As UK Defense Minister Hammond Says Only One Israeli Strike in Syria, Gaze on Barak & TIME

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, February 2 -- At the UN waiting continues for Syria's and / or the Security Council's response to Israeli's air strikes of early January 30 - now said to be multiple and US approved.

 But at the Munich Security Conference UK Defence Minister Phil Hammond was tweet-quoted that "as far as UK knows, there was just 1 target of Israel air strikes in Syria, anti aircraft missiles, no WMD link."

  This came from the Guardian's diplomatic editor, who said it was from Hammond himself, and was "oven-fresh."

   Of course, this is the same Phil Hammond who the day before the Israeli air strikes said that Mali is predominantly Christians. At the UN, Inner City Press asked the UK Mission's spokesperson Iona Thomas, who confirmed that Hammond "misspoke."

 And this time? Wags wonder if Hammond is inept or aspirational.

  Then the search was on to ferret out how in this case the UK (or just Hammond) knows what he knows.

  Haaretz' diplomat correspondent chimed in that Hammond was on Ehud Barak's schedule, and opined that Barak was probably Hammond's source on strikes (if not religion).

  

  But how to explain, then, TIME's report sourced to "a Western intelligence official" that Israel hit more targets than Syria admitted, and that according to "officials" the US has given the green light to more Israeli strikes? Watch this site.

At UN, Ehud Barak Tells Press Assad Killed 2000 & Lost Legitimacy, Says IHH Has Gaza Flotilla Blame

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 29 -- After Israeli Defense Minister met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, he told the Press he had discussed “the region.” Inner City Press asked him, “Did you discuss Syria with the Secretary General?”

Barak replied, “I mentioned the fact that we are watching it. We do not intend to be an influence on what happens there... We cannot ignore, what we see there is illegitimate behavior -- Assad if using weapons and his armed forces against his own citizens in a way that's caused the loss of two thousand lives. I believe he has lost his legitimacy.”

Then Barak looked at the spokeswoman for the Israeli Mission to the UN and said he was being whisked away by the young lady. She had not called on Inner City Press which has a follow up questions that will have to wait for next time.

Israel, or most Israeli politicians and diplomats, have tried to say little about Syria, thinking that to attack Assad would only help him domestically. But Barak has gone further.

Asked about the Palmer report on the nine Turks killed on last year's Gaza flotilla, Barak said it is mostly the fault of the IHH, but he hopes something can be agreed between now and August 20.

While Barak did not say it about the Palestinians' possible moves in September, a long time Permanent Representative gushed to Inner City Press that even with a US veto in the Security Council that could block UN membership, Palestine could ask for statehood, or what could be called statehood, in the General Assembly. We'll be here - watch this site.

At UN, Ban Ki-moon Plans Quick Unveiling of Flotilla Panel Win, With N.Zealand Chair, Sources Say, An End to Leaks?

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/ban1flotilla073110.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 31 -- While Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on July 30 was shrouded in secrecy, afterward UN diplomats bragged about their boss' “win.”

They said Israel has agreed to Ban's -- or really the Security Council's -- idea of a independent panel about the assault on the Gaza flotilla. They said that while the UN's cursory Friday evening read out didn't say it, the unveiling of Ban's “win” would take place next week.

Some who spoke to Ban later on Friday night said the announcement will be Sunday evening, and that the chair of the panel will be from New Zealand, with other members from Israel and Turkey.

Team Ban, typically, sees this development in the context of Ban's recent travails triggered by the leaked End of Assignment memo by Inga Britt Ahlenius, until then the UN's chief of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. Trying to combat the memo's critique, including of Ban's diplomatic skills, Ban has deployed first his chief of staff, then his chief of Management, without much impact.

To package and unveil a diplomatic win, just before Ban travels for the week to Hiroshima in Japan, seems to Team Ban a true turning of the corner. We'll see.

According to Ban administration sources, in Ban's closed door selective briefing to some Japanese reporters to hype up his trip, Ban asked for “East Asian solidarity” in fighting leaks and attacks on his image.

He complained he was particularly offended by Ahlenius' critique since he had thrown her a retirement party and invited her into his home. It's an Asian thing, he in essence said, this simply isn't done. What, leaking? Whistleblowing? Criticizing one's boss?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1flotilla073110.html