ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2011
INTERNATIONAL 15
Analysis
Death of Kim
Caution mutes
US ‘response’
WASHINGTON, Dec 25, (AP):
The Obama administration’s cau-
tious response to the death of
North Korean dictator Kim Jong
Il reflects unease and uncertainty
about the leadership transition in
the reclusive country that has
confounded US presidents for 60
years.
North Korea, the “hermit king-
dom,” has vexed the United
States and its allies with war,
nuclear tests, missile launches,
belligerence and bellicose bom-
bast. But since he took office in
2 0 0 9 ,
President
B a r a c k
Obama has
had to deal
with North
Korea at per-
haps its most
secretive
point: an
unclear suc-
Kim cession amid
a time of deep
concern about the stability of the
regime.
Thus, the administration’s care-
fully worded public messages
have underscored its desire for The Chicago skyline (also Inset) is seen from I-90 Dec 24, in Chicago, Illinois. Traffic around the Windy City was very light on the morning before Christmas. (AFP)
better relations with the autocrat-
ic nation and its concern about the
welfare of the North Korean peo-
ple. They are also gentle
reminders that Washington
Politics
expects Pyongyang to follow
through on denuclearization
pledges and improve ties with its
neighbors, particularly South
Korea.
Gingrich suffers setback in Virginia
The kid-gloves treatment
GOPs gird for critical Iowa vote
accorded to the North’s youthful
new leader, Kim’s twenty-some-
thing son Kim Jong Un, has
attracted criticism from some
who see this is a moment to make
a forceful case for dramatic DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec 25, promising campaign after poor overseas military interventions — system” would disqualify Gingrich
reform and regime change. (Agencies): US Republican presi- debate performances cast doubt on indicating the field remains open and other candidates and vowing to
But without solid intelligence dential candidates have barely one his ability to take on Obama. going into crucial early contests. run a write-in campaign.
on the opaque transition process week to win over the Iowa voters Long-shot candidates Last month, Gingrich led the pack “Voters deserve the right to vote
and fearful of misunderstandings who are set to decide the first skir- Representative Michele Bachmann for any top contender, especially
that could lead to provocations in Rasmussen’s Iowa poll with 32
mish of a grueling state-by-state bat- and former senator Rick Santorum percent, well ahead of Romney at 19 leading candidates,” Gingrich cam-
with the notoriously erratic tle for the party’s nomination. paign director Michael Krull said in
North, US officials have conclud- In this April 17, 1997 file photo, have also targeted those voters and percent and Paul at 10 percent.
House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Ahead of the Jan 3 Iowa caucus, visited each of the state’s 99 counties Recently Romney polled well a statement. “We will work with the
ed the best course is to say little, Republicans are overwhelmingly Republican Party of Virginia to pur-
wait and watch. Georgia heads to his office after in a frenzy of pre-Christmas politick- among the state’s crucial evangelical
speaking on the floor of the House united by a desire to beat President ing to stay afloat. Christian voters, with 18 percent, close sue an aggressive write-in campaign
Reactions where he announced that former Barack Obama in the November Former US China envoy Jon behind Santorum, at 19 percent. to make sure that all the voters of
Indeed, the administration’s Senate majority leader Bob Dole 2012 elections but divided among a Huntsman, however, has largely Romney’s Mormon faith had been Virginia are able to vote for the can-
initial reactions to Kim’s death would lend him $300,000 to pay off crowded field and unsure which skipped the heartland state and seen as a potential obstacle to win- didate of their choice.”
his ethics penalty. (AP)
have contained little substance at challenger to back. pinned his hopes on New ning over Christian conservatives. However, according to state law,
all. The contest does not reliably pre- Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation pri- Meanwhile, Gingrich may be lead- “No write-in shall be permitted on
“All I can say is that we’re dict the eventual nominee — Senator mary on Jan 7, holding some 130 ing in polls of Republican voters in ballots in primary elections.”
monitoring the situation closely,” John McCain, the party’s choice in public events there since launching Virginia, but his name won’t appear “Virginia code prohibits write-ins
White House press secretary Jay 2008, came in fourth that year in his candidacy. on the state’s primary ballot, a signif- in primaries. He can’t do it,” said
Carney said Wednesday as North Iowa — but is expected to shrink the And a popular two-term former icant setback for a candidate whose Carl Tobias, a law professor at
Korean state media broadcast pic- field as longshot candidates reassess governor of New Mexico, Gary standing in polls has recently been University of Richmond.
