foreigners	O	O
arrested	O	O
recently	O	O
on	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
border	O	O
with	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
were	O	O
not	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
terror	O	O
network	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
admitted	DSE	ESE
some	O	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
sympathisers	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
sent	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
home	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
those	O	O
being	O	O
held	O	O
were	O	O
40	O	O
women	O	O
,	O	O
between	O	O
70	O	O
and	O	O
80	O	O
children	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
men	O	O
of	O	O
European	O	O
,	O	O
North	O	O
African	O	O
and	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
origin	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
a	O	O
handful	O	O
of	O	O
Afghans	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
source	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
affair	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
become	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
embarrassing	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
for	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	DSE	O
insistence	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
on	O	O
judging	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
themselves	ESE	O
''	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
al-Qaeda	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
alleges	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Tehran	O	O
has	DSE	O
allowed	DSE	O
al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
regime	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
Iranian	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
hotly	DSE	DSE
denied	DSE	DSE
but	O	O
said	DSE	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	O
act	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
provided	O	O
with	O	O
evidence	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
another	O	O
verbal	DSE	O
attack	DSE	O
Kharazi	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
of	O	DSE
wanting	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
exercise	ESE	DSE
``	ESE	O
world	ESE	ESE
dictatorship	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
horrible	ESE	O
attacks	ESE	O
''	O	O
of	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
rulers	O	O
have	O	O
proved	O	O
that	O	O
they	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
trusted	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	ESE	O
are	ESE	DSE
seeking	ESE	DSE
unilaterally	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
become	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
masters	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
want	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
sweep	ESE	O
aside	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
competitors	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Afghan	O	O
interim	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Yunus	O	O
Qanooni	O	O
told	O	O
AFP	O	O
that	O	O
two	O	O
suspects	O	O
in	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
's	O	O
murder	O	O
of	O	O
aviation	O	O
and	O	O
tourism	O	O
minister	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Rahman	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
arrested	O	O
in	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
and	O	O
could	O	O
be	O	O
sent	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
is	O	O
giving	O	O
two	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
speeches	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
is	O	O
improvised	ESE	O
and	O	O
not	ESE	O
devoid	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
slips	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
tongue	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
second	O	O
is	O	O
carefully	ESE	O
written	ESE	O
and	O	O
studied	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
every	ESE	O
aspect	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
represents	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
official	ESE	O
policy	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
controversy	O	O
about	O	O
which	O	O
type	O	O
is	O	O
more	O	ESE
credible	O	ESE
.	O	O

Perhaps	ESE	ESE
improvisation	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
indication	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
inclinations	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
personal	DSE	DSE
convictions	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
improvising	O	O
he	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
expressing	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
runs	O	O
through	O	O
his	O	O
mind	O	O
since	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
tongue	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
extension	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
heart	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
hand	ESE	O
,	O	O
written	O	O
speeches	O	O
are	O	O
more	ESE	O
indicative	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	O
drafted	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
decision-making	DSE	O
circles	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
final	O	O
decision	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
Address	O	O
,	O	O
given	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
joint	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
and	O	O
Senate	O	O
every	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
pre-prepared	O	O
speech	O	O
.	O	O

Every	ESE	DSE
phrase	ESE	DSE
in	O	DSE
it	O	DSE
was	O	DSE
carefully	ESE	DSE
studied	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
the	O	O
phrase	O	O
that	O	O
referred	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Axis	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
term	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
created	O	O
by	O	O
Mussolini	O	O
signifying	O	O
the	O	O
alliance	O	O
of	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
Italy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Japan	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
term	O	O
used	O	O
by	O	O
former	O	O
President	O	O
Reagan	O	O
to	O	DSE
describe	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Soviet	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
self-destructive	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
causing	ESE	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
to	O	O
collapse	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
within	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	ESE
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
come	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
combining	O	O
the	O	O
words	O	O
of	O	O
Mussolini	O	O
and	O	O
Reagan	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
successful	ESE	ESE
choice	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
viable	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
describe	O	ESE
terrorist	O	ESE
organizations	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
,	O	O
then	ESE	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
viable	ESE	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
for	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Besides	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
politicians	O	O
refer	DSE	O
to	O	O
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
purposes	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
intimidation	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
exaggeration	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

During	O	O
World	O	O
War	O	O
II	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
axis	O	O
countries	O	O
were	O	O
very	O	ESE
strong	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
bound	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
alliance	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	O
axis	O	O
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
represents	O	O
small	O	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
linked	O	O
by	O	O
any	O	O
alliance	O	O
or	O	O
cooperation	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
Iran	O	O
were	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
longest	ESE	O
destructive	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
half	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
20th	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
country	O	ESE
living	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
isolation	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
keeping	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	ESE
everyone	ESE	ESE
else	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Its	O	O
name	O	O
was	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
mentioned	DSE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
remove	ESE	ESE
suspicion	ESE	ESE
around	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
United	ESE	ESE
States	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	ESE
hostility	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
Islam	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
eager	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
open	O	O
a	O	O
dialogue	O	O
with	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	O
since	ESE	O
the	O	O
reform	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
is	O	O
progressing	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
expense	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
traditional	O	O
,	O	O
conservative	O	O
school	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
unlikely	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
with	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
leaves	ESE	O
Iraq	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
circles	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
antagonize	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
to	O	O
go	O	O
to	O	O
war	O	O
with	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
wages	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
Iraq	O	O
then	O	O
this	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
necessity	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
like	ESE	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	O	O
a	ESE	O
choice	ESE	O
that	O	O
confirms	O	O
the	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
inclinations	ESE	DSE
of	O	O
some	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Administration	O	O
.	O	O

21	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Relations	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	O	O
increasingly	ESE	O
become	O	O
``	O	O
harmonious	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
close	ESE	O
''	O	O
since	ESE	O
U.	O	O
S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
and	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
current	O	O
mainland	O	O
visit	O	O
is	O	O
unlikely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
affect	ESE	O
the	O	O
two-way	O	O
ties	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
presidential	O	O
aide	O	O
said	DSE	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Secretary-General	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
Office	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shih-meng	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
U.	O	O
S.	O	O
has	DSE	O
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
assured	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
will	O	ESE
stick	O	ESE
to	O	O
his	DSE	O
commitments	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
help	O	DSE
protect	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
he	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
anything	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
damage	ESE	ESE
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
interests	DSE	O
while	O	O
visiting	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
Chen	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
purpose	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
mainland	O	O
trip	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
thank	DSE	DSE
Beijing	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.-led	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
war	O	O
following	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
terror	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
Chang	O	O
Shiao-yue	O	O
,	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
,	O	O
reiterated	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
had	O	O
briefed	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
mainland	O	O
visit	O	O
before	O	O
his	O	O
departure	O	O
and	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
trip	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
hurt	ESE	ESE
Taiwan	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
interests	ESE	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
added	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
has	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
a	O	O
task	O	O
force	O	O
to	O	O
monitor	O	O
developments	O	O
and	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
all	O	O
contingencies	O	O
.	O	O

Feb	O	O
21	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Interfax	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Russia	O	O
's	O	O
Interior	O	O
Ministry	O	O
is	O	O
looking	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
report	O	O
about	O	O
Russian	O	O
entrepreneur	O	O
Viktor	O	O
Bout	O	O
's	O	O
involvement	O	O
in	O	O
arms	O	O
supplies	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
terrorist	O	O
organization	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Nikolai	O	O
Bobrovsky	O	O
ordered	O	O
a	O	O
detailed	O	O
probe	O	O
and	O	O
verification	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
information	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Interior	O	O
Ministry	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Yuri	O	O
Shuvalov	O	O
told	O	O
Interfax	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
,	O	O
23	O	O
Feb	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ZTS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
concluded	O	O
a	O	O
two-day	O	O
working	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
exchanged	DSE	DSE
in-depth	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
major	O	O
international	O	O
and	O	O
regional	O	O
issues	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
reached	DSE	O
extensive	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
important	ESE	ESE
consensus	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Both	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
sides	O	O
hold	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
visit	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
achieved	ESE	O
positive	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
successful	ESE	O
results	ESE	O
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
media	O	O
also	O	O
generally	O	DSE
maintained	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
positive	DSE	DSE
stance	DSE	DSE
toward	O	O
the	O	O
trip	O	O
and	O	O
welcomed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
visit	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
a	ESE	O
success	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

When	O	O
he	O	O
revisited	O	O
the	O	O
Great	O	O
Wall	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
could	DSE	ESE
hardly	DSE	ESE
hide	DSE	ESE
his	DSE	ESE
excitement	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
Chinese	O	O
officials	O	O
to	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
places	O	O
where	O	O
Nixon	O	O
had	O	O
stood	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
ice-breaking	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Great	O	O
Wall	O	O
30	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
front	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
TV	O	O
camera	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
stepped	O	O
several	O	O
steps	O	O
forward	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
spot	O	O
where	O	O
Nixon	O	O
had	O	O
stood	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
show	ESE	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
that	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relationship	O	O
continues	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
move	ESE	O
ahead	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
existing	ESE	O
basis	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
editorial	O	O
,	O	O
Wen	O	O
Wei	O	O
Po	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
30	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
Nixon	O	O
developed	O	O
strategic	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
strategic	O	O
interests	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
the	ESE	O
need	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
deal	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Soviet	ESE	O
Union	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
biggest	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Thirty	O	O
years	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
now	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
itself	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
sole	ESE	ESE
superpower	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
event	O	O
makes	ESE	O
Bush	ESE	O
aware	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
major	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
terrorist	O	O
groups	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
US	O	O
security	O	O
is	O	O
threatened	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
without	O	O
support	DSE	O
from	O	O
other	O	O
big	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
win	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
then	O	O
rediscovered	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
importance	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
--	O	O
a	O	ESE
big	O	ESE
country	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
side	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
globe	O	ESE
--	O	O
and	O	O
tries	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
develop	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
constructive	O	ESE
cooperative	O	ESE
relations	O	ESE
''	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
since	ESE	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
in	DSE	O
accord	DSE	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
strategic	O	O
interests	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
appreciates	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
role	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
plays	O	O
in	O	O
helping	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
between	O	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
would	O	O
mediate	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
'	O	O
behalf	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
can	O	O
resume	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
a	DSE	O
saying	DSE	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
people	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
work	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
pursue	ESE	ESE
gains	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O
That	O	O
Bush	O	O
chooses	DSE	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
contacts	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
shows	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
deal	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
global	ESE	O
issues	ESE	O
alone	ESE	O
,	O	O
nor	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
afford	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
ignore	DSE	ESE
China	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
major	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
international	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
see	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
stopped	DSE	O
referring	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	DSE	O
strategic	DSE	ESE
competitor	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
remark	DSE	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
since	ESE	O
a	O	O
confrontation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
biggest	O	O
countries	O	O
on	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Pacific	O	O
brings	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
's	O	O
public	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
hold	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
is	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
delivering	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
message	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
threat	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
advocates	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Republican	O	O
Party	O	O
:	O	O
Now	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
engage	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
positive	ESE	O
manner	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
addition	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
stay	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
``	DSE	O
admiration	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	ESE
and	DSE	ESE
``	DSE	ESE
surprise	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
on	O	O
several	O	O
occasions	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
development	O	O
and	O	O
changes	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
China	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
tremendous	ESE	ESE
development	ESE	ESE
potential	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	O	O
22	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
speech	O	O
at	O	O
Tsinghua	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
again	O	O
stated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
me	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
use	ESE	DSE
words	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
describe	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
earth-shaking	ESE	O
changes	ESE	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
Ta	O	O
Kung	O	O
Pao	O	O
editorial	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
that	O	O
obviously	ESE	O
Bush	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
these	ESE	O
remarks	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
courtesy	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hosts	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
that	O	O
development	O	O
and	O	O
changes	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
did	ESE	O
indeed	ESE	O
leave	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
deep	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
a	ESE	O
certain	ESE	O
impact	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
's	O	O
readjustment	O	O
and	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
policies	O	O
toward	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

Regarding	O	O
the	O	O
major	O	O
contents	O	O
and	O	O
purpose	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
at	O	O
Tsinghua	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
overseas	O	O
public	O	O
opinion	O	DSE
had	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
promotion	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
values	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
editorial	O	O
,	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
's	O	O
Shang	O	O
Pao	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
reform	O	O
and	O	O
opening	O	O
up	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
people	O	O
want	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
understand	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
easiest	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
understand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
today	ESE	O
,	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
or	O	O
even	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
early	O	O
days	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
reform	O	O
and	O	O
opening	O	O
up	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
broad	O	O
mass	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
young	O	O
college	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
particular	O	O
,	O	O
know	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
US	O	O
values	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
people	O	O
not	ESE	DSE
only	ESE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
American	O	O
democracy	O	O
,	O	O
freedom	O	O
,	O	O
religions	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
they	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
know	ESE	DSE
quite	ESE	DSE
well	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
American	O	O
social	O	O
,	O	O
economic	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
political	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
beyond	ESE	O
Bush	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
imagination	ESE	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
student	O	O
asked	DSE	O
Bush	O	O
yesterday	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
handle	O	O
social	O	O
problems	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
problem	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
violation	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
getting	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
day	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
day	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
!	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
was	ESE	O
made	ESE	O
prominent	ESE	O
during	O	O
Premier	O	O
Zhu	O	O
Rongji	O	O
's	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
the	DSE	O
questions	DSE	O
posed	DSE	O
to	O	O
Bush	O	O
by	O	O
Tsinghua	O	O
students	O	O
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
public	DSE	O
opinion	DSE	DSE
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
shows	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Government	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
are	DSE	O
extremely	DSE	DSE
concerned	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
and	O	O
dissatisfied	DSE	O
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
realize	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
core	ESE	ESE
issue	ESE	O
in	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	ESE	O
greatly	ESE	ESE
responsible	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
slow	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
``	ESE	O
Taiwan	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
forces	O	O
running	ESE	O
rampant	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
earnestly	ESE	ESE
abide	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
joint	O	O
communiques	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
relevant	DSE	O
commitments	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
properly	ESE	O
handle	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
from	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
strategic	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
long-term	ESE	O
perspective	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
vital	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
,	O	O
to	ESE	O
peace	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
stability	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
healthy	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Sino-US	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
.	O	O

West	O	O
aims	DSE	O
`	O	O
to	O	O
prop	O	O
up	O	O
MDC	O	O
'	O	O

Herald	DSE	O
Reporter	O	O
-	O	O
THE	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
imposed	O	O
targeted	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
senior	O	O
Government	O	O
officials	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
alleged	ESE	O
deteriorating	ESE	O
political	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
weekend	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Government	O	O
has	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
sanctions	O	O
are	ESE	O
meant	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
prop	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
MDC	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Mr	O	O
Willard	O	O
Chiwewe	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
was	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
hurry	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
prop	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
move	O	O
follows	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
last	O	O
Monday	O	O
to	O	O
impose	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Cde	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
ministers	O	O
,	O	O
senior	O	O
Government	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
a	O	O
freeze	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
alleged	ESE	O
overseas	O	O
assets	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
travel	O	O
ban	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
15-nation	O	O
bloc	O	O
.	O	O

Dismissing	DSE	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
move	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
said	DSE	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
would	ESE	O
withstand	ESE	O
the	O	O
sanctions	O	O
imposed	O	O
by	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
and	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
abandon	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
land	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
are	O	DSE
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
placing	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
leaders	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
do	O	O
n't	O	O
come	O	O
to	O	O
Europe	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
Europe	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
What	O	O
will	O	O
I	O	O
be	O	DSE
wanting	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
?	O	O

We	O	O
can	O	O
visit	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
and	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
a	O	O
rally	O	O
in	O	O
Nkayi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
EU	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
was	O	DSE
roundly	DSE	DSE
condemned	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
move	O	O
as	O	O
neo-colonial	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nigeria	O	O
,	O	O
Tanzania	O	O
,	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
lambasted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
EU	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
show	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
solidarity	O	ESE
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
Tanzanian	O	O
President	O	O
Benjamin	O	O
Mkapa	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
African	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
let	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
manipulated	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
powerful	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	O	O
neo-colonialism	ESE	O
and	O	O
economic	ESE	O
colonialism	ESE	O
.	O	O

I	DSE	O
'm	DSE	DSE
saying	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
because	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
beginning	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
forget	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
Berlin	O	O
where	O	O
they	O	O
had	O	DSE
gone	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
Balkanisation	ESE	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
continent	O	O
into	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
later	O	O
came	O	O
to	O	O
colonise	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Namibia	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwe	O	O
had	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
invite	DSE	DSE
observers	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
elections	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	DSE	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
justification	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
's	O	O
move	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
body	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
regard	DSE	ESE
itself	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
competent	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
others	O	O
in	O	O
election	O	O
observation	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
travel	O	O
ban	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
senior	O	O
Government	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
certain	O	O
persons	O	O
''	O	O
with	O	O
business	O	O
dealings	O	O
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Government	O	O
officials	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
families	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
sanctions	O	O
also	O	O
applied	O	O
to	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
``	O	O
formulate	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
implement	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
benefit	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
policies	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
undermine	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
injure	ESE	ESE
Zimbabwe	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
democratic	ESE	O
institutions	ESE	O
or	O	O
impede	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
functioning	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
multi-party	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
targeted	O	O
travel	O	O
restrictions	O	O
against	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
Zimbabwe	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
crisis	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
advance	ESE	O
positive	ESE	O
change	ESE	O
by	O	O
signalling	DSE	O
our	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
democratic	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
focusing	O	O
international	O	O
scrutiny	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
appropriate	O	O
actors	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
maniacs	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
continue	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
spew	ESE	ESE
out	DSE	ESE
vicious	DSE	ESE
remarks	DSE	ESE
against	O	ESE
us	O	ESE
,	O	O
despite	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
strong	DSE	ESE
protest	DSE	ESE
and	DSE	ESE
denunciation	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
people	O	ESE
around	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
.	O	O

Following	O	O
his	O	O
vicious	ESE	DSE
remarks	DSE	DSE
that	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
our	O	O
country	O	O
an	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
address	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
revealed	O	O
that	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
talked	O	DSE
nonsense	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
targets	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
war	O	O
will	O	O
include	O	O
not	O	O
only	O	O
international	O	O
terrorist	O	O
organizations	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
develop	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
WMD	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

There	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
question	ESE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
WMD-developing	O	O
countries	O	O
he	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
including	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

High-ranking	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
US	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Cheney	O	O
,	O	O
actively	DSE	ESE
chimed	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	ESE
with	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
absurd	ESE	ESE
remarks	O	O
.	O	O

Inspecting	O	O
US	O	O
Air	O	O
Force	O	O
bases	O	O
some	O	O
time	O	O
ago	O	O
,	O	O
Cheney	O	O
maintained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
WMD	O	DSE
threats	O	DSE
.	O	O

High-ranking	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
and	O	O
defense	O	O
departments	O	O
made	O	O
preposterous	ESE	O
remarks	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
biggest	ESE	O
exporter	ESE	O
of	O	O
WMD	O	O
,	O	O
ballistic	O	O
missiles	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
relevant	O	O
technology	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
another	ESE	O
diversionary	ESE	O
tactic	ESE	O
to	O	O
divert	O	O
the	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
people	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
provoked	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
had	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
announcement	DSE	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
it	O	O
had	O	O
caused	O	O
a	O	O
great	O	O
controversy	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
us	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
everyone	ESE	ESE
knows	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
getting	DSE	O
strong	DSE	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
denunciation	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
rejection	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
cornered	ESE	ESE
by	O	ESE
impartial	ESE	ESE
public	DSE	ESE
opinion	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
referring	DSE	O
to	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
an	ESE	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
made	ESE	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
remarks	ESE	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
address	O	O
.	O	O

Because	ESE	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
absolutely	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
go	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
reputation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
all	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
vicious	ESE	O
conduct	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
indeed	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
ring	ESE	O
leader	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
empire	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
perpetrates	ESE	O
spiteful	ESE	O
conduct	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
worldwide	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
that	O	O
possesses	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
largest	O	O
quantity	O	O
of	O	O
WMD	O	O
and	O	O
inflicted	ESE	ESE
nuclear	ESE	ESE
disaster	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
humankind	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
placed	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
situation	O	O
in	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
complex	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
going	ESE	O
haywire	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
dominate	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
but	ESE	ESE
gangster-like	ESE	ESE
logic	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
country	O	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
label	DSE	DSE
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
dignified	ESE	O
sovereign	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
UN	O	O
members	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
an	ESE	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Hence	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
world	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
decrying	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	ESE	O
such	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
extent	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
residents	O	O
even	ESE	O
within	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
denouncing	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
reckless	ESE	ESE
remarks	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
fellow	O	O
who	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
address	O	O
inevitably	ESE	O
submitted	O	O
his	O	O
resignation	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
news	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
announced	O	O
that	O	O
David	O	O
Frum	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
official	O	O
who	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
address	O	O
,	O	O
had	O	O
submitted	O	O
his	O	O
resignation	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
signifies	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
he	ESE	O
inevitably	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
leave	ESE	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
driven	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
anti-Bush	ESE	O
hot	ESE	O
winds	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
around	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
imperialist	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
maniacs	ESE	ESE
are	O	ESE
clinging	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
new	ESE	ESE
conspiracy	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
order	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
escape	ESE	ESE
such	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
predicament	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
divert	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
arrows	ESE	O
aimed	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
in	O	O
other	O	O
directions	O	O
.	O	O

What	O	O
they	O	O
have	ESE	O
crafted	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
was	O	O
our	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
sales	O	O
of	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
WMD	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
ballistic	O	O
missiles	O	O
and	O	O
concerned	O	O
technology	O	O
sales	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
order	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
add	ESE	ESE
credibility	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
US	ESE	ESE
imperialist	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
maniacs	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	ESE
conspiracy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
forget	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
label	DSE	DSE
our	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
number	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
WMD	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
ballistic	ESE	O
missiles	ESE	O
sales	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
concerned	ESE	O
technology	ESE	O
sales	ESE	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
already	O	O
mentioned	O	O
.	O	O

How	ESE	ESE
accustomed	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
trickery	ESE	ESE
!	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
no	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
fall	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
acts	ESE	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
we	O	O
mentioned	DSE	O
earlier	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
which	O	O
produces	O	O
and	O	O
possesses	O	O
the	O	O
greatest	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
nuclear	O	O
weapons	O	O
and	O	O
WMD	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
that	O	O
threatens	DSE	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
with	O	O
these	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
weapons	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

Not	DSE	DSE
satisfied	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
develop	O	O
new	O	O
nuclear	O	O
weapons	O	O
by	O	O
resuming	O	O
underground	O	O
nuclear	O	O
tests	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
simply	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
blatant	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
rogue	ESE	ESE
state	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
someone	ESE	ESE
harm	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
invite	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
criticism	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	DSE
rejection	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
world	O	O
people	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
authorities	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
these	ESE	O
acts	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
making	ESE	O
remarks	ESE	O
that	O	O
smear	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
faces	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

We	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
unmonitorable	O	O
for	O	O
20	O	O
secs	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
unjust	ESE	O
acts	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
will	DSE	ESE
fight	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
US	ESE	ESE
imperialist	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
maniacs	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
including	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
try	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
threaten	ESE	ESE
national	ESE	ESE
dignity	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
end	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
settle	DSE	ESE
scores	DSE	ESE
with	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
dampen	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
bend	ESE	ESE
our	O	ESE
unwavering	DSE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

AMMAN	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
unemployment	O	O
rate	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
48,000	O	O
engineers	O	O
has	O	O
dropped	O	O
by	O	O
1.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
since	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
official	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Jordan	O	O
Engineers	O	O
Association	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
JEA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
said	O	DSE
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rate	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
was	O	O
around	O	O
8.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
two	O	O
months	O	O
of	O	O
2002	O	O
it	O	O
dropped	O	O
to	O	O
7	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
JEA	O	O
President	O	O
Azzam	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
total	O	O
of	O	O
unemployed	O	O
engineers	O	O
currently	O	O
stands	O	O
at	O	O
3,360	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
association	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
provided	O	O
867	O	O
unemployed	O	O
engineers	O	O
with	O	O
job	O	O
opportunities	O	O
in	O	O
several	O	O
public	O	O
and	O	O
private	O	O
institutions	O	O
,	O	O
thereby	O	O
contributing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
decline	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
association	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
contacting	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
private	O	O
institutions	O	O
to	O	O
supply	O	O
them	O	O
with	O	O
engineers	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

Both	O	O
the	O	O
JEA	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Housing	O	O
and	O	O
Public	O	O
Works	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
trained	O	O
759	O	O
new	O	O
engineering	O	O
graduates	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
to	O	O
prepare	O	O
them	O	O
for	O	O
job	O	O
opportunities	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
JEA	O	O
's	O	O
obligations	O	O
stipulated	DSE	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
bylaws	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
training	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
members	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
training	O	O
takes	O	O
the	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
full-time	O	O
internship	O	O
lasting	O	O
from	O	O
six	O	O
months	O	O
to	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
graduates	O	O
are	O	O
placed	O	O
in	O	O
professional	O	O
settings	O	O
to	O	O
gain	O	O
firsthand	O	O
experience	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
workplace	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	DSE	O
aim	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
the	O	O
engineers	O	O
a	O	O
real	ESE	ESE
chance	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
practise	O	ESE
what	O	O
they	O	O
studied	O	O
in	O	O
theory	O	O
at	O	O
university	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

Engineers	O	O
specialised	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
electricity	O	O
field	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
hired	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
electric	O	O
company	O	O
for	O	O
eight	O	O
hours	O	O
per	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
trainee	O	O
is	O	O
paid	O	O
between	O	O
JD120-150	O	O
per	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
association	O	O
defrays	O	O
JD30-50	O	O
of	O	O
that	O	O
monthly	O	O
salary	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
JEA	O	O
official	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
association	O	O
annually	O	O
allocates	O	O
JD100	O	O
,000	O	O
for	O	O
training	O	O
graduates	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
year	O	O
it	O	O
plans	DSE	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
trainees	O	O
to	O	O
1,000	O	O
graduates	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
require	O	O
more	O	O
funds	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
association	O	O
is	DSE	O
willing	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
cover	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
engineering	O	O
sector	O	O
has	O	O
more	O	O
graduates	O	O
than	O	O
job	O	O
openings	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
association	O	O
's	O	O
representative	O	O
offices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
states	O	O
look	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
bring	O	O
engineers	O	O
from	O	O
Jordan	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

Unemployment	O	ESE
prevails	O	ESE
mainly	O	ESE
among	O	O
chemical	O	O
,	O	O
mechanical	O	O
and	O	O
civil	O	O
engineering	O	O
graduates	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
engineers	O	O
specialised	O	O
in	O	O
electrical	O	O
,	O	O
computer	O	O
and	O	O
architectural	O	O
engineering	O	O
have	O	O
no	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
finding	O	ESE
jobs	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
Jordanian	O	O
public	O	O
and	O	O
private	O	O
universities	O	O
'	O	O
engineering	O	O
departments	O	O
is	O	O
around	O	O
6,000	O	O
,	O	O
excluding	O	O
those	O	O
in	O	O
agricultural	O	O
engineering	O	O
.	O	O

Around	O	O
2,000	O	O
new	O	O
engineers	O	O
enter	O	O
the	O	O
job	O	O
market	O	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
annual	O	O
basis	O	O
.	O	O

Currently	O	O
,	O	O
many	O	O
engineering	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
universities	O	O
prefer	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
specialise	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
electrical	O	O
or	O	O
computer	O	O
disciplines	O	O
because	O	O
the	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
them	O	O
is	O	O
higher	O	O
.	O	O

MKAPA	O	O
SAYS	DSE	O
PUNITIVE	O	O
ACTION	O	O
AGAINST	O	O
ZIM	O	O
PREMATURE	ESE	O

Tanzanian	O	O
President	O	O
Benjamin	O	O
Mkapa	O	O
joined	O	O
his	O	O
African	O	O
counterparts	O	O
here	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
in	O	O
rejecting	DSE	DSE
calls	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
Australia	O	O
and	O	O
Canada	O	O
for	ESE	O
punitive	ESE	O
action	ESE	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
on	O	O
March	O	O
9	O	O
and	O	O
10	O	O
.	O	O

Speaking	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
executive	O	O
session	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Heads	O	O
of	O	O
government	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Australian	O	O
east	O	O
coast	O	O
resort	O	O
on	O	O
Coolum	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
any	ESE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
sanctions	O	O
or	O	O
suspension	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
premature	ESE	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
scene	O	O
is	O	O
evolving	ESE	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

It	DSE	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
evolving	ESE	O
in	O	O
Coolum	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
we	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
make	DSE	ESE
an	DSE	ESE
intelligent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
rational	ESE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
then	O	ESE
we	O	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
allow	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
scene	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
played	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
there	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
had	O	O
observers	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
we	ESE	O
listen	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
told	DSE	O
reporters	O	O
.	O	O

Mkapa	O	O
said	DSE	O
he	O	O
has	O	O
a	ESE	O
real	ESE	ESE
problem	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
which	O	O
assumed	DSE	O
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
poll	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
That	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
ridiculous	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
wait	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	ESE
...	O	O
Let	O	O
the	O	O
observers	O	O
give	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
observation	DSE	O
and	O	O
then	ESE	O
we	O	O
will	DSE	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Mkapa	O	O
reiterated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
quiet	ESE	ESE
diplomacy	ESE	ESE
was	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
correct	ESE	ESE
route	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
follow	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
a	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
shared	O	DSE
by	O	O
his	O	O
other	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
colleagues	O	O
.	O	O

Mkapa	O	O
also	O	O
indirectly	DSE	O
criticised	DSE	DSE
British	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tony	O	O
Blair	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
on	O	O
record	O	O
as	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	ESE	O
likely	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
think	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
has	O	O
reached	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
point	ESE	O
that	O	O
we	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
alienation	ESE	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
going	O	O
on	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
assumption	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
that	O	O
unless	ESE	ESE
Mugabe	O	O
or	O	O
Zanu-PF	O	O
loses	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
delayed	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
respond	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
crisis	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
opting	DSE	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
so	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
privacy	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
traditional	O	O
retreat	O	O
,	O	O
away	O	O
from	O	O
advisers	O	O
and	O	O
officials	O	O
.	O	O

Blair	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
warned	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
54-member	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
's	O	O
reputation	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
damaged	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
failed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
decisive	ESE	ESE
action	ESE	ESE
against	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
BBC	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
Blair	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
hopeful	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
Mugabe	O	O
did	O	O
win	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
then	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
suspension	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
h	O	O
would	O	O
follow	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
violations	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
taking	O	O
place	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
identified	DSE	O
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
top	ESE	O
violator	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
last	ESE	O
Christian	ESE	O
year	ESE	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
restrictions	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
citizens	O	O
under	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
excuse	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
fighting	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
.	O	O

So	O	O
far	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
has	O	DSE
denied	ESE	DSE
its	ESE	O
citizens	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
legitimate	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
military	O	O
courts	O	O
to	O	O
try	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
charged	O	O
with	O	O
terrorism	O	O
without	ESE	O
giving	O	O
the	O	O
accused	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	O
of	O	O
appeal	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
basic	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
to	O	O
appoint	O	O
a	O	O
lawyer	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
has	ESE	O
violated	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
minorities	ESE	O
and	O	O
in	ESE	O
particular	ESE	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
minority	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
migrated	O	O
to	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
is	O	O
keeping	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
and	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
idah	O	O
prisoners	O	O
in	ESE	O
metal	ESE	O
cages	ESE	O
named	ESE	O
detention	ESE	O
centres	ESE	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
refusing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
identify	DSE	O
them	O	O
as	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
another	ESE	O
example	ESE	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
violations	O	O
in	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

Only	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
the	O	O
extensive	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
media	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
organizations	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
compelled	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
partially	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
right	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
interesting	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
America	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
expelled	O	O
from	O	O
membership	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
organization	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
repeated	ESE	O
violation	ESE	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

How	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
under	ESE	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
circumstances	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
America	O	O
allow	O	DSE
itself	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
express	DSE	DSE
an	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
?	O	O

It	ESE	O
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
America	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
unilateral	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
identify	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
limits	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
presidency	O	O
in	ESE	O
particular	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
adopted	DSE	DSE
unilateral	ESE	DSE
policies	O	DSE
over	O	O
such	O	O
international	O	O
issues	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
strategic	O	O
arms	O	O
,	O	O
environmental	O	O
concerns	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
to	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
criminal	O	O
court	O	O
and	O	O
lately	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
current	O	O
expression	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
records	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
continuation	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
same	ESE	ESE
unilateral	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
pursued	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
is	O	O
,	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
assumes	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
interfere	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
all	O	O
international	O	O
issues	O	O
and	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
itself	O	ESE
does	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
care	DSE	ESE
about	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
concern	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
community	O	O
vis-a-vis	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
policies	O	O
which	O	O
at	O	O
times	O	O
influence	O	O
a	O	O
large	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
a	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
virtue	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
express	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
issues	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
authorities	O	O
-	O	O
after	O	O
massacring	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
innocent	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
under	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
excuse	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
fighting	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	O
continuing	O	O
-	O	O
can	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
expect	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
people	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
take	DSE	ESE
seriously	DSE	ESE
the	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
issued	O	O
by	O	O
their	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
therefore	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
blame	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
world	O	O
for	O	O
viewing	DSE	O
such	O	O
reports	O	O
as	O	O
a	ESE	O
tool	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
advance	ESE	O
America	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
foreign	ESE	O
policy	ESE	O
.	O	O

TEHRAN	O	O
The	O	O
concluding	O	O
ceremony	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
First	O	O
International	O	O
Police	O	O
and	O	O
Security	O	O
Equipment	O	O
Exhibition	O	O
was	O	O
held	O	O
last	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
's	O	O
Public	O	O
Relations	O	O
Office	O	O
said	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
ceremony	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
presence	O	O
of	O	O
some	O	O
security	O	O
and	O	O
government	O	O
officials	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
large	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
foreign	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
attaches	O	O
from	O	O
15	O	O
foreign	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
participants	O	O
praised	DSE	DSE
those	O	O
companies	O	O
which	O	O
emerged	O	O
superior	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	O
ceremony	O	O
,	O	O
Seyed	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Jalali	O	O
Parvin	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
managing	O	O
director	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
board	O	O
of	O	O
directors	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
Law	O	O
Enforcement	O	O
Forces	O	O
'	O	O
Cooperatives	O	O
Foundation	O	O
,	O	O
presented	O	O
some	O	O
awards	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
superior	O	O
companies	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
taken	O	O
part	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

Touching	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
modern	O	O
technology	O	O
in	O	O
preventing	O	O
and	O	O
reducing	O	O
crimes	O	O
in	O	O
society	O	O
,	O	O
Parvin	O	O
also	O	O
thanked	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
active	O	O
participation	O	O
of	O	O
local	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
companies	O	O
at	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
First	O	O
International	O	O
Police	O	O
and	O	O
Security	O	O
Equipment	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
assessed	DSE	O
the	O	O
achievements	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
as	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
useful	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
satisfactory	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
hoping	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
police	O	O
and	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
equipped	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
and	O	O
most	O	O
modern	O	O
technology	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
can	O	O
expedite	O	O
their	O	O
activities	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
campaign	O	O
against	O	O
crimes	O	O
.	O	O

Pointing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
presence	O	O
of	O	O
Interpol	O	O
officers	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
representatives	O	O
,	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
attaches	O	O
from	O	O
different	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
,	O	O
Slovakia	O	O
and	O	O
Italy	O	O
,	O	O
Parvin	O	O
said	O	DSE
despite	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
exhibition	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
kind	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
extensively	DSE	DSE
welcomed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
many	O	O
companies	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
gave	O	O
the	O	O
news	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
holding	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
similar	O	O
exhibition	O	O
by	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
in	O	O
Moscow	O	O
and	O	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
companies	O	O
would	ESE	O
present	O	O
their	O	O
equipment	O	O
at	O	O
this	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	O
ceremony	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
Sa-Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Ava-e	O	O
Nasr-e	O	O
Novin	O	O
and	O	O
Mahan	O	O
Industry	O	O
companies	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
foreign	O	O
companies	O	O
from	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Netherlands	O	O
received	O	O
awards	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
superior	O	O
companies	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

AMMAN	O	O
--	O	O
Jordan	O	O
said	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
pact	O	O
on	O	O
impeding	O	O
global	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
recent	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Faris	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Corporation	O	O
for	O	O
Environment	O	O
Protection	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GCEP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Soon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
delegate	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
representative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
HH	O	O
Prince	O	O
Zeid	O	O
Ben	O	O
Raad	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
told	O	O
The	O	O
Jordan	O	O
Times	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
an	O	O
exact	O	O
date	O	O
for	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
agreement	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1997	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
legally	O	O
obliged	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
8	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
below	O	O
1990	O	O
levels	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
between	O	O
2008	O	O
and	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
main	O	O
source	O	O
of	O	O
large-scale	O	O
air	O	O
pollution	O	O
,	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
is	O	O
aimed	DSE	DSE
at	DSE	DSE
stressing	DSE	DSE
its	O	DSE
``	O	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
different	O	O
international	O	O
conventions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
the	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
GCEP	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
attract	O	O
more	O	O
funding	O	O
to	O	O
contribute	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
in	O	O
reducing	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
trap	O	O
heat	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
thus	O	O
causing	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

GCEP	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
agency	O	O
operating	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Municipal	O	O
and	O	O
Rural	O	O
Affairs	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Environment	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
point	O	O
of	O	O
reference	O	O
for	O	O
environmental	O	O
pacts	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
formally	O	O
bound	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
accord	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
complete	O	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
by	O	O
June	O	O
1	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
March	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
opposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
by	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
contravenes	ESE	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
a	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
slammed	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
countries	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
produced	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
alternative	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
strategy	O	O
aimed	O	O
at	O	O
encouraging	O	O
industries	O	O
to	O	O
trim	O	O
their	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	ESE
Canada	O	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
shown	DSE	ESE
reluctance	DSE	ESE
towards	O	O
signing	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
it	O	O
would	O	O
cut	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
GDP	O	O
by	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
2.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
and	O	O
cause	O	O
economic	O	O
damage	O	O
worth	O	O
30	O	O
billion	O	O
Canadian	O	O
dollars	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
$	O	O
19	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

JAKARTA	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Agency	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
:	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
and	O	O
Singapore	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
settle	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
differences	ESE	O
quietly	O	O
following	O	O
a	DSE	O
row	DSE	DSE
over	O	DSE
claims	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Senior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Lee	O	O
Kuan	O	O
Yew	O	O
that	O	O
terrorist	O	O
leaders	O	O
are	O	O
at	O	O
large	O	O
in	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
,	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Hassan	O	O
Wirajuda	O	O
said	O	O
as	O	O
quoted	O	O
by	O	O
AFP	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
two	O	O
governments	O	O
have	DSE	O
actually	ESE	ESE
reached	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
agreement	DSE	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
settle	O	O
their	O	O
dispute	DSE	DSE
openly	O	DSE
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
settle	O	ESE
whatever	O	ESE
had	O	ESE
arisen	O	ESE
from	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
by	O	O
Senior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Lee	O	O
Kuan	O	O
Yew	O	O
through	O	O
official	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Hassan	O	O
told	O	O
reporters	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
neighboring	O	O
countries	O	O
have	O	O
several	O	O
mechanisms	O	O
for	O	O
handling	O	O
disputes	DSE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
without	O	O
elaborating	O	O
.	O	O

Lee	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
said	DSE	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
regional	O	O
extremist	O	O
cells	O	O
are	O	O
still	O	O
at	O	O
large	O	O
in	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Singapore	O	O
government	O	O
statement	O	O
identified	O	O
Indonesian	O	O
Muslim	O	O
cleric	O	O
Abu	O	O
Bakar	O	O
Ba'asyir	O	O
as	O	O
one	O	O
ofthem	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
claim	O	O
sparked	O	O
protests	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	O
demonstrations	DSE	O
in	O	O
Jakarta	O	O
and	O	O
Hassan	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
it	O	DSE
``	O	O
provocative	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Singapore	O	O
late	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
13	O	O
suspected	DSE	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Jemaah	O	O
Islamiyah	O	O
terrorist	O	O
group	O	O
for	O	O
allegedly	ESE	O
plotting	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
blow	O	O
up	O	O
US	O	O
targets	O	O
there	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
says	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
have	O	O
named	O	O
Ba'asyir	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
runs	O	O
a	O	O
Muslim	O	O
boarding	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
Central	O	O
Java	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
leader	O	O
.	O	O

Ba'asyir	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
filed	O	O
a	O	O
100	O	O
million	O	O
dollar	O	O
libel	O	O
lawsuit	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Singapore	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
cleric	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
questioned	O	DSE
by	O	O
Indonesian	O	O
police	O	O
but	O	O
not	O	O
detained	O	O
,	O	O
denies	DSE	ESE
any	O	ESE
links	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
international	O	ESE
terror	O	ESE
.	O	O

But	O	O
he	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
alleged	O	ESE
mastermind	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
Muslim	ESE	ESE
fighter	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Indonesia	O	O
has	DSE	O
come	DSE	O
under	DSE	O
pressure	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
several	O	O
quarters	O	O
to	O	O
take	ESE	ESE
tougher	ESE	ESE
action	ESE	ESE
against	O	ESE
alleged	O	ESE
terrorist	O	ESE
leaders	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
has	DSE	ESE
played	DSE	ESE
down	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
threat	O	ESE
.	O	O

March	O	O
14	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Interfax-Kazakhstan	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
A	O	O
railroad	O	O
link	O	O
opened	O	O
between	O	O
Almaty	O	O
and	O	O
Tehran	O	O
when	O	O
train	O	O
No.	O	O

19/20	O	ESE
Almaty	O	ESE
-	O	O
Tashkent	O	O
-	O	O
Turkmenabad	O	O
-	O	O
Seraks	O	O
-	O	O
Meshked	O	O
-	O	O
Tehran	O	O
departed	O	O
from	O	O
Almaty-2	O	O
station	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
evening	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
line	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
memorandum	O	O
signed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
,	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
,	O	O
Kyrgyz	O	O
,	O	O
Tajik	O	O
,	O	O
Turkish	O	O
,	O	O
Turkmen	O	O
and	O	O
Uzbek	O	O
railroad	O	O
administrations	O	O
in	O	O
Baku	O	O
on	O	O
October	O	O
31	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
link	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
extended	O	O
to	O	O
Istanbul	O	O
when	O	O
a	O	O
railroad	O	O
is	O	O
built	O	O
around	O	O
Lake	O	O
Van	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
train	O	O
will	O	O
cover	O	O
the	O	O
3,300-kilometer	O	O
route	O	O
to	O	O
Tehran	O	O
through	O	O
Kazakhstan	O	O
,	O	O
Uzbekistan	O	O
,	O	O
Turkmenistan	O	O
and	O	O
Iran	O	O
in	O	O
68	O	O
hours	O	O
.	O	O

Both	O	O
tourists	O	O
and	O	O
businessmen	O	O
are	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
use	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
route	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
Railroad	O	O
Company	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

A	O	O
detailed	O	O
document	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
issued	O	O
after	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
recent	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
Council	O	O
session	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
document	O	O
serious	DSE	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
was	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
expanding	O	O
military	O	O
presence	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
level	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
demanded	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
policy	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
dominating	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
suicide	O	O
bomb	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
instead	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
investigating	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
matter	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
coming	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
proof	O	ESE
,	O	O
put	DSE	DSE
all	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
blame	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
terrorism	O	O
on	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
formed	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
aim	DSE	O
of	O	O
bringing	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Taliban	ESE	O
,	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
bombardment	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	O
continuing	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
operation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
manner	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
defenseless	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
innocent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
poor	ESE	ESE
Muslims	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
blown	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
ammunition	ESE	O
is	O	O
one	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
dreadful	ESE	ESE
events	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
history	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
whole	O	O
world	O	O
witnessed	O	O
this	O	O
loathsome	ESE	O
action	ESE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
community	O	O
--	O	O
raised	DSE	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
voice	DSE	ESE
against	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
horrifying	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
oppression	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Encouraged	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
shameful	ESE	DSE
silence	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
announced	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	DSE
declaring	DSE	DSE
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
`	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	O
announced	DSE	O
to	O	O
target	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
manner	O	O
as	O	O
!	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

North	O	O
Korea	O	O
has	O	O
also	O	O
been	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
target	O	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
that	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	DSE
being	DSE	DSE
blamed	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
transferring	O	O
nuclear	O	O
technology	O	O
and	O	O
weapons	O	O
to	O	O
Islamic	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seven	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
terms	DSE	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
threat	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
and	O	O
against	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	O
use	O	O
nuclear	O	O
weapons	O	O
,	O	O
also	O	O
include	O	O
Russia	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
above-mentioned	O	O
statement	O	O
by	O	O
China	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
ever	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
important	ESE	ESE
country	ESE	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
document	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
very	ESE	DSE
openly	ESE	DSE
told	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
the	O	O
number	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
in	O	O
damaging	ESE	ESE
solidarity	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
countries	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
violating	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
there	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Iranian	O	O
President	O	O
Mohammed	O	O
Khatami	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Austria	O	O
,	O	O
protested	DSE	DSE
against	DSE	O
this	O	O
dictatorial	ESE	O
move	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
statement	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
terming	DSE	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
`	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
preparing	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
.	O	O

Apparently	ESE	ESE
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
attitude	DSE	DSE
looks	ESE	DSE
like	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
reaction	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

American	O	O
intellectual	O	O
Noam	O	O
Chomsky	O	O
has	DSE	O
proved	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
writings	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
accomplishment	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
goals	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
aggression	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
part	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
psyche	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
traced	ESE	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
1818	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
American	O	O
cowboys	O	O
used	ESE	O
blind	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
oppress	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
blacks	ESE	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
raising	DSE	O
artificial	ESE	O
slogans	DSE	O
of	O	O
preservation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	O	O
developing	O	O
standards	O	O
of	O	O
living	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
actual	ESE	O
US	O	O
objective	DSE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
protection	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
interests	O	O
worldwide	O	O
for	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
does	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
care	DSE	ESE
for	O	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
values	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
analysis	O	O
of	O	O
Chomsky	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
World	O	O
War	O	O
II	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
think	O	DSE
tank	O	O
had	DSE	O
planned	DSE	O
to	O	O
subjugate	ESE	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
regions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
economic	O	O
progress	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Third	O	O
World	O	O
were	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
period	O	O
,	O	O
anti-Soviet	DSE	ESE
hysteria	DSE	ESE
was	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
promoted	DSE	ESE
strongly	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
CIA	O	O
was	O	O
given	O	O
the	O	O
task	O	O
to	O	O
topple	O	O
governments	O	O
and	O	O
install	O	O
rulers	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
own	DSE	O
choice	DSE	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
governments	O	O
in	O	O
Guatemala	O	O
in	O	O
1954	O	O
and	O	O
1963	O	O
,	O	O
Dominican	O	O
Republic	O	O
in	O	O
1984	O	O
,	O	O
Brazil	O	O
in	O	O
1965	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
Chile	O	O
in	O	O
1973	O	O
were	O	O
toppled	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
clearly	ESE	ESE
mentioned	DSE	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
documents	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
Council	O	O
memorandum	O	O
number	O	O
68	O	O
issued	O	O
in	O	O
1950	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
US	ESE	O
supremacy	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
maintained	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
cost	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
derived	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
attack	O	O
on	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
without	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
logic	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
impulsive	ESE	O
action	ESE	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
psychology	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
maintaining	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
supremacy	ESE	O
was	O	O
fully	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
planned	DSE	O
this	O	O
suicidal	O	O
attack	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
hegemony	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
maintain	DSE	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
its	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
makes	O	O
an	O	O
assessment	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
different	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
prepares	O	O
a	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
violations	O	O
all	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	ESE	O
never	ESE	O
tried	ESE	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
a	O	O
self-assessment	ESE	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
events	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
completely	ESE	ESE
ignored	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
international	O	O
convention	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
and	O	O
by	ESE	O
doing	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
negated	ESE	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
constitution	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
approximately	O	O
1,000	O	O
Pakistanis	O	O
were	O	O
thrown	O	O
into	O	O
jail	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
one	O	O
person	O	O
,	O	O
Mohammed	O	O
Butt	O	O
,	O	O
died	O	O
of	O	O
heart	O	O
failure	O	O
during	O	O
detention	O	O
.	O	O

No	O	O
court	O	O
case	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
others	O	O
arrested	O	O
nor	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
given	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	O
to	O	O
defend	O	O
themselves	O	O
.	O	O

Five	O	O
hundred	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
arrested	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
are	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
kept	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
cages	ESE	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
island	O	O
near	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
prisoners	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
placed	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
inhuman	ESE	ESE
conditions	O	ESE
and	O	O
the	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
for	O	O
keeping	O	O
them	O	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
island	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
US	O	O
law	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
apply	O	O
there	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
lesson	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
others	ESE	O
!	O	O
,	O	O
various	O	O
American	O	O
TV	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
daily	O	O
,	O	O
show	O	DSE
shots	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
under	O	O
which	O	O
these	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
kept	O	O
.	O	O

Above	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
media	O	O
has	DSE	O
reported	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
involvement	O	O
of	O	O
Jews	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
events	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
ruled	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
media	O	O
also	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
120	O	O
Israeli	O	O
spies	O	O
were	O	O
arrested	O	O
and	O	O
were	O	O
exiled	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
orders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Justice	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
shows	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
double	ESE	ESE
standards	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
its	ESE	O
selfishness	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
also	ESE	O
exposes	ESE	O
the	O	O
background	O	O
of	O	O
keeping	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
troops	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
basis	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
parts	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
China	O	O
is	ESE	DSE
justified	ESE	DSE
in	O	DSE
demanding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
creating	O	O
conflicts	O	O
and	O	O
by	O	O
embarking	O	O
upon	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
oppression	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
supremacy	ESE	ESE
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
interfering	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
affairs	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
society	O	O
is	O	O
engulfed	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
crime	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Racial	DSE	ESE
prejudice	DSE	ESE
has	O	ESE
assumed	O	ESE
alarming	ESE	ESE
proportions	O	ESE
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
protection	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
women	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
including	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
respect	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
sanctity	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
report	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
above-mentioned	O	O
document	O	O
by	O	O
China	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
eye	ESE	ESE
opener	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
viewed	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
perspective	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Pakistan	O	O
also	O	O
needs	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
rethink	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
regard	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
way	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
fully	DSE	DSE
supporting	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
after	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
2001	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
total	ESE	O
benefit	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
earned	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
.	O	O

