On 22nd March, 2010 media announced that President Hamid Karzai met the super envoy of Gulbudin Hekmatyar the leader of Hizb -e- Islami in Kabul. The aim of this meeting was to initiate the process of dialogue and engage Hizb-e-Islami in negotiations. The policy of the dialogue with the rivals is the extension of London conference where it was decided to engage the opponents into a dialogue and get them in the government. All this is taking place in a time where the US and NATO forces are killing tens of Muslims every day.

     The debt crisis in Greece is ample proof that the world is still reeling from the global financial crisis that occurred in the aftermath of Lehman Brothers' collapse in September 2008. Initially only a handful of governments like Pakistan, Ukraine, Iceland and some Eastern European were affected by the credit crunch. These countries had to borrow money to meet their debt obligations and ensure fiscal stability. But now, the crisis threatens to overwhelm several European countries such as Italy, Spain and Portugal and may even spread to countries like Britain and America. Just this week the IMF said that the crisis of the past two-and-a-half years had affected public finances across the globe in a way not seen since the Second World War. In 2007, when the credit crunch began, 40% of countries sampled by the IMF were running budget surpluses, but by 2009 this had dropped to 10%. Countries with deficits higher than 3% of national output (gross domestic product) increased from 20% to 70%. In advanced economies, the ratio of debt to GDP was projected to rise from 73% in 2007 to 109% in 2014, the highest it has been since the early 1950s.

IMF revelations come at a juncture, when deep fissures have emerged amongst world's leading capitalist countries, as they struggle to grapple with the prevalent debt situation. The transatlantic relationship is under a new strain as America and EU bicker on how best to restrain hostile speculators and aggressive hedge funds. Whilst in Europe, schisms between Europe and Germany over aid to Greece have undermined the European Union's collective response to the crisis. Germany is averse to providing financial help to Greece as she believes that Greece has not learnt from its mistakes of the past such as the exaggeration of fiscal accounts. Others in Europe have detested IMF interference and have called for a European fund to bailout debt stricken European economies-much to America's annoyance. So how did the West allow the global financial crisis to spread its tentacles so far and wide?

If one recalls the crisis was limited to the banking sector, but soon engulfed the whole financial sector as well as big corporate companies across the world.  In a frantic effort to offset the global financial crisis, America and Europe spearheaded world-wide initiatives such as quantitative easing, introducing huge fiscal stimulus packages, buying financial assets (government and company bonds) and lowering of interest rate. These measures at best provided a temporary respite, but came at a huge cost.

Governments around the world had to borrow heavily from the international money markets to finance such initiatives.  In essence the money was used to prop-up the ailing banking sector, by transferring private debt into public debtor or in layman's eyes taking tax payers' money and giving it to the rich financial institutions at the expense of everyone else. Very little of the money was used restructure the archaic financial system or invested to increase the manufacturing capability of the nations. Consequently, governments were saddled with huge mountains of debt and people were left out of pocket. International speculators quickly seized on the inability of governments to reduce enormous debts on their balance sheets. The speculators hedged and forced the currency of such countries to depreciate.

To counter rampant speculation, many experts advocate strong austerity measures to reduce government debt. However, reducing debt through cutting back on fiscal spending or raising taxes and interest rates is no remedy to dysfunctional capitalist economies that are on the verge of extinction. Unless the Capitalist States are prepared to back currencies with gold and silver, abolish privatization of public utilities, change property ownership laws that lie at the very heart of speculative economies the world will continue to head towards an economic catastrophe not witnessed before.

It is during such times that Muslims around the world must rise to expose the fallacies of the capitalist economic system and become strong advocates for the return of the Caliphate. Only the Caliphate can lift the world out of its economic misery and restore economic systems and policies that are just for black and white, rich and poor, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

22-3-2010

Abid Mustafa

Dear Respected Brothers:

