A secret pact

Today I read Anwar Ibrahim’s statement from the docket.

Anwar said that it all is a political conspiracy against him.

And I agree.

After all, I was the American Ambassador to Malaysia when all of these things happened the first time around.

As people know, the American Embassy has many sources of information.

Just ask Wikileaks.

Malaysians love to talk….

As so many of my friends in Malaysia know, I have been very outspoken in support of Anwar’s freedom for over one decade. And that is because I know the truth. I was there when it happened the first time.

In 1998 – the first time around for Anwar – my Embassy heard and reported lots of things. We knew the truth. Because Malaysians – at the highest levels -- told us.

When I was in KL, Najib’s personal think tank was called the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, or MSRC. MSRC basically was two people, Rohanna Mahmood and Razak Baginda.

Neither Rohanna nor Razak are government officials, so I am not violating any US laws by revealing what they told me and my Embassy in those days.

A secret pact

In 1998 Rohanna joined me for a private one-on-one luncheon at the Ambassador ‘s residence. It was during the time when Anwar was starting to challenge Mahathir, subtly but still obviously.

Rohanna told me that Najib and Anwar had reached a secret agreement. When Mahathir was gone, Anwar would be PM and Najib would be Deputy PM. That was the deal.

That never happened, of course. When the going got tough, Najib stood by, and let Anwar go to jail.

What about Razak Baginda?

He told a senior Embassy officer, “The decision has been made. They are going to “nuke” Anwar politically for all time to come. “Until he can never stand up again politically.”

100 years

Meaning, it was all a political decision – to destroy Anwar.

That is what Razak – now in self-imposed exile in London -- said.

After that, a senior officer in the Special Branch told an Embassy officer, “We are going to keep filing charge after charge after Anwar so he will be in jail for the next hundred years.”

Can there be any doubt about what was going on then – and what is going on now?

- Malaysia Chronicle

- John Malott was the US ambassador to Malaysia from 1995 to 1998 and is now the president of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC

Statement from the dock — Anwar Ibrahim

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/statement-from-the-dock-anwar-ibrahim/

David de Gea

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have an ability to grind out results that sets them apart from their rivals. This campaign will not be as simple as that, though, and the early form of David de Gea is more than enough to give those sides determined to dethrone the champions a glimmer of hope.

The young Spaniard’s mistake, like his error for Edin Dzeko’s goal in the Community Shield last weekend, went unpunished because of United’s uncanny strength under pressure. They are better than any other team when the heat is on.

That is why, on a weekend when Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all drawn, United managed to earn a victory. That is why they are favourites to retain their Premier League crown.

And it is also why Ferguson does not have to consider dropping De Gea, a counter-productive move that would unquestionably shatter his confidence just weeks into his career in England. On the face of it, there is no harm done. Their character and resilience has spared the 20 year-old’s blushes.

But after making two mistakes in two weeks, United now find themselves bereft of confidence in their goalkeeper when their opponents will start to believe they have found a chink in the champions’ armour.

Such a lack of faith could hardly have come at a worse time: next up at Old Trafford are Tottenham and Arsenal, two sides who United cannot just steamroll over. They will not enjoy 70 per cent of possession against either of those teams, while both Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp will send their players out with instructions to test De Gea from long range, to challenge him on crosses, to shatter his confidence even more.
If they can, then that will give great hope to the rest of the league that perhaps United are not such clear favourites as might have been assumed. It will let the pack rein the champions in. They won, but they are hardly off to a flier.
To make matters worse, United will not even have the experience of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to protect the former Atletico Madrid player as he finds his feet in England. Ferdinand is out for six weeks, Vidic for two.
That may leave Ferguson with little option but to go into two crucial games against top six rivals with a defence of De Gea, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Fabio.
My record with underestimating how successful kids can be is dreadful, but the crucial difference between the class of 1995, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and the rest, and Ferguson’s current crop is in the defence: then, he had Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce and Dennis Irwin to look after his fledglings.
It is too simple to say you will win nothing with a kid in goal, but it is a monumental challenge to ask a defence with an average age of 22 to go into games with the likes of Arsenal and Spurs. De Gea would need four, five or six weeks to get used to the English game anyway. His adaptation would be much easier if Vidic and Ferdinand were there to help.
As it is, he will have to look to Jones, Evans and Smalling. That is easier said than done in a side where the goalkeeper is so clearly vulnerable.
Centre-back play is not just about experience, but about confidence, and it is hard to find that when you are watching your goalkeeper as much as watching the game, worried that he is going to make a mistake at any moment.
De Gea is in trouble now, not simply because of the scrutiny that will come in the newspapers and on the television — to players, that does not really matter — but because he does not have the trust of his team-mates.
The only way he can earn that is by going out and eradicating the mistakes.
He needs a run of eight, 10 or more games without any sort of error, because as soon as he makes another one, people will automatically remember the two that have marred his first two games in England. Here we go again. He may never escape that stigma.
And if that error comes, say, when United have lost to Arsenal or to Spurs, then suddenly Ferguson has a much more difficult decision to make. That is when the damage really will be done.  

