Trinidat Express: Let's attack Iran! by Gwynne Dyer
The talk is still macho, but the performance is not there to back it up. What the US public gets for all the taxes it pays on defence - currently around $2,000 a year for every American man, woman and child- is armed forces that are barely capable of holding down one middle-sized Arab country
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Friday, January 21, 2005
IRAQ: DEATH SQUADS
Al Jazeera: The Salvador option by Scott Ritter
By any standard, the ongoing American occupation of Iraq is a disaster
The highly vaunted US military machine, laurelled and praised for its historic march on Baghdad in March and April of 2003, today finds itself a broken force, on the defensive in a land that it may occupy in part, but does not control.
The all-out offensive to break the back of the resistance in Falluja has failed, leaving a city destroyed by American firepower, and still very much in the grips of the anti-American fighters. The same is true of Mosul, Samarra, or any other location where the US military has undertaken “decisive” action against the fighters, only to find that, within days, the fighting has returned, stronger than ever.
And yet, it now appears as if the United States, in an effort to take the offensive against the fighters in Iraq, is prepared to compound its past mistakes in Iraq by embarking on a new course of action derived from some of the darkest, and most embarrassing moments of America's modern history.
By any standard, the ongoing American occupation of Iraq is a disaster
The highly vaunted US military machine, laurelled and praised for its historic march on Baghdad in March and April of 2003, today finds itself a broken force, on the defensive in a land that it may occupy in part, but does not control.
The all-out offensive to break the back of the resistance in Falluja has failed, leaving a city destroyed by American firepower, and still very much in the grips of the anti-American fighters. The same is true of Mosul, Samarra, or any other location where the US military has undertaken “decisive” action against the fighters, only to find that, within days, the fighting has returned, stronger than ever.
And yet, it now appears as if the United States, in an effort to take the offensive against the fighters in Iraq, is prepared to compound its past mistakes in Iraq by embarking on a new course of action derived from some of the darkest, and most embarrassing moments of America's modern history.
USA: BUSH REGIME
Village Voice: The Eve of Destruction
George Bush is getting four more years to remake the world in his image. (Too bad for us, he already started.)
You might wonder—were you someone unfamiliar with or in denial about the ways of the Karl Rove Mafia—how George W. Bush could blunder into nominating someone as attorney general so obviously implicated in the most legally questionable and morally indefensible practices of his administration. You might wonder, too, how the administration seemed to be caught unawares by the bottomless pit of scandal in the past of its initial nominee for Homeland Security secretary
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George Bush is getting four more years to remake the world in his image. (Too bad for us, he already started.)
You might wonder—were you someone unfamiliar with or in denial about the ways of the Karl Rove Mafia—how George W. Bush could blunder into nominating someone as attorney general so obviously implicated in the most legally questionable and morally indefensible practices of his administration. You might wonder, too, how the administration seemed to be caught unawares by the bottomless pit of scandal in the past of its initial nominee for Homeland Security secretary
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SADDAM ON TRIAL
Of President Saddam Hussein
Dr. Curtis F.J. DoebblerMember of the Legal Team
representing President Hussein
Although continued attempts are being made to establish access to the President of Iraq who has been held without access to a lawyer, only one meeting has been arranged more than one year after the detention began. This meeting took place with one of the lawyers of Committee under strict monitoring (both visual and audio) whereby two US military officials were present at all times. This meeting was not under conditions that meet the minimum standards for access to legal counsel provided by international law (e.g. in article 14 of the ICCPR).
USA: BUSH
Greg Palast: Oaf Of Office
Watching John Kerry lip-synch the oath of office, I couldn't help wondering, 'what if.'
Here on stage in Washington was the winner-class warmed and protected by cashmere and tax cuts against the strange, nipple-chilling cold. Hell had frozen over.
Our President said, "It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation." Well, no, it isn't.
Our President said, "We will widen retirement savings and health insurance." No, he won't.Our President said, "America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains." Yes, he will.
Our President said, "And our country must abandon all the habits of racism." Oh, sure.
He doesn't believe a single word he's saying. And all over America, everyone knows he's lying and America is truly relieved.
Watching John Kerry lip-synch the oath of office, I couldn't help wondering, 'what if.'
Here on stage in Washington was the winner-class warmed and protected by cashmere and tax cuts against the strange, nipple-chilling cold. Hell had frozen over.
Our President said, "It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation." Well, no, it isn't.
Our President said, "We will widen retirement savings and health insurance." No, he won't.Our President said, "America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains." Yes, he will.
Our President said, "And our country must abandon all the habits of racism." Oh, sure.