Pakistan	O	O
has	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
earned	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
bad	ESE	ESE
name	ESE	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
its	O	O
internal	O	O
and	O	O
external	O	O
problems	O	O
have	O	O
increased	O	O
manifold	ESE	O
.	O	O

Pakistan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
draw	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
conclusions	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
light	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
own	O	ESE
circumstances	O	ESE
,	O	O
from	O	O
this	O	O
report	O	O
issued	O	O
by	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
blindly	ESE	DSE
accepting	ESE	DSE
every	O	DSE
demand	DSE	DSE
made	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
responding	DSE	O
positively	DSE	O
to	O	O
every	O	O
American	O	O
phone	O	O
call	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
every	ESE	ESE
single	ESE	ESE
step	ESE	ESE
carefully	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

CAPE	O	O
TOWN	O	O
March	O	O
14	O	O
Sapa	O	O
SA	O	O
ADOPTS	DSE	O
CALM	ESE	O
AND	ESE	O
FORWARD-LOOKING	ESE	O
APPROACH	O	O
TO	O	O
ZIM	O	O

President	DSE	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
adopted	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
calm	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
forward-looking	ESE	O
approach	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
government	O	O
statement	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
a	O	O
second	O	O
day	O	O
since	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
swept	O	O
to	O	O
victory	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
controversial	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
again	O	O
avoided	DSE	O
pronouncing	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
freeness	O	O
and	O	O
fairness	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
is	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
world	O	O
leaders	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
whether	ESE	O
punitive	O	O
action	O	O
should	O	O
be	O	O
taken	O	O
against	O	O
Harare	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
consulting	O	O
world	O	O
leaders	O	O
and	O	O
assessing	O	O
a	O	O
host	O	O
of	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
reports	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
On	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
these	O	O
reports	O	O
and	O	O
consultations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
proceeding	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
that	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
will	O	O
act	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
collective	O	O
international	O	O
effort	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
statement	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
made	O	O
in	O	O
due	O	O
course	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
urgent	ESE	ESE
challenge	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
people	O	O
for	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
stability	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
promote	O	O
a	O	O
climate	O	O
for	O	O
national	O	O
unity	O	O
in	O	O
pursuit	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
these	O	DSE
objectives	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
interest	ESE	O
of	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
our	O	O
region	O	O
and	O	O
our	O	O
continent	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
statement	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
constant	O	O
consultation	O	O
with	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Don	O	O
McKinnon	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
's	O	O
President	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Australia	O	O
's	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
John	O	O
Howard	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Howard	O	O
were	O	O
mandated	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Heads	O	O
of	O	O
Government	O	O
Meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
fate	O	O
once	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observers	O	O
mission	O	O
submitted	O	O
its	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Earlier	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
said	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
interim	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
adequately	ESE	ESE
allow	O	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
expression	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
by	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
electorate	O	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

All	ESE	DSE
eyes	ESE	DSE
are	ESE	DSE
now	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
troika	O	O
on	O	O
whether	ESE	O
it	O	O
will	ESE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
penalised	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
terms	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
's	O	O
mandate	O	O
,	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
could	ESE	O
range	O	O
from	O	O
collective	O	O
disapproval	DSE	O
to	O	O
suspension	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
decided	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
returned	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
undemocratically	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
had	O	O
taken	O	O
note	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
reports	O	O
from	O	O
various	O	O
observer	O	O
missions	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
also	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
all	O	ESE
Zimbabweans	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
put	ESE	ESE
aside	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
differences	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
to	O	O
work	ESE	O
together	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
future	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
reports	O	O
included	O	O
one	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
's	O	O
council	O	O
of	O	O
ministers	O	O
who	O	O
declared	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
``	O	O
substantially	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
which	O	O
said	DSE	O
``	O	O
in	ESE	O
general	ESE	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	O	O
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
credible	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
had	O	O
also	O	O
noted	O	O
the	O	O
SA	O	O
Observer	O	O
Mission	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
SAOM	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
report	DSE	O
which	DSE	O
had	DSE	O
found	DSE	O
that	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
adequately	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
considered	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
statement	O	O
was	O	O
silent	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
report	DSE	O
which	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
regional	O	O
bloc	O	O
's	O	O
own	O	O
election	O	O
norms	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
standards	O	ESE
--	O	O
which	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
was	O	O
signatory	O	O
to	O	O
--	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
met	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
Deputy	O	O
President	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Zuma	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
sent	O	O
as	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
's	O	O
special	O	O
emissary	O	O
to	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	O
this	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
Pretoria	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
calm	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
forward-looking	ESE	O
approach	ESE	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
's	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Lakela	O	O
Kaunda	O	O
told	O	O
Sapa	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
deputy	O	O
president	O	O
had	O	O
given	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
a	O	O
special	O	O
message	O	O
from	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
SAOM	O	O
's	O	O
interim	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

Kaunda	O	O
declined	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
give	O	O
details	O	O
and	O	O
said	O	O
Zuma	O	O
would	O	O
report	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
later	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
was	O	O
accompanied	O	O
by	O	O
Labour	O	O
Minister	O	O
Membathisi	O	O
Mdladlana	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
served	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
ministerial	O	O
task	O	O
team	O	O
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
also	O	O
held	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
counterpart	O	O
Simon	O	O
Muzenda	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
news	O	O
agencies	O	O
said	O	O
Zuma	O	O
told	DSE	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
state	O	O
radio	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
arrival	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
those	O	O
discrediting	DSE	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
electoral	O	O
process	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
listen	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
Africans	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
saying	O	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
happy	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
SAOM	O	O
report	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

SAOM	O	O
head	O	O
Sam	O	O
Motsuenyane	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
a	O	O
radio	O	O
interview	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
stopped	ESE	ESE
short	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
being	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	ESE	O
unable	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
explain	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
apparent	ESE	ESE
contradiction	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
released	O	O
later	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
Kaunda	O	O
said	O	O
Zuma	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
ongoing	O	O
consultation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
governments	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
had	O	O
informed	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
SAOM	O	O
report	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
process	O	O
involving	O	O
various	O	O
bodies	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
SADC	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
OAU	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
organisations	O	O
,	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
would	O	O
await	O	O
these	O	O
reports	O	O
before	O	O
responding	O	O
definitively	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Both	O	O
the	O	O
Deputy	O	O
President	O	O
and	O	O
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
need	O	O
for	O	O
continued	O	O
consultation	O	O
and	O	O
co-operation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
governments	O	O
to	O	O
address	O	O
economic	O	O
matters	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
shortage	O	O
of	O	O
grain	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
continued	O	O
co-operation	O	O
,	O	O
trade	O	O
and	O	O
investments	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
bilateral	O	O
issues	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Zuma	O	O
also	O	O
pledged	DSE	DSE
continued	ESE	DSE
support	ESE	DSE
for	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

JOHANNESBURG	O	O
March	O	O
16	O	O
Sapa	O	O
MBEKI	O	O
TO	O	O
MEET	O	O
WITH	O	O
MUGABE	O	O
AND	O	O
TSVANGIRAI	O	O
IN	O	O
HARARE	O	O
ON	O	O
MONDAY	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
CORRECTS	O	O
TITLE	O	O
OF	O	O
AUSTRALIAN	O	O
PM	O	O
,	O	O
UPDATES	O	O
WITH	O	O
ZUMA	O	O
ATTENDING	O	O
INAUGURATION	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
President	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
would	O	O
fly	O	O
to	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
later	O	O
with	O	O
opposition	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
presidential	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Bheki	O	O
Khumalo	O	O
told	O	O
Sapa	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
.	O	O

Khumalo	O	O
said	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
President	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
would	O	O
also	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
talks	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	O
culminate	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
met	O	O
Australian	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
John	O	O
Howard	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
inaugurated	O	O
again	O	O
as	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
president	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
following	O	O
his	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
re-election	O	O
last	O	O
weekend	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
first	O	O
elected	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	O
effectively	ESE	ESE
ruled	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
country	O	ESE
ever	O	ESE
since	O	ESE
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Howard	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
mandated	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Heads	O	O
of	O	O
Government	O	O
Meeting	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CHOGM	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
action	O	O
should	O	O
be	O	O
taken	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Their	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
would	O	O
be	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
's	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
legitimacy	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
those	O	O
prepared	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
SA	O	O
Observer	O	O
Mission	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
team	O	O
earlier	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
adequately	ESE	ESE
allow	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
expression	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
by	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
electorate	O	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
SADC	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
endorsed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	O
its	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Forum	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
judging	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
March	O	O
9-11	O	O
election	O	O
``	O	O
did	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
conform	ESE	ESE
with	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
norms	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
standards	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Forum	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
signed	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
to	O	O
by	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
team	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
organisation	O	O
's	O	O
Council	O	O
of	O	O
Ministers	O	O
,	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
hand	ESE	O
,	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
vote	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
true	ESE	ESE
reflection	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
will	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OAU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
also	O	O
backed	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwean	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
its	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
describing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
poll	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
credible	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

South	O	O
Africa	O	O
's	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
also	O	O
endorsed	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
interim	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
that	O	O
''	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
o	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
verall	O	O
...	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
charged	O	O
with	O	O
conducting	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
discharged	O	O
their	O	O
work	O	O
satisfactorily	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
team	O	O
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
characterised	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
polarisation	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
tension	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
incidents	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
intimidation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	DSE	O
terms	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
Commonwealth	DSE	O
's	DSE	O
mandate	DSE	O
,	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
could	ESE	O
range	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
collective	ESE	O
disapproval	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
suspension	ESE	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
was	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
already	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
record	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
also	O	O
had	O	O
other	O	O
issues	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
consider	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

CHOGM	O	O
had	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
look	O	O
at	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
helping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
with	O	O
land	O	O
reform	O	O
and	O	O
food	O	O
aid	O	O
.	O	O

State-sanctioned	O	O
land	O	O
invasions	O	O
,	O	O
several	O	O
times	O	O
declared	DSE	O
illegal	ESE	O
by	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
courts	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
drought	O	O
have	O	O
disrupted	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
food	O	O
production	O	O
and	O	O
famine	O	O
is	O	O
already	O	ESE
looming	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
much	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Ronnie	O	O
Mamoepa	O	O
said	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
's	O	O
deputy	O	O
,	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Zuma	O	O
would	O	O
represent	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
controversially	ESE	O
re-elected	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
latest	O	O
inauguration	O	O
,	O	O
scheduled	O	O
for	O	O
Sunday	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
.	O	O

No	DSE	O
reason	DSE	O
was	DSE	O
provided	DSE	O
why	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
could	O	O
not	O	O
attend	O	O
.	O	O

Reports	O	O
from	O	O
Lagos	O	O
indicated	O	DSE
that	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
would	O	O
also	O	O
not	O	O
attend	O	O
.	O	O

Several	O	O
other	O	O
heads	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
had	O	O
by	O	O
Saturday	O	O
indicated	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	O
attend	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Tanzania	O	O
's	O	O
Benjamin	O	O
Nkapa	O	O
and	O	O
Malawi	O	O
's	O	O
Bakili	O	O
Muluzi	O	O
,	O	O
currently	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
's	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

Mamoepa	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
key	ESE	O
points	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
agenda	O	O
now	O	O
was	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
stability	O	O
``	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
context	O	O
of	O	O
national	O	O
unity	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Islamabad	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
18	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
-	O	O
Central	O	O
Leader	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
People	O	O
Party	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
PPP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
former	O	O
provincial	O	O
minister	O	O
of	O	O
North-West	O	O
Frontier	O	O
Province	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NWFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Seyed	O	O
Qamar	O	O
Abbas	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
US	O	O
state	O	O
department	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
America	O	O
has	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
report	ESE	O
as	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
violator	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
told	DSE	O
IRNA	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
America	O	O
has	O	O
killed	O	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
innocent	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
almost	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
parts	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
globe	ESE	ESE
particularly	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

America	DSE	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
guise	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
so-called	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
killed	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
injured	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
innocent	ESE	O
Afghans	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
are	O	O
maltreated	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
weeks	O	O
ago	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
state	O	O
department	O	O
in	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
annual	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
had	DSE	O
revealed	DSE	O
that	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
are	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
violators	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
has	O	O
a	O	O
double	ESE	ESE
standard	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	DSE
denounces	DSE	DSE
human	O	O
rights	O	O
violation	O	O
but	O	O
supports	DSE	DSE
Israel	O	O
for	ESE	O
perishing	ESE	O
the	O	O
Muslims	O	O
in	O	O
Palestine	O	O
and	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Abbas	O	O
criticized	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
those	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
nations	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
independant	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
real	ESE	ESE
sense	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
and	O	O
do	O	O
not	O	O
take	O	O
dictation	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
or	O	O
accepts	DSE	DSE
its	O	DSE
supremacy	ESE	DSE
are	DSE	DSE
labelled	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
violators	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Those	O	O
who	O	O
submit	DSE	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
policies	O	O
are	O	O
showered	ESE	O
upon	ESE	O
favours	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
always	ESE	ESE
follows	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
interests	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
terrorism	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
against	O	ESE
weapons	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
mass	O	ESE
destruction	O	ESE
lies	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
covert	ESE	ESE
motive	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
its	O	O
strategic	O	O
and	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Abbas	O	O
added	DSE	O
.	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
kept	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
dark	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
can	O	O
see	O	O
and	O	O
observe	O	O
the	O	O
unjust	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
discriminatory	ESE	O
policies	ESE	O
of	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

People	ESE	O
do	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
believe	ESE	DSE
whatever	ESE	O
the	O	O
America	O	O
says	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
concluded	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Israeli	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Binyamin	O	O
Ben-Eli	O	O
`	O	O
ezer	O	O
,	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
stated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
success	O	O
or	O	O
failure	O	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
envoy	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
hinges	ESE	DSE
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
might	ESE	O
carry	O	O
out	O	O
a	O	O
suicide	O	O
or	O	O
shooting	O	O
attack	O	O
that	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
Israel	O	O
retaliate	O	O
,	O	O
thus	ESE	O
bringing	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
cycle	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Consequently	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Zinni	O	O
will	ESE	O
find	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
difficult	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
attain	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
cease-fire	O	ESE
and	O	O
commence	O	O
the	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Tenet	O	O
understandings	O	O
and	O	O
Mitchell	O	O
recommendations	O	DSE
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
allegation	DSE	ESE
contradicts	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
simplest	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
ground	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
Israel	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
that	O	O
occupies	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Gaza	O	O
Strip	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
that	O	O
possesses	O	O
vast	ESE	O
military	O	O
power	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
uses	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
incursions	O	O
into	O	O
and	O	O
raid	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cities	O	O
and	O	O
refugee	O	O
camps	O	O
;	O	O
to	ESE	O
intimidate	ESE	O
women	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
children	ESE	O
;	O	O
to	ESE	O
assassinate	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
activists	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
citizens	ESE	ESE
;	O	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
destroy	ESE	ESE
buildings	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
facilities	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
infrastructure	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
roads	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
water	ESE	O
pipes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
electricity	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
telephone	ESE	O
poles	ESE	O
;	O	O
to	ESE	O
attack	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
ambulances	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
kill	ESE	O
medical	ESE	O
teams	ESE	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
to	ESE	O
carry	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
retaliatory	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
suppressive	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
devastating	ESE	ESE
practices	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
--	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
Palestinians	ESE	ESE
alone	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
is	DSE	O
waiting	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
hear	DSE	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
Israeli	O	O
statement	O	O
regarding	O	O
its	O	O
recognition	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
national	O	O
rights	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
readiness	O	DSE
to	O	O
withdraw	O	O
from	O	O
all	O	O
lands	O	O
occupied	O	O
in	O	O
1967	O	O
,	O	O
put	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Gaza	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
support	O	DSE
the	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
independent	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
state	O	O
de	O	O
facto	O	O
.	O	O

Such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
statement	ESE	O
will	O	O
actually	ESE	ESE
constitute	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
beginning	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
real	ESE	ESE
era	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
the	O	O
end	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
era	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
counterviolence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Clearly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
side	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
acceded	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
all	DSE	DSE
demands	DSE	DSE
--	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
--	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
recognized	DSE	DSE
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
right	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
exist	ESE	O
on	O	O
78	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
historical	O	O
Palestine	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
concessions	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Such	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
Israeli	ESE	ESE
statement	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
serve	ESE	ESE
Zinni	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
mission	ESE	O
but	O	O
would	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
accelerate	ESE	O
the	O	O
attainment	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
permanent	O	O
arrangement	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Israel	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
gain	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
in	O	O
exchange	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
lands	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
end	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
colonialist	ESE	O
occupation	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
renunciation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
mentality	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
domination	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
expansion	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
which	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
caused	ESE	O
calamities	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
catastrophes	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
five	ESE	O
decades	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
coming	ESE	O
days	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
weeks	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
show	ESE	O
whether	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
actually	ESE	ESE
ready	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
positively	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
objectively	ESE	O
deal	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
national	O	O
rights	O	O
without	ESE	O
trying	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
maneuver	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
obstacles	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
set	ESE	O
impossible	ESE	O
conditions	ESE	O
during	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
case	ESE	O
,	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	DSE
sure	O	DSE
that	O	O
certain	O	O
measures	O	O
are	O	O
adopted	O	O
as	O	O
soon	O	O
as	O	O
possible	O	O
to	O	O
pave	O	O
the	O	O
road	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
question	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
compliance	DSE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
required	O	O
commitments	O	O
will	O	O
be	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
real	ESE	ESE
test	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
readiness	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
facilitate	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
envoy	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
but	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
its	O	O
readiness	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
establish	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
just	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
which	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
interest	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
parties	O	ESE
concerned	O	ESE
.	O	O

C'wealth	O	O
mission	O	O
conduct	O	O
questionable	ESE	O

By	O	O
A	O	O
Special	O	O
Correspondent	O	O
-	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
Tony	O	O
Blair	O	O
,	O	O
privately	O	O
did	O	O
two	O	O
things	O	O
concerning	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
``	O	O
retreat	ESE	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
that	O	O
raise	DSE	O
questions	DSE	O
about	O	O
today	O	O
's	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
troika	ESE	O
of	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
and	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
Blair	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
had	O	O
received	O	O
an	O	O
interim	O	O
report	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
that	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
-	O	O
before	ESE	O
Zimbabweans	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
had	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
chance	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
vote	ESE	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
how	ESE	O
could	ESE	O
Blair	O	O
have	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
report	O	O
''	O	O
when	O	O
no	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
else	ESE	O
had	O	O
received	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
report	ESE	O
that	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
channeled	ESE	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
to	O	O
all	O	O
members	O	O
,	O	O
asked	DSE	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
53	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
retreat	O	O
?	O	O

The	O	O
British	O	O
leader	O	O
fudged	ESE	O
his	O	O
reply	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
were	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
distinct	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Blair	ESE	O
report	ESE	O
''	O	O
had	O	O
already	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
written	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
London	ESE	O
before	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Commonwealth	ESE	O
mission	ESE	O
even	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
for	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Their	O	O
mission	O	O
was	O	O
simply	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
rubber	ESE	O
stamp	ESE	O
the	O	O
adverse	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
that	O	O
Britain	O	O
had	O	O
already	O	O
written	O	O
.	O	O

Blair	O	O
's	O	O
second	O	O
faux	ESE	O
pas	ESE	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
assembled	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
came	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
remarkably	ESE	DSE
conciliatory	DSE	DSE
speech	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
Dr	O	O
Stan	O	O
Mudenge	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
,	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
urged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
minister	O	O
not	O	O
to	DSE	O
attack	DSE	O
Blair	O	O
frontally	O	O
over	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
negative	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
preparations	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
dispassionate	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
precise	ESE	O
manner	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
minister	O	O
did	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
Mudenge	O	O
rose	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
feet	O	O
,	O	O
strode	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
Blair	O	O
and	O	O
thrust	DSE	ESE
out	DSE	ESE
his	DSE	ESE
hand	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
hand	O	O
symbolised	O	O
reconciliation	O	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
Blair	O	O
accepted	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
Mudenge	O	O
proposed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
bury	ESE	ESE
past	ESE	ESE
differences	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
work	O	ESE
together	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
future	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
unable	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
dispute	DSE	O
between	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
former	O	O
coloniser	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
breathed	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
collective	DSE	DSE
sigh	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
relief	DSE	O
at	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
healing	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
an	DSE	O
unanswered	DSE	ESE
question	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
minds	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
:	O	O
How	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
the	O	O
British	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
seen	O	O
the	O	O
purported	ESE	O
``	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
''	O	O
when	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
?	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
back	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
strange	ESE	O
things	O	O
were	O	O
happening	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
mission	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
pre-booked	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
partly	O	O
Government-owned	O	O
Sheraton	O	O
Hotel	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
spurious	ESE	O
grounds	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
African	O	O
National	O	O
Union-Patriotic	O	O
Front	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Zanu-PF	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
centre	O	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
adjoining	O	O
building	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observers	O	O
moved	O	O
out	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
privately	O	O
owned	O	O
Meikles	O	O
Hotel	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
,	O	O
unlike	ESE	O
the	O	O
Sheraton	O	O
where	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
newspaper	O	O
The	O	O
Herald	O	O
is	O	O
distributed	O	O
to	O	O
guests	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
pro-opposition	ESE	O
Daily	O	O
News	O	O
is	O	O
given	O	O
freely	O	O
to	O	O
guests	O	O
.	O	O

Furthermore	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
anyone	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
Press	O	O
can	O	O
testify	O	O
,	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Meikles	O	O
farms	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
acquired	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
reform	O	O
programme	O	O
.	O	O

Meikles	O	O
Hotel	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
known	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
a	O	O
hot	ESE	O
bed	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
opposition	ESE	O
politics	ESE	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
elections	O	O
,	O	O
80	O	O
rooms	O	O
at	O	O
Meikles	O	O
Hotel	O	O
were	O	O
booked	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
British	O	O
Broadcasting	O	O
Corporation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
BBC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
their	O	O
openly	DSE	DSE
hostile	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
and	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
BBC	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
accreditation	O	O
to	O	O
cover	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
foreign	O	O
journalists	O	O
were	O	O
assembled	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
hotel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
moved	O	O
in	O	O
with	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
taking	O	O
a	O	O
complete	O	O
floor	O	O
for	O	O
himself	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
entourage	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
notable	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
move	O	O
again	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
had	O	O
now	O	O
joined	O	O
them	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
hotel	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
curious	ESE	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
and	O	O
behaviour	O	O
by	O	O
individual	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
mission	O	O
who	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
sworn	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
secrecy	ESE	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
mission	O	O
and	O	O
who	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	O
expressed	ESE	DSE
their	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
only	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
the	O	O
chair	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
mission	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
Australian	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Federal	O	O
Parliament	O	O
,	O	O
Julie	O	O
Bishop	O	O
,	O	O
vented	DSE	DSE
her	DSE	DSE
anger	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
and	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
electoral	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
's	O	O
media	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
composition	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
mission	O	O
raised	DSE	DSE
further	DSE	DSE
questions	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Why	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
several	O	O
former	O	O
and	O	O
recent	O	O
employees	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
accredited	O	O
as	O	O
observers	O	O
?	O	O

Normally	O	O
staff	O	O
make	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
in	O	O
support	O	DSE
of	O	O
a	O	O
mission	O	O
populated	O	O
by	O	O
more	ESE	O
eminent	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
neutral	ESE	O
persons	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Namibian	O	O
woman	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
well-respected	DSE	O
,	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Speaker	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Council	O	O
in	O	O
her	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
held	DSE	DSE
different	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
those	O	O
stated	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
released	O	O
only	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
results	O	O
were	O	O
known	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
missions	O	O
nominally	O	O
operate	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
consensus	O	DSE
''	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
and	O	O
others	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
similar	O	DSE
view	O	DSE
were	DSE	DSE
dismissed	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
``	O	O
troublemakers	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
by	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
staff-cum-observer	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
final	ESE	O
straw	ESE	O
that	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
Australia	O	O
had	DSE	O
abandoned	DSE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
pretence	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
fairness	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
sides	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
dispute	DSE	O
came	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
Australian	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
John	O	O
Howard	O	O
,	O	O
ordered	O	O
his	O	O
High	O	O
Commissioner	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
Sunday	O	O
's	O	O
inauguration	O	O
of	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
President	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Australians	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
common	O	O
with	O	O
other	O	O
white	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
EU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
,	O	O
Norwegians	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Swiss	O	O
stayed	O	O
away	O	O
from	O	O
that	O	O
event	O	O
saying	O	O
they	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
and	O	O
therefore	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
are	O	O
some	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
realities	ESE	O
that	O	O
Presidents	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
of	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
and	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
of	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
confronted	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
flew	O	O
from	O	O
Harare	O	O
last	O	O
night	O	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Australian	O	O
leader	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
third	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
troika	O	O
.	O	O

Howard	O	O
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
isolated	O	ESE
at	O	O
the	O	O
three-member	O	O
meeting	O	O
at	O	O
Marlborough	O	O
House	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Secretary-General	O	O
,	O	O
Don	O	O
McKinnon	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
Zealand	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
known	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
condemn	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
close	O	O
by	O	O
,	O	O
Howard	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
the	O	O
British	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
western	O	O
media	O	O
.	O	O

Presidents	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
have	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
benefit	ESE	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
observer	O	O
missions	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
the	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
vast	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
line	O	O
with	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
consensus	O	DSE
,	O	O
the	DSE	O
views	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
are	O	O
taken	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
views	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
whole	O	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	ESE
doubt	ESE	ESE
Blair	O	O
will	DSE	O
fight	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
the	O	O
solution	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
present	ESE	O
impasse	ESE	O
lies	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Zimbabwe	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
Africa	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Britain	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
Europe	ESE	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
21	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
China	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
to	DSE	O
abide	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
policy	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
warning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
any	ESE	ESE
act	O	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
trample	ESE	ESE
upon	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
Joint	O	O
Communiques	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
result	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
unfavorable	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
impact	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
question	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
relates	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
sovereignty	O	O
and	O	O
territorial	O	O
integrity	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
essential	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
issue	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
heart	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Chinese	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Zhang	O	O
Qiyue	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
anything	O	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
Joint	O	O
Communiques	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
news	O	O
briefing	O	O
in	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
question	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
official	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yiau-min	O	O
's	O	O
recent	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
replied	O	DSE
that	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Vice	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Li	O	O
Zhaoxing	O	O
has	O	O
put	O	O
forward	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
stand	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
matter	DSE	O
while	O	O
making	DSE	O
strong	DSE	O
representations	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
government	O	O
with	O	O
the	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
treats	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
seriousness	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
deserves	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
working	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
state	O	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
both	O	O
countries	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
and	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Hu	O	O
Jintao	O	O
would	O	O
visit	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
within	O	O
one	O	O
month	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
has	ESE	O
already	ESE	O
done	ESE	O
several	ESE	O
things	ESE	O
which	O	O
are	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
spirit	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
Joint	O	O
Communiques	O	O
.	O	O

Zhu	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
side	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
interfering	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
by	O	O
interfering	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

HONG	O	O
KONG	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
26	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
China	O	O
has	DSE	O
disallowed	DSE	O
a	O	O
routine	O	O
port	O	O
call	O	O
in	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
American	O	O
naval	O	O
vessel	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
consulate	O	O
said	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
government	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
requested	DSE	O
visit	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
USS	O	O
Curtis	O	O
Wilbur	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
destroyer	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
from	O	O
April	O	O
5	O	O
to	O	O
9	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	O
adding	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
this	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
a	O	O
routine	O	O
port	O	O
call	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
No	O	O
reason	O	O
was	O	O
given	O	O
for	O	O
the	DSE	O
disapproval	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
added	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
bar	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
USS	O	O
Curtis	O	O
Wilbur	O	O
with	O	O
some	O	O
346	O	O
crew	O	O
is	DSE	O
seen	DSE	O
as	O	O
reflecting	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
anger	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
allow	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yao-ming	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Florida	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
conference	O	O
this	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	O
twice	O	O
summoned	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
ambassador	O	O
for	O	O
dressings	DSE	O
down	DSE	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
a	O	O
state-controlled	O	O
newspaper	O	O
reported	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
was	DSE	O
preparing	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
cancel	O	O
naval	O	O
exchanges	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	DSE	O
retaliation	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
time	O	O
such	O	O
a	DSE	O
request	DSE	O
was	DSE	O
turned	DSE	O
down	DSE	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
collision	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
US	O	O
spy	O	O
plane	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
Chinese	O	O
fighter	O	O
jet	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
air	O	O
space	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
China	O	O
Sea	O	O
on	O	O
April	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
naval	O	O
visits	O	O
to	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
resumed	O	O
in	O	O
July	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
two	O	O
other	O	O
similar	O	O
episodes	O	O
of	O	O
permission	DSE	O
being	DSE	O
denied	DSE	DSE
before	O	O
that	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
handover	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
British	O	O
colony	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
was	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Yugoslavia	O	O
was	O	O
bombed	O	O
,	O	O
killing	O	O
three	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
NATO	O	O
air	O	O
campaign	O	O
three	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
was	O	O
under	O	O
British	O	O
rule	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
navy	O	O
made	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
65	O	O
port	O	O
calls	O	O
a	O	O
year	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
stopovers	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
territory	O	O
returned	O	O
to	O	O
Chinese	O	O
sovereignty	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
envoys	O	DSE
in	O	O
fresh	O	O
bid	O	O
to	O	O
save	O	O
Mugabe	O	O

AFRICAN	DSE	O
superpowers	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
stepped	O	O
up	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
broker	O	O
a	O	O
comprise	O	O
between	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
ruling	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
party	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
ward	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
crisis	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
illegitimacy	ESE	O
facing	O	O
controversially	O	O
elected	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

Presidents	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
,	O	O
sensing	DSE	DSE
outright	ESE	DSE
isolation	ESE	DSE
of	O	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
refusal	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
many	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
to	DSE	O
recognise	DSE	O
his	O	O
win	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
dispatched	O	O
African	O	O
National	O	O
Congress	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Kgalema	O	O
Motlanthe	O	O
and	O	O
prominent	O	O
West	O	O
African	O	O
diplomat	O	O
Adebayo	O	O
Adedeji	O	O
to	O	O
try	O	O
to	O	O
hammer	O	O
a	O	O
compromise	O	O
between	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
March	O	O
9-11	O	O
vote	O	O
was	O	O
massively	ESE	ESE
rigged	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
supporters	ESE	DSE
denied	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
vote	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
envoys	O	O
met	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
and	O	O
Saturday	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
and	O	O
outlined	O	O
their	O	O
brief	O	O
and	O	O
how	O	O
they	O	O
intended	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
proceed	O	O
in	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
break	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
impasse	O	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
also	O	O
met	O	O
the	O	O
top	O	O
leadership	O	O
of	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
included	O	O
national	O	O
chairman	O	O
John	O	O
Nkomo	O	O
and	O	O
administration	O	O
secretary	O	O
Emmerson	O	O
Mnangagwa	O	O
,	O	O
both	O	O
heavily	O	O
tipped	O	DSE
to	O	O
become	O	O
vice	O	O
presidents	O	O
and	O	O
possible	ESE	O
successors	O	O
to	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
have	O	O
given	O	O
the	O	O
duo	O	O
three	O	O
weeks	O	O
to	O	O
come	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
solution	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
help	O	ESE
bridge	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
rift	O	ESE
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
political	O	O
parties	O	O
and	O	O
arrest	O	O
the	O	O
deteriorating	O	O
political	O	O
and	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
political	O	O
parties	O	O
were	DSE	O
asked	DSE	O
to	O	O
draw	O	O
up	O	O
agendas	O	O
for	O	O
talks	O	O
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
step	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
finding	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
compromise	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
crisis	O	O
.	O	O

Diplomatic	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	O
African	O	O
leaders	O	O
are	O	O
frantically	DSE	O
making	DSE	O
efforts	DSE	O
to	O	O
bring	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
on	O	O
board	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
formation	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
facilitate	O	O
recognition	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
government	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
and	O	O
unlock	O	O
much-needed	O	O
foreign	O	O
aid	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
suspended	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
has	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
fresh	O	O
elections	O	O
conducted	O	O
under	O	O
international	O	O
supervision	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
within	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
shortest	ESE	O
possible	ESE	O
period	ESE	O
.	O	O

ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
however	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
MDC	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
and	O	O
join	O	O
it	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
whose	O	O
composition	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	ESE
yet	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
formation	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
being	O	O
pushed	DSE	O
by	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
was	O	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	ESE
ideal	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
stave	O	ESE
off	O	ESE
international	O	O
isolation	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
but	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
received	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
mixed	DSE	ESE
feelings	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
governing	O	O
party	O	O
.	O	O

Others	O	O
say	DSE	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
only	ESE	O
wants	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
on	O	O
board	O	O
to	O	O
facilitate	O	O
international	O	O
recognition	DSE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
financing	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
programme	O	O
and	O	O
land	O	O
reforms	O	O
.	O	O

It	DSE	DSE
is	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
hardliners	O	O
in	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
current	O	O
treason	O	O
charges	O	O
against	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
used	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
bargaining	ESE	O
chip	ESE	O
to	O	O
arm-twist	ESE	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
compromise	O	O
with	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
54-nation	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
15-nation	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
and	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Eastern	O	O
Bloc	O	O
states	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Scandinavian	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
most	O	O
Western	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
Japan	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
saying	DSE	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
blatant	ESE	ESE
fraud	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
marred	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
state-sponsored	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
has	O	O
received	O	O
support	DSE	O
from	O	O
regional	O	O
leaders	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
,	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

Settlers	O	O
Have	O	O
Taken	ESE	O
Palestine	ESE	O
Hostage	ESE	O

A	DSE	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
ago	O	O
the	O	O
parties	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Palestine	O	O
conflict	O	O
found	O	O
themselves	O	O
at	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
crossroads	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
escalation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
has	O	O
now	O	O
cost	O	O
over	O	O
1,000	O	O
people	O	O
their	O	O
lives	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
space	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
18	O	O
months	O	O
.	O	O

One-third	O	O
Israelis	O	O
,	O	O
two-thirds	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

Circumstances	O	O
have	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
situation	O	O
where	O	O
today	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
parties	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
find	O	O
themselves	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
road	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
leads	ESE	O
swiftly	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
abyss	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Thursday	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
Summit	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
capital	O	O
of	O	O
Beirut	O	O
ended	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
resolution	O	O
whose	O	O
content	O	O
illustrated	O	O
how	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
that	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Sudanese	O	O
capital	O	O
of	O	O
Khartoum	O	O
in	O	O
1967	O	O
,	O	O
shortly	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
victory	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Six	O	O
Days	O	O
War	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
then	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
heads	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
adopted	DSE	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
noes	O	O
:	O	O
no	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
negotiations	ESE	O
with	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
recognition	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	O	O
Thursday	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
adopted	DSE	DSE
a	O	DSE
resolution	O	DSE
that	O	O
proposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
recognition	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
normal	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
an	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
conflict	ESE	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
Israeli	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
has	O	O
occupied	O	O
for	O	O
almost	O	O
35	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
mention	ESE	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
cardinal	ESE	O
problems	O	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
3	O	O
million	O	O
Arab	O	O
refugees	O	O
-	O	O
was	O	O
couched	ESE	O
in	O	O
terms	O	O
softer	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
at	O	O
any	O	O
time	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
summit	O	O
's	O	O
declaration	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
piece	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
news	O	ESE
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
has	O	O
produced	O	O
since	ESE	O
the	O	O
Oslo	O	O
Accords	O	O
between	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Yitzhaq	O	O
Rabin	O	O
and	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
leader	O	O
Yasir	O	O
Arafat	O	O
were	O	O
signed	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
lawn	O	O
in	O	O
front	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
in	O	O
1993	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
resolution	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
put	O	O
forward	O	O
by	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
plea	ESE	O
addressed	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
people	O	O
over	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
heads	ESE	O
of	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	O
leader	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
any	ESE	ESE
doubt	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
from	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
standpoint	DSE	O
the	O	O
resolution	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
welcome	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
resolution	O	O
forced	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
corner	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
neither	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
nor	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
give	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
territories	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
so	O	O
he	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
unmasked	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
eyes	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
whole	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
as	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
man	ESE	ESE
standing	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
peace	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
few	O	O
hours	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
chance	ESE	O
came	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
Sharon	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
rescue	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Thursday	O	O
evening	O	O
a	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
suicide	O	O
bomber	O	O
attacked	O	O
a	O	O
hotel	O	O
in	O	O
Natanya	O	O
where	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
hundred	O	O
people	O	O
had	O	O
gathered	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
traditional	O	O
Passover	O	O
meal	O	O
.	O	O

Twenty-two	O	O
people	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
suicide	O	O
bomber	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
130	O	O
were	O	O
injured	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
bomber	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
Hamas	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
radical	O	O
Muslim	O	O
organization	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
known	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
intelligence	O	O
service	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	O
name	O	O
figured	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
list	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
had	O	O
shortly	O	O
before	O	O
handed	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
security	O	O
service	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	ESE	ESE
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
take	O	O
action	O	O
to	O	O
neutralize	ESE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
list	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
lift	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
finger	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

That	O	O
same	O	O
night	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
security	O	O
cabinet	O	O
met	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
take	O	O
steps	O	O
to	ESE	O
destroy	ESE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
terrorist	O	O
structure	O	O
,	O	O
arrest	ESE	O
its	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
confiscate	ESE	O
arms	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
so	O	O
on	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

As	O	O
a	O	O
first	O	O
step	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
were	O	O
sent	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
town	O	O
,	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
Arafat	O	O
has	O	O
his	O	O
headquarters	O	O
and	O	O
from	O	O
where	O	O
the	O	O
autonomous	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
areas	O	O
are	O	O
administered	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
few	O	O
weeks	O	O
previously	O	O
Sharon	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
Arafat	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
irrelevant	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Now	O	O
he	O	O
declared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
enemy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	DSE	O
is	O	O
now	O	O
a	O	O
prisoner	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
own	O	O
headquarters	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
has	O	O
effectively	ESE	O
ceased	ESE	O
to	O	O
function	O	O
.	O	O

Prior	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Natanya	O	O
massacre	O	O
Washington	O	O
had	O	O
imposed	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
limitations	O	O
on	O	O
Sharon	O	O
.	O	O

Israeli	DSE	O
's	O	O
antiterrorist	O	O
operations	O	O
must	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
bring	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
to	O	O
collapse	O	O
,	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
must	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
reconquer	O	ESE
the	O	O
territories	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
jurisdiction	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
authority	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Arafat	O	O
the	O	O
man	O	O
must	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
molested	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
time	O	O
Washington	O	O
is	O	O
largely	ESE	ESE
keeping	ESE	ESE
silent	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
sent	O	O
the	O	O
usual	ESE	O
appeals	DSE	O
to	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

Quite	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
reverse	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
Anonymous	O	O
U.S.	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	O
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
holds	DSE	O
Arafat	DSE	O
responsible	DSE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
mediator	O	O
Anthony	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
endeavors	O	O
to	O	O
arrange	O	O
a	O	O
cease-fire	O	O
have	O	O
now	O	O
foundered	ESE	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
these	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
accepted	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
cease-fire	O	DSE
proposal	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
while	O	O
Arafat	O	O
hesitated	DSE	O
.	O	O

Before	O	O
he	O	O
had	O	O
announced	O	O
his	O	O
agreement	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Natanya	O	O
massacre	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
counteraction	O	O
occurred	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
being	O	O
at	ESE	O
least	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
thus	O	O
given	ESE	O
Sharon	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

His	ESE	O
problem	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
what	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
action	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
taking	O	O
place	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
throw	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
terrorist	ESE	ESE
groups	ESE	ESE
off	ESE	ESE
balance	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
solve	ESE	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
security	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
root	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
settlements	O	O
on	O	O
occupied	O	O
territory	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
settlers	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
number	O	O
around	O	O
220,000	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
taken	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
Government	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
consequently	ESE	O
both	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
peoples	ESE	O
hostage	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
master	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
escalation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
this	O	O
he	O	O
as	O	O
defense	O	O
minister	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
1982	O	O
invasion	O	O
of	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
being	O	O
forced	O	O
into	O	O
exile	O	O
in	O	O
Tunis	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
at	O	O
present	O	O
Sharon	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
entertaining	DSE	DSE
similar	DSE	DSE
thoughts	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
wants	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
create	DSE	O
step	O	O
by	O	O
step	O	O
a	O	O
situation	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
him	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
rid	O	ESE
himself	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
this	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
conflict	O	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
winners	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Military	ESE	O
superiority	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
solve	ESE	O
problems	ESE	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
fundamentally	ESE	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
nature	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
day	ESE	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
tanks	O	O
again	O	O
leave	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
sown	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
seed	ESE	O
for	O	O
new	O	O
terrorist	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

Terrorism	O	ESE
thrives	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
atmosphere	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
hate	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
force	O	O
are	O	O
creating	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fertile	ESE	O
soil	ESE	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
future	O	O
terrorists	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
recruited	O	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
31	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Jiaxuan	O	O
Sunday	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
immediate	ESE	O
withdrawal	O	O
of	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
leader	O	O
Yasser	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
residence	O	O
and	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
personal	O	O
safety	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
ensured	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
opposes	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
condemns	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
recent	O	O
violent	O	O
activities	O	O
in	O	O
Israeli	O	O
territory	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
expresses	DSE	DSE
condolence	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
sympathy	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
solicitude	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
family	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
Tang	O	O
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
phone	O	O
conversation	O	O
with	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
and	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Shimon	O	O
Peres	O	O
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
abrupt	ESE	O
escalation	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
has	ESE	O
caused	ESE	O
huge	ESE	O
casualties	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
property	ESE	O
losses	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
personal	O	O
safety	O	O
was	O	O
severely	ESE	ESE
endangered	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
deeply	DSE	DSE
concerned	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
sudden	ESE	O
deterioration	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
Tang	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Arafat	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
initiators	O	O
of	O	O
peace	O	O
talks	O	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
made	O	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
efforts	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
push	ESE	ESE
forward	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
peace	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
Tang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
stressing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
disastrous	ESE	O
consequences	ESE	O
would	O	O
happen	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
region	O	O
if	O	O
unexpected	O	O
incidents	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
to	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
safety	O	O
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
his	DSE	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	O	O
implement	O	O
Resolution	O	O
1402	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Security	O	O
Council	O	O
unconditionally	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
withdraw	O	O
its	O	O
troops	O	O
completely	ESE	O
from	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
areas	O	O
and	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
through	O	O
peaceful	ESE	O
means	O	O
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
Israel	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
so	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
serve	O	O
the	O	O
overall	O	O
requirement	O	O
of	O	O
security	O	O
and	O	O
stability	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
own	O	O
long-term	O	O
interest	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
pressing	ESE	O
matter	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
moment	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
should	ESE	O
both	O	O
exercise	ESE	O
maximum	ESE	O
restraint	ESE	O
and	O	O
adopt	O	O
concrete	O	O
measures	O	O
to	O	O
stop	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
immediately	ESE	O
and	O	O
create	O	O
conditions	O	O
for	O	O
resumption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
peace	O	O
talks	O	O
,	O	O
Tang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Peres	O	O
briefed	O	O
Tang	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
Tang	O	O
's	O	O
enquiry	DSE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
threaten	ESE	ESE
Arafat	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
personal	O	ESE
safety	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
destroy	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Palestine	O	O
National	O	O
Authority	O	O
.	O	O

JAMMU	O	ESE
,	O	O
Apr	O	O
2	O	O
--	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
Dr.	O	O
Farooq	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
today	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
Pakistan	O	O
army	O	O
for	O	O
breeding	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
in	O	O
India	O	O
to	O	O
remain	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
against	ESE	O
the	DSE	O
wishes	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
their	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
peace	O	O
.	O	O

`	O	O
For	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
sustenance	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
survival	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Pak	O	O
generals	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
throttling	ESE	O
the	O	O
voice	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistanis	O	O
who	O	O
wish	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
live	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
friendship	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
cordiality	ESE	O
with	O	O
their	O	O
neighbours	O	O
'	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
while	DSE	O
addressing	DSE	O
a	O	O
function	O	O
organised	O	O
by	O	O
United	O	O
Public	O	O
High	O	O
School	O	O
at	O	O
Channi	O	O
Himat	O	O
here	O	O
this	O	O
afternoon	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
Pakistan	O	O
as	O	O
mother	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
if	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
rid	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
from	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
menace	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
perpetrators	ESE	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
had	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
dealt	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
firmly	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
mere	ESE	O
positioning	ESE	O
of	O	O
army	O	O
at	O	O
borders	O	O
was	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
enough	ESE	O
as	O	O
infiltration	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
continuing	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ultras	O	O
were	O	O
indulging	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
blood-shed	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
lunaticism	ESE	O
has	O	O
touched	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
heights	ESE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
not	ESE	O
even	ESE	O
sparing	O	O
the	O	O
worship	O	O
places	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
referred	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
attack	O	O
in	O	O
Raghunath	O	O
bazaar	O	O
and	O	O
temple	O	O
complex	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
cautioned	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
people	O	O
against	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
enemy	ESE	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
extra	ESE	O
vigil	ESE	O
will	O	O
certainly	ESE	ESE
help	ESE	O
in	O	O
nabbing	O	O
suspects	O	O
.	O	O

Reiterating	DSE	O
that	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
will	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
give	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
terror	DSE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
ultimately	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
demon	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
reared	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
eat	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
vitals	ESE	O
.	O	O

`	O	O
Those	ESE	O
digging	ESE	O
graves	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
others	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
get	ESE	ESE
engraved	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
while	O	O
citing	O	O
the	O	O
example	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
Pakistan	O	O
is	DSE	O
attempting	DSE	O
hard	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
put	O	ESE
India	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
communal	ESE	ESE
flames	ESE	ESE
so	O	ESE
that	O	O
forces	O	O
are	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
borders	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
internal	O	O
situations	O	O
,	O	O
thereby	ESE	O
leaving	O	O
field	ESE	O
day	ESE	O
for	O	O
ultras	O	O
to	O	O
cross	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
side	O	O
.	O	O

Dr	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
also	O	O
dwelt	O	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
spread	O	O
of	O	O
education	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
teaching	O	ESE
younger	O	ESE
generation	O	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
steering	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
nation	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
prosperity	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
progress	ESE	O
.	O	O

`	O	O
Concentrate	DSE	O
on	O	O
those	ESE	O
today	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
builders	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
nation	ESE	O
tomorrow	ESE	O
'	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
teachers	O	O
community	O	O
while	O	O
appreciating	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
involvement	O	O
of	O	O
parents	O	O
in	O	O
career	O	O
building	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
wards	O	O
.	O	O

Responding	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
demands	DSE	DSE
put	DSE	O
forth	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
memorandum	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
residents	O	O
of	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Himmat	O	O
,	O	O
Narwal	O	O
,	O	O
Malik	O	O
Marker	O	O
Bye-Pass	O	O
,	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Bija	O	O
,	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Rama	O	O
,	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Kamala	O	O
and	O	O
Ambedkar	O	O
Nagar	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
will	O	O
get	O	O
examined	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
regarding	O	O
addition	O	O
of	O	O
11th	O	O
and	O	O
12th	O	O
classes	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
launching	O	O
a	O	O
coaching	O	O
class	O	O
for	O	O
various	O	O
competitive	O	O
exams	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
has	O	O
no	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
facility	O	ESE
.	O	O

Dr	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
also	O	O
dwelt	O	DSE
on	O	O
various	O	O
social	O	O
services	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
answer	ESE	O
to	O	O
meeting	O	O
the	O	O
growing	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
of	O	O
tap	O	O
water	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
localities	O	O
of	O	O
Jammu	O	O
is	O	O
tapping	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Chenab	O	ESE
water	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
purpose	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
regard	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
a	O	O
Rs	O	O
400	O	O
crore	O	O
scheme	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
prepared	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
years	O	O
back	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
under	O	O
process	O	O
for	O	O
implementation	O	O
.	O	O

Expressing	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
dwindling	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
values	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
society	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
youngsters	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
get	DSE	ESE
inspiration	DSE	ESE
from	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
glorious	ESE	ESE
past	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
respect	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	O
parents	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
teachers	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
due	DSE	O
regard	DSE	O
to	O	O
elders	O	O
and	O	O
teachers	O	O
is	O	O
imperative	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
harmonious	ESE	ESE
society	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Dr.	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
presented	O	O
best	O	O
teacher	O	O
award	O	O
and	O	O
appreciated	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
performance	O	O
of	O	O
student	O	O
artists	O	O
who	O	O
presented	O	O
cultural	O	O
items	O	O
.	O	O

Minister	O	O
for	O	O
Sports	O	O
and	O	O
Labour	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Harbans	O	O
Singh	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
guest	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
spoke	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
occasion	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
others	O	O
present	O	O
were	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Mohammed	O	O
Syed	O	O
Akhoon	O	O
and	O	O
Mrs	O	O
Bimla	O	O
Luthra	O	O
,	O	O
MLAs	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Ministers	O	O
of	O	O
Legislative	O	O
Assembly	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
besides	O	O
students	O	O
and	O	O
parents	O	O
.	O	O

Mr	O	O
Akhoon	O	O
presented	O	O
a	O	O
memento	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
management	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
school	O	O
.	O	O