     We address you today when the Western Kuffar's agenda is on the verge of completely tearing down our country Sudan. This plan referred to as the Nevasha plan was signed in the year 2005 is the corner stone of their agenda. It was this evil plan that separated the southern Sudan and effectively detached from Sudan's authority. As for the 2011 referendum, it is merely to ascribe a semblance of ‘legitimacy' to the nascent country and Kafir nations of the West are competing among themselves to build its capabilities. The US newspaper, Washington Post carried a statement by Ezekiel Jatcot, the representative of southern Sudan at the United Nations in which he said:" The United States is supporting the separation of the South and is pumping enormous sums of money to achieve that. It is contributing a sum of One billion dollars every year which is being spent on infrastructure development, training of security personnel, and for formation of an army capable of protecting the country." [Raid newspaper: 26.12.2009]. This statement follows the statement of the US envoy to Sudan Graishin who said:" Southern Sudan is not in a position to exercise authority in case of its separation from the North." The US Administration has paved way for forming a task force within the White House to resolve this problem, the Al Sahafah newspaper reported in its issue (no. 5933) the statement by the Minister of the Southern Sudan saying:" The US government has formed a small task force within the White House to oversee the building of capabilities for the South and prepare it for the result of the referendum." The Centre for German Foreign Policy has prepared a report based on the above and it is titled "Railways for Independence", it says: "The government of South is preparing itself for separation after the referendum in 2011 and looks forward to the new Juba-Mimisa railway line as an important revenue source for the new nation of Sudan." The study explains itself and says: "The constitution-in-waiting for (Southern Sudan) has already been prepared at the Max Blanc Institute for Foreign General Law and the International Law Institute in Heidelberg, Germany. [Al-Sahafah: 07.11.2009].

In addition to these, huge cache of arms and ammunition including armoured tanks and canons which enter through Kenya as disclosed in a study prepared by Institute of Small arms Survey in Geneva, Switzerland, it said:" Indeed, the army of the South, known as the Peoples Liberation Army of Sudan, has for the past two years accumulated light and heavy weapons mostly from Ukraine.

From among these weapons, 33 units of T72 Soviet-era tanks and several BM21Rocket launchers were seized from aboard a Ukrainian ship which was hijacked by the Somali pirates for 4 months in September, 2008 which was on its way to southern Sudan passing through Kenya. The Jan's Defence Weekly report issued in July, 2009 carried a satellite photograph of North East Juba with a batch of T72 tanks.
Respected Brothers:

The Kafir West, i.e. The US and Europe has taken a decision to separate the southern portion and carve out Christian nation in it, but the Kafir West would have been able to put their scheme into reality unless they could find people who toe their line either unwittingly or wickedly. The history will certainly remember such persons with the worst and most detestable attributes- if, may Allah not allow it-they were to succeed in their evil plan to tear apart our country and separate the southern part.

We, the Hizb ut-Tahrir Wilayah Sudan do not either flatter or cheat, we have a covenant with Allah (swt) and we obey Him: and a covenant with Allâh must be answered for. [TMQ al-Ahzaab 33:15]. Therefore we counsel all those who bear a responsibility to this effect, and they are:

• All politicians who have been ensnared and trapped by the Kafir West and have been led to believe the Western view that that the people of the South have been persecuted as being ‘other people' different from those of the North.
• The Opposition forces at the Asmara Conference of Vital Issues of 1995, which called for the right of the southern Sudan to decide its own destiny.
• The government which signed on the Declaration of Binding Principles and then later on signed the Protocol Mishakos and thereby recognized and acknowledged the South's right to determine its own destiny. Again it signed the Nevasha Declaration which is the roadmap of tearing apart Sudan and thereby separating the South.
•  The Opposition forces which have welcomed the Nevasha Accord.
• All those genuine forces who are capable of preventing this separation, be they from the Army, the Police force, the Security personnel or others, but have not stood up.

Respected Brothers:
When we, the Hizb ut-Tahrir Wilayah Sudan bring to you attention, this current agenda aimed at separating the southern Sudan and then disintegrating the rest of the country, we do not want you to be the blind followers and executors of the policies being propagated through the media under the charming garb of the so-called ‘unity' which now stands thoroughly exposed and its bluff & deception has been denuded. Some of these have been asserted by us in our current letter addressed to you and some have been now acknowledged by the leaders of both parties who signed the accord:

Selvakeer, the head of the government in the South addressed the priest cadres Treisa at Juba on 31st October, 2009 and said: "When you reach the polling booths, you have the choice: Do you want to vote for unity which will condemn our homeland to a second class status in the country; or do you want to vote for independence, which will make you a liberated and independent person in the future nation."
Here is what al-Basheer, the President of the Republic said by celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Nevasha Accord told a gathering of the people of the South in the city of Yambio- Southern Sudan: "If you choose separation, we will be the first to recognize the Southern nation before the world recognizes you." Then he added: "We will not expel those people of the South who live in the North if they chose to reside there." Instead of warning them about separation, President al-Basheer is assuring them, can he still be called as sane?!

