Right Truth

U.S. State Department Actively Promoting Islam in Europe

Via Stonegate Institute:

The French government – which has been trying to reverse the pernicious effects of decades of state-sponsored multiculturalism – expressed dismay at what it called "meddling."

The United States ambassador to Spain recently met with a group of Muslim immigrants in one of the most Islamized neighborhoods of Barcelona to apologize for American foreign policymaking in the Middle East.

U.S. Ambassador Alan Solomont told Muslims assembled at the town hall-like meeting in the heart of Barcelona's old city that the United States is not an "enemy of Islam" and that U.S. President Barack Obama wants to improve America's image in the Middle East as quickly as possible by closing the "dark chapters" of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the war in Afghanistan.

"There are things that the United States has done badly," Solomont said at the February 28 gathering organized by a non-profit organization called the Cultural, Educational and Social Association of Pakistani Women. "But now the Obama government wants to improve relations with Muslims," he promised.

During the one-and-a-half-hour question-and-answer session, Solomont asked those in attendance simple rhetorical questions, including: "Did you know that the United States sends a lot of money to Pakistan?" and "Did you know that the decision to destroy Osama bin Laden's house was made by the United States?"

 

Continue reading at Stonegate Institute.

 

Beginning of the end for the euro zone

Today President Barack Obama said the United States stands ready to do its part to help the continent, even as the White House ruled out any financial contributions from U.S. taxpayers. (video Washington Post) 

But Wait!  Obama would be in favor of more aid to Europe from the International Monetary Fund, where the United States is the biggest shareholder.  (potato, potato, -- tomato, tomato)  The money still comes for US taxpayers.

Instead, the Obama administration has focused on offering advice on rescue programs and how to make tough political decisions drawn from its experience during the U.S. financial crisis of 2008.  Bwahahahahah!  

Obama urged the European Union officials to act quickly and decisively to resolve their sovereign debt crisis, in another "pot-meet-kettle" moment.  

No need to worry, Barack Obama and little Timmy Geithner (U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner) are on the job.

 The Euro Area Is Coming to an End, by Peter Boone and Simon Johnson:

Investors sent Europe’s politicians a painful message last week when Germany had a seriously disappointing government bond auction. It was unable to sell more than a third of the benchmark 10-year bonds it had sought to auction off on Nov. 23, and interest rates on 30-year German debt rose from 2.61 percent to 2.83 percent. The message? Germany is no longer a safe haven.

Since the global financial crisis of 2008, investors have focused on credit risk and rewarded Germany with low interest rates for its perceived frugality. But now markets will focus on currency risk. Inflation will accelerate and the euro may break up in a way that calls into question all euro-denominated obligations. This is the beginning of the end for the euro zone.

Here’s why. Until 2008, investors assumed that all euro- zone sovereign bonds, as well as bank debt, were risk-free and would never default. This made for a wonderfully profitable trade: European banks could buy government debt, finance it at less expensive rates through funding provided by the European Central Bank, and pocket the spread.  (continue reading at Bloomberg, hat tip Marcus Wilder)

 

Heaven help us all.

 

Six Muslim countries are sponsoring Islamic communities in Spain through donations that often fall into the hands of radical groups

...according to a secret report by Spain's intelligence services.  (ELPAIS.com)  Does anyone think this is only happening in Spain???  Of course not.

The document, sent by the head of the National Intelligence Center (CNI) to the foreign, interior and defense ministers on May 16, sounds the alarm on the financial aid provided by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Libya and, above all, Morocco to the 1.2 million Muslims living in Spain.

"The consequences of this financing result in negative attitudes for peaceful coexistence, such as the creation of ghettos and parallel societies, Islamic courts and police systems outside the law, girls being taken out of school, forced marriages and so on," reads the CNI report, which has been accessed by EL PAÍS. "There is not enough control over the financial flows represented by donations and aid from other countries to Spain's Islamic community," the report continues. "It becomes necessary for the donor countries to be fully aware of the risks entailed by financing individual requests."

The Spanish government wants oil monarchies such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia to only fund projects that have been first submitted to the Islamic Commission of Spain (CIE), the official mediator, for approval. In the mid-term, however, Spain wants to end foreign intromission.

"The right to and the management of Spaniards' religious freedom, no matter what their faith, cannot be dependent on any foreign country," read a joint report by the justice and interior ministries in 2009.  (hat tip Marcus Wilder)

 

10 Year Old Gives Birth

Apparently this is common in Romania.  The ten year old girl gave birth to a 6 pound 3 ounce healthy baby in Spain, but the girl was originally from Romania where she lived with the underage boyfriend and father of the baby, according to the grandmother who also said giving birth at such a young age is common in Romania.

