WASHINGTON: The White House on Tuesday acknowledged Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the "elected" president of Iran, but said it had no plans to congratulate the firebrand leader on his impending inauguration.On the eve of Ahmadinejad's swearing-in, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs stopped short of declaring him the "legitimate" president following the political turmoil unleashed by his disputed reelection in June."He's the elected leader," Gibbs said.Earlier, Gibbs was asked whether the United States would make any gesture of congratulations to mark the moment on Wednesday when Ahmadinejad takes the oath of office before parliament, military officials and some foreign diplomats."I don't have any reason to believe that we will send any letters," Gibbs said.The United States has no diplomatic relations with Iran and its interests in the country are represented by the Swiss embassy.Throughout the fierce political turmoil unleashed by Ahmadinejad's disputed reelection, the administration of President Barack Obama took pains not to inject the United States into the political tumult.But Obama became more critical of the Iranian government as the government launched a violent crackdown to suppress dissent and his administration expressed increasing questions about the conduct of the election.Ahmadinejad's victory set off the worst turmoil in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, with deadly street protests, political trials and increasing divisions among the ruling elite.About 30 people were killed in the violence, hundreds wounded and around 2,000 initially arrested, while 110 have gone on trial.August 4, 2009
US ascertains Ahmadinejad as Iran’s elected president
WASHINGTON: The White House on Tuesday acknowledged Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the "elected" president of Iran, but said it had no plans to congratulate the firebrand leader on his impending inauguration.On the eve of Ahmadinejad's swearing-in, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs stopped short of declaring him the "legitimate" president following the political turmoil unleashed by his disputed reelection in June."He's the elected leader," Gibbs said.Earlier, Gibbs was asked whether the United States would make any gesture of congratulations to mark the moment on Wednesday when Ahmadinejad takes the oath of office before parliament, military officials and some foreign diplomats."I don't have any reason to believe that we will send any letters," Gibbs said.The United States has no diplomatic relations with Iran and its interests in the country are represented by the Swiss embassy.Throughout the fierce political turmoil unleashed by Ahmadinejad's disputed reelection, the administration of President Barack Obama took pains not to inject the United States into the political tumult.But Obama became more critical of the Iranian government as the government launched a violent crackdown to suppress dissent and his administration expressed increasing questions about the conduct of the election.Ahmadinejad's victory set off the worst turmoil in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, with deadly street protests, political trials and increasing divisions among the ruling elite.About 30 people were killed in the violence, hundreds wounded and around 2,000 initially arrested, while 110 have gone on trial.
Bill Clinton meets with N.Korean leader
CNN.Former President Clinton met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in North Korea on Tuesday, North Korea's state-run news agency reported.Clinton arrived in Pyongyang earlier in the day on a mission to negotiate the release of two American journalists who have been held in the reclusive communist nation since March, the White House confirmed.
Clinton "courteously conveyed a verbal message" to Kim from President Obama, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. But White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denied that Clinton was carrying any message from the Obama administration.
Kim and Clinton had "an exhaustive conversation" that included "a wide-ranging exchange of views on the matters of common concern," KCNA reported.
Earlier in the day, Gibbs confirmed Clinton was on a "solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans," but gave little detail on his itinerary .
"We do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton's mission," Gibbs said.
KCNA did not disclose the purpose of the visit in its three-line dispatch. However a source with detailed knowledge of Clinton's movements told CNN late Monday that he was going to seek the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, both reporters for California-based Current TV, a media venture launched by Clinton's Vice President Al Gore.
Yang Hyong Sop, the vice president of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, and Kim Kye Gwan, the vice foreign minister, met Clinton, KCNA reported.
Lee and Ling were arrested while reporting on the border between North Korea and China and sentenced in June to 12 years in prison on charges of entering the country illegally to conduct a smear campaign.
Since the United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, efforts to resolve the issue have been handled through Sweden, which represents U.S. interests in the reclusive communist state.
Clinton "courteously conveyed a verbal message" to Kim from President Obama, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. But White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denied that Clinton was carrying any message from the Obama administration.