He doesn't believe a single word he's saying. And all over America, everyone knows he's lying and America is truly relieved.
IRAQ: FALLUJAH
WSWS: Fallujah 'City Of Mosques' Now 'City Of Rubble'
Channel Four News in Britain recently broadcast a short film report from inside Fallujah, showing the massive devastation wreaked on the city in last November's US-led assault.
The assault by US forces on the Iraqi city of Fallujah was one of the greatest war crimes since the Second World War. Over the course of nine days, Operation Phantom Fury, involving 10,000 US troops backed by 500 British soldiers, reduced the city, once famed for its 120 mosques and modern infrastructure, to ruins.
In the two months that have passed, little or nothing has been reported of the fate of Fallujah and its residents. In part, this is because the US military placed a cordon around the city and closely controls all movement in or out. But the silence is as much a result of the dishonest and servile attitude of the media.
Channel Four News in Britain recently broadcast a short film report from inside Fallujah, showing the massive devastation wreaked on the city in last November's US-led assault.
The assault by US forces on the Iraqi city of Fallujah was one of the greatest war crimes since the Second World War. Over the course of nine days, Operation Phantom Fury, involving 10,000 US troops backed by 500 British soldiers, reduced the city, once famed for its 120 mosques and modern infrastructure, to ruins.
In the two months that have passed, little or nothing has been reported of the fate of Fallujah and its residents. In part, this is because the US military placed a cordon around the city and closely controls all movement in or out. But the silence is as much a result of the dishonest and servile attitude of the media.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
USA
ICH: Coronation of Corruption by Manuel Venezuela
Celebration of Exploitation
At the apex of the highest mountain stand the facilitators of human corruption, in proud self-adulation, glorification and ego-driven debasement readying themselves with a forty million dollar celebration of pomp and circumstance, enjoying the comforts of luxury and unfettered power spun by the web of exploitation, for victorious do they see each other, this power-addicted and profit-hungry cabal of corporatist and elitist vermin, extolling both the virtues of immorality and policies of unscrupulous undertakings that have laid waste billions of lives in the present while condemning billions that have yet to exist. For like vultures attacking a dead carcass they have descended upon Washington to further empower humankind’s enduring romance with its self-corruption and the continuing decline into our moral abyss.
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Celebration of Exploitation
At the apex of the highest mountain stand the facilitators of human corruption, in proud self-adulation, glorification and ego-driven debasement readying themselves with a forty million dollar celebration of pomp and circumstance, enjoying the comforts of luxury and unfettered power spun by the web of exploitation, for victorious do they see each other, this power-addicted and profit-hungry cabal of corporatist and elitist vermin, extolling both the virtues of immorality and policies of unscrupulous undertakings that have laid waste billions of lives in the present while condemning billions that have yet to exist. For like vultures attacking a dead carcass they have descended upon Washington to further empower humankind’s enduring romance with its self-corruption and the continuing decline into our moral abyss.
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IRAQ
Al Jazeera: Deadly car bombs shake Iraqi capital
Five bombs, including one near the Australian embassy in Baghdad, along with a checkpoint shooting, have killed 26 people and wounded many, the US military says.
Five bombs, including one near the Australian embassy in Baghdad, along with a checkpoint shooting, have killed 26 people and wounded many, the US military says.
IRAQ
Dahr Jamail: Baghdat City of Car Bombs
The thundering blast rocks me awake at 7:05am. The first thing my eyes see are the curtains of my room flowing in, as if a strong wind is blowing into my room.
'Holy shit, they hit the embassy,' I think to myself, 'the blast was so close.'
I leave my windows cracked and curtains drawn for just this reason-while my door was blasted open, splintering the frame where it was locked shut, none of my windows shattered. Aside from small chunks from the ceiling of my room strewn about the floor, I am alright.
The thundering blast rocks me awake at 7:05am. The first thing my eyes see are the curtains of my room flowing in, as if a strong wind is blowing into my room.
'Holy shit, they hit the embassy,' I think to myself, 'the blast was so close.'
I leave my windows cracked and curtains drawn for just this reason-while my door was blasted open, splintering the frame where it was locked shut, none of my windows shattered. Aside from small chunks from the ceiling of my room strewn about the floor, I am alright.