Respected Brothers:
The land of the South is not owned by the people of the South alone, it is an Islamic land which was opened by the Muslims soldiers and it remained under their authority and thus it was the Kharaaj land as decreed by ‘Omar ibn al Khattab (r.a) who referred to the four Ayaat (7, 8, 9 &10) of Surah al Hashr, ‘Omar (r.a) said: "Allah (swt) has declared that:

{مَا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَى فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ}

"What Allâh gave as booty (Fai') to His Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]) from the people of the townships - it is for Allâh, His Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]), the kindred (of Messenger Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]), the orphans, Al-Masâkîn (the needy), and the wayfarer," [TMQ Al-Hashr: 59:007]
Then Allah (swt) said further:

{لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ}

"(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes" [TMQ Al-Hashr: 59:008]
Then He was not content until He merged these lands, Allah (swt) says:

{وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ}

"And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them," [TMQ Al-Hashr: 59:009]
This was specific for the Ansar alone, again He was not content until He merged these lands, Allah (swt) says:

{وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ}

"And those who came after them" [TMQ Al-Hashr: 59:010]
Hence this will apply to all those who followed, and they all will share the Fai' revenue, i.e. those lands which were not surrendered by the people but were opened and conquered, such lands will be owned by all the Muslims until the day of Judgement and the Khaleefah will distribute bounties of such to the people.

Thus the land of southern Sudan which the Muslims opened earlier is a Kharaji land owned by under the Muslims Bait ul Maal from the people of the land must benefit, be they Muslims or Kafir. It is not permissible ofr anyone whosoever to concede it because he does not own it musch less concede it to the kafir? Allah (swt) has forbidden for Kuffar to have their way over Muslims, He (swt) says:

{وَلَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلا}

"And never will Allâh grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers." [TMQ AnNisaa 004: 141]

Futhermore, Islam mandates the unification of all Muslim lands into a single state under one single Khaleefah and it does not permit two states or two Khaleefahs, the Prophet (saw) said:

«إِذَا بُويِعَ لِخَلِيفَتَيْنِ فَاقْتُلُوا الْآخَرَ مِنْهُمَا»

If a Bay'ah has been taken for two Khaleefahs, kill the latter of them.
This has been reported by Muslim, thus the ruling system under Islam is a unitary system, so how can the Muslim land be disintegrated?!
From the above, we can deduce that any tearing apart of the Muslim land is Haraam under the Shariah and it invokes the wrath of Allah (swt), in fact, it makes it obligatory to work in order to restore the unity of all Muslim lands torn apart and disintegrated by the Kuffar colonialists under the Sykes-Picot and other similar pacts.

Respected Brothers:
The disintegration of the Muslim lands at the hands of the Kuffar is a grave crime in the deen of Allah (swt), and the separation of southern Sudan from the rest of it is catastrophic for the people of Sudan from a realistic perception as well, consider the following:
First of all: The very use of the right to self determination through a referendum or plebiscite to separate a country represents a dangerous precedent for its unity. Thus any group of people living in it may demand the right to self determination following the example of the people of South. This will further exacerbate the situation in Darfur and some of the rebel leaderships may demand a similar right to self determination citing the example of southern Sudan. A seminar organised by the Peoples Movement in Karmic in February, 2010 called for self rule or a confederate status for the Blue Nile province. Reliable sources have revealed in another document that the armed movements of Darfur as well as the French intelligence of France, Israel, Uganda and America have met in the resort town (New Side) in the South and have reached an agreement to relocate the headquarters of armed movements from Chad and France to the southern Sudan in order to facilitate taking delivery of arms and to provide logistical support to the movements through Uganda onto Darfur. Their agreement also calls for establishing military bases to train the movements' personnel at Bahr al Ghazal near the Darfur border with the Central Africa. This meeting was attended by Khaleel Ibrahim, the head of Justice and Equality Movement; Abdel Wahid Mohammed Nour, the head of the Sudan Liberation Movement as well as representatives of other movements. This pact has set a deadline of 27th?????, 2010 to open a military camp at Shambi in the city of Owail for the forces of Abdel Wahid that are present in various southern cities.