The truth about Osama bin Laden death

CNN cited a senior US official as saying three sets of photographs of bin Laden's body exist: Photos taken at a hangar in Afghanistan, described as the most recognizable and gruesome; photos taken from the burial at sea on the USS Carl Vinson before a shroud was placed around his body; and photos from the raid itself, which include shots of the interior of the compound as well as three of the others who died in the raid.^[166]
On May 4, Reuters published photos it said were taken by a Pakistan security official in the aftermath of the raid; the photos included images of the helicopter wreckage and three male dead bodies, none of whom appeared to be Osama bin Laden.^[167][168]
A source told ABC News that the photos taken by the military servicemen on the scene depict the physical damage done by a "high-caliber bullet".^[74] CBS Evening News reported that the photo shows that the bullet which hit above bin Laden's left eye blew out his left eyeball and blew away a large portion of his frontal skull, exposing his brain.^[169] CNN stated that the pictures from the Afghanistan hangar depict "a massive open head wound across both eyes. It's very bloody and gory."^[166] Senator Jim Inhofe, who viewed the photos, stated that the photos taken of the body on the Carl Vinson, which showed bin Laden's face after much of the blood and material had been washed away, should be released to the public.^[170]
A debate on whether the military photos should or should not be released to the public has taken place.^[171] Those supporting the release argued that the photos should be considered public records,^[172][173] that the photos are necessary to complete the journalistic record,^[174] and that the photos would prove bin Laden's death and therefore prevent conspiracy theories that bin Laden is still alive. Those in opposition to a release of the photos expressed concern that the photos would inflame anti-American sentiment in the Middle East.^[175]
President Obama ultimately decided not to release the photos.^[176] In an interview set to air on May 4 on 60 Minutes, Obama stated that "We don't trot out this stuff as trophies. We don't need to spike the football", and that he was concerned with ensuring that "very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence, or as a propaganda tool. That's not who we are."^[177] Among Republican members of Congress, Senator Lindsey Graham criticized the decision and stated that he wanted to see the photos released, while Senator John McCain and Representative Mike Rogers, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, supported the decision not to release the photos.^[178][179]
On May 11, select members of Congress (the congressional leadership and those who serve in a committee of intelligence, homeland security, judiciary, foreign relations, and military) were shown 15 bin Laden photos. In an interview with Eliot Spitzer, Senator Jim Inhofe said that three of the photos were of bin Laden alive for identification reference. Three other photos were of the sea burial ceremony.^[180]
The group Judicial Watch announced that they have filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain access to the photos.^[181][182] On May 9, the Department of Defense declined to process Judicial Watch's FOIA request, prompting a lawsuit.^[183] A FOIA request from the Associated Press has also been declined.^[1

West Brom 1 Manchester United 2

West Brom 1 Manchester United 2: Ashley saves De Gea after another goalie gaffe

Some players put on the shirt of Manchester United and seem to grow an inch or two overnight; others wear it and shrink. 

Ashley Young is, without doubt, a Manchester United player. 

Whether the same will be said of new goalkeeper David de Gea remains to be seen. His shirt is not red, but his face surely was after another mistake that could have cost his team victory.

On the rise: Ashley Young is held aloft by Wayne Rooney after his winner

MATCH FACTS

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Foster 6; Reid 5 (Reyes 84min), Tamas 6, Olsson 7, Shorey 6; Brunt 6, Scharner 7, Mulumbu 5, Morrison 5; Long 6 (Cox 87), Tchoyi 7.Subs not used: Fulop, Dorrans, Dawson, Thorne, Fortune. Booked: Reid, Scharner, Cox.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): De Gea 5; Smalling 6, Ferdinand 7 (Jones 75, 6), Vidic 6 (Evans 51, 6), Fabio 6; Nani 6, Cleverley 7, Anderson 7, Young 8; Welbeck 6 (Berbatov 65, 5), Rooney 8. Subs not used: Lindegaard, Giggs, Park, Carrick. Booked: Young, Anderson.

