U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is standing by a deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq by the end of next year, despite a senior Iraqi officer's call for them to stay longer. Gates told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. and Iraqi governments have an agreement setting the deadline for the U.S. withdrawal. He said if a new Iraqi government is formed and wants to talk about extending the U.S. troop presence, the United States is open to that discussion, but the initiative has to come from the Iraqis. Iraq's most senior military officer, Lieutenant Babakir Zebari, says the United States should leave its troops in Iraq until 2020. Zebari told a defense conference in Baghdad that it will be another 10 years before the Iraqi army will be able to ensure the country's security. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday that the United States is on track to end its combat mission in Iraq at the end of the month as planned. He said President Barack Obama is satisfied that the Iraqi military will be able to take over security operations. Fifty-thousand U.S. troops will remain in Iraq to serve as a transitional force. Mr. Obama has set a goal of removing all U.S. troops in Iraq by the end of 2011.
II. RIANOVOSTI - U.S. not surprised by Russia's missile deployment in Abkhazia
Washington is not surprised by reports that Russia deployed S-300 air-defense systems on the territory of former Georgian republic of Abkhazia, the U.S. Department of State said. Russian Air Force head Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Wednesday S-300 systems had been placed in Abkhazia to protect the airspace of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He did not say how many S-300s were deployed. "I believe it's our understanding that Russia has had S-300 missiles in Abkhazia for the past two years," Philip Crowley, the department's assistant secretary, told a daily press briefing. "There have been systems in Abkhazia for two years. We can't confirm whether they [Russia] have added to those systems or not... this is by itself is not necessarily a new development. That system has been in place for some time," he added. The Georgian Foreign Ministry described the Russian move as "extremely dangerous and provocative" and threatening "not only the Black Sea region, but European security as a whole." Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia two weeks after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Russia signed agreements with South Ossetia and Abkhazia earlier this year on establishing permanent military bases in the republics. The bases are located in Gudauta, on Abkhazia's Black Sea coast, and in South Ossetia's capital, Tskhinvali. Each base hosts up to 1,700 servicemen, T-62 tanks, light armored vehicles, air defense systems and a variety of aircraft.
Operators of a boardwalk game in the town where the MTV reality show "Jersey Shore" is filmed have removed a caricature of President Barack Obama. It has been replaced by likenesses of former President George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton. Manager Tom Whalen says it's to show the "Walkin Charlie" game that requires patrons to throw baseballs at plates held by the rotating caricatures isn't "anti-Democrat or "anti-Republican." A plastic bag was placed over the Obama character's head after some people earlier this week said it was disrespectful to use the president's likeness.Whalen says a Secret Service agent visited the concession Wednesday and told him none of the employees had urged patrons to throw at the Obama likeness. Whalen says the Obama figure might return in a few weeks.
IV. INTERFAX - Two Wahabi ideologists hiding in Turkey
Two renowned Wahabi ideologists, Isa Umarov and Shamsuddi Batukayev, are hiding in Turkey, the Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said. "Intelligence information indicates that Isa Umarov, one of the main ideologists of Wahhabism, and Shamsuddi Batukayev, the head of the Sharia court of "Ichkeria" and one of the main Wahabis, are hiding in Turkey," Kadyrov said in an interview to Azeri television. "These people started all this, then escaped and are hiding there and are making efforts to spread Wahhabism and extremism from there," Kadyrov said. Asked by Azeri journalists whether the leaders of illegal armed groups are receiving aid from Azerbaijan, Kadyrov replied that "this support does not exist today." "It used to be, that's for sure. Our terrorists hid under the guise of refugees in Azerbaijan, in Turkey, and in other places," he said. Kadyrov stressed that there is no political agenda in his words. "I don't make political statements. I am talking as a warrior fighting them," he said. Kadyrov said he had met with the Azeri president while visiting Azerbaijan. "We discussed this issue, and I received answers to all of my questions," he said. "Terrorists and extremists are not receiving support in Azerbaijan, and we are really grateful to this country's leadership for that," he said.
