30/10/06 - Conséquences économiques du réchauffement climatique

Le rapport Stern :

Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change
Stern Review's final report


Lire, Read the press comments :

Le coût du réchauffement climatique pourrait atteindre 5,5 trillions d'euros
Le Monde avec AFP 30.10.06

"Le réchauffement climatique pourrait coûter à l'économie mondiale jusqu'à 5,5 trillions d'euros (7 trillions de dollars) si les gouvernements ne prennent pas des mesures radicales au cours des dix prochaines années, avertit une étude d'un ancien responsable de la Banque mondiale..."


'Almost too late' to stop a global catastrophe
The Independant 30 October 2006

"The possibility of avoiding a global catastrophe is "already almost out of reach", Sir Nicholas Stern's long-awaited report on climate change will warn today. One terrifying prospect is that changes in weather patterns could drive down the output of the world's economies by an amount equivalent to up to £6 trillion a year by 2050, almost the entire output of the EU..."


Climat: l'inaction risque d'entraîner une crise économique
Reuters 29/10/06

"Ne rien faire pour lutter contre le changement climatique risque d'entraîner une crise économique de l'ampleur de celle de 1930, affirme un rapport britannique sur le coût du changement climatique.

Le rapport de Nicholas Stern, économiste du gouvernement britannique, dont Reuters a pu obtenir un résumé de 27 pages, affirme que les bénéfices de mesures prises dans le monde entier pour lutter contre le changement climatique dépasseront nettement les coûts..."


£3.68 trillion: The price of failing to act on climate change
The Observer October 29, 2006

"Britons face the prospect of a welter of new green taxes to tackle climate change, as the most authoritative report on global warming warns it will cost the world up to £3.68 trillion unless it is tackled within a decade.

The review by Sir Nicholas Stern, commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and published tomorrow, marks a crucial point in the debate by underlining how failure to act would trigger a catastrophic global recession. Unchecked climate change would turn 200 million people into refugees, the largest migration in modern history, as their homes succumbed to drought or flood..."


30/10/06 - Les implications stratégiques du voyage de Jacques Chirac en Chine

Chirac's strategic visit to Beijing
By Federico Bordonaro, Asia Times 27/10/06

"...At a press conference just before the French president left Paris for Beijing, his spokesman Jerome Bonnafont said: "Part of France's place in the world of tomorrow depends on its ability to construct a particularly strong relationship with China."

Such an observation is perfectly consistent with Chirac's geopolitical world view. Since his first election in 1995, the successor to Francois Mitterrand has repeatedly expressed his unease with the US "hyperpower" and with Washington's "unipolar moment", which he sees as a not-so-benign hegemony.

Accordingly, the French president has been promoting what he believes is the logical and desirable alternative to US-led unipolarity, a "multipolar world" predicated on a new balance of power among major political-strategic and economic poles: the United States, the European Union (politically headed by a strong Franco-German combine), Russia, Japan, India, Brazil and, of course, China.

As the Franco-German axis entered a strategic impasse after the EU's successive enlargements, and the Franco-German-Russian strategic alignment created in 2003 against the Iraq war does not seem capable of replacing the Paris-Berlin axis, Chirac now sees France's ties with the rising Asian powers as a vital tool to boost Paris's political influence, economic interests and strategic independence..."

"...Should Galileo acquire a military dimension, Washington and its closest allies will have good reasons to be alarmed, also in the light of a recent satellite incident. On October 12, according to a report in Jane's Defence Weekly, China used "high-energy lasers to interfere with US satellites", which would show that Beijing has nowadays "some level of confidence" in its "laser countermeasures system".

With space politics rapidly increasing in strategic importance, a likely European satellite-technology transfer to China may further complicate US security plans.

Consequently, if presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy - whose US-friendly stance is well known - should win France's general elections next year, Paris may lose some of its enthusiasm for enhanced Franco-Chinese military and satellite-related cooperation..."


30/10/06 - Des milliers d'armes américaines perdues entre de mauvaises mains en Irak

U.S. Is Said to Fail in Tracking Arms for Iraqis
New York Times 30/10/06

"The American military has not properly tracked hundreds of thousands of weapons intended for Iraqi security forces and has failed to provide spare parts, maintenance personnel or even repair manuals for most of the weapons given to the Iraqis, a federal report released Sunday has concluded..."


