Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
The Chilcot inquiry is incapable of addressing the key issue of whether the invasion of Iraq was legal, senior judicial figures have said, adding to the controversy surrounding the inquiry's legitimacy.The inquiry into one of the most contentious political decisions of modern times begins hearing evidence tomorrow, and its chairman, Sir John Chilcot, has insisted that the legality of the invasion in 2003 will be one of the key issues it addresses.
The Chilcot inquiry is incapable of addressing the key issue of whether the invasion of Iraq was legal, senior judicial figures have said, adding to the controversy surrounding the inquiry's legitimacy.
The inquiry into one of the most contentious political decisions of modern times begins hearing evidence tomorrow, and its chairman, Sir John Chilcot, has insisted that the legality of the invasion in 2003 will be one of the key issues it addresses.
British officials decided not to get involved in talk about regime change in Iraq in 2001 even though some parts of the new Bush administration began to discuss the possibility two years before the invasion, the opening hearing of the UK inquiry into the war heard today.But Whitehall was, like Washington, concerned that the policy of containing Saddam Hussein was failing before the September 11 attacks on the US, senior civil servants said.
British officials decided not to get involved in talk about regime change in Iraq in 2001 even though some parts of the new Bush administration began to discuss the possibility two years before the invasion, the opening hearing of the UK inquiry into the war heard today.
But Whitehall was, like Washington, concerned that the policy of containing Saddam Hussein was failing before the September 11 attacks on the US, senior civil servants said.
The UK government "distanced itself" from talk of removing Saddam Hussein in early 2001 despite concerns about his threat, the Iraq inquiry has been told.Sir Peter Ricketts, a top intelligence official at the time, said it was assumed it was not "our policy" despite growing talk in the US about the move. Senior diplomats have finished their evidence on the war's origins on the first day of public hearings. The inquiry chairman has said he hopes to conclude his report in late 2010. Relatives of some of the 179 UK service personnel killed in Iraq gathered outside the venue in central London where the hearings are being held, as did a number of anti-war protesters.
The UK government "distanced itself" from talk of removing Saddam Hussein in early 2001 despite concerns about his threat, the Iraq inquiry has been told.
Sir Peter Ricketts, a top intelligence official at the time, said it was assumed it was not "our policy" despite growing talk in the US about the move.
Senior diplomats have finished their evidence on the war's origins on the first day of public hearings.
The inquiry chairman has said he hopes to conclude his report in late 2010.
Relatives of some of the 179 UK service personnel killed in Iraq gathered outside the venue in central London where the hearings are being held, as did a number of anti-war protesters.
British and American officials secretly discussed overthrowing Saddam Hussein two years before the invasion of Iraq, the public inquiry into the war was told today. On the opening day of Sir John Chilcot's Iraq Inquiry, Foreign Office officials said they feared that United Nations sanctions against Iraq were losing support by 2001 amid growing concern about weapons of mass destruction. A small band of protesters, some dressed in Tony Blair masks, gathered outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster as senior civil servants began to give evidence on British and US policy towards Saddam Hussein and the no-fly zones imposed in Iraqi airspace. Sir Peter Ricketts, then chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said that he was aware of a "background noise" of discussion in the United States about overthrowing the Iraqi regime soon after the election of President George W. Bush.
British and American officials secretly discussed overthrowing Saddam Hussein two years before the invasion of Iraq, the public inquiry into the war was told today.
On the opening day of Sir John Chilcot's Iraq Inquiry, Foreign Office officials said they feared that United Nations sanctions against Iraq were losing support by 2001 amid growing concern about weapons of mass destruction.
A small band of protesters, some dressed in Tony Blair masks, gathered outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster as senior civil servants began to give evidence on British and US policy towards Saddam Hussein and the no-fly zones imposed in Iraqi airspace.
Sir Peter Ricketts, then chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said that he was aware of a "background noise" of discussion in the United States about overthrowing the Iraqi regime soon after the election of President George W. Bush.
they are not intended to reach a finding that the public find credible, they exist to provide a smokescreen for a few years to cover the establishment for a few years in the hope everyone forgets about it.
