Sofia hails NATO 'security roof' plan

Building a missile defense shield to cover all European countries, including Russia, would help restore confidence in NATO, the Bulgarian foreign minister said on Saturday.

Nikolay Mladenov said that would show the people that "the Alliance is really taking care of their security rather than just engage in operations at the other end of the world".

Speaking earlier in the day at a NATO conference in Brussels, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called for a new Euro-Atlantic security architecture, "one security roof," in which Russia should be a full-fledged partner.

He said one security roof "would be a very strong political symbol that Russia is fully part of the Euro-Atlantic family, sharing the benefits and the costs - not outside, but very much inside".

He stressed that the new architecture should be aimed at countering the growing nuclear threat posed by rogue nations such as Iran.

Since the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, NATO has expanded from 12 members to 28, absorbing the majority of Moscow's Cold War allies in Eastern Europe and some former Soviet republics.

In February, Bulgaria and Romania said they were in talks with U.S. President Barack Obama's administration on deploying elements of the U.S. missile shield on their territories from 2015.

The move came after Obama scrapped last September plans by the Bush administration to deploy missile-defense elements in the Czech Republic and Poland due to a reassessment of the threat from Iran. Russia fiercely opposed the plans as a threat to its national security.

SOFIA, March 27 

RIA Novosti

'No Sarkozy Day' protests take place across France

After a similar exercise in Italy which saw hundreds turn out to protest against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a group of French Bloggers has called for a “No Sarkozy Day” to be held across France Saturday

By FRANCE 24

A group of bloggers who claim to have 354,000 members on social networking site Facebook have called for a ‘No Sarkozy Day’ across France Saturday.

Coming just one week after the French president suffered a humiliating defeat in regional elections, group organisers called for protests in town centres across France and at the Place de la Bastille in the Capital.

The group has received support from artists, actors, writers and economists. They say that the French president has “failed in his duty to uphold the ideals” of the country.

“Quite simply we are calling for Sarkozy’s resignation,” the group writes.

Italian inspiration

Group organiser Benjamin Ball said they were inspired by a similar “No Berlusconi Day” that was held in Italy on December 6, which resulted in huge demonstrations against the Italian prime minister.

Sarkozy has suffered significant setbacks in recent weeks. The electorate gave him a firm vote of no confidence in last week’s regional elections, both with a record low turnout and by handing a landslide victory to the opposition Socialists.

Even his father, Pal Sarkozy, said he did not want to see his son run for a second term in office in 2012.

On the Web, the call for protests against Sarkozy has raised significant debate.

Some 30 prominent bloggers said publicly they would not participate in the “No Sarkozy Day”.

“First of all, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president,”’ they write. “Certainly, Nicolas Sarkozy’s France is far from being a perfect place, but we are committed to the democratic principle”.

France24

Ex-general's secret email sheds more light on Kunduz

Was there really nothing hushed up or concealed?

The controversy over the air raid on Kunduz in Afghanistan which left up to 142 dead rumbles on with new details emerging over the reaction of senior officials.

A secret email has now called into question the role in the affair of ex-Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr, Wolfgang Schneiderhan.

According to the leaked email, Germany’s most senior soldier – who had to resign over the botched raid – had never intended to follow the official Nato findings of the devastating air strike.

Because he was already certain: Colonel Georg Klein, who had been in charge in the field, had done everything correctly.

Strange – Schneiderhan had always said that no conclusions should have been drawn before the official report into the incident: “I am convinced that the investigation will be carried out professionally”.

But Schneiderhan himself did not seem particularly interested in the results of the inquiry. On October 19 2009, his office was asked to prepare a press statement for the former Chief of Staff – ten days BEFORE the Nato report was finished.

The email outlined what was to be in the statement: “GI [General Inspekteur, or Chief of Staff] is of the belief that K. [Colonel Klein] acted correctly and lawfully”.

That was a belief which completely contradicted all later reports!

And the statement for Schneiderhan was to have gone even further. Even if the official Nato report should conclude that “innocent civilians” were killed, the Chief of Staff would remain of the “judgement that K. had acted lawfully”.

Although there was still no official report, Schneiderhan wanted under no circumstances to admit any possible blame on the part of Colonel Klein.

The email contained a clear instruction: “In no event use the term ‘justifiable’”.

Before the official report was complete, Schneiderhan said in an interview: “We must in addition be prepared that there will be details established which require further answers from us”.