Secondly: The separation of South, which is about one-third of the country and is rich in resources, would result in a misbalance, both real and visible in the resource-rich south which has petrol, minerals, forests, rivers and pastures etc. and which constitutes 79.50% of the total petroleum production. Some 85% of total petroleum reserves are concentrated in the South.

Third: The separation of the South would mean that the Muslim of Sudan have abandoned their Muslim brethren living in South and handed them over to the Kuffar, whereas Allah (swt) has forbidden that Kuffar have any sort of way over the Muslims when he said:

{وَلَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلا}

"And never will Allâh grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers." [TMQ AnNisaa 004: 141]
Even before the separation of the South, the forces of the Peoples Movement have occupied the al-Kastum mosque, demolished the minaret and converted it into their residence. They have occupied several other mosques in the past and converted them into wine factories? We must take lesson from the horrid and frightening photographs the Al-Jazeerah channel broadcast on 9th February, 2010 from Nigeria depicting how a police state killed Muslims by shooting them in the head merely for saying that their Lord and Master is Allah (swt).

Fourth: The separation of South means that doors to the regions of African continent immersed in the darkness of polytheism and sin are closed for the Muslims, what are we going to answer to on the Day of Judgement to Allah (swt) who has made us as the best of the nations and said:

{كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آَمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ} (110 آل عمران)

"You (true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] and his Sunnah) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have Faith, but most of them are Al-Fâsiqûn (disobedient to Allâh and rebellious against Allâh's Command)." [TMQ Aal Imraan 003: 110]
And He (swt) also made us the Moderate Ummah who bear witness that we have conveyed the message of Islam to the entire world:

{وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا}

"Thus We have made you [true Muslims - real believers of Islâmic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a just (and the best) nation, that you will be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]) will be a witness over you." [TMQ Al-Baqarah 002: 143]

Fifth: The separation of South means that we have abandoned the obligation on us to administer the people of South (both Muslims as well as Kuffar), the Prophet (saw) said: «فَالإِمَامُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ» The Imam is a guardian and is responsible over his subjects.
Thus as per the statistics for the year 2009, issued by the United Nations, 2500 persons were killed and some 350,000 were forced to migrate because of tribal conflicts in the South, and since the beginning of this year, some 160 people have been killed while 22 women have been gang-raped in the Buhairaat region!

Sixth: The separation of South means the erection of separating wall which will prevent the movement of tribes of Tumas like the Masiriyyah, the Ruzaiqat and others who enter to deep interiors of the South along with their cattle in search of water and pastures in the summer season. Moreover, with the presence of the armed tribes, the separation would entail squandering not only the life and properties of the Muslims, but their other sanctities as well, because the separation would place these tribes at the mercy of the nascent state.

Seventh: The separation of South would mean breakdown of agricultural land of Tumas, and this was pointed by Ateem Fareeq, a leader of the Peoples Movement in the al Sharq al Awsat newspaper (issue 11373) where he said: "The people of the North have been cultivating the lands in the South from the earliest times, like in the region of Ar-Rank and Kudok and in case of separation, the new state will inevitable have to consider the matter to ensure that they have access to these fields or search for an alternative source of food security in the South.

Respected Brothers:
Such is the reality of separating the South, both from the Shara'ii perspective wherew it is ideologically forbidden, as well as from a reality perspective which is fraught with perils.