IRAQ
Harry Browne: Can You Imagine?:
Hussein Was Right & Bush Was Wrong
You may remember that in 2002, the year before the Iraq War began, the United Nations Security Council ordered Iraq to produce a report detailing all of its biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons — past and present. Iraqi officials complied and produced an 11,800-page report on Iraq's weapons programs. The report described all the chemical and biological weapons the country once had — where they came from and what was done with them — as well as what had happened to Iraq's nuclear weapons program
Hussein Was Right & Bush Was Wrong
You may remember that in 2002, the year before the Iraq War began, the United Nations Security Council ordered Iraq to produce a report detailing all of its biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons — past and present. Iraqi officials complied and produced an 11,800-page report on Iraq's weapons programs. The report described all the chemical and biological weapons the country once had — where they came from and what was done with them — as well as what had happened to Iraq's nuclear weapons program
USA VS. IRAN
Truthout: Target Iran. War with No End by Steve Weissmann
Perhaps as early as his State of the Union address, Mr. Bush will promote this pre-emptive attack as the cutting edge of his "War on Terror." In fact, he knows that Iran and its Ayatollahs had nothing to do with 9/11. But neither did Saddam Hussein.
One indicator of Iran's stance - and of the Administration's - came in the summer of 2003, as I described in an earlier column. The Ayatollahs offered to give Mr. Bush five terrorists they had captured, including bin-Laden's son Saad and the Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who now heads al-Qaeda's terror franchise in Iraq. In return, the Iranians wanted Washington to hand over members of the Mujihadeen Khalq, who were attacking Iran from their safe haven in occupied Iraq. The U.S. State Department had officially labeled the M.K. as terrorists, but Team Bush declined to make the exchange. According to the well-placed Jerusalem Post, a group of Neo-Conservatives headed by Michael Ledeen intervened to undermine the negotiations.
Perhaps as early as his State of the Union address, Mr. Bush will promote this pre-emptive attack as the cutting edge of his "War on Terror." In fact, he knows that Iran and its Ayatollahs had nothing to do with 9/11. But neither did Saddam Hussein.
One indicator of Iran's stance - and of the Administration's - came in the summer of 2003, as I described in an earlier column. The Ayatollahs offered to give Mr. Bush five terrorists they had captured, including bin-Laden's son Saad and the Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who now heads al-Qaeda's terror franchise in Iraq. In return, the Iranians wanted Washington to hand over members of the Mujihadeen Khalq, who were attacking Iran from their safe haven in occupied Iraq. The U.S. State Department had officially labeled the M.K. as terrorists, but Team Bush declined to make the exchange. According to the well-placed Jerusalem Post, a group of Neo-Conservatives headed by Michael Ledeen intervened to undermine the negotiations.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
USA VS. IRAN
Guardian: US Ponders Attack On Iran
Hardliners In Pentagon Ready To Neutralise
'Nuclear Threat' Posed By Tehran
President Bush's second inauguration on Thursday will provide the signal for an intense and urgent debate in Washington over whether or when to extend the "global war on terror" to Iran, according to officials and foreign policy analysts in Washington.
That debate is being driven by "neo-conservatives" at the Pentagon who emerged from the post-election Bush reshuffle unscathed, despite their involvement in collecting misleading intelligence on Iraq's weapons in the run-up to the 2003 invasion.
Washington has stood aside from recent European negotiations with Iran and Pentagon hardliners are convinced that the current European-brokered deal suspending nuclear enrichment and intensifying weapons inspections is unenforceable and will collapse in months.
Only the credible threat, and if necessary the use, of air and special operations attacks against Iran's suspected nuclear facilities will stop the ruling clerics in Tehran acquiring warheads, many in the administration argue.
Hardliners In Pentagon Ready To Neutralise
'Nuclear Threat' Posed By Tehran
President Bush's second inauguration on Thursday will provide the signal for an intense and urgent debate in Washington over whether or when to extend the "global war on terror" to Iran, according to officials and foreign policy analysts in Washington.
That debate is being driven by "neo-conservatives" at the Pentagon who emerged from the post-election Bush reshuffle unscathed, despite their involvement in collecting misleading intelligence on Iraq's weapons in the run-up to the 2003 invasion.
Washington has stood aside from recent European negotiations with Iran and Pentagon hardliners are convinced that the current European-brokered deal suspending nuclear enrichment and intensifying weapons inspections is unenforceable and will collapse in months.
Only the credible threat, and if necessary the use, of air and special operations attacks against Iran's suspected nuclear facilities will stop the ruling clerics in Tehran acquiring warheads, many in the administration argue.
USA VS. IRAN
Reuters: Iran Says It Has Military Might To Deter Attack
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has the military might to deter attacks against it, Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said, after President Bush said he would not rule out military force against Iran over its nuclear program.
