Obama, Netanyahu to meet as Iran deadline looms

Julie Pace, The Associated Press, Washington | World | Wed, October 01 2014, 1:36 PM

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet for the first time since a rash of civilian casualties during Israel's summer war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip heightened tensions between the two leaders who have long had a prickly relationship.

Much of Wednesday's Oval Office discussion is expected to focus on another delicate issue: U.S.-led nuclear talks with Iran. With a deadline for reaching a final agreement less than two months away, all sides say significant gaps remain.

Netanyahu has long cautioned the U.S. and the international community that Iran is barreling toward a nuclear bomb and using the diplomatic openings as a stalling tactic. The Islamic republic contends its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

The Israeli leader arrives in Washington following meetings at the United Nations, where he delivered a blistering speech accusing Hamas of committing war crimes by using Palestinian civilians as human shields during the 50-day Gaza war that ended Aug. 26. His speech was a response to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' assertion that Israel had carried out a "war of genocide" during the Gaza fighting.

Israel launched thousands of airstrikes against what it said were Hamas-linked targets in the dense Gaza Strip, resulting in more than 2,100 Palestinian deaths, the vast majority civilians, according to the United Nations. More than 70 Israelis were also killed

The civilian death toll in Gaza deeply frustrated U.S. officials and resulted in more biting public condemnations of Israel's actions than is typical from the Obama administration.

In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu sought to equate Hamas with the violent Islamic State militants the U.S. is seeking to degrade in Iraq and Syria.

"ISIS and Hamas are branches of the same poisonous tree," he said, referring to the Islamic State group by one of its acronyms. He added: "When it comes to its ultimate goals, Hamas is ISIS, and ISIS is Hamas."

Obama and Netanyahu last met in March while the Israelis and Palestinians were still engaged in a U.S.-mediated peace process. The discussions collapsed without a peace accord.

Both Netanyahu and Abbas appear to have abandoned any hope of reviving peace talks, though each is pressing separate diplomatic initiatives. Netanyahu has called for bringing an alliance of moderate Arab states into the peace process, while Abbas has said he'll appeal to the U.N. Security Council to back Palestinian independence.

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White House Says 'Near Certainty' Policy To Prevent Civilian Deaths Not Valid In Iraq And Syria: Report

Men inspect a damaged plastics factory that was targeted on Sunday by what activists said were U.S.-led air strikes at the Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa, September 29, 2014. U.S.-led air strikes hit grain silos and other targets in Islamic State-controlled territory in northern and eastern Syria overnight, killing civilians and militants, a group monitoring the war said on Monday. Reuters/Stringer

Amid reports of mounting civilian casualties from airstrikes carried out by the United States-led coalition in Iraq and Syria, the White House acknowledged that it had not followed the “near-certainty” standard to minimize civilian casualties in the Islamic State group-controlled territories, according to a Yahoo News report published Tuesday.

The report comes just days after coalition warplanes struck grain storage facilities, mills and silos in northern and eastern Syria, reportedly killing an unknown number of civilians. On Sept. 23, at least seven civilians, including women and children, were also killed in airstrikes in Idlib province in Syria, prompting harsh criticism from many human rights groups.

Caitlin Hayden, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, told Yahoo News that the “near certainty” standards -- outlined by President Barack Obama last year to minimize the risk of civilian deaths in drone strikes -- would apply “only when we (the U.S.) take direct action outside areas of active hostilities,” adding that the current situation in Iraq and Syria did not fit the description.

However, she added, the joint military operations in Iraq and Syria “are being conducted consistently with the laws of armed conflict, proportionality and distinction.”

Harold Koh, who served as the State Department’s legal adviser during Obama’s first term, told Yahoo News that the lack in clarity of standards being used to authorize airstrikes creates a “grey zone” in the conflict.

“If we’re not applying the strict rules to Syria and Iraq, then they are of relatively limited value,” Koh reportedly said.

While the new standards being used for airstrikes in Iraq and Syria have not been spelt out, a former unnamed White House official told Yahoo News that the policy provided more discretion to the U.S. Central Command to select targets without having to seek prior approval from the administration.

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Iraqi Pilots Mistakenly Extend Humanitarian Aid to Islamic State Militants: Reports

Supplies designated for Iraqi forces mistakenly dropped in IS-held territory

MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - Iraqi pilots have mistakenly provided the Islamic State (IS) militants with humanitarian aid, NBC News report.

"Some pilots, instead of dropping these supplies [supplies of food, water and ammunition] over the area of the Iraqi army, threw it over the area that is controlled by ISIS fighters," Hakim Al-Zamili, a member of the Security and Defense committee of the Iraqi Parliament, told NBC News on Tuesday. "Those soldiers were in deadly need of these supplies, but because of the wrong plans of the commanders in the Iraqi army and lack of experience of the pilots, we in a way or another helped ISIS fighters to kill our soldiers," he added.

The incident was also confirmed by the brigadier-general in Iraq's Defense Ministry, who declined to be named.

"Yes, that's what had happened," the officer said, explaining that some pilots "do not have enough experience … they are all young and new."

The incident occurred on September 19 in Anbar province. The supplies were designated for Iraqi army officers and soldiers fighting Islamist extremists. The investigation on the mistake has already been launched.

The Islamic State is a Sunni jihadi group that has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June 2014, it launched an offensive in Iraq, seizing vast areas in both countries and announcing the establishment of an Islamic caliphate on the territories under its control.