Kim and Clinton had "an exhaustive conversation" that included "a wide-ranging exchange of views on the matters of common concern," KCNA reported.
Earlier in the day, Gibbs confirmed Clinton was on a "solely private mission to secure the release of two Americans," but gave little detail on his itinerary .
"We do not want to jeopardize the success of former President Clinton's mission," Gibbs said.
KCNA did not disclose the purpose of the visit in its three-line dispatch. However a source with detailed knowledge of Clinton's movements told CNN late Monday that he was going to seek the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, both reporters for California-based Current TV, a media venture launched by Clinton's Vice President Al Gore.
Yang Hyong Sop, the vice president of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, and Kim Kye Gwan, the vice foreign minister, met Clinton, KCNA reported.
Lee and Ling were arrested while reporting on the border between North Korea and China and sentenced in June to 12 years in prison on charges of entering the country illegally to conduct a smear campaign.
Since the United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, efforts to resolve the issue have been handled through Sweden, which represents U.S. interests in the reclusive communist state.
At least 46 journalists reported killed in 2009
GENEVA: At least 46 journalists have died while reporting the news in 21 countries this year, with Somalia and Mexico the most dangerous places for media, according to the International News Safety Institute (INSI).But the Brussels-based body, which tracks killings and deaths of journalists and their aides around the world, said the once-high casualty rate in Iraq was dwindling rapidly with the relative decline in violence in the country.Up to the end of July, six Somali reporters for local and foreign news organisations had been killed, while two journalists taken hostage in 2008 remained in captivity 11 months later, INSI said."But the situation in Mexico is causing grave concern with at least three deaths confirmed and three more under investigation," said the organisation, which is backed by major media and professional bodies around the globe.Three journalists had each died in Pakistan, Iraq and Philippines, it said. INSI noted a key media body in Sri Lanka reported 34 journalists and media workers have been killed there since the present government came to power in 2004.The toll of at least 46 by July 31 -- which includes cameramen and photographers -- compared with 109 in 36 countries for the whole of 2008. INSI counts accidental deaths while on reporting assignments in its figures.It quoted the Colombo-based Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka as saying that, apart from the 34 dead, 10 journalists had been abducted over the same period and more than 50 had gone into exile, fearing persecution.INSI itself records two deaths there this year -- including the assassination in January of Lasantha Wickramatunga, editor-in-chief of the independent Sunday Leader and a critic of both government and the now defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.The organisation -- a charity which provides courses around the globe for mainly developing country journalists on how to minimise danger while reporting -- said the decline in media deaths in Iraq was tremendously encouraging.Up until the end of last year, 252 journalists and their aides had been killed in the country since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. In the first seven months of last year a total of 11 had died. Call for debate on killer robots
An international debate is needed on the use of autonomous military robots, a leading academic has said.-------------------------------------------
Noel Sharkey of the University of Sheffield said that a push toward more robotic technology used in warfare would put civilian life at grave risk.
Technology capable of distinguishing friend from foe reliably was at least 50 years away, he added. However, he said that for the first time, US forces mentioned resolving such ethical concerns in their plans.
"Robots that can decide where to kill, who to kill and when to kill is high on all the military agendas," Professor Sharkey said at a meeting in London.
"The problem is that this is all based on artificial intelligence, and the military have a strange view of artificial intelligence based on science fiction."
Technology capable of distinguishing friend from foe reliably was at least 50 years away, he added. However, he said that for the first time, US forces mentioned resolving such ethical concerns in their plans.
"Robots that can decide where to kill, who to kill and when to kill is high on all the military agendas," Professor Sharkey said at a meeting in London.
"The problem is that this is all based on artificial intelligence, and the military have a strange view of artificial intelligence based on science fiction."
'Odd way'
Professor Sharkey, a professor of artificial intelligence and robotics, has long drawn attention to the psychological distance from the horrors of war that is maintained by operators who pilot unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often from thousands of miles away.