JERUSALEM	O	O
.	O	O
April	O	O
4	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Interfax	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
will	O	O
leave	O	O
the	O	O
Pilgrim	O	O
's	O	O
House	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
owned	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Moscow	O	O
Patriarchy	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
they	O	O
fulfil	O	O
their	O	O
military	O	O
tasks	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
response	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
army	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
demand	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Orthodox	O	O
Church	O	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
the	O	O
Pilgrim	O	O
's	O	O
House	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
undermine	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
peacekeeping	O	O
mission	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Moscow	O	O
Patriarchy	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Holy	O	O
Land	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
army	O	O
told	DSE	O
Interfax	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
now	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
at	O	O
such	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
uses	O	O
all	O	O
possible	O	O
points	O	O
of	O	O
observation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
army	O	O
representatives	O	O
said	DSE	O
``	O	O
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
necessary	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
possible	O	O
civilian	O	O
casualties	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
During	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
operation	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
necessity	O	O
emerged	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
the	O	O
Pilgrim	O	O
's	O	O
House	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
use	O	O
it	O	O
for	O	O
surveillance	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
once	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
tasks	O	O
are	O	O
fulfilled	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
will	O	O
leave	O	O
this	O	O
building	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
representatives	O	O
told	DSE	O
Interfax	O	O
that	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
``	O	O
strictly	DSE	ESE
adhere	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
moral	O	ESE
norms	O	ESE
,	O	O
respecting	DSE	O
sanctuaries	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
religions	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
will	O	O
act	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
stages	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
army	O	O
has	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
strongly	DSE	DSE
denied	DSE	DSE
reports	O	DSE
about	O	O
an	O	O
assault	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Cathedral	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Nativity	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
allegedly	O	O
began	O	O
recently	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Contrary	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
some	O	O
media	O	O
reports	O	O
,	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	ESE
storming	O	ESE
into	O	ESE
the	O	O
church	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
to	O	O
respond	O	O
to	O	O
continual	O	O
fire	O	O
by	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
snipers	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
taken	O	O
positions	O	O
near	O	O
the	O	O
church	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
representatives	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
said	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
rumors	DSE	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
assault	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
prompted	O	O
by	O	O
false	ESE	ESE
information	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
circulated	O	O
among	O	O
foreign	O	O
journalists	O	O
by	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
sources	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Bangkok	O	O
,	O	O
09	O	O
April	O	O
Kyodo	O	O
--	O	O
Thailand	O	O
expects	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
's	O	O
official	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
for	O	O
a	O	O
free-trade	O	O
agreement	O	O
Friday	O	O
when	O	O
Thai	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Thaksin	O	O
Shinawatra	O	O
meets	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Premier	O	O
Zhu	O	O
Rongji	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
sidelines	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
regional	O	O
economic	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
local	O	O
dailies	O	O
said	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

Thaksin	O	O
will	O	O
leave	O	O
Thailand	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Hainan	O	O
Island	O	O
in	O	O
southern	O	O
China	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
two-day	O	O
Boao	O	O
Forum	O	O
for	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
starts	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

Local	O	O
dailies	O	O
quoted	O	O
senior	O	O
Commerce	O	O
Ministry	O	O
official	O	O
Boontipa	O	O
Simaskul	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
if	O	O
China	O	O
agrees	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
form	O	O
a	O	O
bilateral	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
frame	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
set	O	O
immediately	O	ESE
.	O	O

Boontipa	O	O
,	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
's	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Business	O	O
Economics	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
frame	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bilateral	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
shorter	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
10-year	O	O
time	O	O
frame	O	O
envisaged	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
a	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
between	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Association	O	O
of	O	O
Southeast	O	O
Asian	O	O
Nations	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ASEAN	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
Thailand	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
.	O	O

Senior	O	O
officials	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
10-member	O	O
ASEAN	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
are	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
from	O	O
May	O	O
13	O	O
through	O	O
15	O	O
to	O	O
draw	O	O
up	O	O
a	O	O
blueprint	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
regional	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
meeting	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
initiative	O	O
got	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
nod	DSE	O
from	DSE	O
their	O	O
leaders	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
annual	O	O
ASEAN-China	O	O
leaders	O	O
'	O	O
summit	O	O
in	O	O
Brunei	O	O
last	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
China-ASEAN	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
largest	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
combined	O	O
market	O	O
of	O	O
nearly	O	O
1.8	O	O
billion	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
regional	O	O
gross	O	O
domestic	O	O
product	O	O
of	O	O
US$	O	O
2	O	O
trillion	O	O
and	O	O
international	O	O
trade	O	O
worth	O	O
$	O	O
1.2	O	O
trillion	O	O
.	O	O

ASEAN	O	O
comprises	O	O
Brunei	O	O
,	O	O
Cambodia	O	O
,	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
,	O	O
Laos	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
,	O	O
Myanmar	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Philippines	O	O
,	O	O
Singapore	O	O
,	O	O
Thailand	O	O
and	O	O
Vietnam	O	O
.	O	O

Thailand	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
had	O	O
preliminary	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
bilateral	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

Thaksin	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
meet	O	O
with	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
and	O	O
South	O	O
Korean	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Lee	O	O
Han	O	O
Dong	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
sidelines	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
before	O	O
leaving	O	O
for	O	O
home	O	O
Friday	O	O
evening	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
European	O	O
Parliament	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
convened	O	O
yesterday	O	O
in	O	O
Strasbourg	O	O
,	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
advise	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
15	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
to	O	O
impose	DSE	O
economic	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
specifically	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
suspend	O	O
association	O	O
agreements	O	O
with	O	O
Jerusalem	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
addition	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Parliament	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
imposing	DSE	O
a	O	O
weapons	O	O
embargo	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
some	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
European	O	O
politicians	O	O
have	DSE	O
threatened	DSE	O
to	O	O
suspend	O	O
economic	O	O
ties	O	O
with	O	O
Israel	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
in	ESE	O
light	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
close	O	O
and	O	O
extensive	O	O
trade	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
EU	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
cause	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
damage	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Earlier	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
Belgian	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Louis	O	O
Michel	O	O
,	O	O
who	ESE	O
does	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
miss	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	O
to	O	O
provoke	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
threatened	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
once	DSE	DSE
again	DSE	DSE
reconsider	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Jerusalem	O	O
.	O	O

European	O	O
Commission	O	O
President	O	O
Romano	O	O
Prodi	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
similar	DSE	DSE
sentiments	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
in	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
opinion	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
should	ESE	DSE
consider	DSE	DSE
imposing	DSE	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
``	O	O
punishment	ESE	O
''	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
in	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
against	DSE	O
the	O	O
operations	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israel	O	O
Defense	O	O
Forces	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
goes	ESE	O
for	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Josep	O	O
Pique	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
was	DSE	O
offended	DSE	O
after	O	O
Israel	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
allow	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
and	O	O
EU	O	O
foreign	O	O
policy	O	O
chief	O	O
Javier	O	O
Solana	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
with	O	O
PA	O	O
Chairman	O	O
Yasser	O	O
Arafat	O	O
in	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	ESE	O
the	O	O
Parliament	O	O
's	O	O
recommendation	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
chances	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
association	O	O
agreements	DSE	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
suspended	O	O
are	ESE	O
very	ESE	ESE
slim	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
takes	ESE	O
more	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
recommendation	ESE	DSE
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
European	ESE	O
Parliament	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
happen	ESE	O
;	O	O
the	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
has	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
taken	DSE	O
by	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Commission	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
's	O	O
Council	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministers	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
all	O	O
15	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministers	O	O
sit	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
unanimous	DSE	O
.	O	O

Countries	O	O
like	O	O
France	O	O
and	O	O
Belgium	O	O
are	O	O
easily	ESE	ESE
capable	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
voting	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
other	O	O
states	O	O
--	O	O
including	O	O
Germany	O	O
and	O	O
Britain	O	O
--	O	O
have	O	O
exhibited	O	O
a	DSE	O
more	DSE	O
balanced	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli-Palestinian	O	O
conflict	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
certain	O	ESE
countries	O	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
more	DSE	ESE
balanced	DSE	ESE
view	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
conflict	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
doubt	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
anti-Israeli	DSE	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
will	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
,	O	O
be	DSE	O
adopted	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Europeans	O	O
know	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
repeated	DSE	O
denunciations	DSE	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
mention	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
punishment	O	ESE
,	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
lead	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
solution	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
change	ESE	O
its	O	O
positions	DSE	O
on	O	O
vital	O	O
security	O	O
issues	O	O
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
European	O	O
states	O	O
eliminate	O	O
customs	O	O
breaks	O	O
afforded	O	O
to	O	O
Israeli	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Europeans	O	O
wish	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
influence	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
arena	O	O
--	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
direction	O	O
that	O	O
many	O	O
in	O	O
Israel	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
wholeheartedly	DSE	O
--	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
able	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
promote	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
positions	DSE	O
in	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
manner	ESE	O
.	O	O

A	O	ESE
unilateral	O	ESE
move	O	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
prejudice	ESE	ESE
Europe	O	O
's	O	O
status	O	O
in	O	O
helping	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
a	O	O
solution	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
.	O	O

EU	O	O
External	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Commissioner	O	O
Chris	O	O
Patten	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
this	O	O
clearly	ESE	ESE
Tuesday	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
canceling	O	O
the	DSE	O
association	DSE	O
agreements	DSE	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
enhance	O	ESE
Jerusalem	O	O
's	O	O
readiness	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
listen	O	O
to	O	O
European	O	O
representatives	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
holds	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
threats	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
EU	O	O
leaders	O	O
also	ESE	O
holds	ESE	DSE
true	ESE	DSE
for	O	DSE
threats	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
certain	O	O
European	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
means	O	O
of	O	O
punishment	O	O
they	O	O
might	ESE	O
already	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
implementing	ESE	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
reports	O	O
that	O	O
vital	O	O
components	O	O
German	O	O
factories	O	O
are	O	O
supposed	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
supply	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
defense	O	O
establishment	O	O
are	O	O
arriving	O	O
slowly	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
arrival	O	O
of	O	O
vital	O	O
supplies	O	O
from	O	O
other	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

One	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
assume	ESE	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	O	O
act	O	O
under	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
pressure	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
deeds	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
oversights	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
often	ESE	ESE
tainted	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
significant	ESE	ESE
degree	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
hypocrisy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Oil	O	O
prices	O	O
took	O	O
a	O	O
sharp	O	O
downward	O	O
trend	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
quiet	O	O
semi-coup	O	O
d'etat	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
affiliated	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
army	O	O
generals	O	O
who	O	O
deposed	O	O
the	O	O
popularly	O	O
elected	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
crude	O	O
had	O	O
taken	O	O
a	O	O
dramatic	ESE	O
upsurge	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
aftermath	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ever-deteriorating	ESE	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
unilateral	O	ESE
cut	O	ESE
off	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Iraqi	O	ESE
oil	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
Saddam	O	ESE
Hussein	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
similar	O	ESE
threats	DSE	ESE
by	DSE	O
several	O	O
other	O	O
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
dethroning	ESE	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
is	O	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
message	DSE	DSE
that	DSE	O
disobeying	ESE	O
Uncle	ESE	O
Sam	ESE	O
would	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
cataclysmic	ESE	ESE
consequences	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
had	DSE	O
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
asked	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
government	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
level	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
oil	O	O
output	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
who	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
known	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
his	O	O
ala	ESE	O
Fidel	ESE	O
Castro	ESE	O
left-leaning	DSE	O
anti-American	DSE	O
philosophy	DSE	O
had	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
occasions	O	O
rebuffed	DSE	O
US	O	O
requests	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
more	O	O
oil	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
direct	O	O
response	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
preach	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
planet	ESE	O
,	O	O
recognizing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
could	DSE	ESE
no	DSE	ESE
longer	DSE	ESE
tolerate	DSE	ESE
someone	O	ESE
like	O	ESE
Chavez	O	ESE
reverted	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
old	ESE	ESE
bullying	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
dictatorial	ESE	ESE
tactics	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
arranged	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
army	O	O
coup	O	O
by	O	O
several	O	O
avowed	DSE	O
pro-American	ESE	O
generals	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
managed	O	O
to	O	O
remove	O	O
Chavez	O	O
from	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
a	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
short	ESE	O
hours	ESE	O
.	O	O

Venezuela	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
third	O	O
largest	O	O
exporter	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
within	O	O
OPEC	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fourth	O	O
as	O	O
far	O	O
as	O	O
worldwide	O	O
production	O	O
is	O	O
concerned	O	O
.	O	O

Venezuela	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
important	ESE	O
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
nation	O	O
since	O	O
its	O	O
oil	O	O
directly	O	O
impacts	O	O
crude	O	O
prices	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
markets	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
very	DSE	ESE
little	DSE	ESE
doubt	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
Chavez	O	O
did	O	O
not	ESE	O
voluntarily	ESE	O
resign	O	O
his	O	O
office	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	O
in	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
removed	O	O
from	O	O
power	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
.	O	O

Evidently	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
during	O	O
a	O	O
phone	O	O
conversation	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
Chavez	O	O
told	DSE	O
his	O	O
daughter	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
forced	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
resign	O	O
and	O	O
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
army	O	O
's	O	O
non-negotiable	ESE	O
conditions	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
event	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
apparent	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
intends	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
conspicuous	ESE	ESE
role	O	ESE
and	O	O
exert	DSE	O
increasing	DSE	O
pressure	DSE	O
as	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
issue	O	O
is	ESE	O
concerned	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
by	O	O
wielding	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
authority	ESE	O
and	O	O
exercising	ESE	ESE
dictatorial	ESE	ESE
powers	ESE	ESE
as	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
superpower	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
front	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
centre	ESE	O
role	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
intricate	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
game	ESE	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
free	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
all-important	ESE	ESE
strategic	O	ESE
product	O	ESE
otherwise	O	ESE
known	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
Black	O	ESE
Gold	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
fall	O	O
of	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
crystal-clear	ESE	DSE
message	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
warning	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
to	O	O
anyone	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
who	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
contemplating	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
use	O	O
oil	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
tool	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
news	O	O
leaked	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
reoccupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cities	O	O
confirms	ESE	O
that	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
have	O	O
committed	O	O
dozens	ESE	O
of	O	O
premeditated	ESE	O
massacres	ESE	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
civilian	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
carnage	ESE	O
is	DSE	O
planned	DSE	O
and	O	O
implemented	O	O
in	ESE	O
compliance	ESE	O
with	O	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Israeli	O	O
field	O	O
marshals	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
atrocities	ESE	O
are	DSE	O
masterminded	ESE	O
by	O	O
high	O	O
level	O	O
Israeli	O	O
officials	O	O
including	O	O
Shimon	O	O
Peres	O	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
declared	O	O
the	O	O
reoccupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cities	O	O
closed	O	O
military	O	O
areas	O	O
into	O	O
which	O	O
media	O	O
people	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
allowed	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	O
happened	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Bosnia	ESE	O
Herzegovina	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
repeated	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
larger	ESE	O
scale	ESE	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

People	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
killed	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
masses	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
buried	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
collective	ESE	O
graves	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
crime	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
humanity	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
government	O	O
is	O	O
committing	O	ESE
crimes	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
against	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
Palestinians	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
tried	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
tribunal	O	O
just	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
the	O	O
governments	O	O
of	O	O
Rwanda	O	O
and	O	O
former	O	O
Yugoslavia	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
international	O	O
tribunal	O	O
for	O	O
war	O	O
crimes	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
established	O	O
in	O	O
Rome	O	O
and	O	O
started	O	O
its	O	O
works	O	O
officially	O	O
last	O	O
Thursday	O	O
with	O	O
the	DSE	O
approval	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
60	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
tribunal	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
responsible	O	O
for	O	O
trying	O	O
war	O	O
criminals	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
we	O	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
Security	O	O
Council	O	O
resolution	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
tribunal	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
entire	O	O
Arab	O	O
World	O	O
are	DSE	O
waiting	DSE	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
proof	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
law	ESE	O
protects	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
beings	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
general	ESE	O
regardless	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
their	O	O
color	O	O
,	O	O
ethnicity	O	O
and	O	O
religion	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
world	O	O
community	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
tolerate	DSE	ESE
crimes	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

We	O	O
are	DSE	O
waiting	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
see	DSE	O
that	O	O
international	O	O
laws	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
selective	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	O
applied	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
cultural	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
ideological	ESE	ESE
considerations	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
public	O	O
opinion	O	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
and	O	O
Islamic	O	O
world	O	O
is	DSE	O
following	ESE	O
closely	ESE	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
happening	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
World	O	O
Community	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
a	O	O
step	O	O
toward	O	O
referring	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
criminals	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
permanent	O	O
tribunal	O	O
for	O	O
war	O	O
crimes	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zionist	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
administrations	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
illusion	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
they	O	O
succeeded	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
defeating	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
valiant	ESE	O
intifadah	O	O
.	O	O

Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
administrations	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
position	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
``	ESE	O
victor	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
have	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
international	O	O
or	O	O
regional	O	O
peace	O	O
conference	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
have	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
announced	DSE	O
that	O	O
President	O	O
Yasir	O	O
Arafat	O	O
is	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
longer	ESE	ESE
fit	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
coming	O	O
phase	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
addition	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
seek	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
convince	DSE	DSE
other	O	O
parties	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
two	O	O
ideas	DSE	O
and	O	O
are	DSE	O
waiting	DSE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
concerned	O	O
parties	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
,	O	O
at	ESE	O
least	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
which	O	O
these	O	O
two	O	O
administrations	O	O
will	DSE	O
set	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
own	DSE	O
conditions	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
table	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
towns	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
under	ESE	O
occupation	ESE	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
Authority	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
institutions	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
destroyed	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	ESE	O
Arafat	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
still	ESE	DSE
besieged	ESE	DSE
at	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
office	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
hostage	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
leaders	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
held	ESE	ESE
hostage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
now	ESE	ESE
experiencing	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
utmost	ESE	ESE
suffering	ESE	ESE
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
daily	O	O
lives	O	O
.	O	O

All	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
thing	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
will	DSE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
something	ESE	ESE
different	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zionists	O	O
have	O	O
succeeded	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
achieving	ESE	O
these	O	O
things	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
deep-rooted	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
they	O	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
succeeded	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
succeed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
breaking	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
valiant	ESE	ESE
people	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
forcing	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
Palestinians	ESE	ESE
into	ESE	ESE
relinquishing	ESE	ESE
their	O	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
ending	O	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
glorious	ESE	ESE
struggle	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
these	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
thus	O	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
illusion	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
these	O	O
criminal	ESE	O
administrations	O	O
to	DSE	O
imagine	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	ESE	O
triumphed	ESE	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
now	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
position	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
dictate	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
conditions	ESE	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
great	ESE	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
real	ESE	ESE
victor	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
battle	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
not	ESE	O
the	O	O
Zionists	O	O
.	O	O

For	ESE	O
many	ESE	O
reasons	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
occupation	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
towns	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
last	O	O
,	O	O
so	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
forces	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
withdraw	O	O
from	O	O
these	O	O
towns	O	O
sooner	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
later	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
addition	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
now	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
impossible	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
ever	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
control	O	O
the	O	O
movement	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
million	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
actually	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
deep-rooted	ESE	ESE
facts	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	O	O
towns	O	O
and	O	O
refugee	O	O
camps	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
destroyed	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	O
soon	ESE	O
be	O	O
reconstructed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
skillfully	ESE	ESE
adapted	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
circumstances	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
reconstruction	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
place	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
quickly	ESE	ESE
than	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
criminals	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Tel	O	O
Aviv	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Most	ESE	ESE
importantly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
however	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
these	O	ESE
criminals	ESE	ESE
will	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
largest	ESE	ESE
illusion	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	O
imagine	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	ESE	O
succeeded	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
liquidating	ESE	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
and	O	O
destroying	ESE	O
its	O	O
infrastructure	O	O
after	O	O
having	O	O
succeeded	O	O
in	O	O
liquidating	O	O
or	O	O
arresting	O	O
a	O	O
small	O	O
or	O	O
large	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
's	O	O
leaders	O	O
and	O	O
strugglers	ESE	O

Another	ESE	ESE
deep-rooted	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
organizations	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
resistance	O	O
still	ESE	O
preserve	O	O
their	O	O
organizational	O	O
structure	O	O
and	O	O
are	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
characterized	ESE	DSE
by	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
superb	ESE	O
ability	ESE	O
to	O	O
renew	O	O
their	O	O
leaders	O	O
and	O	O
replace	O	O
the	O	O
ones	O	O
who	O	O
fall	ESE	O
along	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
path	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
martyrdom	ESE	O
.	O	O

These	O	ESE
criminals	ESE	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	ESE	O
much	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Arabs	O	O
,	O	O
do	DSE	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
direct	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
's	O	O
infrastructure	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
actually	ESE	O
widened	ESE	O
and	O	O
turned	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
volcanoes	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
boiling	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
rage	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	O	DSE
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Uri	O	O
Avneri	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
veteran	O	O
Zionist	O	O
writer	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
's	O	O
structure	O	O
``	O	O
exists	ESE	ESE
within	ESE	ESE
millions	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Palestinians	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
within	ESE	ESE
tens	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
millions	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Arabs	ESE	O
in	DSE	O
whose	DSE	O
chests	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
fire	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
anger	DSE	DSE
is	DSE	O
blazing	DSE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
If	ESE	ESE
more	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
martyrdom-seeking	O	O
ones	O	O
fall	O	O
,	O	O
other	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
martyrdom-seeking	O	O
ones	O	O
will	O	O
emerge	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
ready	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
follow	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
footsteps	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
conclusion	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
which	DSE	O
we	DSE	O
come	DSE	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
administrations	O	O
have	O	ESE
aggravated	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
entity	O	O
's	O	O
historical	ESE	O
impasse	ESE	O
through	O	O
the	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
committed	ESE	O
together	ESE	O
when	O	O
they	O	O
had	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
illusion	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
``	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
can	O	O
break	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
will	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
impose	ESE	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
people	O	O
what	O	O
other	O	O
means	O	O
failed	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
impose	ESE	O
.	O	O

Contrary	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
visible	O	O
scene	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
the	ESE	O
illusion	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
Sharon	O	O
and	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
this	ESE	O
Zionist-US	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
confirmed	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
entity	O	O
's	O	O
historical	ESE	O
impasse	ESE	O
is	O	O
constantly	ESE	ESE
aggravating	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
Arabs	O	O
'	O	O
recognition	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
this	O	O
entity	O	O
's	O	O
right	O	O
to	O	O
exist	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
now	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
distant	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
before	ESE	ESE
despite	ESE	ESE
some	O	O
official	O	O
Arab	O	O
``	ESE	O
recognitions	ESE	ESE
.	ESE	O
''	ESE	O

Millions	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Arabs	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
non-Palestinians	ESE	O
alike	ESE	O
,	O	O
now	ESE	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
conviction	DSE	ESE
stronger	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
before	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
effect	O	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
achieve	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
coexistence	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
with	O	O
this	O	O
usurping	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
occupying	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
aggressive	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
racist	ESE	ESE
entity	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
hero	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
War	O	O
,	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
exactly	ESE	O
cover	ESE	O
himself	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
glory	ESE	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
mission	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
president	O	O
's	O	O
envoy	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	O
task	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
create	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
peaceful	O	O
environment	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
currently	O	O
affected	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
unrecognized	DSE	O
and	O	O
undeclared	DSE	O
war	DSE	O
between	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
man	O	O
who	O	O
defeated	O	O
Iraq	O	O
in	O	O
1991	O	O
in	O	O
only	O	O
six	O	O
weeks	O	O
issued	O	O
a	O	O
message	O	O
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	DSE	O
most	ESE	O
he	DSE	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
was	O	O
something	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
mutual	O	O
cease-fire	O	DSE
agreement	O	DSE
.	O	O

Another	O	O
round	O	O
of	O	O
talks	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
held	O	O
today	O	O
between	O	O
Powell	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
players	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
events	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
standstill	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
,	O	O
makes	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
US	O	O
foreign	O	O
policy	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
put	O	O
to	O	O
a	ESE	O
very	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
test	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
needs	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
discipline	ESE	O
its	O	O
decades-long	O	O
ally	O	O
,	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
not	O	ESE
ruin	ESE	ESE
its	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Arabs	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	ESE
impression	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
,	O	O
under	O	O
US	O	O
sponsorship	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
deliberated	DSE	DSE
too	ESE	DSE
long	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
violence	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
latest	O	O
round	O	O
of	O	O
violence	O	O
was	O	O
initiated	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
day	O	O
in	O	O
September	O	O
2000	O	O
when	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
took	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
upon	ESE	O
himself	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
provoke	ESE	O
his	O	O
Muslim	O	O
neighbors	O	O
by	O	O
visiting	O	O
an	O	O
Islamic	O	O
religious	O	O
building	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
colonel	O	O
and	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
directly	ESE	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
massacre	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Beirut	O	O
camps	O	O
Sabra	O	O
and	O	O
Shatila	O	O
,	O	O
used	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
return	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
settle	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
accounts	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
years-long	ESE	ESE
enemies	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Powell	O	O
's	O	O
words	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
we	O	O
are	O	O
working	O	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
plan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
are	O	O
unclear	ESE	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
he	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
say	O	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
is	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
call	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
a	O	O
conference	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
is	O	O
also	ESE	ESE
unclear	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
relation	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	ESE
ambiguity	O	ESE
,	O	O
Powell	O	O
's	O	O
words	O	O
definitely	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
taken	ESE	ESE
seriously	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
considering	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
precisely	ESE	O
Washington	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
practicing	O	O
a	O	O
one-sided	ESE	ESE
approach	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
for	O	O
18	O	O
months	O	O
now	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
chief	DSE	O
opponent	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
positioning	O	O
of	O	O
peace	O	O
troops	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
warring	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
$	O	O
3	O	O
billion	O	O
military	O	O
aid	O	O
for	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
strong	O	O
Jewish	O	O
lobby	O	O
at	O	O
home	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Untied	O	O
States	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
play	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Middle	ESE	O
East	ESE	O
conflict	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
protector	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
warnings	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
appeals	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
peace	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
openly	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
takes	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
side	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
conflict	O	O
,	O	O
labeling	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
other	O	O
side	O	O
terrorists	ESE	O
,	O	O
similar	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
carried	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
attacks	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Twin	ESE	O
Towers	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
New	ESE	O
York	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
entirely	ESE	ESE
improper	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
defense	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
continues	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
exert	DSE	O
pressure	DSE	O
on	O	O
neighboring	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
,	O	O
Syria	O	O
and	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
supporting	DSE	DSE
terrorist	O	O
organizations	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
Hezbolah	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	ESE	O
worrying	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
among	O	O
Powell	O	O
's	O	O
priorities	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
Beirut	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Hezbolah	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
an	DSE	O
announcement	DSE	O
that	O	O
terrorists	O	O
might	ESE	O
open	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
front	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
some	O	O
circles	O	O
,	O	O
these	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
an	O	O
alleged	DSE	O
new	O	O
front	O	O
are	DSE	O
seen	DSE	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
resolve	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
smaller	ESE	O
Israel-Palestine	ESE	O
problem	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
bigger	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
.	O	O

For	ESE	O
example	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
new	ESE	O
Israeli-Arab	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
received	O	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
negative	ESE	O
points	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

Maybe	ESE	ESE
Joschka	O	O
Fischer	O	O
's	O	O
plan	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
suspending	O	O
Germany	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
aid	O	O
for	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
,	O	O
possible	O	O
EU	O	O
economic	O	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Tel	O	O
Aviv	O	O
is	O	O
honorable	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
late	ESE	O
and	O	O
disturbingly	ESE	O
long-term	ESE	O
plan	O	O
.	O	O

Europe	O	O
does	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
have	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
united	DSE	O
stance	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
violence	O	O
in	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
,	O	O
Nablus	O	O
,	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
refugee	O	O
camps	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
only	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
that	O	O
secures	O	O
its	O	O
borders	O	O
by	O	O
occupying	O	O
territories	O	O
of	O	O
another	O	O
state	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
EU	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
peace	O	O
initiative	O	O
through	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Powell	O	O
seem	ESE	ESE
like	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
late	ESE	ESE
resolution	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
considering	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
approximately	O	O
one	O	O
month	O	O
ago	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
participating	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
in	O	O
Beirut	O	O
held	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
olive	DSE	O
branch	DSE	O
to	O	O
Israel	O	O
through	O	O
the	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
of	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
's	O	O
heir	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
throne	O	O
,	O	O
Prince	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
contained	O	O
two	O	O
points	O	O
:	O	O
recognition	DSE	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
state	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
Arab	O	O
neighborhood	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
recognition	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
'	O	O
right	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
even	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
goodness	ESE	O
to	O	O
look	O	O
at	O	O
this	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
,	O	O
demonstrating	O	O
arrogance	ESE	ESE
toward	ESE	ESE
everything	ESE	ESE
Arab	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
manner	ESE	O
Israel	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
Arafat	O	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
,	O	O
labeling	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
a	O	O
troublemaker	ESE	O
and	O	O
politician	ESE	O
incapable	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
controlling	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
suicide	ESE	O
bombers	ESE	O
.	O	O

NEW	O	O
DELHI	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
22	O	O
--	O	O
INTERNATIONAL	O	DSE
call	O	DSE
charges	O	DSE
have	O	DSE
finally	ESE	ESE
started	ESE	ESE
tumbling	ESE	ESE
down	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
Bharti	O	O
Telesonic	O	O
Ltd	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
long-distance	O	O
arm	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Bharti	O	O
group	O	O
offering	O	O
tariffs	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
40	O	O
percent	O	O
lower	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
existing	O	O
rates	O	O
.	O	O

Announcing	O	O
this	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
Mr	O	O
Sunil	O	O
Mittal	O	O
,	O	O
Chairman	O	O
&	O	O
amp	O	O
;	O	O
Managing	O	O
Director	O	O
,	O	O
Bharti	O	O
Enterprises	O	O
,	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
tariffs	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
made	O	O
available	O	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
ILD	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
international	O	O
long	O	O
distance	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
services	O	O
being	O	O
launched	O	O
on	O	O
May	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
revised	O	O
downwards	O	O
as	O	O
and	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
demanded	O	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
present	O	O
rate	O	O
cut	O	O
of	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
40	O	O
percent	O	O
on	O	O
peak-time	O	O
rates	O	O
is	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
be	O	O
lowered	O	O
after	O	O
Videsh	O	O
Sanchar	O	O
Nigam	O	O
Ltd	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
VSNL	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
ILD	O	O
operators	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
yet	O	O
to	O	O
begin	O	O
services	O	O
,	O	O
announce	O	O
their	O	O
rates	O	O
.	O	O

Unlike	O	O
the	O	O
STD	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
subscriber	O	O
trunk	O	O
dialing	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
services	O	O
where	O	O
a	O	O
further	O	O
rate	O	O
cut	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
feasible	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
services	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
scope	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
more	ESE	O
improvement	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

As	O	O
per	O	O
the	O	O
tariff	O	O
plan	O	O
announced	O	O
by	O	O
Bharti	O	O
,	O	O
peak-time	O	DSE
call	O	DSE
charges	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
SAARC	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
South	O	O
Asian	O	O
Association	O	O
for	O	O
Regional	O	O
Cooperation	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
region	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
offered	O	O
at	O	O
Rs	O	O
21.18	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
as	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
Rs	O	O
21.82	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
Rs	O	O
24	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
as	O	O
against	O	O
Rs	O	O
31.30	O	O
to	O	O
Rs	O	O
40	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
applicable	O	O
now	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
non-peak	O	O
hours	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
call	O	O
rates	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
SAARC	O	O
regions	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
lowered	O	O
to	O	O
Rs	O	O
18	O	O
from	O	O
Rs	O	O
18.95	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
at	O	O
Rs	O	O
21.18	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
Rs	O	O
27.69	O	O
to	O	O
Rs	O	O
36	O	O
.	O	O

Mr	O	O
Mittal	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
although	O	O
the	O	O
original	O	O
plan	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
the	O	O
ILD	O	O
services	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
IndiaOne	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
middle	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
company	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
awaiting	O	O
security	O	O
clearances	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
commissioning	O	O
certificate	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Telecommunications	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
DoT	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Interconnect	O	O
agreements	DSE	O
had	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
signed	O	O
with	O	O
almost	O	O
all	O	O
cellular	O	O
operators	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
Bharat	O	O
Sanchar	O	O
Nigam	O	O
Ltd	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
BSNL	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Mahanagar	O	O
Telephone	O	O
Nigam	O	O
Ltd	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MTNL	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
would	O	O
also	O	O
be	O	O
signed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
days	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
agreements	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
as	O	O
many	O	O
as	O	O
nine	O	O
foreign	O	O
carriers	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
globe	O	O
had	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
signed	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
include	O	O
AT	O	O
&	O	O
amp	O	O
;	O	O
T	O	O
,	O	O
Sprint	O	O
,	O	O
Teleglobe	O	O
,	O	O
Eteselat	O	O
,	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Telecom	O	O
,	O	O
British	O	O
Telecom	O	O
and	O	O
SingTel	O	O
to	O	O
name	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
nine	O	O
carriers	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
90	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
traffic	O	O
coming	O	O
to	O	O
India	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Bharti	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
requisite	O	O
clearances	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
offer	O	O
its	O	O
network	O	O
to	O	O
all	O	O
carriers	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
non-discriminatory	O	O
basis	O	O
.	O	O

Carriers	O	O
will	O	O
now	O	O
connect	O	O
to	O	O
Bharti	O	O
's	O	O
network	O	O
and	O	O
enjoy	O	O
rates	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
enable	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
deep	O	O
discounts	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
end-consumer	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
total	O	O
investment	O	O
of	O	O
Rs	O	O
100	O	O
crore	O	O
is	O	O
planned	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
Rs	O	O
75	O	O
crore	O	O
has	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
spent	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

IndiaOne	O	O
had	O	O
laid	O	O
approximately	O	O
14,000	O	O
km	O	O
of	O	O
optical	O	O
fibre	O	O
cable	O	O
covering	O	O
90	O	O
cities	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
company	O	O
has	O	O
contracted	O	O
submarine	O	O
cable	O	O
capacity	O	O
from	O	O
network	O	O
i2i	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
backed	O	DSE
it	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
satellite	O	O
connectivity	O	O
to	O	O
build	O	O
in	O	O
redundancy	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ILD	O	O
network	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
IP	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Internet	O	O
Protocol	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
centric	O	ESE
backbone	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
multiservices	O	O
platform	O	O
comprises	O	O
TDM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Time	O	O
Division	O	O
Multiplexing	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
switch	O	O
layer	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
ATM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Asynchronous	O	O
Transfer	O	O
Mode	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
IP	O	O
layer	O	O
and	O	O
intelligent	O	O
network	O	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
value-added	O	O
services	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
company	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
also	O	O
planned	DSE	O
to	O	O
start	O	O
offering	O	O
Internet	O	O
telephony	O	O
services	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
and	O	O
deploy	O	O
Voice	O	O
over	O	O
Internet	O	O
Protocol	O	O
to	O	O
strengthen	O	O
its	O	O
ILD	O	O
presence	O	O
.	O	O

Israeli	O	O
Arab	O	O
leaders	O	O
yesterday	O	O
pledged	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
fight	DSE	O
a	O	O
proposed	DSE	O
25	O	O
%	O	O
-30	O	O
%	O	O
cut	O	O
in	O	O
National	O	O
Insurance	O	O
Institute	O	O
child	O	O
benefits	O	O
for	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
not	O	O
served	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
or	O	O
completed	O	O
national	O	O
service	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
forum	O	O
of	O	O
Arab	O	O
council	O	O
heads	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
to	DSE	O
draw	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
action	DSE	O
campaign	DSE	O
aimed	DSE	DSE
at	O	DSE
thwarting	ESE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
plan	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
package	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
put	O	DSE
forward	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Treasury	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
NIS	O	O
13	O	O
million	O	O
cut	O	O
in	O	O
government	O	O
spending	O	O
.	O	O

Shawqi	O	O
Khatib	O	O
,	O	O
chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
monitoring	O	O
committee	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Arab	O	O
leadership	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Arabs	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
hardest	ESE	O
hit	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
approves	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
in	O	O
child	O	O
benefits	O	O
.	O	O

Khatib	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
also	O	O
chairs	O	O
the	O	O
forum	O	O
of	O	O
Arab	O	O
council	O	O
heads	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
leadership	O	O
is	DSE	O
diametrically	DSE	O
opposed	DSE	O
to	O	O
any	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
when	O	O
those	O	O
affecting	O	O
the	O	O
lower	O	O
socio-economic	O	O
strata	O	O
of	O	O
society	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	DSE
words	DSE	DSE
were	DSE	DSE
echoed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Muhammad	O	O
Zaydan	O	O
,	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kafr	O	O
Manda	O	O
Local	O	O
Council	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
town	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
population	O	O
of	O	O
14,000	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
top	O	O
of	O	O
unemployment	O	O
lists	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
months	O	O
.	O	O

Zaydan	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
proposed	DSE	O
cut	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
child	DSE	O
benefits	DSE	O
would	O	O
deal	O	O
a	ESE	O
body	ESE	O
blow	ESE	O
to	O	O
all	O	O
those	O	O
already	O	O
classed	DSE	O
as	O	O
being	O	O
below	O	O
the	O	O
poverty	O	O
line	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Those	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
work	O	ESE
now	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
who	O	ESE
rely	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
benefits	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
support	O	ESE
their	O	O
families	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
find	O	O
themselves	O	O
in	O	O
an	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	ESE	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
ramifications	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
future	O	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
children	ESE	O
skipping	ESE	O
school	ESE	O
,	O	O
going	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
onto	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
streets	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
getting	ESE	O
mixed	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
drugs	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
.	O	O

We	DSE	O
already	ESE	O
see	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
now	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
unemployment	O	O
situation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Officially	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
23	O	O
%	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
working	O	O
population	O	O
are	O	O
registered	O	O
as	O	O
looking	O	O
for	O	O
work	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
council	O	O
officials	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
real	O	O
figures	O	O
are	O	O
much	ESE	O
higher	ESE	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
maintain	DSE	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
many	ESE	O
women	O	O
and	O	O
young	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
lost	O	O
their	O	O
jobs	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
either	O	O
no	O	O
longer	O	O
registered	O	O
or	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
sign	O	O
as	O	O
jobless	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
place	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
remember	DSE	DSE
when	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
prime	O	O
minister	O	O
Yitzhaq	O	O
Rabin	O	O
did	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
discrimination	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
existed	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
and	O	O
equalized	O	O
child	O	O
benefits	O	O
regardless	O	O
of	O	O
whether	O	O
parents	O	O
had	O	O
served	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
or	O	O
not	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Zaydan	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
applauded	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
move	O	O
because	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
it	O	O
made	O	O
us	O	O
begin	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
feel	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
we	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
Arabs	O	O
,	O	O
were	O	O
an	O	O
integral	ESE	ESE
part	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Israeli	O	ESE
society	O	ESE
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
this	O	O
move	O	O
goes	O	O
through	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
will	DSE	O
once	DSE	O
again	DSE	O
feel	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
we	O	O
are	O	O
being	ESE	O
discriminated	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Confounding	O	O
previous	O	O
forecasts	DSE	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Central	O	O
Bureau	O	O
of	O	O
Statistics	O	O
today	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
industrial	O	O
output	O	O
remained	O	O
unchanged	O	O
in	O	O
February	O	O
trend	O	O
data	O	O
.	O	O

Trend	O	O
figures	O	O
for	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
showed	O	O
a	O	O
5.5	O	O
%	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
industrial	O	O
output	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
figure	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
high-tech	O	O
crisis	O	O
is	O	O
continuing	O	O
.	O	O

High-tech	O	O
output	O	O
fell	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
annualized	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
in	O	O
January-February	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
an	O	O
8.5	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

Output	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
electronics	O	O
,	O	O
transportation	O	O
tools	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
pharmaceutical	O	O
industries	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
of	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
industrial	O	O
sectors	O	O
posted	O	O
output	O	O
increases	O	O
of	O	O
0-7	O	O
%	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
terms	O	O
.	O	O

Output	O	O
in	O	O
consumer	O	O
industries	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
food	O	O
,	O	O
beverages	O	O
,	O	O
textiles	O	O
,	O	O
clothing	O	O
,	O	O
footwear	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
printing	O	O
,	O	O
declined	O	DSE
by	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
of	O	O
2.5	O	O
%	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
terms	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
4	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
slowdown	O	O
in	O	O
industry	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
an	O	O
annualized	O	O
2.5	O	O
%	O	O
fall	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
industrial	O	O
wage-earners	O	O
,	O	O
similar	O	O
to	O	O
January	O	O
's	O	O
decline	O	O
and	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
2.8	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
wage-earners	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
by	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
12,000	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
10,000	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
average	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
per	O	O
employee	O	O
work	O	O
hours	O	O
was	O	O
unchanged	O	O
in	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
an	O	O
annualized	O	O
2.5	O	O
%	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
January	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
4.8	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
trend	O	O
data	O	O
for	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

Seasonally	O	O
adjusted	O	O
figures	O	O
indicate	O	O
industrial	O	O
activity	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	O
declining	O	O
.	O	O

Industrial	O	O
output	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
cumulative	O	O
3	O	O
%	O	O
since	O	O
mid-2001	O	O
and	O	O
10	O	O
%	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
disturbances	O	O
in	O	O
late	O	O
September	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seasonally	O	O
adjusted	O	O
number	O	O
per	O	O
employee	O	O
work	O	O
hours	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
overall	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
since	O	O
October	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
uses	O	O
the	O	O
seasonally	O	O
adjusted	O	O
data	O	O
to	O	O
calculate	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Index	O	O
and	O	O
estimate	O	O
business	O	O
activity	O	O
.	O	O

5:14	O	O
pm	O	O
Sat	O	O
May	O	O
4th	O	O
,	O	O
2002	O	O
--	O	O
Thirty-two	O	O
non-governmental	O	O
organisations	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
NGOs	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
today	O	O
said	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
suspended	O	O
all	O	O
engagements	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
Commission	O	O
or	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
for	O	O
100	O	O
days	O	O
since	O	O
April	O	O
24	O	O
-	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
appointments	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
commission	O	O
took	O	O
effect	O	O
.	O	O

Speaking	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
,	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
organisation	O	O
,	O	O
Hakam	O	O
president	O	O
Ramdas	O	O
Tikamdas	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	DSE
was	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
poor	ESE	O
response	ESE	O
to	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
numerous	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
thus	O	O
far	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
note	DSE	DSE
with	DSE	DSE
deep	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	O
largely	DSE	O
ignored	DSE	O
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
maiden	O	O
report	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
assembly	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Whereas	O	O
the	O	O
Kesas	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
submitted	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
public	O	O
inquiry	O	O
,	O	O
earned	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
disdain	DSE	ESE
and	DSE	ESE
wrath	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Dr	O	O
Mahathir	O	O
Mohamad	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
who	O	O
summarily	DSE	O
dismissed	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
product	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
`	ESE	O
western	ESE	ESE
biased	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
during	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Selangor	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Assembly	O	O
Hall	O	O
in	O	O
Kuala	O	O
Lumpur	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kesas	O	O
report	O	O
irked	DSE	O
Mahathir	O	O
after	O	O
it	O	O
found	O	O
the	O	O
police	O	O
guilty	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
using	ESE	O
excessive	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	O
during	O	O
a	O	O
mass	O	O
anti-government	O	O
gathering	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
Kesas	O	O
highway	O	O
on	O	O
Nov	O	O
5	O	O
,	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	DSE
also	ESE	DSE
failed	ESE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
respect	DSE	DSE
or	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
also	O	O
lamented	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
decline	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
.	O	O

Ramdas	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
failure	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
adhere	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
commission	O	O
's	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
creates	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
Suhakam	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
but	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
mere	ESE	ESE
public	ESE	ESE
relations	ESE	ESE
tool	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Over	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
two	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
has	O	O
deteriorated	ESE	O
with	O	O
increasing	O	O
numbers	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
detained	O	O
without	O	O
trial	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Internal	O	O
Security	O	O
Act	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
blanket	O	O
police	O	O
ban	O	O
on	O	O
assemblies	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
restrictions	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	O
of	O	O
free	O	O
speech	O	O
and	O	O
expression	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
further	O	O
restrictive	O	O
amendments	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
laws	O	O
,	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
have	ESE	DSE
further	ESE	DSE
denied	ESE	DSE
our	ESE	O
democratic	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
also	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	ESE	O
yet	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
show	ESE	O
its	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	O
respect	DSE	O
for	O	O
universal	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
principles	O	O
by	O	O
ratifying	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
instruments	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
namely	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Covenant	O	O
on	O	O
Civil	O	O
and	O	O
Political	O	O
Rights	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Covenant	O	O
on	O	O
Economic	O	O
,	O	O
Social	O	O
and	O	O
Cultural	O	O
Rights	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Covenant	O	O
Against	O	O
Torture	O	O
.	O	O

Controversial	O	O
appointments	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
another	O	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
raised	DSE	O
was	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
independence	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
former	O	O
attorney-general	O	O
Abu	O	O
Talib	O	O
Othman	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
new	O	O
chairperson	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
not	O	O
to	O	O
renew	O	O
the	O	O
appointments	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
commissioners	O	O
,	O	O
Anuar	O	O
Zainal	O	O
Abidin	O	O
,	O	O
Prof	O	O
Mehrun	O	O
Siraj	O	O
and	O	O
Dr	O	O
Salleh	O	O
Mohd	O	O
Nor	O	O
.	O	O

Ramdas	O	O
said	DSE	O
it	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
perceived	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Anuar	O	O
and	O	O
Mehrun	O	O
,	O	O
instrumental	ESE	O
behind	O	O
the	DSE	O
scathing	DSE	O
Kesas	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
,	O	O
were	O	O
dropped	O	O
for	O	O
performing	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
duties	DSE	O
without	ESE	O
fear	ESE	DSE
or	ESE	DSE
favour	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
three	O	O
commissioners	O	O
have	O	O
now	O	O
been	O	O
axed	ESE	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
clear	ESE	O
signal	ESE	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
commissioners	O	O
that	O	O
their	O	O
tenure	O	O
is	O	O
dependent	O	O
on	O	O
whether	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
they	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
pleased	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
executive	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
clearly	ESE	ESE
undermines	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
independence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commission	O	O
and	O	O
will	ESE	O
erode	ESE	O
public	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
confidence	ESE	DSE
on	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
hand	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
is	O	O
nothing	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
records	O	O
which	O	O
shows	O	O
that	O	O
Abu	O	O
Talib	O	O
was	DSE	O
committed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
protecting	DSE	O
civil	O	O
liberties	O	O
and	O	O
advancing	DSE	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
.	O	O

Claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
nothing	ESE	ESE
personal	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
said	O	DSE
their	O	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
defense	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1987	O	O
`	O	O
Ops	O	O
Lalang	O	O
'	O	O
where	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
100	O	O
people	O	O
were	O	O
detained	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
ISA	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Internal	O	O
Security	O	O
Act	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Abu	O	O
Talib	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
tenure	O	O
as	O	O
AG	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
attorney	O	O
general	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
instrumental	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
impeachment	O	O
of	O	O
then	O	O
Lord	O	O
President	O	O
Salleh	O	O
Abas	O	O
and	O	O
five	O	O
Supreme	O	O
Court	O	O
judges	O	O
in	O	O
1988	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
five	O	O
new	O	O
commissioners	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
being	O	O
made	O	O
up	O	O
mostly	O	O
of	O	O
retired	O	O
civil	O	O
servants	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	O
commissioners	O	O
are	O	O
retired	O	O
Treasury	O	O
deputy	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Ramon	O	O
Navaratnam	O	O
,	O	O
permanent	O	O
representative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Hasmy	O	O
Agam	O	O
,	O	O
Institute	O	O
of	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Understanding	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Ikim	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
director-general	O	O
Dr	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Monir	O	O
Yaacob	O	O
,	O	O
retired	O	O
Education	O	O
director-general	O	O
Asiah	O	O
Abu	O	O
Samah	O	O
and	O	O
retired	O	O
National	O	O
Population	O	O
and	O	O
Family	O	O
Development	O	O
Board	O	O
director-general	O	O
Dr	O	O
Raj	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Karim	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
whether	O	O
persons	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
role	O	O
of	O	O
policy	O	O
implementors	O	O
can	O	O
objectively	ESE	O
assess	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
critique	DSE	O
executive	O	O
policies	O	O
which	O	O
impinge	ESE	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Ramdas	O	O
.	O	O

Elaborating	O	O
further	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	O
,	O	O
Ramdas	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
hold	O	O
any	O	O
dialogues	O	O
,	O	O
send	O	O
any	O	O
memorandums	O	O
or	O	O
complaints	O	DSE
to	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
the	O	O
meantime	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
will	O	O
monitor	O	O
the	O	O
commissioners	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
discharge	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
statutory	O	O
duties	O	O
in	O	O
respect	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
pending	O	O
complaints	DSE	O
and	O	O
inquires	DSE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
note	O	O
to	O	O
what	O	O
extent	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
will	O	O
monitor	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
compliance	O	O
with	O	O
previous	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
various	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
issues	O	O
contained	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
maiden	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Parliament	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
other	O	O
reports	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

Ramdas	O	O
said	DSE	O
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
performance	O	O
will	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
judged	DSE	O
not	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
statements	O	O
issued	O	O
or	O	O
reports	O	O
produced	O	O
but	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
improvement	ESE	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
When	O	O
the	O	O
bill	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
Act	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
was	O	O
tabled	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
parliament	O	O
,	O	O
our	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Minister	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Syed	O	O
Hamid	O	O
Albar	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
promised	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
positive	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
in	O	O
protecting	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
promoting	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
in	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
are	DSE	O
now	DSE	O
looking	DSE	O
at	DSE	O
Suhakam	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
institution	O	O
to	ESE	O
fulfill	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
promise	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
Ramdas	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
will	O	O
meet	O	O
again	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
100-day	O	O
period	O	O
to	O	O
review	O	O
their	O	O
position	O	DSE
.	O	O

Apart	O	ESE
from	O	O
Hakam	O	O
,	O	O
other	O	O
notable	O	O
NGOs	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
Trades	O	O
Union	O	O
Congress	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MTUC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Suaram	O	O
,	O	O
Amesty	O	O
International	O	O
's	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
chapter	O	O
,	O	O
Jamaah	O	O
Islah	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Jim	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Sisters	O	O
in	O	O
Islam	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
SIS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Boycott	O	ESE
unfair	ESE	ESE

In	O	O
a	O	O
related	O	O
development	O	O
,	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
commissioner	O	O
Prof	O	O
Hamdan	O	O
Adnan	O	O
told	O	O
malaysiakini	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
disappointed	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
``	O	O
unfair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
of	O	O
resorting	O	O
to	O	O
such	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
commissioner	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
work	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
advancement	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	DSE	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
create	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
NGOs	O	ESE
were	O	ESE
acting	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
self	ESE	ESE
interest	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
honest	ESE	ESE
about	ESE	ESE
championing	ESE	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
action	O	O
shows	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
themselves	ESE	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
acknowledge	DSE	DSE
Suhakam	O	O
and	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
work	DSE	O
with	O	O
us	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Hamdan	O	O
.	O	O

