PRESIDENT Pervez Musharraf’s message of felicitations to EIBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on award to him and his organization the Nobel Peace Prize for this year in recognition of services being rendered to control spread of nuclear weapons reflects the aspirations of the people of Pakistan. EIBaradei is a Muslim and is committed like every peace-loving soul on the globe including Pakistanis to the cause of saving mankind from nuclear holocaust. While announcing its verdict, the Norwegian Nobel Committee observed that it made the selection ` for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that this energy is used for peaceful purposes in the safest possible way.” The Committee President Ole Danbolt Mjoes told reporters that “ it was not a especially difficult choice this year”. fAEA was founded in 1957- 12 years after the United States dropped one atom bomb each on Japan’s cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, 1945 the world’s first, and to date the only nuclear attacks.
The U.S. was not quite happy with the way EIBaradei was conducting himself immediately before and after its unilateral military intervention in Iraq. He had refused to accept Washington’s suggestion that Saddam’s Iraq was on the threshold of producing nuclear weapons. Subsequent events proved EIBaradei right as no weapons of mass destruction could be found after the U.S. forces ousted exPresident Sadddam Hussein and occupied in 2003 the oilrich country which has been witnessing unabated violence ever since. EIBaradei for quite sometime did not toe the American line and it had become apparent that he would not be re-elected as UN watchdog head for the next term. However, in the wake of the American standoff with the Islamic Republic of Iran, EIBaradei began to follow the American thinking and no wonder he was re-elected as Director General of the IAEA. Now American renewed trust in him helped EIBaradei and IAEA win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The announcement by Nobel Committee comes in the wake of reports that the U.S. along with Britain and France is averse to a complete ban on nuclear weapons in Central Asia. In fact, U.S. fears that the proposed nuclear freeCentral Asia Treaty could ban transit by American nuke-capable ships and aircraft. For its strategic requirements, Washington desires to keep the Central Asian corridor open for its nuclear weapons’ movement and deployment in the region. This duplicity exposes American claims for a nuclear-free world. Its policy on nuclear activities is simple: It wants to be the only nuclear power on the globe. No wonder, it is opposed to any country to exercise its sovereign right to harness nuclear technology even for civilian use on the ground that a civilian nuclear programme opens the door for possible use of nuclear energy for military purposes. The Islamic Republic of Iran is facing American pressure on its civilian nuclear programme and EIBaradei is their once
opponent-now-supporter in the IAEA’s activities. To get a Nobel Peace Prize one has to be totally on the right side of Washington regardless of one’s contribution in advancing the cause of world peace by putting in concerted efforts to avoid a clash of civilizations, to combat extremism and terrorism through promoting enlightened moderation and by exploring ways and means for arriving at peaceful resolution of international disputes through dialogue.

Must it always be old friends?

Bush will once again come in for severe criticism for appointing yet another ‘crony’. American President George W. Bush’s latest nominee to the Supreme Court will be sure to raise a few eyebrows.
And likely cause a controversy as well. Rather than selecting someone from the vast pool of experienced judges around the country, Bush has selected a lawyer of impeccable credentials as a lawyer but untried on the judiciary bench.
This may be a matter of small concern to Bush, but it is likely to be pored over by Congress, whose approval is necessary before confirmation.
An additional aspect to the nomination that doubtless will be viewed askance, especially by Democrats, is her long association with Bush, her origins and her religious beliefs.
Harriet Ellan Miers, the nominee, gained her formative experience in Dallas, Texas, where it is more than likely that as a prominent figure, she would have encountered Bush on both a professional and social level.
Certainly, some 30 years ago, Miers decided to join the ranks of the born-again Christians, avowing to put her legal practice she was a senior partner of a leading law firm at the time to one side.
Whether it was this or her affinity towards the neoconservative Republican thinking, will probably be an issue brought to light during the Congressional hearings on her confirmation.
But one thing is for certain, the Bush administration and Bush in particular will once again come in for some very severe criticism for appointing yet another “crony” to a senior appointment in government.
It may be that Bush deems Miers to be the best candidate around for the job. But equally, it may be that Bush has not looked too far and wide to find a suitable candidate for the job on the bench.
However, if he really believes his old acquaintances are really the best for the job, it does rather cast doubt on the ability of the rest of the US judiciary.

—Arab News