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December 24, 2008
“Nobody wants war”

Let me be clear: no one wants war.
…
If the international community once again shows a lack of resolve, there is no chance that Saddam Hussein will disarm voluntarily or flee – and thus little chance of a peaceful outcome.
…
17 times the UN has drawn a line in the sand – and 17 times Saddam Hussein has crossed that line. As last week's statement by the eight European leaders so eloquently put it: "If [those resolutions] are not complied with, the Security Council will lose its credibility and world peace will suffer as a result."
Donald Rumsfeld, The Global Fight against Terrorism: Status and Perspectives, Munich, Feb. 8, 2003

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"The issue is not war. Nobody wants war," Dr Singh told media persons outside Parliament when asked to comment on the present stand-off with Pakistan over the Mumbai terror attacks.

He said India wanted Pakistan to make 'objective efforts to dismantle terror machine' and added that Islamabad 'knows what it implies'.

'Talk of war, surgical strikes is ill-advised'

Referring to 'many' UN resolutions prohibiting member countries from allowing terrorism to emanate from their territories, Dr Singh said Pakistan should "comply with those resolutions".

At the same time, he said: "The international community should use its power to persuade Pakistan (to end terrorism)."
Nobody wants war with Pakistan: Dr Singh, New Delhi, Dec. 23, 2008

Posted by b on December 24, 2008 at 15:37 UTC | Permalink
Comments

Christmas day, or the opening of the Olympic games are a great time to make war.

Posted by: Cloned Poster | Dec 24 2008 20:11 utc | 1

The thing is, we now know that when these statements were made public (2003), the critical mass for the Iraq invasion was already achieved – this was not ‘selling’ the war as much as it was announcing its inevitable arrival.
I fear the same here, now: the critical inertia already exists: Pakistan.
PS – parting thought: remember the boardgame RISK? It’s sure starting to look like Iran’s the real “prize”…..

Posted by: Jeremiah | Dec 24 2008 20:19 utc | 2

Hurry up with our cluster bombs, says India

India has sought over 500 advanced technology cluster bombs from the US. This is a clear sign that the government wants to arm itself to take on large targets, including terrorist camps.
Cluster bombs attracted controversies during their extended use in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia.
India requested for them in September.
But, after the Mumbai terror attacks, South Block has asked the Pentagon to fast-track the request, sources said.
According to documents listing India’s request – an exclusive copy of which lies with Headlines Today – India has specifically asked the US to provide 510 units of the American CBU-105 cluster bomb and full logistics support services. If Washington approves of the sale, it will cost New Delhi $375 million (Rs 1,700 crore).
(snip)

An aspiring global power with a billion and 150 million population, nuclear armed, increasingly belligerent, potentially expansionist…
Mulling that picture over in my mind, I begin to wonder if the imperial strategists are egging India on just to ensure there will be one nation even more unpopular internationally than the US itself.

Posted by: Alamet | Dec 24 2008 20:57 utc | 3

Imperial banksters are the push behind worldwide terrorism *and* the so-called “war or terrorism”. They always play both sides of the coin. Heads they win; tails you lose. Financing wars is highly profitable.

Posted by: James Crow | Dec 24 2008 21:27 utc | 4

I was looking for the English text of the Status of Forces Agreement (a SOFA agreement) between Iraq and the US. To dope out what it says exactly.
wiki ..didn’t read it, just to show what I am talking about.
I can’t find it. various googgly combos – turn up the same press articles etc.
Could it be it isn’t published in English? How is that possible? If that is the case, is it even legal? What am I missing here?

Posted by: Tangerine | Dec 25 2008 0:11 utc | 5

@Tangerine – here.

Posted by: b | Dec 25 2008 8:53 utc | 6

what Christmas is all about.

Posted by: slothrop | Dec 25 2008 23:15 utc | 7

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