Obama ready with Afghan strategy

Barack Obama, the US president, has briefed key allies on his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan a day before he is expected to announce it.

The new plan is expected to include sending 30,000 more US troops as well as setting a time frame to exit Afghanistan.

After three months of deliberations, Obama will outline his plan in an address to the American public on Tuesday from the US military academy at West Point in New York.

Pentagon officials hope that Nato member states will supplement the US increase with up to 10,000 of their own troops and trainers - pushing the overall number of extra troops close to 40,000.

'Not open-ended'

Washington hopes the boost, which is expected to be phased in over the next 12 to 18 months, will create conditions that will eventually allow the number of US troops to be scaled back.

"You will hear the president discuss clearly that this [support for the war] is not open-ended," Robert Gibbs, a White House spokesman, said on Monday.

FROM THE BLOGS
The West Point Speech
By Rob Reynolds in The Americas Blog [Rob Reynolds]

The home comforts of the US's war in Afghanistan
By Josh Rushing in The Asia Blog [Josh Rushing]

"This is about what has to be done in order to assume that the Afghans can assume the responsibility of securing their country," he said.

General Stanley McChrystal, the US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, told politicians that a troop reduction could begin by 2013, while the White House said it expected US forces out of the country by 2017 or 2018.

Rob Reynolds, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Washington, said the troop numbers are less important than Obama's goals.

"I think Obama is going to have to reintroduce the American people to exactly what these goals are - whether he is going to scale them up or down," Reynolds said.

Obama's 'contradiction'

Reynolds said there is a contradiction in what the president is saying.

"He is saying it is not an open-ended commitment and yet he is going to finish the job, which implies the troops will be there for as long as it takes.

"If the goal is to completely eradicate the Taliban, that would require more troops than I think any army has."

Obama on Monday briefed Kevin Rudd, the Australian prime minister, in an Oval Office meeting and spoke with other leaders, including Gordon Brown, the British prime minister, the French and Russian presidents and the Italian prime minister.

"The president believes the situation in this region is a shared international challenge, so building on the work he's been doing in this regard," Gibbs said.

"The president will be in close consultation with our friends and allies throughout the day."

Obama's discussions with the leaders of Nato member countries came on the same day that Brown pledged to send 500 more British troops to Afghanistan.
Source: Al Jazeera

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Swiss minaret ban – a tragic and deplorable development

Press Release - 29 November 2009
The Muslim Council of Britain views the results of the referendum on the banning of minarets in Switzerland as a tragic and deplorable development.

The Swiss system of putting such decisions to the people in a referendum is laudable in itself but reveals the extent to which far right racist groups are winning the battle of ideas on the future of Europe.

Stigmatising Muslim communities and scaremongering with their 'Eurabia' thesis, racist groups and political parties are gaining ground across Europe. The Far Right demonstrations in front of mosques in our country, and Lord Pearson’s election as Leader of the UK Independence Party, who has committed to campaign against ‘Islamism’ and immigration, is further evidence of this.

“The Swiss referendum results today show how far and how quickly Europe is moving in the wrong direction in its attitudes and policies towards Muslims and other minority groups in Europe. Mosques and minarets in our European cities are manifestations of the proudly indigenous nature of Islam in Europe. It is tragic that the Far Right is stripping away at our illustrious heritage of coexistence between different faiths and cultures in Europe and replacing it with their warped and xenophobic outlook”, said Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

“The rise in anti-Muslim prejudice that has accompanied the Swiss opposition’s campaign will further exacerbate Muslim fears. The results today sets a dangerous precedence and demands that Muslims and others must work hard and diligently against the Far Rright to reject their venomous 'Islamisation' platform. This is no less than a battle of ideas for the future of a plural and progressive Europe”, he added.
Source: AJP

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Swiss Minaret Ban Spills Over Europe

CAIRO – A Swiss ban on the construction of mosque minarets is echoing across Europe, with calls in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy for referendums to ban the Muslim symbol. "We will call upon the government to make a similar referendum possible in the Netherlands," Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Dutch Freedom Party, told Volkskrant daily Monday, November 30.

Swiss voters backed Sunday a referendum initiated by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) to ban the building of new minarets in the country.

The referendum was forced under Swiss regulations after the SVP collected 100,000 signatures within 18 months from eligible voters to ban the minarets.

The party claims that minarets are a symbol of Shari`ah and are thus incompatible with the Swiss legal system.

"It's the first time that people in Europe have stood up to a form of Islamisation,” said Wilders.

“What can be done in Switzerland, can be done here."

Wilders, a far-right lawmaker, is notorious for his attacks against Islam and Muslims.

Swiss Minarets Controversy (Folder) He released in March 2008 a 15-minute documentary, entitled "Fitna" or sedition in Arabic, accusing the Noble Qur'an of inciting violence. The documentary drew international condemnation and was blasted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as "offensively anti-Islamic".

