IRAQ
The new nation: How arrogant was the path to war by Robert Fisk
How arrogant was the path to war. As US President Bush now desperately tries to cajole the old UN donkey to rescue him from Iraq - he who warned us that the UN was in danger of turning into a League of Nations "talking shop" if it declined him legitimacy for his invasion - we are supposed to believe that no one in Washington could have guessed the future.
The neoconservative, pro-Israeli American "advisers" around Donald Rumsfeld - unsurprisingly silent now that their pre-war enthusiasm has trapped 146,000 American troops in the biggest rat's nest in the Middle East - say only that "mistakes" were made in their assumptions.
Messers Bush and Blair fantasized their way to war with all those mythical weapons of mass destruction and "imminent threats" from Iraq - whether of the 45-minute variety or not - and of the postwar 'liberation', 'democracy' and map-changing they were going to bestow upon the region. But the record shows just how many warnings the Bush administration received from sane and decent men in the days before we plunged into this terrible adventure.
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
UK: DAVID KELLY
Independent: Straw admits he wanted 'killer' words in dossier
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, was forced to admit yesterday that he had wanted a "killer paragraph" inserted to the September Iraq weapons dossier and the document "strengthened" on weapons of mass destruction.
But he refused to be drawn on the extent of his own involvement in the apparent wish of two of his senior officials that the identity of David Kelly should be disclosed.
The revelations had come in documents released by the Hutton inquiry and published in The Independent yesterday. Michael Ancram, the shadow Foreign Secretary, wrote to Mr Straw demanding "full" answers. Mr Ancram said later: "The processes within Government that led to the naming of Dr Kelly are fundamental to Lord Hutton's inquiry. From the latest evidence we now know that two senior officials in Jack Straw's department were openly supporting the naming of Dr Kelly. It would be incredible if they did not consult Mr Straw on this matter. There are now serious questions regarding the role of the Foreign Secretary in both the naming of Dr Kelly and the September dossier. These need to be answered as a matter of urgency."
Independent: Straw admits he wanted 'killer' words in dossier
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, was forced to admit yesterday that he had wanted a "killer paragraph" inserted to the September Iraq weapons dossier and the document "strengthened" on weapons of mass destruction.
But he refused to be drawn on the extent of his own involvement in the apparent wish of two of his senior officials that the identity of David Kelly should be disclosed.
The revelations had come in documents released by the Hutton inquiry and published in The Independent yesterday. Michael Ancram, the shadow Foreign Secretary, wrote to Mr Straw demanding "full" answers. Mr Ancram said later: "The processes within Government that led to the naming of Dr Kelly are fundamental to Lord Hutton's inquiry. From the latest evidence we now know that two senior officials in Jack Straw's department were openly supporting the naming of Dr Kelly. It would be incredible if they did not consult Mr Straw on this matter. There are now serious questions regarding the role of the Foreign Secretary in both the naming of Dr Kelly and the September dossier. These need to be answered as a matter of urgency."
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Independent: Son killed as Hamas leader escapes Israeli air strike
Israeli warplanes today attacked the Gaza City home of a Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar, in retaliation for the twin suicide bombings that killed 15 Israelis yesterday. Zahar survived with minor injuries, but a son and a bodyguard were killed.
Israel has killed 12 members of the Islamic militant group in air strikes in the past three weeks. Today was the first time it has attacked a Hamas leader in his home.
"Ich habe es schon gestern geschrieben. Die nach internationalem recht illegale ermordung von palaestinensischen fuehrern wird als vorwand für neue militaeaktionen israels genutzt. durch die ermordung von hamas fuerern werden selbstmordanschlaege provoziert um danach zu behaupten die palaestinenser wuerden nichts gegen den "terror" unternehmen und neue militaeraktionen zu rechtfertigen. Mit der toetung von hamas fuerern hat israel die roadmap begraben und mr. bush wird sich vor den wahlen 2004 hueten israel zu stoppen. Weitere anschlaege werden folgen"
Independent: Son killed as Hamas leader escapes Israeli air strike
Israeli warplanes today attacked the Gaza City home of a Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar, in retaliation for the twin suicide bombings that killed 15 Israelis yesterday. Zahar survived with minor injuries, but a son and a bodyguard were killed.
Israel has killed 12 members of the Islamic militant group in air strikes in the past three weeks. Today was the first time it has attacked a Hamas leader in his home.
"Ich habe es schon gestern geschrieben. Die nach internationalem recht illegale ermordung von palaestinensischen fuehrern wird als vorwand für neue militaeaktionen israels genutzt. durch die ermordung von hamas fuerern werden selbstmordanschlaege provoziert um danach zu behaupten die palaestinenser wuerden nichts gegen den "terror" unternehmen und neue militaeraktionen zu rechtfertigen. Mit der toetung von hamas fuerern hat israel die roadmap begraben und mr. bush wird sich vor den wahlen 2004 hueten israel zu stoppen. Weitere anschlaege werden folgen"
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
IRAQ WAR
San Francisco Gate: Oval Office outrages just keep coming
Suppose you were a screenwriter and you used the Bush administration as a model for a screenplay. Do you think anyone in Hollywood would buy it?
"Not a chance," would say Steven Spielberg. "Too outlandish. Nobody would believe anything as ridiculously far-fetched as that."
"Too violent," would say Quentin Tarantino. "Too much blood, too much gore."
"Far too Machiavellian," would say Oliver Stone. "The way the backroom guys take advantage of your Colin Powell character and that Condoleezza Rice character goes beyond belief. And whoever heard of a name like 'Condoleezza' in the first place? Get real."
"It has possibilities," would say the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan. "There certainly is a lot of gallows humor in it. Trouble is, the humor isn't funny."
And so on. Nobody in Hollywood would touch such a bizarre screenplay.
Take the latest chapter of the George W. Bush saga, in which Mr. Bush and his cronies have finally realized what the rest of the world knew long before they attacked Iraq, that the war part would be relatively easy, but the aftermath would be impossible.
Now that the Bushies acknowledge that, they have the incredible chutzpah to go to the United Nations, hat in hand, and ask for help.
This is the same United Nations, bear in mind, that the Bushies said represented "old Europe" before the Iraq fiasco got under way. It is the same United Nations that was deemed irrelevant by the Bushies -- out of touch, tired and not up to 21st-century standards.
San Francisco Gate: Oval Office outrages just keep coming
Suppose you were a screenwriter and you used the Bush administration as a model for a screenplay. Do you think anyone in Hollywood would buy it?
"Not a chance," would say Steven Spielberg. "Too outlandish. Nobody would believe anything as ridiculously far-fetched as that."
"Too violent," would say Quentin Tarantino. "Too much blood, too much gore."
"Far too Machiavellian," would say Oliver Stone. "The way the backroom guys take advantage of your Colin Powell character and that Condoleezza Rice character goes beyond belief. And whoever heard of a name like 'Condoleezza' in the first place? Get real."
"It has possibilities," would say the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan. "There certainly is a lot of gallows humor in it. Trouble is, the humor isn't funny."
And so on. Nobody in Hollywood would touch such a bizarre screenplay.
Take the latest chapter of the George W. Bush saga, in which Mr. Bush and his cronies have finally realized what the rest of the world knew long before they attacked Iraq, that the war part would be relatively easy, but the aftermath would be impossible.
Now that the Bushies acknowledge that, they have the incredible chutzpah to go to the United Nations, hat in hand, and ask for help.
This is the same United Nations, bear in mind, that the Bushies said represented "old Europe" before the Iraq fiasco got under way. It is the same United Nations that was deemed irrelevant by the Bushies -- out of touch, tired and not up to 21st-century standards.
USA BLACKOUT: HAARP WEAPON
Centre for Research on Globalisation: Did a Secret Military Experiment Cause the 2003 Blackout?
Editor's Note:
We bring to our readers a highly controversial article.
While the main thesis presented is not proven, the facts and analysis presented deserve to be taken seriously. The author of this article is a scientist who works in ionospheric research and who is well informed on the impacts of the HAARP program.
In our opinion, the matter requires further investigation before arriving at a definitive statement on the causes of the blackout.
We, nonetheless, believe that the analysis and facts presented in this article warrant the attention of the various governmental agencies in the US and Canada involved in the investigation of the August 14 blackout, including the NY Public Service Commission, the Northeast Power Coordinating Council, the joint US-Canada task force and the congressional inquiry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract.
On August 14, 2003, just a few minutes after the stock market closed for the day, a nine-minute 'event' had brought the entire Northeastern power grid down. It is believed that over fifty million people lost power that afternoon. Since this unprecedented event, blame games have flown back and forth, but no real answers have been provided. It is believed that the event originated in an area in the power grid where there is a bottleneck of power transmission between the eastern U.S. and the Midwest. But what has caused this mess? Outdated equipment, irresponsible power companies, and politicians have all been blamed without any solid evidence to support the accusations. What hasn't been suggested is the possibility that this was a secret government test that served the purpose of fulfilling requirements for sophisticated warfare and security response mechanisms
Centre for Research on Globalisation: Did a Secret Military Experiment Cause the 2003 Blackout?
Editor's Note:
We bring to our readers a highly controversial article.
While the main thesis presented is not proven, the facts and analysis presented deserve to be taken seriously. The author of this article is a scientist who works in ionospheric research and who is well informed on the impacts of the HAARP program.
In our opinion, the matter requires further investigation before arriving at a definitive statement on the causes of the blackout.
We, nonetheless, believe that the analysis and facts presented in this article warrant the attention of the various governmental agencies in the US and Canada involved in the investigation of the August 14 blackout, including the NY Public Service Commission, the Northeast Power Coordinating Council, the joint US-Canada task force and the congressional inquiry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract.
On August 14, 2003, just a few minutes after the stock market closed for the day, a nine-minute 'event' had brought the entire Northeastern power grid down. It is believed that over fifty million people lost power that afternoon. Since this unprecedented event, blame games have flown back and forth, but no real answers have been provided. It is believed that the event originated in an area in the power grid where there is a bottleneck of power transmission between the eastern U.S. and the Midwest. But what has caused this mess? Outdated equipment, irresponsible power companies, and politicians have all been blamed without any solid evidence to support the accusations. What hasn't been suggested is the possibility that this was a secret government test that served the purpose of fulfilling requirements for sophisticated warfare and security response mechanisms
SCHWEIZ
Bern: Al-Kraida Thema im Stadparlament
Bund 4.9.2003
Berns Leid mit der Kreid
Nachschau zu Antifa und Demo-Kreide heute Abend im Stadtrat
• RUDOLF GAFNER
«Die Berner Polizei hat den Schutz des Eigentums total vernachl?ssigt, um seitens der Demonstrationsteilnehmer keine Ausschreitungen zu provozieren», sagt CVP-Stadtrat Daniel Kast, dessen Motion heute Abend im Rat behandelt wird. Der Vorstoss betrifft die neue Erscheinung an Demonstrationen, Parolen mit Kreide an W?nde zu kritzeln, statt mit Sprühfarbe zu sprayen. Der neue Trend in Szenekreisen auf Kurt Wasserfallens Vergleich von Demo-Randalierern mit Terroristen anspielend ironisch «al-Kraida» genannt trat erstmals massiv am «4. Antifaschistischen Abendspaziergang» vom M?rz 2003 auf. Nachdem im Vorjahr heftiges Sprayen zu einem Polizeieinsatz geführt hatte, unterbanden die Veranstalter dieses Jahr jegliches Sprayen auf dass aber gleichwohl «die Stadt bunt» werde, verteilten Antifas Strassenkreide.
Die Polizei sahs zun?chst recht gelassen, da die in politisch brenzliger Atmosph?re vorbereitete Demonstration sonst «ruhig» verlaufen sei; es gebe «kaum Sachbesch?digung» zu beklagen, Kreide sei ja eher leicht fortzuputzen. Das aber sahen Berns Innenstadt-Organisationen, Leiste, Gewerbetreibende und bürgerliche Politiker so auch die CVP mit ihrer aktuellen Motion g?nzlich anders:Der Trend sei «Besorgnis erregend», Kreidekritzeln sei «massive Sachbesch?digung», der «Schaden betr?chtlich», die Polizei dürfe «bei künftigen Demos keine Toleranz walten lassen».
Polizei und Regierung handelten
Die Polizei ging über die Bücher und leitete eine Kehrtwende ein: Einerseits hatte sie «die Sandstein-Problematik» zu wenig bedacht, wie es Stapo-Sprecherin Franziska Frey gestern auf Anfrage formulierte: die Kreide war nicht so leicht zu entfernen. Anderseits war die Polizei «sich der rechtlichen Situation zu wenig bewusst», wie Infochef Franz M?rki schon bei früherer Gelegenheit einr?umte: Kreidekritzeln f?llt unter Sachbesch?digung, ist bei Demonstrationen von Amts wegen zu verfolgen. Dies will die Stapo tun: «Wir haben das Ziel, das künftig zu verhindern», so Frey gestern, «Kreideln wird grunds?tzlich gleich behandelt wie Sprayen.»
Motion?r Kast wirds gern h?ren, doch der Groll darüber bleibt, dass das Entfernen «einmal mehr» den Ladenbetreibern und Hausbesitzern überlassen wurde. Und er findet, wenn die Stadt schon nicht bereit sei, Opferhilfe für Demo-Gesch?digte zu leisten (wie es die FDP gefordert hatte), solle sie immerhin per Umfrage die Sch?den erheben lassen und die Kosten «zumindest teilweise zurückerstatten».