tures of wailing mourners, appar- their chances on January 4. Johnson, was expected to shake up slipping. Tobias said Gingrich may have
ently overcome with grief. “Kim Fiery former House speaker Newt the race Dec 28 by shelving his cam- Failed had trouble meeting a requirement
Jong Il had designated Kim Jong Gingrich clings to a fragile lead nation- paign for the Republican nomination that the 10,000 signatures must
Un as his official successor, and ally, according to an average of public and running instead as a Libertarian. The state party said that Gingrich include at least 400 signatures from
at this time we have no indication Barack Michelle opinion polls by the Some public opinion polls suggest and Perry had failed to submit the each of Virginia’s 11 congressional
that that has changed.” RealClearPolitics.com website that that Johnson could siphon enough required 10,000 signatures to appear districts.
Carney added: “We hope that tracks the ebbs and flows of the race. votes from the eventual Republican on the March 6 ballot. Gingrich’s campaign did not
the new North Korean leadership In Iowa, however, Representative Failing to get on the ballot in immediately respond to a request for
will take the steps necessary to America Ron Paul leads the pack — though it is
candidate to help reelect the embat-
tled Obama, whose hopes are Virginia, where Gingrich lives, comment. Gingrich had been con-
support peace, prosperity and a too soon to measure the impact of weighed down by the sour US econ- underscores the difficulty first-time cerned enough to deliver his signa-
better future for the North Korean media reports about racist newsletters omy and high unemployment. national candidates have in prepar- tures personally. Rushing
people, including through acting Tribute to troops from Obamas: ing for the long haul of a presidential
US President Barack Obama is wishing that went out under his name decades But the Democratic incumbent Wednesday from New Hampshire,
on its commitments to denu- a Merry Christmas and happy holidays to ago, and which the non-interventionist scored a major victory over his campaign. which holds its primary on Jan. 10,
clearization.” all Americans in his weekly radio and candidate has disavowed. Republican foes in Congress this And it illustrates the organization- he had supporters sign petitions
Those comments echoed words Internet address, with a special message And former Massachusetts gover- week in a bitter dispute over the al advantage held by Romney, the before entering a rally in Arlington,
from Secretary of State Hillary of thanks to the troops. nor Mitt Romney — the on-again, off- extension of a popular middle-class former Massachusetts governor. Virginia.
Rodham Clinton. On Monday, “Let’s take a moment to give thanks for again frontrunner since 2010 — is seen tax cut, giving his supporters a jolt of Romney’s team, larger than those of Virginia Republican Party
more than 16 hours after Kim’s their service; for their families’ service; by the party’s establishment as the one most of his opponents, has paid close spokesman Garren Shipley said in a
for our veterans’ service,” the president enthusiasm.
death was announced, she was the to bear thanks in part to his vast cam- attention to filing requirements in statement that volunteers spent
first senior US official to com- said Saturday. “And let’s say a prayer for
paign warchest and major endorse- Momentum each state. He will appear on the Friday validating signatures on peti-
ment publicly, calling for “a all our troops standing post all over the
world, especially our brave men and ments. A new Rasmussen Reports poll Virginia ballot along with Texas Rep. tions that Romney, Paul, Perry and
peaceful and stable transition in women in Afghanistan who are serving, But he has never drawn more than out found Romney with fresh Ron Paul, who also has run a nation- Gingrich had submitted. “After veri-
North Korea” and expressing even as we speak, in harm’s way to pro- 30 percent of Republicans and left cold momentum, holding at 25 percent, al campaign before. fication, RPV has determined that
hope that it would not affect tect the freedoms and security we hold the core conservatives who typically ahead of Paul’s 20 percent and Ironically, Gingrich had a slight Newt Gingrich did not submit
“regional peace and stability.” dear.” outnumber their moderate comrades in Gingrich at 17 percent, while the lead over Romney in a Quinnipiac required 10k signatures and has not
Ironically, it was Clinton who The president was joined by his wife, primaries, amid concerns about past other candidates scored 10 percent or poll of Virginia Republicans released qualified for the VA primary,” the
first stirred the pot about a possi- First Lady Michelle Obama, in recording moderate positions on a host of issues. less. earlier in the week. party announced early Saturday on
ble succession crisis in North the weekly address. Mrs Obama added her Texas Governor Rick Perry has But other polls in recent days had Gingrich’s campaign attacked its Twitter feed. Shipley did not
Korea. own word of thanks, saying “let’s make
sure that all of them know just how much appealed to Iowa’s religious conser- given a slight edge to Paul — a lib- Virginia’s primary system on respond to telephone calls Saturday
Nearly three years ago, on her vatives in hopes of righting his once- ertarian opposed to foreign aid and Saturday, saying that “only a failed seeking comment.