Srinagar	O	O
,	O	O
May	O	O
5	O	O
:	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
charred	O	O
remains	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
more	O	O
persons	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
debris	O	O
at	O	O
Varmul	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
toll	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Syed	O	O
Karim	O	O
Sahib	O	O
encounter	O	O
has	O	O
risen	O	O
to	O	O
six	O	O
.	O	O

Elsewhere	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
seven	O	O
militants	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
securityman	O	O
were	O	O
among	O	O
11	O	O
people	O	O
killed	O	O
since	O	O
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
defence	O	O
spokesman	O	O
said	O	O
today	O	O
the	O	O
charred	O	O
remains	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
more	O	O
persons	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Varmul	O	O
encounter	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
were	O	O
recovered	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
debris	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
burnt	O	O
houses	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
and	O	O
ammunition	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
place	O	O
included	O	O
six	O	O
AK	O	O
rifles	O	O
,	O	O
15	O	O
magazines	O	O
and	O	O
two	O	O
radio	O	O
sets	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
exchange	O	O
of	O	O
fire	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
militants	O	O
and	O	O
troops	O	O
at	O	O
Sadnara	O	O
,	O	O
Panzalla	O	O
in	O	O
Varmul	O	O
district	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
civilian	O	O
Fayaz	O	O
Ahmad	O	O
Mir	O	O
was	O	O
killed	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
are	O	O
investigating	O	O
.	O	O

Two	O	O
militants	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
encounter	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
troops/SOG	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Special	O	O
Operations	O	O
Group	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
at	O	O
Dhok	O	O
Wali	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Poonch	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
identity	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
slain	O	O
militants	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
ascertained	O	ESE
.	O	O

Body	O	O
of	O	O
Feroz	O	O
Ahmad	O	O
Dar	O	O
of	O	O
Gaddapora	O	O
,	O	O
Shopian	O	O
was	O	O
recovered	O	O
from	O	O
village	O	O
Hajipora	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
deceased	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
shopkeeper	O	O
by	O	O
profession	O	O
was	O	O
abducted	O	O
by	O	O
unidentified	O	O
gunmen	O	O
from	O	O
his	O	O
house	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
have	O	O
registered	O	O
a	O	O
case	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Lashkar	O	O
militant	O	O
was	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
encounter	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
at	O	O
Chor	O	O
Gali	O	O
in	O	O
Shopian	O	O
area	O	O
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

Unidentified	O	O
gunmen	O	O
forced	O	O
entry	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
house	O	O
of	O	O
Sulaiman	O	O
alias	O	O
Muhammad	O	O
Sultan	O	O
of	O	O
Khawas	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Budhal	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
of	O	O
Rajouri	O	O
district	O	O
yesterday	O	O
and	O	O
shot	O	O
him	O	O
dead	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
have	O	O
taken	O	O
cognizance	O	O
.	O	O

Three	O	O
unidentified	O	O
persons	O	O
were	O	O
shot	O	O
dead	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Chola	O	O
Nallah	O	O
near	O	O
LoC	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Line	O	O
of	O	O
Control	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Poonch	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
soldier	O	O
sustained	O	O
injuries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
shoot	O	O
out	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
soldier	O	O
Ram	O	O
Karan	O	O
Singh	O	O
died	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
exchange	O	O
of	O	O
fire	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
militants	O	O
at	O	O
Bhelti	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Doda	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

Details	O	O
are	O	O
awaited	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
militant	O	O
whose	O	O
identity	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
ascertained	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
killed	O	ESE
in	O	O
an	O	O
encounter	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
troops	O	O
at	O	O
Mutgala	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Gool	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

Shanghai	O	O
,	O	O
May	O	O
9	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
spreading	O	O
AIDS	O	O
epidemic	O	O
is	O	O
threatening	ESE	DSE
Asia	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
,	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
officials	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Program	O	O
on	O	O
HIV/AIDS	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
UNAIDS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Health	O	O
Organization	O	O
and	O	O
bank	O	O
delegates	O	O
at	O	O
``	O	O
Investing	O	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
's	O	O
Health	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
Asian	O	O
Development	O	O
Bank	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ADB	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
seminar	O	O
held	O	O
here	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Statistics	O	O
show	O	O
that	O	O
about	O	O
two	O	O
people	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
region	O	O
are	O	O
infected	O	O
every	O	O
minute	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
total	O	O
of	O	O
over	O	O
one	O	O
million	O	O
people	O	O
were	O	O
infected	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
AIDS	O	O
is	O	O
casting	ESE	ESE
shadow	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
Asia	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
miracle	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
turning	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
global	ESE	O
crisis	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
accounts	O	O
for	O	O
60	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
population	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Michel	O	O
Sidibe	O	O
,	O	O
Director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Country	O	O
and	O	O
Regional	O	O
Support	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
UNAIDS	O	O
.	O	O

Research	O	O
newly	O	O
released	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
WHO	O	O
indicates	O	O
that	O	O
societies	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
heavy	O	ESE
burden	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
disease	O	ESE
tend	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
experience	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
multiplicity	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
severe	O	ESE
impediments	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
economic	O	ESE
progress	O	ESE
especially	O	ESE
to	O	O
sustainable	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
suggests	O	ESE
that	O	O
each	O	O
10	O	O
percent	O	O
improvement	O	O
in	O	O
life	O	O
expectancy	O	DSE
at	O	O
birth	O	O
is	O	O
associated	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
rise	O	O
in	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
of	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
0.3	O	O
to	O	O
0.4	O	O
percent	O	O
per	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
With	O	O
an	O	O
alarming	ESE	ESE
infection	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
in	O	O
many	O	O
Asian	O	O
Pacific	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
care	O	O
for	O	O
AIDS	O	O
is	O	O
over-burdening	ESE	O
the	O	O
health	O	O
care	O	O
system	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
taking	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
provision	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
health	O	O
services	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Sidibe	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
countries	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
India	O	O
where	O	O
AIDS	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
early	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
AIDS	O	O
pandemic	O	O
,	O	O
timely	ESE	O
control	O	O
measures	O	O
were	ESE	DSE
critical	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
head	ESE	O
off	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
explosive	ESE	ESE
growth	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
infection	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
these	O	O
demanded	ESE	DSE
heavy	ESE	O
expenditure	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Jeffrey	O	O
Sachs	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Center	O	O
for	O	O
International	O	O
Development	O	O
at	O	O
Harvard	O	O
University	O	O
and	O	O
chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
WHO	O	O
Commission	O	O
on	O	O
Macroeconomics	O	O
and	O	O
Health	O	O
,	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
fully	DSE	ESE
recognize	DSE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
investing	O	O
in	O	O
health	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
overall	O	O
development	O	O
strategy	DSE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
his	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Macroeconomics	O	O
and	O	O
Health	O	O
:	O	O
Investing	O	O
in	O	O
Health	O	O
for	O	O
Economic	O	O
Development	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
released	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
WHO	O	O
last	O	O
December	O	O
,	O	O
Sachs	O	O
estimated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
total	O	O
annual	O	O
health	O	O
outlays	O	O
in	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
least	O	O
-	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
would	ESE	O
rise	O	O
by	O	O
17	O	O
billion	O	O
U.S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
by	O	O
2007	O	O
and	O	O
29	O	O
billion	O	O
U.S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
by	O	O
2015	O	O
and	O	O
AIDS	O	O
prevention	O	O
and	O	O
care	O	O
would	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
half	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
low-income	O	O
countries	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
pay	O	O
14	O	O
billion	O	O
U.	O	O
S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
and	O	O
21	O	O
billion	O	O
U.S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
respectively	O	O
at	ESE	O
best	ESE	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Sachs	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
WHO	O	O
's	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
each	O	O
developing	O	O
country	O	O
include	O	O
increasing	O	O
investment	O	O
in	O	O
health	O	O
and	O	O
relevant	O	O
areas	O	O
like	O	O
education	O	O
,	O	O
water	O	O
and	O	O
agricultural	O	O
development	O	O
;	O	O
the	O	O
establishing	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
temporary	O	O
National	O	O
Commission	O	O
on	O	O
Macroeconomics	O	O
and	O	O
Health	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NCMH	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
chaired	O	O
jointly	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Ministers	O	O
of	O	O
Health	O	O
and	O	O
Finance	O	O
to	O	O
organize	O	O
and	O	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
medical	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
economic	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
AIDS	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
diseases	O	O
.	O	O

Sachs	O	O
also	DSE	O
addressed	DSE	O
the	O	O
exacerbating	ESE	O
condition	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
AIDS	O	O
pandemic	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
China	O	O
had	O	O
the	O	O
technical	O	O
ability	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
AIDS	O	O
infection	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
still	ESE	O
needed	ESE	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
strategy	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
local	O	O
surveillance	O	O
network	O	O
,	O	O
increasing	O	O
government	O	O
subsidiary	O	O
and	O	O
free	O	O
medicine	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seminar	O	O
is	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
serial	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ongoing	O	O
35th	O	O
Annual	O	O
Meeting	O	O
of	O	O
ADB	O	O
's	O	O
Board	O	O
of	O	O
Governors	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
victory	O	O
leaves	O	O
West	O	O
in	ESE	O
tatters	ESE	O

HARARE	O	O
:	O	O
Western	O	O
countries	O	O
were	DSE	O
left	DSE	O
frustrated	DSE	O
and	O	O
impotent	O	O
after	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
formally	O	O
declared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
had	O	O
overwhelmingly	ESE	O
won	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
extent	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
which	ESE	O
Mugabe	O	O
outmanoeuvred	ESE	O
the	O	O
west	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
when	O	O
southern	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
issued	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
surprise	ESE	DSE
statement	O	DSE
declaring	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
move	O	O
is	O	O
almost	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
scupper	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
hope	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
suspending	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
next	O	O
week	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
weekend	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
prodded	ESE	O
by	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
extend	O	O
the	O	O
range	O	O
of	O	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
targeting	O	O
more	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
leadership	O	O
.	O	O

Earlier	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
imposed	O	O
a	O	O
travel	O	O
ban	O	O
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
19	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
regime	O	O
and	O	O
froze	O	O
their	O	O
overseas	O	O
assets	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
there	O	ESE
were	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
illusions	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Britain	O	O
or	O	O
elsewhere	O	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
measures	O	O
will	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
real	ESE	ESE
leverage	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
registrar-general	O	O
,	O	O
Tobaiwa	O	O
Mudede	O	O
,	O	O
declared	O	DSE
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
had	O	O
won	O	O
a	O	O
fifth	O	O
term	O	O
in	O	O
office	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
results	O	O
from	O	O
all	O	O
120	O	O
constituencies	O	O
were	O	O
returned	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
had	O	O
won	O	O
1,685,212	O	O
votes	O	O
against	O	O
1,258,401	O	O
for	O	O
challenger	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
foresaw	DSE	DSE
electoral	O	O
fraud	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
daylight	ESE	O
robbery	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
find	DSE	O
ourselves	DSE	O
unable	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
endorse	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
purported	ESE	O
election	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
president	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

It	DSE	O
's	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
biggest	ESE	O
election	O	O
fraud	ESE	ESE
I	O	O
've	O	O
witnessed	O	O
in	ESE	O
my	ESE	O
life	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
onus	ESE	O
was	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
,	O	O
whether	ESE	O
passively	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
seek	DSE	DSE
no	O	O
confrontation	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
because	ESE	O
that	O	O
's	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
themselves	O	O
have	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
action	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
Harare	O	O
townships	O	O
where	O	O
people	O	O
stood	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
line	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
two	DSE	O
days	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
vote	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
belief	DSE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
consigning	ESE	O
Mugabe	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
,	O	O
angry	DSE	DSE
residents	O	O
looked	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
to	O	O
confront	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	ESE
need	DSE	ESE
Tsvangirai	O	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
tell	DSE	ESE
Mugabe	O	ESE
he	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
steal	ESE	ESE
this	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Noel	O	O
Gukuta	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
youthful	O	O
MDC	O	O
voter	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
soldiers	O	O
have	O	O
guns	O	ESE
so	O	ESE
we	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
fight	O	ESE
him	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
we	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
sure	ESE	ESE
he	O	ESE
can	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
rule	O	ESE
us	O	ESE
.	O	O

We	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
strike	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
march	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
show	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
we	ESE	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
goats	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
country	O	O
took	O	O
the	O	O
news	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
victory	O	O
with	O	O
no	DSE	DSE
great	DSE	DSE
celebrations	DSE	DSE
or	DSE	DSE
protests	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
sensing	O	DSE
murmurs	DSE	DSE
about	DSE	O
revolt	DSE	O
,	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
on	O	O
full	O	O
alert	O	O
,	O	O
deployed	O	O
troops	O	O
in	O	O
key	O	O
townships	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
police	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
roadblocks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
roads	O	O
into	O	O
Harare	O	O
to	O	O
stop	O	O
and	O	O
search	O	O
vehicles	O	O
for	O	O
weapons	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
UK	O	O
foreign	O	O
secretary	O	O
,	O	O
Jack	O	O
Straw	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
For	O	O
months	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
has	O	O
conducted	O	O
a	O	O
systematic	ESE	ESE
campaign	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
intimidation	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
designed	O	O
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
an	O	O
outcome	O	O
-	O	O
power	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
costs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
senior	O	O
state	O	O
department	O	O
official	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
later	O	O
said	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
're	O	O
considering	DSE	DSE
further	O	O
steps	O	O
,	O	O
given	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
things	O	O
that	O	O
happened	O	O
before	O	O
and	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Apart	DSE	ESE
from	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
result	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
jolt	ESE	O
yesterday	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
election	O	O
observers	O	O
from	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
and	O	O
Namibia	O	O
effectively	O	O
endorsed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
our	O	ESE
considered	DSE	ESE
view	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
reflects	ESE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
wishes	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Namibia	O	O
's	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
said	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
watertight	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
without	ESE	ESE
room	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
rigging	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
team	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
observers	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
had	O	O
seen	O	O
nothing	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
threatened	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
integrity	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
trio	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
action	O	O
next	O	O
week	O	O
is	O	O
made	O	O
up	O	O
of	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	DSE	O
back	DSE	O
suspension	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
president	O	O
,	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
the	O	O
leadership	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
congress	O	O
of	O	O
trade	O	O
unions	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
calling	O	DSE
a	O	O
two-day	O	O
general	O	O
strike	O	O
to	O	O
test	O	O
whether	ESE	O
there	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	O	O
popular	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
a	O	DSE
longer	O	DSE
protest	O	DSE
,	O	O
and	O	O
various	O	O
civil	O	O
rights	O	O
groups	O	O
are	O	O
meeting	O	O
today	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
mass	O	O
civil	O	O
disobedience	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
's	O	O
lawyers	O	O
are	O	O
also	O	O
studying	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
legal	O	ESE
action	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
results	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
made	O	O
a	O	O
net	O	O
gain	O	O
of	O	O
votes	O	O
compared	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
election	O	O
in	O	O
every	O	O
province	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
evidence	O	O
of	O	O
vote	O	O
tampering	O	O
in	O	O
some	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ballots	O	O
dropped	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
box	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
cross	O	O
by	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
name	O	O
were	O	O
not	O	ESE
fraudulent	O	ESE
.	O	O

There	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
no	O	ESE
criticism	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
count	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
runaway	ESE	O
victory	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
justice	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
Patrick	O	O
Chinamasa	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
was	O	O
won	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

US	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
termed	DSE	O
inaccurate	ESE	O

ISLAMABAD	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
5	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
government	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
Report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
factually	O	O
inaccurate	ESE	O
and	O	O
unwarranted	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
reflected	O	O
tendency	O	O
of	O	O
some	O	O
states	O	O
to	O	O
sit	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
judgment	ESE	O
on	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
reports	O	O
fails	ESE	O
to	O	O
acknowledge	O	O
the	O	O
important	ESE	O
policy	O	O
measures	O	O
and	O	O
initiatives	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
to	O	O
promote	O	O
and	O	O
protect	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
issued	O	O
by	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Office	O	O
spokesman	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
was	DSE	O
termed	DSE	O
as	O	O
factually	ESE	O
inaccurate	ESE	O
and	O	O
unwarranted	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
pointed	O	O
out	O	O
that	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
goals	DSE	O
set	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
April	O	O
2000	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
conference	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
achieved	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
added	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
ignored	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

Enlisting	O	O
these	O	O
initiatives	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
recalled	O	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
include	O	O
promulgation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Juvenile	O	O
Justice	O	O
System	O	O
Ordinance	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
permanent	O	O
commission	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
status	O	O
of	O	O
women	O	O
,	O	O
police	O	O
and	O	O
jail	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
national	O	O
policy	O	O
and	O	O
plan	O	O
of	O	O
action	O	O
for	O	O
elimination	O	O
of	O	O
child	O	O
labour	O	O
and	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
fund	O	O
for	O	O
rehabilitation	O	O
of	O	O
working	O	O
children	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
added	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
amended	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
Citizenship	O	O
Act	O	O
of	O	O
1951	O	O
to	O	O
enable	O	O
women	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
descent	O	O
to	O	O
claim	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
nationality	O	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
children	O	O
born	O	O
to	O	O
foreign	O	O
husbands	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
mass	O	O
awareness	O	O
campaign	O	O
was	O	O
launched	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
observance	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Year	O	O
2000	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
of	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
and	O	O
Human	O	O
Dignity	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
added	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
addition	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
also	O	O
ratified	O	O
ILO	O	O
Conventions	O	O
100	O	O
on	O	O
equal	O	O
remuneration	O	O
and	O	O
182	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
elimination	O	O
of	O	O
worst	O	O
forms	O	O
of	O	O
child	O	O
labour	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
signed	O	O
the	O	O
Optional	O	O
Protocols	O	O
to	O	O
Convention	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Rights	O	O
of	O	O
Child	O	O
.	O	O

Recently	O	O
the	O	O
system	O	O
of	O	O
joint	O	O
electorates	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
introduced	O	O
respecting	ESE	O
the	O	O
wishes	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
minority	O	O
communities	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	O	O
these	O	O
developments	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
states	DSE	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
record	O	O
remained	O	O
poor	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	O	O
unacceptable	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
a	O	O
gross	ESE	ESE
misstatement	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
facts	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
feels	DSE	DSE
constrained	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
reject	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
assessment	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
about	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
tendency	O	O
of	O	O
some	O	O
states	O	O
to	O	O
sit	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
judgment	ESE	O
over	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
cause	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
better	ESE	O
served	ESE	O
if	O	O
all	O	O
states	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
cooperation	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
understanding	ESE	DSE
address	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
they	O	O
face	O	O
in	O	O
promoting	O	O
and	O	O
protecting	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
it	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
says	O	O
he	O	O
is	DSE	O
wide	DSE	O
awake	DSE	O
for	O	O
polls	O	O

HARARE	O	O
,	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
:	O	O
A	O	O
defiant	DSE	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
said	DSE	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
had	O	O
lost	ESE	O
ground	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
through	O	O
complacency	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
but	O	O
would	ESE	O
win	ESE	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
anyway	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
state	O	O
radio	O	O
reported	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
are	O	O
now	O	O
wide	DSE	O
awake	DSE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
said	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
rally	O	O
Monday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
wo	ESE	O
n't	ESE	O
let	O	O
the	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
win	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Mugabe	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	O
donkey	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
controlled	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
British	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
colonial	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
fledgling	O	O
MDC	O	O
won	O	O
57	O	O
of	O	O
120	O	O
elected	O	O
seats	O	O
in	O	O
June	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
elections	O	O
as	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
popularity	O	O
plunged	O	ESE
amid	O	ESE
economic	O	ESE
devastation	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
chaos	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
released	O	O
a	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Monday	O	O
that	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
extrajudicial	O	O
killings	O	O
,	O	O
undermining	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
independence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
judiciary	O	O
and	O	O
waging	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
systematic	ESE	ESE
campaign	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
targeting	O	ESE
supporters	O	ESE
and	O	O
potential	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Security	DSE	O
forces	O	O
tortured	O	O
opponents	O	O
,	O	O
ruling	O	O
party	O	O
militants	O	O
abducted	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
police	O	O
arrested	O	O
opposition	O	O
supporters	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
themselves	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
of	O	O
crimes	O	O
.	O	O

Freedom	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
and	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
assembly	O	O
were	O	O
also	O	O
severely	ESE	O
restricted	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
his	O	O
speech	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
thanked	DSE	DSE
African	O	O
leaders	O	O
for	O	O
refusing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
buckle	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
pressure	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
suspend	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
of	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
former	O	O
territories	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
summit	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
54-nation	O	O
grouping	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
.	O	O

Britain	O	O
,	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
Canada	O	O
and	O	O
New	O	O
Zealand	O	O
demanded	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
suspension	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
to	DSE	O
protest	DSE	O
state-sponsored	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
abuses	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
defer	O	O
the	O	O
possible	ESE	O
suspension	O	O
until	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observers	O	O
report	O	O
back	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
victory	ESE	O
against	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
attempts	O	O
to	O	O
introduce	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
apartheid	ESE	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
serve	O	O
Western	O	O
interests	O	O
in	O	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Tendai	O	O
Biti	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
affairs	O	O
spokesman	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
trying	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
hide	ESE	ESE
his	O	ESE
policies	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
violence	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
intimidation	O	ESE
behind	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
rift	O	ESE
with	O	O
Britain	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
Zimbabwe-Britain	O	ESE
crisis	O	ESE
.	O	O

Our	DSE	O
people	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
brutalised	ESE	ESE
by	O	ESE
fellow	O	ESE
black	O	ESE
Zimbabweans	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
we	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
our	O	O
African	O	O
brothers	O	O
to	DSE	O
have	DSE	DSE
understood	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

African	O	O
leaders	O	O
closed	ESE	O
ranks	ESE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
summit	O	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
fear	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
problems	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
and	O	O
good	O	ESE
governance	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
mirrored	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
their	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Biti	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
state-run	O	O
Herald	O	O
newspaper	O	O
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
mouthpiece	ESE	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Tuesday	O	O
British	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tony	O	O
Blair	O	O
had	O	O
showed	O	ESE
personal	ESE	ESE
arrogance	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
an	DSE	ESE
obsession	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
shallowness	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
commitment	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
democracy	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
election	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
and	O	O
Sunday	O	O
presents	O	O
the	O	O
strongest-ever	ESE	O
challenge	O	O
to	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
rule	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
opposition	O	DSE
accuses	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
using	O	O
violence	O	O
,	O	O
intimidation	O	ESE
and	O	O
new	O	O
security	O	O
laws	O	O
to	DSE	O
cow	ESE	O
its	O	O
voters	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
it	O	O
from	O	O
effectively	O	O
campaigning	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
diplomats	O	O
based	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
said	O	O
Monday	O	O
police	O	O
prevented	O	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
finishing	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
with	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
declared	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
about	O	O
35	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
staffs	O	O
illegal	O	O
under	O	O
new	O	O
security	O	O
laws	O	O
requiring	O	O
police	O	O
permission	O	O
for	O	O
political	O	O
gatherings	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
called	O	DSE
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
food	O	O
shortages	O	O
gripping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
measures	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
combat	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
diplomats	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
had	O	O
no	O	O
immediate	O	O
comment	O	O
.	O	O

State	O	O
radio	O	O
also	O	O
reported	O	O
Monday	O	O
that	O	O
three	O	O
opposition	O	O
lawmakers	O	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
bribe	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
air	O	O
force	O	O
commander	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	ESE
calm	O	ESE
security	O	ESE
forces	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
Mugabe	O	O
were	O	O
removed	O	O
.	O	O

Opposition	O	O
officials	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
claim	DSE	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
government	O	O
smear	ESE	O
campaign	ESE	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
governments	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
pressed	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
restore	O	O
the	O	O
rule	O	O
of	O	O
law	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
promised	DSE	DSE
he	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
violence	O	O
has	O	O
escalated	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
dozens	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
February	O	O
.	O	O

Officials	O	O
bristle	DSE	O
at	DSE	O
US	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O

Local	O	O
authorities	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
-	DSE	O
but	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
surprise	DSE	ESE
-	O	O
with	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
excerpts	O	O
about	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
copy	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
delivered	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
official	O	O
source	O	O
who	O	O
described	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
reaction	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
an	O	O
annual	O	O
event	O	O
and	O	O
emphasized	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
not	O	O
directed	O	O
at	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
only	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
covered	O	O
several	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
copy	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
criticizes	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
it	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
the	O	O
weakening	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
central	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
prerogatives	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
handed	O	O
over	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
deputy	O	O
chief	O	O
of	O	O
mission	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Awkar	O	O
,	O	O
Carol	O	O
Kalin	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
's	O	O
acting	O	O
director-general	O	O
,	O	O
Naji	O	O
Abi	O	O
Assi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
source	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
would	O	O
soon	O	O
deliver	O	O
copies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
various	O	O
ministries	O	O
concerned	O	O
,	O	O
especially	O	ESE
the	O	O
Interior	O	O
and	O	O
Municipalities	O	O
Ministry	O	O
,	O	O
prior	O	O
to	O	O
relaying	O	O
its	O	O
observations	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
discrediting	ESE	O
Lebanon	O	O
by	O	O
portraying	DSE	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
being	O	O
undemocratic	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
uncivilized	ESE	O
and	O	O
abusing	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
source	O	O
added	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
source	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
'	O	O
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
contents	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
conveyed	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
Ambassador	O	O
Vincent	O	O
Battle	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
returned	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
after	O	O
participating	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
conference	O	O
of	O	O
American	O	O
envoys	O	O
posted	O	O
to	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Each	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
sends	O	DSE
an	O	DSE
explanation	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
factors	O	O
outside	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
control	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
source	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
point	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
was	O	O
an	DSE	O
observation	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
judiciary	O	O
was	O	O
subjected	O	O
to	O	O
political	O	O
pressure	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
referring	DSE	O
to	O	O
it	O	O
as	O	O
being	O	O
``	O	O
independent	O	O
in	O	O
principle	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
's	O	O
reference	O	O
to	O	O
intelligence	O	O
agents	O	O
'	O	O
monitoring	O	O
the	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
opposition	O	O
politicians	O	O
and	O	O
tapping	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
phones	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
certain	O	ESE
government	O	ESE
leaders	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
harms	ESE	ESE
Lebanon	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
image	O	ESE
as	O	O
a	O	O
democratic	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
source	O	O
added	DSE	O
.	O	O

On	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
hand	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
praised	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
role	O	O
played	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
press	O	O
,	O	O
describing	O	DSE
it	O	O
as	O	O
containing	DSE	O
daily	DSE	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
practices	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
prisoner	O	O
not	O	O
a	O	O
POW	O	O
?	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
brings	O	O
Afghan	O	O
detainees	O	O
to	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O

It	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
going	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
country	ESE	ESE
club	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
describing	O	DSE
the	O	O
new	O	O
military	O	O
detention	O	O
camp	O	O
at	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
,	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
nobody	ESE	ESE
ever	ESE	ESE
expected	ESE	DSE
it	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
110	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
admitted	O	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
are	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	O
hardest	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
core	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
men	O	O
who	O	O
had	O	O
killed	O	O
``	O	O
dozens	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
dozens	ESE	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
may	O	ESE
lack	O	ESE
tennis	O	ESE
courts	O	ESE
and	O	O
a	O	O
putting	O	O
green	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
amenities	O	O
are	O	O
better	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
you	O	ESE
'd	O	ESE
find	O	ESE
in	O	O
a	O	O
cave	O	O
at	O	O
Tora	O	O
Bora	O	O
.	O	O

True	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
now	O	O
confined	O	O
to	O	O
6-ft	O	O
.	O	O
by	O	O
8-ft	O	O
.	O	O
chain-link	O	O
enclosures	O	O
with	O	O
concrete	O	O
floors	O	O
and	O	O
tin	O	O
roofs	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
thinks	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
pejorative	ESE	ESE
''	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
call	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
cages	O	ESE
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
relief	O	O
will	O	O
come	O	O
;	O	O
in	O	O
three	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
replace	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
with	O	O
something	O	O
more	O	O
permanent	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
meantime	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
--	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
place	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
called	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
early	O	O
1990s	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
housed	O	O
Haitian	O	O
refugees	O	O
--	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
given	O	O
thin	O	O
green	O	O
mats	O	O
and	O	O
blankets	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
to	O	O
sleep	O	O
and	O	O
pray	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
are	O	O
allowed	O	O
to	O	O
shower	O	O
and	O	O
exercise	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
are	O	O
provided	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
medical	O	O
exam	O	O
upon	O	O
admission	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
diet	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
is	ESE	O
someone	ESE	O
making	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
point	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
diversity	ESE	O
here	ESE	O
?	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
ranges	O	O
from	O	O
bagels	O	O
and	O	O
cream	O	O
cheese	O	O
to	O	O
rice	O	O
and	O	O
beans	O	O
--	O	O
all	O	ESE
eaten	O	ESE
with	O	O
plastic	O	O
utensils	O	O
--	O	O
after	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
may	O	ESE
clean	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
teeth	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
specially	O	ESE
shortened	O	ESE
brushes	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
The	O	O
caution	O	O
makes	ESE	O
sense	ESE	O
;	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
Mamdouh	O	O
Salim	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
operative	O	O
awaiting	O	O
trial	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
City	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1998	O	O
embassy	O	O
bombings	O	O
,	O	O
used	O	O
a	O	O
comb	O	O
to	O	O
stab	O	O
a	O	O
prison	O	O
guard	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
eye	O	O
.	O	O
-RRB-	O	O

So	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
,	O	O
humanitarian	O	O
groups	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
muted	ESE	O
in	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
at	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
.	O	O

Last	O	O
week	O	O
a	O	O
delegation	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Committee	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Red	O	O
Cross	O	O
arrived	O	O
to	O	O
inspect	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
and	O	O
offer	DSE	O
private	DSE	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
its	O	O
operation	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
press	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
'	O	O
lot	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
a	O	O
public	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
contention	O	O
among	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
conduct	O	O
be	O	O
above	ESE	O
suspicion	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

Three	O	O
detainees	O	O
are	O	O
said	O	O
to	O	O
have	DSE	O
claimed	DSE	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
British	O	O
citizens	O	O
.	O	O

Politicians	O	O
and	O	O
commentators	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
are	DSE	O
now	DSE	O
clamoring	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
all	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
guaranteed	ESE	ESE
treatment	O	O
in	O	O
accordance	O	O
with	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Daily	O	O
Telegraph	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
paper	O	O
usually	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
conservative	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
makes	ESE	O
Pat	ESE	O
Buchanan	ESE	O
look	ESE	O
vegetarian	ESE	O
,	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
Washington	O	O
of	O	O
the	ESE	O
need	ESE	O
to	O	O
draw	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
distinction	O	O
between	O	O
civilized	ESE	O
society	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
apocalyptic	ESE	ESE
savagery	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
those	ESE	ESE
who	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
destroy	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
heart	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
question	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
legality	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
resisted	DSE	DSE
calling	O	DSE
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
preferring	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
terms	O	O
unlawful	ESE	O
combatants	O	O
or	O	O
battlefield	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
easy	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
those	O	O
holding	O	O
true	O	O
POWs	O	O
are	O	O
bound	O	O
to	O	O
release	O	O
them	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
hostilities	O	ESE
;	O	O
but	ESE	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
last	ESE	O
thing	ESE	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
do	O	O
with	O	O
men	O	O
who	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
operatives	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
by	O	O
convention	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
though	ESE	O
the	O	O
law	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
murky	ESE	ESE
here	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
POWs	O	O
do	O	ESE
n't	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
tell	O	ESE
their	O	O
captors	O	O
anything	O	O
other	O	O
than	O	O
their	O	O
name	O	O
,	O	O
rank	O	O
,	O	O
serial	O	O
number	O	O
and	O	O
birthday	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
Washington	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
point	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detention	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
conduct	O	O
interrogations	O	O
and	O	O
thus	O	O
head	O	O
off	O	O
new	O	O
acts	O	O
of	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
contemplate	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
irregular	O	O
forces	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
battle	O	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
considered	ESE	ESE
POWs	O	ESE
.	O	O

That	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
apply	O	ESE
to	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
free-floating	O	ESE
band	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
terrorists	O	ESE
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
not	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
of	O	O
those	O	O
at	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
are	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
men	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
wo	O	DSE
n't	O	DSE
say	O	DSE
how	O	O
many	O	O
--	O	O
were	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
presumably	ESE	ESE
thought	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
were	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
army	O	O
.	O	O

Are	O	O
they	O	O
POWs	O	O
?	O	O

Washington	O	O
says	DSE	O
no	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
had	O	O
no	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
chain	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
command	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
government	ESE	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
unfortunately	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
has	O	O
no	ESE	O
business	ESE	O
making	O	O
such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
determination	O	ESE
.	O	O

Those	O	O
who	O	O
fall	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
enemy	O	O
's	O	O
hands	O	O
are	O	O
entitled	O	O
to	O	O
POW	O	O
status	O	O
until	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
competent	O	ESE
tribunal	O	O
''	O	O
has	O	DSE
determined	O	DSE
their	O	O
status	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
n't	O	O
happened	O	O
.	O	O

More	ESE	O
curious	ESE	O
still	ESE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
'	O	O
ultimate	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
.	O	O

Rumsfeld	O	O
has	DSE	O
laid	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
four	O	O
options	O	O
:	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
trial	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
trial	O	O
in	O	O
U.S.	O	O
criminal	O	O
courts	O	O
,	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
home	O	O
countries	O	O
for	O	O
prosecution	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
continued	O	O
detention	O	O
``	O	O
while	O	O
additional	O	O
intelligence	O	O
is	O	O
gathered	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	ESE
last	O	ESE
seems	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
distinct	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
plans	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
build	O	O
2,000	O	O
cells	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
a	ESE	O
big	ESE	O
deal	ESE	O
down	O	O
there	O	O
for	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
two	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
guaranteed	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Army	O	O
Lieut.	O	O

General	O	O
B.B.	O	O
Bell	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
commands	O	O
Fort	O	O
Hood	O	O
,	O	O
Texas	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
military	O	O
police	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
deployed	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
find	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
justification	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
such	ESE	O
detention	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
or	ESE	O
anywhere	ESE	ESE
else	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Leaving	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
``	O	O
indefinitely	ESE	ESE
beyond	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
reach	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
legal	ESE	ESE
regime	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Economist	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
would	O	ESE
put	O	ESE
America	O	ESE
--	O	O
pre-eminently	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
nation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
laws	ESE	O
--	O	O
itself	O	O
outside	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
law	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Until	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
Pentagon	O	ESE
sorts	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
legal	O	ESE
issues	O	ESE
,	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
from	DSE	O
Europe	O	O
is	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
grow	ESE	O
.	O	O

Still	ESE	O
,	O	O
things	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
nobody	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
yet	O	ESE
forced	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
listen	O	ESE
to	O	O
Fidel	O	O
Castro	O	O
's	O	O
long-winded	ESE	O
speeches	O	O
.	O	O

Now	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
cruel	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Jordan	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O

AMMAN	O	O
-	O	O
Jordan	O	O
said	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
pact	O	O
on	O	O
impeding	O	O
global	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
recent	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Faris	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Corporation	O	O
for	O	O
Environment	O	O
Protection	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GCEP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Soon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
delegate	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
representative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
HH	O	O
Prince	O	O
Zeid	O	O
Ben	O	O
Raad	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
told	O	O
The	O	O
Jordan	O	O
Times	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
an	O	O
exact	O	O
date	O	O
for	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
agreement	DSE	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1997	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
legally	O	O
obliged	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
8	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
below	O	O
1990	O	O
levels	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
between	O	O
2008	O	O
and	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
main	O	O
source	O	O
of	O	O
large-scale	O	O
air	O	O
pollution	O	O
,	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
is	DSE	O
aimed	DSE	DSE
at	DSE	DSE
stressing	DSE	DSE
its	O	DSE
``	O	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
different	O	O
international	O	O
conventions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
the	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
GCEP	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
attract	O	O
more	O	O
funding	O	O
to	O	O
contribute	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
in	O	O
reducing	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
trap	O	O
heat	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
thus	O	O
causing	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

GCEP	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
agency	O	O
operating	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Municipal	O	O
and	O	O
Rural	O	O
Affairs	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Environment	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
point	O	O
of	O	O
reference	O	O
for	O	O
environmental	O	O
pacts	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
formally	O	O
bound	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
accord	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
complete	O	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
by	O	O
June	O	O
1	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
March	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
opposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
by	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
contravenes	ESE	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
slammed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
countries	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
produced	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
alternative	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
strategy	O	O
aimed	O	O
at	O	O
encouraging	DSE	O
industries	O	O
to	O	O
trim	O	O
their	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	ESE
Canada	O	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
shown	DSE	ESE
reluctance	DSE	ESE
towards	O	O
signing	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
it	O	O
would	O	O
cut	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
GDP	O	O
by	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
2.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
and	O	O
cause	O	O
economic	O	O
damage	O	O
worth	O	O
30	O	O
billion	O	O
Canadian	O	O
dollars	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
$	O	O
19	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

72	O	O
Hours	O	O
At	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
detention	O	O
camp	O	O
reaches	O	O
capacity	O	O
,	O	O
reporters	O	O
are	O	DSE
invited	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
watch	O	O
the	O	O
interplay	DSE	O
between	O	O
detainees	O	O
,	O	O
guards	O	O
and	O	O
doctors	O	O
.	O	O

GUANTANAMO	O	O
BAY	O	O
NAVAL	O	O
BASE	O	O
,	O	O
Cuba	O	O
-	O	O
It	O	O
begins	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
shiny	O	O
speck	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
southeast	O	O
skies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
lone	O	O
landing	O	O
strip	O	O
here	O	O
at	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
oldest	O	O
U.S.	O	O
base	O	O
overseas	O	O
.	O	O

Within	O	O
minutes	O	O
the	O	O
lumbering	O	O
,	O	O
gray	O	O
C-141B	O	O
Starlifter	O	O
flies	O	O
low	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
tarmac	O	O
and	O	O
over	O	O
a	O	O
patch	O	O
of	O	O
palm	O	ESE
trees	O	ESE
,	O	O
as	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
annual	O	O
air	O	O
show	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
a	O	O
hot	O	O
and	O	O
windy	O	O
afternoon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
deep	O	O
blue	O	O
waters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
postcard	ESE	O
backdrop	ESE	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
cargo	O	O
jet	O	O
finally	O	O
lands	O	O
,	O	O
approaching	O	O
the	O	O
landing	O	O
strip	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
west	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
noise	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
deafening	O	ESE
.	O	O

Almost	O	ESE
immediately	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
crack	O	ESE
security	O	O
force	O	O
of	O	O
mostly	O	O
baby-faced	ESE	O
Marines	O	O
surrounds	O	O
the	O	O
plane	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
wear	O	O
black	O	O
baseball	O	O
leg	O	O
guards	O	O
and	O	O
bulletproof	O	O
vests	O	O
and	O	O
carry	O	O
M-16	O	O
rifles	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
Humvees	O	O
mounted	O	O
with	O	O
.50	O	O
-	O	O
caliber	O	O
machine	O	O
guns	O	O
and	O	O
40mm	O	O
grenade	O	O
launchers	O	O
take	O	O
their	O	O
positions	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Navy	O	O
helicopter	O	O
whirls	O	O
overhead	O	O
.	O	O

Once	O	O
the	O	O
aircraft	O	O
is	O	O
secured	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
freak	ESE	ESE
show	ESE	ESE
begins	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
sort	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
Hannibal	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
Cannibal	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
production	ESE	O
.	O	O

Down	O	O
the	O	O
back	O	O
ramp	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
mammoth	O	O
aircraft	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
slowly	O	O
unload	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
detainees	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
34	O	O
altogether	O	O
.	O	O

Wearing	O	O
bright	O	O
orange	O	O
wool	O	O
knit	O	O
caps	O	O
,	O	O
blacked-out	O	O
goggles	O	O
,	O	O
earmuffs	O	O
,	O	O
white	O	O
surgical	O	O
masks	O	O
,	O	O
bright	O	O
orange	O	O
jumpsuits	O	O
,	O	O
denim	O	O
jackets	O	O
,	O	O
beige	O	O
mittens	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
taped	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
wrists	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
handcuffs	O	O
and	O	O
ankle	O	O
shackles	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
do	ESE	O
n't	ESE	O
look	ESE	O
natural	ESE	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
look	O	O
like	ESE	O
giant	ESE	O
bright	ESE	O
orange	ESE	O
flies	ESE	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
a	O	O
25-hour	O	O
flight	O	O
of	O	O
mostly	O	O
sitting	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
hobble	O	O
along	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
Marines	O	O
,	O	O
who	ESE	O
look	ESE	O
twice	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
big	ESE	O
,	O	O
walk	O	O
them	O	O
out	O	O
and	O	O
frisk	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
soldier	O	O
handles	O	O
a	O	O
captive	O	ESE
like	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
mannequin	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
moving	O	O
him	O	O
back	O	O
,	O	O
forward	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
side	O	O
-	O	O
before	O	O
lifting	O	O
him	O	O
straight	O	O
off	O	O
his	O	O
feet	O	O
and	O	O
onto	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
two	O	O
waiting	O	O
buses	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Walk	O	ESE
!	O	O
Walk	O	O
!	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
shout	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Shut	O	O
up	O	O
!	O	O

Head	DSE	O
down	O	O
!	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Man	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
scared	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
TV	O	O
camerawoman	O	O
watching	O	O
with	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
media	O	O
pool	O	O
from	O	O
about	O	O
400	O	O
yards	O	O
away	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
freaky	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
chimes	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
her	O	O
colleague	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
here	O	O
because	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
``	O	O
hard-core	ESE	O
''	O	O
terrorists	O	O
-	O	O
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
escape	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
kill	DSE	O
themselves	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
others	DSE	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
now	O	O
they	O	O
do	O	O
pretty	O	O
much	O	O
as	O	O
directed	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
walk	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
shut	O	O
up	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
lower	O	O
their	O	O
heads	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
board	O	O
buses	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
ferry	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
them	O	O
across	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
detention	O	O
facility	O	O
known	O	O
as	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
sign	O	O
near	O	O
the	O	O
ferry	O	O
slip	O	O
conveys	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
strange	ESE	O
vibe	ESE	O
of	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
45-square	O	O
mile	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
detention	O	O
camp	O	O
comprises	O	O
some	O	O
3	O	O
acres	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
sign	O	ESE
touts	DSE	ESE
the	O	O
area	O	O
's	O	O
wildlife	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
brown	O	O
pelican	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Antillean	O	O
manatee	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
bottlenose	O	O
dolphin	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
hawksbill	O	O
turtle	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Watching	O	ESE
wildlife	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
lot	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
fun	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
sign	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
A	O	O
pair	O	O
of	O	O
binoculars	O	O
is	O	O
helpful	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Last	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
10th	O	O
flight	O	O
from	O	O
Kandahar	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
southeastern	O	O
tip	O	O
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
arrived	O	O
,	O	O
bringing	O	O
the	O	O
total	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
detainees	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
to	O	O
288	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
day	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
another	O	O
12	O	O
came	O	O
,	O	O
effectively	O	ESE
filling	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
camp	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
capacity	O	ESE
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
allowed	DSE	O
reporters	O	O
to	O	O
record	O	O
audio	O	O
and	O	O
report	O	O
the	O	O
landings	O	O
live	O	O
via	O	O
cell	O	O
phone	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
flights	O	O
began	O	O
arriving	O	O
Jan.	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
allow	DSE	DSE
cameras	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
time	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
released	O	O
pictures	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
-	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
knees	O	O
,	O	O
wearing	O	O
the	O	O
goggles	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
surrounded	O	O
by	O	O
guards	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
images	O	O
created	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
uproar	DSE	O
.	O	O

Rights	O	O
groups	O	O
cried	DSE	DSE
inhumane	ESE	ESE
treatment	O	ESE
.	O	O

Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
allegations	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
insisting	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
have	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
better	ESE	O
here	ESE	O
than	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
he	O	O
did	O	O
what	O	O
he	O	O
routinely	ESE	O
does	O	O
when	O	O
questioned	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	DSE
prosecuting	O	DSE
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
:	O	O
He	O	O
reminded	O	O
critics	O	O
of	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
arrive	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
told	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
and	O	O
then	O	O
undergo	O	O
a	O	O
45-minute	O	O
intake	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
,	O	O
like	O	O
the	O	O
airstrip	O	O
landing	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
monitored	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Red	O	O
Cross	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
routine	O	O
includes	O	O
a	O	O
delousing	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
chemical	O	O
washdown	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
physical	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
detainees	O	O
also	O	O
get	O	O
fingerprinted	O	O
and	O	O
photographed	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
get	O	O
a	O	O
toothbrush	O	O
,	O	O
mint-flavored	O	O
toothpaste	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
bottle	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Lively	O	O
Salon	O	O
''	O	O
antidandruff	O	O
shampoo	O	O
,	O	O
soap	O	O
,	O	O
flip	O	ESE
flops	O	ESE
,	O	O
a	O	O
foam	O	O
sleeping	O	O
mat	O	O
,	O	O
two	O	O
buckets	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
washcloth	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
canteen	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
prayer	O	O
cap	O	O
,	O	O
two	O	O
blankets	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
sheet	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Koran	O	O
and	O	O
two	O	O
towels	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
for	O	O
praying	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
,	O	O
strangely	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
get	O	O
to	O	O
write	O	O
home	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
has	DSE	O
a	ESE	O
soft	ESE	O
spot	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
mothers	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
or	O	O
al-Qaida	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
base	O	O
officials	O	O
try	O	O
to	O	O
glean	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
'	O	O
real	O	O
names	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
letters	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
many	O	O
tend	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
multiple	O	O
aliases	O	O
during	O	O
interrogations	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
done	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
assigned	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
cells	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
will	O	O
begin	O	O
their	O	O
new	O	O
lives	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
are	O	O
8-feet-square	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
chain-link	O	O
sides	O	O
and	O	O
tin	O	O
roofs	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Halogen	O	O
lights	O	O
stay	O	O
on	O	O
all	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
next	O	O
day	O	O
starts	O	O
with	O	O
prayer	O	O
call	O	O
about	O	O
5	O	O
a.m.	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	ESE
sign	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
pole	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
edge	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
points	O	O
the	O	O
direction	O	O
to	O	O
Mecca	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
come	O	O
from	O	O
31	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
,	O	O
Yemen	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
,	O	O
Algeria	O	O
,	O	O
England	O	O
,	O	O
Egypt	O	O
,	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
France	O	O
,	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Belgium	O	O
and	O	O
Sweden	O	O
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
say	O	DSE
there	O	O
are	O	O
Christian	O	O
prisoners	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Muslims	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
prayer	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
'	O	O
day	O	O
goes	O	O
like	O	O
this	O	O
:	O	O
breakfast	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
shower	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
every	O	O
other	O	O
day	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
sick	O	O
call	O	O
,	O	O
noon	O	O
prayer	O	O
,	O	O
lunch	O	O
,	O	O
recreation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
15	O	O
minutes	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
times	O	O
a	O	O
week	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
mail	O	O
call	O	O
,	O	O
sunset	O	O
prayer	O	O
,	O	O
dinner	O	O
,	O	O
evening	O	O
prayer	O	O
and	O	O
bedtime	O	O
around	O	O
9	O	O
p.m.	O	O

Each	O	O
meal	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
get	O	O
is	O	O
considered	O	ESE
halal	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
religiously	O	ESE
appropriate	O	ESE
for	O	O
Muslims	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
typical	O	O
breakfast	O	O
includes	O	O
oatmeal	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
orange	O	O
,	O	O
fresh	O	O
bread	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
bottle	O	O
of	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
lunch	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
's	O	O
pasta	O	O
or	O	O
vegetable	O	O
stew	O	O
,	O	O
dry	O	O
cereal	O	O
including	O	O
Froot	O	O
Loops	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
box	O	O
of	O	O
raisins	O	O
,	O	O
two	O	O
granola	O	O
bars	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
bag	O	O
of	O	O
chips	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
bag	O	O
of	O	O
peanuts	O	O
and	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
dinner	O	O
they	O	O
get	O	O
white	O	O
rice	O	O
,	O	O
red	O	O
beans	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
banana	O	O
and	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
Army	O	O
Capt.	O	O
Sean	O	O
Campion	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
guards	O	O
,	O	O
characterizes	DSE	DSE
life	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
utter	ESE	ESE
boredom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
If	O	ESE
you	O	O
do	O	O
your	O	O
job	O	O
right	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Campion	O	O
,	O	O
32	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Kansas	O	O
City	O	O
,	O	O
Mo.	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
nothing	O	O
is	O	O
scheduled	O	O
to	O	O
happen	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
guards	O	O
mostly	O	O
communicate	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
via	O	O
simple	O	O
English	O	O
commands	O	O
and	O	O
hand	O	O
signals	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
're	O	O
not	O	O
holding	O	O
any	O	O
lengthy	O	O
debates	O	O
with	O	O
them	O	O
or	O	O
anything	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Campion	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

Marine	O	O
Corps	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Abuhena	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Saiful-Islam	O	O
,	O	O
39	O	O
,	O	O
speaks	O	O
more	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
than	O	O
almost	O	O
anybody	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
chaplain	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
ministers	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
five	O	O
hours	O	O
every	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
says	O	DSE
that	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
month	O	O
of	O	O
pilgrimage	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
faithful	O	O
journey	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
holy	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Mecca	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
detects	DSE	DSE
more	ESE	DSE
anxiety	ESE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
special	O	O
meal	O	O
for	O	O
March	O	O
10	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
role	O	O
of	O	O
chaplain	O	O
is	O	O
unique	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Saiful-Islam	O	O
says	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
go	DSE	DSE
with	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
preconceived	DSE	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
person	O	O
is	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	O	O
a	O	O
chaplain	O	O
we	O	O
approach	DSE	O
them	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
hate	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
sinner	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
but	O	ESE
we	O	ESE
hate	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
sin	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Somebody	O	O
asks	O	O
Saiful-Islam	O	O
if	O	O
the	O	O
relationship	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
and	O	O
God	O	O
has	O	O
changed	O	O
since	O	O
their	O	O
capture	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
have	DSE	O
n't	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
God	O	O
has	O	O
abandoned	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
they	O	O
know	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
That	O	O
's	O	O
the	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
God	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
hope	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
do	O	DSE
ask	O	DSE
me	O	O
what	O	O
's	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
happen	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	O
moment	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
do	DSE	O
n't	DSE	O
have	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
answer	DSE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Concertina	O	O
wire	O	O
and	O	O
nine	O	O
guard	O	O
towers	O	O
surround	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
flag	O	O
is	O	O
everywhere	O	ESE
-	O	O
painted	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
guard	O	O
towers	O	O
,	O	O
flying	O	O
high	O	O
in	O	O
front	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
.	O	O