Man of the match: Ashley Young.

Referee: Mike Jones 7.

• How they stand: Premier League table

The Community Shield is a largely meaningless bauble and De Gea's error in that last week would have been quickly forgotten. 

Mistakes with three points on the line, however, remain fresher in the memory, and the record books and the Spaniard's team-mates will not be able to outscore his frailties for ever. 

As it was, it took a twice-deflected Young cross with nine minutes remaining to make United only the third team to exit the first weekend of the Premier League season with a 100 per cent record. 

They had been coasting until De Gea's unfortunate intervention, but such an obvious flaw plays havoc with the confidence of a side and for long periods in the second half United lost their way. 

There was so much that was good about them in the opening 35 minutes, so much promise, so much excellence, that the widespread predictions of another title on its way to Old Trafford quickly looked like the wisdom of sages, rather than the standard shot in the dark.

To the rescue: Youssouf Mulumbu (right) tries to chase down Ashley Young

Young, in particular, was outstanding on the left while Wayne Rooney's thought processes remain in advance of just about any footballer in Britain.

And then De Gea got involved and United returned to earth. 

The old line about a chain being as strong as its weakest link has rarely appeared more apt. 

Flap and pickle: De Gea misses a cross under pressure from Long and Olsson

Apart from a fine one-handed save from Paul Scharner in the first half, little that De Gea did convinced.

He got an early strong-arm welcome to the Premier League, which would have almost certainly been given as a foul in La Liga, from West Bromwich centre half Jonas Olsson.

Howler: De Gea left clutching fresh air as Shane Long's (not pictured) shot bobbles into the net

Whether this was the root of his unease it is hard to say but certainly, by half-time, De Gea looked very uncomfortable with his surroundings and had been responsible for Albion's unexpected equaliser.

It came when new signing Shane Long cut inside on the left to unleash a very tame shot. 

Early faller: United's £18m goalkeeper David de Gea let a pot-shot from Manchester City's Edin Dzeko slip past him (above) at Wembley eight days ago. On Sunday he handed West Brom's Shane Long a debut goal (below). Can anyone hear a hair-dryer?

In muddy conditions there have been back-passes struck with greater venom but, mystifyingly, the manoeuvre seemed to startle De Gea, who was late down and unprepared, the ball skipping past his outstretched arms. 

His team-mates looked on, stunned, while the goalkeeper began cursing and castigating himself as the home fans roared. 

His downward spiral continued at a lick from there.

Debut goal: Long's bobbler was too cunning for De Gea

De Gea failed to come for a high loose ball deep in the penalty area, provoking scornful glances from his entire defence, but most particularly the young Fabio, who was forced into a hasty rearguard action. 

A minute before half-time, De Gea was almost caught out by a cross-shot from Somen Tchoyi, forcing him to back-pedal hastily and tip the ball clear. 

Credit is due to United's midfield, who kept West Bromwich at arm's length as the defence fell like dominoes. 

Nemanja Vidic will miss two weeks with a calf injury, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, and Rio Ferdinand six with a hamstring pull.

Arms race: Tom Cleverley is sent sprawling by Shane Long

In addition to the absent Patrice Evra and Rafael, now missing for 10 weeks and in need of an operation after dislocating a shoulder, this gave United's defence no little fragility. 

Certainly the home side could, and should, have put greater pressure on De Gea after half-time judging by the chaotic way he handled the odd high cross into the area. 

Any manager watching this at home will no longer need a big book of tactical masterstrokes to work out one possible way of getting at United this season. 

The good news - and there remains plenty of it - is that they now have so many new ways of causing problems that the opposition will be too busy putting out fires of their own to focus on putting one under De Gea.

All's Wel: Danny Welbeck is sent flying by Youssouf Mulumbu (centre) as James Morrison looks on

The visitors came cruising out of their own half, Young laid a pass into the path of his England team-mate, who calmly stroked home from 20 yards.

Struggling with a calf injury since the opening minutes, Vidic eventually gave way just after half-time.

With Patrice Evra sidelined by a knee problem and Rafael ruled out for 10 weeks after dislocating his shoulder in training, what had appeared such a rosy picture for United had changed completely in a matter of days.

The bad with the good: Young (left) is cautioned by referee Michael Jones after his foul on Long

It is no revelation to state that Rooney looks a class above, as usual, but the most striking performance in a United shirt was that of Young.