"We are able to say that we have strength such that no country can attack us because they do not have precise information about our military capabilities due to our ability to implement flexible strategies," the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Shamkhani as saying Tuesday.
"We can claim that we have rapidly produced equipment that has resulted in the greatest deterrent," he said, without elaborating.
In October, Iran announced successful trials of its Shahab-3 ballistic missile with a range of 1,250 miles, putting parts of Europe, as well as Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf, within reach.
Bush said Monday Washington would not rule out military action against Iran -- which he has labeled as part of an "axis of evil" alongside Iraq and North Korea -- if it was not more forthcoming about its suspected nuclear weapons program.
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has the military might to deter attacks against it, Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said, after President Bush said he would not rule out military force against Iran over its nuclear program.
"We are able to say that we have strength such that no country can attack us because they do not have precise information about our military capabilities due to our ability to implement flexible strategies," the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Shamkhani as saying Tuesday.
"We can claim that we have rapidly produced equipment that has resulted in the greatest deterrent," he said, without elaborating.
In October, Iran announced successful trials of its Shahab-3 ballistic missile with a range of 1,250 miles, putting parts of Europe, as well as Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf, within reach.
Bush said Monday Washington would not rule out military action against Iran -- which he has labeled as part of an "axis of evil" alongside Iraq and North Korea -- if it was not more forthcoming about its suspected nuclear weapons program.
IRAQ: ALLAWI
Sidney Morning Herald: US Official Confirms Allawi Shot Six Iraqis Dead
A former Jordanian government minister has told The New Yorker that an American official confirmed to him that the Iraqi interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, executed six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station last year.
The claim is in an extensive profile of Dr Allawi written for this week's issue of the magazine by an American journalist, Jon Lee Anderson, the author of The Fall of Baghdad and a regular Baghdad correspondent for The New Yorker.
Writing about his research in Jordan in December, Anderson says: "A well-known former government minister told me that an American official had confirmed that the killings took place, saying to him, 'What a mess we're in - we got rid of one son of a bitch only to get another one'."
"Saddam is death - long live Saddam light"
A former Jordanian government minister has told The New Yorker that an American official confirmed to him that the Iraqi interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, executed six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station last year.
The claim is in an extensive profile of Dr Allawi written for this week's issue of the magazine by an American journalist, Jon Lee Anderson, the author of The Fall of Baghdad and a regular Baghdad correspondent for The New Yorker.
Writing about his research in Jordan in December, Anderson says: "A well-known former government minister told me that an American official had confirmed that the killings took place, saying to him, 'What a mess we're in - we got rid of one son of a bitch only to get another one'."
"Saddam is death - long live Saddam light"
IRAQ: US USED CHEM WEAPONS
Dahr Jamail: US Troops Covering Up Chem Weapons In Fallujah?
"The soldiers are doing strange things in Fallujah," said one of my contacts in Fallujah who just returned. He was in his city checking on his home and just returned to Baghdad this evening.
Speaking on condition of anonymity he continued, "In the center of the Julan Quarter they are removing entire homes which have been bombed, meanwhile most of the homes that were bombed are left as they were. Why are they doing this?"
According to him, this was also done in the Nazal, Mualmeen, Jubail and Shuhada'a districts, and the military began to do this after Eid, which was after November 20th.
He told me he has watched the military use bulldozers to push the soil into piles and load it onto trucks to carry away. This was done in the Julan and Jimouriya quarters of the city, which is of course where the heaviest fighting occurred during the siege, as this was where resistance was the fiercest.
"The soldiers are doing strange things in Fallujah," said one of my contacts in Fallujah who just returned. He was in his city checking on his home and just returned to Baghdad this evening.
Speaking on condition of anonymity he continued, "In the center of the Julan Quarter they are removing entire homes which have been bombed, meanwhile most of the homes that were bombed are left as they were. Why are they doing this?"
According to him, this was also done in the Nazal, Mualmeen, Jubail and Shuhada'a districts, and the military began to do this after Eid, which was after November 20th.
He told me he has watched the military use bulldozers to push the soil into piles and load it onto trucks to carry away. This was done in the Julan and Jimouriya quarters of the city, which is of course where the heaviest fighting occurred during the siege, as this was where resistance was the fiercest.
IRAQ: RESISTANCE
JUS: Many More US Troops Blown To Pieces
CENTCOM silent
A car bomb exploded by the al-Jazirah wooden bridge in the village of al-Jazirah near ar-Ramadi at 3:25pm Monday afternoon. The correspondent of Mafkarat al-Islam reported local witnesses as saying that the booby-trapped Volvo car was parked by the side of the road at the bottom of the bridge. A US column approached on its way to do its usual round of patrols but spotted the car. Seven American troops left the column and approached the car, fearful that it might be booby trapped.
