PM urges Turkey support negotiations with the Kurds

Ankara (Reuters)-Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Sunday asked residents in the southeastern region of the country that the majority of Kurds to support peace negotiations with outlawed group PKK.

"We have started a process ... to provide opportunities for a political settlement. As long as you support us, then we will deal with this issue for sure, "said Erdogan told party supporters in the town of Midyat, which has a population of Kurdish ethnic mix, Turkey and Arabic, AFP reported.

"' Isha ' God, we will address these issues as long as you help us by your prayers," he said in a televised statement, pointing at the rebellion launched by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers ' Party Group (PKK) in 1984.

Turkey Intelligence Agency began talks with PKK leaders again imprisoned, Abdullah Ocalan, late last year, with the main purpose of disarming rebels who use bases in Iraq as a place to launch attacks against security forces in the southeastern region of Turkey.

The justice and Development Party (AKP), which came to power in order to end the stronghold of Erdogan urged the Kurdish conflict, which has lasted almost three dasarwarsa.

The fugitive Ocalan was arrested in Kenya on February 15, 1999 in a secret operation Turkey after he was exiled from Syria, where he was based for a decade to organize the workers ' Party of Kurdistan (PKK).

The initial verdict against Ocalan death sentence converted to life imprisonment sentence on a prison island off the coast of Istanbul since 2002.

Each year the Kurdish demonstrators clashed with police to protest Turkey's arrest of their leader.

Turkey, the EU and the u.s. considers the Kurdistan Workers ' Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization.

Turkey's military launched air attacks and ground operations are limited to the northern Iraq since August 2011 following the wave of attacks, the PKK guerrillas after the traffic-jammed a ceasefire before.

The PKK launched attacks from their hiding places in the remote mountains of Iraq as part of their war to gain greater rights and autonomy for the Kurdish population.

More than 40,000 people have died since the PKK took up arms in 1984. (M014)

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Pakistan denies Taliban support

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27 October 2011 Last updated at 19:50 GMT The US has long suspected Pakistan, or elements within the ISI, of supporting militant groups The Pakistan army has strongly denied claims made in a BBC documentary that the Pakistani security services are supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Pakistani army spokesman Major Gen Athar Abbas described the allegations made by US and Afghan officials as "baseless and malicious".

He claimed that the US and Afghanistan were trying to blame Pakistan for their own failures.

The first part of the documentary Secret Pakistan aired on Wednesday.

The programme accuses Pakistan of playing a double game, acting as America's ally in public while secretly training and arming its enemy in Afghanistan.

'Miserable performance'

Gen Abbas said the ISI (Pakistani secret service) had itself suffered at the hands of al-Qaeda and its affiliates, saying about 300 officials had died in attacks.

"You think it is sane for any intelligence operator to harbour people who'll attack its own men?" he said.

He also claimed that Pakistan was being used as a scapegoat for the situation in Afghanistan.

"The performance of all intelligence agencies in Afghanistan has been miserable. That's why they want to dump this on Pakistan and the ISI," he said.

"We have the right to take legal action and legal response against the BBC," he added.

BBC spokeswoman Helen Deller said the documentary was made in line with BBC editorial guidelines and did "not attempt to take sides".

"Secret Pakistan was made in accordance with the BBC's editorial guidelines, information we gained was checked with multiple sources and the programme strove to be fair and accurate."

"The Pakistani position and official response to the allegations made not only by Western officials and Taliban fighters but also Pakistani representatives is carried throughout by several different voices."

The US has long suspected Pakistan, or elements within the ISI, of supporting militant groups in order to increase its influence in Afghanistan.

Similar claims in the past have been repeatedly denied by Pakistan.

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Koch Brothers Get Conservative Media Support

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Home > Politics & Policy > Washington Whispers > Koch Brothers Get Conservative Media Support

September 29, 2011 Print

Koch Industries, the huge energy and paper goods company privately owned by Charles and David Koch, is bracing for more media criticism, which insiders attribute to the brothers' backing of the Tea Party and conservative and libertarian causes.

On the heels of a critical report on Bloomberg TV's Game Changers  show in June, firm insiders say that Bloomberg Markets Magazine is outlining an article the probes several old environmental and international controversies the company has been involved in. [Read: Team Obama Slams Koch Brothers for 'Mother of All Wars' Quote.]

One of those interviewed by Bloomberg for the upcoming article said the firm received four pages of single-spaced questions, all dealing with old trade and environmental problems and issues the company says it has fixed. None were about the firm's politics or the Koch brother's support for conservative causes, though the firm believes that is the focus.