Der Gemeinderat h?lt entgegen, Kast renne insoweit offene Türen ein, als die Exekutive «von sich aus gehandelt», «Zeichen gesetzt» habe mit dem Angebot an Private, die Kreidegraffitis auf Stadtkosten entfernen zu lassen. Wie die Regierung in ihrer Antwort auf die CVP-Motion nun bilanziert, haben 154 Eigentümer davon Gebrauch gemacht, was die Stadt rund 20'000 Franken kostete. Extra eine Umfrage zu machen, finde der Gemeinderat indes «nicht zweckdienlich».
Die S?uberungsaktion fand im Mai statt, als die Krieg-in-Irak-Demowelle und die Kreidemode verebbte. Heute, da das Parlament das Thema aufarbeitet, ist, was vor wenigen Monaten viele Gemüter erhitzte und die Polizei arg auf Trab brachte, schon wieder kein Thema mehr, fürs Erste immerhin. Für die Stapo jedenfalls ist das Leid mit der Kreid, kaum hat sie ihm den Kampf angesagt, laut Frey bereits wieder «kein Schwerpunktthema» mehr.
"In der Schweiz ist mit Kreide rummalen also Sachbeschaedigung weil die armen Arschloecher die meinen ihre Wand muesse Sauber bleiben nachher einen Kuebel Wasser rausschleppen und die Kreide runterputzen muessen. Schweiz was ist bloss los mit dir? Das naechste mal wenn ich Kinder mit Kreide auf der Strasse rumkritzeln sehe ruf ichs Sondereinsatz Kommando der Stapo und mach ne Anzeige. Da es eigentlich nicht draufankommt ob ich mit Kreide oder Spraydosen male nehm ich lieber gleich den Bitumen-Spray bei dem sie dann die Wand abschleifen koennen..."
Advertising is the public expression of wealthy people and organizations. Graffiti is the public expression of people who are more or less broke. And that is exactly why advertising is authorized and graffiti is eradicated.
Bern: Al-Kraida Thema im Stadparlament
Bund 4.9.2003
Berns Leid mit der Kreid
Nachschau zu Antifa und Demo-Kreide heute Abend im Stadtrat
• RUDOLF GAFNER
«Die Berner Polizei hat den Schutz des Eigentums total vernachl?ssigt, um seitens der Demonstrationsteilnehmer keine Ausschreitungen zu provozieren», sagt CVP-Stadtrat Daniel Kast, dessen Motion heute Abend im Rat behandelt wird. Der Vorstoss betrifft die neue Erscheinung an Demonstrationen, Parolen mit Kreide an W?nde zu kritzeln, statt mit Sprühfarbe zu sprayen. Der neue Trend in Szenekreisen auf Kurt Wasserfallens Vergleich von Demo-Randalierern mit Terroristen anspielend ironisch «al-Kraida» genannt trat erstmals massiv am «4. Antifaschistischen Abendspaziergang» vom M?rz 2003 auf. Nachdem im Vorjahr heftiges Sprayen zu einem Polizeieinsatz geführt hatte, unterbanden die Veranstalter dieses Jahr jegliches Sprayen auf dass aber gleichwohl «die Stadt bunt» werde, verteilten Antifas Strassenkreide.
Die Polizei sahs zun?chst recht gelassen, da die in politisch brenzliger Atmosph?re vorbereitete Demonstration sonst «ruhig» verlaufen sei; es gebe «kaum Sachbesch?digung» zu beklagen, Kreide sei ja eher leicht fortzuputzen. Das aber sahen Berns Innenstadt-Organisationen, Leiste, Gewerbetreibende und bürgerliche Politiker so auch die CVP mit ihrer aktuellen Motion g?nzlich anders:Der Trend sei «Besorgnis erregend», Kreidekritzeln sei «massive Sachbesch?digung», der «Schaden betr?chtlich», die Polizei dürfe «bei künftigen Demos keine Toleranz walten lassen».
Polizei und Regierung handelten
Die Polizei ging über die Bücher und leitete eine Kehrtwende ein: Einerseits hatte sie «die Sandstein-Problematik» zu wenig bedacht, wie es Stapo-Sprecherin Franziska Frey gestern auf Anfrage formulierte: die Kreide war nicht so leicht zu entfernen. Anderseits war die Polizei «sich der rechtlichen Situation zu wenig bewusst», wie Infochef Franz M?rki schon bei früherer Gelegenheit einr?umte: Kreidekritzeln f?llt unter Sachbesch?digung, ist bei Demonstrationen von Amts wegen zu verfolgen. Dies will die Stapo tun: «Wir haben das Ziel, das künftig zu verhindern», so Frey gestern, «Kreideln wird grunds?tzlich gleich behandelt wie Sprayen.»
Motion?r Kast wirds gern h?ren, doch der Groll darüber bleibt, dass das Entfernen «einmal mehr» den Ladenbetreibern und Hausbesitzern überlassen wurde. Und er findet, wenn die Stadt schon nicht bereit sei, Opferhilfe für Demo-Gesch?digte zu leisten (wie es die FDP gefordert hatte), solle sie immerhin per Umfrage die Sch?den erheben lassen und die Kosten «zumindest teilweise zurückerstatten».
Der Gemeinderat h?lt entgegen, Kast renne insoweit offene Türen ein, als die Exekutive «von sich aus gehandelt», «Zeichen gesetzt» habe mit dem Angebot an Private, die Kreidegraffitis auf Stadtkosten entfernen zu lassen. Wie die Regierung in ihrer Antwort auf die CVP-Motion nun bilanziert, haben 154 Eigentümer davon Gebrauch gemacht, was die Stadt rund 20'000 Franken kostete. Extra eine Umfrage zu machen, finde der Gemeinderat indes «nicht zweckdienlich».
Die S?uberungsaktion fand im Mai statt, als die Krieg-in-Irak-Demowelle und die Kreidemode verebbte. Heute, da das Parlament das Thema aufarbeitet, ist, was vor wenigen Monaten viele Gemüter erhitzte und die Polizei arg auf Trab brachte, schon wieder kein Thema mehr, fürs Erste immerhin. Für die Stapo jedenfalls ist das Leid mit der Kreid, kaum hat sie ihm den Kampf angesagt, laut Frey bereits wieder «kein Schwerpunktthema» mehr.
"In der Schweiz ist mit Kreide rummalen also Sachbeschaedigung weil die armen Arschloecher die meinen ihre Wand muesse Sauber bleiben nachher einen Kuebel Wasser rausschleppen und die Kreide runterputzen muessen. Schweiz was ist bloss los mit dir? Das naechste mal wenn ich Kinder mit Kreide auf der Strasse rumkritzeln sehe ruf ichs Sondereinsatz Kommando der Stapo und mach ne Anzeige. Da es eigentlich nicht draufankommt ob ich mit Kreide oder Spraydosen male nehm ich lieber gleich den Bitumen-Spray bei dem sie dann die Wand abschleifen koennen..."
Advertising is the public expression of wealthy people and organizations. Graffiti is the public expression of people who are more or less broke. And that is exactly why advertising is authorized and graffiti is eradicated.
ANTI WTO
Indymedia: Cancún/WTO: KritikerInnen überlisten Sicherheits-Dispositiv!
Nackedei gegen die WTO
Die hochgerüsteten Sicherheitskräfte im belagerten Cancún liessen sich gestern, zwei Tage vor Beginn der WTO-Konferenz, übertölpeln: 43 InternationalistInnen des „Direct Action Network“ sickerten einzeln durch die Sicherheitsschleusen durch und liessen sich unweit des Konferenzortes am Strand Playa Langosta nieder, wo sie sich plötzlich auszogen und mit ihren Körpern die Parolen „No WTO“ und „No OMC“ im Sandstrand darstellten. Bevor die verblüfften Sicherheitskräfte reagieren konnten, beendeten die Globalisierungsgegner ihre Aktion. Die Bilder des originellen Protestes in der schwer bewachten Hotelzone gingen um die Welt.
Cancún belagert
Die Mutmassungen der mexikanischen Presse über die Ereignisse der nächsten Tage gehen weit auseinander. Es sind jetzt schon fünf- bis zehntausend WTO-KritikerInnen im kleinen Touristenort an der Karibikküste präsent, schreibt die lokale Zeitung „Por esto!“; die Zahl der Demonstrierenden könnte sich leicht noch verdoppeln. Auf der anderen Seite werden die mehreren tausend KonferenzteilnehmerInnen und –MitarbeiterInnen von bis zu 20'000 Sicherheitskräften beschützt. Darunter ist insbesondere die mit militärischen Kommandostrukturen geführte „Präventivpolizei“ Policia Federal Preventiva berüchtigt. Diese Aufstandsbekämpfungseinheit hat ihr Hauptquartier im Fussballstadion „Cancún 86“ eingerichtet, das auch für Massenverhaftungen zur Verfügung stehen soll: Das Gefängnis von Cancún, das für 400 Häftlinge ausgelegt ist, sei momentan schon mit 700 „normalen“ Häftlingen überbelegt, schreibt El Proceso.
weitere Infos auf:
Indymedia
STOPWTO.TK
CANCUN Newswire
ANTI WTO SCHWEIZ
Indymedia: Cancún/WTO: KritikerInnen überlisten Sicherheits-Dispositiv!
Nackedei gegen die WTO
Die hochgerüsteten Sicherheitskräfte im belagerten Cancún liessen sich gestern, zwei Tage vor Beginn der WTO-Konferenz, übertölpeln: 43 InternationalistInnen des „Direct Action Network“ sickerten einzeln durch die Sicherheitsschleusen durch und liessen sich unweit des Konferenzortes am Strand Playa Langosta nieder, wo sie sich plötzlich auszogen und mit ihren Körpern die Parolen „No WTO“ und „No OMC“ im Sandstrand darstellten. Bevor die verblüfften Sicherheitskräfte reagieren konnten, beendeten die Globalisierungsgegner ihre Aktion. Die Bilder des originellen Protestes in der schwer bewachten Hotelzone gingen um die Welt.
Cancún belagert
Die Mutmassungen der mexikanischen Presse über die Ereignisse der nächsten Tage gehen weit auseinander. Es sind jetzt schon fünf- bis zehntausend WTO-KritikerInnen im kleinen Touristenort an der Karibikküste präsent, schreibt die lokale Zeitung „Por esto!“; die Zahl der Demonstrierenden könnte sich leicht noch verdoppeln. Auf der anderen Seite werden die mehreren tausend KonferenzteilnehmerInnen und –MitarbeiterInnen von bis zu 20'000 Sicherheitskräften beschützt. Darunter ist insbesondere die mit militärischen Kommandostrukturen geführte „Präventivpolizei“ Policia Federal Preventiva berüchtigt. Diese Aufstandsbekämpfungseinheit hat ihr Hauptquartier im Fussballstadion „Cancún 86“ eingerichtet, das auch für Massenverhaftungen zur Verfügung stehen soll: Das Gefängnis von Cancún, das für 400 Häftlinge ausgelegt ist, sei momentan schon mit 700 „normalen“ Häftlingen überbelegt, schreibt El Proceso.
weitere Infos auf:
Indymedia
STOPWTO.TK
CANCUN Newswire
ANTI WTO SCHWEIZ
ISRAEL
Spiegel: Mehrere Tote und Dutzende Verletzte bei Explosion
Bei einem Anschlag nahe eines israelischen Militärcamps bei Tel Aviv sind mehrere Menschen getötet worden. Von den mehr als 30 Verletzten wurden mindestens 15 schwer verletzt.
Jerusalem - Rettungskräften zufolge erlagen bisher mindestens vier Menschen ihren Verwundungen. Mehr als 30 Menschen wurden verletzt, darunter sind mindestens 15 Schwerverletzte. Auch der Attentäter soll unter den Toten sein.
"was fuer ne Ueberaschung, die "Terroristen" haben noch immer nicht aufgegeben"
Spiegel: Mehrere Tote und Dutzende Verletzte bei Explosion
Bei einem Anschlag nahe eines israelischen Militärcamps bei Tel Aviv sind mehrere Menschen getötet worden. Von den mehr als 30 Verletzten wurden mindestens 15 schwer verletzt.
Jerusalem - Rettungskräften zufolge erlagen bisher mindestens vier Menschen ihren Verwundungen. Mehr als 30 Menschen wurden verletzt, darunter sind mindestens 15 Schwerverletzte. Auch der Attentäter soll unter den Toten sein.
"was fuer ne Ueberaschung, die "Terroristen" haben noch immer nicht aufgegeben"
WAR ON TERROR
Globe and Mail: The fourth world war
For two years, the U.S. has pursued the culprits behind the 9/11 atrocities with a vengeance that has shocked and awed ally and enemy alike. But even the devastating attacks on the Afghan and Iraqi regimes don't illustrate the true scope of the campaign, DOUG SAUNDERS reports. While everyone was preoccupied with the fireworks, Washington has quietly deployed thousands of agents in a secretive struggle that may last a lifetime
If you happen to find yourself in Nouakchott, a dusty and rarely visited city of three million on the far western edge of the Sahara, you may be surprised to find an unlikely sort of character hanging around government buildings and better hotels. These new strangers, whose ranks have been growing steadily in recent months, are a species of serious-looking American men who bear little resemblance to the oil explorers and motorcycle adventurers who until recently were this city's only foreign visitors.
