Fighting in southern Philippines kills 19 Muslim rebels: military

The attacks came after the Supreme Court suspended a draft agreement on August 4 that was intended to pave the way for a formal peace accord between the government and the rebel group.

Although the violence has led to a halt in the peace talks, President Gloria Arroyo said in her address to the United Nations earlier this week that she was committed to negotiations with the Muslim rebel group.  >>>>>

Philippines drops Muslim peace deal after dithering

MANILA, Aug 22 (Reuters) – The Philippines government will not sign a peace deal with the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, irrespective of a Supreme Court ruling on its legality, the chief government spokesman said on Friday.

The comments from Jesus Dureza signal the end of a territorial agreement reached last month between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is fighting for partial self-rule in the mineral-rich Mindanao region.  >>>>>

This was a very predictable event.  What would you do if someone promised you something — as valuable as freedom and autonomy, shook hands on it, put it in writing; then somehow came back and informed you, while holding weapons and saying, “Whatever we did, – I take back.”  Credibility will be lost and a larger rift between parties will take place; hence continuing – war.  And of course, who will the Western World support?  Not the party that has the just right; but the party we agree to support and stand by – regardless of their decision…sound familiar?

Don’t let the picture frighten you.  He’s a man with his face covered, who happens to be in the field or at a rally, making a statement.  “This is part of the propaganda.  We fail, so we make the other guy look bad.  The public will eat this stuff up.”

Philippines says to review, not cancel, peace deal

The Philippines said on Thursday it would review a peace deal with the country’s biggest Muslim rebel group after fighting broke out this week, softening an earlier stance that the agreement would be cancelled.  But a senior leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rejected calls for re-negotiating the deal, throwing efforts to end the decades-long conflict in the mineral and resource-rich Mindanao region into further disarray.  >>>>>

Interesting how the MILF  doesn’t want to re-negotiate and THAT’s what is throwing efforts…into further disarray.  Many statutes regarding fraud and/or breaching contracts in the U.S. start out by explaining that a law is needed to protect against these actions in order to prevent people from acting in an uncivil manner.

New Justice Department Push To Keep Bush Aides From Testifying

…The request for a stay also comes not long after a report in the Huffington Post that former Bush administration officials in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division have refused to voluntarily talk to investigators with the Department’s Inspector General about the politicization of the Civil Rights Division. Because of their refusal to voluntarily talk to investigators, the Department has taken the extraordinary step of subpoenaing senior attorneys from its own rank to testify before a federal grand jury as a means to compel their cooperation. >>>>>

Nod for admissions under Muslim quota

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Andhra Pradesh government to admit students under the 4 per cent Muslim quota law in engineering, medical and other courses for 2008-2009. >>>>>

The population in India is about 25% – 30% Muslim; yet there is a law that they have to reach the 4% mark; and we call this a democracy?

Gitmo ‘Justice’ for US Citizens?

But some of the court’s more liberal judges expressed alarm, saying the legal reasoning that denied al-Marri meaningful due process not only trampled on American legal traditions but could be used to lock up U.S. citizens as well……

A Muslim travesty does not only hurt Muslims.  This law affects every American citizen and resident, whether they choose to believe or not.