While critical stories of Koch are nothing new, efforts by some in the conservative media and company supporters to launch a pre-emptive defense are unusual. Two conservative media outlets over the past two weeks reported that the firm is concerned that the Bloomberg story could be another slam at its right-leaning politics. [Check out political cartoons about the GOP.]

The Washington Examiner's editorial page editor Mark Tapscott recently reported that a friend of his, a former U.S. government official, was questioned about the Kochs' involvement with the Tea Party. "It looks like another hit piece against Charles and David Koch is coming," wrote Tapscott.

[See editorial cartoons about the Tea Party.]

The Daily Caller followed up with a similar story.

"We seem to be getting a lot of attention from journalists, maybe just because of the Kochs' political activities," said one insider.

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Koch Brothers Get Conservative Media Support

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Home > Politics & Policy > Washington Whispers > Koch Brothers Get Conservative Media Support

September 29, 2011 Print

Koch Industries, the huge energy and paper goods company privately owned by Charles and David Koch, is bracing for more media criticism, which insiders attribute to the brothers' backing of the Tea Party and conservative and libertarian causes.

On the heels of a critical report on Bloomberg TV's Game Changers  show in June, firm insiders say that Bloomberg Markets Magazine is outlining an article the probes several old environmental and international controversies the company has been involved in. [Read: Team Obama Slams Koch Brothers for 'Mother of All Wars' Quote.]

One of those interviewed by Bloomberg for the upcoming article said the firm received four pages of single-spaced questions, all dealing with old trade and environmental problems and issues the company says it has fixed. None were about the firm's politics or the Koch brother's support for conservative causes, though the firm believes that is the focus.

While critical stories of Koch are nothing new, efforts by some in the conservative media and company supporters to launch a pre-emptive defense are unusual. Two conservative media outlets over the past two weeks reported that the firm is concerned that the Bloomberg story could be another slam at its right-leaning politics. [Check out political cartoons about the GOP.]

The Washington Examiner's editorial page editor Mark Tapscott recently reported that a friend of his, a former U.S. government official, was questioned about the Kochs' involvement with the Tea Party. "It looks like another hit piece against Charles and David Koch is coming," wrote Tapscott.

[See editorial cartoons about the Tea Party.]

The Daily Caller followed up with a similar story.

"We seem to be getting a lot of attention from journalists, maybe just because of the Kochs' political activities," said one insider.

Tags:media, republican party 2011: 2010: 2009: 2008: 2007: 2006:

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IMF promises support for economy

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24 September 2011 Last updated at 20:26 GMT Christine Lagarde: "I'm very encouraged by the strong dialogue between the membership and the IMF"

The IMF says it will take decisive action to tackle the eurozone debt crisis and support the global economy.

In a communique on Saturday, the global lender said it would review the resources it had available to tackle the crisis.

The statement added that eurozone nations would do "whatever necessary" to resolve Europe's debt crisis.

Following the statement, UK chancellor George Osborne said there was "no plan" for a Greek default.

However, the communique, issued during a meeting between G20 finance ministers, the IMF and the World Bank, did not give specifics on whether extra funds would be available to the global fund.

"Our lending capacity of almost $400 billion looks comfortable today but that pales in comparison with the potential financing needs of vulnerable countries and crisis bystanders," said IMF managing director Christine Lagarde in an action plan presented to the fund's policy steering panel.

The IMF's statement also called for governments to take steps to shore up the banking system.

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There still seems to be a large gap between what economists and markets say is needed - and politicians are able to provide. ”

End Quote Stephanie Flanders Economics editor, BBC News Banks holding large amounts of European sovereign debt have come under pressure from investors concerned about losses if those debts are not repaid.

"Advanced economies will ensure that banks have strong capital positions and access to adequate funding," said the communique.

The IMF, it said, would develop mechanisms to assist troubled financial institutions working across national borders.

Mr Osborne said eurozone members had agreed on the need to take decisive action to tackle the crisis.

Speaking in Washington, the chancellor said allowing Greece to default on its debts was not one of the proposals.

"No-one here has put forward a plan for that," said Mr Osborne.

The weekend meeting comes after another week of volatility on the world's share markets.

In Europe, the main share indexes in London, Paris and Frankfurt all fell about 4% over the week.

Market fears

The IMF statement follows a similar communique from the G20 group of leading economies on Friday.

The G20 committed "to take all necessary actions to preserve the stability of banking systems and financial markets as required".

It said it would follow up this pledge with a "bold action plan" at the beginning of November.

That statement left many analysts uncertain as to the direction of policy.

"The statement from the G20 last night may have taken the edge off the current bitter market sentiment, but the reassurances from the finance ministers lack substance," said Jane Foley at Rabobank.