"Wiedermal geschaeften die USA im Kampf um die Weltherrschaft, mit Leuten die nichts von Demokratie halten. Die sich nachdem sie genug aufgerüstet wurden, in blutigen Bürgerkriegen wiederfinden werden oder sich gegen Amerika wenden, worauf die USA wiedermal neuen Feinden die sie selbst geschaffen haben gegenüber stehen werden"
Globe and Mail: The fourth world war
For two years, the U.S. has pursued the culprits behind the 9/11 atrocities with a vengeance that has shocked and awed ally and enemy alike. But even the devastating attacks on the Afghan and Iraqi regimes don't illustrate the true scope of the campaign, DOUG SAUNDERS reports. While everyone was preoccupied with the fireworks, Washington has quietly deployed thousands of agents in a secretive struggle that may last a lifetime
If you happen to find yourself in Nouakchott, a dusty and rarely visited city of three million on the far western edge of the Sahara, you may be surprised to find an unlikely sort of character hanging around government buildings and better hotels. These new strangers, whose ranks have been growing steadily in recent months, are a species of serious-looking American men who bear little resemblance to the oil explorers and motorcycle adventurers who until recently were this city's only foreign visitors.
"Wiedermal geschaeften die USA im Kampf um die Weltherrschaft, mit Leuten die nichts von Demokratie halten. Die sich nachdem sie genug aufgerüstet wurden, in blutigen Bürgerkriegen wiederfinden werden oder sich gegen Amerika wenden, worauf die USA wiedermal neuen Feinden die sie selbst geschaffen haben gegenüber stehen werden"
IRAQI WMD
Globe and mail: 'Unaccounted for' Iraqi weapons may be bookkeeping glitches
New York — No weapons of mass destruction have turned up in Iraq, nor has any solid new evidence for them turned up in Washington or London.
But what about Baghdad's patchy bookkeeping — the gaps that led United Nations inspectors to list Iraqi nerve agents and bioweapons material as unaccounted for?
Ex-inspectors now say, five months after the U.S. invasion, that the notorious "unaccountables" may have been no more than paperwork glitches left behind when Iraq destroyed banned chemical and biological weapons years ago.
Some may represent miscounts, they say, and some may stem from Iraqi underlings' efforts to satisfy the boss by exaggerating reports on arms output in the 1980s.
Globe and mail: 'Unaccounted for' Iraqi weapons may be bookkeeping glitches
New York — No weapons of mass destruction have turned up in Iraq, nor has any solid new evidence for them turned up in Washington or London.
But what about Baghdad's patchy bookkeeping — the gaps that led United Nations inspectors to list Iraqi nerve agents and bioweapons material as unaccounted for?
Ex-inspectors now say, five months after the U.S. invasion, that the notorious "unaccountables" may have been no more than paperwork glitches left behind when Iraq destroyed banned chemical and biological weapons years ago.
Some may represent miscounts, they say, and some may stem from Iraqi underlings' efforts to satisfy the boss by exaggerating reports on arms output in the 1980s.
IRAQI RESISTANCE
Yahoo: US-led occupation brings frontline against al-Qaeda to Iraq: analysts
The United States struggled before the war to convince the world there was a link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda network, but five months of US-led occupation of Iraq may have created precisely such an unholy alliance.
Stripped of their privileged positions under the ousted dictator's brutal regime, Saddam's henchmen may finally have thrown in their lot with their ideological adversaries in Osama bin Laden's terror network to wage war on their common foe two years after the suicide hijackings in the United States, analysts say.
A quartet of arrests made by Iraqi police immediately after a massive car bombing that killed 83 people in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf last week provided the hardest evidence yet of the fledgling marriage of convenience between Saddam and the militants.
Two of the detainees were Saudis espousing al-Qaeda's militant brand of Islam. The others were former henchmen of the ousted dictator.
Yahoo: US-led occupation brings frontline against al-Qaeda to Iraq: analysts
The United States struggled before the war to convince the world there was a link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda network, but five months of US-led occupation of Iraq may have created precisely such an unholy alliance.
Stripped of their privileged positions under the ousted dictator's brutal regime, Saddam's henchmen may finally have thrown in their lot with their ideological adversaries in Osama bin Laden's terror network to wage war on their common foe two years after the suicide hijackings in the United States, analysts say.
A quartet of arrests made by Iraqi police immediately after a massive car bombing that killed 83 people in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf last week provided the hardest evidence yet of the fledgling marriage of convenience between Saddam and the militants.
Two of the detainees were Saudis espousing al-Qaeda's militant brand of Islam. The others were former henchmen of the ousted dictator.
Monday, September 08, 2003
SWITZERLAND 1984
Heise: Schweizer Polizei schnüffelt Verdächtige mit Trojanern aus
Mit "Software-Wanzen" und Trojanern schnüffeln Schweizer Ermittler die Computer von Tatverdächtigen aus. Die Neue Zürcher Zeitung berichtet, die Eidgenossen folgten damit neuerdings dem Vorbild des FBI, die schon seit einiger Zeit Überwachungssoftware beispielsweise per E-Mail einschleusen. Dazu hätten Schweizer Ermittler vor zwei Jahren erste Versuche gestartet. Inzwischen sei die Methode auch in einigen Strafverfahren angewandt worden, zitiert die NZZ am Sonntag einen Spezialisten für Internetkriminalität. Dabei werde der Mailverkehr eines Verdächtigen überwacht oder eine Datei von dessen Computer kopiert.
Heise: Schweizer Polizei schnüffelt Verdächtige mit Trojanern aus
Mit "Software-Wanzen" und Trojanern schnüffeln Schweizer Ermittler die Computer von Tatverdächtigen aus. Die Neue Zürcher Zeitung berichtet, die Eidgenossen folgten damit neuerdings dem Vorbild des FBI, die schon seit einiger Zeit Überwachungssoftware beispielsweise per E-Mail einschleusen. Dazu hätten Schweizer Ermittler vor zwei Jahren erste Versuche gestartet. Inzwischen sei die Methode auch in einigen Strafverfahren angewandt worden, zitiert die NZZ am Sonntag einen Spezialisten für Internetkriminalität. Dabei werde der Mailverkehr eines Verdächtigen überwacht oder eine Datei von dessen Computer kopiert.
ESSAY
ZMAG: When The Saints Go Marching Out by Arundhati Roy
August 28, 1963 ... forty years later, Martin Luther King Jr.'s words remembered: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: `We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal....'"
THIS is the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington, when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. Perhaps it's time to reflect - again - on what has become of that dream.
It's interesting how icons, when their time has passed, are commodified and appropriated (some voluntarily, others involuntarily) to promote the prejudice, bigotry and inequity they battled against. But then in an age when everything's up for sale, why not icons? In an era when all of humanity, when every creature on God's earth, is trapped between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cheque book and the American cruise missile, can icons stage a getaway?
CHECK IT
ZMAG: When The Saints Go Marching Out by Arundhati Roy
August 28, 1963 ... forty years later, Martin Luther King Jr.'s words remembered: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: `We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal....'"
THIS is the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington, when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. Perhaps it's time to reflect - again - on what has become of that dream.
It's interesting how icons, when their time has passed, are commodified and appropriated (some voluntarily, others involuntarily) to promote the prejudice, bigotry and inequity they battled against. But then in an age when everything's up for sale, why not icons? In an era when all of humanity, when every creature on God's earth, is trapped between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cheque book and the American cruise missile, can icons stage a getaway?
CHECK IT
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Haaretz: There's a wall in the way by Gideon Levy
A little girl in her school uniform, her hair carefully combed, was walking to her first day of school on Monday. Walking to school? Not precisely. There's a wall in the way.
A little girl in her school uniform, her hair carefully combed, was walking to her first day of
school on Monday. Walking to school? Not precisely. There's a wall in the way. Trying to
squeeze between the big cement blocks of this wall besieging her home, she nearly manages to get her
little body through, but not her new school bag. Backing off, she tries a different spot where
people climb over instead of squeezing through. She ducks her head under the barbed wire, puts one
foot across, then the book bag, jumps, lands with a thud and runs - in fear of the Border Police who
could show up momentarily. Eventually she arrives at school, still in one piece.
Welcome to the first grade!
Haaretz: There's a wall in the way by Gideon Levy
A little girl in her school uniform, her hair carefully combed, was walking to her first day of school on Monday. Walking to school? Not precisely. There's a wall in the way.
A little girl in her school uniform, her hair carefully combed, was walking to her first day of
school on Monday. Walking to school? Not precisely. There's a wall in the way. Trying to
squeeze between the big cement blocks of this wall besieging her home, she nearly manages to get her
little body through, but not her new school bag. Backing off, she tries a different spot where
people climb over instead of squeezing through. She ducks her head under the barbed wire, puts one
foot across, then the book bag, jumps, lands with a thud and runs - in fear of the Border Police who
could show up momentarily. Eventually she arrives at school, still in one piece.
Welcome to the first grade!
USA VS. THE WORLD
Guardian: This war on terrorism is bogus by Michael Meacher
The 9/11 attacks gave the US an ideal pretext to use force to secure its global domination
Massive attention has now been given - and rightly so - to the reasons why Britain went to war against Iraq. But far too little attention has focused on why the US went to war, and that throws light on British motives too. The conventional explanation is that after the Twin Towers were hit, retaliation against al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan was a natural first step in launching a global war against terrorism. Then, because Saddam Hussein was alleged by the US and UK governments to retain weapons of mass destruction, the war could be extended to Iraq as well. However this theory does not fit all the facts. The truth may be a great deal murkier.
Michael Meacher MP was environment minister from May 1997 to June 2003
"CHECK IT"
Guardian: This war on terrorism is bogus by Michael Meacher
The 9/11 attacks gave the US an ideal pretext to use force to secure its global domination
Massive attention has now been given - and rightly so - to the reasons why Britain went to war against Iraq. But far too little attention has focused on why the US went to war, and that throws light on British motives too. The conventional explanation is that after the Twin Towers were hit, retaliation against al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan was a natural first step in launching a global war against terrorism. Then, because Saddam Hussein was alleged by the US and UK governments to retain weapons of mass destruction, the war could be extended to Iraq as well. However this theory does not fit all the facts. The truth may be a great deal murkier.
Michael Meacher MP was environment minister from May 1997 to June 2003
"CHECK IT"
USA
Observer: US public thinks Saddam had role in 9/11
Seven in 10 Americans continue to believe that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had a role in the 11 September 2001 attacks, even though the Bush administration and congressional investigators say they have no evidence of this.
Sixty-nine per cent of Americans said they thought it at least likely that Saddam was involved in the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, according to a Washington Post poll published yesterday. That impression, which exists despite the fact that the hijackers were mostly Saudi nationals acting for al-Qaeda, is broadly shared by Democrats, Republicans and independents.
The main reason for the endurance of the apparently groundless belief, experts in public opinion say, is a deep and enduring distrust of Saddam that makes him a likely suspect in anything related to Middle East violence. 'It's very easy to picture Saddam as a demon,' said John Mueller, a political scientist at Ohio State University and an expert on public opinion and war
Observer: US public thinks Saddam had role in 9/11
Seven in 10 Americans continue to believe that Iraq's Saddam Hussein had a role in the 11 September 2001 attacks, even though the Bush administration and congressional investigators say they have no evidence of this.
Sixty-nine per cent of Americans said they thought it at least likely that Saddam was involved in the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, according to a Washington Post poll published yesterday. That impression, which exists despite the fact that the hijackers were mostly Saudi nationals acting for al-Qaeda, is broadly shared by Democrats, Republicans and independents.
The main reason for the endurance of the apparently groundless belief, experts in public opinion say, is a deep and enduring distrust of Saddam that makes him a likely suspect in anything related to Middle East violence. 'It's very easy to picture Saddam as a demon,' said John Mueller, a political scientist at Ohio State University and an expert on public opinion and war
USA: THE BEST DEMOCRACY MONEY CAN BUY
Washington Post: Lawmakers and Lobbyists Mingle on Trip to London
For most Americans, August is a time for summer vacation. For members of Congress, their aides and some lobbyists, it's a time for privately sponsored junkets.
Few are as inviting as the Ripon Educational Fund excursions, which take politicians and corporate types to various European locales. While the trips are filled with serious policy discussions, they also reveal how corporate interests obtain access to lawmakers through privately sponsored travel.
This month, for example, 20 members of Congress jetted to London for a week-long visit in which they delved into such issues as trade, terrorism and foreign affairs. These politicians had no fear of getting lonely, however: More than 100 lobbyists accompanied them, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
The corporate participants included representatives from American Express, AOL Time Warner, Bristol-Myers Squibb, General Motors and Hewlett-Packard, according to the group's itinerary. Corporate sponsors must pay annual membership fees of $9,500 and fund their own trips abroad.
Washington Post: Lawmakers and Lobbyists Mingle on Trip to London
For most Americans, August is a time for summer vacation. For members of Congress, their aides and some lobbyists, it's a time for privately sponsored junkets.
Few are as inviting as the Ripon Educational Fund excursions, which take politicians and corporate types to various European locales. While the trips are filled with serious policy discussions, they also reveal how corporate interests obtain access to lawmakers through privately sponsored travel.
This month, for example, 20 members of Congress jetted to London for a week-long visit in which they delved into such issues as trade, terrorism and foreign affairs. These politicians had no fear of getting lonely, however: More than 100 lobbyists accompanied them, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
The corporate participants included representatives from American Express, AOL Time Warner, Bristol-Myers Squibb, General Motors and Hewlett-Packard, according to the group's itinerary. Corporate sponsors must pay annual membership fees of $9,500 and fund their own trips abroad.