As for those who are trying to consolidate the separation of South by referring to two different people, we can tell them the following:

• Ever since the inception of history, human beings have lived as tribes and races under a single authority, and therefore two people living together is no new phenomena and in the State established by the Prophet (saw) in Madeenah on the principle of Islam, the people of Aws as well as Khazraj lived together with the migrants (Muhajireen) and the Jews etc. Moreover, under the Islamic State whose rule extended over thirteen centuries, the Arabs lived with the Persians, the Berbers, the Turks and several others and their own ethnic racial identity did not interfere with their living together, instead they all fused into a homogenous body thanks to the great melting pot of Islam. And in the United States of America which is the leader of the Capitalist world today, people from all over the planets live. So if Muslim people of Arab origin live with other Muslims of African origin, many of whom are not Muslims, it does not pose any problem, rather ignoring the administration of peoples' affairs is the problem which results in oppression. 
•  The oppression that people have been suffering is caused by maladministration of their affairs and this can only be corrected through a just and fair political ideology that ensures that their basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education and their security are met and they are empowered to pursue any of their luxurious wants. This is only done under the ideology of Islam's ruling system of Khilafah "Caliphate" which has been sent down and decreed by the All-knowing and Wise, Allah (swt).
•  The disintegration of land does not remove oppression, rather it results in weakness and polarization and furthers weakens on racial and ethnic lines.
•  There are over 3 million southerners presently living in the North of Sudan who migrated over during the war who are employed by their brethren of the North. There are more than 30 schools in areas with southerner majority and this alone is sufficient to refute the claim that it is a conflict between two peoples pitted against each other.
•  And here you have the survey conducted by the Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper on 17th January, 2010 among the people of the South living in the Capital of Sudan: A professor of physics in a university comments: "It is the elite among the southerners who call for the separation." Another lamented: "I have just returned from a journey covering most parts of southern Sudan aimed at gauging the opinion of the people on the issue of separation. I found that they are not even aware of the subject at all, they only talked about development and progress." Another person remarked: "Tell the politicians to go away and leave us alone in peace here!
  In the light of all these, the separation of South from the North is not the chosen option of the Southerners; it does not solve their problems. It only compounds the problems of suffering of the people in the country and leads both the North and the South to a war between them in which no one can emerge as victorious.

Respected Brothers:
We, Hizb ut-Tahrir Wilayah Sudan address you in you capacity as the people of power and protection who have first of all a responsibility in the eyes of Allah (swt) and then to His servants and that responsibility is to protect the country and prevent its disintegration. This is your duty to which you have taken oath and this responsibility which is on your necks obligates you to confront the Western Kuffar who are bent upon separating the South from the North of Sudan and then tearing apart the rest of the country.
So will you not recognize the good and respond to the caller of all that is good?
Your blood must curdles in you nerves and you must stand up to confront the planners of this separation, all the creatures of the earth and heavens will bear testimony to your action.

Will you not get up to resolve and prevent the separation and your names will appear in the books of history in golden letters.
Have you not pledged to protect the integrity and security of Sudan? [يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ]. "O you who believe! Answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] calls you to that which will give you life,"[TMQ Al-Anfaal 08: 024]

Titles: 

• Increase in non-Muslims opting for Sharia courts in Britain
• Europe considers European Monetary Fund
• American Jews energised by tougher White House rhetoric
• Petraeus : Iran Unlikely to Develop a Nuclear Weapon This Year
•  US General paints bleak picture for Afghanistan in 2010
• US, Pakistan set to hold first strategic (slave) dialogue
• Cyberwar declared as China hunts for the West's intelligence secrets

 News Detailes:

  Increase in non-Muslims opting for Sharia courts in Britain
A tiny but increasing number of non-Muslims are turning to Sharia courts to resolve civil disputes. The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT) is reporting a 15% increase in the number of non-Muslims resorting to Islamic courts to settle commercial disputes this year. Last year, over 20 non-Muslims opted to have their cases heard in a Sharia court. A spokesman for the MAT said: "We are increasingly dealing with reconciliation and mediation in marriage". Under the Arbitration Act 1996, Sharia courts can have their rulings upheld by civil courts in England and Wales. Decisions from the Islamic courts, which often deal with family and financial disputes, can be presented to a family court judge on a two page form for approval. Last week a Scottish law firm became the first in the country to offer clients advice on Sharia law alongside its conventional legal services. The controversial service, offered by Glasgow based Hamilton Burns solicitors, allows clients to receive guidance from both a Muslim lawyer fully trained in Scottish law and a Sharia scholar.Last July it was reported that non-Muslims are increasingly turning to Sharia courts because they find the process "less cumbersome".