"These guys who are driving them sit there all day...they go home and eat dinner with their families at night," he said.
"It's kind of a very odd way of fighting a war - it's changing the character of war dramatically."
Professor Sharkey, a professor of artificial intelligence and robotics, has long drawn attention to the psychological distance from the horrors of war that is maintained by operators who pilot unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often from thousands of miles away.
"These guys who are driving them sit there all day...they go home and eat dinner with their families at night," he said.
"It's kind of a very odd way of fighting a war - it's changing the character of war dramatically."
The rise in technology has not helped in terms of limiting collateral damage, Professor Sharkey said, because the military intelligence behind attacks was not keeping pace.
Between January 2006 and April 2009, he estimated, 60 such "drone" attacks were carried out in Pakistan. While 14 al-Qaeda were killed, some 687 civilian deaths also occurred, he said.
That physical distance from the actual theatre of war, he said, led naturally to a far greater concern: the push toward unmanned planes and ground robots that make their decisions without the help of human operators at all.
The problem, he said, was that robots could not fulfil two of the basic tenets of warfare: discriminating friend from foe, and "proportionality", determining a reasonable amount of force to gain a given military advantage.
"Robots do not have the necessary discriminatory ability," he explained.
"They're not bright enough to be called stupid - they can't discriminate between civilians and non-civilians; it's hard enough for soldiers to do that.
"And forget about proportionality, there's no software that can make a robot proportional," he added.
"There's no objective calculus of proportionality - it's just a decision that people make."
Between January 2006 and April 2009, he estimated, 60 such "drone" attacks were carried out in Pakistan. While 14 al-Qaeda were killed, some 687 civilian deaths also occurred, he said.
That physical distance from the actual theatre of war, he said, led naturally to a far greater concern: the push toward unmanned planes and ground robots that make their decisions without the help of human operators at all.
The problem, he said, was that robots could not fulfil two of the basic tenets of warfare: discriminating friend from foe, and "proportionality", determining a reasonable amount of force to gain a given military advantage.
"Robots do not have the necessary discriminatory ability," he explained.
"They're not bright enough to be called stupid - they can't discriminate between civilians and non-civilians; it's hard enough for soldiers to do that.
"And forget about proportionality, there's no software that can make a robot proportional," he added.
"There's no objective calculus of proportionality - it's just a decision that people make."
Obama faces 30 death threats daily
WASHINGTON: Since Mr Obama took office, the rate of threats against the president has increased 400 per cent from the 3,000 a year or so under President George W. Bush, according to Ronald Kessler, author of In the President's Secret Service.Some threats to Mr Obama, whose Secret Service codename is Renegade, have been publicised, including an alleged plot by white supremacists in Tennessee late last year to rob a gun store, shoot 88 black people, decapitate another 14 and then assassinate the first black president in American history.NATO chief fears Afghan 'terror Grand Central'
NATO will stay in Afghanistan "for as long as it takes," the military alliance's new leader said in Brussels, Belgium, Monday."We will support the Afghan people for as long as it takes -- let me repeat that, for as long as it takes," said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Danish prime minister who became secretary general on August 1.
He said success in the country was NATO's top priority "to help prevent Afghanistan from becoming again the Grand Central Station of international terrorism."
"Anyone who believes in basic human rights, including women's rights, should support this mission," he said.
But he said the country must take "lead responsibility" for its own security over the course of his five-year term.
He said success in the country was NATO's top priority "to help prevent Afghanistan from becoming again the Grand Central Station of international terrorism."
"Anyone who believes in basic human rights, including women's rights, should support this mission," he said.
But he said the country must take "lead responsibility" for its own security over the course of his five-year term.
NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan has taken a battering in recent months, suffering record casualties as it tries to dislodge Taliban fighters from areas of the country where they hold sway.
At least nine NATO troops died in Afghanistan over the weekend, a bloody start to August after at least 75 troops were killed there in July.
Rasmussen, who replaces Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at NATO's helm, said relations with Russia were his second priority.