INTERVIEW
ZNET: Radio Havana Interviews Chomsky
Telephone interview by Bernie Dwyer for www.cubadebate.cu with Professor Noam Chomsky of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 28th August 2003. The agreed theme of the interview was ‘Corporate Journalism’ but, like all good interviews, the topic spread to take in many other themes - always with the rigorous political analysis that we are used to from Professor Chomsky
ZNET: Radio Havana Interviews Chomsky
Telephone interview by Bernie Dwyer for www.cubadebate.cu with Professor Noam Chomsky of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 28th August 2003. The agreed theme of the interview was ‘Corporate Journalism’ but, like all good interviews, the topic spread to take in many other themes - always with the rigorous political analysis that we are used to from Professor Chomsky
IRAQ
Ethicsdaily: WCC Calls for U.N. Control in Iraq, Church Aid for Liberia
RNS) The World Council of Churches on Monday called for the “immediate and orderly” withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq and the transfer of power to the United Nations.
The WCC’s Central Committee, ending its eight-day meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, also urged churches to provide humanitarian aid to alleviate the “horrific conditions and untold human sufferings” in Liberia.
In a five-page statement on Iraq, the WCC called the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq “immoral, ill-advised and in breach of the principles of the (United Nations) Charter.”
The WCC said it remains concerned about the “long-term political, social, cultural and religious consequences of this war and the continued occupation, especially the negative impact on Christian-Muslim relations.”
The U.S. occupation of Iraq will exacerbate the “intense hatred towards the Western world, strengthening extremist ideologies (and) breeding further global insecurity and increased emigration of Christians from the Middle East,” the WCC said.
The Geneva-based body of 342 Protestant and Orthodox churches called on American and British forces to pay “full reparations” to the Iraqi people for the war’s damages and urged “unimpeded access” for humanitarian groups.
Ethicsdaily: WCC Calls for U.N. Control in Iraq, Church Aid for Liberia
RNS) The World Council of Churches on Monday called for the “immediate and orderly” withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq and the transfer of power to the United Nations.
The WCC’s Central Committee, ending its eight-day meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, also urged churches to provide humanitarian aid to alleviate the “horrific conditions and untold human sufferings” in Liberia.
In a five-page statement on Iraq, the WCC called the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq “immoral, ill-advised and in breach of the principles of the (United Nations) Charter.”
The WCC said it remains concerned about the “long-term political, social, cultural and religious consequences of this war and the continued occupation, especially the negative impact on Christian-Muslim relations.”
The U.S. occupation of Iraq will exacerbate the “intense hatred towards the Western world, strengthening extremist ideologies (and) breeding further global insecurity and increased emigration of Christians from the Middle East,” the WCC said.
The Geneva-based body of 342 Protestant and Orthodox churches called on American and British forces to pay “full reparations” to the Iraqi people for the war’s damages and urged “unimpeded access” for humanitarian groups.
IRAQ
Independent: US 'corporate invasion' brings no respite from war By Justin Huggler and Seb Walker in Baghdad
Donald Rumsfeld flew to Baghdad yesterday. Not to a skyline bristling with cranes but to a city where there is still no electricity for much of the day because less power is being generated than under Saddam Hussein.
Almost five months after the overthrow of Saddam, entire neighbourhoods are still without phone lines. The government offices bombed in the war are still blackened shells. Next to them stand the burnt-out ruins of ministries and shopping centres set on fire in the looting that followed.
But the US Defence Secretary was unlikely to see those, cocooned in security to keep him from the seething anger against the American occupation. Much of Baghdad is still an armed American camp. The country's infrastructure is in a worse state than it was under Saddam.
One of the accusations levelled at the US invasion was that it was simply paving the way for a subsequent American corporate invasion. But despite billions of dollars of contracts won by American companies, there are no visible signs of reconstruction at all.
"CHECK IT"
Independent: US 'corporate invasion' brings no respite from war By Justin Huggler and Seb Walker in Baghdad
Donald Rumsfeld flew to Baghdad yesterday. Not to a skyline bristling with cranes but to a city where there is still no electricity for much of the day because less power is being generated than under Saddam Hussein.
Almost five months after the overthrow of Saddam, entire neighbourhoods are still without phone lines. The government offices bombed in the war are still blackened shells. Next to them stand the burnt-out ruins of ministries and shopping centres set on fire in the looting that followed.
But the US Defence Secretary was unlikely to see those, cocooned in security to keep him from the seething anger against the American occupation. Much of Baghdad is still an armed American camp. The country's infrastructure is in a worse state than it was under Saddam.
One of the accusations levelled at the US invasion was that it was simply paving the way for a subsequent American corporate invasion. But despite billions of dollars of contracts won by American companies, there are no visible signs of reconstruction at all.
"CHECK IT"
IRAQ
Salon: Would you like some freedom fries with your crow, Mr. President?
Six months after spitting in the face of the world, the Bush administration is crawling on its belly before the U.N. If the world doesn't rush to help it, the White House has only itself to blame.
The Bush administration's humiliating announcement that it wants the U.N. to bail it out officially confers the title of "debacle" upon the grand Cheney-Rove-Wolfowitz adventure. Not even the world-class chutzpah of the Bush administration can conceal the fact that by turning to the despised world body, it is eating a heaping plate of crow. This spectacle may give Bush-bashers from London to Jakarta a happy jolt of schadenfreude, but it does nothing to help Americans who are stuck with the ugly fallout of the administration's ill-conceived, absurdly over-optimistic attempt to redraw the Middle East.
Salon: Would you like some freedom fries with your crow, Mr. President?
Six months after spitting in the face of the world, the Bush administration is crawling on its belly before the U.N. If the world doesn't rush to help it, the White House has only itself to blame.
The Bush administration's humiliating announcement that it wants the U.N. to bail it out officially confers the title of "debacle" upon the grand Cheney-Rove-Wolfowitz adventure. Not even the world-class chutzpah of the Bush administration can conceal the fact that by turning to the despised world body, it is eating a heaping plate of crow. This spectacle may give Bush-bashers from London to Jakarta a happy jolt of schadenfreude, but it does nothing to help Americans who are stuck with the ugly fallout of the administration's ill-conceived, absurdly over-optimistic attempt to redraw the Middle East.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Reuters: Israeli Helicopter Gaza Missile
Attack Injures Nine
GAZA (Reuters) -- Israeli helicopter gunships on Sunday fired at least three missiles at the home of a member of the militant Islamic group Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip.
Nine people were wounded in the strike at the house in the Khan Younis refugee camp, medics said. Before the strike, Palestinian residents said helicopter gunships were flying over the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed to track down and kill militant groups behind a wave of suicide bombings in a three-year-old uprising against Israeli occupation.
"Das war jetzt der achte illegale Mordversuch in den letzten zwei Wochen. Es kann davon ausgegangen werden das die Hamas Vergeltung übt. Sollte die Hamas dazu übergehen Israelische Politiker zu liquidieren oder wieder Busse sprengen, wird das dann als Terror von der schlimmsten Sorte verurteilt und den Palästinensern wird vorgeworfen werden sie wollten keinen Frieden. Israel werden die Vergeltungsaktionen als Ausrede dienen, die Opression nochmals zu eskalieren."
Reuters: Israeli Helicopter Gaza Missile
Attack Injures Nine
GAZA (Reuters) -- Israeli helicopter gunships on Sunday fired at least three missiles at the home of a member of the militant Islamic group Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip.
Nine people were wounded in the strike at the house in the Khan Younis refugee camp, medics said. Before the strike, Palestinian residents said helicopter gunships were flying over the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed to track down and kill militant groups behind a wave of suicide bombings in a three-year-old uprising against Israeli occupation.
"Das war jetzt der achte illegale Mordversuch in den letzten zwei Wochen. Es kann davon ausgegangen werden das die Hamas Vergeltung übt. Sollte die Hamas dazu übergehen Israelische Politiker zu liquidieren oder wieder Busse sprengen, wird das dann als Terror von der schlimmsten Sorte verurteilt und den Palästinensern wird vorgeworfen werden sie wollten keinen Frieden. Israel werden die Vergeltungsaktionen als Ausrede dienen, die Opression nochmals zu eskalieren."
USA: BUSH SPEECH
NY Times: Some Grim News About Iraq: Bush Warns of a Heavy Burden
President Bush's task tonight was to convince the country that the terrible toll of the long, hot, casualty ridden summer in Iraq was a necessary price to pay in a broader struggle against terrorism, and to prepare the electorate for years of occupation, billions more in expense, and many bad days.
His sobering speech to the nation was not the one that the White House was envisioning for the president four months after he declared the end of the "active combat" phase of the war. Even in July, as Mr. Bush prepared for a month at his ranch, his aides were talking optimistically about a fall devoted to transforming Iraq quickly into a model democracy at the heart of the Middle East, and making its transition to a peaceful nation contagious throughout the region.
Independent: Bush asks for £55bn war fund as he woos Europe
President George Bush told the American people "we will spend what is necessary, to achieve victory in the war on terror" and announced he will ask Congress for $87 billion (£55bn) in new funding.
He also called for more international financial and military support. He said two multinational divisions, led by Britain and Poland, are serving alongside the United States, and that American commanders have requested a third multinational division.
NY Times: Some Grim News About Iraq: Bush Warns of a Heavy Burden
President Bush's task tonight was to convince the country that the terrible toll of the long, hot, casualty ridden summer in Iraq was a necessary price to pay in a broader struggle against terrorism, and to prepare the electorate for years of occupation, billions more in expense, and many bad days.
His sobering speech to the nation was not the one that the White House was envisioning for the president four months after he declared the end of the "active combat" phase of the war. Even in July, as Mr. Bush prepared for a month at his ranch, his aides were talking optimistically about a fall devoted to transforming Iraq quickly into a model democracy at the heart of the Middle East, and making its transition to a peaceful nation contagious throughout the region.
Independent: Bush asks for £55bn war fund as he woos Europe
President George Bush told the American people "we will spend what is necessary, to achieve victory in the war on terror" and announced he will ask Congress for $87 billion (£55bn) in new funding.
He also called for more international financial and military support. He said two multinational divisions, led by Britain and Poland, are serving alongside the United States, and that American commanders have requested a third multinational division.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
News24: Amnesty International Slams Israeli Policy
JERUSALEM -- Restrictions imposed by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have had a disastrous impact on the lives of Palestinians and crippled their economy, a report by Amnesty International said on Monday.
"Unemployment and poverty has spiralled, malnutrition has emerged, anaemia and other health problems have increased and education has been negatively affected," the report by the London-based rights group said.
Sweeping and indiscriminate restrictions on Palestinians and their goods violated their right to freedom of movement and the right to work, it added.
"Some 60 percent of Palestinians now live below the poverty line of $2 per day and most are forced to depend on aid," it said.
"The high levels of unemployment, poverty, malnutrition and other health problems afflicting Palestinians are not just a humanitarian problem -- they are the direct result of the restrictions imposed by Israel on the Palestinians in the occupied territories."
News24: Amnesty International Slams Israeli Policy
JERUSALEM -- Restrictions imposed by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have had a disastrous impact on the lives of Palestinians and crippled their economy, a report by Amnesty International said on Monday.
"Unemployment and poverty has spiralled, malnutrition has emerged, anaemia and other health problems have increased and education has been negatively affected," the report by the London-based rights group said.
Sweeping and indiscriminate restrictions on Palestinians and their goods violated their right to freedom of movement and the right to work, it added.
"Some 60 percent of Palestinians now live below the poverty line of $2 per day and most are forced to depend on aid," it said.
"The high levels of unemployment, poverty, malnutrition and other health problems afflicting Palestinians are not just a humanitarian problem -- they are the direct result of the restrictions imposed by Israel on the Palestinians in the occupied territories."
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
N-TV: Israelischer Attentatsversuch-Scheich Jassin verletzt
Der Gründer der radikal-islamischen Palästinenser-Organisation, Scheich Ahmed Jassin ist am Samstag nur knapp einem israelischen Raketenangriff entkommen.
Nach palästinensischen Angaben verließen Jassin und ein weiterer Hamas-Führer gerade ein Haus in Gaza-Stadt, als ein israelisches Kampfflugzeug eine Rakete auf das Gebäude abfeuerte. Jassin sei nur leicht verletzt worden, hieß es von Seiten der palästinensischen Rettungsdienste. Auch drei weitere Menschen hätten Verletzungen erlitten. Der Hausbesitzer Marwan Abu Ras, ebenfalls ein hochrangiges Mitglied der Hamas, habe ein Bein verloren.
"Bravo Israel! Jetzt versuchen Sie schon Quadraplegiker zu ermorden"
N-TV: Israelischer Attentatsversuch-Scheich Jassin verletzt
Der Gründer der radikal-islamischen Palästinenser-Organisation, Scheich Ahmed Jassin ist am Samstag nur knapp einem israelischen Raketenangriff entkommen.
Nach palästinensischen Angaben verließen Jassin und ein weiterer Hamas-Führer gerade ein Haus in Gaza-Stadt, als ein israelisches Kampfflugzeug eine Rakete auf das Gebäude abfeuerte. Jassin sei nur leicht verletzt worden, hieß es von Seiten der palästinensischen Rettungsdienste. Auch drei weitere Menschen hätten Verletzungen erlitten. Der Hausbesitzer Marwan Abu Ras, ebenfalls ein hochrangiges Mitglied der Hamas, habe ein Bein verloren.
"Bravo Israel! Jetzt versuchen Sie schon Quadraplegiker zu ermorden"
Friday, September 05, 2003
911
FBI: MOST WANTED TERRORISTS
Also Usama a.k.a "der Fürst der Dunkelheit" a.k.a "Usama wars", ist immer noch die Nummer Uno unter den Terroristen.