If that fails, they have another inquiry. in the meantime Jack Straw will continue to claim all have been found not guilty and Alistaer Campbell will insist with staring eye and throbbing vein that the dodgy dossier was the truth the whole truth and nothing like but the truth. keep to the Fen Causeway
for example right now in India nobody noticed Manmohan's state visit to White House. Why? Another scandal hit political life when Manmohan's plane was descending in Washington. Indian Express on Monday morning leaked results of so-called Liberhan commission which costed 8 crores to the exchequer, lasted record 17 years. Justice Liberhan was investigating causes of Babri Masjid demolition by hordes of Hindu fanatics in December 1992. Of course after recieving from successive governments at least 80 prolongations a mountain produced a mouse. majority of people Liberhan is indicting simply passed away or retired from public service.
Britain's role in the torture of its own citizens in Pakistan is condemned today by one of the world's leading human rights organisations as being cruel, counter-productive and in clear breach of international law.In a damning report, published after an investigation spanning more than a year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the UK government today finds itself in a "legally, morally and politically invidious position" because of its complicity in torture, and warns that its moral legitimacy could be undermined.
Britain's role in the torture of its own citizens in Pakistan is condemned today by one of the world's leading human rights organisations as being cruel, counter-productive and in clear breach of international law.
In a damning report, published after an investigation spanning more than a year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the UK government today finds itself in a "legally, morally and politically invidious position" because of its complicity in torture, and warns that its moral legitimacy could be undermined.
A former high jumper now living in Queens finally saw her German national record restored yesterday -- 73 years after the Nazis disallowed it because she's Jewish. "I'm very happy they finally did what they did -- I was a damned good high jumper," Margaret Bergmann Lambert said from the Jamaica Estates home she shares with her 99-year-old husband, Bruno. Lambert, who competed under the name of Gretel Bergmann, set the German high-jump mark of 5 feet, 3 inches on June 30, 1936. At the time, she was nominally a member of the German Olympic team, which was about to host the Berlin Games.
A former high jumper now living in Queens finally saw her German national record restored yesterday -- 73 years after the Nazis disallowed it because she's Jewish.
"I'm very happy they finally did what they did -- I was a damned good high jumper," Margaret Bergmann Lambert said from the Jamaica Estates home she shares with her 99-year-old husband, Bruno.
Lambert, who competed under the name of Gretel Bergmann, set the German high-jump mark of 5 feet, 3 inches on June 30, 1936.
At the time, she was nominally a member of the German Olympic team, which was about to host the Berlin Games.
British prosecutors failed to disclose crucial evidence to the courts in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in a case that resulted in an innocent pilot being jailed for five months, previously unseen documents reveal.Lotfi Raissi, an Algerian living in the UK, was the first person in the world to be arrested after the 2001 attacks in New York and Washington DC. Accused of being the "lead" instructor of the 9/11 hijackers, Raissi, 27, was held in Belmarsh high security prison awaiting extradition to the United States.In a landmark announcement, Jack Straw, the justice secretary, is shortly expected to reveal whether the UK government will accept responsibility for the miscarriage of justice and pay Raissi compensation.
British prosecutors failed to disclose crucial evidence to the courts in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in a case that resulted in an innocent pilot being jailed for five months, previously unseen documents reveal.
Lotfi Raissi, an Algerian living in the UK, was the first person in the world to be arrested after the 2001 attacks in New York and Washington DC. Accused of being the "lead" instructor of the 9/11 hijackers, Raissi, 27, was held in Belmarsh high security prison awaiting extradition to the United States.
In a landmark announcement, Jack Straw, the justice secretary, is shortly expected to reveal whether the UK government will accept responsibility for the miscarriage of justice and pay Raissi compensation.
Counter-terrorism police were criticised by the independent reviewer of terrorism today for a total failure to take legal advice in advance of their operation to arrest 12 suspects in Liverpool and Manchester.Lord Carlile's report revealed that Greater Manchester police (GMP) failed to consult senior terrorism lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) during the operation.The experienced CPS lawyers were only contacted the day before the arrests in April this year - not by the senior investigating officer but by an unnamed source who was concerned that lawyers should be consulted.
Counter-terrorism police were criticised by the independent reviewer of terrorism today for a total failure to take legal advice in advance of their operation to arrest 12 suspects in Liverpool and Manchester.
Lord Carlile's report revealed that Greater Manchester police (GMP) failed to consult senior terrorism lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) during the operation.
The experienced CPS lawyers were only contacted the day before the arrests in April this year - not by the senior investigating officer but by an unnamed source who was concerned that lawyers should be consulted.
Spanish authorities say 34 people have been arrested as part of a police operation against a banned youth group linked to radical Basque separatism.Officers raided a number of properties in the Basque region and the neighbouring province of Navarra. They were reportedly acting on documents seized earlier this year after the arrest of an alleged senior member of the militant group Eta. Eta has waged a 41-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland.