Ties between the two have been strained over the past year, with NATO temporarily walking out of a joint Russia-NATO council in the wake of Russia's invasion of Georgia, its southern neighbor, last summer.
"There is clearly scope for us to work together, on counter-terrorism, on Afghanistan, on piracy, on non-proliferation, and many other areas as well," Rasmussen said Monday.
But, he said, he was "not a dreamer."
At least nine NATO troops died in Afghanistan over the weekend, a bloody start to August after at least 75 troops were killed there in July.
Rasmussen, who replaces Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at NATO's helm, said relations with Russia were his second priority.
Ties between the two have been strained over the past year, with NATO temporarily walking out of a joint Russia-NATO council in the wake of Russia's invasion of Georgia, its southern neighbor, last summer.
"There is clearly scope for us to work together, on counter-terrorism, on Afghanistan, on piracy, on non-proliferation, and many other areas as well," Rasmussen said Monday.
But, he said, he was "not a dreamer."
"It is obvious that there will be fundamental issues on which we disagree. We have to insist, for example, that Russia fully complies with its international obligations, including respecting the territorial integrity and political freedom of its neighbors," he said, an apparent reference to Georgia.
He also proposed a standing anti-piracy role for NATO, "with the capabilities, legal arrangements and force generation in place to make it happen."
And he asked for public participation in devising a new "Strategic Concept" for NATO, as the alliance calls its broad mission statement.
"I want to hear the views of the public on what NATO should be and do in future. There is, as of now, a forum on the Web site where anyone can post their views on how NATO should evolve," he said.
He has tapped former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to chair a group of 12 experts working on the Strategic Concept, he announced. The experts will consult widely, then make recommendations to him, he said.
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He also proposed a standing anti-piracy role for NATO, "with the capabilities, legal arrangements and force generation in place to make it happen."
And he asked for public participation in devising a new "Strategic Concept" for NATO, as the alliance calls its broad mission statement.
"I want to hear the views of the public on what NATO should be and do in future. There is, as of now, a forum on the Web site where anyone can post their views on how NATO should evolve," he said.
He has tapped former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to chair a group of 12 experts working on the Strategic Concept, he announced. The experts will consult widely, then make recommendations to him, he said.
Australia foils terrorist plot to attack army base
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Police in Australia foiled a terrorist plot for commando-style suicide attacks on at least one army base, arresting four men Tuesday with suspected links to a Somali Islamist group, senior officers said.Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the plot was a "sober reminder" that Australia is still under threat from extremist groups enraged that the country sent troops to join the U.S.-led military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Some 400 officers from state and national security services took part in 19 pre-dawn raids on properties in Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, police said. Four men, all Australian citizens of Somali or Lebanese descent and aged between 22 and 26, were arrested, and several others were being questioned Tuesday, police said.
Australian Federal Police Acting Commissioner Tony Negus said the raids followed a seven-month surveillance operation of a group of people with alleged ties to al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida-linked Somali extremist organization that has been fighting to overthrow Somalia's transitional government.
"Police will allege that the men were planning to carry out a suicide terrorist attack on a defense establishment within Australia involving an armed assault with automatic weapons," Negus told reporters. "Details of the planning indicated the alleged offenders were prepared to inflict a sustained attack on military personnel until they themselves were killed."
Holsworthy Barracks on the outskirts of Sydney was one of the group's potential targets, and surveillance had been carried out at other bases, he said, declining to identify them.
Negus said the investigation also found that some Australian citizens had traveled to Somalia "to participate in hostilities" there, and that the group was seeking a fatwa, or Islamic religious ruling, approving their plans for the Australian attack. Negus did not say whose approval was being sought.
"Police will allege that the men were planning to carry out a suicide terrorist attack on a defense establishment within Australia involving an armed assault with automatic weapons," Negus told reporters. "Details of the planning indicated the alleged offenders were prepared to inflict a sustained attack on military personnel until they themselves were killed."
Holsworthy Barracks on the outskirts of Sydney was one of the group's potential targets, and surveillance had been carried out at other bases, he said, declining to identify them.