Komisch ist das er nicht wegen den Anschl?gen vom 11. September gesucht wird sondern wegen:
Usama Bin Laden is wanted in connection with the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. These attacks killed over 200 people. In addition, Bin Laden is a suspect in other terrorist attacks throughout the world.
Vom 11. September ist nicht die Rede...kein Vorwurf der Verschw?rung, mithilfe....gar nix. Wieso bloss? Vielleicht hat ja das FBI seit zwei Jahren vergessen ihre Site upzudaten..vielleicht weil er gar nix mit dem 11. September zu tun hatte...
FBI: MOST WANTED TERRORISTS
Also Usama a.k.a "der Fürst der Dunkelheit" a.k.a "Usama wars", ist immer noch die Nummer Uno unter den Terroristen.
Komisch ist das er nicht wegen den Anschl?gen vom 11. September gesucht wird sondern wegen:
Usama Bin Laden is wanted in connection with the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. These attacks killed over 200 people. In addition, Bin Laden is a suspect in other terrorist attacks throughout the world.
Vom 11. September ist nicht die Rede...kein Vorwurf der Verschw?rung, mithilfe....gar nix. Wieso bloss? Vielleicht hat ja das FBI seit zwei Jahren vergessen ihre Site upzudaten..vielleicht weil er gar nix mit dem 11. September zu tun hatte...
IRAQ
Daily Star (Lebanon): Nasrallah Accuses Israel As Part Of Najaf Bombing
Hizbullah's secretary-general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, gave an address on the assassination of Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim Monday night, accusing the Israeli Mossad of the explosion that killed the Iraqi cleric and some 83 people at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq.
Nasrallah also said it was possible that the blast could have been arranged by Saddam Hussein or by Sunni extremists, but he emphasized the regional equation that Israel and America stand to benefit the most from the death of al-Hakim, and suggested Iraqis to examine the possibility of such an action by the Israelis.
Nasrallah did not provide any proof for his allegation but justified it by saying it was in the interests of Israel to eliminate Hakim, ãsince Iraq under Hakim would have been an Iraq that supports the Palestinian people.ä He also said that the bombing was sophisticated and beyond the capability of individuals without organizational support.
Rense: Israel Bombed UN Baghdad HQ - Syrian Govt Media
Israel also charged with bombed the Jordanian Embassy, Abu Gharib Prison and the Water Main
Shortly after the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad (8-19-03) that claimed at least 23 lives ÅEincluding that of U.N. envoy Sergio de Mello, Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad, Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Shar', and Ambassador to the U.N. Faisal Miqdad issued strongly-worded statements of condemnation. A few days later, the Syrian government press began to hint at who, in Syria's view, was behind the bombing: Israel. The following are excerpts from recent articles in the Syrian government daily Teshreen:
Hell's Gates Have Opened
In her regular column in the Syrian government daily Teshreen, [1] Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Dr. Buthaina Sha'aban wrote: "Before the war in Iraq, President Bashar Assad said in an interview with an Austrian newspaper, 'The war in Iraq will open the gates of hell.' Now, we in the Middle East feel that the gates of hell have indeed opened and have begun to consume the best of the people living on this globe and working to make it a better place for the entire human race. The death of Sergio de Mello, the U.N. envoy to Iraq, is one of the greatest, most distressing, and most surprising losses to result from the American occupation of Iraq.
Daily Star (Lebanon): Nasrallah Accuses Israel As Part Of Najaf Bombing
Hizbullah's secretary-general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, gave an address on the assassination of Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim Monday night, accusing the Israeli Mossad of the explosion that killed the Iraqi cleric and some 83 people at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq.
Nasrallah also said it was possible that the blast could have been arranged by Saddam Hussein or by Sunni extremists, but he emphasized the regional equation that Israel and America stand to benefit the most from the death of al-Hakim, and suggested Iraqis to examine the possibility of such an action by the Israelis.
Nasrallah did not provide any proof for his allegation but justified it by saying it was in the interests of Israel to eliminate Hakim, ãsince Iraq under Hakim would have been an Iraq that supports the Palestinian people.ä He also said that the bombing was sophisticated and beyond the capability of individuals without organizational support.
Rense: Israel Bombed UN Baghdad HQ - Syrian Govt Media
Israel also charged with bombed the Jordanian Embassy, Abu Gharib Prison and the Water Main
Shortly after the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad (8-19-03) that claimed at least 23 lives ÅEincluding that of U.N. envoy Sergio de Mello, Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad, Foreign Minister Farouq Al-Shar', and Ambassador to the U.N. Faisal Miqdad issued strongly-worded statements of condemnation. A few days later, the Syrian government press began to hint at who, in Syria's view, was behind the bombing: Israel. The following are excerpts from recent articles in the Syrian government daily Teshreen:
Hell's Gates Have Opened
In her regular column in the Syrian government daily Teshreen,
UK: DAVID KELLY
Independet: Kelly Believed 45-Minute Claim 'Risible', Says Friend
Tony Blair's claim that Saddam Hussein could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes was so far-fetched that Dr David Kelly laughed out loud when discussing it, the Hutton inquiry heard yesterday.
Tom Mangold, a journalist and friend of Dr Kelly, revealed that the scientist had described the claim as "risible" because it appeared to conflict with his knowledge of weapons. Mr Mangold said Dr Kelly had told him that chemical and biological weapons could not be deployed or activated within 45 minutes because it took much longer to fill munitions with the respective agents. "He just laughed about the 45-minute claim," Mr Mangold said.
The evidence came as Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, faced fresh controversy over his own involvement in the Government's strategy to confirm Dr Kelly's identity to journalists. Mr Hoon said last week that he had been merely "aware" of the highly unusual decision to name Dr Kelly and implied that civil servants had approved the idea. But Richard Taylor, Mr Hoon's special adviser, told the inquiry that the Defence Secretary had chaired a meeting at which the strategy was finally authorised.
Independet: Kelly Believed 45-Minute Claim 'Risible', Says Friend
Tony Blair's claim that Saddam Hussein could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes was so far-fetched that Dr David Kelly laughed out loud when discussing it, the Hutton inquiry heard yesterday.
Tom Mangold, a journalist and friend of Dr Kelly, revealed that the scientist had described the claim as "risible" because it appeared to conflict with his knowledge of weapons. Mr Mangold said Dr Kelly had told him that chemical and biological weapons could not be deployed or activated within 45 minutes because it took much longer to fill munitions with the respective agents. "He just laughed about the 45-minute claim," Mr Mangold said.
The evidence came as Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, faced fresh controversy over his own involvement in the Government's strategy to confirm Dr Kelly's identity to journalists. Mr Hoon said last week that he had been merely "aware" of the highly unusual decision to name Dr Kelly and implied that civil servants had approved the idea. But Richard Taylor, Mr Hoon's special adviser, told the inquiry that the Defence Secretary had chaired a meeting at which the strategy was finally authorised.
USA
Rense: The Ambassador Wilson Affair:The End of Karl Rove -
and George Bush?
This is the hottest and most explosive story behind the scenes in Washington in terms of how it could affect the Bush administration.
Ambassador Joseph Wilson has been turning up the heat in this situation. He revealed on Friday August 29 in a symposium in Washington the person in the Bush administration, who had leaked it out to the Washington Post that Wilson's wife is a CIA agent of 26 years. As a consequence of this leak, her entire team of overseas assets were liquidated.
The leaker, it turns out, was none other than the notorious Karl H. Rove, Bush's so-called White House advisor. Ambassador Wilson identified him as Karl Roverer, with the umlaut over the "o."
According to reliable sources, as well as our own Al Martin Raw.com investigation, Karl Rove is, in fact, the grandson of Karl Heinz Roverer, the gauleiter of Mecklenburg, who was also a partner and senior engineer of Roverer Sud-Deutche Ingenieurbüro AG. They built Birchenau, the concentration camp in Nazi Germany.
So Karl Rove has been identified as the leaker responsible for the deaths of more than 70 CIA assets overseas (See previous story "Will the Real Chemical Ali Please Stand Up? The Curious Case of Ambassador Joseph Wilson)
Rense: The Ambassador Wilson Affair:The End of Karl Rove -
and George Bush?
This is the hottest and most explosive story behind the scenes in Washington in terms of how it could affect the Bush administration.
Ambassador Joseph Wilson has been turning up the heat in this situation. He revealed on Friday August 29 in a symposium in Washington the person in the Bush administration, who had leaked it out to the Washington Post that Wilson's wife is a CIA agent of 26 years. As a consequence of this leak, her entire team of overseas assets were liquidated.
The leaker, it turns out, was none other than the notorious Karl H. Rove, Bush's so-called White House advisor. Ambassador Wilson identified him as Karl Roverer, with the umlaut over the "o."
According to reliable sources, as well as our own Al Martin Raw.com investigation, Karl Rove is, in fact, the grandson of Karl Heinz Roverer, the gauleiter of Mecklenburg, who was also a partner and senior engineer of Roverer Sud-Deutche Ingenieurbüro AG. They built Birchenau, the concentration camp in Nazi Germany.
So Karl Rove has been identified as the leaker responsible for the deaths of more than 70 CIA assets overseas (See previous story "Will the Real Chemical Ali Please Stand Up? The Curious Case of Ambassador Joseph Wilson)
USA VS CHINA
Spiegel: Bush droht den Chinesen
Die amerikanische Regierung versucht seit Monaten ohne erkennbaren Erfolg, die chinesische Regierung zu einer Neubewertung der Landeswährung Yuan zu bewegen. US-Präsident George Bush hat China jetzt wegen dessen "unfairer" Billig-Währungspolitik scharfe Konsequenzen angedroht.
Washington - Dem Sender CNBC sagte Bush am Donnerstag, die Währungspolitik Chinas sei nicht fair und die Regierung in Washington werde damit "entsprechend umgehen". US-Finanzminister John Snow habe bei seinem jüngsten Besuch in Peking unmissverständlich zum Ausdruck gebracht, dass die USA einen fairen Umgang von ihren Handelspartnern erwarteten. "Und wir glauben nicht, dass wir fair behandelt werden, wenn eine Währung durch eine Regierung kontrolliert wird", fügte Bush hinzu.
"Wie Ironisch, als würde der US-Dollar nicht von der Amerikanischen Regierung kontrolliert."
Spiegel: Bush droht den Chinesen
Die amerikanische Regierung versucht seit Monaten ohne erkennbaren Erfolg, die chinesische Regierung zu einer Neubewertung der Landeswährung Yuan zu bewegen. US-Präsident George Bush hat China jetzt wegen dessen "unfairer" Billig-Währungspolitik scharfe Konsequenzen angedroht.
Washington - Dem Sender CNBC sagte Bush am Donnerstag, die Währungspolitik Chinas sei nicht fair und die Regierung in Washington werde damit "entsprechend umgehen". US-Finanzminister John Snow habe bei seinem jüngsten Besuch in Peking unmissverständlich zum Ausdruck gebracht, dass die USA einen fairen Umgang von ihren Handelspartnern erwarteten. "Und wir glauben nicht, dass wir fair behandelt werden, wenn eine Währung durch eine Regierung kontrolliert wird", fügte Bush hinzu.
"Wie Ironisch, als würde der US-Dollar nicht von der Amerikanischen Regierung kontrolliert."
USA IRAN
Spiegel: USA wollen Iran von der Uno verurteilen lassen
Die US-Regierung will den Weltsicherheitsrat auffordern, Iran wegen der Verletzung des Atomwaffensperrvertrages zu verurteilen. Bei der am Montag beginnenden Konferenz der Internationalen Atomenergiebehörde (IAEA) in Wien soll ein entsprechender Resolutionsentwurf eingebracht werden, sagte ein Diplomat der Nachrichtenagentur AP. Washington wirft Teheran vor, ein geheimes Atomwaffenprogramm zu betreiben
Gegen Israel gibt es dagegen keine Sanktionen weil die USA einfach ihr Veto einlegen. Lustig
Spiegel: USA wollen Iran von der Uno verurteilen lassen
Die US-Regierung will den Weltsicherheitsrat auffordern, Iran wegen der Verletzung des Atomwaffensperrvertrages zu verurteilen. Bei der am Montag beginnenden Konferenz der Internationalen Atomenergiebehörde (IAEA) in Wien soll ein entsprechender Resolutionsentwurf eingebracht werden, sagte ein Diplomat der Nachrichtenagentur AP. Washington wirft Teheran vor, ein geheimes Atomwaffenprogramm zu betreiben
Gegen Israel gibt es dagegen keine Sanktionen weil die USA einfach ihr Veto einlegen. Lustig
ITALIA
Spiegel: Eklat nach Berlusconis jüngster Entgleisung
Dass der italienische Ministerpräsident Berlusconi kein all zu gutes Verhältnis zum Berufsstand der Richter hat, war zu erwarten. Wie tief seine Abneigung tatsächlich ist, offenbart seine jüngste Entgleisung in einem heute veröffentlichten Interview. In Italien löste es einen Eklat aus.
Silvio Berlusconi hatte in einem heute erscheindenden Interview alle Richter als geistesgestört bezeichnet. In dem Gespräch mit dem britischen Magazin "Spectator" sagte Berlusconi über den Richter-Stand: "Um diesen Beruf auszuüben, muss man geistig verwirrt sein, man braucht psychische Störungen."
Spiegel: Eklat nach Berlusconis jüngster Entgleisung
Dass der italienische Ministerpräsident Berlusconi kein all zu gutes Verhältnis zum Berufsstand der Richter hat, war zu erwarten. Wie tief seine Abneigung tatsächlich ist, offenbart seine jüngste Entgleisung in einem heute veröffentlichten Interview. In Italien löste es einen Eklat aus.