Spanish authorities say 34 people have been arrested as part of a police operation against a banned youth group linked to radical Basque separatism.
Officers raided a number of properties in the Basque region and the neighbouring province of Navarra.
They were reportedly acting on documents seized earlier this year after the arrest of an alleged senior member of the militant group Eta.
Eta has waged a 41-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland.
A libel trial has started in Poland over charges former President Lech Walesa once worked as a communist spy.The court case pits the anti-communist leader against his one-time ally and successor as president, Lech Kaczynski. The court case was adjourned until 18 December to allow more time for preparation. Mr Walesa, now 66, is seeking a retraction of a claim made by Mr Kaczynski that he spied for the communist secret service in the 1970s.
A libel trial has started in Poland over charges former President Lech Walesa once worked as a communist spy.
The court case pits the anti-communist leader against his one-time ally and successor as president, Lech Kaczynski.
The court case was adjourned until 18 December to allow more time for preparation.
Mr Walesa, now 66, is seeking a retraction of a claim made by Mr Kaczynski that he spied for the communist secret service in the 1970s.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an investigation into the death in prison of a lawyer who was awaiting trial on charges of tax evasion.Sergei Magnitsky, 37, who was being held on suspicion of conspiracy, died last week from what investigators said was acute heart failure. It has since emerged he had repeatedly complained that prison authorities had refused to allow him medical care. He acted for a company that was once Russia's top foreign investor.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an investigation into the death in prison of a lawyer who was awaiting trial on charges of tax evasion.
Sergei Magnitsky, 37, who was being held on suspicion of conspiracy, died last week from what investigators said was acute heart failure.
It has since emerged he had repeatedly complained that prison authorities had refused to allow him medical care.
He acted for a company that was once Russia's top foreign investor.
Has the New Cold War somehow been called off? In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
the problem that it attracted so little comment was that Magnitsky was a lawyer for Mr Brouder who is considered not so trustworthy and prone to manipulation of media in his (not charitable) interests.
Otherwise what Mr Brouder said is worthy to investigate, though I am not fond of sweeping generalizations (like "Russia is essentially criminal state", in the same way one can treat all Israelis as criminals for example because Israel as a state is committing many crimes).
The Czech government has expressed regret over the illegal sterilisation of Roma women. Measures were being introduced to stop the practice being repeated, said Human Rights Minister Michael Kocab. Coercive sterilisation was allegedly used to curb the traditionally high fertility rate among the Roma. The practice officially ended with the collapse of Communism in Czechoslovakia in 1990, but rights groups say the last recorded case was as recent as 2003.
The Czech government has expressed regret over the illegal sterilisation of Roma women.
Measures were being introduced to stop the practice being repeated, said Human Rights Minister Michael Kocab.
Coercive sterilisation was allegedly used to curb the traditionally high fertility rate among the Roma.
The practice officially ended with the collapse of Communism in Czechoslovakia in 1990, but rights groups say the last recorded case was as recent as 2003.
Up to a quarter of a million public sector workers have taken part in a national strike in the Republic of Ireland.Civil servants, some medical staff and teachers are protesting at government plans to cut the public sector pay bill by 1.3bn euros next year. They say they cannot take any more cuts in their wages after an emergency budget earlier this year. Almost all public offices and schools were closed. Hospital appointments for up to 16,000 patients were cancelled.
Up to a quarter of a million public sector workers have taken part in a national strike in the Republic of Ireland.
Civil servants, some medical staff and teachers are protesting at government plans to cut the public sector pay bill by 1.3bn euros next year.
They say they cannot take any more cuts in their wages after an emergency budget earlier this year.
Almost all public offices and schools were closed.
Hospital appointments for up to 16,000 patients were cancelled.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday (24 November) received the final names of commissioner nominees, meaning that he can start the distribution of portfolios, a process keenly watched by national governments. Reflecting the electoral landscape in the EU, the 27-strong commission will be dominated by the centre-right (13 commissioners), followed by the liberals with eight commissioners and six commissioners from the centre-left. The would-be new team contains nine women and 14 returning commissioners, including Mr Barroso himself. Of the 14 returning names, some are relatively new such as Briton Catherine Ashton, who came to Brussels last year to replace Peter Mandelson on trade. Belgium's Karel de Gucht, Slovakia's Maros Sefcovic and Lithuania's Algirdas Semeta are also latecomers.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday (24 November) received the final names of commissioner nominees, meaning that he can start the distribution of portfolios, a process keenly watched by national governments.