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Australia sends 2 unarmed planes to support U.S.-led coalition in Iraq

October 1, 2014 - 11:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Australia's Prime Minister said the air force is sending two unarmed planes to support U.S.-led coalition combat operations over Iraq, but will not yet launch its own airstrikes.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament an E-7A Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft and a KC-30A refuelling aircraft would join operations from Wednesday, Oct 1, from the al-Minhad Air Base outside Dubai.

He said Cabinet ministers are awaiting final clearances from the Iraqi government before they make their final decision on committing to combat missions.

The Australian government can commit troops to war without asking Parliament for permission.

An Australian commitment to combat has been widely anticipated since six F/A-18F Super Hornet jet fighters, along with the two support aircraft, were deployed to the United Arab Emirates two weeks ago.

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Thousands of Hampshire jobs have been secured after BAE Systems was awarded a £600m contract

First published 10:22 Wednesday 1 October 2014 in News

THOUSANDS of jobs have today been secured after the Ministry of Defence announced a multi-million pound contract for Hampshire's naval base.

The MoD has awarded £600m to BAE Systems to manage Portsmouth Naval Base as part of the five-year deal, which defence secretary Michael Fallon said was the second biggest defence contract placed by the Government.

More than 2,000 jobs have been secured by the move, which will also support half of the Royal Navy's surface fleet on UK and global operations.

The annoucnement came this morning - 11 months after the shock news that shipbuilding would move from the county.

The Maritime Support Delivery Framework deal will run until 2019 and provides a partnering agreement between BAE Systems, the Royal Navy and the MoD.

Commodore Jeremy Rigby, commander of Portsmouth Naval Base, said: ““The contract will keep the base running at the highest standards and will ensure ourships are in the best possible condition and operating at the highest capability.

“It has sustained more than 2,000 jobs at the base and many more in the supply chain.

“This announcement comes at an exciting time for Portsmouth Naval Base as we prepare for the arrival of the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.”

In November last year BAE announced that shipbuilding would cease in Hampshire, with the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs.

A large number of the staff employed at the Portsmouth base were fromSouthampton, having moved there when Vosper Thornycroft closed its operations in Woolston.

John Hudson, managing director of Maritime at BAE Systems, said: “This contract is an excellent example of our continued commitment to work collaboratively with the Royal Navy to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations at our Portsmouth business.

“This is an exciting time for everyone at the naval base.

“Working together, we will prepare the naval base for the arrival of the UK's Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and continue to use our ship design and build knowledge to support the surface fleet in service.”

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Herrera Joins United's Long Wounded List

Ander Herrera has added to Louis van Gaal's Manchester United injury problems after being ruled out for at least three weeks with a rib injury.

Herrera, a pounds 28.8?million summer signing from Athletic Bilbao, was sub-stituted in the second half of the 2-1 Old Trafford win against West Ham United on Saturday and was able to walk off the pitch and down the tunnel without apparent discomfort.

Despite initial optimism that the injury would be no more than stiffness and bruising, scans have revealed that the Spaniard sustained rib damage, with United confirming that the 25-year-old faces a spell on the sidelines with the problem.

The injury setback is the second endured by Herrera this season, following an ankle injury earlier in the campaign. He joins the suspended Wayne Rooney on the sidelines for the weekend visit of Everton.

Van Gaal has endured an in nightmare with injuries. He entered the West Ham game with three centre-halves injured and the likes of Ashley Young, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard all unavail-able. Phil Jones is due to return this weekend, while Fellaini is also understood to be close to fitness.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said last night that he was not interested in a move to United in January. "It's nice to hear that big clubs like that are interested in you. "I take that as a compliment but it doesn't influence me in any way, otherwise. We earn enough here in Dortmund."

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Champions League: Can Arsenal guard fortress against visitors Galatasaray?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with defender Kieran Gibbs. Photograph: @ArsenalFC/Twitter

Apart from when German clubs are in town, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium has been a fortress in the Champions League and manager Arsene Wenger says that must continue if his side are to continue their run of reaching the last 16.

The Gunners have got past the group stage for the past 14 seasons, a proud record largely built on seeing off the kind of opposition they face on Wednesday when Galatasaray are the visitors to north London.

Arsenal were outclassed by Borussia Dortmund a fortnight ago in a 2-0 away defeat, meaning they can afford no slip-up against the Turkish side in their second Group D game.

While highly critical of his side's performance in northern Germany, Wenger knows they are a different proposition on home soil where until a 2-0 loss to Schalke 04 in 2012 they had gone 45 home games unbeaten when facing non-English opponents.

'The group stage is a minimum of 10 points so the home games are vital'

Arsenal's Danny Wellbeck during a training session. Photograph: @ArsenalFC/Twitter

Since then Bayern Munich (twice) and Dortmund have won at The Emirates but it has not been a happy hunting ground for teams from other countries.

"You want to win your home games. You need one good result away from home and then win all your home games," Wenger told reporters on Tuesday.

"The group stage is a minimum of 10 points so the home games are vital.

"We had a disappointing result in Dortmund and at the moment I feel that the potential is there for us.

"We don't lose a lot but we want to find the winning edge together and we have that opportunity (on Wednesday).

"It's early but we are maybe more under pressure to win the game than if we had won the first."

'We have respect, but we are not afraid of Arsenal'

Blerim Dzemaili (centre) of Galatasaray in action. Photograph: @ArsenalFC/Twitter

Galatasaray have never won a match in England but their Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili says they will put that sorry statistic out of their minds on Wednesday.

"It will be important to play as a team, to defend strongly and to play our game. Not to be afraid," he said.

"We have to respect Arsenal -- that's important -- but not to be afraid because I think we have a good team. We can play against every team and I think it's going to be in our hands."

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