Bild.com

Police arraign ex-Naval chief for fraud

BY GOWON EMAKPE

For allegedly defrauding the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, of about £25, 000, to cover up alleged certificate forgery, Godswill Ombo, with one Tony Oyatedo, was yesterday, arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

A Police First Information Report FIR, in a four-count criminal charge against the accused, said the alleged crime was committed between September and October 2009, when Mr. Ogbo, a retired rear admiral, allegedly conspired with another person (now at large) of dishonestly collecting ₦2 million from the Customs' boss, for the purpose of inducing a London based magazine not to report the alleged certificate scandal involving Mr. Dikko.

Not guilty

Mr. Ombo, who is specifically alleged to have pocketed £10,000, the equivalent of ₦2m, out of the total amount, pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge. A bench warrant was, however, issued against his accomplice, who was said to be have gone into hiding.

The trial Judge, Husseini Baba Yusuf, issued the warrant sequel to an oral application by the prosecuting counsel, Simon Lough, who told the court yesterday that the second accused vanished since October 8 last year, when he was released on police bail.

The duo were said to have tricked the Comptroller General of Customs into paying them the £25, 000, on the false pretence that it would be used to pay-off a London based magazine, ‘The Investigator', which they said was set to publish a negative story about him.

They were further alleged in the charge sheet, to have threatened to circulate 10,000 copies of the said magazine in Lagos and Abuja, should the Customs boss refuse to concede to their demand.

Their action, according to the police, is punishable under section 38 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, as well as Section 79 of the Penal code of 1990.

Justice Yusuf, who granted the first accused bail on liberal terms yesterday, adjourned the matter till April 29, to enable the police to apprehend the second accused person for arraignment.

Arab News

Naif attends international Sunnah prize ceremony

By ARAB NEWS

MADINAH: Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif attended the fifth international Sunnah and Islamic studies prize distribution ceremony at Le Meridien Hotel here Saturday.

Earlier on arrival at the venue, Prince Naif was greeted by Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif, Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed, other princes and top officials.

Meanwhile, Prince Naif received Sheikh Abdul Bari Al-Thubaity, imam and khateeb of the Prophet's Mosque, and Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Al-Badr, former rector of the Islamic University in Madinah.

Arab News

Turn off your lights: It’s Earth Hour

By LAURA BASHRAHEEL | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: For the first time since it started three years ago, Saudi Arabia will participate in Earth Hour — a snowballing grassroots movement aimed at thwarting climate change, which urges people and institutions to switch off their lights for an hour at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Several private companies and banks are participating in the initiative to show their support by switching off their lights. The event in the Kingdom is sponsored by Saudi Wildlife, which hopes to raise awareness about the environment and is encouraging as many people as possible to participate. News of the project has spread across the Kingdom via social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

Earth Hour aims to encourage people around the world to reduce emissions and be more aware of climate change. Saudi Arabia is participating alongside 92 countries; lights are expected to be switched off in almost 2,500 cities across the world.

Earth Hour started three years ago as an Australian initiative to draw the attention of people, organizations and government agencies to the importance of easing pressure on the earth’s resources and reducing the impact of industrial development on the climate.

In Saudi Arabia, participating companies include Ikea, Kai Fitness Center, Al-Baik and a number of banks. Some will turn off their electric signs to show their support. Other companies such as Kai will turn off their lights in all of their clubs. Ikea stores in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran will switch off their non-essential lights, such as outside signs and car park lights.

Badr Al-Shebani, CEO of Kai Fitness Center, said the company’s participation in the event is part of its social activities to encourage people to cut electricity. “We want to increase awareness about the issue of climate change,” he said.

Kai Fitness Center will turn off electricity at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, use candles and hang posters with information about saving electricity.

Despite many private companies and shops participating, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) announced electricity will not be cut off anywhere in the Kingdom. According to local reports, Ali bin Saleh Al-Barak, the CEO of SEC, said the company will not cut power during the event.

He said it has been common practice for other countries to observe Earth Hour by disconnecting power in their main cities for an hour from 8:30 p.m. to draw attention to the environment and pollution. He added that the Kingdom’s participation is symbolic.

Online forums and blogs are spreading awareness by telling people what should be done. They are calling for people to turn off most, if not all, of their nonessential lights and electronic items in their homes and offices such as stereos, television sets and video games.

Arab News

Slain Marine from Yorba Linda remembered

The death of Lance Cpl. Rick Centanni, 19, killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, stirs reflection at Esperanza High. He is the third from the Anaheim school to die in post-9/11 combat

By Mike Anton

The death of Rick Centanni of Yorba Linda was announced Friday over the intercom at Esperanza High School in Anaheim.

Class of 2008. Member of the football team. Marine lance corporal killed earlier this week by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Just 19.

A secretary put Centanni's yearbook, the one in which his photo shows off his broad shoulders and wide smile, out at the front desk. Students, she knew, were sure to ask to see it.