Silvio Berlusconi hatte in einem heute erscheindenden Interview alle Richter als geistesgestört bezeichnet. In dem Gespräch mit dem britischen Magazin "Spectator" sagte Berlusconi über den Richter-Stand: "Um diesen Beruf auszuüben, muss man geistig verwirrt sein, man braucht psychische Störungen."
IRAQ
Spiegel: USA warten auf Ideen aus dem alten Europa
Die verzweifelte Suche nach Verbündeten macht die US-Regierung handzahm. Statt ätzender Polemik wie vor dem Irak-Krieg hat das Weiße Haus ein offenes Ohr für das alte Europa. Nach der deutsch-französischen Kritik an dem Entwurf der neuen Irak-Resolution heißt es: "Wir würden gerne von ihnen hören, was genau sie im Sinn haben."
Spiegel: USA warten auf Ideen aus dem alten Europa
Die verzweifelte Suche nach Verbündeten macht die US-Regierung handzahm. Statt ätzender Polemik wie vor dem Irak-Krieg hat das Weiße Haus ein offenes Ohr für das alte Europa. Nach der deutsch-französischen Kritik an dem Entwurf der neuen Irak-Resolution heißt es: "Wir würden gerne von ihnen hören, was genau sie im Sinn haben."
Thursday, September 04, 2003
IRAQI RESISTANCE
Spiegel: Mehrere US-Soldaten in Bagdad verletzt
In Bagdad hat sich offenbar ein irakischer Selbstmordattentäter in die Luft gesprengt. Dabei sollen mehrere US-Soldaten verwundet worden sein.
Kairo - Laut dem arabischen TV-Sender al-Dschasira hat sich der Anschlag an der al-Anbar-Universität im Westen Bagdads ereignet. Nähere Einzelheiten sind bisher nicht bekannt. Das US-Militär hat den Vorfall noch nicht bestätigt
Spiegel: Mehrere US-Soldaten in Bagdad verletzt
In Bagdad hat sich offenbar ein irakischer Selbstmordattentäter in die Luft gesprengt. Dabei sollen mehrere US-Soldaten verwundet worden sein.
Kairo - Laut dem arabischen TV-Sender al-Dschasira hat sich der Anschlag an der al-Anbar-Universität im Westen Bagdads ereignet. Nähere Einzelheiten sind bisher nicht bekannt. Das US-Militär hat den Vorfall noch nicht bestätigt
SITE OF THE DAY
CHECK : Baghdad Burning
Ein Weblog direkt aus dem Irak geschrieben von einem Maedchen und sie schreibt gut
"The New Cabinet
Two days ago, the Governing Council declared that the new Iraqi Cabinet had been selected. The composition of the Iraqi cabinet is identical to that of the Governing Council: 13 Shi’a Muslims, 5 Sunni Muslims, 5 Kurds, 1 Christian, and 1 Turkoman.
After a long, tedious speech given this morning by Ibraheim Al-Jaffari, the ministers were ‘sworn in’. Correct me if I’m wrong, isn’t there supposed to be a constitution the ministers should swear to uphold? Apparently not. ......
CHECK : Baghdad Burning
Ein Weblog direkt aus dem Irak geschrieben von einem Maedchen und sie schreibt gut
"The New Cabinet
Two days ago, the Governing Council declared that the new Iraqi Cabinet had been selected. The composition of the Iraqi cabinet is identical to that of the Governing Council: 13 Shi’a Muslims, 5 Sunni Muslims, 5 Kurds, 1 Christian, and 1 Turkoman.
After a long, tedious speech given this morning by Ibraheim Al-Jaffari, the ministers were ‘sworn in’. Correct me if I’m wrong, isn’t there supposed to be a constitution the ministers should swear to uphold? Apparently not. ......
ISRAEL
Haaretz: Israel Tries To Stop Critical UN Resolutions
NEW YORK -- Israel has launched a campaign to get the United Nations to declare a moratorium on all resolutions that denounce Israel or demand that it change its policies without parallel denunciations or demands regarding Palestinian terrorism.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Gillerman presented the idea Tuesday at a special meeting with the UN ambassadors of 25 European states who either are, or are slated to become, members of the European Union. Gillerman was accompanied by David Granit, the Foreign Ministry's deputy director-general for international organizations, who flew in from Jerusalem for the meeting.
Israel is arguing that a moratorium on one-sided anti-Israel resolutions is required by the road map peace plan, of which the EU and the UN are cosponsors, along with the United States and Russia. The road map calls for an end to anti-Israel incitement.
Israel verletzt mehr UN-Resolutionen als sonst wer und nun wollen sie noch ein moratorium..das wär ja noch schöner
Haaretz: Israel Tries To Stop Critical UN Resolutions
NEW YORK -- Israel has launched a campaign to get the United Nations to declare a moratorium on all resolutions that denounce Israel or demand that it change its policies without parallel denunciations or demands regarding Palestinian terrorism.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Gillerman presented the idea Tuesday at a special meeting with the UN ambassadors of 25 European states who either are, or are slated to become, members of the European Union. Gillerman was accompanied by David Granit, the Foreign Ministry's deputy director-general for international organizations, who flew in from Jerusalem for the meeting.
Israel is arguing that a moratorium on one-sided anti-Israel resolutions is required by the road map peace plan, of which the EU and the UN are cosponsors, along with the United States and Russia. The road map calls for an end to anti-Israel incitement.
Israel verletzt mehr UN-Resolutionen als sonst wer und nun wollen sie noch ein moratorium..das wär ja noch schöner
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Independent: 'Targeted Killings' Strengthen
Hamas As Innocents Die
Sana Al-Daour, 10, was sitting in the back seat with her father, mother and sister on the way to buy books for the new school year when the missile hit their Mercedes taxi.
Sana is far from being the only child killed since the ceasefire called on 29 June began to unravel three weeks ago. At least 22 of those hurt in the Hamas bombing on 19 August in Jerusalem, which triggered the policy of "targeted killings", were children.
After similar "targeted killings" of militants by Israel began in November 2000, there were no deaths in Israel during December, fuelling hopes that the militants had been discouraged. But the killings of Israelis escalated rapidly from February 2001. Amira Hass, commentator on Palestinian affairs for Ha'aretz newspaper, cited figures yesterday suggesting that 80 per cent of the Palestinians killed from the start of the intifada to the beginning of this August had not been connected to any armed factions. The Israeli policy has so far resulted in the deaths of 10 militants in six air strikes. But injuries and deaths among civilians appear to have hardened public opinion.
Independent: 'Targeted Killings' Strengthen
Hamas As Innocents Die
Sana Al-Daour, 10, was sitting in the back seat with her father, mother and sister on the way to buy books for the new school year when the missile hit their Mercedes taxi.
Sana is far from being the only child killed since the ceasefire called on 29 June began to unravel three weeks ago. At least 22 of those hurt in the Hamas bombing on 19 August in Jerusalem, which triggered the policy of "targeted killings", were children.
After similar "targeted killings" of militants by Israel began in November 2000, there were no deaths in Israel during December, fuelling hopes that the militants had been discouraged. But the killings of Israelis escalated rapidly from February 2001. Amira Hass, commentator on Palestinian affairs for Ha'aretz newspaper, cited figures yesterday suggesting that 80 per cent of the Palestinians killed from the start of the intifada to the beginning of this August had not been connected to any armed factions. The Israeli policy has so far resulted in the deaths of 10 militants in six air strikes. But injuries and deaths among civilians appear to have hardened public opinion.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Islamonline: New Air Raid Kills Hamas Member, Injures 30 Civilians
GAZA CITY, September 1 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - A Palestinian Hamas activist was killed and 30 civilians were injured in the latest Israeli air strike against the resistance group in Gaza Monday, September 1, as the European Union's top diplomat sought to restrain Israel from assassinating Palestinian activists.
It was the sixth such attack by Israeli pilots since mid August.
Islamonline: New Air Raid Kills Hamas Member, Injures 30 Civilians
GAZA CITY, September 1 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - A Palestinian Hamas activist was killed and 30 civilians were injured in the latest Israeli air strike against the resistance group in Gaza Monday, September 1, as the European Union's top diplomat sought to restrain Israel from assassinating Palestinian activists.
It was the sixth such attack by Israeli pilots since mid August.
LEBANON
Al-Jazeera: Israeli warplanes attack Lebanon village
Israeli warplanes attacked the outskirts of a south Lebanese village after Hizb Allah fighters fired anti-aircraft rounds at Israeli jets flying overhead
Lebanese police said Israeli fighter-bombers fired three air-to-ground missiles at positions in the Bayyarda hills near the border town of Naqura. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Wednesday's incident.
"Israeli planes attacked the part of Lebanon from which a cannon belonging to Hizb Allah fired shells," an Israeli spokesman said.
"The planes destroyed the cannons," he added.
The Israelis insisted the attack was justified and threatened to respond to all acts of "terrorism" in a similar fashion
"Israelische Jets fliegen über Libanon wobei sie den Luftraum eines souveränen Landes verletzen. Die Hisbollah schiesst darauf mit Kanonen auf die Jets, anschliessend bombardiert Israel die Stellungen im souveränen Staat Libanon und nennt das ganze Terrorismus."
Al-Jazeera: Israeli warplanes attack Lebanon village
Israeli warplanes attacked the outskirts of a south Lebanese village after Hizb Allah fighters fired anti-aircraft rounds at Israeli jets flying overhead
Lebanese police said Israeli fighter-bombers fired three air-to-ground missiles at positions in the Bayyarda hills near the border town of Naqura. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Wednesday's incident.
"Israeli planes attacked the part of Lebanon from which a cannon belonging to Hizb Allah fired shells," an Israeli spokesman said.
"The planes destroyed the cannons," he added.
The Israelis insisted the attack was justified and threatened to respond to all acts of "terrorism" in a similar fashion
"Israelische Jets fliegen über Libanon wobei sie den Luftraum eines souveränen Landes verletzen. Die Hisbollah schiesst darauf mit Kanonen auf die Jets, anschliessend bombardiert Israel die Stellungen im souveränen Staat Libanon und nennt das ganze Terrorismus."
MILITARY
Csmonitor: US's 'private army' grows
In Colombia and around the world, civilians are doing work formerly done by the military.
Flying over the vast jungle here, a joint Colombian-American crew trolls for suspicious aircraft that could be smuggling tons of cocaine onto American soil. When their radar locks onto a suspect plane, the crew attempts to make radio contact. If there is no response, they may fire warning shots in an attempt to get the suspect plane to land. Only as a last resort may the multinational crew seek permission from the ground to shoot the plane down.
Csmonitor: US's 'private army' grows
In Colombia and around the world, civilians are doing work formerly done by the military.
Flying over the vast jungle here, a joint Colombian-American crew trolls for suspicious aircraft that could be smuggling tons of cocaine onto American soil. When their radar locks onto a suspect plane, the crew attempts to make radio contact. If there is no response, they may fire warning shots in an attempt to get the suspect plane to land. Only as a last resort may the multinational crew seek permission from the ground to shoot the plane down.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Al-Jazeera: ‘Road map’ is dead, says Arafat
Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has said the US-backed plan to create a
Palestinian state and foster peace was dead because of Israeli
aggression.
"The road map is dead, but only because of Israeli military aggression
in recent weeks," he said in an interview with CNN in the West Bank town
of Ramallah on Tuesday. Arafat said the United States had let the plan
die. He blamed US preoccupation with Iraq and upcoming presidential
elections for preventing implementation of the “road map”.
Al-Jazeera: ‘Road map’ is dead, says Arafat
Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has said the US-backed plan to create a
Palestinian state and foster peace was dead because of Israeli
aggression.
"The road map is dead, but only because of Israeli military aggression
in recent weeks," he said in an interview with CNN in the West Bank town
of Ramallah on Tuesday. Arafat said the United States had let the plan
die. He blamed US preoccupation with Iraq and upcoming presidential
elections for preventing implementation of the “road map”.
USA
Islamonline: United U.S. Muslims To Vote Against Bush Re-election
CHICAGO, September 2 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Leaders of the
U.S. Muslim community intend to deliver a bloc vote in next year's
presidential elections, one that will go against the candidate they
endorsed last time - President George W. Bush. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the American Muslim Council, the
American Muslim Alliance, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council agreed
this weekend to cooperate on a voter registration drive that they hope will
send one million Muslims to say "No" to Bush's 2004 re-election bid.
Representatives of the four leading U.S. Muslim advocacy groups have
begun voter registration drives at mosques and Islamic centers across the
nation in hopes of ensuring a strong turnout in the 2004 presidential
elections.
Islamonline: United U.S. Muslims To Vote Against Bush Re-election
CHICAGO, September 2 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Leaders of the
U.S. Muslim community intend to deliver a bloc vote in next year's
presidential elections, one that will go against the candidate they
endorsed last time - President George W. Bush. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the American Muslim Council, the
American Muslim Alliance, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council agreed
this weekend to cooperate on a voter registration drive that they hope will
send one million Muslims to say "No" to Bush's 2004 re-election bid.
Representatives of the four leading U.S. Muslim advocacy groups have
begun voter registration drives at mosques and Islamic centers across the
nation in hopes of ensuring a strong turnout in the 2004 presidential
elections.