Deployed on the left, he was a persistent threat, helped set up the first goal for Rooney and laid claim to the second, until replays revealed its progress through the West Bromwich penalty area was as if launched by a pinball machine. 

Danger can come from any direction when United are on the attack, but one feels the combination of Young and Rooney will be a familiar route to goal.

Ooooh, Young man: United's new boy celebrates his deflected winner

It certainly was here, the pair combining most effectively after 13 minutes when Fabio fed Rooney, who flicked a sublime backheel out to Young on the flank.

He returned the favour and Rooney teed the ball up perfectly before striking a shot across the body of Ben Foster, leaving the Albion goalkeeper no chance. 

And it looked as if that would be the tale of the game, promising United undone by goalkeeper error, until Young once again cut inside on the left to conjure a familiar denouement.

De relief after de gaffe: De Gea triumphant despite his faux pas

His cross was dangerous either way, but it was made positively deadly having struck first Gabriel Tamas and then Steven Reid to leave Foster no chance at his far post. 

The warmth of the response in the away end suggests the faithful have acknowledged this new star in their midst instantly, and it is rare to see a young player look so entirely at home in the colours of his new club. 

De Gea can only look on enviously at the moment. 

Maybe one day that will be him, too, but not for a while yet. United do not have enough weak points that opposing managers can afford to ignore the trials of the young man in goal. 

For the next few matches, at least, he is going to live in interesting times.

Great start: Wayne Rooney fires United into an early lead at The Hawthorns

Fergie is irreplaceable

Charlton: Fergie is irreplaceable

August 11, 2011

• 
  

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton believes that manager Sir Alex Ferguson is irreplaceable and that there is "no one around who can fill his boots."

GettyImagesBobby Charlton thinks Ferguson is the best around

Ferguson is now recognised as the greatest ever manager in British football, and Charlton is dreading the day when his beloved Manchester United go in search of a successor.

In a new book '19' published this week, Charlton says: "The record of 19 League titles goes down purely to Alex Ferguson, it would not have been possible without Alex Ferguson, that's for sure.

"He is the epitome of everything that is good about Manchester United and the ethos of this club. He knows the game inside out. The reason everybody performs to their best is that he is in control, not just of his staff and the first team, but the whole of the club, and as a result it operates in unison.

"There is no point suggesting anybody else to be manager of Manchester United, there is no one around who can fill his boots. I hope he can carry on for a long time yet. Alex is in control and he is the main reason for the record of League titles. From the very first game that Alex took over the team, you knew that we had such a talented manager, and it was only a matter of time that he would get it right."

That might come as a shock for even the self styled 'Special One', Jose Mourinho, who has been touted as Ferguson's eventual successor. But there is no malice for Mourinho or indeed anyone other potential contender, but purely the love of United that drives Charlton to suggest that the old football adage that no-one is irreplaceable, does not apply to the current boss.

Charlton himself narrowly missed out on becoming Manchester United's All-Time Players' Player in a vote including nearly 30 legendary players in the book '19'.

The result will shock many as Bryan Robson came out ahead of Charlton, George Best and Eric Cantona, while current world class superstars Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo hardly merited many votes at all as the United greats tended to vote for players who had immense influence off the field as well as on it.

Robson was genuinely surprised, as he said: ''I am especially honoured being chosen by the lads, that is very nice, very nice. When you think of all the great players over the years at United, to finish above George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards is a great honour.''

Gary Neville interview: Why Arsenal fans should lay off Arsene Wenger, why Liverpool need to win the title and more

Frustrated Arsenal fans may feel manager Arsene Wenger is drinking in the last-chance saloon but old foe Gary Neville insists they should be careful what they wish for.

The now-retired former Manchester United captain knows all about the Frenchman’s contribution to the Gunners, having battled Wenger’s North London side for 15 years.

And Neville believes the Frenchman ranks behind only United's Sir Alex Ferguson in the list of the Premier League’s greatest-ever managers.

"Arsene has been there for so long, producing really top players," said Neville. “He has worked hard and some of their football during his time has been fantastic.

“When we [Manchester United] played against Arsenal, we accepted that we were playing against a team that, for 20 years, have been brilliant at passing a football and interchanging.

“He is definitely second to Alex Ferguson in terms of his achievements. I think [former Chelsea boss] Jose Mourinho is the third of those stand-out managers who have made teams into champions and continually been successful at their clubs.

“Arsenal are a huge football club with massive expectations and you don’t stay there like Arsene has without being an outstanding manager. He is one of the very best.

"Arsene Wenger is still doing an excellent job. He is still in the job because of the level of respect there for him, and the way he gets the best out of young players."