Negus said the investigation also found that some Australian citizens had traveled to Somalia "to participate in hostilities" there, and that the group was seeking a fatwa, or Islamic religious ruling, approving their plans for the Australian attack. Negus did not say whose approval was being sought.
"This operation has disrupted an alleged terrorist attack that could have claimed many lives," he said.
Police announced later that one of the suspects had been formally charged with conspiring to prepare a terrorist act, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Rudd said other charges were likely to follow.
"As the Australian government has said consistently, there is an enduring threat from terrorism at home here in Australia as well as overseas," Rudd told reporters in the northern city of Cairns. "This is a sober reminder that the threat of terrorism to Australia continues."
He said he had been advised that "events today do not at this time warrant any change to our national counterterrorism level, which remains at medium" - the same security warning rating that has been in place in Australia since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Police sealed off several houses in Melbourne after the raids and were conducting intensive searches. Forensic officers in protective suits collected samples and searched at least one car parked in a driveway, while uniformed officers interviewed neighbors.
Police announced later that one of the suspects had been formally charged with conspiring to prepare a terrorist act, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Rudd said other charges were likely to follow.
"As the Australian government has said consistently, there is an enduring threat from terrorism at home here in Australia as well as overseas," Rudd told reporters in the northern city of Cairns. "This is a sober reminder that the threat of terrorism to Australia continues."
He said he had been advised that "events today do not at this time warrant any change to our national counterterrorism level, which remains at medium" - the same security warning rating that has been in place in Australia since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. Police sealed off several houses in Melbourne after the raids and were conducting intensive searches. Forensic officers in protective suits collected samples and searched at least one car parked in a driveway, while uniformed officers interviewed neighbors.
Terrorist violence is extremely rare in Australia - a 1978 bombing near the Hilton Hotel that killed two is the best-known incident - and no attacks have been carried out on Australian soil since the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S. raised security threat levels worldwide.
But dozens of Australians have died in terrorist attacks overseas, mostly in Indonesia including the 2002 bombings in Bali that targeted nightclubs frequented by Australians and other foreigners.
The Somali-linked plot Tuesday is the second major coordinated attack plan exposed in Australia in recent years. Seven men were imprisoned in the past year for involvement in a nascent plot to target thousands of spectators in an attack major sporting events in Australia.
But dozens of Australians have died in terrorist attacks overseas, mostly in Indonesia including the 2002 bombings in Bali that targeted nightclubs frequented by Australians and other foreigners.
The Somali-linked plot Tuesday is the second major coordinated attack plan exposed in Australia in recent years. Seven men were imprisoned in the past year for involvement in a nascent plot to target thousands of spectators in an attack major sporting events in Australia.
Negus said the Somali-linked plot, if it had been carried out, could have been the most serious terrorist attack on Australian soil.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Australia introduced tough new counterterrorism laws that grant police and security agencies strong surveillance and detention powers, and stiffened prison sentences for convicted terrorists. Australia does not have the death penalty.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Australia introduced tough new counterterrorism laws that grant police and security agencies strong surveillance and detention powers, and stiffened prison sentences for convicted terrorists. Australia does not have the death penalty.
Al-Shabaab, which conducts frequent attacks in Somalia, is seeking to overthrow the Horn of Africa nation's Western-backed government and establish an Islamic state. The group has claimed responsibility for several high-profile bombings and shootings in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, targeting Ethiopian troops and Somali government officials. It has also killed journalists and international aid workers.
The U.S. State Department's annual terrorism report in April said al-Shabaab was providing a safe haven to al-Qaida "elements" wanted for the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The two groups have long been suspected of working together, but they have not announced a formal alliance. Al-Qaida has operations in North Africa, Yemen and Iraq.
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The U.S. State Department's annual terrorism report in April said al-Shabaab was providing a safe haven to al-Qaida "elements" wanted for the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The two groups have long been suspected of working together, but they have not announced a formal alliance. Al-Qaida has operations in North Africa, Yemen and Iraq.
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