Reflecting the electoral landscape in the EU, the 27-strong commission will be dominated by the centre-right (13 commissioners), followed by the liberals with eight commissioners and six commissioners from the centre-left.
The would-be new team contains nine women and 14 returning commissioners, including Mr Barroso himself. Of the 14 returning names, some are relatively new such as Briton Catherine Ashton, who came to Brussels last year to replace Peter Mandelson on trade. Belgium's Karel de Gucht, Slovakia's Maros Sefcovic and Lithuania's Algirdas Semeta are also latecomers.
So there are 9 women commissioners - is that an improvement?
General Motors Co. may shut its Saab unit after sports-car maker Koenigsegg Group AB canceled a planned acquisition of the Swedish company, a person familiar with the matter said. GM's board will review the future of the bankrupt unit at a Dec. 1 meeting, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the talks aren't public. Directors could opt to keep Saab, as they did earlier this month in scrapping the sale of the Opel division in Germany, the person said.
GM's board will review the future of the bankrupt unit at a Dec. 1 meeting, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the talks aren't public. Directors could opt to keep Saab, as they did earlier this month in scrapping the sale of the Opel division in Germany, the person said.
AFP - Belgium's ex-prime minister Yves Leterme -- who quit amid a bank bailout scandal last year -- will bounce back as government chief within 24 hours, incumbent Herman Van Rompuy said Tuesday. "It's now his second chance. He has all the elements to prove he will be a good prime minister. I hope so for him and for Belgium," said Van Rompuy, who is leaving the premiership. Fellow ex-PM Wilfried Martens had been asked Friday by King Albert II to organise "a quick and efficient transition" so as not to upset the country's fragile coalition government. He also confirmed that Leterme, currently the country's foreign minister, would return to the top job.
AFP - Belgium's ex-prime minister Yves Leterme -- who quit amid a bank bailout scandal last year -- will bounce back as government chief within 24 hours, incumbent Herman Van Rompuy said Tuesday.
"It's now his second chance. He has all the elements to prove he will be a good prime minister. I hope so for him and for Belgium," said Van Rompuy, who is leaving the premiership.
Fellow ex-PM Wilfried Martens had been asked Friday by King Albert II to organise "a quick and efficient transition" so as not to upset the country's fragile coalition government.
He also confirmed that Leterme, currently the country's foreign minister, would return to the top job.
In the land famous for its vodka, President Medvedev is swimming against the current. He has ordered swift controls and passed laws aimed at curbing alcoholism, something many see as virtually impossible. In response to growing alcohol consumption in Russia and figures released by the World Health Organization, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has launched a campaign against alcoholism in his country, aimed at controlling the sale, advertising, and production of alcohol. In addition, several working groups are in the process of drafting laws to restrict drinking among Russian youth, such as raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. New studies suggest that the average Russian consumes some 18 liters (4.75 gallons) of pure alcohol per year. This is double the amount the World Health Organization considers harmful to one's health.
In response to growing alcohol consumption in Russia and figures released by the World Health Organization, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has launched a campaign against alcoholism in his country, aimed at controlling the sale, advertising, and production of alcohol.
In addition, several working groups are in the process of drafting laws to restrict drinking among Russian youth, such as raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.
New studies suggest that the average Russian consumes some 18 liters (4.75 gallons) of pure alcohol per year. This is double the amount the World Health Organization considers harmful to one's health.
En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
A Polish court has started hearing a libel case brought by Lech Walesa against Poland's president, Lech Kaczynski, for calling him a communist agent. Speaking on the first day of the case the former Solidarity leader pledged to "get" Mr Kaczynski for comments he made during a television interview last year in which the president said Mr Walesa worked as communist double-agent under the codename Bolek during the early 1970s.Mr Walesa, who played a key role in bringing down the Iron Curtain 20 years ago, pointed out that a court has already cleared him of any links with the communist era secret services. "When he took office, the president vowed to respect the law," said Mr Walesa. "I have a verdict from a court proving my innocence.
Speaking on the first day of the case the former Solidarity leader pledged to "get" Mr Kaczynski for comments he made during a television interview last year in which the president said Mr Walesa worked as communist double-agent under the codename Bolek during the early 1970s.
Mr Walesa, who played a key role in bringing down the Iron Curtain 20 years ago, pointed out that a court has already cleared him of any links with the communist era secret services.
"When he took office, the president vowed to respect the law," said Mr Walesa. "I have a verdict from a court proving my innocence.