Wilders had also called for banning the Muslim holy book, describing it as "fascist."

He has also called for a halt to immigration from Muslim countries and a ban on the construction of mosques in the Netherlands.

No to Minarets

In Belgium, the right-wing Vlaams Belang said it would submit a decree to the Flemish regional parliament to ban minarets in the country, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The far-right party said the minarets “damage their surroundings' existing cultural identity."

The anti-immigrant Northern League also called for minaret ban in Italy.

"Switzerland is sending us a clear signal: yes to bell towers, no to minarets," League member and minister of administrative simplification Roberto Calderoli said.

"The flag of a courageous Switzerland which wants to remain Christian is flying over a near-Islamised Europe," added Mario Borghezio, a Euro-MP for the Northern League.

The Northern League is widely accused of racism with many critics calling it the BNP of Italy, a reference to the British right-wing party.

Its election campaign played on issues such as immigration, crime and economic and cultural fears from immigration.

Portraying itself as a defender of Italy's Christian roots, it started its mission in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s new government in May 2008 with bringing down a mosque in the northern city of Verona.

Last year, the League rejoiced the success of its campaign to halt the building of a mosque in the northern city of Bologna.

Last year, League MP Mario Borghezio burst into a church in the northern city of Genoa shouting anti-Islam statements.

Source: IslamOnline

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Trouble-free Hajj

MAKKAH — Without major incidents or mass swine flu outbreak, nearly three million pilgrims wound up Monday, November 30, the soul-searching journey of hajj. “It is my pleasure to announce that this year’s Hajj was safe and successful with no infectious disease outbreaks,” said Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeah, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

“Our safety precautions have secured a very successful and safe Hajj for pilgrims from around the world.”

Saudi Arabia has mounted a concerted campaign to minimize the threat of swine flu outbreak during hajj.

Heat-sensing cameras were set up at airports and around the main hajj sites to detect anyone with a feverish body temperature.

Riyadh has also mobilized 20,000 health workers for the ritual.

Hajj saw only five swine flu fatalities and 73 recorded cases.

World Muslims Flock to Hajj (Folder) The deceased – from India, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan, and Nigeria -- had other ailments, including heart disease and cancer, which left them more vulnerable to swine flu, health officials said. Rabeeah said there had been no other serious health problems during the six-day ritual.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is an obligation for all able-bodied, financially capable Muslims at least once in a lifetime.

Thousands of pilgrims in a hurry to return home completed their hajj rituals on Saturday.

Safe

This year’s hajj also saw no major incidents.

“Our plan emphasized on reinforcing preventive measures," said Suleiman Al-Amro, commander of Civil Defense’ Hajj operations.

He said the precautionary measures included a thorough calculation of all possible dangers through monitoring, sensing and analyzing of risks.

"This is why we did not see any major events affecting the safety and security of pilgrims.”

The third and the most crucial day of the stoning ritual passed peacefully on Sunday, thanks to a huge five-storey Jamarat Bridge designed to avoid crowding.

The site was the scene of several panics in past years that left hundreds dead.

“Everything went according to plan and we have had no untoward incident at the Jamrat,” said an Interior Ministry spokesman.

The pilgrims were followed by helicopters and high-tech cameras to prevent any serious incidents during the ritual.

“The arrangements were excellent and great care was taken to avoid the massing of pilgrims on the Jamarat Bridge which has been a scene of tragedy on numerous occasions in the past.”

The pilgrims were thankful for their safe hajj this year.

“I thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on behalf of the government of Pakistan, for ensuring best available services to the guests of Allah," said Pakistan’s Director of Hajj, Behrullah Hazarvi, describing the Saudi arrangements as “excellent.”

"Most of our pilgrims followed the Jamarat time schedule and had no difficulties.”

Source: IslamOnline

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EU-US Deal for Data Access

BRUSSELS — The European Union clinched Monday, November 30, a key deal allowing the United States to use data about European citizens for anti-terror investigations. "It's decided for nine months," an EU diplomat told Agence France Presse (AFP) on condition of anonymity.

The deal allows US justice authorities to access data from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).

The agreement was reached after Austria, Germany and Hungary abstained in a vote rather than opposing the accord, the diplomat said.

The accord would take effect from February 1 for nine months, instead of the year originally planned.

EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Jacques Barrot said the EU would in February seek a longer-term deal with Washington.

The European parliament must rule on the agreement, and can block it but only after it has come into force, he said.

Washington has sought a data access deal with the EU, fearing a security vacuum as SWIFT moves to change the way it operates by the end of the year, depriving US authorities of data.

The SWIFT, based near Brussels, deals with trillions of dollars in global transactions daily between nearly 8,000 financial institutions in 200-plus countries.

SWIFT plans by the end of the year to set up a new database system in the Netherlands and Switzerland and a separate system between Switzerland and the United States.

