Tony Blair has landed a major diplomatic job as the international Middle East peace envoy, responsible for preparing the Palestinians for negotiations with Israel. His role, to be announced today, will be largely to work with the Palestinians over security, economy and governance.
Working from an office in Jerusalem, and possibly another in the West Bank, Mr Blair will become the special representative for the Middle East quartet of UN, EU, US and Russia. The announcement comes on the eve of his departure from Downing Street tomorrow and is privately welcomed by Gordon Brown
– The Guardian
No former soldiers or police will face trial over the 1989 murder of a Belfast lawyer who was killed by loyalist terrorists, it was announced yesterday.
The murder of Patrick Finucane, 39, who was shot dead at home in front of his wife and children by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), became embroiled in accusations of collusion between terrorists and the security forces.
His family continue to campaign for a public inquiry, but yesterday Pamela Atchison, assistant director of Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service, ruled out prosecutions.
– The Times
American forces now control about 60 per cent of Baghdad’s west side. Brig Gen Bednarek, who is leading Operation Arrowhead Ripper in which 10,000 US troops are driving Sunni militants from Baquba, 35 miles north-east of Baghdad, said: “The challenge now is, how do you hold on to the terrain you’ve cleared?
”You have to do that shoulder-to-shoulder with Iraqi security forces. And they’re not quite up to the job yet.”
His counterpart south of Baghdad, Maj Gen Rick Lynch, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, was asked at a news conference yesterday whether he thought Iraqi troops would be able to secure gains made by his troop.
“There’s not enough of them,” Gen Lynch replied. ”So I believe the Iraqi government has got to work to create more Iraqi security forces.”
– The Telegraph
The isolated role of Muslim Americans in the US is “a recipe for a national crisis” and highlights the need for new Muslim organisations to bolster national security, says a report released on Tuesday by an influential think-tank.
National security could also be enhanced by expanding partnerships between American Muslims and local law enforcement agencies, according to the taskforce launched by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
– The Financial Times