ISRAEL
Al-Jazeera: Jewish peace winner attacks Israel
Jewish historian Reuven Moskovitz, who was awarded a prestigious peace
prize, fired a broadside at Israel during his acceptance speech. The
outspoken award winner used the glittering occasion to launch an attack
on Israel's policies which have caused misery for millions of
Palestinians. And he called on Europe to exert pressure on Ariel Sharon to stop the
persecution of Palestinians. "All Israel's governing politicians have
transformed the lives of the Palestinian people into an intolerable
hell with their sanctions and expulsions," he said at Monday’s award
ceremony.
Al-Jazeera: Jewish peace winner attacks Israel
Jewish historian Reuven Moskovitz, who was awarded a prestigious peace
prize, fired a broadside at Israel during his acceptance speech. The
outspoken award winner used the glittering occasion to launch an attack
on Israel's policies which have caused misery for millions of
Palestinians. And he called on Europe to exert pressure on Ariel Sharon to stop the
persecution of Palestinians. "All Israel's governing politicians have
transformed the lives of the Palestinian people into an intolerable
hell with their sanctions and expulsions," he said at Monday’s award
ceremony.
IRAQI RESISTANCE
MSNBC: Toll of U.S. wounded rises fast
More than 1,100 wounded in action since Iraq war began
U.S. battlefield casualties in Iraq are increasing dramatically in the face of continued attacks by remnants of Saddam Hussein’s military and other forces, with almost 10 American troops a day now being officially declared “wounded in action.”
MSNBC: Toll of U.S. wounded rises fast
More than 1,100 wounded in action since Iraq war began
U.S. battlefield casualties in Iraq are increasing dramatically in the face of continued attacks by remnants of Saddam Hussein’s military and other forces, with almost 10 American troops a day now being officially declared “wounded in action.”
IRAQI RESISTANCE
Los Angeles Times: Resistance in Iraq Is Home Grown
Nationalists and Islamists are among diverse groups joining the
attacks, Foreign fighters are present in moderate numbers
BAGHDAD — The men attempting to recruit a former soldier in the
Fedayeen Saddam militia for today's war against the Americans took him to a
bearded sheik seated in a pickup truck. They appealed to the mortar expert's
sense of nationalism and then to his religious conviction. The Americans have
done nothing for Iraqis. They defile the homeland. Attacking the
American occupiers is the only way to make them leave, the recruiters argued.
In their shadowy guerrilla war to drive American forces out of Iraq,
hundreds of insurgents have organized into cells, especially in Al Anbar
province west of Baghdad and Diyala province to the northeast, both strongholds
for Saddam Hussein, the Sunni tribes that supported him and Wahhabi and
other Islamic fundamentalists.
Los Angeles Times: Resistance in Iraq Is Home Grown
Nationalists and Islamists are among diverse groups joining the
attacks, Foreign fighters are present in moderate numbers
BAGHDAD — The men attempting to recruit a former soldier in the
Fedayeen Saddam militia for today's war against the Americans took him to a
bearded sheik seated in a pickup truck. They appealed to the mortar expert's
sense of nationalism and then to his religious conviction. The Americans have
done nothing for Iraqis. They defile the homeland. Attacking the
American occupiers is the only way to make them leave, the recruiters argued.
In their shadowy guerrilla war to drive American forces out of Iraq,
hundreds of insurgents have organized into cells, especially in Al Anbar
province west of Baghdad and Diyala province to the northeast, both strongholds
for Saddam Hussein, the Sunni tribes that supported him and Wahhabi and
other Islamic fundamentalists.
IRAQI RESISTANCE
Los Angeles Times: Resistance in Iraq Is Home Grown
Nationalists and Islamists are among diverse groups joining the
attacks, Foreign fighters are present in moderate numbers
BAGHDAD — The men attempting to recruit a former soldier in the
Fedayeen
Saddam militia for today's war against the Americans took him to a
bearded
sheik seated in a pickup truck. They appealed to the mortar expert's
sense
of nationalism and then to his religious conviction. The Americans have
done nothing for Iraqis. They defile the homeland. Attacking the
American
occupiers is the only way to make them leave, the recruiters argued.
In
their shadowy guerrilla war to drive American forces out of Iraq,
hundreds
of insurgents have organized into cells, especially in Al Anbar
province
west of Baghdad and Diyala province to the northeast, both strongholds
for
Saddam Hussein, the Sunni tribes that supported him and Wahhabi and
other
Islamic fundamentalists.
Los Angeles Times: Resistance in Iraq Is Home Grown
Nationalists and Islamists are among diverse groups joining the
attacks, Foreign fighters are present in moderate numbers
BAGHDAD — The men attempting to recruit a former soldier in the
Fedayeen
Saddam militia for today's war against the Americans took him to a
bearded
sheik seated in a pickup truck. They appealed to the mortar expert's
sense
of nationalism and then to his religious conviction. The Americans have
done nothing for Iraqis. They defile the homeland. Attacking the
American
occupiers is the only way to make them leave, the recruiters argued.
In
their shadowy guerrilla war to drive American forces out of Iraq,
hundreds
of insurgents have organized into cells, especially in Al Anbar
province
west of Baghdad and Diyala province to the northeast, both strongholds
for
Saddam Hussein, the Sunni tribes that supported him and Wahhabi and
other
Islamic fundamentalists.
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
GRAFFITI: SITE OF THE DAY
CHECK: TRAINZ.MUCPAT.CH
Welcome to the World of Graffiti. This gallery shows a small selection of several writers, who painted mainly on south-german and swiss territory. The introduced crews had a strong influence on the style for bombing trains in the named area, where they were active in the early and late 90's. Not much is known about these writers, as they stayed strictly undercover during the most active days. Yet one fact can be taken for granted: all shown writers took part in setting a milestone in south-german and swiss graff-history.
CHECK: TRAINZ.MUCPAT.CH
Welcome to the World of Graffiti. This gallery shows a small selection of several writers, who painted mainly on south-german and swiss territory. The introduced crews had a strong influence on the style for bombing trains in the named area, where they were active in the early and late 90's. Not much is known about these writers, as they stayed strictly undercover during the most active days. Yet one fact can be taken for granted: all shown writers took part in setting a milestone in south-german and swiss graff-history.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
News.au: Palestinian schoolgirl shot dead
AN eight-year-old Palestinian girl shot dead by Israeli troops in the central Gaza Strip was killed while showing off her new school uniform to friends, the youngster's grieving mother said today.
Some 1500 people gathered in Khan Yunis for the funeral of Aaya Mahmud Fayaad, who relatives and witnesses said was hit by bullets fired from an Israeli observation post on the edge of a Jewish settlement.
The girl's mother, Am Isam, told mourners at the family home that Aaya had been killed as she showed off her new uniform ahead of the start of the school year tomorrow.
"These are clothes that I bought for her yesterday," said the distraught mother as she showed off the outfit.
News.au: Palestinian schoolgirl shot dead
AN eight-year-old Palestinian girl shot dead by Israeli troops in the central Gaza Strip was killed while showing off her new school uniform to friends, the youngster's grieving mother said today.
Some 1500 people gathered in Khan Yunis for the funeral of Aaya Mahmud Fayaad, who relatives and witnesses said was hit by bullets fired from an Israeli observation post on the edge of a Jewish settlement.
The girl's mother, Am Isam, told mourners at the family home that Aaya had been killed as she showed off her new uniform ahead of the start of the school year tomorrow.
"These are clothes that I bought for her yesterday," said the distraught mother as she showed off the outfit.
911
Information Clearinghouse: September 11th And The Bush Administration
Compelling Evidence for Complicity
Clearly, one of the most critical questions of the twenty-first century concerns why the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were not prevented. As I outline below, there are numerous aspects regarding the official stories about September 11th which do not fit with known facts, which contradict each other, which defy common sense, and which indicate a pattern of misinformation and coverup. The reports coming out of Washington do very little to alleviate these concerns.
For example, the Congressional report released on July 25, 2003 by a joint panel of House and Senate intelligence committees concluded that 9/11 resulted in C.I.A. and F.B.I. "lapses." While incompetence is frightening enough given a $40 billion budget, it is simply not consistent with known facts. It is consistent with the reports from other government scandals such has the Iran Contra Affair which produced damage control and cover up but not answers to the more probing questions. But perhaps a comparison to Watergate is more apropos since we now have twenty-eight pages of this report, which the Bush Administration refuses to release. The report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is believable unless you are seriously interested in the truth. Under more careful scientific scrutiny, it does not answer some very important questions.
Information Clearinghouse: September 11th And The Bush Administration
Compelling Evidence for Complicity
Clearly, one of the most critical questions of the twenty-first century concerns why the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were not prevented. As I outline below, there are numerous aspects regarding the official stories about September 11th which do not fit with known facts, which contradict each other, which defy common sense, and which indicate a pattern of misinformation and coverup. The reports coming out of Washington do very little to alleviate these concerns.
For example, the Congressional report released on July 25, 2003 by a joint panel of House and Senate intelligence committees concluded that 9/11 resulted in C.I.A. and F.B.I. "lapses." While incompetence is frightening enough given a $40 billion budget, it is simply not consistent with known facts. It is consistent with the reports from other government scandals such has the Iran Contra Affair which produced damage control and cover up but not answers to the more probing questions. But perhaps a comparison to Watergate is more apropos since we now have twenty-eight pages of this report, which the Bush Administration refuses to release. The report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is believable unless you are seriously interested in the truth. Under more careful scientific scrutiny, it does not answer some very important questions.
UK
Reuters: Britons want UK forces out of Iraq
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 60 percent of Britons believe their
government should be withdrawing its troops from Iraq, an opinion poll shows. A
poll for the Daily Mirror tabloid newspaper and television show GMTV asking
when British forces should be withdrawn from Iraq, found 29 percent of
respondents wanted troops pulled out as soon as possible and 32 percent
called for a phased withdrawal, with a final date set for the last
soldier to leave.
Reuters: Britons want UK forces out of Iraq
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 60 percent of Britons believe their
government should be withdrawing its troops from Iraq, an opinion poll shows. A
poll for the Daily Mirror tabloid newspaper and television show GMTV asking
when British forces should be withdrawn from Iraq, found 29 percent of
respondents wanted troops pulled out as soon as possible and 32 percent
called for a phased withdrawal, with a final date set for the last
soldier to leave.
IRAN/ISRAEL
AFP: Iran's Nuclear Capability Represents 'Nightmare Scenario' - Israel
Iran's pursuit of a nuclear capability is a "nightmare scenario" which demands immediate international action, Israeli Foreign Minsiter Silvan Shalom said Sunday
"Iran is fast apporaching the point of no return in its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons capability," Shalom said here after talks with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana who was fresh from a visit to Tehran.
"It's urgent that the international community act to ensure that this nightmare scenario is prevented."
"Nachdem Israel weder einen Nicht-Verbreitungs Pakt unterschrieben hat, noch Inspektionen der Interltionalen Atomenergiebehörde zulässt sollten sie eigentlich nicht solche Töne anschlagen sonder zuerst mal vor der eigenen Haustuere kehren"
AFP: Iran's Nuclear Capability Represents 'Nightmare Scenario' - Israel
Iran's pursuit of a nuclear capability is a "nightmare scenario" which demands immediate international action, Israeli Foreign Minsiter Silvan Shalom said Sunday
"Iran is fast apporaching the point of no return in its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons capability," Shalom said here after talks with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana who was fresh from a visit to Tehran.
"It's urgent that the international community act to ensure that this nightmare scenario is prevented."
"Nachdem Israel weder einen Nicht-Verbreitungs Pakt unterschrieben hat, noch Inspektionen der Interltionalen Atomenergiebehörde zulässt sollten sie eigentlich nicht solche Töne anschlagen sonder zuerst mal vor der eigenen Haustuere kehren"
AFGHANISTAN
MSNBC: Rumors of Bin Laden’s Lair
Some believe life on the run has made it impossible for Osama bin Laden to control and lead Al Qaeda. In Afghanistan’s Kunar province, people tell a different story
IT’S ALL ABOUT connections: since 1996 Kaka’s son-in-law, an Algerian named Abu Hamza al Jazeeri, has been a special bodyguard to the man Kaka calls loar sheik—”big chief”—Osama bin Laden. Every two months or so, al Jazeeri comes down from the mountains to visit his wife and three sons, who live with Kaka. “He appears and disappears like lightning,” Kaka says. “I never know when he’s coming or going.” The old man and his neighbors listen eagerly to the latest news from the Qaeda leader’s hideout. On a visit in January al Jazeeri reported that one of bin Laden’s daughters-in-law had recently died in childbirth, and that bin Laden spoke at her funeral, blaming America for her death. Only a few dozen mourners could attend, not the thousands who would ordinarily pay their last respects. Bin Laden blamed America for that, too. “I had enough riches to enjoy myself like an Arab sheik,” bin Laden said, according to al Jazeeri’s account. “But I decided to fight against those infidel forces that want to sever us from our Islamic roots. For that cause, Arabs, Taliban and my family have been martyred.”
MSNBC: Rumors of Bin Laden’s Lair
Some believe life on the run has made it impossible for Osama bin Laden to control and lead Al Qaeda. In Afghanistan’s Kunar province, people tell a different story
IT’S ALL ABOUT connections: since 1996 Kaka’s son-in-law, an Algerian named Abu Hamza al Jazeeri, has been a special bodyguard to the man Kaka calls loar sheik—”big chief”—Osama bin Laden. Every two months or so, al Jazeeri comes down from the mountains to visit his wife and three sons, who live with Kaka. “He appears and disappears like lightning,” Kaka says. “I never know when he’s coming or going.” The old man and his neighbors listen eagerly to the latest news from the Qaeda leader’s hideout. On a visit in January al Jazeeri reported that one of bin Laden’s daughters-in-law had recently died in childbirth, and that bin Laden spoke at her funeral, blaming America for her death. Only a few dozen mourners could attend, not the thousands who would ordinarily pay their last respects. Bin Laden blamed America for that, too. “I had enough riches to enjoy myself like an Arab sheik,” bin Laden said, according to al Jazeeri’s account. “But I decided to fight against those infidel forces that want to sever us from our Islamic roots. For that cause, Arabs, Taliban and my family have been martyred.”