The change could leave the US reliant on EU nations and their laws for access to the information.

Concerns

Several European countries, specially Austria and Germany, have major reservations about the deal.

"We have major problems with the agreement," Austrian Interior Minister Maria Fekter told reporters in Brussels.

Vienna is concerned that personal information, possibly including data from electronic bank payments, could be transferred to US authorities and handed on to other governments.

Fekter said they had allowed the deal to pass only to secure the biggest legal protection for their citizenry.

"If we block, there is no legal protection (for citizens)," she said.

"Reduced legal protection is better than no protection at all."

Germany had also voiced concerns about the deal and sought to block it.

The European heavyweight had also been insisting that the deal only lasts for six months.

In 2006, SWIFT admitted that it had provided US authorities with some personal data after the 9/11 attacks for the purpose of terror fight, an incident considered a violation to European civil liberties.

Ever since the 9/11 attacks, the US, under the Bush administration, has secretly been tapping into the vast global database of confidential financial transactions operated by SWIFT.

It has also been taping into the more comprehensive Passenger Name Record database which is created by global travel reservation services that handle reservations for most airlines as well as for Inte sites.

Source: IslamOnline

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Swiss minaret ban stirs world Muslim outcry

GENEVA – A Swiss ban on building new minarets is prompting dismay and anger across the world, amid warnings the ban reflects the deep-seated anti-Muslim feelings in the West.

"My first reaction is one of surprise and disappointment," Babacar Ba, the Geneva ambassador of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), told Swissinfo on Monday, November 30.

"It is a bad answer to a bad question. I fear that this kind of thing is simply a gift to extremism and intolerance."

Swiss voters approved Sunday by 57.5 percent a far-right initiative to ban the construction of new minarets in the country.

"It's very regrettable,” Maskuri Abdillah, the head of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s biggest Muslim group, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“Obviously this is a narrow-minded way of thinking about Muslims."

The Swiss People's Party (SVP) -- Switzerland's biggest party -- had forced a referendum under Swiss regulations to ban the minarets after collecting 100,000 signatures within 18 months from eligible voters.

The SVP claims minarets are a symbol of Shari`ah and are thus incompatible with the Swiss legal system.

Abdillah, whose group has 40 million members in the world's biggest Muslim country, said the ban reflects the anti-Muslim feelings in Switzerland.

“They don't want to see a Muslim presence in their country and this intense dislike has made them intolerant."

Islam is the second religion in Switzerland after Christianity, with Muslims estimated at nearly 400,000.

There are nearly 160 mosques and prayer rooms in Switzerland, mainly in disused factories and warehouses.

Only four of them have minarets, none of them used to raise the Azan, the call to prayer, which is banned.

* Islamophobes

World Muslims said that the ban signals the deep-seated Islamophobia in the West.

"This result should draw our attention to the reality of the hidden fears which have been underestimated by decision makers," said the Egyptian Mufti.

"We think that priority should be given to meeting the challenge of building societies capable of integrating diversity and difference... and we are ready to give every support to such an effort."

The OIC called for vigilance against the growing Islamophobia in the West.

"I think we must be very vigilant in the face of the upsurge of Islamophobia," said Ba.

"This vote is an open door to the dangerous process of calling fundamental freedoms into question."

Jaber al-Alawani, a Muslim thinker and director of the Cordoba Institute in the United States, agrees.

"Islamophobia is widespread in Europe, all the more so because rightwing extremists see it as a kind of defence of European identity, which they haven't so far quite been able to define."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for intervention to protect Muslim right to worship.

"I also urge you to use the opportunity presented by your prime-time address to repudiate the decision of Swiss voters to deny Muslims in that nation the same religious rights granted to citizens of other faiths,” CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said in an open letter to US President Barack Obama.

“Our nation's silence on this flagrant denial of religious freedom would send a very negative message throughout the Muslim world, which must improve its own record on religious rights."

* Calm urged

Muslim leaders, however, called for calm and measured reaction to the Swiss minaret ban.

"The main thing is to keep calm and to realise how much work still needs to be done to defend basic freedoms,” Ba said.

“I think we must do this by ... taking a constructive part in the debate on all issues which cause fear and concern, and to try to bring people together in order to confront extremism wherever it comes from."

Egypt’s Mufti also called for calm.

"It is really important not to exploit this result wrongly for political ends, but to regard it as a call to build cooperation and harmony between our different religions and societies, in a new spirit."

Misfer al-Kahtani, a Muslim Saudi thinker, urged Muslim minorities in the West to work to view the bright image of their faith.

"The real challenge is for the Muslim community to accept the decision by Swiss society ... and work to change the clichés adopted by those who called for the ban on minarets, by showing a good example and applying the ideas and values of Muslim civilisation."
Source: IslamOnline

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