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June 18, 2005
Rice
On Crucial Middle East Tour
Aljazeera
Sat, 18 Jun 2005 2:04 AM PDT
US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, embarking on her first comprehensive
Middle East tour, is expected to deliver stern messages to Israel and the
Palestinians to work together on the upcoming withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Oil
Sets New Record: $58.60
NEW
YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices set a new record of $58.60 a barrel on Friday, after
the United States and other Western nations shut consulates in oil-producing
Nigeria following a terrorist threat.
Concerns about the ability of U.S. refiners to cope with strong U.S. demand, despite rising fuel costs, also helped propel prices above the record of $58.28 set in April.
US
Takes Little Comfort From Europe's Woes
The United States may
be relieved it no longer has to fend off a budding political counterweight in
Europe, but it is taking little comfort in the deepening political woes of its
trans-Atlantic allies.
The Americans have studiously avoided comment on the European Union's struggles to find its footing after shelving its draft constitution and seeing this week's EU summit descend into disarray.
Blair
Hopes EU 'Can Move Forward' After Summit Debacle
British Prime Minister
Tony Blair sought to seize opportunity from crisis Saturday, insisting the time
is ripe for a real and profound debate on the future of Europe in the era of
globalisation.
With a two-day EU summit in Brussels spectacularly breaking down over Britain's determination to hang onto its EU budget rebate, Blair was optimistic that the 25-nation bloc would emerge stronger in the end.
Israel
To Build Underwater Barrier To Prevent Attacks...
Israel is to build an underwater security barrier
on its coastal border with the Gaza Strip in a bid to prevent infiltrations from
the sea by would-be Palestinian attackers, security sources said Friday.
The
navy-built barrier is expected to stretch out into the Mediterranean Sea for
nearly one kilometre (about half a mile)
A
first 150-metre stretch will be made a concrete wall with its foundations buried
into the seabed near the northern Gaza Strip. A floating metal fence will then
stretch for another 800 metres, a report in the English-language Jerusalem Post
said.
House
Passes Bill To Slash Funds To UN
WASHINGTON
- Culminating years of frustration with the performance and behavior of the United Nations, the House voted Friday to slash
U.S. contributions to the world body if it does not substantially change the way
it operates.
The 221-184 vote, which came despite a Bush administration warning that such a move could actually sabotage reform efforts, was a strong signal from Congress that a policy of persuasion wasn't enough to straighten out the U.N.
Al-Qaida's
No. 2 Calls On Palestinian Militants To End Cease-Fire With Israel
Haaretz Daily Fri,
17 Jun 2005 1:11 PM PDT
CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, released a new video, aired
on Al-Jazeera television Friday, in which he called on Palestinian militant
groups to end a cease-fire with Israel and stay out of upcoming legislative
elections in the Gaza Strip and West Bank
Comments
US
Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East this weekend to try
and keep the Disengagement Plan on schedule.
Violence has threatened to put the withdrawal on hold with calls from
Al-Qaida to militant groups to continue the fight.
The
E.U. is in complete disarray over the collapse of the constitution.
Name calling and figure pointing erupted into a meltdown at the two-day
E.U. summit in Brussels. Many are
blaming the selfishness of the French and the Dutch for the European Union’s
woes.
Oil
prices hit a new record this Friday surpassing the $58.00 mark closing at $58.60
a barrel. Apparently, the U.S. and
other countries shut consulates
in Nigeria after receiving terrorist threats.
These
are three major concerns the world is facing with no apparent answer in sight.
I
look for Israel to become a thorn in the Arab and Russian oil market soon.
I believe it will be a major find and will send prices plummeting.
The good thing is Arab hatred toward Israel will always keep them out of
OPEC.
What is the next step for the E.U.? Personally, I believe the E.U. maybe headed for a split or at least a two-stage entry with those who are ready to meet the demands of the constitution entering first. Of course, that’s if a strong leader doesn’t emerge and straighten out the mess first.
What about the Middle East peace process? That will go on along with the withdrawal and the creation of a Palestinian state. There maybe a few bumps in the road along the way but it will get done.
Eventually, at some point, the antichrist will come on the scene. Whether it will be before or after the Palestinian state is created is up for debate. We may live to see its creation and the attack that I believe will follow thereafter.