When the US soldiers got close, the car exploded. The local police told Mafkarat al-Islam that the Americans had not been able to find all the remains of their dead soldiers because many were blown to pieces by the force of the blast and charred bits of bodies and small pieces of limbs were scattered all over the place. Local witnesses confirmed that fact.
CENTCOM silent
A car bomb exploded by the al-Jazirah wooden bridge in the village of al-Jazirah near ar-Ramadi at 3:25pm Monday afternoon. The correspondent of Mafkarat al-Islam reported local witnesses as saying that the booby-trapped Volvo car was parked by the side of the road at the bottom of the bridge. A US column approached on its way to do its usual round of patrols but spotted the car. Seven American troops left the column and approached the car, fearful that it might be booby trapped.
When the US soldiers got close, the car exploded. The local police told Mafkarat al-Islam that the Americans had not been able to find all the remains of their dead soldiers because many were blown to pieces by the force of the blast and charred bits of bodies and small pieces of limbs were scattered all over the place. Local witnesses confirmed that fact.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
News.com.au: Sharon Turns Army Totally Loose On Palestinians
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that he had given orders for troops to carry out unlimited operations against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
"The current situation is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue," Sharon said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
"The Tsahal (army) and the security forces have received orders to operate without any limits on time or their modus operandi to act against the terrorist organisations.
"These instructions will remain valid as long as the Palestinians fail to lift even a single finger" against the armed factions, he added.
"Sharon destroys every hope for a peaceful solution from the very beginning forget the talk about new chances for peace you heard before the elections. Abbas will face the same fate as Arafat. He can't do shit against Hamas if he dosn't want to risk a civil war"
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that he had given orders for troops to carry out unlimited operations against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
"The current situation is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue," Sharon said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
"The Tsahal (army) and the security forces have received orders to operate without any limits on time or their modus operandi to act against the terrorist organisations.
"These instructions will remain valid as long as the Palestinians fail to lift even a single finger" against the armed factions, he added.
"Sharon destroys every hope for a peaceful solution from the very beginning forget the talk about new chances for peace you heard before the elections. Abbas will face the same fate as Arafat. He can't do shit against Hamas if he dosn't want to risk a civil war"
USA VS. IRAN
Rense: Terrorists May Be Coming Soon To A Mall Near You by Kurt Nimmo
If you live near a military base or installation, as I do here in New Mexico, you shouldn't be surprised if terrorists attack, drive a suicide truck through the front gates and kill a whole lot of people.
Fair is fair, as they say, in love and war, especially war.
It shouldn't come as a surprise because the Pentagon is now attacking the "military infrastructure" in Iran, as crack investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reports. Of course, when the Pentagon says "military infrastructure," it means not only missile sites, ammo depots, etc., but also humans, the largest and most crucial part of any "military infrastructure."
If you live near a military base or installation, as I do here in New Mexico, you shouldn't be surprised if terrorists attack, drive a suicide truck through the front gates and kill a whole lot of people.
Fair is fair, as they say, in love and war, especially war.
It shouldn't come as a surprise because the Pentagon is now attacking the "military infrastructure" in Iran, as crack investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reports. Of course, when the Pentagon says "military infrastructure," it means not only missile sites, ammo depots, etc., but also humans, the largest and most crucial part of any "military infrastructure."
Monday, January 17, 2005
IRAQ
ICH: Not Even Saddam Could Achieve the Divisions This Election Will Bring by Robert Fisk
Sunday 30 January will be the day when myth and reality come together with - I fear - an all too literal bang. The magic date upon which Iraq is supposed to transform itself into a democracy will no doubt be greeted as another milestone in America's adventure and, I suspect, another "great day for Iraq" by Lord Blair of Kut al-Amara. He, of course, doesn't have to be blown up in the polling stations or torn to pieces by suicide bombers on the way home. The "martyrs of democracy", as I am sure the dead will be feted, will be those Iraqis who have decided to go along with an election so physically dangerous that the international observers will be "observing" the poll from Amman.
Sunday 30 January will be the day when myth and reality come together with - I fear - an all too literal bang. The magic date upon which Iraq is supposed to transform itself into a democracy will no doubt be greeted as another milestone in America's adventure and, I suspect, another "great day for Iraq" by Lord Blair of Kut al-Amara. He, of course, doesn't have to be blown up in the polling stations or torn to pieces by suicide bombers on the way home. The "martyrs of democracy", as I am sure the dead will be feted, will be those Iraqis who have decided to go along with an election so physically dangerous that the international observers will be "observing" the poll from Amman.