Very sad.

 

Spain's Relations With Iran

Thanks to Insights Into Today's Middle East:

Spain's Relations With Iran:

Spain and Iran have long-standing and deep diplomatic and economic ties.  The Speaker of the Spanish Senate, Javier Rojo Garcia, recently said that Iran plays an important role in establishing balance in the Middle East. In a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Madrid Davoud Salehi, he stated that Spain has been resolute in promoting friendly relations with Iran in various fields. [1]

However, recently there has been a subtle pullback in some business deals due primarily to US pressure regarding Iran’s alledged nuclear weapons programme. [2]

 
Economic relations

Spain remains among the main buyers of Iranian crude oil. According to the Iranian oil minister, Iran's daily oil exports stand at 2.5 million bpd, giving it an oil income per day of 300 million dollars. [3]
Trade between Iran and Spain reached three billion euros in the past year (up until March 20, 2008). Iran’s Ambassador to Madrid, Salehi, said that the trade exchanges between the two countries have always enjoyed an ascending trend. Referring to the 600-year-old bilateral relationship, Salehi Monfared noted that the two countries' relations are based on cordial ties . [4]

Iranian Ambassador Salehi has presented an outline of Iran’s package of proposals to Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Angel Moratinos. “Iran-Spain relations are at their best level ever”, and “we have no problems with this country,” the Spanish foreign minister said, adding that Madrid’s stances on Iran, and specifically on its nuclear program, have generally been acceptable. [5]

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos in a letter to Iran's ambassador to Madrid, Salehi, said his party is committed to improving relations with Tehran. "I am quite sure that during the new era (of the ruling of the Socialist Party) relations and cooperation between the two countries will further improve," the Spanish foreign minister said. [6]

Spain has been chosen together with other 6 countries for the signaling project of Tehran-Mashhad railroad. The project's cost is estimated between $650.7 and $867.6 million dollars. [7]
Gas deals

Royal Dutch Shell and Spain's Repsol YPF SA. have pulled out of one of Iran's biggest gas projects (10 billion dollars natural gas project) amid geopolitical uncertainty and rising costs, the „Financial Times“ reported. [8]

 Under the current conditions and given the considerable pressure from the US, it is not in the company’s interests to remain in the Islamic Republic,” an unnamed Repsol source was quoted as saying in the local media. “Pulling out of the contract will have a serious effect on Repsol’s finances,” the source reportedly added. [9]

European oil groups Royal Dutch Shell and Repsol YPF are under pressure from the United States to end talks with Iran about a multi-billion dollar natural gas deal. Spanish newspaper „Expansion“ said that Russia's Gazprom, Indian Oil Corporation and Chinese groups could be waiting to move in instead of Shell and Repsol. [10]

Shell and Repsol pulling out of the substantial South Pars natural gas project was a setback for Tehran. [11]

 But instead of pulling out of the project altogether, Total, Respol and Shell can work out a deal with Tehran to participate in blocs that will not begin work for years. That way, the foreign firms can buy some time. [12]

Iran is negotiating with Spanish and British-Dutch energy giants to switch their gas exploration blocs with others due for later development; the oil minister was quoted on Thursday as saying. A Repsol source said earlier this month that two firms sought to exchange their participation in bloc 13 for a role in bloc 20 or 21 due to rising development costs. Blocs 20 and 21 will take at least a decade before they become operational while bloc 13 is expected to be developed much sooner, reports said. [13] Shell and Repsol had planned to export South Pars gas via ship in liquefied form as part of the "Persian LNG project". Now it is more likely the gas will supply the Iranian market or be exported by pipeline, Spanish newspaper „Expansion“ said. [14] 

Repsol have signed a preliminary agreement with Iran's state oil company on developing gas fields in the Gulf. She said the agreement, signed with National Iranian Oil, followed a framework agreement the company signed in 2004. [15]

Spain on Iran's nuclear programme

Along with Britain, France, and Germany, Spain is committed to the use of diplomacy in soliciting Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA. However, when Britain and France joined the US in demanding immediate results and suggesting that the conflict be sent to the UN Security Council, the Spanish government instead supported continued diplomatic negotiations through the IAEA. [16]

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki said that the European Union will certainly do its best to solve Iran's nuclear issue through talks. Assessing Iran-Spain current relations as positive, he said that talks are underway between the high-ranking officials of both sides to expand such ties. [17]
Diplomatic and cultural ties