Of late, Wenger’s standing among Arsenal fans has dipped, with the hard-core upset at his unwillingness to bow to their calls for battle-hardened signings.

Some supporters have even called for Wenger to go, while others believe the pressure is on the former Monaco chief’s transfer dealings now that the Gunners’ traditional top four place is at risk.

The stakes have been further raised by the impending departures of Samir Nasri to Manchester City and Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.

But Neville, the latest addition to Sky Sports’ stable of pundits, believes Arsenal fans need to hold their nerve and back their manager.

He went on: “Fans at every club are impatient. Arsenal need trophies - that will always be the way - but it would be the wrong thing to even think about losing Arsene Wenger.

“I’m not one of those people who would jump on the bandwagon. I’ve seen Arsene Wenger go head-to-head with Manchester United over 15 years.

“Never underestimate or disrespect what that man can achieve with players and his scouting network.

“I genuinely believe that before he loses Fabregas and Nasri he will have others players lined up to come in, like he has done for the last 10 or 15 years.

“Arsenal have been our [United's] major rivals for the past 15 years.

"They are the ones that have gone through seasons unbeaten.

“They are the ones that produced the best team I played against - in 1998, with Bergkamp, Anelka, Petit, Vieira, Overmars, Parlour and that famous back five. That was as good a team as I’ve played against in England.

"I think people are too quick to jump on the bandwagon and think he [Wenger] should come under pressure.

“He’s been immensely successful for a long period. I think anyone managing Arsenal in the last five or six years would not have achieved what Arsene Wenger has achieved.

“He has been getting into the Champions League places every year and still playing quality football - entertaining the fans.

“They have invested hugely in their stadium and not been able to spend £30m, £40m, £50m or £60m year in and year out on the squad.

“I don’t believe that he [Wenger] should be under pressure.

"If you look at Arsenal, they are not a knee-jerk-reaction club. They believe in the long-term."

*

NEVILLE ON... SIR ALEX

Gary Neville was part of Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United first-team for 18 years, and says there is no sign his old boss is likely to quit anytime soon.

“He’ll go on until he feels his health can’t take it any more," said Neville of the 69-year-old Scot. "I don’t see any reason for him to stop.

“What keeps him going? The challenge, the young people around him, other teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool.

“I still see the hunger and desire and anger at times when the performance levels are not right, that demanding of the highest standards.

“I still see that within him. That willingness to always make sure that the team are prepared for a game.

“I don’t see a great change in him, I have to say.”

*

NEVILLE ON... LIVERPOOL

He may be a renowned scourge of the Scousers, but Gary Neville believes old foes Liverpool are now in the same boat he was before helping Manchester United end their 26-year wait for the title in the early 1990s.

"Going back to 1992-93, you just become very desperate and very wanting," he said. "You become needy. You feel like its a goal, its a challenge.

“Don’t get me wrong, there is a pressure for Liverpool, United, Arsenal - all the big clubs - that pressure is there, year in year out.

“There is an expectations for these clubs to win titles and trophies year in year out. But it becomes a challenge rather than something to be excited about."

Liverpool have not lifted the English championship since the spring of 1990, and Neville can sense their yearning to be on top again.

“Going back all those years, it was the greatest moment for United to win that first title after so long," he said. “I think Liverpool are getting to that point where they need that success now. The club demands it.

“You can see exactly what Kenny Dalglish is trying to do there. He has brought an identity back to the club.

“He has brought back a core of solidity back to the club, which he felt he probably needed.

“With that, at Anfield, they will be extremely difficult to beat. Whether they can go on and win the title this season, I’m not sure.

"But one thing is for certain, they certainly have the experience in the manager. He has done it before at Liverpool and at Blackburn.

"He can cope with the demands of the championship, and for the first time in quite a few seasons they have gone into the campaign with a level of expectation that they do have a chance.”

NEVILLE ON... CITY AND CHELSEA

Despite Manchester City’s £38million signing of Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero, Gary Neville believes the chief challengers to former club Manchester United will again come from London.

"It would be ­disrespectful to Chelsea to say that Manchester City would be the main ­challengers," he said.

"City will challenge, there’s no doubt about that. They will threaten. But I look at Chelsea and think of them as being the main challengers for five years now.

“I see no reason why that should change. I see a lot of the same players there.

"Everyone wants to build up the United/City thing, it’s exciting for Manchester, but the reality is the first- and second-best teams for the last five years have been Manchester United and Chelsea.

"City have to prove they can break through."