IRAQ
ICH: Hotel journalism gives American troops a free hand by Robert Fisk
"Hotel journalism" is the only way to describe it. More and more, Western reporters in Baghdad are reporting from their hotels rather than the streets of Iraq's towns and cities.
Some are accompanied everywhere by hired and heavily armed Western mercenaries. A few live in local offices, from which their editors refuse them permission to leave.
Most use Iraqi "stringers" - part-time correspondents who risk their lives to conduct interviews for American or British journalists - and none can contemplate a journey outside the capital without days of preparation, unless they "embed" themselves with US or British forces.
Rarely, if ever, has a war been covered by reporters in so distant and restricted a way. Several Western journalists simply do not leave their rooms while on station in Baghdad.
So grave are the threats to Western journalists that some television stations are talking of withdrawing their reporters and crews altogether. Amid an insurgency where Westerners - and many Arabs as well as other foreigners - are kidnapped and killed, reporting on this war is becoming close to impossible.
"Hotel journalism" is the only way to describe it. More and more, Western reporters in Baghdad are reporting from their hotels rather than the streets of Iraq's towns and cities.
Some are accompanied everywhere by hired and heavily armed Western mercenaries. A few live in local offices, from which their editors refuse them permission to leave.
Most use Iraqi "stringers" - part-time correspondents who risk their lives to conduct interviews for American or British journalists - and none can contemplate a journey outside the capital without days of preparation, unless they "embed" themselves with US or British forces.
Rarely, if ever, has a war been covered by reporters in so distant and restricted a way. Several Western journalists simply do not leave their rooms while on station in Baghdad.
So grave are the threats to Western journalists that some television stations are talking of withdrawing their reporters and crews altogether. Amid an insurgency where Westerners - and many Arabs as well as other foreigners - are kidnapped and killed, reporting on this war is becoming close to impossible.
IRAN
The New Yorker: THE COMING WARS by Seymour M. Hersh
George W. Bush’s reëlection was not his only victory last fall. The President and his national-security advisers have consolidated control over the military and intelligence communities’ strategic analyses and covert operations to a degree unmatched since the rise of the post-Second World War national-security state. Bush has an aggressive and ambitious agenda for using that control—against the mullahs in Iran and against targets in the ongoing war on terrorism—during his second term. The C.I.A. will continue to be downgraded, and the agency will increasingly serve, as one government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon put it, as “facilitators” of policy emanating from President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney. This process is well under way.
This is a war against terrorism, and Iraq is just one campaign. The Bush Administration is looking at this as a huge war zone,” the former high-level intelligence official told me. “Next, we’re going to have the Iranian campaign. We’ve declared war and the bad guys, wherever they are, are the enemy. This is the last hurrah—we’ve got four years, and want to come out of this saying we won the war on terrorism.”
"a must read"
George W. Bush’s reëlection was not his only victory last fall. The President and his national-security advisers have consolidated control over the military and intelligence communities’ strategic analyses and covert operations to a degree unmatched since the rise of the post-Second World War national-security state. Bush has an aggressive and ambitious agenda for using that control—against the mullahs in Iran and against targets in the ongoing war on terrorism—during his second term. The C.I.A. will continue to be downgraded, and the agency will increasingly serve, as one government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon put it, as “facilitators” of policy emanating from President Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney. This process is well under way.
This is a war against terrorism, and Iraq is just one campaign. The Bush Administration is looking at this as a huge war zone,” the former high-level intelligence official told me. “Next, we’re going to have the Iranian campaign. We’ve declared war and the bad guys, wherever they are, are the enemy. This is the last hurrah—we’ve got four years, and want to come out of this saying we won the war on terrorism.”
"a must read"
IRAQ
Dahr Jamail: Blood is Precious
Iraqis and Americans meet to share grief and committment to justice
Family members left behind by those who have died violent deaths amidst the occupation of Iraq, whether they are Iraqi or American, have every reason to be bitter. After all, each death is due to an illegal occupation as the result of an illegal invasion of a sovereign country (although the United States government disputes this view). With over 1,340 dead US soldiers and an estimated 100,000 dead Iraqi civilians as a result of the war and occupation, there are many families left behind engulfed in grief.
In a recent delegation to Amman, Jordan, US family members who lost loved ones in the conflict in Iraq came to the Middle East to meet with Iraqis who had lost loved ones. The delegation was sponsored by Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based human rights group, and Code Pink, a women’s peace activist group based in Los Angeles. The groups represented in the delegation were Military Families Speak Out and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.