This isn't the first time this has happened at Esperanza. Or the second. Centanni is the third Esperanza graduate killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2004.

"He came out for the team as a junior and I could see from the very first day that he had great enthusiasm for the game, for being part of a team. He loved every part of it," said Jim Pendleton, an English teacher and assistant football coach for the Esperanza Aztecs.

"It didn't surprise me when he went into the military because it was the ultimate expression of teamwork and camaraderie".

Centanni, he said, helped persuade three teammates to enlist with him in the military. One entered the Army. Two others joined him in the Marine Corps.

One of them, Kyle Martin, was in a vehicle behind Centanni's and saw the explosion, which also killed Marine Reserve Sgt. Maj. Robert Cottle, 45, a SWAT officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, who, coincidentally, also hailed from Yorba Linda.

Pendleton looked tired Friday. One of his sons recently finished his second tour in Iraq, safe and sound. But another of his former players was killed there in 2004 and the Aztecs wore a sticker on their helmets the following year: JB, for Army Pfc. Joel Brattain, 21, who left behind a newlywed, his high school sweetheart.

Centanni wore a helmet with that sticker.

"With the volunteer military, I don't think the war has the same effect on young people today -- until something like this happens," Pendleton said.

Over in the boys' locker room, a bunch of sophomores were getting ready for their physical education class.

"It was somber," Alex Hizon, 16, said of the mood in class when Centanni's death was announced. "People didn't even have to tell us to be quiet. It hit home. My brother's at the Naval Academy".

"My cousin's going into the Marines," added Sean Bennett, 16. "I think about that".

Nearby, another youth, bigger than the others, said he intended to join the Marines too.

"I don't have any other opportunities," he said.

Did Centanni's death make him rethink those plans?

"You can die driving home from school. You can die from a heart attack from all the McDonald's you eat," he said. "It's just as easy dying here as it is there."

"But it's still a tragedy. It's a loss of life," his friend, another 16-year-old, countered. "But I understand where you're coming from".

Over in the weight room, athletic equipment manager Ron Thompson said Centanni was an exemplary young man.

"He was one of my favorites," said Thompson, who said Centanni's No. 30 jersey won't be worn next year. "Good kid. One of those kids who said 'Yes, sir' and 'No, sir.' Very courteous".

Not every kid is, he said. Just the other day, for instance, there was a group of track athletes warming up for a meet. They stopped running when the national anthem began at the baseball game at an adjoining field. But they started running again before it ended.

"I lectured them for a good 10 minutes," Thompson said. "I told them, 'Do you know you have friends over there who are fighting so you can be on the track team? How about showing a little respect?'"

Outside on the school quad, there were posters for a lunchtime concert held earlier this week by a Temecula-based band named War Stories.

C.J. Abraham, a 17-year-old junior, sat where the band had played and talked about whether Centanni's death would play a role in his still-forming thoughts about trying to get into West Point or the Air Force Academy.

"I haven't decided. To go to school and work that hard and then to get killed after all that effort . . .," he said. "I'm in the school band and there's two girls in the color guard and both of their brothers joined (the military) because of this guy. It hit them pretty hard".

Behind him on the quad, high school seniors picked up pre-ordered boxes of graduation announcements -- printed proof that they are about to become adults.

Los Angeles Times

Marine officer: Gays, straights shouldn't share housing

By the CNN Wire Staff

(CNN) -- The Marine Corps' top officer says he would want to avoid housing gay and heterosexual Marines in the same rooms on base if the ban on gays openly serving in the military is lifted.

"I would not ask our Marines to live with someone that's homosexual if we can possibly avoid it," Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway told a Web site in an interview posted Friday. "And to me that means we've got to build [barracks] that have single rooms".

Asked about the possibility of gay and straight Marines living together, Conway told the site Military.com that he would "want to preserve the right of a Marine that thinks he or she wouldn't want to do that -- and that's the overwhelming number of people that say they wouldn't like to do so"

Conway said the Marine Corps is the only branch of the armed services that houses two to a room.

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the Pentagon will start to ease its enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibiting homosexuals from serving openly in the military.

Among other things, Gates said the Pentagon is raising the threshold for what constitutes an appropriate level of information necessary to launch a "credible inquiry" into allegations of homosexual behavior.

The change, which will take effect in 30 days and apply to all current cases, is a reflection of "common sense" and "common decency," Gates said.

"These changes reflect some of the insights we have gained over 17 years of implementing the current law, including the need for consistency, oversight and clear standards," Gates said.

President Obama and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, support a legislative repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," which was first enacted in 1993. Some senior members of the military, however, have expressed concern over the impact of the ban's repeal on unit cohesion and morale, among other things.

CNN