Unlike	O	O
other	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
pretty	O	O
setting	O	O
.	O	O

Turkey	O	O
vultures	O	O
hover	O	O
over	O	O
thick	O	O
brush	O	O
and	O	O
scraggly	O	O
hills	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
day	O	O
two	O	O
at	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
34	O	O
newly	O	O
arrived	O	O
from	O	O
Kandahar	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
German	O	O
shepherd	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
handler	O	O
patrol	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
's	O	O
perimeter	O	O
.	O	O

Bright	O	O
orange	O	O
figures	O	O
sit	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
cells	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
praying	O	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
or	O	O
two	O	O
prisoners	O	O
run	O	O
for	O	O
exercise	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
fenced	O	O
area	O	O
,	O	O
wearing	O	O
handcuffs	O	O
but	O	O
no	O	O
ankle	O	O
shackles	O	O
.	O	O

Every	O	O
so	O	O
often	O	O
a	O	O
prisoner	O	O
is	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
five	O	O
interrogation	O	O
rooms	O	O
,	O	O
freshly	O	O
built	O	O
wood	O	O
buildings	O	O
with	O	O
air	O	O
conditioners	O	O
and	O	O
no	O	O
windows	O	O
.	O	O

Three	O	O
guards	O	O
accompany	O	O
him	O	O
-	O	O
one	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
either	O	ESE
side	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
behind	O	ESE
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
puts	O	O
a	O	O
hand	O	O
behind	O	O
the	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainee	O	O
,	O	O
forcing	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
look	O	O
down	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
done	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
provide	O	O
positive	ESE	O
control	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
U.S.	O	O
Army	O	O
Col.	O	O
Terry	O	O
Carrico	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
effect	ESE	O
the	O	O
prison	O	O
warden	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
means	O	O
he	O	O
ca	O	O
n't	O	O
look	O	O
ahead	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
ca	O	O
n't	O	O
make	O	O
a	O	O
plan	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
where	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
going	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
's	O	O
a	O	O
technique	O	O
across	O	O
correctional	O	O
facilities	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Except	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
occasional	O	O
spitting	DSE	O
incident	DSE	O
or	DSE	O
threat	DSE	O
,	O	O
officials	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
docile	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
suspect	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
already	O	O
in	O	O
custody	O	O
pass	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
word	DSE	O
along	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
arrivals	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
treated	O	O
okay	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
were	DSE	O
very	DSE	ESE
unsure	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Carrico	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	ESE
did	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
if	O	ESE
we	O	O
were	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
care	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
hurt	O	O
them	O	O
or	O	O
kill	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Some	O	O
guards	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
talk	O	DSE
about	O	DSE
their	O	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Army	O	O
Capt.	O	O
Darrell	O	O
Sides	O	O
,	O	O
30	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Fort	O	O
Benning	O	O
,	O	O
Ga.	O	O
,	O	O
makes	DSE	ESE
no	DSE	ESE
bones	DSE	ESE
about	DSE	ESE
considering	DSE	ESE
them	O	ESE
terrorists	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
were	O	O
all	O	O
watching	O	O
television	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
security	O	O
here	O	O
I	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
consider	DSE	DSE
tighter	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
death	ESE	O
row	ESE	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
prison	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
morning	O	O
run	O	O
to	O	O
Fleet	O	O
Hospital	O	O
20	O	O
takes	O	O
place	O	O
as	O	O
scheduled	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
for	O	O
prisoners	O	O
needing	O	ESE
medical	O	ESE
attention	O	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
fair	O	O
number	O	O
do	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
are	O	O
underweight	O	O
,	O	O
others	O	O
are	O	O
missing	O	O
toes	O	O
,	O	O
fingers	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
limbs	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
hospital	O	O
is	O	O
several	O	O
miles	O	O
from	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
,	O	O
off	O	O
Recreation	O	O
Road	O	O
.	O	O

Along	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
allowed	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
would	O	O
get	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
a	O	O
bit	O	O
of	O	O
Americana	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
portrait	O	O
built	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
forces	O	O
seized	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish-American	O	O
War	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1903	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
government	O	O
signed	O	O
a	O	O
lease	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
contract	O	O
,	O	O
extended	O	O
indefinitely	O	O
in	O	O
1934	O	O
,	O	O
can	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
broken	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
by	O	O
mutual	O	O
agreement	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
growth	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
has	O	O
left	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
surprisingly	ESE	O
close	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
suburban-style	O	O
military	O	O
community	O	O
of	O	O
beige	O	O
,	O	O
green	O	O
and	O	O
yellow	O	O
houses	O	O
in	O	O
subdivisions	O	O
with	O	O
names	O	O
like	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
Circle	O	O
and	O	O
West	O	O
Iguana	O	O
.	O	O

Two	O	O
boys	O	O
in	O	O
white	O	O
karate	O	O
outfits	O	O
run	O	O
down	O	O
palm-lined	O	O
Sherman	O	O
Avenue	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	O
child	O	O
,	O	O
no	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
3	O	O
or	O	O
4	O	O
,	O	O
plays	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
gym	O	O
set	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
young	O	O
woman	O	O
keeping	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
watchful	DSE	O
eye	DSE	O
.	O	O

Also	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
road	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
W.S.	O	O
Sampson	O	O
Elementary	O	O
School	O	O
,	O	O
replete	O	O
with	O	O
yellow	O	O
school	O	O
buses	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Morale	O	O
Welfare	O	O
and	O	O
Recreation	O	O
Cooper	O	O
Field	O	O
with	O	O
baseball	O	O
and	O	O
soccer	O	O
fields	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
's	O	O
outdoor	O	O
movie	O	O
house	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
playing	O	O
the	O	O
movie	O	O
,	O	O
The	O	O
Majestic	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
20-bed	O	O
hospital	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
high-tech	O	O
,	O	O
air-conditioned	O	O
white	O	O
tent	O	O
which	O	O
looks	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
futuristic	ESE	O
movie	ESE	O
set	ESE	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
low	O	O
ceilings	O	O
,	O	O
fluorescent	O	O
lighting	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
padded	O	O
white	O	O
walls	O	O
,	O	O
floors	O	O
and	O	O
ceilings	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
staff	O	O
calls	O	O
it	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
temper	O	DSE
tent	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

On	O	O
this	O	O
morning	O	O
,	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Navy	O	O
hospital	O	O
corpsman	O	O
Shuron	O	O
Jerome	O	O
,	O	O
19	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Houston	O	O
is	O	O
poring	O	O
over	O	O
a	O	O
box	O	O
of	O	O
Valentines	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
by	O	O
schoolchildren	O	O
in	O	O
Pennsylvania	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Wish	DSE	O
you	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
with	O	O
your	O	O
family	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
one	O	O
child	O	O
has	O	O
written	O	O
.	O	O

Jerome	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
hospital	O	O
feels	ESE	DSE
no	ESE	DSE
different	ESE	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
hospital	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
states	O	O
,	O	O
save	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
high	O	O
security	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
various	O	O
languages	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
speak	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
French	O	O
,	O	O
Russian	O	O
,	O	O
Urdu	O	O
and	O	O
Arabic	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
little	O	ESE
English	O	ESE
,	O	O
she	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

While	O	O
she	O	O
sees	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
as	ESE	O
patients	ESE	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
allows	DSE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
not	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
regular	ESE	O
patients	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

She	O	O
often	O	O
finds	O	DSE
herself	O	DSE
thinking	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Oh	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
my	ESE	ESE
God	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
related	O	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
or	O	O
related	O	O
to	O	O
that	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
I	O	O
still	O	O
try	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
treat	DSE	O
them	DSE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
patient	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Fleet	O	O
Hospital	O	O
20	O	O
has	O	O
nine	O	O
patients	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
bulk	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
work	O	O
includes	O	O
blast	O	O
and	O	O
gunshot	O	O
wounds	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Just	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
surgeon	O	O
took	O	O
out	O	O
the	O	O
eye	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
patient	O	O
who	O	O
had	O	O
suffered	O	O
a	O	O
sports	O	O
injury	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
younger	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
pressure	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
eye	O	O
had	O	O
become	O	O
unbearable	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
story	O	O
got	O	ESE
international	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
because	O	ESE
it	O	O
seemed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
underscore	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
tensions	DSE	ESE
between	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
were	ESE	O
easing	ESE	O
.	O	O

Indeed	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
invited	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
surgeon	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
cup	O	O
of	O	O
tea	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
staff	O	O
gives	O	O
reporters	O	O
a	O	O
quick	O	O
tour	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
hospital	O	O
,	O	O
allowing	DSE	O
photographs	O	O
of	O	O
some	O	O
sections	O	O
but	O	O
not	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
an	O	O
al-Jazeera	O	O
television	O	O
crew	O	O
walks	O	O
through	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
staff	O	O
rolls	O	O
out	O	O
a	O	O
patient	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	O
just	O	ESE
had	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
right	O	ESE
index	O	ESE
finger	O	ESE
amputated	O	ESE
as	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
gunshot	O	O
wound	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
cameraman	O	O
continues	O	O
filming	O	O
while	O	O
a	O	O
nurse	O	O
covers	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
's	O	O
face	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
room	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
's	O	O
body	O	O
starts	O	O
trembling	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
doctors	O	O
explain	O	O
this	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
common	O	O
reaction	O	O
as	O	O
patients	O	O
awake	O	O
from	O	O
anesthesia	O	O
.	O	O

Still	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
provides	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
bit	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
drama	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Michel	O	O
!	O	O
Michel	O	O
!	O	O
''	O	O
yells	DSE	O
a	O	O
doctor	O	O
still	O	O
in	O	O
her	O	O
operating	O	O
clothes	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
You	O	O
're	O	O
doing	O	O
good	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Another	O	O
doctor	O	O
,	O	O
speaking	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
French	O	O
accent	O	O
,	O	O
adds	DSE	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Good	ESE	ESE
job	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
buddy	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Finally	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
interpreter	O	O
comes	O	O
in	O	O
to	O	O
talk	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
.	O	O

Eight	O	O
other	O	O
young-looking	O	O
men	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
shaved	O	O
heads	O	O
and	O	O
beards	O	O
growing	O	O
,	O	O
recover	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
cots	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
sleep	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
medical	O	O
staff	O	O
relies	O	O
on	O	O
linguists	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
communicate	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
they	O	O
've	O	O
also	O	O
come	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
inventions	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
longhand	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
English	O	O
phrases	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
Arabic	O	O
counterparts	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
pinch	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
the	O	O
list	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
includes	O	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
phrases	O	O
:	O	O
I	O	ESE
'm	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
pain	O	ESE
.	O	O

Thirsty	O	ESE
.	O	O

Hungry	O	ESE
.	O	O

Bathroom	O	O
.	O	O

Urinate	O	O
.	O	O

Arm	O	O
.	O	O

Hand	O	O
.	O	O

Leg	O	O
.	O	O

Back	O	O
.	O	O

IV	O	O
Hurts	O	ESE
.	O	O

Cold	O	O
.	O	O

Hot	O	O
.	O	O

Sick	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	ESE
throw	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
.	O	O

While	O	O
calm	O	O
has	O	O
returned	O	O
to	O	O
Fleet	O	O
Hospital	O	O
20	O	O
,	O	O
officials	O	O
elsewhere	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
are	DSE	O
bracing	DSE	O
for	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
inevitable	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
the	O	O
death	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

Not	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
hands	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
with	O	O
300	O	O
already	O	O
in	O	O
custody	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
scores	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
poor	O	ESE
health	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
begin	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
say	DSE	O
something	O	O
is	O	O
bound	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
happen	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
briefing	O	O
with	O	O
reporters	O	O
,	O	O
Marine	O	O
Corps	O	O
Brig.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Michael	O	O
R.	O	O
Lehnert	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
commander	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
prison	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
to	O	O
improve	O	O
living	O	O
conditions	O	O
for	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
and	O	O
our	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Within	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
will	O	O
move	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
called	O	O
Radio	O	O
Range	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
utilities	O	O
are	O	O
more	O	O
readily	O	O
available	O	O
and	O	O
cells	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
cots	O	O
,	O	O
air	O	O
conditioning	O	O
and	O	O
toilets	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
general	O	O
is	O	O
awaiting	O	DSE
congressional	O	DSE
approval	O	DSE
before	O	O
building	O	O
for	O	O
Radio	O	O
Range	O	O
begins	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
now	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
at	O	O
capacity	O	O
,	O	O
flights	O	O
here	O	O
have	O	O
stopped	O	O
.	O	O

Zambia	O	O
hails	DSE	DSE
result	O	O

LUSAKA	O	O
--	O	O
Zambian	O	O
President	O	O
Levy	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
yesterday	O	O
hailed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
re-election	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
counterpart	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
called	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
defeated	O	O
opponent	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
result	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
am	DSE	DSE
pleased	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
learn	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
re-election	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
said	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
As	O	O
chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
and	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
friendly	O	ESE
neighbour	O	ESE
,	O	O
I	O	O
congratulate	DSE	DSE
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Three	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
10	O	O
losing	O	O
presidential	O	O
candidates	O	O
in	O	O
Zambia	O	O
's	O	O
December	O	O
27	O	O
vote	O	O
have	DSE	O
petitioned	DSE	O
the	O	O
Supreme	O	O
Court	O	O
to	O	O
nullify	O	O
the	O	O
results	O	O
,	O	O
charging	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
by	ESE	O
fraud	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Fall	O	O
And	O	O
Rise	O	O
Of	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O

In	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
dust	O	O
is	O	O
finally	O	O
settling	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
dramatic	O	O
turbulence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
two	O	O
weeks	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
once	O	O
again	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
helm	O	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
has	O	O
returned	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
barracks	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
there	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
many	O	ESE
grieving	ESE	ESE
Venezuelans	O	ESE
who	O	ESE
are	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
quite	ESE	ESE
at	DSE	ESE
peace	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Their	O	O
loved	ESE	O
ones	ESE	O
were	O	O
gunned	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
,	O	O
first	O	O
by	O	O
sympathizers	O	O
of	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
subsequently	O	O
by	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
short-lived	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
was	O	O
ousted	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
on	O	O
April	O	O
12	O	O
after	O	O
17	O	O
persons	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
during	O	O
an	O	O
anti-Chavez	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
apparently	O	ESE
by	O	O
sharpshooters	O	O
faithful	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

Pedro	O	O
Carmona	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
powerful	O	O
businessman	O	O
,	O	O
stepped	O	O
into	O	O
power	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
but	O	O
was	O	O
forced	O	O
to	O	O
resign	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

Following	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
,	O	O
40	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
mostly	O	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	O	O
,	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
while	O	O
protesting	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

A	O	O
probe	O	O
of	O	O
what	O	O
transpired	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
offing	O	ESE
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
has	O	ESE
placed	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
cronies	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
every	O	ESE
democratic	O	ESE
institution	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
congress	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
courts	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
prevent	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
honest	ESE	O
inquiry	ESE	O
.	O	O

So	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
appears	ESE	ESE
complicit	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
wave	O	O
of	O	O
killings	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
taped	O	O
radio	O	O
conversations	O	O
broadcast	O	O
yesterday	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
on	O	O
radio	O	O
and	O	O
television	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
ordered	O	O
tanks	O	O
and	O	O
troops	O	O
to	O	O
surround	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
unarmed	O	O
civilian	O	O
protesters	O	O
marched	DSE	O
against	DSE	O
him	O	O
on	O	O
April	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chavez	O	O
administration	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
ordered	O	O
the	O	O
deployment	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
prevent	O	O
public	O	O
order	O	O
disturbances	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Given	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
death	ESE	O
toll	ESE	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
claims	DSE	ESE
seem	ESE	ESE
rather	ESE	ESE
flimsy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
unfortunate	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Venezuela	O	O
is	O	O
this	O	O
hemisphere	O	O
's	O	O
second-oldest	O	O
democracy	O	O
.	O	O

At	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
when	O	O
democracy	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
losing	ESE	O
currency	ESE	O
in	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
coups	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
potentially	ESE	ESE
destabilizing	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
happy	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
collectively	O	O
have	O	O
overcome	ESE	O
the	O	O
era	O	O
of	O	O
coup	O	O
d'etats	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
when	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
took	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
appearance	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
a	DSE	O
reaction	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
everyone	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Brazil	O	O
's	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
Henrique	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
's	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
are	O	O
quite	ESE	ESE
valid	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
he	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
downplayed	ESE	DSE
some	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Chavez	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
alarming	ESE	ESE
faults	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
leader	O	O
has	DSE	O
struck	DSE	O
friendships	DSE	O
with	O	O
Cuban	O	O
,	O	O
Libyan	O	O
and	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
leaders	O	O
with	O	O
great	O	ESE
fanfare	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
open	DSE	ESE
defiance	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
U.S.	O	O
interests	O	O
has	O	O
wooed	DSE	O
Venezuelans	O	O
wary	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
U.S.	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

Indeed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
after	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
muscle-flexing	ESE	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
has	O	O
little	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
offer	ESE	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	O
choked	ESE	ESE
off	ESE	ESE
foreign	O	O
investment	O	O
by	O	O
doubling	O	O
the	O	O
royalty	O	O
payments	O	O
oil	O	O
companies	O	O
must	O	O
pay	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
by	O	O
restricting	O	O
corporate	O	O
ownership	O	O
on	O	O
some	O	O
oil	O	O
projects	O	O
to	O	O
49	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	O
also	O	O
alienated	ESE	O
workers	O	O
at	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
state-owned	O	O
oil	O	O
company	O	O
,	O	O
Petroleos	O	O
de	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
replacing	O	O
long-serving	O	O
professionals	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
supporters	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
consolidated	O	O
his	O	O
power	O	O
by	O	O
rewriting	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
constitution	O	O
in	O	O
1999	O	O
.	O	O

Interestingly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
initially	O	O
rose	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1990s	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
discontent	DSE	DSE
with	DSE	O
former	O	O
President	O	O
Carlos	O	O
Andres	O	O
Perez	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
had	O	O
ordered	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
to	O	O
shoot	O	O
at	O	O
crowds	O	O
in	O	O
1989	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
tell	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
he	O	O
would	O	O
voluntarily	O	O
give	O	O
up	O	O
power	O	O
when	O	O
his	O	O
term	O	O
in	O	O
2006	O	O
,	O	O
one	ESE	ESE
thing	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
A	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
investigation	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
massacre	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
April	O	O
2002	O	O
is	O	O
certainly	ESE	ESE
called	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

US-Japan	O	O
climate	O	O
talks	O	O
end	O	O

Representatives	O	O
from	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	O	O
finished	O	O
two	O	O
days	O	O
of	O	O
talks	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
discussed	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
co-operating	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
science	O	O
and	O	O
technology	O	O
fields	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
meeting	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
since	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
unveiled	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
US	O	O
plan	O	DSE
calling	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
voluntary	ESE	O
limits	O	O
on	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
rather	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
mandatory	ESE	O
targets	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
would	DSE	O
promote	DSE	O
research	O	O
and	O	O
development	O	O
into	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
says	O	DSE
it	O	O
still	ESE	O
intends	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
ratify	DSE	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
caused	ESE	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
outcry	DSE	DSE
when	O	O
he	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
1997	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
hindered	ESE	ESE
US	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
.	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
rigged	ESE	ESE
election	O	O

The	O	O
election	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	O
ugly	ESE	ESE
travesty	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
which	O	O
all	ESE	O
of	O	O
southern	O	O
Africa	O	O
will	O	ESE
suffer	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Voters	O	O
lined	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
hours	ESE	O
at	O	O
polling	O	O
stations	O	O
,	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
in	ESE	O
vain	ESE	O
.	O	O

Supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
opposition	O	O
candidate	O	O
were	O	O
intimidated	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
beaten	ESE	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
the	O	O
long-serving	O	O
,	O	O
increasingly	ESE	O
tyrannical	ESE	O
president	O	O
,	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
declared	O	O
the	O	O
winner	O	O
.	O	O

International	O	O
observers	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
process	O	O
deeply	ESE	ESE
flawed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
has	O	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
declared	O	O
results	O	O
.	O	O

Unfortunately	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
some	O	O
leading	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
have	O	O
compounded	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
problem	ESE	O
by	O	O
accepting	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
victory	O	O
despite	ESE	O
earlier	DSE	DSE
assertions	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
rigged	ESE	ESE
election	O	O
.	O	O

By	ESE	ESE
failing	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
hold	ESE	ESE
firm	ESE	ESE
they	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
damage	ESE	ESE
their	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
credibility	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
ignore	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
consequences	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
nearby	O	O
African	O	O
states	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
misrule	ESE	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
include	O	O
explosive	ESE	O
political	DSE	O
frustration	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
a	O	O
swelling	ESE	ESE
tide	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
desperate	ESE	ESE
refugees	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
growing	DSE	DSE
reluctance	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
foreign	O	O
companies	O	O
and	O	O
donors	O	O
to	O	O
invest	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
Western	O	O
governments	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
now	O	ESE
strengthen	O	ESE
the	O	O
current	O	O
mild	ESE	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
steps	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
far	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
effective	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
were	O	O
joined	O	O
by	O	O
major	O	O
African	O	O
states	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
led	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
liberation	O	O
struggle	O	O
against	O	O
white	O	O
minority	O	O
rule	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
1970	O	O
's	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
systematically	ESE	O
wrecked	ESE	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
freedoms	O	O
to	O	O
prolong	O	O
his	O	O
22-year-old	O	O
hold	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
.	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
beacon	ESE	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
basket	ESE	O
case	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
blessed	ESE	O
with	O	O
fertile	O	O
agricultural	O	O
land	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
dozen	O	O
years	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
rule	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
relatively	ESE	ESE
prosperous	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
free	ESE	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
picture	O	O
changed	O	O
radically	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
mid-1990	O	O
's	O	O
when	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
shifted	O	O
onto	O	O
a	O	O
highly	ESE	ESE
destructive	ESE	ESE
course	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
incited	ESE	O
violent	ESE	O
land	O	O
seizures	O	O
that	O	O
have	ESE	O
taken	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
disastrous	ESE	O
toll	ESE	O
on	O	O
agricultural	O	O
investment	O	O
and	O	O
production	O	O
and	O	O
launched	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
broad	ESE	O
assault	ESE	O
on	O	O
journalistic	O	O
freedom	ESE	O
and	O	O
judicial	O	O
independence	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
campaign	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
with	O	O
help	O	O
from	O	O
a	O	O
small	O	O
but	O	O
loyal	O	ESE
core	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
former	O	ESE
liberation	O	ESE
fighters	O	ESE
turned	ESE	ESE
thugs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Thugs	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fraud	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
keep	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
78-year-old	O	ESE
Mugabe	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
power	O	ESE
forever	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
recovery	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
wait	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
departure	O	O
.	O	O

Many	O	DSE
fear	DSE	DSE
violence	O	O
after	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
vote	O	O

HARARE	O	O
,	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Wellington	O	O
Chinyama	O	O
sat	O	O
down	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
barber	O	O
's	O	O
chair	O	O
,	O	O
unfolded	O	O
his	O	O
newspaper	O	O
and	O	O
without	O	O
glancing	O	O
up	O	O
asked	O	O
the	O	O
young	O	O
man	O	O
trimming	O	O
his	O	O
hair	O	O
the	O	O
question	O	O
that	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
on	O	ESE
virtually	O	ESE
everyone	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
mind	O	ESE
here	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
So	O	O
Joseph	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
you	O	O
prepared	O	O
yourself	O	O
for	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
?	O	O
''	O	O

As	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
go	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
polls	O	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
to	O	O
re-elect	O	O
or	O	O
oust	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
only	O	O
leader	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
has	O	O
ever	O	ESE
known	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
question	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
who	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
win	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
election	O	ESE
seems	ESE	ESE
almost	ESE	ESE
secondary	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
how	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
loser	O	ESE
and	O	O
his	O	O
followers	O	O
will	O	O
respond	O	O
.	O	O

Surveys	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
challenger	O	O
,	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
trade	O	O
union	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
a	O	O
surge	O	O
in	O	O
political	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
accusations	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
governing	O	O
party	O	O
changed	O	O
election	O	O
laws	O	O
to	O	O
rig	ESE	O
the	O	O
vote	O	O
have	O	O
fanned	O	DSE
widespread	DSE	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
among	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
,	O	O
election	O	O
monitors	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
diplomats	O	O
that	O	O
neither	ESE	O
political	O	O
party	O	O
nor	ESE	O
their	O	O
supporters	O	DSE
are	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
final	O	O
tally	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
vivid	ESE	ESE
imagination	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
envision	DSE	ESE
a	O	O
scenario	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
ground	O	O
where	O	O
either	O	O
rioters	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
take	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
streets	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
days	O	O
to	O	O
come	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
an	O	O
African	O	O
diplomat	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Most	ESE	ESE
disturbing	ESE	ESE
are	O	ESE
pronouncements	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
senior	O	O
government	O	O
officials	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
leaders	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
allow	ESE	O
this	O	O
former	O	O
British	O	O
colony	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
led	O	O
by	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
political	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
television	O	O
interview	O	O
broadcast	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
Didymus	O	O
Mutasa	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
spokesman	O	O
for	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
ruling	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
veterans	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
independence	O	O
war	O	O
found	DSE	O
the	O	O
prospect	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
government	O	O
intolerable	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
People	O	O
have	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
being	O	O
ruled	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
ruled	O	O
by	O	O
Ian	O	O
Smith	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mutasa	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
referring	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
prime	O	O
minister	O	O
of	O	O
white-ruled	O	O
Rhodesia	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
was	O	DSE
known	O	DSE
before	O	O
gaining	O	O
independence	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Under	O	O
these	O	O
circumstances	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
there	O	O
were	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
coup	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
definitely	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	O	O
least	O	O
34	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
died	O	O
in	O	O
political	O	O
violence	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
almost	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
.	O	O

State	O	O
Department	O	O
officials	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
numerous	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
violations	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
,	O	O
an	DSE	O
allegation	DSE	DSE
vehemently	DSE	DSE
denied	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
officials	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
newspaper	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
had	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
high	O	O
alert	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	O
recalled	O	O
soldiers	O	O
from	O	O
neighboring	O	O
Congo	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
deployed	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
Commissioner	O	O
Augustine	O	O
Chihuri	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
reports	O	O
.	O	O

Many	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
see	DSE	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
's	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
a	ESE	O
contest	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
immovable	ESE	O
forces	ESE	O
:	O	O
a	O	O
78-year-old	O	O
autocrat	O	O
desperate	DSE	O
to	O	O
remain	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
opposition	O	O
party	O	O
dominated	O	O
by	O	O
restless	DSE	O
young	O	O
citizens	O	O
weary	DSE	O
of	O	O
government	O	O
corruption	O	O
,	O	O
food	O	O
shortages	O	O
and	O	O
unemployment	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	O	ESE
Mugabe	O	O
announces	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
has	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
people	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
believe	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
and	O	O
will	O	O
storm	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
castle	DSE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Sibongile	O	O
Mbuyiso	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
opposition	O	O
supporter	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
wins	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
will	O	O
announce	O	O
martial	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
throw	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
in	O	O
jail	O	O
for	O	O
plotting	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
kill	O	O
him	O	O
and	O	O
send	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
streets	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Government	O	O
officials	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
charged	DSE	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
and	O	O
two	O	O
other	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
with	O	O
high	O	O
treason	O	O
for	O	O
allegedly	O	O
plotting	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
assassinate	O	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
charge	DSE	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
largely	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
heavily	O	O
edited	O	O
videotape	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
refers	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
elimination	O	O
''	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
was	O	O
responding	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
question	O	O
posed	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
Canadian	O	O
publicist	O	O
with	O	O
whom	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
meeting	O	O
and	O	O
who	O	O
subsequently	O	O
signed	O	O
a	O	O
contract	O	O
with	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
.	O	O

Political	O	O
analysts	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
charges	DSE	O
may	ESE	O
have	O	O
laid	O	O
the	O	O
groundwork	O	O
for	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
jail	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
last-ditch	ESE	ESE
effort	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
stay	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
power	O	ESE
should	O	ESE
he	O	O
lose	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
that	O	O
outcome	O	O
is	O	O
certainly	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
foregone	ESE	ESE
conclusion	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Opposition	O	O
officials	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
22	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
polling	O	O
agents	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
abducted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
surge	O	O
in	O	O
violent	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
swing	O	O
districts	O	O
could	ESE	DSE
persuade	O	DSE
enough	O	O
opposition	O	O
supporters	O	O
to	O	O
vote	O	O
for	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
victory	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
addition	O	O
,	O	O
governing	O	O
party	O	O
officials	O	O
have	O	O
revised	O	O
election	O	O
laws	O	O
and	O	O
procedures	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
manner	O	O
that	O	O
could	ESE	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
independent	O	O
election	O	O
observers	O	O
.	O	O

ZANU-PF	O	O
officials	O	O
have	O	O
told	O	O
election	O	O
observers	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
intend	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
polling	O	O
stations	O	O
in	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
their	O	O
strongholds	O	O
and	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
stations	O	O
in	O	O
urban	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O

Observers	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
could	ESE	O
produce	O	O
long	O	O
voting	O	O
lines	O	O
and	O	O
discourage	DSE	O
some	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
supporters	O	O
from	O	O
casting	O	O
ballots	O	O
.	O	O

ZANU-PF	O	O
election	O	O
officials	O	O
also	O	O
plan	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
use	O	O
civil	O	O
service	O	O
employees	O	O
to	O	O
monitor	O	O
the	O	O
vote-counting	O	O
and	O	O
bar	O	O
independent	O	O
monitors	O	O
from	O	O
nonprofit	O	O
organizations	O	O
from	O	O
assisting	O	O
in	O	O
such	O	O
routine	O	O
tasks	O	O
as	O	O
transporting	O	O
ballot	O	O
boxes	O	O
to	O	O
counting	O	O
stations	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
residency	O	O
requirement	O	O
introduced	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
bans	O	O
registered	O	O
voters	O	O
from	O	O
casting	O	O
ballots	O	O
if	O	O
they	O	O
can	O	O
not	O	O
provide	O	O
leases	O	O
or	O	O
utility	O	O
bills	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
names	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
foreign	O	O
diplomats	O	O
and	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
supporters	O	O
,	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
disenfranchise	O	ESE
hundreds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	O	O
young	O	O
opposition	O	O
supporters	O	O
who	O	O
live	O	O
with	O	O
their	O	O
parents	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Clearly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
everything	O	O
he	O	O
can	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
steal	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	O
election	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
John	O	O
Makumbe	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
science	O	O
professor	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
University	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
said	O	DSE
at	O	O
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
Thursday	O	O
night	O	O
that	O	O
if	O	O
he	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
not	O	O
prosecute	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
could	ESE	O
ease	O	O
pressure	O	O
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
remain	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
prosecution	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
attack	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1980s	O	O
in	O	O
Matabeleland	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
home	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Ndebele	O	O
tribe	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	ESE
posed	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	O	ESE
significant	O	ESE
threat	O	ESE
to	O	O
his	O	O
leadership	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
estimate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
ranges	O	O
from	O	O
10,000	O	O
to	O	O
20,000	O	O
.	O	O

Six	O	O
days	O	O
that	O	O
shook	O	O
Venezuela	O	O

CARACAS	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Here	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
crisis	O	O
that	O	O
shook	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
six	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
41	O	O
people	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
and	O	O
323	O	O
were	O	O
injured	O	O
:	O	O

Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
9	O	O
:	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
largest	O	O
trade	O	O
union	O	O
joins	O	O
a	O	O
strike	DSE	O
by	O	O
managers	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
massive	O	O
state-run	O	O
oil	O	O
company	O	O
,	O	O
demanding	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
resignation	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
board	O	O
of	O	O
directors	O	O
appointed	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

Wednesday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
10	O	O
:	O	O
Union	O	O
leaders	O	O
extend	O	O
the	O	O
strike	O	O
for	O	O
24	O	O
hours	O	O
because	O	O
of	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
call	DSE	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
`	O	O
aggressive	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
and	O	O
`	O	O
intolerant	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
demands	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
strike	O	O
is	O	O
later	O	O
made	O	O
indefinite	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Oil	O	O
exports	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
80	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
revenues	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
threatened	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
strike	O	O
stops	O	O
production	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
major	O	O
refineries	O	O
.	O	O

Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
11	O	O
:	O	O
Some	O	O
50,000	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
business	O	O
and	O	O
union	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
mass	O	O
to	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
resignation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
urges	DSE	DSE
supporters	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
back	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
orders	DSE	O
a	O	O
suspension	O	O
of	O	O
broadcasts	O	O
by	O	O
private	O	O
television	O	O
networks	O	O
opposed	DSE	O
to	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Pro-government	O	O
and	O	O
opposition	O	O
demonstrators	O	O
face	O	O
off	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
least	O	O
15	O	O
people	O	O
are	O	O
killed	O	O
and	O	O
almost	O	O
100	O	O
are	O	O
wounded	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
A	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
10	O	O
top	O	O
military	O	O
officials	O	O
declare	DSE	DSE
their	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Leading	O	O
military	O	O
officials	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Chavez	O	O
government	O	O
resign	O	O
.	O	O

Friday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
12	O	O
:	O	O
Army	O	O
commander	O	O
General	O	O
Efrain	O	O
Vazquez	O	O
announces	O	O
that	O	O
Chavez	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
resign	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Business	O	O
leader	O	O
Pedro	O	O
Carmona	O	O
replaces	O	O
Chavez	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
dissolves	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Assembly	O	O
,	O	O
dismisses	O	DSE
the	O	O
Supreme	O	O
Court	O	O
,	O	O
revokes	DSE	O
49	O	O
controversial	O	O
Chavez	O	O
decrees	DSE	O
and	O	O
announces	O	O
Presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
in	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Latin	O	O
American	O	O
leaders	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Costa	O	O
Rica	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
trade	O	O
summit	O	O
denounce	DSE	DSE
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
breakdown	ESE	O
of	O	O
constitutional	O	O
order	O	O
.	O	O

Saturday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
13	O	O
:	O	O
In	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
American	O	O
States	O	O
says	O	DSE
it	O	DSE
is	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
apply	O	O
against	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
a	O	O
charter	O	O
requiring	O	O
sanctions	O	O
for	O	O
any	O	O
member	O	O
that	O	O
abandons	ESE	O
democracy	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Pro-Chavez	DSE	DSE
rioting	DSE	DSE
breaks	O	O
out	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
The	O	O
commander	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
paratrooper	O	O
brigade	O	O
-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
old	O	O
unit	O	O
-	O	O
refuses	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
orders	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
transferred	O	O
from	O	O
an	O	O
army	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
of	O	O
Orchila	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
Sea	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Thousands	O	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	DSE	O
march	DSE	O
towards	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Carmona	O	O
takes	O	O
refuge	O	O
at	O	O
Tiuna	O	O
Fort	O	O
,	O	O
southwest	O	O
of	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Top	O	O
military	O	O
leaders	O	O
say	O	DSE
their	O	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
Carmona	O	O
is	O	O
conditional	O	O
upon	O	O
his	O	O
respecting	ESE	O
democratic	O	O
institutions	O	O
and	O	O
allowing	O	O
Chavez	O	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
freely	ESE	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Carmona	O	O
announces	O	O
the	O	O
restoration	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Assembly	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
Chavez	O	O
cabinet	O	O
members	O	O
move	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
and	O	O
hold	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Carmona	O	O
resigns	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
presidency	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
vice-President	O	O
,	O	O
Diosdado	O	O
Cabello	O	O
,	O	O
takes	O	O
over	O	O
as	O	O
acting	O	O
President	O	O
.	O	O

Carmona	O	O
is	O	O
arrested	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
cabinet	O	O
and	O	O
general	O	O
staff	O	O
.	O	O

Cabello	O	O
promises	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
restore	O	O
constitutional	O	O
order	O	O
.	O	O

Sunday	O	O
:	O	O
Chavez	O	O
leaves	O	O
Orchila	O	O
Island	O	O
aboard	O	O
a	O	O
helicopter	O	O
and	O	O
heads	O	O
to	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
officially	O	O
re-takes	O	O
the	O	O
presidency	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
emotional	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
ceremony	O	O
at	O	O
4:30	O	O
am	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
0830	O	O
GMT	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
then	O	O
calls	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
peace	ESE	O
,	O	O
calm	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
`	O	O
the	O	O
unity	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O
'	O	O

-	O	O
Emergency	O	O
workers	O	O
say	O	O
that	O	O
in	O	O
total	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
41	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
killed	O	O
and	O	O
323	O	O
injured	O	O
in	O	O
rioting	O	DSE
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
since	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
Predicts	DSE	O
Victory	ESE	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
Election	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
incumbent	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
Saturday	O	O
predicted	DSE	DSE
victory	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
two	O	O
-	O	O
horse	O	O
presidential	O	O
race	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
because	ESE	O
he	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
defeated	ESE	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Looking	O	DSE
tired	O	DSE
but	O	O
blithesome	O	O
after	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
month	O	O
of	O	O
daily	O	O
election	O	O
campaigns	O	O
throughout	O	O
the	O	O
southern	O	O
African	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
cast	O	O
his	O	O
vote	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
weekend	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
facing	O	O
a	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
challenge	O	ESE
from	O	O
his	O	O
main	O	O
rival	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
veteran	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
gained	O	O
independence	O	O
from	O	O
Britain	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
accompanied	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
polling	O	O
station	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
suburb	O	O
of	O	O
Highfield	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
Harare	O	O
by	O	O
family	O	O
members	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
two	O	O
children	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
told	O	O
journalists	O	O
after	O	O
casting	O	O
his	O	O
ballot	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	DSE
than	DSE	DSE
confident	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
winning	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
results	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
I	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
won	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
thought	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
process	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
rigged	ESE	ESE
were	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	DSE	O
prejudging	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
direct	O	O
the	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

Tension	O	O
has	O	O
risen	O	O
sharply	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
long	O	O
and	O	O
sometimes	O	O
violent	O	O
election	O	O
campaigns	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
party	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
of	O	O
using	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
electoral	O	O
manipulation	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
rig	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
defying	DSE	DSE
international	O	DSE
pressure	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
back	ESE	DSE
down	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
his	O	O
controversial	O	O
land	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
has	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
needs	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
new	O	O
six	O	O
-	O	O
year	O	O
mandate	O	O
to	O	O
complete	O	O
the	O	O
reforms	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
these	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
taken	O	O
over	O	O
excess	O	O
and	O	O
idle	O	O
farms	O	O
from	O	O
white	O	O
farmers	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
own	O	O
the	O	O
bulk	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
arable	O	O
land	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
resettle	O	O
landless	O	O
peasants	O	O
.	O	O

Nearly	O	O
500,000	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
resettled	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
program	O	O
has	O	O
drawn	O	O
sharp	DSE	O
international	DSE	O
rebuke	DSE	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
from	O	O
former	O	O
colonial	O	O
power	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
vowed	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
press	ESE	DSE
ahead	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
reforms	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
imposed	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
19	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
close	O	O
associates	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
took	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
move	O	O
,	O	O
accusing	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
of	O	O
violating	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	O	O
cracking	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
and	O	O
judiciary	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
land	O	O
reform	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
pillar	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
electoral	O	O
strategy	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
political	O	O
analysts	O	O
say	DSE	O
could	ESE	ESE
work	O	ESE
either	O	ESE
way	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
view	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
March	O	O
election	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
chapter	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
long	ESE	ESE
struggle	ESE	ESE
against	O	ESE
colonial	O	ESE
rule	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
led	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
early	O	O
1960s	O	O
until	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
have	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
deliver	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
safeguard	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
heritage	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
young	O	O
generation	O	O
-	O	O
land	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
taken	O	O
from	O	O
our	O	O
forefathers	ESE	O
by	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
told	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
recent	O	O
rally	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
even	ESE	O
talked	O	DSE
about	O	O
his	O	O
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
keep	O	O
safeguarding	ESE	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
sovereignty	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
land	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
spirit	ESE	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
dies	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	ESE
dream	ESE	ESE
which	O	O
the	O	O
veteran	O	O
leader	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
forced	ESE	ESE
him	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
sacrifice	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
bright	ESE	O
teaching	O	O
career	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1950s	O	O
to	O	O
lead	O	O
his	O	O
compatriots	ESE	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
colonial	O	O
rule	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
that	O	O
ambition	DSE	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
fully	ESE	O
tested	ESE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
ballot	O	O
box	O	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
Caucus	O	O
a	O	O
US	O	O
Provocation	ESE	O
:	O	O
Commentary	O	O

On	O	O
April	O	O
9	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
23rd	O	O
anniversary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
troublemaking	ESE	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Congress	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
unveil	O	O
a	O	O
70-member	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
caucus	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
congressional	O	O
caucuses	O	O
are	O	O
issue-based	O	O
or	O	O
for	O	O
particular	O	O
racial	O	O
groups	O	O
but	O	O
this	O	O
one	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
devoted	O	ESE
solely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
inalienable	ESE	ESE
part	O	ESE
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
claimed	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
caucus	O	O
will	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
channel	O	O
for	O	O
legislators	O	O
from	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
to	O	O
exchange	O	O
ideas	O	DSE
.	O	O

Such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
provocative	ESE	ESE
move	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
obviously	ESE	ESE
overshadow	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
renewed	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
a	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
level	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
may	O	ESE
provide	O	O
fodder	ESE	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
forces	O	O
and	O	O
play	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
separatist	O	O
extremists	ESE	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
group	O	O
's	O	O
goals	DSE	DSE
is	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
promote	ESE	DSE
US	O	O
military	O	O
ties	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
comes	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
there	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
conspicuous	ESE	ESE
signs	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
ever-increasing	ESE	O
US-Taiwan	O	O
military	O	O
ties	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
mid-March	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
side	O	O
granted	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
``	O	O
Defence	O	O
Minister	O	O
''	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yiau-ming	O	O
a	O	O
visa	O	O
so	O	O
he	O	O
could	O	O
attend	O	O
a	O	O
conference	O	O
sponsored	O	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
military	O	O
contractors	O	O
in	O	O
Florida	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
sidelines	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
met	O	O
senior	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
officials	O	O
including	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Defence	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Paul	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
and	O	O
Assistant	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
James	O	O
Kelly	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
March	O	O
22	O	O
,	O	O
Admiral	O	O
Dennis	O	O
Blair	O	O
,	O	O
commander-in-chief	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Pacific	O	O
Command	O	O
,	O	O
told	O	DSE
the	O	O
House	O	O
Armed	O	O
Services	O	O
Committee	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
can	O	O
maintain	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
balance	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Straits	O	O
if	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
continue	O	O
modernizing	O	O
their	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
this	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
military	O	O
balance	O	O
is	O	O
what	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
leader	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Last	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
when	O	O
receiving	O	O
a	O	O
special	O	O
delegation	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
,	O	O
Chen	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Congress	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
-	O	O
ensured	ESE	O
a	O	O
balanced	O	O
cross-Straits	O	O
military	O	O
situation	O	O
and	O	O
peace	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Straits	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
reaffirmed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
promises	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
all	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
and	O	O
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
declared	DSE	DSE
he	O	O
would	O	ESE
abide	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
-	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
necessary	O	O
protection	O	O
against	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Chen	O	O
was	O	O
quoted	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Taipei	O	O
Times	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
most	O	O
cases	O	O
,	O	O
those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
sow	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
wind	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
reap	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
whirlwind	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
robust	O	O
military	O	O
build-up	O	O
may	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
bring	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
so-called	ESE	ESE
balance	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
menace	ESE	ESE
instead	ESE	ESE
cross-Straits	O	ESE
peace	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
stability	O	ESE
.	O	O

Helping	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
build	O	O
its	O	O
military	ESE	O
muscle	ESE	O
will	O	O
only	ESE	O
foment	O	O
pro-independence	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
remarks	O	O
and	O	O
events	O	O
may	O	ESE
give	O	ESE
these	O	ESE
forces	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
on	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
side	ESE	O
and	O	O
ready	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
military	O	O
protection	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
may	O	ESE
become	O	ESE
provocative	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
push	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
island	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
edge	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Ministry	O	O
Criticizes	DSE	O
`	O	O
Odious	ESE	O
'	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Report	O	O

The	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
said	DSE	O
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
surprised	DSE	ESE
,	DSE	O
to	ESE	O
put	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
mildly	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Russia	O	O
's	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
record	O	O
and	O	O
objected	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
particular	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
odious	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
section	O	O
on	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
One	ESE	ESE
gets	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
its	O	O
writers	O	O
simply	ESE	O
used	ESE	O
old	ESE	O
drafts	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
nothing	O	ESE
had	O	ESE
happened	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
either	O	ESE
Russia	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
occurred	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
closed	O	O
ranks	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
battle	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
statement	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
annual	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
published	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Russia	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
poor	ESE	O
record	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
independence	O	O
and	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
.	O	O

Russian	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
have	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
demonstrated	ESE	DSE
little	ESE	DSE
respect	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	O
basic	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	O	O
there	O	O
were	O	O
credible	ESE	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
violations	O	ESE
,	O	O
including	O	O
numerous	O	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
extrajudicial	O	O
killings	O	O
by	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
Chechen	O	O
fighters	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Russian	O	O
officials	O	O
from	O	O
President	O	O
Vladimir	O	O
Putin	O	O
on	O	O
down	O	O
have	DSE	O
portrayed	DSE	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
international	O	O
terrorists	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
partially	DSE	DSE
endorsed	DSE	DSE
that	O	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
pointing	O	O
to	O	O
rebel	O	O
leaders	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Shamil	O	O
Basayev	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Jordanian-born	O	O
Omar	O	O
Ibn	O	O
al	O	O
Khattab	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
have	O	O
financial	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
ties	O	O
to	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
's	O	O
al-Qaida	O	O
terrorist	O	O
network	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
also	O	O
note	O	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rebels	O	O
do	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
international	O	O
ties	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
criticized	DSE	DSE
Russian	O	O
military	O	O
and	O	O
police	O	O
abuse	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
civilians	O	ESE
--	O	O
although	O	O
the	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
was	DSE	O
toned	DSE	O
down	DSE	O
greatly	DSE	O
after	O	O
Russia	O	O
became	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
enthusiastic	DSE	O
member	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
coalition	O	O
,	O	O
sharing	O	O
intelligence	O	O
information	O	O
,	O	O
opening	O	O
its	O	O
airspace	O	O
to	O	O
humanitarian	O	O
flights	O	O
and	O	O
giving	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
green	DSE	O
light	DSE	O
to	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
deployment	O	O
in	O	O
Central	O	O
Asia	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
pronouncement	O	O
on	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
reflected	ESE	O
the	O	O
efforts	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
certain	ESE	O
circles	ESE	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
that	O	O
object	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
U.S.-Russian	O	O
partnership	O	O
against	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
These	O	O
circles	O	O
have	O	O
persistently	ESE	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
reanimate	O	O
the	O	O
`	O	O
Chechen	O	O
problem	O	O
,	O	O
'	O	O
and	O	O
turn	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
irritant	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Russian-American	O	O
dialogue	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ministry	O	O
also	O	O
suggested	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
before	ESE	O
judging	ESE	O
others	ESE	O
'	O	O
rights	O	O
records	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
investigate	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
at	O	O
home	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
failure	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
ratify	ESE	O
some	O	O
international	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
agreements	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
death	O	O
penalty	O	O
.	O	O

Russia	O	O
introduced	O	O
a	O	O
moratorium	O	O
on	O	O
capital	O	O
punishment	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
prerequisite	O	O
for	O	O
joining	O	O
the	O	O
Council	O	O
of	O	O
Europe	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
1996	O	O
.	O	O

Tokyo	O	O
irked	DSE	DSE
by	O	DSE
US	O	DSE
stance	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Kyoto	O	O

TOKYO	O	O
-	O	O
Coral	O	O
reefs	O	O
will	ESE	O
die	ESE	O
from	O	O
water	O	O
that	O	O
's	O	O
too	ESE	O
hot	O	O
.	O	O

Polar	O	O
bears	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
room	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
roam	ESE	O
,	O	O
crowding	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
existence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Birds	O	O
will	ESE	O
start	O	O
flying	O	O
an	O	O
extra	ESE	O
mile	O	O
north	O	O
each	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
starve	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
they	O	O
get	O	O
there	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
are	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
dire	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
consequences	ESE	O
of	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
,	O	O
say	DSE	O
climate-change	O	O
experts	O	O
.	O	O

At	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
was	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
clearer	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
steps	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
slow	ESE	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
than	O	O
when	O	O
150	O	O
countries	O	O
signed	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
shaped	O	O
in	O	O
part	O	O
to	O	O
fit	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
five	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
accord	O	O
's	O	O
ultimate	ESE	ESE
effectiveness	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
doubt	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
are	DSE	O
irritated	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

For	DSE	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
nation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
nature-lovers	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
shaping	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
accord	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
soil	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
source	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
pride	ESE	DSE
-	O	O
and	O	O
proof	ESE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
still	ESE	O
relevant	ESE	O
players	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
stage	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
absolutely	ESE	ESE
inadmissible	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
greatest	ESE	O
gas-emitting	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
once	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
turn	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
and	O	O
present	O	O
something	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
against	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
framework	O	O
convention	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Mie	O	O
Asaoka	O	O
,	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kiko	O	O
Network	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
environmental-umbrella	O	O
organization	O	O
representing	O	O
about	O	O
150	O	O
Japanese	O	O
groups	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
clash	O	O
over	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
stop	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
while	O	O
allowing	O	O
sluggish	O	O
economies	O	O
to	O	O
prosper	O	O
occurs	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
awkward	ESE	ESE
point	O	ESE
in	O	O
US-Japanese	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
analysts	O	O
looking	O	O
east	ESE	O
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
as	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
dominance	ESE	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
diminishes	ESE	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
US-Japan	O	O
relationship	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
recently	O	O
left	O	O
Japan	O	O
off	O	O
its	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
nations	O	O
contributing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
post-Sept	O	O
.	O	O
11	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terror	O	O
.	O	O