Iraqis and Americans meet to share grief and committment to justice
Family members left behind by those who have died violent deaths amidst the occupation of Iraq, whether they are Iraqi or American, have every reason to be bitter. After all, each death is due to an illegal occupation as the result of an illegal invasion of a sovereign country (although the United States government disputes this view). With over 1,340 dead US soldiers and an estimated 100,000 dead Iraqi civilians as a result of the war and occupation, there are many families left behind engulfed in grief.
In a recent delegation to Amman, Jordan, US family members who lost loved ones in the conflict in Iraq came to the Middle East to meet with Iraqis who had lost loved ones. The delegation was sponsored by Global Exchange, a San Francisco-based human rights group, and Code Pink, a women’s peace activist group based in Los Angeles. The groups represented in the delegation were Military Families Speak Out and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.
IRAQ
Robert Fisk: How a flying carpet took me back in time
- until I landed in Baghdad
The brush fires are already being lit but fear not, Bush and Blair will tell us they knew things would get violent on polling day.
- until I landed in Baghdad
The brush fires are already being lit but fear not, Bush and Blair will tell us they knew things would get violent on polling day.
MEDIA WATCH
NY Times: All The President's Newsmen by Frank Rich
On this particular "Crossfire," the featured guest was Armstrong Williams, a conservative commentator, talk-show host and newspaper columnist (for papers like The Washington Times and The Detroit Free Press, among many others, according to his Web site). Thanks to investigative reporting by USA Today, he had just been unmasked as the frontman for a scheme in which $240,000 of taxpayers' money was quietly siphoned to him through the Department of Education and a private p.r. firm so that he would "regularly comment" upon (translation: shill for) the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind policy in various media venues during an election year. Given that "Crossfire" was initially conceived as a program for tough interrogation and debate, you'd think that the co-hosts still on duty after Mr. Carlson's departure might try to get some answers about this scandal, whose full contours, I suspect, we are only just beginning to discern.
"Check It"
On this particular "Crossfire," the featured guest was Armstrong Williams, a conservative commentator, talk-show host and newspaper columnist (for papers like The Washington Times and The Detroit Free Press, among many others, according to his Web site). Thanks to investigative reporting by USA Today, he had just been unmasked as the frontman for a scheme in which $240,000 of taxpayers' money was quietly siphoned to him through the Department of Education and a private p.r. firm so that he would "regularly comment" upon (translation: shill for) the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind policy in various media venues during an election year. Given that "Crossfire" was initially conceived as a program for tough interrogation and debate, you'd think that the co-hosts still on duty after Mr. Carlson's departure might try to get some answers about this scandal, whose full contours, I suspect, we are only just beginning to discern.
"Check It"
TELEVISION
Jolly Rogers: Television - The Most PowerfulWeapon Of Them All
Perception Management - American Television is truly the 'boob tube' and it controls the masses via very carefully filtered information keeping a duped and deceived populace in check to serve at the pleasure of the plutocratic US government.
The presidential election was a great success for our government, because most of the fools still think the outcome had something to do with voting. They've already returned to their television sets for further training, so the fact that they have no money or freedom and their children are being sent to die will soon make perfect sense to them.
It's all very easy once you're in control of the news. Goebbels knew that if you could CONTROL THE INFORMATION that's available to a population, you could CONTROL THE MIND OF A NATION, and this lesson from Nazi Germany has been perfected in America today.
Perception Management - American Television is truly the 'boob tube' and it controls the masses via very carefully filtered information keeping a duped and deceived populace in check to serve at the pleasure of the plutocratic US government.
The presidential election was a great success for our government, because most of the fools still think the outcome had something to do with voting. They've already returned to their television sets for further training, so the fact that they have no money or freedom and their children are being sent to die will soon make perfect sense to them.
It's all very easy once you're in control of the news. Goebbels knew that if you could CONTROL THE INFORMATION that's available to a population, you could CONTROL THE MIND OF A NATION, and this lesson from Nazi Germany has been perfected in America today.
IRAQ: CASUALTIES
iraq2005.blogpsot.com: Casualty Figures.
From the Pentagon as of January 14th 2005,figures have been released at some 1361 U.S personnel killed and just over 10,000 wounded from the Iraq war and occupation.Is this a true reflection of the actual casualties or a manipulation of the figures ?
