NightWatch

For the Night of 22 October 2009

Japan: Foreign Minister Okada said Japan will not agree to a planned reorganization of U.S. troops in its territory before U.S. President Obama visits Tokyo in November, according to a report by the Tokyo Broadcasting System. Okada said a decision before the visit does not allow for enough time.

Foreign Minister Okada urged the United States to respect the will of the Japanese people, Agence France-Presse reported. Okada said the will of the people of Okinawa and Japan were expressed in recent elections, adding that Japan will not act simply by accepting what the U.S. tells it.

Okada said those opposing the current relocation plan won all four general election constituencies on Okinawa, demonstrating the people's democratic will. He said he questions an attitude of insisting that plans have been decided and that there is no option but to implement.

The new government has recovered from its shock over the US rejection of its concerns and is now playing hard ball too. The Democratic Party coalition seems to learn fast. The alliance is important, but it will change.

South Korea: Update. A Chosun Ilbo source claimed today that South Korea is interested in an inter-Korean summit and that task forces have been formed to facilitate the process.

Imagine a confederated Korea that has the educated discipline of the north linked to the clever entrepreneurial genius of the south. It would be self sufficient in food; a major auto and ship manufacturer; an electronics giant and the clothier of northeast Asia.

Its military forces would exceed a million personnel, armed with nuclear weapons, ballistic and cruise missiles and supported by modern armor, aircraft, air defenses and ships. A confederated Korea -- one nation, two systems -- would be the most destabilizing factor in Asia in a thousand years.

India: The Dalai Lama will make a weeklong visit to an Indian state bordering China, Reuters reported 22 October. His aide, Tenzin Taklha, said the Dalai Lama will fly directly from Guwahati to Tawang on 8 November.

China said it "firmly opposes" the Dalai Lama's plans to travel to Arunachal Pradesh State in northeast India. Indian states are integral to the country

This visit will aggravate relations between India and China. The Indians gave permission to the Dalai Lama, compelling the conclusion they are prepared to accept the negative blowback from China. They appear to be provoking China deliberately.

Pakistan: Update. During this Watch, Bloomberg reported a suicide bombing near the Pakistan air force factory in the northwestern city of Kamra killed seven people. This was the second attack on a military target in 24 hours.

On 22 October, gunmen riding a motorbike ambushed a military jeep in Islamabad, assassinating a deputy chief of Army operations, Brigadier Moin Haider and his driver today, according to Pakistani and international media. The precision of this assassination is unusual.

In the aftermath of the Brigadier’s murder, authorities ordered illegal immigrants from Afghanistan to leave Islamabad within 72 hours, Dawn reported, citing a statement from Interior Minister Malik. The attack occurred in Sector G11/1, an area located near an illegal Afghan settlement in Islamabad. Malik ordered door-to-door searches of five sectors of Islamabad, and checkpoints have also been set up for all roads leading into and out of Lahore, in addition to vehicle searches.

The Pakistani Taliban offensive is achieving faster and more sensational headlines than the Army offensive in South Waziristan, where progress is slow.

Kyrgyzstan: For the record. Parliament overwhelmingly backed measures to broaden presidential powers and drastically streamline the government, AP reported Oct. 22. Under the approved new government structure, security services and foreign policy will be placed under the president's direct control. Measures also include the dismissal of 40 percent of public sector workers. Wow!

Iran: Deputy Parliament Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar said Tehran rejects a plan created at the Vienna talks that would facilitate the shipping of Iranian uranium to Russia for enrichment, IRNA reported. Bahonar is the first Iranian to respond to the draft.

This proposal has been knocking around for several years. Iran has rejected it at least twice before. Stranger things have happened, but Iran probably will not accept the proposal.

Iran-Pakistan: Iranian Interior Minister Mohammad-Najjar will visit Pakistan 23 October for talks with Pakistani officials regarding the 18 October attacks by the militant group Jundallah, Press TV reported, citing a statement from the Iranian Interior Ministry. Mohammad-Najjar will also discuss other security problems and bilateral issues with Pakistani officials.

Iran-Israel: For the record. Haaretz reported today that the director of policy and arms control for the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, Meirav Zafary-Odiz, and Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh met in Cairo 29-30 September, during a meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament, according to sources quoted in the Australian daily The Age.

A spokesman for Iran's nuclear agency said reports of the meeting were "sheer lies," adding, "There has been no meeting in Cairo."

The Age is usually reasonably accurate. Supposedly the meeting was brief and acrimonious.

Somalia: Update. Artillery battles between al Shabaab militants, Somali government forces and African Union (AU) peacekeepers killed at least 30 people in Mogadishu, Reuters reported. Witnesses said the rebels launched volleys of mortar bombs at the international airport as President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed was boarding an aircraft to fly to a meeting in Uganda. Medical sources and residents said at least 30 people were killed and many others were injured.

After winning internecine battles in Kismayu, al Shabaab appears on the move again to extend its control in Mogadishu.

Sudan: Update. A French aid worker with the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) in Darfur, Sudan, was taken hostage on 22 October, Reuters reported. The ICRC said it has no information on who kidnapped aid worker Gauthier Lefevre.

Algeria: Seven police officers were killed in an ambush in the region of Tizi Ouzou, about 100 km (60 miles) east of the Algerian capital, newspapers and Reuters security sources reported. The men were private security guards working for a Canadian company. No Canadians were injured. According to Reuters, this is the first attack since 29 July.

The interval between attacks indicates Al Qaida in the Maghreb is having difficulty maintaining a credible threat in Algeria.

Honduras: Deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said he would not return to negotiations unless the Michiletti government approves his return to the presidency, daily El Heraldo reported 22 October. Zelaya advisor Rasel Tome said such a decision is backed by the San Jose Accord and the Organization of American States.

Apparently Zelaya is content to wait for the elections next month because Michiletti will never agree to Zelaya’s conditions.

End of NightWatch for 22 October.