Realizing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
accidental	ESE	O
slight	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
later	O	O
apologized	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
overlooking	ESE	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
-	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
tremendously	ESE	ESE
ambitious	ESE	ESE
here	O	ESE
-	O	O
to	O	O
alter	O	O
the	O	O
interpretation	O	DSE
of	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
post-World	O	O
War	O	O
II	O	O
pacifist	O	O
constitution	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
dispatch	O	O
warships	O	O
for	O	O
noncombat	O	O
support	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
here	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
gently	DSE	O
balked	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
's	O	O
proposed	O	O
alternative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
agreement	O	O
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
Japan	O	O
would	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
like	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
see	O	ESE
further	ESE	ESE
efforts	O	ESE
''	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
no	O	O
protesters	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
streets	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
an	DSE	O
air	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
indignation	DSE	O
here	O	O
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
do-it-our-way	ESE	O
''	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
something	O	O
that	O	O
effects	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
globe	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
the	O	O
Kiko	O	O
Network	O	O
's	O	O
handouts	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
pamphlet	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
cartoon	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

On	DSE	O
one	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
defensively	ESE	O
holds	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Kyoto	ESE	O
Protocol	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	DSE	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
fiendish-looking	ESE	O
Bush	O	O
seizes	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
weeping	ESE	O
globe	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
monster-size	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
eyes	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
not	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
is	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
many	O	O
signals	O	O
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
is	DSE	O
growing	DSE	ESE
increasingly	DSE	ESE
unilateralist	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
six	O	O
months	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

From	ESE	O
pulling	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
process	O	O
of	O	O
being	O	O
ratified	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
-	O	O
to	ESE	O
labeling	ESE	DSE
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
an	O	O
``	ESE	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
and	O	O
prime	ESE	O
targets	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
allies	O	O
are	DSE	O
seeing	DSE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
a	O	O
growing	ESE	O
tendency	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
act	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
consult	ESE	O
later	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
is	DSE	O
offering	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
own	DSE	O
alternative	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Clear	O	O
Skies	O	O
and	O	O
Global	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
Initiatives	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
aides	O	O
say	O	O
are	O	O
more	O	O
market-sensitive	O	O
and	O	O
will	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
worst	O	O
air	O	O
pollutants	O	O
by	O	O
70	O	O
percent	O	O
while	O	O
finding	O	O
a	O	O
strategy	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
intensity	O	O
by	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
environmental	O	O
advocates	O	O
say	DSE	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
alternative	O	O
will	O	O
allow	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
gas	O	O
it	O	O
emits	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
fear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	O
forging	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
smaller	O	O
nations	O	O
that	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
could	ESE	O
start	O	O
backing	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
could	ESE	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
two-tier	O	O
system	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
others	O	O
-	O	O
Australia	O	O
and	O	O
Canada	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
follow	ESE	O
suit	ESE	O
-	O	O
will	O	O
choose	O	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
targets	O	O
,	O	O
while	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rest	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
limited	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
stricter	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
limits	O	O
.	O	O

Not	O	ESE
everyone	O	ESE
in	O	O
Japan	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
upset	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
alternative	O	O
.	O	O

Japanese	O	O
industry	O	O
has	O	O
already	ESE	O
gone	O	O
through	O	O
vigorous	ESE	O
energy-saving	O	O
-	O	O
and	O	O
thus	O	O
environmentally	ESE	ESE
friendly	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
drives	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
energy	O	O
crises	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1970s	O	O
and	O	O
1980s	O	O
,	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Mitsuru	O	O
Shinozaki	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
spokesman	O	O
for	O	O
Keidanren	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
influential	ESE	ESE
business	O	ESE
lobby	O	ESE
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
Earth	O	O
Summit	O	O
of	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
discussed	O	O
and	O	O
implemented	O	O
a	O	O
self-action	O	O
plan	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
carbon-dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Any	ESE	ESE
further	ESE	ESE
policy	O	ESE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
will	O	ESE
hurt	ESE	ESE
Japanese	O	O
industrial	O	O
competitiveness	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

China	O	O
plays	DSE	O
down	DSE	O
friction	O	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O

BEIJING	O	O
:	O	O
China	O	O
played	DSE	ESE
down	DSE	ESE
sensitive	O	ESE
differences	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
holding	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
tongue	DSE	O
over	O	O
US	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
to	O	O
arm	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatically-isolated	O	O
island	O	O
.	O	O

Jiang	O	O
portrayed	DSE	DSE
talks	O	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
as	O	O
low-key	ESE	O
,	O	O
telling	O	O
reporters	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
had	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
expressed	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	O	O
`	ESE	O
Taiwan	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
solving	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
question	O	O
peacefully	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

Jiang	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
subdued	ESE	O
tone	ESE	O
,	O	O
despite	O	ESE
US	O	DSE
pledges	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
press	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
with	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
defence	O	O
summit	O	O
''	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
officials	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
underlined	O	DSE
his	O	DSE
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
avoid	ESE	DSE
disputes	O	DSE
with	O	O
Washington	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
leadership	O	O
handover	O	O
this	O	O
autumn	O	O
.	O	O

Jiang	O	O
said	O	DSE
Bush	O	O
had	O	DSE
restated	O	DSE
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
long-standing	O	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
policy	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
states	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
mainland	O	O
belong	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
single	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
clear	ESE	DSE
signal	ESE	DSE
of	O	DSE
continued	O	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	DSE	O
he	O	O
would	O	DSE
honour	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
pledge	O	DSE
to	O	O
help	O	O
arm	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
regarded	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
a	ESE	O
rebel	ESE	O
province	ESE	O
since	O	O
a	O	O
1949	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
split	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
position	O	O
of	O	O
my	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
changed	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
peaceful	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
told	O	DSE
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
after	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
Jiang	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
day	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
urge	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
be	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
provocation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
continue	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
passed	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
year	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
switched	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
from	O	O
Taipei	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
in	O	O
1979	O	O
,	O	O
reaffirming	DSE	O
its	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
pledging	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
maintain	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
relieved	DSE	O

Chinese	O	O
analysts	O	O
who	O	O
advise	O	DSE
and	O	O
comment	O	O
on	O	O
policy	O	O
also	O	O
played	DSE	DSE
down	DSE	DSE
tensions	O	DSE
between	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
--	O	O
which	O	O
Beijing	O	O
always	O	ESE
says	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
issue	ESE	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
bilateral	O	O
relationship	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
problem	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
old	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
still	O	ESE
there	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Jin	O	O
Canrong	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
top	O	O
researcher	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
prestigious	O	O
China	O	O
Academy	O	O
of	O	O
Social	O	O
Sciences	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
America	O	O
widening	O	O
their	O	O
scope	O	O
of	O	O
cooperation	O	O
the	O	O
priority	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
problem	O	O
in	O	O
bilateral	O	O
relations	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
lowered	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Bush	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
will	O	O
come	O	O
as	O	O
a	DSE	O
relief	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
watching	O	O
his	O	O
two-day	O	O
visit	O	O
closely	O	O
fearing	DSE	DSE
Washington	O	O
may	O	ESE
give	O	ESE
something	O	ESE
new	O	ESE
away	O	ESE
to	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
analysts	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
democratic	O	O
island	O	O
run	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
pro-independence	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Progressive	O	O
Party	O	O
relies	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
main	O	O
arms	O	O
supplier	O	O
and	O	O
trading	O	O
partner	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
stands	DSE	ESE
firm	DSE	ESE

Washington	O	O
angered	DSE	DSE
Beijing	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
by	O	O
offering	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
arms	O	O
package	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
decade	O	O
--	O	O
including	O	O
submarines	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
--	O	O
and	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
Washington	O	O
would	O	O
do	O	O
``	O	O
whatever	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
takes	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
demanded	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
end	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
step	O	O
back	O	O
from	O	O
explicit	DSE	O
statements	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
support	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
Beijing	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
threatened	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
attack	DSE	O
if	O	O
it	O	O
declares	DSE	DSE
independence	O	O
or	O	O
delays	O	O
reunification	O	O
talks	O	O
indefinitely	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
stood	DSE	O
firm	DSE	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
Asian	O	O
tour	O	O
.	O	O

Speaking	O	O
to	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
Diet	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
parliament	O	O
,	O	O
before	O	O
heading	O	O
to	O	O
Seoul	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
reassured	O	DSE
Taiwan	O	DSE
by	O	DSE
saying	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
America	O	O
will	DSE	O
remember	DSE	O
our	O	O
commitments	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	ESE	O
another	ESE	O
controversial	ESE	O
move	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Defence	O	O
Department	O	O
said	O	DSE
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	O
take	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
closed-door	O	O
conference	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
that	O	O
private	O	O
organisers	O	O
call	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
defence	O	O
summit	O	O
''	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
event	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	DSE
typically	ESE	DSE
anger	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
's	O	O
not	ESE	O
another	ESE	O
ice	ESE	O
age	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
least	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
cooler	O	ESE

As	O	O
countries	O	O
gear	O	O
up	O	O
for	O	O
battles	O	O
over	O	O
ratifying	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
recent	O	O
study	O	O
suggests	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
already	ESE	O
has	O	O
stepped	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
path	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
future	O	O
cooler	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
might	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
.	O	O

Researchers	O	O
at	O	O
NASA	O	O
's	O	O
Goddard	O	O
Institute	O	O
for	O	O
Space	O	O
Studies	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GISS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
declining	O	O
greenhouse-gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
1980s	O	O
have	O	O
slowed	O	O
the	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
's	O	O
ability	O	O
to	O	O
retain	O	O
heat	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
researchers	O	O
link	O	O
the	O	O
slower	O	O
rate	O	O
to	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1987	O	O
Montreal	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
countries	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
phase	O	O
out	O	O
production	O	O
of	O	O
gases	O	O
that	O	O
erode	O	O
the	O	O
Earth	O	O
's	O	O
protective	O	O
ozone	O	O
layer	O	O
.	O	O

Known	DSE	O
collectively	O	O
as	O	O
chlorofluorocarbons	O	O
,	O	O
these	O	O
gases	O	O
also	O	O
trap	O	O
heat	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
times	O	O
as	O	O
effectively	O	O
as	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
focus	O	O
of	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
maintained	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
peak	O	O
reached	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
climate	O	O
by	O	O
2050	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
reached	O	O
temperatures	O	O
not	O	O
currently	O	O
anticipated	DSE	DSE
until	O	O
2100	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
concentrations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
have	O	O
doubled	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
researchers	O	O
calculate	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
slowdown	O	O
also	O	O
``	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
in	O	O
part	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
slower	O	O
growth	O	O
of	O	O
methane	O	O
and	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
reasons	O	O
that	O	O
are	ESE	DSE
n't	ESE	DSE
well	ESE	DSE
understood	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
need	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
study	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
James	O	O
Hansen	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
NASA	O	O
researcher	O	O
who	O	O
conducted	O	O
the	O	O
study	O	O
with	O	O
Makiko	O	O
Sato	O	O
,	O	O
also	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
GISS	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
slower	O	O
growth	O	O
in	O	O
carbon-dioxide	O	O
concentrations	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
increased	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
uptake	O	O
by	O	O
land-based	O	O
plants	O	O
and	O	O
marine	O	O
organisms	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
suggests	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
work	O	O
grows	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
longer-term	O	O
effort	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
scientists	O	O
to	O	O
explore	O	O
paths	O	O
to	O	O
adjusting	O	O
the	O	O
globe	O	O
's	O	O
thermostat	O	O
other	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
politically	O	O
charged	O	O
effort	O	O
embodied	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
focusing	O	O
on	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
pact	O	O
sets	O	O
its	O	O
sights	O	O
on	O	O
curbing	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
held	DSE	O
most	DSE	O
responsible	DSE	O
for	O	O
contributing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
climate	O	O
's	O	O
warming	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
curbs	O	O
on	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
mean	O	O
curbs	O	O
on	O	O
burning	O	O
coal	O	O
,	O	O
oil	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
natural	O	O
gas	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
fuels	O	O
of	O	O
booming	ESE	O
economies	O	O
.	O	O

Drs.	O	O
Hansen	O	O
and	O	O
Sato	O	O
argue	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
policymakers	O	O
can	O	O
make	ESE	O
significant	ESE	O
headway	ESE	O
by	O	O
attacking	O	O
other	O	O
pollutants	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
black	O	O
carbon	O	O
soot	O	O
,	O	O
ozone	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
smog	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
lower	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
methane	O	O
from	O	O
landfills	O	O
,	O	O
mining	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
oil	O	O
and	O	O
gas	O	O
production	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
duo	O	O
calculates	O	O
that	O	O
by	O	O
reducing	O	O
methane	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
30	O	O
percent	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
effect	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
comparable	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
effect	O	O
from	O	O
cuts	O	O
in	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
envisioned	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
during	O	O
its	O	O
first	O	O
commitment	O	O
period	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
runs	O	O
from	O	O
2008	O	O
to	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

Their	O	O
study	O	O
appeared	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Dec.	O	O
18	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Proceedings	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Academy	O	O
of	O	O
Science	O	O
.	O	O

New	O	O
man	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
NASA	O	O
mission	O	O

Forget	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
shuttles	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
orbiting	ESE	O
telescopes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
more	ESE	O
robotic	ESE	O
rovers	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
Mars	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
next	O	O
mission	O	O
for	O	O
NASA	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
to	O	O
steer	ESE	O
soaring	ESE	O
space-station	ESE	O
costs	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
toward	ESE	O
earth	ESE	O
and	O	O
restore	ESE	O
credibility	ESE	O
to	O	O
what	O	O
many	O	O
call	DSE	O
a	O	O
dysfunctional	ESE	O
space	O	O
program	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
weekend	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
bade	DSE	DSE
farewell	DSE	O
to	O	O
administrator	O	O
Daniel	O	O
Goldin	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
resigned	O	O
after	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
in	O	O
office	O	O
-	O	O
an	O	O
agency	O	O
record	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
nominated	DSE	O
Sean	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
,	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
's	O	O
Office	O	O
of	O	O
Management	O	O
and	O	O
Budget	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
replace	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
doing	O	O
so	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
is	O	O
swapping	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
silver-visored	ESE	O
helmet	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
cadet	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
green	ESE	O
eyeshade	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
consummate	ESE	O
bean	ESE	O
counter	ESE	O
.	O	O

Where	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Goldin	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
product	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
aerospace	O	O
industry	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
has	O	O
served	O	O
as	O	O
chief	O	O
financial	O	O
officer	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
Navy	O	O
secretary	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
business-school	O	O
professor	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
O'Keefe	O	ESE
is	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
known	DSE	ESE
as	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
space	O	ESE
enthusiast	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Keith	O	O
Cowing	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
former	O	O
NASA	O	O
scientist	O	O
and	O	O
editor	O	O
of	O	O
NASAWatch.com	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	ESE	O
he	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
agency	ESE	ESE
needs	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
now	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Under	O	O
Goldin	O	O
,	O	O
unmanned	O	O
craft	O	O
found	O	O
evidence	O	O
of	O	O
water	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
moon	O	O
,	O	O
inaugurated	O	O
a	O	O
long-term	O	O
program	O	O
to	O	O
explore	O	O
Mars	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
opened	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
door	O	ESE
to	O	O
competition	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
aerospace	O	O
industry	O	O
and	O	O
universities	O	O
to	O	O
plan	O	O
and	O	O
execute	O	O
missions	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
a	O	O
mandate	DSE	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
costs	O	O
,	O	O
Goldin	O	O
implemented	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
faster	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
better	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
cheaper	O	ESE
''	O	O
approach	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
spring	O	O
of	O	O
1992	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Jet	O	O
Propulsion	O	O
Laboratory	O	O
in	O	O
Pasadena	O	O
,	O	O
Calif.	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
had	O	O
five	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
in	O	O
space	O	O
and	O	O
three	O	O
or	O	O
four	O	O
under	O	O
development	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Today	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	O	O
13	O	O
in	O	O
space	O	O
and	O	O
27	O	O
under	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
's	O	O
credibility	O	O
has	DSE	O
come	DSE	O
under	DSE	O
fire	DSE	O
in	O	O
manned	O	O
spaceflight	O	O
-	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
International	O	O
Space	O	O
Station	O	O
,	O	O
now	O	O
completing	O	O
its	O	O
first	O	O
year	O	O
of	O	O
full-time	O	O
crews	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
project	O	O
's	O	O
costs	O	O
,	O	O
like	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
space-shuttle	O	O
program	O	O
before	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
ballooned	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
beyond	ESE	O
original	O	O
estimates	O	O
-	O	O
from	O	O
an	O	O
initial	O	O
$	O	O
17.4	O	O
billion	O	O
to	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
$	O	O
30	O	O
billion	O	O
.	O	O

Early	O	O
on	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
planned	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
scale	O	O
back	O	O
US	O	O
involvement	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
core	O	ESE
''	O	O
station	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
crew	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
instead	O	O
of	O	O
six	O	O
.	O	O

Future	O	O
US	O	O
modules	O	O
were	DSE	O
red-penciled	DSE	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
this	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
task	O	O
force	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
concluded	DSE	O
that	O	O
NASA	O	O
's	O	O
cost	O	O
estimate	O	O
for	O	O
finishing	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
core	O	ESE
''	O	O
station	O	O
between	O	O
2002	O	O
and	O	O
2008	O	O
``	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
credible	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

It	O	O
presented	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
scenario	O	O
for	O	O
scaling	O	O
back	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	O
confirmed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Senate	O	O
,	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
jumps	O	ESE
with	O	O
both	O	O
feet	O	O
into	O	O
this	O	O
fiscal	ESE	O
morass	ESE	O
.	O	O

Fixing	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
require	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
accounting	ESE	ESE
savvy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
deft	ESE	ESE
diplomacy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
task-force	O	O
report	O	O
stirred	O	DSE
opposition	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Canada	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
partners	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
cut	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
's	O	O
scope	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
argue	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
violates	ESE	ESE
international	ESE	O
agreements	ESE	O
and	O	O
would	O	ESE
essentially	ESE	ESE
close	O	O
off	O	O
international	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
assessing	O	O
how	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
might	O	ESE
fare	O	ESE
under	O	ESE
O'Keefe	O	ESE
,	O	O
some	O	O
analysts	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
it	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
blossom	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
did	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
Apollo-program	O	O
heyday	O	O
under	O	O
another	O	O
numbers	O	O
guy	O	O
,	O	O
James	O	O
Webb	O	O
.	O	O

Yet	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
's	O	O
objectives	DSE	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
growing	O	O
less	ESE	O
visionary	ESE	O
since	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
says	DSE	O
John	O	O
Pike	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
GlobalSecurity.org	O	O
in	O	O
Alexandria	O	O
,	O	O
Va.	O	O
``	O	O
Webb	O	O
's	O	O
mandate	DSE	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
a	O	O
man	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
moon	O	O
.	O	O

Richard	O	O
Truly	O	O
's	O	O
...	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
recover	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Challenger	O	O
disaster	O	ESE
.	O	O

Goldin	O	O
's	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
NASA	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
.	O	O

Now	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
's	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
fix	O	O
the	O	O
space	O	O
station	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

O'Keefe	O	O
's	O	O
appointment	O	O
``	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
message	ESE	O
from	DSE	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
:	O	O
NASA	O	O
has	O	O
to	O	O
clean	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
before	O	ESE
we	O	ESE
can	DSE	ESE
talk	DSE	ESE
about	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
neat	ESE	ESE
stuff	ESE	ESE
we	O	ESE
'd	O	ESE
like	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
see	O	O
NASA	O	O
do	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Patricia	O	O
Dasch	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Space	O	O
Society	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
Disapproves	DSE	O
Use	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
`	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
in	O	O
International	O	O
Relations	O	O

Chinese	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Kong	O	O
Quan	O	O
said	O	O
Friday	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
disapproves	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	DSE	O
use	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
such	ESE	O
words	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

Kong	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remark	O	O
when	O	O
asked	O	O
to	O	O
comment	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
different	O	O
views	DSE	DSE
given	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
Times	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
recentlyon	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
leader	O	O
describing	DSE	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
disapprove	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
such	ESE	O
words	ESE	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Kong	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
also	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
comment	O	O
when	O	O
answering	O	O
related	O	O
questions	O	O
earlier	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
noticed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
public	O	DSE
opinion	O	DSE
and	O	O
general	O	O
public	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
wording	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
pointing	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
consequences	O	O
are	O	O
bound	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
logic	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
wording	O	O
is	O	O
followed	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
always	ESE	O
holds	DSE	O
that	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaigns	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
based	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
irrefutable	ESE	ESE
evidence	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
attacks	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
expanded	O	ESE
arbitrarily	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Kong	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
handling	O	O
state-to-state	O	O
relations	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
follow	ESE	O
the	O	O
purposes	O	O
and	O	O
principles	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Charter	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Five	O	O
Principles	O	O
of	O	O
Peaceful	O	O
Co-existence	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
that	O	O
all	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
treated	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
equal	ESE	ESE
footing	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	DSE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
only	ESE	O
manner	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
conducive	O	O
to	O	O
safeguarding	ESE	O
long-term	O	O
peace	O	O
and	O	O
stability	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
and	O	O
related	O	O
regions	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
slams	ESE	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O

BEIJING	O	O
:	O	O
China	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
slammed	ESE	DSE
increasingly	ESE	DSE
close	ESE	DSE
ties	O	DSE
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
demanding	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
end	O	O
to	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
weapons	O	O
sales	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
continual	ESE	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
or	O	O
upgrading	O	O
of	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
will	O	O
only	ESE	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
tensions	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Zhang	O	O
Qiyue	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
strictly	ESE	ESE
abide	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
made	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
correct	O	O
its	O	O
erroneous	ESE	O
acts	O	O
or	O	O
remarks	O	O
so	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
new	O	O
harm	O	O
to	O	O
China-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Zhang	O	O
further	DSE	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
alarm	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
announcement	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
defense	O	O
department	O	O
officials	O	O
will	O	O
soon	O	O
visit	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
eight	O	O
diesel	O	O
electric	O	O
submarines	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
always	DSE	DSE
resolutely	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
any	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
or	O	O
military	O	O
intercourse	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Zhang	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
issue	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
core	O	O
of	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
biweekly	O	O
ministry	O	O
briefing	O	O
.	O	O

Military	O	O
tensions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
were	O	O
``	O	O
not	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
self-interests	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

She	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
confirm	DSE	O
an	O	O
April	O	O
26	O	O
to	O	O
May	O	O
3	O	O
visit	O	O
by	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Hu	O	O
Jintao	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
press	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
visit	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
Beijing	O	O
allows	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	DSE
widely	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
centered	O	O
on	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
over	DSE	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
a	O	O
renegade	ESE	O
province	O	O
since	O	O
1949	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	O
threatened	DSE	O
to	O	O
bring	O	O
it	O	O
back	O	O
by	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
if	O	O
it	O	O
continues	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
indefinitely	DSE	DSE
refuse	DSE	DSE
proposals	O	DSE
for	O	O
``	O	O
peaceful	O	ESE
reunification	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
establish	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
any	O	O
nation	O	O
that	O	O
maintains	O	O
official	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
it	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
encouraged	DSE	DSE
economic	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
all	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
also	O	O
bashed	DSE	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Paul	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Florida	O	O
,	O	O
attended	O	O
by	O	O
visiting	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yao-Ming	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
doing	O	O
whatever	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
takes	ESE	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
defend	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
,	O	O
echoing	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
first	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	O
position	O	DSE
is	O	DSE
clear	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
continued	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	O
oppose	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Wolfowitz	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	O	O
deployment	O	O
of	O	O
forces	O	O
and	O	O
tactical	O	O
missiles	O	O
to	O	O
areas	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
from	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
officials	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
Wolfowitz	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	DSE	O
reflected	O	O
a	O	O
change	O	O
in	O	O
US	O	O
policy	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
said	DSE	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
remarks	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
are	O	O
a	O	O
...	O	O
violation	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
made	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
interference	ESE	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
is	DSE	O
firmly	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chinese	O	O
missile	O	O
tests	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
1996	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
deploying	O	O
two	O	O
aircraft	O	O
carrier	O	O
battle	O	O
groups	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Guantanamo	O	O
to	O	O
hold	O	O
terror	O	O
prisoners	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
at	O	O
Guantamano	O	O
Bay	O	O
,	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
once	O	O
a	O	O
detention	O	O
center	O	O
for	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
Cubans	O	O
and	O	O
Haitians	O	O
seeking	DSE	DSE
freedom	O	O
in	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
soon	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
a	O	O
prison	O	O
for	O	O
men	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
radically	ESE	DSE
different	ESE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
house	O	O
captured	O	O
al	O	O
Qaeda	O	O
terrorists	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
fighters	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
undetermined	O	O
time	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
isolated	O	O
eastern	O	O
coast	O	O
,	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
said	O	DSE
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	O	O
the	O	O
logistical	O	O
hurdle	O	O
of	O	O
moving	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
several	O	O
dozen	O	O
presumably	ESE	O
dangerous	ESE	O
men	O	O
around	O	O
8,000	O	O
miles	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
Cuba	O	DSE
``	O	DSE
the	O	ESE
least	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
place	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

U.S.	O	O
Rep.	O	O
Ileana	O	O
Ros-Lehtinen	O	O
,	O	O
R-Miami	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
she	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
idea	O	DSE
,	O	O
in	O	O
part	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
underscore	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
's	O	O
strategic	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
at	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
when	O	O
some	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
Congress	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
urged	DSE	DSE
returning	O	O
the	O	O
territory	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
excellent	ESE	ESE
location	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	DSE	O
It	O	O
gives	ESE	O
new	ESE	O
life	ESE	O
to	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	O
often	O	O
called	O	O
.	O	O

Because	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	O
on	O	O
U.S.	O	O
soil	O	O
,	O	O
people	O	O
detained	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
entitled	O	O
to	O	O
American	O	O
residency	O	O
and	O	O
eventual	O	O
citizenship	O	O
privileges	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
began	O	O
using	O	O
it	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
offshore	O	O
holding	O	O
station	O	O
during	O	O
a	O	O
Haitian	O	O
refugee	O	O
crisis	O	O
in	O	O
1991	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
1994-95	O	O
rafter	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
50,000	O	O
Cubans	O	O
and	O	O
Haitians	O	O
were	O	O
housed	O	O
there	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
tent	O	O
encampment	O	O
after	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
vessels	O	O
had	O	O
picked	O	ESE
them	O	O
up	O	O
at	O	O
sea	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
arrive	O	O
for	O	O
weeks	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
said	O	DSE
there	O	O
are	O	O
no	O	O
plans	O	O
to	O	O
stage	O	O
military	O	O
tribunals	O	O
or	O	O
trials	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
home	O	O
to	O	O
about	O	O
1,100	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Navy	O	O
and	O	O
Marine	O	O
Corps	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
biggest	ESE	ESE
challenge	ESE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
getting	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
South	O	O
Asia	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
reportedly	O	O
being	O	O
held	O	O
on	O	O
warships	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Others	O	O
are	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
compound	O	O
in	O	O
Kandahar	O	O
,	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
U.S.	O	O
forces	O	O
built	O	O
a	O	O
stockade	O	O
of	O	O
sorts	O	O
to	O	O
house	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

1999	O	O
PLANS	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
Command	O	O
in	O	O
Miami	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
's	O	O
base	O	O
for	O	O
military	O	O
operations	O	O
in	O	O
Latin	O	O
America	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
,	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Steve	O	O
Lucas	O	O
said	O	O
planners	O	O
had	O	O
pulled	O	O
out	O	O
blueprints	O	O
from	O	O
April	O	O
1999	O	O
--	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
Clinton	O	O
administration	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
briefly	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
housing	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
20,000	O	O
refugees	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Kosovo	O	O
conflict	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
,	O	O
the	DSE	O
concern	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
comfortable	O	O
traumatized	DSE	O
victims	O	O
of	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
uprooted	O	O
from	O	O
a	O	O
violent	O	O
,	O	O
cold	O	O
climate	O	O
.	O	O

Planners	O	O
scrambled	O	O
to	O	O
deploy	O	O
healthcare	O	O
workers	O	O
and	O	O
Muslim	O	O
clergymen	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
abandoned	DSE	DSE
that	O	DSE
idea	O	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
instance	O	O
,	O	O
military	O	O
sources	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
prisoners	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
much	O	ESE
smaller	O	ESE
--	O	ESE
perhaps	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
dozens	O	O
--	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
logistics	O	O
would	O	O
focus	O	O
more	O	O
on	O	O
security	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
45-square-mile	O	O
base	O	O
and	O	O
less	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
comfort	O	DSE
of	O	O
prisoners	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
either	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
terrorist	O	O
network	O	O
or	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
terrorists	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
of	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
had	O	O
an	O	O
estimated	O	O
45	O	O
prisoners	O	O
in	O	O
custody	O	O
.	O	O

Guantanamo	O	O
has	O	O
detention	O	O
space	O	O
for	O	O
about	O	O
100	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
All	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
pretty	ESE	ESE
well-planned	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
we	O	O
have	O	O
used	O	O
it	O	O
to	O	O
house	O	O
illegal	O	O
migrant	O	O
detainees	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
,	O	O
Cubans	O	O
and	O	O
Haitians	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Lucas	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	DSE	O
It	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
a	ESE	O
little	ESE	O
bit	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
situation	O	O
but	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
basic	O	ESE
stuff	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
same	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

SLICE	O	O
OF	O	O
U.S.	O	O

With	O	O
an	O	O
outdoor	O	O
movie	O	O
theater	O	O
,	O	O
bowling	O	O
alleys	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
McDonald	O	O
's	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
mini-mall	O	O
,	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
curious	ESE	O
slice	O	O
of	O	O
Americana	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
edge	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
of	O	O
1999	O	O
,	O	O
2,400	O	O
civilians	O	O
were	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
families	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
sailors	O	O
and	O	O
Marines	O	O
who	O	O
manage	O	O
the	O	O
port	O	O
and	O	O
patrol	O	O
the	O	O
fence	O	O
line	O	O
that	O	O
separates	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
from	O	O
communist-ruled	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

No	O	O
updated	O	O
figure	O	O
was	O	O
available	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	O
extremely	O	ESE
isolated	O	ESE
.	O	O

Visitors	O	O
can	O	O
reach	O	O
it	O	O
only	O	O
under	O	O
strict	O	O
military	O	O
escort	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
prior	O	O
permission	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
aboard	O	O
special	O	O
small	O	O
shuttle	O	O
flights	O	O
that	O	O
reach	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
circuitous	O	O
flight	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
rare	O	O
occasions	O	O
,	O	O
Cuban	O	O
defectors	O	O
get	O	O
there	O	O
by	O	O
swimming	O	O
through	O	O
dangerous	O	O
waters	O	O
or	O	O
by	O	O
traversing	O	O
a	O	O
Cuban	O	O
minefield	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
gate	O	O
between	O	O
Cuba	O	O
proper	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
sometimes	O	O
opened	O	O
for	O	O
meetings	O	O
between	O	O
military	O	O
commanders	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
to	O	O
repatriate	O	O
Cubans	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
taken	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
.	O	O

Cuban	O	O
leader	O	O
Fidel	O	O
Castro	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
argued	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
occupation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	O
illegal	O	ESE
,	O	O
while	O	O
U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
say	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
exists	O	O
under	O	O
a	O	O
lease	O	O
agreement	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
1934	O	O
treaty	O	O
with	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Washington	O	O
diplomats	O	O
consider	DSE	DSE
giving	O	O
back	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
a	O	O
potential	ESE	O
carrot	ESE	O
for	O	O
negotiation	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
democratic	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

Ros-Lehtinen	O	O
suggested	DSE	DSE
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
move	O	O
might	ESE	O
raise	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hackles	ESE	O
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
dismissed	DSE	DSE
those	O	O
concerns	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	ESE	DSE
n't	ESE	DSE
anticipate	ESE	DSE
any	ESE	DSE
trouble	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Castro	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	ESE	DSE
praise	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
`	ESE	O
damn	ESE	ESE
Yankees	ESE	ESE
'	O	O

WASHINGTON	O	O
-	O	O
On	O	O
the	O	O
face	O	O
of	O	O
things	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	ESE
how	O	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
reasonable	ESE	ESE
person	ESE	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
object	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
war	O	ESE
''	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
now	O	O
waging	O	O
against	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
and	O	O
terrorist	O	O
regimes	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
targets	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
conflict	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
common	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
civilized	ESE	ESE
men	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
women	ESE	O
,	O	O
regardless	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
race	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
colour	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
creed	ESE	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
the	ESE	O
magnitude	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
threat	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
pose	ESE	O
was	O	O
revealed	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
morning	O	O
of	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
compelled	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
unpreparedness	ESE	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
conduct	O	O
this	O	O
fight	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
military	O	O
dimension	O	O
almost	ESE	O
single-handedly	ESE	O
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
cause	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
soul-searching	ESE	ESE
gratitude	ESE	ESE
among	O	O
those	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
hardly	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
resentment	DSE	ESE
we	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
so	O	ESE
often	O	ESE
seen	O	ESE
.	O	O

To	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
far	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
truth	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
discerned	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	O
polls	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
free	O	ESE
Western	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
is	DSE	ESE
indeed	DSE	ESE
grateful	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
balance	O	O
quite	DSE	O
supportive	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
cause	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
are	O	O
leading	O	O
.	O	O

Where	ESE	O
there	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
polls	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
tyrannies	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
occasional	O	O
evidence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
respect	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
can	O	O
command	O	O
--	O	O
the	DSE	O
belief	DSE	O
that	O	O
for	ESE	O
all	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
flaws	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
remains	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
champion	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
freedom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Perhaps	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
evidence	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
this	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
huge	ESE	DSE
demand	O	DSE
for	O	O
U.S.	O	O
visas	O	O
--	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
places	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Gaza	O	O
.	O	O

Potential	O	ESE
terrorists	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
concealed	ESE	ESE
among	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
great	O	ESE
majority	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	DSE	O
common	DSE	O
knowledge	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
a	ESE	O
land	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
freedom	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
preferred	ESE	DSE
destination	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
emigrants	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
better	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
two	ESE	O
centuries	ESE	O
.	O	O

Action	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
eloquent	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
words	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
real	ESE	ESE
attitudes	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
people	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
often	O	ESE
revealed	O	ESE
in	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
take	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
granted	DSE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	ESE	O
especially	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
intellectuals	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
sometime	ESE	ESE
masters	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
paradox	ESE	ESE
-LRB-	O	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
sometimes	ESE	ESE
paradox	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
master	ESE	ESE
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
many	ESE	O
thousand	ESE	O
generously	ESE	O
funded	ESE	O
U.S.	O	O
universities	O	O
are	O	O
magnets	ESE	O
for	O	O
young	O	O
literates	O	O
from	O	O
every	O	ESE
culture	O	ESE
.	O	O

Often	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
radicals	O	O
who	O	O
spout	DSE	O
anti-American	ESE	O
doctrines	ESE	O
imbibed	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
amidst	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
safety	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
leisure	ESE	O
of	O	O
U.S.	O	O
campus	O	O
life	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
confusion	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
ends	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
make	O	O
free	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
technology	O	O
and	O	O
media	O	O
largely	O	O
developed	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
prominent	ESE	O
self-styled	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
refugee	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Edward	O	O
Said	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
perfect	ESE	ESE
example	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
this	O	O
:	O	O
a	O	O
man	O	O
who	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
chic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
prestige	ESE	O
conferred	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
elite	ESE	O
U.S.	ESE	O
universities	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
publishing	O	O
institutions	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
N.Y.	O	O
.	O	O

This	DSE	O
man	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
advanced	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
mendacious	ESE	O
critique	DSE	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Orientalism	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
is	ESE	O
himself	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
product	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
scholarship	O	O
he	O	O
demeaned	DSE	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
command	O	O
audiences	O	O
in	O	O
Egypt	O	O
and	O	O
elsewhere	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
his	O	O
success	O	O
in	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

Second	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
muted	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
often	ESE	ESE
self-satisfied	ESE	ESE
anti-Americanism	O	ESE
puts	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
open	ESE	O
display	ESE	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
conventional	O	O
and	O	O
verbal	O	O
anti-Americanism	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
a	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
league	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
terrorist	ESE	O
strikes	ESE	O
--	O	O
closer	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
hypocrisy	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
murderous	ESE	ESE
hatred	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
I	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
two	O	O
are	O	O
animated	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
common	ESE	O
cause	ESE	O
:	O	O
a	O	O
cause	O	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
sought	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
murk	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
individual	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
soul	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
externals	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
argument	ESE	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
come	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
after	O	O
three	O	O
decades	O	O
of	O	O
adult	O	O
life	O	O
,	O	O
having	O	O
encountered	O	O
and	O	O
often	O	O
tried	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
resist	DSE	O
anti-Americanism	O	O
in	O	O
several	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Again	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
have	O	O
discovered	O	O
it	O	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
simple	ESE	ESE
prejudice	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
rather	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
product	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
comprehensive	ESE	ESE
reasoning	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
charges	DSE	O
brought	DSE	O
against	O	O
those	O	O
``	O	O
damn	ESE	ESE
Yankees	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
shift	ESE	O
loosely	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
U.S.	ESE	O
polity	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
are	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
sooner	ESE	ESE
effectively	DSE	ESE
rebutted	DSE	ESE
than	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
charges	O	ESE
come	O	O
forward	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
place	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
quality	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
knowingness	ESE	O
''	O	O
about	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	ESE
flavour	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
conspiracy	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
open	ESE	ESE
nation	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
society	O	ESE
were	O	ESE
secretly	ESE	ESE
behind	ESE	ESE
every	ESE	ESE
local	ESE	ESE
misfortune	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
column	O	O
I	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
day	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
September	O	ESE
catastrophe	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
I	O	O
touched	O	O
upon	O	O
the	O	O
envy	DSE	O
of	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
I	O	O
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
its	O	O
``	O	O
root	ESE	O
cause	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	DSE	O
column	O	O
drew	O	DSE
incredulous	DSE	DSE
responses	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
several	O	O
fairly	ESE	O
sophisticated	ESE	O
readers	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
words	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
ca	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
believe	DSE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
sacrifice	O	ESE
themselves	O	ESE
and	O	O
many	O	O
others	O	O
over	ESE	O
something	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
petty	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
envy	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Almost	O	O
five	O	O
months	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
feel	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	ESE
certain	DSE	ESE
that	O	ESE
my	O	ESE
analysis	O	ESE
was	ESE	ESE
essentially	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
We	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
look	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
rather	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
political	ESE	O
causes	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
``	O	O
natural	DSE	O
''	DSE	O
antipathy	DSE	O
that	O	O
so	O	O
much	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
planet	O	O
shares	O	O
.	O	O

Voices	O	ESE
stilled	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
horror	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
wake	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
terror	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
resumed	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
anti-American	DSE	O
tirade	DSE	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
took	O	O
action	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
recently	O	O
raised	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
pitch	DSE	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
issue	O	O
at	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
first	O	ESE
hours	O	ESE
after	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
catastrophe	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
CBC	O	O
was	DSE	O
unselfconsciously	ESE	O
airing	DSE	O
a	O	O
procession	O	O
of	O	O
guests	O	O
making	ESE	O
liberal	ESE	O
use	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
construction	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
surprise	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
me	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
though	O	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
surprise	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
others	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
both	O	O
right-wing	O	O
tabloids	O	O
and	O	O
left-wing	O	O
pundits	O	O
joining	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fray	ESE	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
over	O	O
what	O	O
I	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
come	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
call	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
facetiously	ESE	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
Gandhis	ESE	O
''	O	O
;	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
the	O	O
speed	O	O
with	O	O
which	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
mildly	ESE	ESE
conservative	ESE	ESE
fellow-Canadians	ESE	ESE
jumped	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
conclusion	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
was	ESE	O
mistreating	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
hostages	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
wilfully	ESE	O
ignoring	ESE	O
Geneva	ESE	O
Conventions	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
ever	ESE	O
read	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nor	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
now	O	O
eager	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
retreat	DSE	O
,	O	O
after	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
collapse	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
arguments	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
thorough	O	O
investigations	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Committee	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Red	O	O
Cross	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
left	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
compounded	ESE	O
anti-Americanism	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
dogma	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
right	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
Canada	O	O
,	O	O
Europe	O	O
and	O	O
beyond	O	O
,	O	O
participates	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
envy	DSE	O
of	O	O
U.S.	O	O
success	O	O
.	O	O

From	ESE	O
British	ESE	O
lords	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
humble	ESE	O
skinheads	ESE	O
,	O	O
sneering	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
vulgarity	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
confers	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
comforting	ESE	ESE
sense	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
personal	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
national	ESE	ESE
vindication	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
when	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
prop	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
found	ESE	O
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
me	ESE	ESE
pause	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
briefly	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
allow	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
America	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
imperfect	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
like	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
earthly	ESE	ESE
things	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
that	O	O
its	O	O
governments	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
have	ESE	DSE
committed	ESE	DSE
many	ESE	O
sins	ESE	O
;	O	O
that	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
that	O	O
power	O	O
and	O	O
wealth	O	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
;	O	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
goodness	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
truth	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
beauty	ESE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
found	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
every	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
town	ESE	O
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
us	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
sometimes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
expect	ESE	DSE
more	ESE	O
from	O	O
people	O	O
born	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
every	ESE	ESE
earthly	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
sometimes	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
born	ESE	O
without	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
mistake	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
assume	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
envy	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
something	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
petty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Our	O	O
ancestors	O	O
wisely	ESE	O
placed	O	O
it	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
mortal	O	O
sins	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
canker	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
heart	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
spreads	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
vanity	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
soul	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
turning	ESE	ESE
worldly	ESE	ESE
into	ESE	ESE
spiritual	ESE	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
indulge	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
disease	ESE	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
are	DSE	O
told	DSE	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
wrong	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
hate	DSE	ESE
our	O	ESE
enemies	O	ESE
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
begins	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
happen	ESE	ESE
when	ESE	ESE
we	ESE	ESE
hate	ESE	ESE
our	ESE	ESE
friends	ESE	ESE
?	O	O

Why	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
rip-off	ESE	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
study	O	O
released	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Canadian	O	O
Manufacturers	O	O
and	O	O
Exporters	O	O
,	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
treaty	O	O
would	O	O
cost	O	O
our	O	O
economy	O	O
450,000	O	O
jobs	O	O
and	O	O
as	O	O
much	O	O
as	O	O
$	O	O
40-billion	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
Jean	O	O
Chretien	O	O
is	DSE	O
not	DSE	ESE
worried	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
these	O	O
figures	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
There	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
gained	ESE	O
by	O	O
frightening	ESE	O
people	O	O
when	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
facts	O	O
are	DSE	O
not	DSE	ESE
known	DSE	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
40-billion	O	O
figure	O	O
,	O	O
far	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	ESE
being	ESE	ESE
conceived	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
frighten	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
Canadians	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
plucked	ESE	ESE
straight	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	O
government	O	O
documents	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
a	O	O
report	O	O
released	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Air	O	O
Issues	O	O
Co-ordinating	O	O
Committee	O	O
on	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
staffed	O	O
by	O	O
officials	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
federal	O	O
,	O	O
provincial	O	O
and	O	O
territorial	O	O
governments	O	O
,	O	O
hitting	O	O
Canada	O	O
's	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
target	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
mean	O	ESE
``	O	O
the	O	O
loss	O	O
of	O	O
roughly	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
growth	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
,	O	O
viewed	O	DSE
in	O	O
absolute	O	O
terms	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
loss	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
economic	O	O
output	O	O
of	O	O
approximately	O	O
$	O	O
40-billion	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
or	O	O
$	O	O
1,100	O	O
per	O	O
capita	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
price	ESE	O
worth	ESE	O
paying	ESE	O
.	O	O

Governments	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
expected	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
protect	ESE	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
should	ESE	O
deviate	ESE	O
from	O	O
that	O	O
mission	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
when	O	ESE
crucial	ESE	ESE
national	O	ESE
interests	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
stake	O	ESE
-LRB-	O	O
fighting	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Yet	ESE	ESE
rising	O	ESE
temperatures	O	ESE
pose	ESE	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
threat	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Canada	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
authoritative	ESE	O
Feb.	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
projected	O	O
impacts	O	O
of	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Intergovernmental	O	O
Panel	O	O
on	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
identified	O	DSE
several	O	DSE
threats	O	DSE
to	O	O
Canadian	O	O
ecosystems	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
concluded	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
our	O	O
farmers	O	O
would	O	O
generally	ESE	O
benefit	ESE	O
from	O	O
warmer	O	O
temperatures	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
Non-farming	ESE	O
Canadians	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
whom	ESE	O
spend	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
least	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
winter	ESE	O
months	ESE	O
scraping	ESE	O
ice	ESE	O
off	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
cars	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
chopping	ESE	O
firewood	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
shovelling	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
walks	ESE	O
,	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
profit	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
-RRB-	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	O	O
globally	O	O
felt	O	DSE
benefits	O	DSE
that	O	O
would	O	O
follow	O	O
from	O	O
Canada	O	O
's	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
slight	ESE	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
2010	O	O
,	O	O
our	O	ESE
$	O	ESE
40-billion	O	ESE
sacrifice	ESE	ESE
would	O	ESE
yield	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
expected	ESE	ESE
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
carbon	O	O
and	O	O
carbon-equivalent	O	O
emissions	O	O
of	O	O
about	O	O
46-million	O	O
tonnes	O	O
--	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
1/200th	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
total	O	O
projected	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
output	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
Canada	O	O
managed	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
convince	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
every	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
signatory	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
world	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
would	ESE	O
still	ESE	O
soar	ESE	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Energy	O	O
Information	O	O
Administration	O	O
,	O	O
world	O	O
energy	O	O
consumption	O	O
will	O	O
increase	O	O
by	O	O
about	O	O
60	O	O
%	O	O
between	O	O
now	O	O
and	O	O
2020	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
upsurge	O	O
expected	O	DSE
to	O	O
come	O	O
from	O	O
developing	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
covered	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
fully	O	ESE
implemented	O	ESE
treaty	O	ESE
,	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
would	O	O
grow	O	O
26	O	O
%	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
1990-2010	O	O
period	O	O
.	O	O

Without	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
figure	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
34	O	O
%	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
worldwide	O	O
cost	O	O
of	O	O
that	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
dip	O	O
:	O	O
about	O	O
$	O	O
2-trillion	O	O
in	O	O
lost	O	O
GDP	O	O
--	O	O
give	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
take	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
trillion	ESE	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
are	O	O
better	ESE	O
ways	ESE	O
to	O	O
spend	O	O
that	O	O
money	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
cap	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
costly	ESE	O
burden	ESE	O
at	O	O
home	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
task	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
developing	O	O
world	O	O
--	O	O
we	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
focus	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
abating	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
damage	O	ESE
global	O	O
warming	O	O
does	O	O
in	O	O
at-risk	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
scientists	O	O
are	O	O
correct	O	O
,	O	O
higher	O	O
temperatures	O	O
and	O	O
rising	O	O
sea	O	O
levels	O	O
will	O	O
depress	O	O
grain	O	O
yields	O	O
in	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
fuel	O	O
the	O	O
spread	O	O
of	O	O
diseases	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
threaten	O	O
coastal	O	O
nations	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Bangladesh	O	O
and	O	O
Senegal	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
these	O	O
problems	O	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
abated	ESE	O
,	O	O
or	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
eliminated	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
Western	O	O
assistance	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
helping	O	O
Third	O	O
World	O	O
nations	O	O
plant	O	O
new	O	O
crops	O	O
,	O	O
vaccinate	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
relocate	O	O
coastal	O	O
towns	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
costly	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
bottom	ESE	O
line	ESE	O
will	O	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	O
fraction	ESE	O
of	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
's	O	O
13-digit	O	O
price	O	O
tag	O	O
.	O	O

Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
Or	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Med	ESE	O
?	O	O

AFTER	O	O
SPENDING	O	O
months	O	O
in	O	O
frigid	ESE	O
Afghanistan	O	O
caves	O	O
subsisting	O	O
on	O	O
Allah	ESE	O
knows	ESE	DSE
what	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
158	O	O
detainees	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
holding	O	O
in	O	O
tropical	ESE	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
think	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
've	O	O
died	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
gone	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
heaven	ESE	O
.	O	O

Well	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
heaven	ESE	O
without	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
72	ESE	O
virgins	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
detainees	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
look	DSE	O
at	DSE	O
the	O	O
balmy	ESE	O
Camp	O	O
X-ray	O	O
--	O	O
replete	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
running	O	O
water	O	O
,	O	O
three	O	O
square	O	O
meals	O	O
a	O	O
day	O	O
and	O	O
modern	O	O
medical	O	O
care	O	O
--	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
sort	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Taliban	ESE	O
version	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Club	ESE	O
Med	ESE	O
.	O	O

Call	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
.	O	O

Yet	ESE	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
Americans	O	O
and	O	O
Brits	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
hollering	ESE	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
treatment	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
tough	ESE	ESE
guys	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

British	O	O
newspaper	O	O
headlines	O	O
have	DSE	O
screamed	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
U.S.	O	O
``	O	O
Torture	ESE	O
!	ESE	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
``	O	O
Monstrous	ESE	O
Inhumanity	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
while	O	O
stories	O	O
say	DSE	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
treated	O	O
``	O	O
like	ESE	ESE
wild	ESE	ESE
beasts	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
in	O	O
``	O	O
cages	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
issued	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
release	O	O
accusing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
keeping	O	ESE
prisoners	O	ESE
incommunicado	O	ESE
,	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
using	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
sensory	O	O
deprivation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
unnecessary	ESE	O
restraint	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
humiliation	ESE	DSE
of	DSE	O
people	O	O
through	O	O
tactics	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
shaving	O	O
them	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
effort	O	O
to	O	O
`	ESE	O
break	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
individuals	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
interrogation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

It	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
noted	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
much	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
uproar	DSE	O
is	O	O
over	O	O
photographs	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
taken	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
being	O	O
transported	O	O
from	O	O
airplanes	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
cells	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
military	O	O
wisely	ESE	O
shackles	O	O
prisoners	O	O
during	O	O
transport	O	O
:	O	O
That	O	O
's	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
's	O	O
easiest	O	O
for	O	O
violent	O	O
people	O	O
to	O	O
hurt	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O