"Until politicians back their actions with words in respect to moving closer to a solution to the eurozone debt crisis, markets will continue to worry about a messy and painful outcome from the eurozone debt crisis."

Governments have so far given little hint of what action they may take, but markets have long been calling for a substantial increase in the eurozone's communal bailout fund, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), from its agreed level of 440bn euros ($596bn; £385bn).

Many investors also want the eurozone to issue bonds guaranteed by every one of the 17-member nations - so-called eurobonds. However, a number of policymakers, particularly those in Germany, have resisted the idea.

In July, European finance ministers proposed making the EFSF more flexible, allowing it to buy individual government bonds - which would bring down the cost of borrowing for heavily indebted nations - and to offer emergency credit lines to banks. However, the proposals have not yet been ratified.

Continue reading the main story

That money had just gone in two or three weeks due to a very sharp downturn in a very short period of time”

End Quote John Frary from Bedfordshire has seen his retirement fund fall by £7,000 in value in four weeks The IMF said it was critical that this agreement be implemented.

Sense of urgency

Analysts say far swifter action is needed in order to soothe investors' jittery nerves.

Jim O'Neill, chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, suggested this weekend's meeting in Washington could mark the beginning of concerted action to tackle the debt crisis in Europe which is the cause of so much stock market volatility.

"The thing that really brought the world to a better place in 2008 was genuine collective action involving both the developed and the developing world through the G20," he told the BBC.

"The fact that they're all there together in [Washington] DC this weekend should lay the framework for thoughts about quite significant actions... sometime between now or possibly at the November G20 in France."

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Obama seeks to shore up black support in jobs push

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1 of 3. US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet guests at the conclusion of the Congressional Black Caucus black-tie dinner in Washington September 24, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Mike Theiler

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON | Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:21am EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged black leaders on Saturday to "stop complaining" and help him push his jobs plan through the U.S. Congress, as he sought to bolster his eroding support in the black community amid concern over high unemployment.

In an impassioned speech to an awards banquet of the Congressional Black Caucus, Obama likened his efforts to win approval of his $447 billion jobs package to the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and exhorted his audience to "march with me and press on."

Facing a tough 2012 re-election fight, Obama sought to shore up his once rock-solid base in the black community where polls show enthusiasm for his policies slipping while some politicians have started criticizing him for not focusing enough on disproportionately high black joblessness.

Obama, America's first black president and still a popular figure among black voters, acknowledged the frustration and appealed to his listeners to "keep the faith."

"I'm going to press on for jobs," Obama said to wild cheers. "Shake it off. Stop complaining. Stop grumbling. Stop crying. We are going to press on. We've got work to do."

Obama's re-election hopes may hinge on his ability to revive the stagnant U.S. economy and reduce 9.1 percent unemployment.

In the latest stop on his "pass this bill" tour, the Democratic president also seized the chance to keep pressure on Republicans over his jobs plan and taunt them for not embracing a package that includes tax breaks to spur company hiring.

Republicans have given Obama's jobs plan a cool reception and oppose tax hikes on wealthier Americans that would pay for it, saying it would discourage job creation.

But they have voiced a willingness to consider some of Obama's ideas, although they are wary because they see his earlier stimulus effort as packed with wasteful spending.

Obama said he had spoken to former President Bill Clinton, with whom he played golf earlier on Saturday, about his proposal to let expire tax cuts for richer Americans enacted under Republican President George W. Bush and revert to the rates that prevailed during Clinton's tenure.

"I was asking him, 'How did that go?' Obama said to laughter. "Well, it turns out we had a lot of jobs. The well-to-do, they did even better. So did the middle class. We lifted millions out of poverty."

SIGNS OF SOFTENING BLACK SUPPORT

Obama, who has adopted an increasingly populist tone to reconnect with liberals complaining he has not done enough for their causes, dismissed as "bad crazy" the notion put forth by some Republicans that it is the poor, not the rich, who should pay more in taxes.

Even as Obama's overall poll numbers have declined, cracks have begun to show in his support among blacks, a key constituency that helped propel him to victory in the 2008 presidential election.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll this week showed 58 percent of blacks held "strongly favorable" views of him, down from 83 percent five months ago. That coincides with black unemployment that has ticked up to close to 16 percent on Obama's watch.

The poll also showed 86 percent of blacks saying they viewed him at least somewhat favorably.

Obama's continued popularity among blacks, who voted overwhelmingly for him in 2008, was underscored by the warm reception he received on Saturday night from an audience that included black members of Congress and civil rights leaders like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

(Editing by Will Dunham and Peter Cooney)

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