30/10/06 - Elections américaines : On attends les commentaires d'Ossama Bin Laden

Al Qaeda: Plans for an October Surprise?
Newsweek 06/11/06

"Is Osama bin Laden going to weigh in on the midterm elections? A senior counterterrorism official, anonymous, like other officials NEWSWEEK spoke to, because the subject is sensitive, says that based on previous patterns—such as the release of a rare bin Laden tape just before the 2004 presidential vote—a message before Election Day wouldn't be surprising. Private expert Evan Kohlmann, who consults for the Feds on terror probes, says Al Qaeda has lately released tapes at a rate of two or three per month. This month, he says, they are "short by one or two," so he thinks a pre-election message is a "very good likelihood." Another U.S. official says intel experts believe Al Qaeda wants to be "relevant" to the U.S. political process. But a third counterterror official says "we don't have any indication" Osama & Co. are about to surface. Spokesmen for the FBI and Homeland Security Department said they were unaware of specific intel foreshadowing an attack on U.S. soil before the elections. Overseas, the threat is more ominous: reports of a possible attack on Saudi oil installations (which could raise U.S. gas prices). The perpetrators would probably be Saudi Qaeda affiliates; methods could include truck or boat bombs. U.S. agencies are not certain of the threat's credibility, an official said."


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Pentagon: Al-Qaeda Trying To Influence US Election
All Headline News 29/10/06

"Pentagon press secretary, Eric Ruff, said that Al-Qaeda was trying to influence the upcoming United States legislative elections by increasing violence in Iraq.

According to Agence France-Presse, Ruff told reporters that, "It would seem that if they (Al-Qaeda) can increase the violence, they can increase opposition to the war and have an influence against the president."

Describing his comment, he said that he has not seen any intelligence reports regarding the view that Al-Qaeda is trying to influence the elections. But, he asserted it was not surprising that Al Qaeda could use violence to influence U.S. elections like the Madrid bombings on the eve of Spanish elections in March 2004.

However, he denied that he was implying that Al-Qaeda wanted a Democratic victory in the Nov. 7 legislative elections."


29/10/06 - L'extrême droite entre au Gouvernement israélien

Labor MK: Lieberman's entry into gov't would mark 'black day'
Haaretz 28/10/06

"MK Raleb Majadele, one of nine Labor MKs opposed to the inclusion of the right-wing Yisrael Beteinu party in the government, said Friday that the party's entry into the coalition would mark a "black day for the Knesset of Israel, a black day for democracy.

Labor Party members opposed to the inclusion of Yisrael Beiteinu are demanding that a secret ballot on the matter be held at the Labor Central Committee meeting Sunday.

Majadele said that he will vote against Yisrael Beiteinu's entry into the coalition when the matter comes before the Knesset plenum.

"In my worst nightmares I never believed that the Labor Party would reach a day like this, with [Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor] Lieberman and us as coalition partners," Majadele told Israel Radio on Friday. Lieberman "denies the right of Israel's Arab citizens to exist," he said..."


U.S. Stays Mum On Israel’s Lieberman
The Jewish Week 27/10/06

"In Israel, a teetering government elected on the promise of unilaterally leaving much of the West Bank has been rescued by a politician opposed to any new pullouts. But the Bush administration, which recently renewed its call for creation of a Palestinian state, has reacted with barely a murmur..."


Lieberman is a strategic threat
Haaretz 27/10/06

"...The choice of the most unrestrained and irresponsible man around for this job constitutes a strategic threat in its own right. Lieberman's lack of restraint and his unbridled tongue, comparable only to those of Iran's president, are liable to bring disaster down upon the entire region..."

"...Who will be employed in the Ministry of Strategic Threats and what will their areas of responsibility be? Who will control Lieberman's tongue, and has anyone taken into account the dangers inherent in his threats? Was he chosen for this nonexistent post solely because he wanted it? If there is indeed an Iranian threat, should responsibility for dealing with it be entrusted to a junior coalition partner? Does not his very appointment convey fear rather than deterrence? Can one conclude from this appointment that the Iranian threat will be handled with the same lack of seriousness as the decision to go to war in Lebanon, and will the results not be much worse?..."


Ring the alarms
Guardian 25/10/06

"...Lieberman, who has previously threatened to bomb Tehran, the Aswan Dam, and (less impressively) Beirut, has been awarded the new portfolio of minister for strategic threats. In Israeli politics, this translates as "the minister for planning war with Iran", or possibly Gaza. But while his appointment is evidently a desperate move to try to ensure Olmert's political survival, it can also be interpreted as crass diplomacy or even a preparation for war..."