Using a rough guide of 1 soldier killed for every 8 wounded gives a figure of 6,000 killed.In my opinion the true casualty figures of Iraq is around 6,000 servicemen killed and 48,000 wounded.Totaling 54,000.If my figures are accurate then the pentagon is only reporting,making public 20% of the casualties.Many people will state this can not be possible.They cannot hide that ammount.Vietnam was a good reflection initially 6,000 Kia were reported later that rose to 58,000 and later a further 40,000 were deemed missing in action.So if Vietnam is anything to judge,then most certainly casualty figures are manipulated for public consumption.
"CHECK IT"
From the Pentagon as of January 14th 2005,figures have been released at some 1361 U.S personnel killed and just over 10,000 wounded from the Iraq war and occupation.Is this a true reflection of the actual casualties or a manipulation of the figures ?
Using a rough guide of 1 soldier killed for every 8 wounded gives a figure of 6,000 killed.In my opinion the true casualty figures of Iraq is around 6,000 servicemen killed and 48,000 wounded.Totaling 54,000.If my figures are accurate then the pentagon is only reporting,making public 20% of the casualties.Many people will state this can not be possible.They cannot hide that ammount.Vietnam was a good reflection initially 6,000 Kia were reported later that rose to 58,000 and later a further 40,000 were deemed missing in action.So if Vietnam is anything to judge,then most certainly casualty figures are manipulated for public consumption.
"CHECK IT"
IRAQ: RESISTANCE
JUS: Scores More American Dead As US Takes Heavy Losses
Dozens Of Bomb Attacks In Baghdad As More Scholars Arrested
US Arrests Sunni Religious Leader
The Board of Muslim 'Ulama' [Scholars] confirmed on Thursday that US occupation forces had arrested one of its members when they raided his house in Baghdad Wednesday-Thursday night. Shaykh 'Umar Raghib Zaydan told Reuters that US forces attacked the house of Shaykh Ahmad al-Jabburi during the night. They searched the home, and when they found nothing, they arrested al-Jabburi.
Zaydan added that al-Jabburi is a professor at the Islamic University and an imam of the mosque north of Baghdad. Zaydan added that the Americans have more than 50 members of the Board of Muslim 'Ulama' in custody.
Zaydan said that these arrests are part of a US effort to pressure the Board to change its position on the election that Washington has slated to take place in Iraq on 30 January. The Board of Muslim 'Ulama' opposes elections under occupation. Zaydan said that the Board would not be changing its stand on the elections.
Dozens Of Bomb Attacks In Baghdad As More Scholars Arrested
US Arrests Sunni Religious Leader
The Board of Muslim 'Ulama' [Scholars] confirmed on Thursday that US occupation forces had arrested one of its members when they raided his house in Baghdad Wednesday-Thursday night. Shaykh 'Umar Raghib Zaydan told Reuters that US forces attacked the house of Shaykh Ahmad al-Jabburi during the night. They searched the home, and when they found nothing, they arrested al-Jabburi.
Zaydan added that al-Jabburi is a professor at the Islamic University and an imam of the mosque north of Baghdad. Zaydan added that the Americans have more than 50 members of the Board of Muslim 'Ulama' in custody.
Zaydan said that these arrests are part of a US effort to pressure the Board to change its position on the election that Washington has slated to take place in Iraq on 30 January. The Board of Muslim 'Ulama' opposes elections under occupation. Zaydan said that the Board would not be changing its stand on the elections.
IRAQ: RESISTANCE
JUS: Dozens More US Killed In Al-Anbar Province & Ramadi 1-15-5
Resistance attacks continue throughout Iraq and was particularly heavy in the Hit on Thursday as fighters attacked US occupation forces with BKC machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, bazookas, and C5K rockets that resulted in American casualties.
Ambush In As-Sabihat Area
Resistance forces armed with rockets and bazookas, taking cover behind concrete barriers placed at the outskirts of town by the Americans, attacked a US column by the wooden bridge in the as-Sabihat area. Witnesses reported that one Resistance fighter was martyred in the attack and another wounded. The Americans called in helicopters to carry away the bodies of their soldiers from the scene, the exact number of which was unknown.
Resistance attacks continue throughout Iraq and was particularly heavy in the Hit on Thursday as fighters attacked US occupation forces with BKC machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, bazookas, and C5K rockets that resulted in American casualties.
Ambush In As-Sabihat Area
Resistance forces armed with rockets and bazookas, taking cover behind concrete barriers placed at the outskirts of town by the Americans, attacked a US column by the wooden bridge in the as-Sabihat area. Witnesses reported that one Resistance fighter was martyred in the attack and another wounded. The Americans called in helicopters to carry away the bodies of their soldiers from the scene, the exact number of which was unknown.
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