V. REUTERS - Devoted crowds throng Hezbollah's Lebanon theme park
If you have an urge to inspect mangled Israeli tanks, toy with a rocket launcher or explore a genuine rock-cut guerrilla bunker, Hezbollah's multi-media theme park in south Lebanon is just the place. The Shi'ite Muslim group, which fought Israel to a stalemate four years ago and has been preparing for the next war ever since, has applied a creative flair to its "resistance tourist landmark" at Mleeta that mirrors its innovative military skills. Here, on the resort's oak-sheathed slopes, the nitty-gritty reality of life as a Hezbollah guerrilla is on display, replete with themes of patriotism and martyrdom, plus a dose of bombast. Despite searing summer heat, more than half a million people have flocked to Mleeta, about 50 km (37 miles) southeast of Beirut, since it opened in May, say Hezbollah guides who conduct tours in English, French, German, Italian as well as Arabic. The Mleeta tour starts in a theatre showing a seven-minute video history of Hezbollah, with ear-splitting martial music. Then comes a museum displaying captured Israeli guns and gear. Wall panels offer a detailed anatomy of Israel's military machine and show satellite pictures -- and map coordinates -- of potential Hezbollah targets in the Jewish state, including its Dimona nuclear reactor in the distant Negev desert. the path ends in "Liberation Square", a garden surrounded by Hezbollah guns and missiles. Stone steps climb up to an esplanade dedicated to the organisation's "martyrs". It seems a safe bet that the Israeli air force will flatten this place early in the next war.
It was a historic day for the Australian Assyrian community as over 2000 people assembled for the unveiling of the world’s first monument to the victims of the Assyrian Genocide to be erected in a public space. In a proud display of solidarity, the Australian Hellenic and Australian Armenian communities were both well-represented, joining members of Federal, state and local politics on an occasion of remembrance and celebration. The Assyrian Genocide Monument at Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-western suburbs is an initiative of the Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australian Chapter, with Mr Hermiz Shahen as Secretary. It is dedicated to the victims of the Assyrian genocide (SEYFO) during and after World War One 1914-1918, committed by the Ottoman Turkish Empire as well as the victims of the 1933 Simele massacre in Iraq and all Assyrian martyrs since then. One of the most powerful addresses of the day was delivered by the Hon. Amanda Fazio MLC, President of the Legislative Council of the Parliament of NSW. Focusing on efforts by opponents of the Monument, Ms Fazio stated that “in the way Jewish Holocaust deniers are reviled, so should deniers of the Assyrian, Armenian and Greek Genocides be reviled”. The theme of the shared suffering of the Assyrian, Armenian and Hellenic peoples was echoed by all the speakers, both during the ceremony and during the seminar that followed. Messages of support were also delivered by His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East Australia and New Zealand, Mr Nick Lalich (Member for Cabramatta and Mayor of the City of Fairfield), Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (Liberal Senator for New South Wales), the Hon. Ninos Khoshaba (Member for Smithfield), Mr Victor Dominello (Member for Ryde), and Rev. the Hon. Fred Nile MLC. On behalf of the Australian Hellenic Council (NSW), Dr Panayiotis Diamadis (Secretary) spoke about the common desire of the Australian Assyrian, Australian Hellenic and Australian Armenian communities for recognition of their common experience of genocide in the 20th century. The monument unveiling was the latest expression of solidarity by the Australian Hellenic community to the Australian Assyrian community. Thousands of Assyrians found safe haven in Hellas and Cyprus during the Genocide of 1914-1924. Thousands more fled persecution in Republican Turkey and Iraq, before joining relatives in Australia. It is part of a relationship that stretches back millennia. With this joint presence at the monument unveiling, the Australian Assyrian, Australian Hellenic and Australian Armenian communities declared in no uncertain terms their desire for recognition of their common experience of genocide by the political representatives of their adopted homeland.
VII. VOICEOFRUSSIA - Kosovo Orthodox shrines fight for survival
Moscow fears that NATO's decision to transfer the protection of Serbian Orthodox shrines in Kosovo to the local police maystir up tensions in the region. Spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrey Nesterenko believes that this may lead to distrust of international peacekeepers. NATO made this decision without approval of the Serbian Orthodox Church and is breaching the1244 UN resolution. The resolution was adopted in 1999 and states that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia and its shrines should be protected by Serbia. The document is still valid, thus, it has to be followed. Monasteries in Gracanica,Visoki Decani and Monastery of the Holy Archangels will be transferred to the police in late August. Many of them areon the UNESCO World Heritage list. In 2004, 35 Orthodox shrines were vandalized and burnt down by Kosovo Albanians,while they saw no resistance from peacekeepers. Russians expert on Serbia Alexander Kravchenko believes that Kosovo military men are interested in controlling local Orthodox sites to make Serbian enclaves recognize the power of Kosovo government. The goal of Kosovo Albanians is to make Serbs leave Kosovo. This decision is another way to push them put of the region. Now all Serbian monasteries are controlled by Kosovo-Albanian companies. They provide them with water, electricity, communal utilities. As this needs to be fixed in agreements it means recognizing Kosovo's state institutions. The Serbian Orthodox Church believes NATO will revoke its decision, especially when many European countries are also concerned with the situation.