Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met this week in Washington with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri, underlining U.S. support for the Pakistani government. Ironically, while the United States is working with Pakistan as part of its broader national security strategy to combat terrorism, the Pakistani government has not only cut a deal with radical Islamist parties, but also perpetuated abuses of religious freedom and other human rights of its citizens, strengthening the very extremists who incite participation in terror activity. Additionally, Pakistan reportedly has provided safe haven to Taliban leaders and fighters who cross into Afghanistan.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES Former XM Satellite Radio customers say the D.C. company has made it difficult to cancel their radio subscriptions.
After meeting with President Bush in Washington this week, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will return next week to Israel in time to meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on June 25.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Bush administration yesterday lifted economic sanctions and a diplomatic embargo against the Palestinian Authority after its expulsion of the Islamist group Hamas, which seized the Gaza Strip last week.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan yesterday condemned Britain's award of a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie, and a Cabinet minister said the honor provided a justification for suicide attacks.
Diplomatic traffic
The bloody anti-Fatah putsch staged by Hamas last week constitutes a strategic black eye for the United States and another sign of the ability of the Tehran-Damascus Axis to project power with absolute ruthlessness and brutal precision throughout the Middle East. Ismail Haniyeh, (who served as Palestinian Authority prime minister until PA President Mahmoud Abbas fired him after the coup) is widely believed to be a front man for Hamas boss Khaled Meshal, who is based in Damascus. After visiting Iran in December, Mr. Haniyeh declared that Iran constituted "'strategic depth" for the Palestinians. Hamas is reported to have dispatched the first of what will become hundreds of its members from Gaza for months of military training in Iran.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed former World Bank official Salam Fayyad to head an emergency government after militants from the rival Hamas faction routed his Fatah forces and seized control of the Gaza Strip enclave.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas fighters took over two security command centers and vanquished the rival Fatah"s movement in the Gaza Strip yesterday, prompting beleaguered Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to dissolve the Hamas-Fatah unity government.