we appreciate everything they do.”
first trip to Asia as secretary of The president noted that with the Iraq
state, she stunned diplomatic cir- war over, the last troops from that conflict
cles with a frank appraisal of US are home for the holidays. And the It says that Santa, right now, is flying over President Barack Obama and their daugh- Another girl, Victoria, asked her if the tracker, and the experts think that it is
concerns amid speculation about Obamas urged people to find a way to Finland,” Obama told a girl named ters in Hawaii, volunteered for a second space-age tracking technology deployed probably Rudolph who’s leading the
the health of Kim Jong Il, who give back to the military, directing listen- Summer. She added that the sleigh was time in the annual NORAD Tracks Santa by NORAD could decipher whether sleigh this year. So he’s out there,” Obama
had suffered a stroke in 2008, and ers to Joining Forces, the first lady’s ini- full of toys. program, run by the North American Rudolph was at the head of Santa’s sleigh. said.
his choice of a successor. tiative to help military families. The first lady, on vacation with Aerospace Defense Command. “There’s a little flashing light on this The first lady said during one of her 10
“If there is a succession, even if Republicans also set aside talk of leg- calls with kids that she had already got
it’s a peaceful succession, that islative and partisan battles in their week- her Christmas gift, the arrival on Friday of
ly address, recorded by Rep Mike Pence Obama campaign
creates more uncertainty and it of Indiana.
her husband to join his family, after a tax
also may encourage behaviors standoff in the US Congress threatened to
Pence urged Americans to remember
that are even more provocative as keep him in Washington.
a way to consolidate power with-
the troops and also to think of those who
are less fortunate, struggling to make ends ‘Goal $60 million’ Meanwhile, Santa Claus set records
Christmas Eve as he raced across the
in the society,” Clinton told meet in the tough economy or unable to
find work. CHICAGO, Dec 25, (RTRS): globe on his traditional holiday mission.
reporters on Feb 20, 2009. Santa tracking volunteers at Peterson
Her remarks on a previously “This holiday season, let’s all make a President Barack Obama’s
special effort to come alongside these campaign set a goal of raising Air Force Base in Colorado said they
taboo subject sparked great families in their time of need and support $60 million in the fourth quar- fielded about 102,000 telephone queries
debate. In Seoul the next day, she local charities as they provide for the ter of the year to benefit the beginning early Saturday on his progress,
expressed surprise at the uproar, needs across our communities,” Pence Democratic incumbent’s re- breaking the previous mark of 80,000.
noting that reports of Kim choos- said. “Let’s also make a point to personal- And his NORAD Facebook page
election and the Democratic recorded about 999,000 “likes,” compared
ing his youngest son Kim Jung ly reach out to that neighbor or friend who National Committee, a cam- with 716,000 a year ago. Twitter followers
Un to succeed him had “been in needs a helping hand, a kind greeting or paign official said Saturday.
an invitation - it might be just the gift increased from about 53,000 last year to
the news for months.” Obama’s campaign, togeth- more than 89,000.
“I don’t think that it’s a forbid- someone needed most.” (AP) er with the Democratic Officials said records set this year were
den subject to talk about succes- ❑ ❑ ❑ National Committee, had likely generated by people passing the
sion in the hermit kingdom,” ‘Santa on his way’: US First Lady raised roughly $155 million word as well as social media interest.
Clinton said. “In fact, it seems to Michelle Obama surprised excited kids through the end of “I think what happens is that every year
me it’s got to be factored into any Saturday by answering an air defense hot- September. the ones that participated” tell others, said
line set up to track Santa’s Christmas Eve If it reaches its goal for the Canadian Navy Lt Al Blondin. “There’s
policy review that one is under- fourth quarter, the campaign
taking.” trek around the globe with Rudolph and word of mouth.”
his reindeer. Liz Sarlo joins Occupy Denver demonstrators singing holiday carols on the will surpass $200 million in Volunteers at NORAD Tracks Santa
See Also Page 17 “Right now, I am looking at the tracker 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colo, Dec 24. About 50 protestors took to the fundraising for 2011. said kids started calling at 4 am Saturday
and I can see a dot on the satellite screen. streets in downtown Denver Saturday. (AP) to find out where Santa was. (Agencies)