Europe considers European Monetary Fund
European governments are contemplating a European Monetary Fund, mirroring the International Monetary Fund, to reduce economic instability in the eurozone.  Wolfgang Schäuble, the German Finance Minister, said that details of the new EMF would be revealed "soon" and that it would have powers comparable to that of the IMF.  The move follows the economic turmoil in Greece. Although the creation of the EMF could not be used to deal with the Greek debt crisis, it would create a mechanism for monitoring and preventing a similar situation arising in the eurozone in the future, by bailing out indebted countries. Mr Schäuble said that eurozone countries needed to learn the lessons of the Greek crisis, which has exposed the need for a mechanism for dealing with eurozone members in danger of defaulting on their debts. Mr Schäuble said: "Accepting financial aid through the International Monetary Fund would, in my opinion, be a n admission that the euro countries can't solve their problems through their own efforts."

American Jews energised by tougher White House rhetoric
The Obama administration's harsh criticism of Israel has energised the emerging moderate Israel lobby, which supports a tough-love approach to US-Israel diplomacy and seeks to counter the powerful, hawkish groups that have long dominated the discourse here. Left-leaning groups have sprung into action in recent days, writing letters and petitions and urging their members to show support for the sharp White House rebuke of Israel's decision to build 1,600 new housing units in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem. For them, the Obama administration's strong words are a welcome change in tone, and the recent diplomatic flap, described by some analysts as the worst in decades, could be a defining moment for the movement as it seeks to gain legitimacy.  Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for J Street, the leading moderate lobbying group, said: "I think the movement has really stepped up." J Street delivered a petition of support with 18,000 signatures to the White House on Monday, and on Tuesday it sent out an e-mail encouraging members to write their legislators expressing their belief that the administration's reaction has been "understandable and appropriate". The main goal of such moderate groups is to establish themselves as a counterbalance to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), the powerful lobbying group known for its unwavering support and aversion to any criticism of Israel. In a statement on Sunday, Aipac called the administration's rhetoric "a matter of serious concern" and a "distraction", urging the White House to "to move away from public demands and unilateral deadlines directed at Israel".

Petraeus : Iran Unlikely to Develop a Nuclear Weapon This Year
Gen. David H. Petraeus said Tuesday that Iran would not develop a nuclear weapon this year, but that the country still remained the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East and Central Asia.  Asked by Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, how much time was available before Iran was able to build a nuclear weapon, General Petraeus replied, "It has, thankfully, slid to the right a bit, and it is not this calendar year, I don't think." General Petraeus made his comments before the Senate Armed Services Committee. General Petraeus, who as the head of United States Central Command oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, declined to discuss what he called "contingency plans" against Iran for what western nations believe is a covert nuclear arms program. Iran insists that its nuclear program is intended for civilian use.

US General paints bleak picture for Afghanistan in 2010
The commander of US forces in the Middle East and Central Asia says 2010 will be a difficult year for US-led forces in Afghanistan. General David Petraeus told lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that international forces will be involved in intense fighting with the Taliban and will face setbacks this year. He added that the US troop surge in Afghanistan is unlikely to reduce violence in the Central Asian nation. US troops comprise about two-thirds of the entire foreign military contingent deployed in Afghanistan. US President Barack Obama has ordered the deployment of 30,000 more soldiers to the country despite the recent rise in casualties.

US, Pakistan set to hold first strategic (slave) dialogue
The United States and Pakistan will hold their first Strategic Dialogue here next week with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi co-chairing the talks. Topics for discussion March 24 will include economic development, water and energy, education, communications and public diplomacy, agriculture, and security, the State Department announced Wednesday. President Barack Obama and Clinton have repeatedly stressed the breadth and depth of the US-Pakistan relationship, a partnership that goes far beyond security, the official announcement said.

Cyberwar declared as China hunts for the West's intelligence secrets
Urgent warnings have been circulated throughout Nato and the European Union for secret intelligence material to be protected from a recent surge in cyberwar attacks originating in China. The attacks have also hit government and military institutions in the United States, where analysts said that the West had no effective response and that EU systems were especially vulnerable because most cyber security efforts were left to member states. Nato diplomatic sources told The Times: "Everyone has been made aware that the Chinese have become very active with cyber-attacks and we're now getting regular warnings from the office for internal security." The sources said that the number of attacks had increased significantly over the past 12 months, with China among the most active players.