Also	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
British	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
team	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
spent	O	O
three	O	O
days	O	O
at	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
,	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
three	O	O
British	O	O
citizens	O	O
being	O	O
held	O	O
there	O	O
had	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
no	DSE	DSE
complaints	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
their	O	O
treatment	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
reported	O	O
,	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Office	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Ben	O	O
Bradshaw	O	O
also	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
were	O	O
``	O	O
no	O	ESE
gags	O	ESE
,	O	O
no	O	O
goggles	O	O
,	O	O
no	O	O
earmuffs	O	O
and	O	O
no	O	O
shackles	O	O
while	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
cells	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Still	ESE	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
people	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
bash	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
they	O	O
apparently	ESE	ESE
do	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
care	DSE	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
criticism	DSE	ESE
makes	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
look	ESE	ESE
clueless	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
inhumane	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Take	O	O
the	O	O
sensory	O	O
deprivation	O	O
charge	DSE	O
.	O	O

Does	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
wearing	O	O
a	O	O
hood	O	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
airplane	O	O
is	O	O
sensory	O	O
deprivation	O	O
,	O	O
instead	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
security	O	ESE
measure	O	ESE
?	O	O

Is	O	O
n't	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
code	O	O
all	O	O
about	O	O
sensory	O	O
deprivation	O	O
?	O	O

As	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
``	ESE	O
unnecessary	ESE	ESE
restraint	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
one	O	O
detainee	O	O
has	O	O
announced	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
kill	ESE	O
an	O	O
American	O	O
before	O	O
he	O	O
leaves	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
another	O	O
detainee	O	O
bit	O	O
a	O	O
guard	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Capt.	O	O
Riccoh	O	O
Player	O	O
.	O	O

So	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
necessary	ESE	ESE
restraint	ESE	ESE
.	ESE	O
''	ESE	O

I	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
embarrassed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
corps	O	O
'	O	O
comments	O	O
during	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
's	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
briefing	O	O
.	O	O

Talk	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
clueless	ESE	O
.	O	O

First	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
there	O	O
's	O	O
the	O	O
reporter	O	O
who	O	O
likened	DSE	O
living	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
tropics	O	O
without	O	O
air	O	O
conditioning	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
torture	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Then	ESE	O
there	O	O
's	O	O
the	O	O
reporter	O	O
who	O	O
asked	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
if	O	O
American	O	O
Taliban	O	O
John	O	O
Walker	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
treated	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Will	O	O
he	O	O
be	O	O
put	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
8-by-8-foot	O	O
cell	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	ESE
no	O	ESE
walls	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
a	O	O
roof	O	O
?	O	O
''	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
follow-up	O	O
question	DSE	O
.	O	O

I	O	ESE
'd	O	ESE
guess	DSE	ESE
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
journalist	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
never	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
prison	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
an	O	O
8-by-8-foot	O	O
space	O	O
,	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
on	O	O
some	O	O
ships	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
we	O	O
would	O	O
cram	O	O
half	O	O
a	O	O
dozen	O	O
sailors	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
was	O	O
one	O	O
U.S.	O	O
official	O	O
's	O	O
reaction	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Then	ESE	O
there	O	O
's	O	O
the	O	O
status	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Brits	O	O
and	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
officially	O	O
classified	O	O
as	O	O
POWs	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
detainee	O	O
status	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
gives	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
the	O	O
leeway	ESE	O
to	O	O
interrogate	O	O
these	O	O
former	O	O
operatives	O	O
about	O	O
any	O	O
future	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
.	O	O

White	O	O
House	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Ken	O	O
Lisaius	O	O
rightly	ESE	O
noted	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
guests	ESE	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
al	O	O
Qaeda	O	O
and	O	O
if	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
free	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
'd	O	O
engage	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
murder	ESE	O
once	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

You	ESE	DSE
could	ESE	DSE
understand	ESE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
outrage	DSE	DSE
if	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
were	O	O
torturing	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
otherwise	ESE	ESE
mistreating	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
,	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
comrades	ESE	O
are	DSE	DSE
outraged	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
is	O	O
treating	O	O
al	O	O
Qaeda	O	O
captives	O	O
like	O	O
prisoners	O	O
.	O	O

Oh	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
horror	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

You	ESE	ESE
get	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
feeling	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
Rummy	ESE	O
booked	ESE	O
these	ESE	O
tough	ESE	O
guys	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
Motel	ESE	O
6	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
'd	ESE	ESE
complain	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
there	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
room	ESE	ESE
service	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Africa	O	O
Endorses	DSE	O
Mugabe	O	O
Victory	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Condemns	DSE	O
It	O	O

International	O	O
reaction	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
controversial	O	O
re-election	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
president	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
six	O	O
year	O	O
term	O	O
varied	O	O
widely	O	O
.	O	O

African	O	O
observers	O	O
generally	DSE	DSE
approved	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
his	O	O
victory	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
Western	O	O
governments	O	O
denounced	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

Observer	O	O
missions	O	O
from	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
,	O	O
Namibia	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OAU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
respectively	O	O
,	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
poll	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
-	O	O
largely	ESE	ESE
satisfactory	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
credible	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

All	O	O
three	O	O
observer	O	O
teams	O	O
noted	DSE	O
long	O	O
queues	O	O
and	O	O
delays	O	O
in	O	O
chaotic	ESE	O
voting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Namibians	O	O
went	O	O
as	O	O
far	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
say	DSE	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
election	O	O
system	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
water	ESE	O
tight	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
without	ESE	ESE
room	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
rigging	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
blamed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
long	O	O
lines	O	O
of	O	O
voters	O	O
unable	O	O
to	O	O
vote	O	O
despite	O	O
waiting	O	O
many	O	O
hours	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
administrative	ESE	ESE
oversights	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
description	O	O
that	O	O
drew	O	DSE
audible	DSE	DSE
laughter	DSE	DSE
from	DSE	O
journalists	O	O
and	O	O
diplomats	O	O
attending	O	O
their	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
,	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Daniel	O	O
arap	O	O
Moi	O	O
of	O	O
Kenya	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
calling	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
victory	O	O
``	O	O
testimony	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
confidence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
high	ESE	ESE
esteem	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
hold	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
you	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
observations	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
14-member	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
SADC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Forum	O	O
team	O	O
differed	O	DSE
considerably	O	DSE
from	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
African	O	O
missions	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
sharp	O	O
contrast	O	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
African	O	O
observer	O	O
teams	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
forum	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
fell	ESE	O
short	ESE	O
of	O	O
regional	O	O
expectations	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
climate	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
insecurity	ESE	O
obtaining	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
elections	O	O
was	O	O
such	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
electoral	O	O
process	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
said	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
adequately	ESE	ESE
comply	ESE	ESE
with	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
norms	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
standards	O	ESE
for	O	O
elections	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
forum	O	O
said	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
statement	DSE	O
.	O	O

That	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
chimed	O	DSE
closely	O	DSE
with	O	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
monitoring	O	O
group	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Election	O	O
Support	O	O
Network	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
400	O	O
observers	O	O
monitoring	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
and	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
heavily	DSE	O
critical	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
SADC	O	O
parliamentarians	O	O
'	O	O
view	DSE	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
echoed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Norwegian	O	O
observer	O	O
delegation	O	O
which	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
failed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
meet	ESE	ESE
international	ESE	ESE
standards	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Norway	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Jan	O	O
Petersen	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
statement	DSE	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
has	O	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
satisfied	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
fundamental	ESE	O
requirements	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
democratic	ESE	O
election	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
main	O	O
challenger	O	O
,	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
result	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
illegitimate	ESE	ESE
''	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
case	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
highway	ESE	ESE
robbery	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
by	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
Zanu-PF	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
his	O	O
disenfranchised	ESE	O
supporters	O	O
were	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
seething	DSE	ESE
''	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
implored	DSE	ESE
them	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
stay	ESE	ESE
calm	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
systematic	ESE	ESE
cheating	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
spoiling	ESE	O
tactics	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
rigid	ESE	O
new	ESE	O
laws	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
sheer	ESE	O
obstruction	ESE	O
-	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
political	O	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
intimidation	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
were	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
some	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
irregularities	ESE	ESE
practised	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
run-up	O	O
to	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
announced	O	O
the	O	O
winner	O	O
with	O	O
56.1	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
leaving	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
trailing	O	DSE
behind	O	DSE
with	O	O
42	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
all	O	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
describing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
exemplary	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
peaceful	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Western	O	O
governments	O	O
disagree	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Western	O	O
governments	O	O
are	ESE	O
lining	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
condemn	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
African	O	O
bloc	O	O
appears	ESE	O
to	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
opted	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
solidarity	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

Jack	O	O
Straw	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
foreign	O	O
secretary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
colonial	O	O
power	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
locked	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
verbal	DSE	O
war	DSE	O
with	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
was	ESE	O
bent	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
achieving	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
one	ESE	ESE
goal	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
power	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
costs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
surprise	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
this	O	O
outcome	O	O
has	O	O
now	O	O
been	O	O
achieved	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
added	O	O
his	O	O
voice	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
night	O	O
,	O	O
categorically	DSE	DSE
rejecting	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
because	O	O
we	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
it	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
flawed	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

We	DSE	O
are	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
our	O	O
friends	O	O
to	O	O
figure	O	O
out	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
this	O	O
flawed	ESE	ESE
election	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Bush	O	O
's	O	O
secretary	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
earlier	O	O
concluded	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
Mr	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
claim	DSE	ESE
victory	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
democratic	ESE	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

France	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
also	O	O
indicated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
had	O	O
failed	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
`	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	O
test	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Canadian	O	O
prime	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
Jean	O	O
Chretien	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
``	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
look	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Australia	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
with	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
mandated	DSE	O
to	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
was	DSE	O
equally	DSE	ESE
critical	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
sense	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
cheated	ESE	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
possible	ESE	O
that	O	O
some	O	O
could	O	O
resort	O	O
to	O	O
violence	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
foreign	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
Alexander	O	O
Downer	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
'	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
,	O	O
Kofi	O	O
Annan	O	O
,	O	O
appealed	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
calm	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
and	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
Zimbabweans	O	O
to	O	O
refrain	O	O
from	O	O
violence	O	O
.	O	O

Annan	O	O
acknowledged	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
receiving	O	O
conflicting	O	O
reports	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

Facing	O	ESE
perhaps	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
legal	O	ESE
challenge	O	ESE
from	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
contested	DSE	O
electoral	O	O
victory	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
is	O	O
becoming	O	O
increasingly	ESE	ESE
isolated	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
stage	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	O	O
already	O	ESE
imposed	O	ESE
`	O	ESE
smart	O	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
selected	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
19	O	O
people	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
inner	O	O
circle	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
leader	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
silent	O	O
since	O	O
his	O	O
final	O	O
campaign	O	O
rally	O	O
last	O	O
Friday	O	O
,	O	O
though	O	O
people	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
eagerly	DSE	DSE
awaiting	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
victory	O	O
speech	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
was	O	O
nowhere	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
seen	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
as	O	O
his	O	O
supporters	O	O
took	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
downtown	O	O
streets	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
,	O	O
loudly	DSE	ESE
celebrating	DSE	ESE
his	O	ESE
victory	O	ESE
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
allies	O	O
and	O	O
detractors	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
all	DSE	ESE
hope	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
spending	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
reviewing	O	O
the	O	O
tense	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
and	O	O
working	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
how	O	ESE
best	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
calm	O	ESE
fears	DSE	ESE
and	DSE	ESE
concern	DSE	ESE
and	O	O
rally	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
together	O	O
.	O	O

WHAT	O	O
THEY	O	O
SAID	DSE	O
:	O	O
No	ESE	O
tears	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
Tobin	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
al-Qaeda	ESE	O

OTTAWA	O	O
-	O	O
The	ESE	O
plight	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
prisoners	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
politicians	ESE	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
weighing	DSE	O
heavily	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
minds	DSE	O
of	O	O
editorial	O	O
writers	O	O
and	O	O
pundits	O	O
in	O	O
and	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
capital	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
's	O	O
been	O	O
a	O	O
week	O	O
now	O	O
since	O	O
Jean	O	O
Chretien	O	O
's	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
shuffle	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
dramatic	ESE	O
departure	O	O
of	O	O
Brian	O	O
Tobin	O	O
--	O	O
seven	O	O
days	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
print	ESE	O
pundits	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
ponder	ESE	O
his	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
said	O	O
about	O	O
him	O	O
has	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
pretty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Still	ESE	O
,	O	O
before	O	O
discussing	O	O
the	O	O
antics	ESE	O
of	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Tobin	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
elevation	O	O
of	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
's	O	O
John	O	O
Manley	O	O
to	O	O
the	ESE	O
status	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
golden	ESE	O
boy	ESE	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
controversial	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
pressing	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
plight	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
fighters	O	O
imprisoned	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Even	ESE	ESE
thugs	ESE	ESE
deserve	ESE	ESE
humane	ESE	ESE
treatment	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
reads	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
headline	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
Citizen	O	O
editorial	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Conditions	O	O
for	O	O
detainees	O	O
in	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
are	O	O
harsh	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
wire-mesh	O	O
cells	O	O
2.4	O	O
by	O	O
1.8	O	O
metres	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
sleeping	O	O
mat	O	O
and	O	O
blanket	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
bucket	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
toilet	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
writes	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Citizen	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
necessarily	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
them	ESE	ESE
inhumane	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
hand	ESE	O
,	O	O
U.S.	O	O
assurances	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
's	O	O
treating	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
humanely	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
mean	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
Citizen	O	O
argues	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Canada	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
``	O	O
insist	DSE	DSE
''	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
``	O	O
allow	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
`	O	ESE
competent	O	ESE
tribunal	O	O
'	O	O
to	O	DSE
decide	O	DSE
the	O	O
legal	O	O
status	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
required	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
.	O	O

...	O	O
That	DSE	O
might	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
find	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
remaining	O	ESE
thugs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
laws	ESE	O
keep	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
behaving	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
Sudbury	O	O
Star	O	O
agrees	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
This	O	O
conflict	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
now	ESE	ESE
move	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
next	ESE	O
stage	ESE	O
.	O	O

A	DSE	O
tribunal	O	O
,	O	O
formed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
address	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
captured	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
determine	O	O
how	O	O
they	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
dealt	O	O
with	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Editorial	O	O
writers	O	O
at	O	O
The	O	O
Daily	O	O
Press	O	O
in	O	O
Timmins	O	O
disagree	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
editorial	O	O
appearing	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
newspaper	O	O
is	DSE	O
unequivocal	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
U.S.	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
ca	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
help	DSE	ESE
but	DSE	ESE
wonder	DSE	ESE
if	O	ESE
some	O	O
politicians	O	O
and	O	O
civil	O	O
rights	O	O
advocates	O	O
are	O	O
overreacting	ESE	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
comes	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
treatment	O	O
of	O	O
captured	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
fighters	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
For	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
to	O	O
treat	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
any	ESE	O
differently	ESE	O
might	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
imperil	ESE	ESE
American	O	ESE
lives	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
reads	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
editorial	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	DSE	ESE
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	ESE
alive	O	ESE
,	O	O
we	O	O
suspect	DSE	DSE
he	O	O
is	DSE	O
giving	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
civil	DSE	O
rights	DSE	O
advocates	DSE	O
a	ESE	O
hearty	ESE	ESE
thumbs	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

No	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
however	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
giving	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
hearty	ESE	ESE
thumbs	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Tobin	ESE	O
.	O	O

Rather	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
sudden	O	O
departure	O	O
from	O	O
politics	O	O
provoked	DSE	DSE
much	DSE	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
No	ESE	O
tears	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
shed	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
corner	ESE	O
since	O	O
Brian	O	O
Tobin	O	O
's	O	O
departure	O	O
represents	O	O
his	O	O
third	O	ESE
consecutive	O	ESE
betrayal	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
voters	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Walter	O	O
Robinson	O	O
,	O	O
federal	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Canadian	O	O
Taxpayers	O	O
Federation	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
regular	O	O
columnist	O	O
in	O	O
The	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
Sun	O	O
wrote	DSE	DSE
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Mr.	DSE	O
Tobin	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
content	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
home	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Rock	ESE	O
playing	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
bag	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
marbles	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
collecting	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
parliamentary	ESE	O
pension	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
Citizen	O	O
,	O	O
columnist	O	O
Rosa	O	O
Harris-Adler	O	O
wrote	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
devastatingly	ESE	O
sarcastic	ESE	O
piece	O	O
,	O	O
ridiculing	DSE	ESE
Mr.	O	O
Tobin	O	O
's	O	O
assertion	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
leaving	O	O
for	O	O
family	O	O
reasons	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
chronicles	O	O
what	O	O
she	O	O
imagines	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
first	O	O
week	O	O
post-politics	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
like	O	O
:	O	O

``	O	O
Day	ESE	O
One	ESE	O
:	ESE	O
Brian	ESE	O
decides	ESE	DSE
it	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
finally	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
learn	ESE	ESE
how	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
diaper	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
baby	ESE	O
.	O	O

With	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
effort	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
he	ESE	O
pins	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
flailing	ESE	O
child	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
changing	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
discover	ESE	O
there	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
diapers	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
house	ESE	O
.	O	O

Brian	ESE	O
gives	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
confusion	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

By	O	O
Day	O	O
Seven	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
Ms.	O	O
Harris-Adler	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
though	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Tobin	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
finally	ESE	O
mastered	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
diapering	ESE	O
process	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
baby	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
15	ESE	ESE
years	ESE	ESE
old	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
amused	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

And	O	O
Michel	O	O
Vastel	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
columnist	O	O
in	O	O
Le	O	O
Droit	O	O
,	O	O
writes	DSE	DSE
a	O	DSE
goodbye	O	DSE
to	O	O
his	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
favourite	ESE	ESE
Newfie	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Tobin	O	O
walked	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
too	ESE	O
many	ESE	O
toes	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
made	ESE	ESE
too	ESE	ESE
many	ESE	ESE
enemies	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
Ottawa	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
wrote	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
minister	O	O
may	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
longest-serving	O	O
MPs	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
unstable	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
noting	DSE	O
his	ESE	O
career	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
rough	ESE	O
sea	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
highs	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
lows	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
never	ESE	ESE
calm	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
vitriol	ESE	O
continues	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
The	O	O
Kingston	O	O
Whig-Standard	O	O
Paul	O	O
Schliesmann	O	O
writes	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Canadians	O	O
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
kind	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
politician	ESE	ESE
Brian	ESE	ESE
Tobin	ESE	ESE
had	ESE	ESE
become	ESE	ESE
--	O	ESE
flighty	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
opportunistic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
lacking	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
commitment	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
job	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
Member	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Parliament	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
pundits	O	O
in	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
seems	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
saved	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
praise	ESE	DSE
for	O	O
John	O	O
Manley	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
and	O	O
a	ESE	O
hometown	ESE	O
favourite	ESE	O
.	O	O

''	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Manley	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
has	ESE	ESE
proven	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
sensible	ESE	ESE
manager	O	O
who	O	O
Canadians	O	O
can	ESE	DSE
trust	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
Sun	O	O
editorial	O	O
,	O	O
observing	DSE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
emerged	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
crisis	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
sensible	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
voice	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
Cabinet	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
And	O	O
the	O	O
Citizen	O	O
calls	DSE	DSE
Mr.	O	O
Manley	O	O
``	O	O
competent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
scrupulously	ESE	ESE
honest	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Mr.	DSE	O
Manley	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	O	ESE
responsibility	O	ESE
for	O	O
national	O	O
security	O	O
,	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
added	O	O
clout	O	O
he	O	O
gains	O	O
as	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
bodes	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Commercial	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
Egypt	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
witnessed	O	O
much	ESE	O
development	O	O

Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
probe	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Mubarak	O	O
who	O	O
will	O	O
start	O	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
next	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
,	O	O
strategic	O	O
cooperation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
hot	ESE	O
international	O	O
issues	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
combating	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
AL	O	O
Ahram	O	O
newspaper	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
commercial	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
Egypt	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
have	O	O
witnessed	O	O
a	O	O
balanced	O	O
development	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
volume	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
commercial	O	O
cooperation	O	O
expanded	O	O
to	O	O
register	O	O
900	O	O
million	O	O
dollars	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
21	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
China	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
cooperate	ESE	O
with	O	O
Egypt	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
technological	O	O
field	O	O
at	O	O
various	O	O
levels	O	O
,	O	O
indicating	DSE	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
high	ESE	O
prospects	ESE	O
for	O	O
cooperation	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fields	O	O
of	O	O
scientific	O	O
research	O	O
,	O	O
technology	O	O
,	O	O
industry	O	O
and	O	O
human	O	O
resources	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
key	ESE	O
to	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
lies	O	O
in	O	O
reaching	O	O
a	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
settlement	O	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cause	O	O
and	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
occupied	O	O
by	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
objects	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
policies	O	O
represented	O	O
in	O	O
military	O	O
attacks	ESE	O
,	O	O
economic	O	O
siege	ESE	O
on	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
expansion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
settlements	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
acts	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
civilians	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
all	O	O
parties	O	O
concerned	O	DSE
should	ESE	ESE
work	O	ESE
for	O	O
resuming	O	O
peace	O	O
negotiations	O	O
as	ESE	O
soon	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
possible	ESE	O
,	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
resolutions	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
issues	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
of	O	O
land	O	O
for	O	O
peace	O	O
and	O	O
commitment	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
agreements	O	DSE
and	O	O
notes	O	O
of	O	O
understandings	O	DSE
which	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
reached	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
leader	O	O
said	O	O
President	O	O
Mubarak	O	O
telephoned	O	O
him	O	O
after	O	O
last	O	O
September	O	O
11th	O	O
incidents	O	O
urging	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
his	ESE	O
best	ESE	O
for	O	O
saving	ESE	O
the	O	O
peace	O	O
process	O	O
between	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
has	O	O
repeatedly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
through	O	O
proper	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
side	O	O
to	O	O
fulfill	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
pledges	ESE	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
respond	O	O
favorably	ESE	O
to	O	O
endeavors	O	O
aimed	DSE	O
at	O	O
reaching	O	O
a	O	O
settlement	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
through	O	O
negotiations	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
indicated	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
play	O	O
its	O	O
role	O	O
in	DSE	O
supporting	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
peaceful	ESE	O
settlement	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
discuss	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
will	O	O
visit	O	O
Beijing	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
reactivating	O	O
the	O	O
peace	O	O
process	O	O
between	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
Israelis	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
China	O	O
fully	DSE	O
supports	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
restoration	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
legitimate	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
State	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
recognized	DSE	DSE
Palestinian	O	O
State	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
declared	O	O
in	O	O
1988	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
incidents	O	O
have	O	DSE
shocked	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
world	O	O
and	O	O
imposed	O	O
many	O	O
changes	O	O
,	O	O
referring	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
emergence	O	O
of	O	O
problems	O	O
with	O	O
universal	O	O
nature	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	O
that	O	O
multi-polar	O	O
system	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
guarantee	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
system	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
open	O	O
door	O	O
policy	O	O
and	O	O
reform	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	O
managed	ESE	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
a	O	O
strong	ESE	O
economic	O	O
structure	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	ESE
enhanced	ESE	ESE
Chinese	O	O
competitiveness	ESE	O
.	O	O

Brazil	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
by	O	O
September	O	O

Brasilia	O	O
,	O	O
14	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Agencia	O	O
Brasil	O	O
-	O	O
ABr	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
In	O	O
a	O	O
document	O	O
entitled	O	O
Partnership	O	O
Brasil-Germany	O	O
:	O	O
Action	O	O
Plan	O	O
,	O	O
both	O	O
countrires	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
interest	DSE	DSE
in	O	DSE
seeing	O	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
take	O	O
effect	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Sustainable	O	O
Development	O	O
Summit	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Rio	O	O
+10	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
takes	O	O
place	O	O
in	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
next	O	O
September	O	O
.	O	O

Brazil	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
also	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
and	O	O
work	O	O
to	O	O
enforce	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
document	O	O
also	O	O
states	O	DSE
that	O	O
Brazil	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
intend	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
expand	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
of	O	O
environment	O	O
and	O	O
sustainable	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O

Both	O	O
countries	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
present	O	O
common	O	O
positions	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Rio	O	O
+10	O	O
meeting	O	O
.	O	O

Finally	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
document	O	O
stresses	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Pilot	O	O
Program	O	O
for	O	O
Protection	O	O
of	O	O
Tropical	O	O
Forests	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
PPG-7	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
German	O	O
participation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
program	O	O
.	O	O

Khatami	O	O
congratulates	DSE	DSE
Venezuelan	O	O
nation	O	O
for	O	O
Chavez	O	O
'	O	O
return	O	O

Tehran	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
20	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
--	O	O
President	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Khatami	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
evening	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
nation	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
victory	O	O
and	O	O
restoration	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
legitimate	ESE	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
failed	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
a	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Khatami	O	O
told	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
counterpart	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavex	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
president	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
government	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
power	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
victory	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
freedom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Iranian	O	O
president	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
government	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
its	O	O
exalted	ESE	DSE
objectives	DSE	DSE
with	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

Referring	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
difficult	O	O
period	O	O
the	O	O
venezuelan	O	O
nation	O	O
went	O	O
through	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
anti-democractic	ESE	O
attempts	O	O
to	O	O
topple	ESE	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
failed	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
help	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Almighty	ESE	O
God	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
re-establishment	O	O
of	O	O
legal	O	O
order	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
briefed	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
president	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Referring	O	O
to	O	O
the	DSE	O
objective	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
behind	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
said	DSE	O
they	O	O
wwanted	DSE	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
come	O	O
out	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OPEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
therefore	O	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
produce	O	O
more	O	O
oil	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
undermine	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
organization	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
thanked	DSE	DSE
President	O	O
Khatami	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
telephone	O	O
call	O	O
and	O	O
wished	DSE	DSE
success	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
nation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
presidents	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
mutual	DSE	DSE
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
meet	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Sunday	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
sent	DSE	DSE
congratulations	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
on	O	O
hearing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rule	O	O
of	O	O
law	O	O
and	O	O
reinstatement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
legitimate	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
two-day	O	O
military	O	O
collapsed	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Saturday	O	O
it	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
the	O	O
ouster	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
democratically	O	O
elected	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
resorting	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
coup	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
use	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
force	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
acceptable	ESE	ESE
method	O	ESE
to	O	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
political	O	O
change	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
method	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
conformity	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	O	O
norms	O	O
of	O	O
present	O	O
human	O	O
society	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chavez	O	O
was	O	O
brought	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
early	O	O
Sunday	O	O
by	O	O
helicopter	O	O
from	O	O
a	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
island	O	O
where	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
detained	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
and	O	O
thereafter	O	O
resumed	O	O
his	O	O
functions	O	O
as	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
mandate	O	O
was	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
end	O	O
in	O	O
2006	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
forced	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
office	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
who	O	O
blamed	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
deaths	O	O
of	O	O
15	O	O
people	O	O
during	O	O
demonstrations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
streets	O	O
of	O	O
central	O	O
Caracas	O	O
against	O	O
an	O	O
opposition	O	DSE
protest	O	DSE
which	O	O
later	O	O
became	O	O
violent	O	O
.	O	O

Chavez	O	O
is	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
staunch	DSE	O
supporter	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
oil	O	O
production	O	O
cuts	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
boost	O	O
prices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
market	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
initiated	O	O
a	O	O
successful	ESE	O
Caracas	O	O
OPEC	O	O
summit	O	O
in	O	O
September	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
40-year	O	O
existence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
.	O	O

Cardoso	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
US	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
is	O	O
positive	ESE	ESE

Brasilia	O	O
,	O	O
13	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Agencia	O	O
Brasil	O	O
-	O	O
ABr	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Today	O	O
president	O	O
Fernando	O	O
Henrique	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
declared	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
adopt	O	O
measures	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
is	O	O
positive	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
even	O	ESE
though	O	ESE
there	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
formal	O	O
decision	O	DSE
not	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
important	ESE	O
party	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
convention	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
measures	O	O
adopted	O	O
domestically	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
effect	O	O
as	O	O
adhering	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
great	ESE	O
leader	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
yongdoja	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Comrade	O	O
Kim	O	O
Chong-il	O	O
has	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
conduct	O	O
proper	ESE	O
research	O	O
work	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
environment	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
air	O	O
and	O	O
water	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
maintain	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
health	O	O
and	O	O
provide	O	O
them	O	O
with	O	O
more	O	ESE
hygienic	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
civilized	O	ESE
living	O	ESE
conditions	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
held	O	O
recently	O	O
in	O	O
Morocco	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
laid	O	O
artificial	ESE	O
obstacles	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
session	O	O
by	O	O
seeking	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
profit	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
discussing	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
openly	DSE	O
took	DSE	O
issue	DSE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
only	ESE	O
because	ESE	O
the	O	O
contents	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
regulations	O	O
were	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
favor	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
grudgingly	ESE	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
it	O	O
only	ESE	O
when	O	O
some	O	O
countries	O	O
made	O	O
concessions	ESE	O
and	O	O
made	O	O
amendments	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
calculated	ESE	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
suffer	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
tremendous	ESE	ESE
loss	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
if	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
were	O	O
ever	O	O
passed	O	O
intact	O	O
and	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
adopted	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
legal	O	O
document	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
session	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
held	O	O
this	O	O
time	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
reach	O	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
actual	O	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
regulatory	O	O
problems	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
solved	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
adopted	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
may	O	ESE
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
effect	O	O
and	O	O
ecological	O	O
damage	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
becoming	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
each	ESE	ESE
passing	ESE	ESE
day	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
protect	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
lives	O	ESE
and	O	O
health	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
provide	O	O
favorable	O	O
conditions	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
promotion	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
civilization	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	DSE
is	ESE	DSE
feared	ESE	DSE
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
,	O	O
preservation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
environment	O	O
is	O	O
becoming	O	O
an	O	O
awfully	ESE	ESE
grave	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
pressing	ESE	ESE
problem	O	ESE
that	O	O
is	O	O
linked	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
existence	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
mankind	ESE	O
.	O	O

How	ESE	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
and	O	O
environmental	O	O
preservation	O	O
are	O	O
handled	O	O
today	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
major	ESE	O
impact	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
lives	O	O
and	O	O
health	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
why	ESE	O
many	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
today	O	O
are	O	DSE
demanding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
take	O	O
concrete	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
for	O	O
protecting	O	O
the	O	O
environment	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
come	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
realize	DSE	O
its	O	O
importance	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
was	O	O
revealed	O	O
this	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
position	O	O
to	O	O
take	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
lead	ESE	O
to	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
attempted	ESE	O
to	O	O
back	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
solving	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
well-known	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
was	O	O
adopted	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Fifth	O	O
Conference	O	O
of	O	O
Parties	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
on	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
Japan	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	DSE
supposed	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
set	O	DSE
goals	O	DSE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
emission	O	O
and	O	O
officially	ESE	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
2002	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
55	O	O
countries	O	O
have	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
representatives	O	O
of	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	O
welcomed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
epoch-making	ESE	O
measure	O	O
to	O	O
curb	O	O
the	O	O
warming	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
surface	O	O
and	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	DSE
was	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
ratified	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
signed	O	O
it	O	O
and	O	O
would	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
legal	O	ESE
binding	O	ESE
force	O	ESE
.	O	O

Emphasizing	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
significance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Japan	O	O
loudly	ESE	O
trumpeted	ESE	DSE
at	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
produced	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
role	O	O
''	O	O
Japan	O	O
had	O	O
played	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
even	O	ESE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
working	O	O
out	O	O
practical	O	O
measures	O	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
it	O	O
enter	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O

Nonetheless	ESE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
changing	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
stand	ESE	DSE
this	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
,	O	O
opposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
and	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
liquidation	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
shows	O	O
how	ESE	O
capricious	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
is	O	O
and	O	O
how	ESE	O
frequently	ESE	O
it	O	O
changes	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
stand	ESE	DSE
when	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
stakes	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Of	ESE	ESE
course	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
behind	O	ESE
the	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
behavior	O	O
lies	O	O
its	O	O
stakes	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
2008	O	O
-	O	O
2012	O	O
Japan	O	O
is	O	O
supposed	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
reduce	O	O
its	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emission	O	O
by	O	O
six	O	O
percent	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
1990	O	O
level	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
Japan	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
this	DSE	DSE
goal	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
put	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
effort	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
to	O	O
restructure	O	O
the	O	O
plants	O	O
and	O	O
enterprises	O	O
,	O	O
introduce	O	O
new	O	O
technology	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
upgrade	O	O
production	O	O
lines	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
do	O	O
all	O	O
these	O	O
things	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
needs	DSE	ESE
a	O	ESE
tremendous	ESE	ESE
amount	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
money	O	ESE
for	O	O
investment	O	O
.	O	O

Never	ESE	ESE
doing	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
unprofitable	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
nature	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
.	O	O

Accordingly	ESE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
would	ESE	DSE
never	ESE	DSE
readily	ESE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
putting	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
calculating	O	O
the	O	O
gains	O	O
and	O	O
losses	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
figure	O	O
out	O	O
what	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
should	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
found	O	O
a	O	O
good	ESE	ESE
excuse	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
to	O	O
implement	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
has	O	DSE
come	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
opposing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
pretext	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
opposition	DSE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
was	O	DSE
attempting	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
realize	ESE	DSE
its	O	DSE
own	O	DSE
objective	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
midst	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Japanese	O	O
official	O	O
visited	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
received	O	O
the	O	O
instruction	DSE	O
that	DSE	O
Japan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
avoid	O	ESE
inordinate	ESE	ESE
behavior	ESE	ESE
with	O	ESE
respect	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
implementing	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

That	DSE	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
hint	ESE	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
Japan	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
leading	O	ESE
role	O	ESE
in	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
matter	O	O
detrimental	ESE	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
.	O	O

Since	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
has	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
independence	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
always	ESE	ESE
acted	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
US	O	ESE
directions	O	ESE
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
had	O	O
continued	O	O
to	O	O
put	ESE	O
off	ESE	O
Diet	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
and	O	O
took	DSE	DSE
such	ESE	DSE
an	ESE	DSE
attitude	ESE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
session	O	O
held	O	O
this	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
plausible	ESE	ESE
pretext	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
meaningless	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
were	O	O
excluded	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	O
Japan	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
doing	ESE	O
with	O	O
respect	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
putting	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
is	O	O
tantamount	ESE	O
to	O	O
an	O	O
act	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
betrayal	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
mankind	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
effort	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
protect	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
lives	O	ESE
,	O	O
health	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
present	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
issue	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
whose	O	ESE
gravity	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
second	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
nuclear	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Here	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
assume	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
large	ESE	ESE
responsibilities	O	ESE
.	O	O

Nonetheless	ESE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
is	O	DSE
backing	ESE	DSE
away	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
resolving	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
although	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
position	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
leading	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
condemned	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
for	O	O
that	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
unable	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
escape	ESE	ESE
stronger	O	ESE
denunciation	DSE	ESE
and	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
serious	O	ESE
isolation	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
continues	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
seek	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
profit	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
create	ESE	O
stumbling	ESE	O
blocks	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
supposed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
and	O	O
seek	O	O
environmental	O	O
preservation	O	O
.	O	O

Spanish	O	O
premier	O	O
,	O	O
EU	O	O
leader	O	O
urge	DSE	DSE
Russia	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
Text	O	O
of	O	O
report	O	O
by	O	O
Spanish	O	O
news	O	O
agency	O	O
Efe	O	O
Barcelona	O	O
,	O	O
14	O	O
March	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
current	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
,	O	O
Jose	O	O
Maria	O	O
Aznar	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Commission	O	O
,	O	O
Romano	O	O
Prodi	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
handed	O	O
over	O	O
a	O	O
letter	O	O
to	O	O
Russian	O	O
President	O	O
Vladimir	O	O
Putin	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
urge	O	DSE
him	O	O
to	DSE	O
promote	DSE	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
by	O	O
Russia	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
letter	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
Efe	O	O
has	O	O
had	O	O
access	O	O
,	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
Prodi	O	O
explain	O	O
that	O	O
on	O	O
4	O	O
March	O	O
the	O	O
council	O	O
of	O	O
EU	O	O
environment	O	O
ministers	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
adoption	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
decision	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
approval	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Community	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
explain	DSE	O
that	O	O
this	DSE	O
agreement	DSE	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
important	ESE	ESE
step	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
in	O	O
fulfilling	O	O
the	O	O
political	DSE	O
pledge	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Protocol	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
Johannesburg	O	O
summit	O	O
on	O	O
sustainable	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
this	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
Prodi	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
only	O	O
the	O	O
internal	O	O
ratification	O	O
processes	O	O
in	O	O
each	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
have	O	O
now	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
concluded	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
emphasize	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
these	O	O
are	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
advanced	O	O
stage	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
some	O	O
cases	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
completed	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
complete	DSE	DSE
confidence	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
instruments	O	O
of	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Community	O	O
and	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
lodged	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
scale	O	O
anticipated	DSE	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
other	O	O
words	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
early	O	O
June	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
they	O	O
add	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
letter	O	O
emphasizes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
enough	ESE	O
for	O	O
EU	O	O
ratification	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
guaranteed	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
thus	O	O
urge	DSE	DSE
Putin	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	ESE	O
that	O	O
Russia	O	O
also	O	O
moves	O	O
ahead	O	O
with	O	O
ratification	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
make	DSE	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
request	DSE	DSE
``	O	DSE
convinced	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Federation	O	O
's	O	O
resolute	DSE	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
believing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
manner	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
leadership	ESE	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
have	O	O
shared	O	O
``	O	O
with	O	O
such	ESE	O
fruitful	ESE	O
results	ESE	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fight	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

United	O	O
States	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
finally	ESE	O
announced	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
for	O	O
fighting	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
effect	O	O
.	O	O

Seven	O	O
months	O	O
after	O	O
having	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
because	O	O
he	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
without	ESE	O
scientific	ESE	O
basis	ESE	O
,	O	O
detrimental	ESE	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
unfair	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
obliging	O	ESE
medium-sized	O	ESE
nations	O	ESE
-LRB-	O	ESE
like	O	ESE
Brazil	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
India	O	ESE
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
their	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
proportion	O	O
as	O	O
that	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
made	O	DSE
public	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
plan	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
promised	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
would	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
any	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
defects	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
would	O	O
achieve	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
results	O	O
.	O	O

Basically	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
plan	DSE	O
makes	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
pollution	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
conditional	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Gross	O	O
Domestic	O	O
Product	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GDP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
.	O	O

Emissions	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
gases	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
rise	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
slower	O	O
pace	O	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
GDP	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
problem	ESE	O
pointed	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
by	O	O
critics	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
created	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
concept	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
intensity	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
could	O	O
be	O	O
defined	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
volume	O	O
of	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
divided	O	O
by	O	O
GDP	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
this	O	O
index	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
reduced	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
emphasize	DSE	DSE
is	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
natural	O	O
tendency	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
is	O	O
for	O	O
services	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
their	O	O
participation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
GDP	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
industrial	O	O
activities	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
energy	O	O
consumers	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
diminish	O	O
.	O	O

Therefore	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
that	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
could	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
represent	O	O
a	O	O
real	ESE	O
increase	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
absolute	O	O
quantity	O	O
of	O	O
such	O	O
gases	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
environmental	O	O
entities	O	O
calculate	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
plan	DSE	O
will	O	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
's	O	O
emitting	O	O
!	O	O

,	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
,	O	O
29	O	O
percent	O	O
more	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
than	O	O
it	O	O
did	O	O
in	O	O
1990	O	O
.	O	O

Technical	DSE	O
arguments	DSE	O
could	ESE	O
go	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
matter	ESE	O
little	ESE	O
here	O	O
.	O	O

More	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
are	O	ESE
two	O	ESE
indisputable	ESE	ESE
conclusions	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
both	O	O
potentially	ESE	O
embarrassing	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
and	O	O
extremely	ESE	ESE
threatening	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
once	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
faced	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
a	O	O
controversial	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
situating	DSE	O
itself	O	O
alongside	O	O
the	O	O
explicit	O	O
interests	O	O
of	O	O
companies	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
energy	O	O
sector	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
long	O	O
-	O	O
standing	O	O
ties	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
several	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
leading	O	O
advisors	O	O
have	O	O
with	O	O
these	O	O
companies	O	O
allow	ESE	O
us	O	O
to	DSE	O
suppose	DSE	O
an	O	O
ultimate	ESE	O
conflict	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
interests	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
increase	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
persistent	ESE	O
alignment	DSE	O
with	O	O
their	O	DSE
goals	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Enron	O	O
scandal	O	O
is	O	O
already	O	O
taking	O	O
a	O	O
significant	ESE	O
political	O	O
toll	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
team	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
tend	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
consequences	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
divorce	ESE	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
case	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
second	O	O
conclusion	DSE	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
contrary	ESE	O
to	O	O
what	O	O
some	O	O
optimists	ESE	O
were	DSE	O
predicting	DSE	DSE
after	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
decided	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
stick	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
course	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
arrogant	ESE	ESE
unilateralism	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
conducting	O	O
his	O	O
foreign	O	O
policy	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
break	O	O
with	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
a	O	O
pre-attack	ESE	O
marker	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
having	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
the	O	O
latter	O	O
's	O	O
absolute	ESE	O
indifference	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	DSE	O
opinion	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
even	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
closest	ESE	ESE
allies	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
France	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Kingdom	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Japan	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
tragedies	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
were	O	O
some	O	O
who	O	O
thought	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
rapprochement	DSE	O
with	O	O
its	O	O
traditional	O	O
partners	O	O
was	O	O
inevitable	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
goal	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
defeating	O	O
the	O	O
threat	O	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
brief	ESE	O
period	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
shock	ESE	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
resumed	O	O
his	O	O
solitary	ESE	ESE
road	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
he	O	O
clearly	ESE	O
demonstrated	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
threatened	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
without	O	O
consulting	O	O
the	O	O
Europeans	O	O
and	O	O
Japanese	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
necessarily	ESE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
appropriateness	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
antagonizing	ESE	O
the	O	O
governments	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
announcement	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
plan	DSE	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
supposedly	ESE	ESE
an	O	O
alternative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
which	O	O
in	ESE	O
practice	ESE	O
rejects	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
taken	ESE	ESE
seriously	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
countries	O	O
who	O	O
committed	DSE	O
themselves	O	O
to	O	O
it	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
among	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
Brazil	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
deserves	ESE	ESE
rejection	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
response	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
provoke	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
retrospect	ESE	ESE
an	O	ESE
enormous	ESE	ESE
concern	ESE	ESE
about	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
superpower	ESE	ESE
intends	DSE	ESE
in	O	ESE
future	O	ESE
.	O	O

18	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Yonhap	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
government	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
announced	O	O
its	O	O
position	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
policy	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
discussed	O	O
internationally	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
treaty	O	O
adopted	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
and	O	O
Trade	O	O
said	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
Government	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
appreciates	DSE	DSE
continued	O	DSE
interest	DSE	DSE
shown	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
Government	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
efforts	O	O
in	O	O
presenting	O	O
on	O	O
February	O	O
14	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
initiative	O	O
to	O	O
address	O	O
this	O	O
issue	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
greatest	ESE	O
challenges	ESE	O
humankind	ESE	O
faces	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
21st	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
statement	O	O
was	O	O
issued	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Choi	O	O
Sung-hong	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Korean	O	O
Government	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Government	O	O
initiative	O	DSE
adopts	O	DSE
a	O	O
flexible	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
gradual	ESE	O
approach	O	O
to	O	O
reducing	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
takes	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
consideration	ESE	DSE
the	O	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	DSE

The	O	O
!	O	O
Korean	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
initiative	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
discussed	O	O
in	O	O
more	O	O
detail	O	O
in	O	O
future	O	O
international	O	O
fora	O	O
,	O	O
greater	ESE	ESE
elaboration	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
needed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
including	O	O
concrete	ESE	O
methods	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
levels	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
intensity	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
continued	O	O
.	O	O

Parties	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
Convention	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
preparing	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
implementation	O	O
rules	O	O
last	O	O
November	O	O
in	O	O
Marrakesh	O	O
,	O	O
Morocco	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	ESE	O
light	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Korean	O	O
Government	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
consultations	O	O
amongst	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
are	O	O
needed	ESE	O
to	O	O
build	ESE	O
understanding	ESE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
initiative	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
noted	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	O
the	O	O
Seoul	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
actively	O	O
participate	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

Over	O	O
180	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
prepared	O	O
for	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
framework	O	O
that	O	O
requires	O	O
signatories	O	O
to	O	O
gradually	O	O
reduce	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
administration	O	O
led	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Protocol	O	O
early	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
and	O	O
recently	O	O
announced	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
policy	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
which	O	O
aims	DSE	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
relative	O	O
to	O	O
Gross	O	O
Domestic	O	O
Product	O	O
or	O	O
economic	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

Before	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
had	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
severely	DSE	DSE
blamed	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
for	O	O
rejecting	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
already	O	O
issued	O	O
statements	O	O
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
policy	O	O
in	O	O
rather	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
tones	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
a	O	O
Japan-US	O	O
summit	O	O
meeting	O	O
on	O	O
18	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
some	DSE	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	DSE	O
that	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
DPRK	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
are	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	O	O
left	O	O
the	O	O
impression	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
Japan	O	O
stands	ESE	ESE
alone	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
this	O	O
issue	O	O
because	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
cool	DSE	O
to	O	O
Bush	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
axis	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
evil	ESE	DSE
''	ESE	DSE
rhetoric	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
Japan	O	O
to	O	DSE
provide	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
US	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
as	DSE	O
it	DSE	O
did	DSE	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
attacked	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	ESE
US	O	O
forces	O	O
launch	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
Iraq	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
said	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Government	O	O
has	O	O
put	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
difficult	ESE	ESE
position	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

At	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
several	O	O
officials	O	O
held	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
outset	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
first	O	O
took	O	O
up	O	O
economic	O	O
issues	O	O
and	O	O
then	O	O
referred	O	O
to	O	O
his	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
axis	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
evil	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
remark	DSE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
Japan	O	O
to	O	O
follow	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
by	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
needs	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
cooperate	ESE	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
action	O	O
pattern	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
of	O	O
spreading	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

All	O	O
options	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
including	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
are	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
table	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

European	O	O
countries	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
critical	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
``	DSE	O
axis	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
evil	DSE	DSE
''	DSE	DSE
remark	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

French	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Hubert	O	O
Vedrine	O	O
criticized	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
remark	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
simplistic	ESE	ESE
interpretation	ESE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

However	O	O
,	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
take	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
remark	DSE	O
as	DSE	O
the	O	O
indication	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
strong	ESE	DSE
resolve	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
fight	O	DSE
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
has	O	O
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
suggested	DSE	DSE
the	ESE	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
taking	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
President	O	O
Saddam	O	O
Husayn	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
if	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
military	O	O
attack	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	DSE
shown	DSE	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	DSE	O
axis	DSE	O
of	DSE	DSE
evil	DSE	DSE
remark	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
will	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
asked	DSE	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
active	O	DSE
support	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
did	O	O
during	O	O
US	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Self-Defense	O	O
Forces	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
logistic	O	O
support	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
forces	O	O
attacking	O	O
Iraq	O	O
under	O	O
a	O	O
special	O	O
antiterrorism	O	O
law	O	O
aimed	O	O
at	O	O
eradicating	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
enacted	O	O
after	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
on	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
politically	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
enact	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
law	O	O
considering	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
declining	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
a	O	O
source	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
's	O	O
Official	O	O
Residence	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
Japan	O	O
does	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
give	O	DSE
any	ESE	DSE
support	O	DSE
to	O	O
possible	O	O
US	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Iraq	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
its	O	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
axis	O	O
of	O	DSE
evil	O	DSE
rhetoric	O	DSE
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
expectations	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
administration	O	O
will	O	ESE
certainly	ESE	ESE
change	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
disappointment	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

Although	ESE	O
the	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Government	O	O
has	O	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
axis	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
evil	DSE	DSE
remark	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
it	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
see	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
taking	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
.	O	O

Because	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
noted	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
need	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
to	O	O
cooperate	ESE	O
in	O	O
tackling	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
issues	O	O
and	O	O
enthusiastically	DSE	DSE
asked	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
to	O	O
not	O	O
take	O	O
the	O	O
bold	ESE	ESE
course	O	ESE
of	O	O
launching	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
reply	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
resolve	O	O
all	O	O
issues	O	O
peacefully	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
we	O	O
intend	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
continue	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
efforts	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
However	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
unclear	ESE	O
whether	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
can	ESE	O
actually	ESE	O
prevent	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
from	O	O
taking	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
.	O	O

Islamabad	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
6	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
--	O	O
Leading	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
defense	O	O
analyst	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	O
pack	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
blatant	ESE	ESE
lies	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
propaganda	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
former	O	O
director-general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
Inter-Services	O	O
Intelligence	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ISI	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
told	DSE	O
IRNA	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
here	O	O
that	O	O
each	O	O
country	O	O
which	O	O
resisted	DSE	DSE
American	O	DSE
hegemony	ESE	DSE
was	DSE	DSE
deemed	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
violator	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
a	O	O
fit	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
subjugate	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
entire	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	O
community	ESE	O
and	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
ready	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
tolerate	DSE	DSE
any	O	O
hurdle	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
direction	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
manifestation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
hegemonistic	ESE	O
designs	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
lieutenant	O	O
general	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
retd	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
continued	DSE	O
.	O	O

Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
was	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
opinion	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
was	O	O
the	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
country	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
had	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
respect	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
religion	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
faith	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
norms	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
decency	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
rules	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
unprecedented	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
comity	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
nations	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
forcibly	DSE	DSE
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
prevent	DSE	O
countries	O	O
from	ESE	O
upholding	ESE	O
religious	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
cultural	ESE	O
values	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	ESE
fraudulent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
terrorist	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
extremist	ESE	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
forget	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
barbarities	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
committed	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
Afghan	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
women	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
children	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
elderly	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
firmly	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
realize	O	O
its	O	O
vested	O	O
interests	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
unleashed	ESE	O
oppression	ESE	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
used	O	O
latest	O	O
weaponry	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
defenseless	ESE	O
nation	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
regard	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
made	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
quick	O	DSE
reference	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
ongoing	O	O
killings	O	O
of	O	O
Indian	O	O
Muslims	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Since	O	O
the	O	O
rioting	O	O
erupted	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
over	O	O
600	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
mostly	ESE	O
Muslims	ESE	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
brutally	ESE	O
murdered	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
hands	O	O
of	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
Hindus	O	O
in	O	O
India	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
other	ESE	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
civilized	ESE	ESE
nations	ESE	ESE
kept	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
shameful	ESE	ESE
mum	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Americans	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
see	DSE	O
violations	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
when	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
or	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
become	O	O
hurdles	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
realization	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
vested	ESE	O
interests	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
What	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
in	O	O
Palestine	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Muslims	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
worst	ESE	O
examples	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
abuses	ESE	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	O
again	O	ESE
silent	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
when	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
react	O	O
to	O	O
Israeli	O	O
attacks	O	O
America	O	O
is	O	O
quick	O	O
to	O	O
The	O	O
logical	ESE	O
solution	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
free	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
independent	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Palestine	O	O
as	O	O
enshrined	ESE	O
under	O	O
UN	O	O
resolutions	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	DSE	O
denying	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
it	O	O
clearly	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Muslims	O	O
have	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
defend	ESE	ESE
themsleves	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
oppressors	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
wants	DSE	ESE
total	ESE	ESE
submission	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
Muslims	ESE	ESE
across	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
globe	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
situation	O	O
requires	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
concerted	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
resistance	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
Muslims	O	O
scholars	O	O
;	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
they	O	ESE
remain	DSE	ESE
indifferent	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
each	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
plight	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
hands	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
imperialist	ESE	ESE
forces	ESE	ESE
led	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
crushed	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Muslims	O	O
rulers	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
forge	ESE	ESE
unity	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
their	O	O
ranks	O	O
to	DSE	O
resist	DSE	O
the	O	O
ever-increasing	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
influence	ESE	O
;	O	O
otherwise	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
targeted	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
,	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
concluded	DSE	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
report	O	O
about	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
in	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
has	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
36	O	O
new	O	O
settlement	O	O
sites	O	O
--	O	O
settlement	O	O
enclaves	O	O
--	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
created	O	O
since	O	O
Sharon	O	O
became	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
less	O	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
year	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
published	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Bureau	O	O
for	O	O
Defending	O	O
Land	O	O
and	O	O
Resisting	O	O
Colonization	O	O
in	O	O
cooperation	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Solidarity	O	O
Establishment	O	O
for	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
nuclei	O	O
of	O	O
36	O	O
new	O	O
settlements	O	O
were	O	O
established	O	O
from	O	O
March	O	O
2001	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
November	O	O
2001	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
.	O	O

Also	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
findings	O	O
were	O	O
announced	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
three	O	O
military	O	O
positions	O	O
were	O	O
turned	O	O
into	O	O
civilian	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
work	O	O
had	O	O
started	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
settlement	O	O
called	O	O
Giv	O	O
`	O	O
at	O	O
Sal	O	O
`	O	O
it	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
southern	O	O
valleys	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Taysir	O	O
Khalid	O	O
,	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
PLO	O	O
Executive	O	O
Committee	O	O
and	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
bureau	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Popular	O	O
Front	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Liberation	O	O
of	O	O
Palestine	O	O
,	O	O
advocate	O	DSE
Faris	O	O
Abu-Hasan	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Solidarity	O	O
Establishment	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Hasan	O	O
Ayyub	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Bureau	O	O
for	O	O
Defense	O	O
of	O	O
Land	O	O
,	O	O
took	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
.	O	O

Construction	O	O
activities	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
in	O	O
settlements	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
period	O	O
totaled	O	O
49	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
addition	ESE	O
,	O	O
102	O	O
mobile	O	O
caravans	O	O
were	O	O
added	O	O
to	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
new	O	O
settlement	O	O
sites	O	O
and	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
705	O	O
donums	O	O
were	O	O
added	O	O
to	O	O
existing	O	O
settlements	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
also	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
work	O	O
on	O	O
bypass	O	O
roads	O	O
continued	O	O
at	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
rate	ESE	O
faster	ESE	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Barak	O	O
who	O	O
gave	ESE	O
free	ESE	O
rein	ESE	O
to	O	O
settlement	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
embarked	O	O
on	O	O
building	O	O
10	O	O
bypass	O	O
roads	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
approved	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
previous	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
estimated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
building	O	O
these	O	O
roads	O	O
threatens	ESE	O
the	O	O
bulldozing	O	O
and	O	O
destruction	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
31,730	O	ESE
donums	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
highlighted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
damage	O	O
caused	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
agricultural	O	O
sector	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
result	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
also	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
settlers	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
occupation	O	O
authorities	O	O
pursue	DSE	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	ESE	O
destructive	ESE	O
policy	ESE	O
on	O	O
a	ESE	O
wide	ESE	O
scale	ESE	O
vis-a-vis	O	O
citizens	O	O
'	O	O
property	O	O
to	O	O
consolidate	O	O
facts	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
plans	O	O
drawn	O	O
up	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
occupation	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	O	O
that	O	O
about	O	O
487,093	O	O
fruit	O	O
trees	O	O
were	O	O
uprooted	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
half	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
and	O	O
32,000	O	O
donums	O	O
of	O	O
agricultural	O	O
land	O	O
were	O	O
bulldozed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
total	O	O
losses	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
agricultural	O	O
sector	O	O
amounted	O	O
to	O	O
$	O	O
432	O	O
million	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Agriculture	O	O
data	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
Gaza	O	O
Strip	O	O
1,051	O	O
donums	O	O
were	O	O
annexed	O	O
to	O	O
existing	O	O
settlements	O	O
,	O	O
32	O	O
new	O	O
housing	O	O
units	O	O
were	O	O
built	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
work	O	O
on	O	O
190	O	O
additional	O	O
units	O	O
was	O	O
started	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
1,857	O	O
donums	O	O
were	O	O
bulldozed	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
building	O	O
of	O	O
bypass	O	O
roads	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
strip	O	O
.	O	O

Taysir	O	O
Khalid	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
intifadah	O	O
has	O	O
raised	O	O
the	O	O
settlement	O	O
issue	O	O
anew	ESE	O
--	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
causes	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
--	O	O
in	O	O
unprecedented	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
basic	ESE	O
element	O	O
and	O	O
condition	O	O
for	O	O
reaching	O	O
any	ESE	O
solution	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
allocations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Sharon	O	O
Government	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
for	O	O
supporting	O	DSE
and	O	O
widening	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
building	O	O
new	O	O
ones	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	O
the	O	O
crisis	ESE	O
and	O	O
recession	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
suffers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
At	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
declined	O	O
to	O	O
1.5	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
budgets	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Labor	O	O
and	O	O
Welfare	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
ministries	O	O
were	O	O
cut	O	O
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
maintained	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
support	O	DSE
for	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
increased	O	O
it	O	O
to	O	O
compensate	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
growing	ESE	O
exodus	ESE	O
from	O	O
settlements	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
need	DSE	O
to	O	O
concentrate	O	O
on	O	O
resisting	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
,	O	O
settlers	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
militias	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
abstaining	O	O
from	O	O
subjecting	O	O
this	O	O
file	O	O
to	O	O
any	O	O
discussion	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
condition	O	O
for	O	O
halting	O	O
the	O	O
intensified	ESE	O
settlement	O	O
activities	O	O
and	O	O
removing	O	O
existing	O	O
settlements	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
has	O	O
proved	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
settlement	ESE	O
battle	ESE	O
is	O	O
not	O	O
over	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
since	O	O
Sharon	O	O
became	O	O
Israel	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
pursuit	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
a	O	O
destructive	ESE	O
,	O	O
aggressive	ESE	ESE
policy	O	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
Palestinian	O	ESE
people	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
proved	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
cling	ESE	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
national	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
can	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
settled	O	O
by	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Advocate	O	O
Faris	O	O
Abu-Hasan	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
violation	ESE	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
laws	O	O
represented	O	O
in	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
building	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	ESE	DSE
refusal	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
respond	O	O
to	O	O
international	O	O
appeals	O	O
and	O	O
violation	O	O
of	O	O
relevant	ESE	O
international	O	O
laws	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
settlement	O	O
building	O	O
constituted	O	O
two	O	O
grave	ESE	ESE
violations	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
provisions	O	O
that	O	O
forbid	O	O
moving	O	O
population	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupying	O	O
state	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
There	O	O
are	O	O
two	O	O
grave	ESE	ESE
violations	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
concerns	O	DSE
settlement	O	O
building	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
transfer	O	O
of	O	O
settlers	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
tens	O	O
of	O	O
settlements	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
built	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
second	O	O
is	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
enacting	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
laws	DSE	O
that	O	O
facilitate	ESE	O
expropriating	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
land	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
matter	O	O
that	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
among	O	O
the	O	O
war	ESE	O
crimes	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
surveyed	DSE	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	ESE	O
unarmed	O	O
citizens	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
legal	ESE	O
protection	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
backing	ESE	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
provided	O	O
by	O	O
Israeli	O	O
governments	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
encouragement	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
gives	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
their	O	O
assaults	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
alternation	O	O
of	O	O
roles	O	O
between	O	O
settlers	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
in	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
aggressions	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
terrorizing	ESE	ESE
them	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
indicated	DSE	O
that	O	O
settlements	O	O
have	O	O
emerged	O	O
as	O	O
military	ESE	O
bastions	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
bases	ESE	O
for	O	O
launching	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
centers	O	O
were	O	O
used	O	O
as	O	O
human	ESE	O
shields	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
protection	O	O
of	O	O
settlements	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
about	O	O
90	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bombardments	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
centers	O	O
were	O	O
subjected	ESE	O
originated	O	O
in	O	O
settlements	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
confirmed	DSE	O
that	O	O
30	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
were	ESE	ESE
martyred	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
of	O	O
settlers	O	O
,	O	O
60	O	O
persons	O	O
were	O	O
hit	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
'	O	O
bullets	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
77	O	O
others	O	O
were	O	O
injured	O	O
in	O	O
various	ESE	O
assaults	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
outbreak	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
in	O	O
1987	O	O
,	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	ESE
Palestinians	O	ESE
martyred	ESE	ESE
were	O	ESE
killed	O	ESE
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
intifadah	O	O
settlers	O	O
uprooted	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
6,580	O	O
fruit	O	O
trees	O	O
,	O	O
destroyed	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
4,099	O	O
cultivated	O	O
donums	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
85	O	O
houses	O	O
,	O	O
90	O	O
commercial	O	O
premises	O	O
,	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
100	O	O
cars	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
17	O	O
ambulances	O	O
were	O	O
damaged	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
result	ESE	O
of	O	O
attacks	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
referred	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
legal	ESE	O
cover	ESE	O
and	O	O
protection	ESE	O
settlers	O	O
enjoy	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
encouragement	ESE	DSE
this	O	O
gives	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
their	ESE	O
aggressions	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	O	DSE
that	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli	O	O
court	O	O
recently	O	O
sentenced	DSE	O
a	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
opening	O	O
fire	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
no	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
hurt	O	ESE
to	O	O
seven	O	O
years	O	O
imprisonment	O	O
.	O	O

While	ESE	O
a	O	O
settler	O	O
who	O	O
opened	O	DSE
fire	O	DSE
on	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
wounding	O	O
four	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
was	DSE	O
sentenced	DSE	O
to	O	O
four	O	O
years	O	O
imprisonment	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli	O	O
court	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
presented	O	O
14	O	O
February	O	O
his	O	O
alternative	O	O
plan	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
designed	O	O
to	O	O
slow	O	O
down	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
proposal	DSE	O
places	O	O
no	O	O
obligation	O	O
whatsoever	ESE	O
on	O	O
industrialists	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
voluntary	O	O
measures	O	O
and	O	O
tax	O	O
incentives	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
hastened	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
describe	DSE	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
plan	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	O
audacious	ESE	O
program	O	O
in	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
aiming	O	O
at	O	O
reducing	O	O
power	O	O
station	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

But	O	O
environmentalists	O	O
immediately	DSE	O
attacked	DSE	O
this	O	O
US	O	O
proposal	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
A	ESE	O
Valentine	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
Day	ESE	O
gift	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
polluters	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O
Carl	O	O
Pope	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Sierra	O	O
Club	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
major	O	O
US	O	O
environmental	O	O
protection	O	O
associations	O	O
,	O	O
does	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
mince	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
words	ESE	O
when	O	O
describing	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
plan	O	O
to	O	O
replace	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Presented	O	O
Thursday	O	O
14	O	O
February	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
alternative	O	O
plan	O	O
for	O	O
slowing	O	O
down	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
moves	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
binding	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
of	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
recently	O	O
approved	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
170	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
Marrakech	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
March	O	O
2001	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
deemed	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
harmful	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
economy	O	O
and	O	O
reproached	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
for	O	O
imposing	ESE	O
constraints	ESE	O
on	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

So	O	O
this	O	O
new	O	O
version	O	O
has	O	O
new	O	O
bases	O	O
.	O	O

Contrary	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	DSE
proposed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
Thursday	O	O
thus	O	O
no	ESE	O
longer	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
binding	ESE	O
procedure	ESE	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
voluntary	O	O
measures	O	O
and	O	O
tax	O	O
incentives	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
advocates	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
voluntarist	ESE	O
approach	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
by	O	O
directly	O	O
linking	O	O
the	O	O
objectives	O	DSE
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
reduction	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
intensity	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emission	O	O
generated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
economy	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
18	O	O
%	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
objective	DSE	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
Administration	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
comparable	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
that	O	O
imposed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

For	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
moment	ESE	O
Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
simply	ESE	ESE
proposes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
curb	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
harmful	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
counting	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
good	DSE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
US	O	ESE
industrialists	O	ESE
,	O	O
who	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
36	O	O
%	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
produced	O	O
by	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
as	O	O
opposed	O	O
to	O	O
31.6	O	O
%	O	O
for	O	O
Europe	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
objectives	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
as	O	O
set	O	O
out	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
slow	O	O
down	O	O
and	O	O
then	O	O
stop	O	O
the	O	O
growth	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
emissions	O	O
of	O	O
harmful	O	O
gases	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	O
scientific	ESE	O
studies	ESE	O
justify	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
,	O	O
diminish	ESE	O
them	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
aim	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
lower	O	O
polluting	O	O
emissions	O	O
from	O	O
183	O	O
tonnes	O	O
per	O	O
million	O	O
dollars	O	O
of	O	O
GDP	O	O
to	O	O
151	O	O
tonnes	O	O
in	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	DSE
encourage	DSE	DSE
industry	O	O
and	O	O
consumers	O	O
to	O	O
demonstrate	O	O
environmental	ESE	O
public	ESE	O
spiritedness	ESE	O
Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
proposes	DSE	DSE
tax	O	O
incentives	O	O
of	O	O
$	O	O
4.6	O	O
billion	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
renewable	O	O
sources	O	O
of	O	O
energy	O	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
calls	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
To	O	O
Act	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
asserted	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
moreover	O	ESE
,	O	O
his	O	O
determination	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
win	ESE	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
plan	O	DSE
,	O	O
stating	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
approach	O	O
would	O	O
give	O	O
them	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
yardstick	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
progress	ESE	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
changes	O	O
which	O	O
recognizes	ESE	DSE
their	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
to	O	O
economic	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
asserted	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
allusion	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
binding	O	DSE
objectives	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
unjust	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
counterproductive	ESE	O
to	O	O
condemn	ESE	DSE
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
weak	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
nonexistant	ESE	ESE
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
by	O	O
insisting	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
adopt	O	O
unrealistic	ESE	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
reduction	O	O
targets	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Mr.	DSE	O
Bush	O	O
did	O	O
,	O	O
nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
affirm	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
interfere	O	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
countries	O	O
opting	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
But	ESE	O
I	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
intention	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
working	O	O
with	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
developing	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
to	ESE	O
convince	ESE	ESE
them	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
approach	ESE	ESE
exists	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
``	O	O
irresponsible	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
not	O	O
to	DSE	O
ask	DSE	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
their	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Developing	O	O
nations	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
India	O	O
already	ESE	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

And	DSE	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
irresponsible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
absolve	ESE	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
shouldering	ESE	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
shared	O	O
obligations	ESE	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
Discontent	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Environmentalists	O	O

As	DSE	O
far	DSE	O
as	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
US	DSE	O
Administration	DSE	O
is	DSE	O
concerned	DSE	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
approach	O	O
will	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
posible	ESE	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
stabilize	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
concentrations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
long	O	O
run	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
sustaining	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
needed	O	O
to	O	O
finance	O	O
our	O	O
investments	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
,	O	O
cleaner	O	O
energy	O	O
structure	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
hastened	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
describe	DSE	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
plan	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	O
audacious	ESE	O
program	O	O
in	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
aiming	O	O
at	O	O
reducing	O	O
power	O	O
station	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
considering	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
save	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
$	O	O
1	O	O
billion	O	O
,	O	O
compared	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
costs	O	O
that	O	O
binding	ESE	O
rules	O	O
would	O	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
environmentalists	O	O
immediately	DSE	O
attacked	DSE	O
this	O	O
US	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
.	O	O

Philip	O	O
Clapp	O	O
,	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Environment	O	O
Trust	O	O
,	O	O
sums	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
well	ESE	O
the	O	O
general	O	O
thrust	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
reaction	DSE	O
of	O	O
environmental	O	O
movements	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
There	O	O
is	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
polluters	O	O
are	O	O
suddenly	ESE	ESE
going	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
become	ESE	ESE
reasonable	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Carl	O	O
Pope	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Sierra	O	O
Club	O	O
,	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
his	O	O
part	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
Administration	O	O
``	O	O
is	O	O
sticking	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
polluting	ESE	O
policies	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
energy	O	O
industry	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
rather	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
taking	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
sensible	ESE	ESE
steps	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
can	O	ESE
protect	O	ESE
our	O	ESE
health	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Steve	O	O
Sawyer	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
Greenpeace	O	O
International	O	O
's	O	O
climate	O	O
experts	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
``	O	O
will	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
effect	O	ESE
on	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
assuming	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Instead	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
making	O	ESE
itself	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
champion	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
effect	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
moving	O	O
in	O	O
exactly	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
opposite	ESE	O
direction	O	O
from	O	O
that	O	O
followed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Greenpeace	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	ESE
Israeli	O	ESE
tanks	O	ESE
push	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
way	O	ESE
into	O	O
one	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
population	ESE	O
center	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
another	ESE	O
it	O	O
has	O	ESE
become	O	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
guess	DSE	ESE
what	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
objectives	ESE	O
might	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
driving	ESE	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
says	O	O
he	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
destroy	ESE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
infrastructure	O	O
''	O	O
behind	O	O
the	O	O
suicide	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Israelis	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
can	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
immediate	O	O
military	DSE	O
objective	DSE	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
achieved	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
politically	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
temporary	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
it	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
produce	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
lost	ESE	ESE
immediately	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
troops	O	O
are	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
desperate	ESE	O
tableau	ESE	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
emerged	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
is	O	O
becoming	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
dismal	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
appear	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
sort	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
logical	ESE	ESE
Near	O	O
East	O	O
policy	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
taken	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
stand	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabian	O	O
peace	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
-LSB-	O	O
a	O	O
call	O	O
for	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
the	O	O
removal	O	O
of	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
cities	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
areas	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
subsequent	O	O
remarks	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
encouraged	DSE	DSE
Sharon	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
.	O	O

Suicide	O	O
attacks	O	O
do	O	O
not	O	O
require	O	O
an	O	O
extensive	O	O
infrastructure	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
few	O	O
kilograms	O	O
of	O	O
explosives	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
simple	O	ESE
detonating	O	ESE
fuse	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
desperate	ESE	ESE
hatred	ESE	ESE
are	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
ingredients	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
categorical	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
condemnation	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
terrorism	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
self-evident	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
this	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
free	O	O
Israel	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
problem	O	O
it	O	O
faces	O	O
.	O	O

Israeli	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
35-year-old	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
resettlement	O	O
policies	O	O
have	O	O
created	O	O
the	O	O
breeding	ESE	O
ground	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
terrorism	O	O
that	O	O
Sharon	O	O
is	O	O
now	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
root	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
by	O	O
resorting	ESE	O
exclusively	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
military	O	O
means	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
contrary	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
turns	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
successful	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
underlying	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
would	O	ESE
remain	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
same	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
before	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
is	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
three	ESE	O
million	ESE	O
bitter	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	ESE
who	O	ESE
lack	O	ESE
political	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
only	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
of	O	O
preventing	O	O
a	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
terrorism	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
a	O	O
counter-terrorist	O	O
effort	O	O
that	O	O
extends	O	O
to	O	O
every	O	ESE
village	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
would	ESE	O
soon	ESE	O
erode	ESE	O
both	O	O
what	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
army	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
reputation	ESE	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
military	O	O
cutting	O	O
edge	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
resettlement	O	O
policies	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
justified	DSE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
grounds	O	O
of	O	O
security	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
few	O	O
months	O	O
have	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
contrary	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
become	O	O
an	O	O
extraordinary	ESE	ESE
burden	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Traffic	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
settlements	O	O
prevents	O	O
the	O	O
effective	O	O
monitoring	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
borders	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
high	O	O
birthrate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
guarantees	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
possible	O	ESE
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
population	O	O
balance	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
territories	O	O
by	O	O
stepping	O	O
up	O	O
resettlement	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
population	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

Since	ESE	O
Sharon	O	O
refuses	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
offer	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
state	O	O
with	O	O
acceptable	ESE	O
borders	O	O
and	O	O
conditions	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
two	O	O
alternatives	O	O
left	O	O
.	O	O

One	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
think	ESE	ESE
that	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
politically	ESE	ESE
prudent	ESE	ESE
Israeli	O	O
could	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
either	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
would	O	O
involve	O	O
continuous	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
the	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
an	O	O
apartheid	O	O
state	O	O
similar	O	O
to	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
.	O	O

Terrorism	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
absent	O	O
from	O	O
such	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	O	ESE
lose	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
count	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
among	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
democracies	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
other	O	O
alternative	O	O
entails	O	O
the	O	O
massive	ESE	O
expulsion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
million	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
to	O	O
neighboring	O	O
countries	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
human	O	O
and	O	O
political	O	O
catastrophe	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
accompany	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
of	ESE	ESE
course	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
admit	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
he	O	O
is	DSE	O
planning	DSE	O
anything	O	O
like	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
idea	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
discussed	O	O
in	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
explain	O	O
once	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
what	O	O
third	O	O
objective	DSE	O
he	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
actions	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
high	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
hurry	ESE	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
its	O	O
assistance	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ingredients	O	O
for	O	O
a	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
are	O	O
in	ESE	O
large	ESE	O
measure	ESE	O
in	O	O
place	O	O
if	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
admitted	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
simultaneous	O	O
ending	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Israeli	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
resettlement	O	O
policy	O	O
followed	O	O
by	O	O
negotiations	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabian	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
and	O	O
the	O	O
earlier	O	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
talks	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
David	O	O
and	O	O
Taba	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
supporting	DSE	DSE
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
irresponsible	ESE	ESE
saber	ESE	ESE
rattling	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Washington	O	O
places	ESE	O
strains	ESE	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
needlessly	ESE	O
puts	O	O
off	O	O
a	O	O
settlement	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
some	ESE	ESE
day	ESE	ESE
play	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
midwife	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Saturday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
13	O	O
April	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
--	O	O
two	O	O
days	O	O
aftr	O	O
Chavez	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
removed	O	O
from	O	O
power	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
--	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
took	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
streets	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
after	O	O
occupying	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
returned	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
asked	O	DSE
Ali	O	O
Kianushrad	O	O
,	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Majles	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
and	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Policy	O	O
Committee	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
state	O	O
his	DSE	O
views	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
removal	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

Question	O	O
:	O	O
How	O	O
do	O	O
you	O	O
assess	O	O
the	O	O
sudden	O	O
downfall	O	O
and	O	O
more	O	O
sudden	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
?	O	O

Answer	DSE	O
:	DSE	O
The	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
experience	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
showed	ESE	O
that	O	O
regimes	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
votes	O	O
and	O	O
support	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
masses	O	O
and	O	O
adopt	O	O
relatively	ESE	O
independent	ESE	O
policies	O	O
toward	O	O
the	O	O
big	ESE	O
powers	ESE	O
and	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
America	O	O
are	O	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
favored	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
leadership	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
Americans	O	O
'	O	O
hasty	ESE	O
and	O	O
immediate	ESE	O
support	DSE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
shows	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
are	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	ESE
no	DSE	ESE
way	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	ESE
favor	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
national	O	ESE
and	O	O
independent	O	O
rules	O	O
coming	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

Also	DSE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
once	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
showed	O	O
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
rulers	O	O
are	O	DSE
endorsed	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
determination	DSE	DSE
can	ESE	DSE
affect	ESE	DSE
decisions	O	DSE
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
presence	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
scene	O	O
can	ESE	O
prevent	ESE	O
rules	O	O
and	O	O
decisions	O	DSE
with	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
totally	DSE	ESE
disagree	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Question	O	O
:	O	O
How	O	O
do	O	O
you	O	O
assess	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
reaction	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
overthrow	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Chavez	O	O
Government	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
return	O	O
--	O	O
something	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
issued	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
?	O	O

Answer	DSE	O
:	DSE	O
We	O	O
have	O	O
good	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
us	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
satisfied	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	ESE
any	DSE	ESE
way	DSE	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
overthrow	O	O
the	O	O
rule	O	O
there	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
regime	O	O
's	O	O
policies	O	O
enjoy	O	O
the	O	O
extensive	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
when	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
points	O	O
un	O	O
its	O	O
independent	O	O
policies	O	O
on	O	O
oil	O	O
that	O	O
converge	O	O
with	O	O
our	O	O
policies	O	O
and	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
positively	DSE	O
assessed	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

Question	O	O
:	O	O
Did	O	O
the	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
Rio	O	O
Pact	O	O
member	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
role	O	ESE
in	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
?	O	O

Answer	DSE	O
:	DSE	O
The	O	O
incidents	O	O
and	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
and	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
were	O	O
so	ESE	O
rapid	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
intervention	O	O
by	O	O
other	O	O
powers	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
is	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
small	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	DSE	ESE
undoubtedly	ESE	ESE
there	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
basic	DSE	ESE
doubts	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
exist	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
and	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
immediate	DSE	ESE
support	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
what	O	O
springs	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
mind	DSE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
great	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
some	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
intervention	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
domestic	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

23	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
bid	O	O
for	O	O
observer	O	O
status	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Health	O	O
Organization	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
WHO	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
its	O	O
assistance	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Organization	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
WTO	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
membership	O	O
bid	O	O
.	O	O

Chen	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
while	O	O
meeting	O	O
visiting	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Assistant	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
Commerce	O	O
for	O	O
Market	O	O
Access	O	O
and	O	O
Compliance	O	O
William	O	O
H.	O	O
Lash	O	O
,	O	O
III	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
Office	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
.	O	O

Lash	O	O
arrived	O	O
in	O	O
Taipei	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
four-day	O	O
visit	O	O
.	O	O

Chen	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	O
negotiate	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
a	O	O
free	O	O
trade	O	O
zone	O	O
agreement	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
so	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
internalization	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
it	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
international	ESE	ESE
responsibility	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
gratitude	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
admiration	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
firm	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
maintaining	O	O
the	O	O
security	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
and	O	O
peace	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
last	O	O
April	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
an	O	O
imbalance	ESE	O
of	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
military	O	O
force	O	O
by	O	O
2005	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
hand	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
further	ESE	O
safeguard	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
democratic	ESE	O
achievements	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
.	O	O

Touching	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
entry	O	O
,	O	O
Chen	O	O
said	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
could	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
smoothly	ESE	O
entered	O	O
the	O	O
WTO	O	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
Congress	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
render	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
firm	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
bid	O	O
for	O	O
membership	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
access	O	O
has	O	O
given	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
a	ESE	O
window	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
window	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
century	ESE	O
and	O	O
a	ESE	O
window	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
went	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
allow	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
upgrade	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
competitiveness	ESE	O
and	O	O
help	O	O
U.S.-Taiwan	O	O
trade	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

Lash	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
Chen	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
entry	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
shows	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
attaches	DSE	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
U.S.-Taiwan	O	O
trade	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
entry	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	O
a	O	O
conclusion	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
its	DSE	DSE
goal	DSE	DSE
but	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
beginning	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
chance	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
Lash	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
realize	O	O
all	ESE	O
its	O	O
WTO	O	DSE
expectations	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
Chen	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Progressive	O	O
Party	O	O
becoming	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
political	O	O
party	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Legislative	O	O
Yuan	O	O
with	O	O
last	O	O
December	O	O
's	O	O
legislative	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Lash	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
gratitude	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Chen	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
assistance	O	O
rendered	O	O
by	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
wake	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O

11	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
participation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
post-war	O	O
reconstruction	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	ESE
usual	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
published	O	O
its	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
practices	O	O
in	O	O
world	O	O
countries	O	O
last	O	O
Monday	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
usual	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
portion	O	O
about	O	O
China	O	O
contains	O	O
little	ESE	ESE
truth	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
many	ESE	ESE
absurdities	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
exaggerations	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fabrications	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Its	O	O
aim	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
2001	O	O
report	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
tarnish	ESE	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
image	O	O
and	O	O
exert	O	O
political	O	O
pressure	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
experts	O	O
said	DSE	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
seminar	O	O
held	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
China	O	O
Society	O	O
for	O	O
Study	O	O
of	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CSSHR	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
slandering	ESE	DSE
China	O	O
again	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Xirao-Nima	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
professor	O	O
of	O	O
Tibetan	O	O
history	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Central	O	O
University	O	O
for	O	O
Nationalities	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
issue	O	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
false	ESE	ESE
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
experts	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
violated	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
UN	O	ESE
spirit	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
not	O	ESE
interfering	O	ESE
in	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Jin	O	O
Yongjian	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
former	O	O
deputy	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
has	DSE	O
held	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
high	ESE	DSE
goal	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
protecting	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Jin	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	O	O
it	O	O
never	ESE	O
requested	O	DSE
or	O	O
authorized	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
compile	O	O
or	O	O
release	O	O
such	O	O
reports	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
completely	ESE	ESE
violated	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
UN	O	ESE
Charter	O	ESE
and	O	O
the	O	O
principles	O	O
of	O	O
relevant	O	O
international	O	O
conferences	O	O
and	O	O
documents	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
made	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
procedural	O	ESE
mistake	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
facts	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
incorrect	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
officials	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
somewhat	ESE	ESE
softens	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
tone	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
China	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
it	O	O
nevertheless	ESE	O
uses	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
issues	O	O
to	O	O
slander	ESE	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
CSSHR	O	O
President	O	O
Zhou	O	O
Jue	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
to	O	O
Tibet	O	O
many	O	O
times	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	ESE
truth	DSE	ESE
there	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
different	ESE	ESE
from	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
some	O	ESE
US	O	ESE
politicians	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
ulterior	ESE	ESE
motives	ESE	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
described	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Xirao-Nima	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
Tibetan	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Westerners	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
there	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
ever-improving	ESE	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Tibet	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

After	O	O
visiting	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
several	O	O
times	O	O
,	O	O
Italian	O	O
senator	O	O
Renzo	O	O
Gubert	O	O
,	O	O
praised	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Government	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
indigenous	O	O
cultural	O	O
and	O	O
religious	O	O
heritage	O	O
while	O	O
developing	O	O
the	O	O
local	O	O
economy	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
a	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Tibet	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Italian	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
delegation	O	O
issued	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
communique	O	DSE
agreeing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
Tibet	O	O
is	O	O
far	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
what	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
reported	DSE	O
by	O	O
some	O	O
Western	O	O
media	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
central	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
built	O	O
and	O	O
renovated	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
monasteries	O	O
.	O	O

From	O	O
1989	O	O
to	O	O
1994	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
central	O	O
government	O	O
invested	O	O
53	O	O
million	O	O
yuan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
US$	O	O
6.4	O	O
million	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
repair	O	O
the	O	O
Potala	O	O
Palace	O	O
.	O	O

Later	O	O
spent	O	O
another	O	O
4.9	O	O
million	O	O
yuan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
US$	O	O
590,360	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
update	O	O
the	O	O
palace	O	O
's	O	O
fire	O	O
safety	O	O
facilities	O	O
.	O	O

Renzo	O	O
Gubert	O	O
once	O	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
what	ESE	O
impressed	ESE	DSE
him	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
local	O	O
Tibetans	O	O
enjoy	O	O
a	O	O
high	ESE	O
level	ESE	O
of	O	O
religious	O	O
freedom	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Italian	O	O
senator	O	O
's	O	O
words	DSE	O
are	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
sharp	DSE	O
contrast	DSE	O
to	O	O
what	O	O
was	O	O
contained	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
China	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
compiled	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
blindly	ESE	O
accuses	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
of	O	O
restricting	O	O
religious	O	O
freedom	O	O
in	O	O
Tibet	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
uses	O	O
many	O	O
unsubstantiated	ESE	O
stories	O	O
to	O	O
illustrate	O	O
its	O	O
unwarranted	ESE	DSE
assertions	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Throughout	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
many	O	O
doubtful	ESE	O
phrases	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
`	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
credible	O	O
reports	O	O
'	O	O
,	O	O
`	O	O
various	O	O
sources	O	O
'	O	O
and	O	O
`	O	O
anecdotal	O	ESE
evidence	O	ESE
,	O	O
'	O	O
to	O	O
name	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
shows	O	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
truths	ESE	ESE
are	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Xirao-Nima	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	DSE
back	O	DSE
up	O	DSE
their	O	DSE
reckless	ESE	DSE
conclusion	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
lists	O	O
many	O	O
incidents	O	O
where	O	O
it	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
religious	O	O
freedom	O	O
was	O	O
violated	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Take	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
Li	O	O
Guangqiang	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
arrested	O	ESE
Li	O	ESE
,	O	O
a	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
businessman	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
was	O	O
charged	O	O
with	O	O
smuggling	O	O
Bibles	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
in	O	O
July	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
His	O	O
behaviour	O	O
has	O	O
violated	ESE	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Rev	O	O
Cao	O	O
Shengjie	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
China	O	O
Christian	O	O
Council	O	O
.	O	O

Cao	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
smuggled	O	O
Bibles	O	O
were	O	O
editions	O	O
translated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
`	O	O
Shouters	O	O
'	O	O
sect	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
heresy	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Cao	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
`	O	O
Shouters	O	O
'	O	O
claim	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
are	O	O
bigger	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
Jesus	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

The	O	O
sect	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
banned	O	O
because	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
activities	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1980s	O	O
.	O	O

Cao	O	O
said	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
the	O	O
demand	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
million	O	O
Protestants	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
28	O	O
million	O	O
copies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Bible	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
those	O	O
printed	O	O
in	O	O
ethnic	O	O
languages	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
printed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
also	O	O
accuses	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
of	O	O
taking	ESE	O
advantage	ESE	O
of	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaigns	O	O
to	O	O
crackdown	ESE	O
on	O	O
ethnic	O	O
group	O	O
people	O	O
living	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
Uygur	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
fears	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
a	O	O
spillover	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
campaign	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
perceived	DSE	O
opportunity	O	O
to	O	O
legitimize	O	O
measures	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
Uighur	O	O
activists	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
umbrella	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Some	O	O
US	O	O
politicians	O	O
have	O	O
made	O	O
a	O	O
mistake	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Those	O	O
that	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
secede	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
and	O	O
engage	O	O
in	O	O
terrorist	O	O
activities	O	O
are	O	O
terrorists	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
any	O	O
particular	O	O
ethnic	O	O
group	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Ma	O	O
Dazheng	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
Uygur	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
's	O	O
Development	O	O
Research	O	O
Institute	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Academy	O	O
of	O	O
Social	O	O
Sciences	O	O
.	O	O

Whoever	O	O
engages	O	O
in	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
whether	O	O
he	O	O
or	O	O
she	O	O
is	O	O
of	O	O
Han	O	O
people	O	O
or	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
minority	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
brought	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Ma	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
analogous	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
crackdown	O	O
on	O	O
terrorists	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Ma	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
often	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
although	ESE	O
al-Qaida	O	O
members	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
are	O	O
Muslims	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
troops	O	O
are	O	O
bombing	O	O
them	O	O
because	ESE	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
terrorists	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
Muslims	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

On	O	O
March	O	O
4	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Depart-ment	O	O
released	O	O
its	O	O
annual	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

Apart	O	ESE
from	O	O
criticizing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
countries	O	O
for	O	O
abusing	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
also	O	O
listed	DSE	O
abuses	ESE	O
in	O	O
several	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
alliance	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
interesting	ESE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
reports	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
section	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
Israel	O	O
suffers	ESE	O
from	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
forced	ESE	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
counter-terrorism	O	O
measures	O	O
,	O	O
making	O	O
its	O	O
rights	ESE	O
abuses	ESE	O
understandable	ESE	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
post-Sept	O	O
.	O	O
11	O	O
restrictions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
on	O	O
entering	O	O
and	O	O
leaving	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
air	O	O
travel	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
measures	O	O
curbing	O	O
the	O	O
civil	O	O
rights	O	O
of	O	O
accused	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
discussed	O	O
at	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
is	O	O
generally	ESE	ESE
quite	ESE	ESE
frank	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
its	O	O
wording	ESE	O
strong	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
it	O	O
proposes	O	DSE
no	O	ESE
corrective	O	ESE
action	O	ESE
.	O	O

Consolidating	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
alliance	O	O
and	O	O
expanding	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terror	O	O
are	O	O
overshadowing	ESE	ESE
concerns	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
exchange	O	O
for	O	O
support	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
its	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	O
tacitly	ESE	ESE
agreeing	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
ignore	ESE	ESE
abuses	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
other	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terror	O	O
coalition	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
most	ESE	O
glaring	ESE	O
examples	O	O
are	O	O
Russia	O	O
's	O	O
suppression	O	O
of	O	O
resis-tance	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
rule	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
suppression	O	O
of	O	O
independence	O	O
advocates	O	O
in	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Falun	O	O
Gong	O	O
movement	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
treatment	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
activities	O	O
,	O	O
meanwhile	ESE	O
,	O	O
show	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
sign	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
promoting	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
universal	ESE	ESE
values	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
democracy	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
peace	ESE	O
.	O	O

Six	DSE	O
months	O	O
have	O	O
passed	O	O
since	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
focus	O	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
anger	DSE	DSE
has	O	O
turned	O	O
to	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
labeled	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
rogue	ESE	ESE
nations	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
US	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
alliance	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
the	ESE	O
embodiment	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
two-sided	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	ESE	ESE
you	ESE	O
're	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
you	ESE	O
're	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

The	DSE	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
poses	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
substantial	ESE	ESE
challenge	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
interpretation	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Put	ESE	O
simply	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
what	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
seeing	ESE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
naked	ESE	O
pursuit	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
who	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	ESE
ever	ESE	ESE
studied	ESE	ESE
realist	ESE	ESE
political	ESE	ESE
science	ESE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
find	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
surprising	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

To	O	ESE
earn	O	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
made	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
appear	ESE	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
almost	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
military	O	ESE
mobilizations	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
history	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
been	O	ESE
motivated	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
notions	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
versus	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
or	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
orthodoxy	ESE	ESE
versus	ESE	ESE
unorthodoxy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
present	O	O
the	O	O
naked	ESE	O
pursuit	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
battle	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
good	ESE	ESE
versus	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
reflect	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
lack	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
understanding	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
tolerance	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Demonizing	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
guarantee	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
peace	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
gained	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
expressly	ESE	O
points	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
extremely	ESE	ESE
easy	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
terrorists	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
supporters	O	O
in	O	O
countries	O	O
where	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
are	DSE	O
not	DSE	ESE
respected	DSE	ESE
and	O	O
where	O	O
individual	O	ESE
freedom	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
repressed	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

To	DSE	O
prove	O	O
that	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
are	O	O
important	ESE	ESE
ammunition	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
battle	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
,	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
attack	O	ESE
terrorism	O	ESE
to	O	O
make	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
matter	DSE	O
to	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
still	DSE	O
believes	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
supremacy	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
forget	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
breeding	ESE	ESE
ground	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
terrorists	O	ESE
that	O	O
exists	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
alliance	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
extend	O	O
military	O	O
aid	O	O
to	O	O
several	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
alliance	O	O
to	O	O
enable	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
root	O	O
out	O	O
terrorists	O	O
without	O	O
using	O	O
US	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O

Such	ESE	DSE
wishful	ESE	DSE
thinking	ESE	DSE
risks	ESE	DSE
making	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
an	O	O
accomplice	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
destruction	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
claims	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
policeman	ESE	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
incapable	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
looking	O	O
beyond	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
or	O	O
of	O	O
practicing	O	O
the	O	O
universal	ESE	O
values	ESE	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
democracy	O	O
and	O	O
peace	O	O
,	O	O
then	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
reconsider	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
role	O	O
played	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
learn	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
parliament	O	O
works	O	O
?	O	O

After	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
,	O	O
compromising	ESE	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
interests	O	O
of	O	O
many	O	O
different	O	O
countries	O	O
is	O	O
much	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	O	ESE
succumbing	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
interests	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
single	O	ESE
country	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
approach	O	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
suited	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
century	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
increasing	O	O
international	O	O
diversity	O	O
.	O	O

Chien	O	O
Hsi-chieh	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
DPP	O	O
legislator	O	O
and	O	O
executive	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Peacetime	O	O
Foundation	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
elected	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
''	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
punctuation	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
here	O	O
and	O	O
throughout	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
once	O	O
more	O	O
taken	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
reins	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rapid	O	O
events	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
changing	O	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
indicate	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
putschists	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
enjoy	O	O
a	O	O
popular	O	O
base	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
people	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
endorse	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
coup	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Pedro	O	O
Carmona	O	O
''	O	O
who	O	O
was	O	DSE
being	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

America	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
only	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
came	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
putschists	O	O
immediately	O	O
after	O	O
they	O	O
took	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
posturing	ESE	DSE
with	O	DSE
respect	O	DSE
to	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
America	O	O
declared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
democracy	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
victorious	ESE	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
.	O	O

America	O	O
called	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
action	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
several	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
generals	ESE	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
capitalist	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
bankers	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
victory	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
under	O	O
circumstances	O	O
where	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
had	O	O
come	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
1988	O	O
through	O	O
a	O	O
popular	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
promoting	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
constitutional	O	O
reform	O	O
plan	O	O
and	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
extensive	ESE	O
economic	O	O
reforms	O	O
have	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
re-election	O	O
in	O	O
July	O	O
2000	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
further	O	O
six	O	O
year	O	O
term	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
observers	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
reasons	O	O
behind	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
its	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
Venezuela	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
generals	O	O
who	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
against	O	O
him	O	O
go	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
domestic	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
plans	O	O
and	O	O
policies	O	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

Following	O	O
a	O	O
series	O	O
of	O	O
domestic	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
agriculture	O	O
,	O	O
energy	O	O
and	O	O
banking	O	O
sectors	O	O
and	O	O
describing	DSE	ESE
communism	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
capitalism	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
futile	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
caused	O	O
the	O	O
business	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
bankers	O	O
and	O	O
capitalist	O	O
to	O	O
distance	O	O
themselves	O	O
from	O	O
him	O	O
and	ESE	O
thus	ESE	O
paved	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	O
laws	O	O
were	O	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
as	O	O
deviant	ESE	O
and	O	O
unfair	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
these	O	O
leaders	O	O
organised	O	O
and	O	O
stage-managed	ESE	O
street	O	O
demonstrations	O	DSE
against	O	DSE
Chavez	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
help	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	ESE	O
trade	O	O
and	O	O
commercial	O	O
unions	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
sector	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
.	O	O

Outside	O	O
the	O	O
borders	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
faced	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
hostility	DSE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
something	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
on	ESE	O
many	ESE	O
occasions	ESE	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
thinking	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
ousting	O	O
Chavez	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

Ever	ESE	O
since	ESE	O
he	O	O
came	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
America	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
biding	ESE	O
and	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
on	O	DSE
Washington	O	O
on	O	O
numerous	ESE	O
occasions	ESE	O
to	O	O
stop	ESE	O
intervening	ESE	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
America	O	O
of	O	O
killing	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
children	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
met	O	O
with	O	O
``	O	O
Mo'ammar	O	O
Qadhafi	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
``	O	O
Saddam	O	O
Hoseyn	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
presidents	O	O
of	O	O
Libya	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
long-term	ESE	O
enemies	ESE	O
of	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
very	ESE	DSE
close	ESE	DSE
relationship	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
leader	O	O
``	O	O
Fidel	O	O
Castro	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
combination	O	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
performance	O	O
and	O	O
policies	O	O
brought	O	O
on	O	O
the	DSE	O
wrath	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	O
American	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
extent	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
failed	ESE	O
to	O	O
hide	O	O
his	DSE	O
anger	DSE	DSE
during	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Peru	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
his	O	O
meetings	O	O
with	O	O
Peruvian	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
spoke	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
America	O	O
's	O	O
dislike	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
``	O	O
Powell	O	O
''	O	O
also	O	O
has	O	O
recently	O	O
announced	DSE	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Congress	O	O
that	O	O
taking	O	O
into	O	O
account	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
closeness	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	ESE
dependent	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
America	O	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
trustworthy	ESE	O
pawn	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Latin	O	O
American	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Powell	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
is	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
era	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
rule	ESE	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
play	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
effective	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	O
in	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
policies	O	O
in	O	O
Latin	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

Besides	O	ESE
these	O	ESE
instances	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
American	O	ESE
hostility	DSE	ESE
towards	DSE	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
mention	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	O	O
made	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
oil	O	O
policy	O	O
within	O	O
OPEC	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
caused	O	O
OPEC	O	O
oil	O	O
policies	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
strengthened	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
face	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
positions	O	DSE
adopted	O	DSE
by	O	O
oil	O	O
consumers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	O
managed	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
great	ESE	DSE
extent	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
adopt	O	DSE
policies	O	DSE
aligned	O	DSE
with	O	O
other	O	O
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
states	O	O
whenever	O	O
oil	O	O
crises	O	O
have	O	O
emerged	O	O
that	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
reduced	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
adopted	DSE	DSE
positions	DSE	DSE
where	O	O
supply	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
by	O	O
OPEC	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	O	O
reduced	O	O
and	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
supported	O	DSE
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
while	O	O
before	O	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
called	DSE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
errant	ESE	O
member	ESE	O
''	O	O
within	O	O
OPEC	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
follow	O	O
less	O	O
the	O	O
concerted	O	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
OPEC	O	O
and	O	O
observe	O	O
less	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
quotas	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
why	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
dismiss	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
effects	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intensification	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
's	O	O
initiative	O	O
in	O	O
using	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
weapon	O	O
against	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
debate	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
an	O	O
extensive	ESE	O
oil	O	O
embargo	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
putschists	O	O
there	O	O
.	O	O

America	O	O
was	DSE	O
trying	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
guarantee	DSE	O
the	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
to	O	O
itself	O	O
by	O	O
overthrowing	ESE	O
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
seizing	ESE	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
dependent	O	O
generals	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
thwarted	ESE	DSE
America	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

Finally	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
America	O	ESE
prescribes	DSE	ESE
liberal	O	ESE
democracy	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
others	O	ESE
yet	ESE	ESE
fails	ESE	ESE
itself	O	ESE
to	O	O
accord	O	O
any	ESE	O
value	ESE	O
to	O	O
democratic	ESE	O
principles	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
putschists	O	O
is	O	O
testament	ESE	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

BEIJING	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
11	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
China	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
slammed	DSE	DSE
increasingly	ESE	DSE
close	ESE	DSE
ties	O	DSE
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
demanding	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
end	O	O
to	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
weapons	O	O
sales	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
continual	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
or	O	O
upgrading	ESE	O
of	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
will	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
lead	ESE	O
to	O	O
tensions	ESE	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Zhang	O	O
Qiyue	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
strictly	ESE	ESE
abide	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
made	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
correct	O	O
its	O	O
erroneous	ESE	O
acts	ESE	O
or	O	O
remarks	O	O
so	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
new	ESE	O
harm	ESE	O
to	O	O
China-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Zhang	O	O
further	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
alarm	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
announcement	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
defense	O	O
department	O	O
officials	O	O
will	O	O
soon	O	O
visit	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
eight	O	O
diesel	O	O
electric	O	O
submarines	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	DSE
always	ESE	DSE
resolutely	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
any	ESE	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
or	O	O
military	O	O
intercourse	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Zhang	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
issue	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
core	ESE	O
of	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
biweekly	O	O
ministry	O	O
briefing	O	O
.	O	O

Military	O	O
tensions	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
were	O	O
``	O	O
not	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
self-interests	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

She	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
confirm	DSE	O
an	O	O
April	O	O
26	O	O
to	O	O
May	O	O
3	O	O
visit	O	O
by	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Hu	O	O
Jintao	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
press	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
visit	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
Beijing	O	O
allows	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	DSE
widely	ESE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
centered	ESE	O
on	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
a	O	O
renegade	ESE	O
province	ESE	O
since	O	O
1949	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	O
threatened	DSE	O
to	O	O
bring	O	O
it	O	O
back	O	O
by	O	O
force	O	O
if	O	O
it	O	O
continues	O	O
to	O	O
indefinitely	DSE	DSE
refuse	DSE	DSE
proposals	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
``	O	O
peaceful	ESE	ESE
reunification	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
establish	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
any	O	O
nation	O	O
that	O	O
maintains	O	O
official	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
it	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
encouraged	DSE	DSE
economic	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
all	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
also	O	O
bashed	DSE	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Paul	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Florida	O	O
,	O	O
attended	O	O
by	O	O
visiting	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yao-Ming	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
doing	O	O
whatever	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
takes	ESE	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
defend	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
,	O	O
echoing	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
first	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	DSE	O
position	DSE	DSE
is	O	DSE
clear	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
continued	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	O
oppose	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Wolfowitz	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	ESE	O
deployment	O	O
of	O	O
forces	O	O
and	O	O
tactical	O	O
missiles	O	O
to	O	O
areas	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
from	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
officials	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
Wolfowitz	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
reflected	O	O
a	O	O
change	O	O
in	O	O
US	O	O
policy	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
said	DSE	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
remarks	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
are	O	O
a	O	O
...	O	O
violation	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
made	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
interference	ESE	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

China	DSE	O
is	O	O
firmly	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chinese	O	O
missile	O	O
tests	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
1996	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
deploying	O	O
two	O	O
aircraft	O	O
carrier	O	O
battle	O	O
groups	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

For DSE
pre: 0.782205 rec: 0.57154 f: 0.660481
For ESE
pre: 0.78267 rec: 0.50283 f: 0.612291