      • Iran and Spain have close cultural ties despite the fact that the two countries are geographically far, Spain's Minister of Culture says. There is great potential for further cultural cooperation between Tehran and Madrid particularly in the field of language training, music, cinema and cultural exhibitions, his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi, added. The existing cultural capacities can help boost interactions and political ties between the two countries, Saffar Harandi said. He also invited his Spanish counterpart to visit Iran in a bid to develop cultural cooperation between the two nations. [18]

Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Extremadura in western Spain propose to increase academic cooperation with Iranian universities, the Iranian cultural attaché in Madrid, Seyyed Ahmad Khezri, said on June 21, 2007. [19]

Spain organized the "Iran Culture Week" to expand its cultural ties with Iran and introduce Iranian traditions to Spanish people. [20]

Davoud Seyed M. Salehi, The Iranian ambassador in Spain defended the death penalty and the amputation of hands of thieves. Iran was the second country with more executions in 2007, after China. Two days before his declarations, was sentenced to death a boy aged 22 by repeated consumption of alcohol. "Our laws state to amputate the hands of those who steal. This is not accepted by the West, but in the field of Human Rights one must take into account the customs, traditions, religion and the country's economic development. It is necessary to accept some laws to preserve the health of the society, if not, this would be in danger."[21]

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References

[1] „Spain hails Iran´s Mideast role,“ PressTV, May 28, 2008, http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=57628&sectionid=351020101 

[2] „Repsol, Shell renegotiating Iran gas deal,“ Agence France Presse, May 13, 2008, http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5heogyLelqlwsOBAWCdhSBdZOldQw 

[3] "Iran oil exports at 2.5 million bpd," PressTV, Jul 28, 2008, http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=64974&sectionid=351020102

[4] „Iran-Spain Trade Reaches 3 Billion Euros,“ Payvand News, April 19, 2008, http://www.payvand.com/news/08/apr/1188.html

[5] „Iran presents outline of proposals package to Spain,“ Tehran Times, May 12, 2008, http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=170056 

[6] „Spain hints at closer Iran relations,“ PressTV, April 3, 2008, http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=50145&sectionid=351020101

[7] "7 countries compete over signaling Tehran-Mashhad railroad," Teheran Times, July 28, 200, http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=174124

[8] „Shell, Repsol quit Iran gas project – report,“ Thomson Financial, May 12, 2008, http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/05/12/afx4995133.html 

[9] „Repsol eyes exit from Iranian energy sector,“ New Europe, May 12, 2008, http://www.neurope.eu/articles/86403.php 

[10] „Shell, Repsol seek way out of Iran gas deal: report,“ Agence France Presse, May 3, 2008, http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ia7EMAtwpKVxHt9KhJHXJl9C_X9Q

[11] Kiernan, Peter: „Pipeline Politics: Iran Looks to Send Natural Gas East,“ World Politics Review, May 28, 2008, http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/Article.aspx?id=2193

[12] „Iran: Politics Affecting South Pars Energy Projects,“ Stratfor, May 29, 2008, http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/iran_politics_affecting_south_pars_energy_projects 

[13] „Iran 'negotiating swap of Repsol, Shell gas projects',“ Agence France Presse, May 29, 2008, http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080529/wl_mideast_afp/irangasbritainspainfrance

[14] Webb, Jason: „ Shell, Repsol aim to leave Iran gas project: paper,“ Reuters, May 3, 2008, http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSL0316140320080503  

[15] „Shell and Repsol sign gas deal with Iran,“ Associated Press, January 30, 2007, http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/30/business/shell.php

[16] Halloran, Becky: „Zapatero´s 'Alliance of Civilizations' includes Iran: Spain will Continue to Support Diplomacy,“ Transatlantic Perspectives,  http://www.unc.edu/depts/tam/journal/06/fall06halloran.htm

[17] „Spanish FM: EU attemps to solve Iran´s nuclear issue  peacefully,“ IRNA, March 1, 2007, http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0703019217175809.htm

[18] „Iran, Spain set to boost cultural ties,“ PressTV, September 22, 2007, http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=24082&sectionid=351020105

[19] „Iran and Spain to expand academic ties,“ The Journal of Turkish Weekly, June 22, 2007, http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=4631

[20] "Spain to host Iran Culture Week," Press TV, Aug 10, 2008, http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=66160&sectionid=351020105

[21] "El embajador iraní en España defiende la amputación de las manos a quien roba," ElMundo.es , Aug, 02, 2008, http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/08/internacional/1202449072.html