Olmert's New Coalition Partner: A Step Forward or Back?
Time 24/10/06

"...Olmert wooed Lieberman in part to preempt the Yisrael Beiteinu leader from coupling with his one-time mentor and leader of the Likud opposition, former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. While the move maintains the primacy of Olmert's Kadima party, some questioned how a Prime Minister already under fire for his management of the Hizballah war could hand Lieberman, who has no military or intelligence background, a position that carries at least some responsibility for watching Iran, which many Israeli leaders identify as their country's greatest threat..."


Far-right partner set to join Israeli government
WaPo 23/10/06

"Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert moved to shore up a government under fire over the Lebanon war on Monday by adding a far-right party whose leader wants to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

Announcing a widely expected political partnership, Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beitenu party, told reporters after meeting Olmert: "We are joining the government."

A statement from the prime minister's office confirmed the deal and said it had been presented to parliament for approval. It also needs to be approved by the cabinet..."


Lire également, Read also :

Mazuz: Speed up Lieberman probe
JPost 26/10/06

Mazuz orders to speed up Lieberman probe
ynetnews 25/10/06


Voir aussi, See also :

A Jewish Hitler? The rise of Avigdor Lieberman
Antiwar 27/10/06


29/10/06 - Stratégies US de contre-terrorisme en Afrique du Nord

‘Bin Laden of the Sahara’ captured in Chad
WaPo 28/10/06

"Locked in a prison here, for now, is a desert bandit dubbed the "Bin Laden of the Sahara," whose capture was secretly orchestrated by U.S. forces after a long chase across some of the most forbidding terrain on Earth.

Amari Saifi, 37, a former Algerian army paratrooper, was caught in 2004 after he and a band of rebel fighters kidnapped 32 European tourists in the Algerian Sahara and ransomed them for about $6 million.

Since then, the U.S. government has cited his case as a model for terrorist-hunting operations and a justification for expanding U.S. military, diplomatic and intelligence programs in North Africa.

A close examination of how Saifi was apprehended, however, highlights the quandaries facing the United States as it extends its fight against Islamic terrorism to remote parts of the globe. In its search for allies in an unstable region, the U.S. government reached out to Libya -- then still officially designated a state sponsor of terrorism -- and to other countries it has condemned for abusing human rights.

Some security analysts and European counterterrorism officials question the U.S. strategy. They contend the Pentagon may be inflating the importance of Saifi and the terrorist threat in both the Sahara and an equally large and desolate region to the south known as the Sahel.

By sending troops and partnering with repressive governments, U.S. tactics could backfire, said Hugh Roberts, North Africa project director for the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.

"The idea that you could have major jihadi units holing up there always struck me as implausible," Roberts said. "The quickest way to generate a jihadi movement is to send some U.S. soldiers in there to swagger around. The more visible the U.S. military presence, the bigger the target."..."


29/10/06 - Le rôle et l'influence de l'armée dans l'environnement international sécuritaire chinois

Shaping the PLA's Security Environment
Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College 16/10/06

"This volume addresses the role of the Chinese military in shaping its country’s security environment. The PLA itself is shaped and molded by both domestic and foreign influences. In the first decade of the 21st century, the PLA is not a central actor in China’s foreign policy the way it was just a few decades ago. Nevertheless, the significance of the PLA should not be discounted. The military remains a player that seeks to play a role and influence China’s policy towards the such countries and regions as United States, Japan, the Koreas, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Taiwan. It is important not to overlook that, in times of crisis or conflict, the role and influence of the PLA rise significantly..."


29/10/06 - Data Mining : La CIA ressuscite le "Total Information Awareness program"

'Total Information' lives again
UPI 26/10/06

"The new U.S. intelligence czar is developing a computer system capable of data-mining huge amounts of information about everyday events to discern patterns that look like terrorist planning.

The technology is reminiscent of the axed Total Information Awareness program.

Civil liberties and privacy advocates criticized the effort, called Tangram, which is being developed by contractors working for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

"They are misdirecting resources towards this kind of fanciful, science-fiction project," said ACLU attorney Tim Sparapani, "while neglecting the basics" of good counter-terrorist detective work.

The office of John Negroponte, the Director of National Intelligence, declined comment on the program, but it is described in some detail in a procurement document posted on the Web by the U.S. Air Force, and officials have said it is being tested without using any data about Americans.

The document says the system will build on previous work by U.S. intelligence agencies "developing systems, tools and algorithms to detect international terrorist activities and planned events" which have developed "methods of ... efficiently searching large data stores for evidence of known (terrorist) behaviors."

The document does not say what kind of information will be used, either to test and develop the system, or when it is deployed. An intelligence official who asked for anonymity told United Press International that the system was being tested using two data sets, one artificial, and the other consisting of intelligence data from the Department of Defense..."