FINANCE
NY Times: Looks Like a Recovery, Feels Like a Recession
ven though the recession ended nearly two years ago, polls show that American workers are feeling stressed and shaky this Labor Day because the nation continues to register month after month of job losses and wages are rising more slowly than inflation.
One factor above all has fueled the insecurity: the nation has lost 2.7 million jobs over the last three years. The recovery has been so weak since the recession ended in November 2001 that the nation's payrolls are down one million jobs from when economic growth resumed.
Indeed, the current economic expansion is the worst on record in terms of job growth. The average length of unemployment, more than 19 weeks, spiked this summer to its highest level in two decades.
NY Times: Looks Like a Recovery, Feels Like a Recession
ven though the recession ended nearly two years ago, polls show that American workers are feeling stressed and shaky this Labor Day because the nation continues to register month after month of job losses and wages are rising more slowly than inflation.
One factor above all has fueled the insecurity: the nation has lost 2.7 million jobs over the last three years. The recovery has been so weak since the recession ended in November 2001 that the nation's payrolls are down one million jobs from when economic growth resumed.
Indeed, the current economic expansion is the worst on record in terms of job growth. The average length of unemployment, more than 19 weeks, spiked this summer to its highest level in two decades.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Al-Jazeera: US-made Apaches attack Gaza City
Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at a target in occupied Gaza City Monday killing at least one person believed to be a resistance activist and injuring 25 others.
Relatives identified the dead man as Khodr al-Husari, a member of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
The missiles, fired from US-supplied Apache helicopters, slammed into a car in the central sector of the city.
Al-Jazeera: US-made Apaches attack Gaza City
Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at a target in occupied Gaza City Monday killing at least one person believed to be a resistance activist and injuring 25 others.
Relatives identified the dead man as Khodr al-Husari, a member of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
The missiles, fired from US-supplied Apache helicopters, slammed into a car in the central sector of the city.
IRAQI RESISTANCE
Al-Jazeera: Bomb destroys Baghdad police station
A car bomb has ripped through Baghdad's main police station, killing one policeman, according to occupation authorities.
At least two other policemen were seriously wounded and 19 others lightly injured, said medical sources. No occupation troops were killed.
Witnesses said a huge blast tore through the Rasafa police station shortly after 11:00 (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday, starting a large fire and sending clouds of black smoke spiralling into the sky.
The person who carried out the attack may have been wearing an Iraqi police uniform, reported our correspondent at the scene.
Al-Jazeera: Bomb destroys Baghdad police station
A car bomb has ripped through Baghdad's main police station, killing one policeman, according to occupation authorities.
At least two other policemen were seriously wounded and 19 others lightly injured, said medical sources. No occupation troops were killed.
Witnesses said a huge blast tore through the Rasafa police station shortly after 11:00 (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday, starting a large fire and sending clouds of black smoke spiralling into the sky.
The person who carried out the attack may have been wearing an Iraqi police uniform, reported our correspondent at the scene.
IRAQ/USA
Al-Jazeera: US attacked over green card soldiers
Nearly 40,000 of America's frontline soldiers are not US citizens.
Many of the troops on duty in Iraq do not count English as their first language and would prefer to take orders in their native tongue ... usually Spanish.
The revelation has prompted British MP George Galloway, one of the fiercest critics of the invasion of Iraq, to accuse the US of using its "green card" troops as cannon fodder.
Galloway went on to attack the US policy of putting its poor minorities and non-citizens in the frontline of its foreign wars.
In an exclusive interview he told Aljazeera.net that it was part of a long US tradition of using its underclass as cannon fodder.
Al-Jazeera: US attacked over green card soldiers
Nearly 40,000 of America's frontline soldiers are not US citizens.
Many of the troops on duty in Iraq do not count English as their first language and would prefer to take orders in their native tongue ... usually Spanish.
The revelation has prompted British MP George Galloway, one of the fiercest critics of the invasion of Iraq, to accuse the US of using its "green card" troops as cannon fodder.
Galloway went on to attack the US policy of putting its poor minorities and non-citizens in the frontline of its foreign wars.
In an exclusive interview he told Aljazeera.net that it was part of a long US tradition of using its underclass as cannon fodder.
IRAQ
Independent: Civil War May Well Consume
The Iraqi Nation By Robert Fisk
Unless The White House Abandons Its Fantasies
In Iraq, they go for the jugular: two weeks ago, the UN's top man, yesterday one of the most influential Shia Muslim clerics. As they used to say in the Lebanese war, if enough people want you dead, you'll die.
So who wanted Ayatollah Mohamed Bakr al-Hakim dead? Or, more to the point, who would not care if he died? Well, yes, there's the famous "Saddam remnants" which the al-Hakim family are already blaming for the Najaf massacre. He was tortured by Saddam's men and, after al-Hakim had gone into his Iranian exile, Saddam executed one of his relatives each year in a vain attempt to get him to come back. Then there's the Kuwaitis or the Saudis who certainly don't want his Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq to achieve any kind of "Islamic revolution" north of their border.
There are neo-conservatives aplenty in the United States who would never have trusted al-Hakim, despite his connections to the Iraqi Interim Council that the Americans run in Baghdad. Then there's the Shias.
"CHECK IT"
Independent: Civil War May Well Consume
The Iraqi Nation By Robert Fisk
Unless The White House Abandons Its Fantasies
In Iraq, they go for the jugular: two weeks ago, the UN's top man, yesterday one of the most influential Shia Muslim clerics. As they used to say in the Lebanese war, if enough people want you dead, you'll die.
So who wanted Ayatollah Mohamed Bakr al-Hakim dead? Or, more to the point, who would not care if he died? Well, yes, there's the famous "Saddam remnants" which the al-Hakim family are already blaming for the Najaf massacre. He was tortured by Saddam's men and, after al-Hakim had gone into his Iranian exile, Saddam executed one of his relatives each year in a vain attempt to get him to come back. Then there's the Kuwaitis or the Saudis who certainly don't want his Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq to achieve any kind of "Islamic revolution" north of their border.
There are neo-conservatives aplenty in the United States who would never have trusted al-Hakim, despite his connections to the Iraqi Interim Council that the Americans run in Baghdad. Then there's the Shias.
"CHECK IT"
ETHIOPA
BBC: Ethiopia hits out at IMF
Ethiopia's prime minister has hit out at continuing pressure from international financial organisations to push forward the country's privatisation process.
In a speech to an investors' meeting in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the repeated recommendations to sell off loss-making state corporations was counter-productive.
"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been pressing the government to sell all these state firms, but we have resisted these measures which would result in the collapse of our businesses," Mr Zenawi said.
SMASH IMF!
BBC: Ethiopia hits out at IMF
Ethiopia's prime minister has hit out at continuing pressure from international financial organisations to push forward the country's privatisation process.
In a speech to an investors' meeting in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the repeated recommendations to sell off loss-making state corporations was counter-productive.
"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been pressing the government to sell all these state firms, but we have resisted these measures which would result in the collapse of our businesses," Mr Zenawi said.
SMASH IMF!
NOAM CHOMSKY
The Hindu: The Loneliness Of Noam Chomsky By Arundhati Roy
After September 11, the mainstream media's blatant performance as the U.S Government's propaganda machine has only served to highlight the business of `managing' public opinion. The resultant `mistrust of the mass media' would at best be a political hunch or at worst a loose accusation, if it were not for the relentless and unswerving media analysis of one of the world's greatest minds. And this is only one of the ways in which Noam Chomsky has radically altered our understanding of the society in which we live. Rationally and empirically, he has unmasked the ugly, manipulative, ruthless American universe that exists behind the word 'freedom', says ARUNDHATI ROY, in an essay written as an introduction for the new edition of Noam Chomsky
"CHECK IT"
The Hindu: The Loneliness Of Noam Chomsky By Arundhati Roy
After September 11, the mainstream media's blatant performance as the U.S Government's propaganda machine has only served to highlight the business of `managing' public opinion. The resultant `mistrust of the mass media' would at best be a political hunch or at worst a loose accusation, if it were not for the relentless and unswerving media analysis of one of the world's greatest minds. And this is only one of the ways in which Noam Chomsky has radically altered our understanding of the society in which we live. Rationally and empirically, he has unmasked the ugly, manipulative, ruthless American universe that exists behind the word 'freedom', says ARUNDHATI ROY, in an essay written as an introduction for the new edition of Noam Chomsky
"CHECK IT"
ISRAEL
Rense: A Failed Israeli Society Collapses
While Its Leaders Remain Silent By Avraham Burg
(Avraham Burg was speaker of Israel's Knesset from 1999 to 2003 and is a former chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel. He is currently a Labor Party Knesset member.)
The Zionist revolution has always rested on two pillars: a just path and an ethical leadership. Neither of these is operative any longer. The Israeli nation today rests on a scaffolding of corruption, and on foundations of oppression and injustice. As such, the end of the Zionist enterprise is already on our doorstep. There is a real chance that ours will be the last Zionist generation. There may yet be a Jewish state here, but it will be a different sort, strange and ugly.
There is time to change course, but not much. What is needed is a new vision of a just society and the political will to implement it. Nor is this merely an internal Israeli affair. Diaspora Jews for whom Israel is a central pillar of their identity must pay heed and speak out. If the pillar collapses, the upper floors will come crashing down.
"CHECK IT CHECK IT CHECK IT"
Rense: A Failed Israeli Society Collapses
While Its Leaders Remain Silent By Avraham Burg
(Avraham Burg was speaker of Israel's Knesset from 1999 to 2003 and is a former chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel. He is currently a Labor Party Knesset member.)
The Zionist revolution has always rested on two pillars: a just path and an ethical leadership. Neither of these is operative any longer. The Israeli nation today rests on a scaffolding of corruption, and on foundations of oppression and injustice. As such, the end of the Zionist enterprise is already on our doorstep. There is a real chance that ours will be the last Zionist generation. There may yet be a Jewish state here, but it will be a different sort, strange and ugly.
There is time to change course, but not much. What is needed is a new vision of a just society and the political will to implement it. Nor is this merely an internal Israeli affair. Diaspora Jews for whom Israel is a central pillar of their identity must pay heed and speak out. If the pillar collapses, the upper floors will come crashing down.
"CHECK IT CHECK IT CHECK IT"
INDONESIA
Spiegel: Jemaah-Islamiah-Führer vom Hochverratsvorwurf freigesprochen
Er gilt als einer der Drahtzieher des internationalen Terrorismus, er soll hinter den Bombenanschlägen von Bali stecken. In Jakarta wurde Abu Bakar Baschir vom Vorwurf freigesprochen, einen Gottesstaat errichten zu wollen. Wegen Beteiligung am Landesverrat wurde er jedoch zu vier Jahren Haft verurteilt.
Spiegel: Jemaah-Islamiah-Führer vom Hochverratsvorwurf freigesprochen
Er gilt als einer der Drahtzieher des internationalen Terrorismus, er soll hinter den Bombenanschlägen von Bali stecken. In Jakarta wurde Abu Bakar Baschir vom Vorwurf freigesprochen, einen Gottesstaat errichten zu wollen. Wegen Beteiligung am Landesverrat wurde er jedoch zu vier Jahren Haft verurteilt.
USA
Spiegel: "Wir brennen es nieder, die Elfen sind wütend"
AMERIKAS ÖKO-TERRORISTEN
Die Earth Liberation Front, ein Netz militanter Umweltaktivisten, setzt teure Geländewagen und andere Symbole der US-Konsumkultur in Brand. Radikal wie nie zuvor, verübte sie kürzlich die teuerste Sabotage-Aktion in der Geschichte der Bewegung. Amerikas neues Feindbild heißt Öko-Terrorismus.
Die Öko-Aktivisten, die sich oft den harmlos klingenden Namen "Elves" (Elfen) geben, sind zu einem neuen Feindbild vieler Amerikaner avanciert. Das FBI fahndet so gründlich nach ihnen wie nie: Die Razzia am letzten Donnerstag war in San Diego die zweite in vierzehn Tagen. Zeichen einer Eskalation - und Antwort auf zwei spektakuläre Akte der Brandstiftung im Süden Kaliforniens. Dabei entstanden im vergangenen Monat mehr als 50 Millionen Dollar Sachschaden.
Spiegel: "Wir brennen es nieder, die Elfen sind wütend"
AMERIKAS ÖKO-TERRORISTEN
Die Earth Liberation Front, ein Netz militanter Umweltaktivisten, setzt teure Geländewagen und andere Symbole der US-Konsumkultur in Brand. Radikal wie nie zuvor, verübte sie kürzlich die teuerste Sabotage-Aktion in der Geschichte der Bewegung. Amerikas neues Feindbild heißt Öko-Terrorismus.
Die Öko-Aktivisten, die sich oft den harmlos klingenden Namen "Elves" (Elfen) geben, sind zu einem neuen Feindbild vieler Amerikaner avanciert. Das FBI fahndet so gründlich nach ihnen wie nie: Die Razzia am letzten Donnerstag war in San Diego die zweite in vierzehn Tagen. Zeichen einer Eskalation - und Antwort auf zwei spektakuläre Akte der Brandstiftung im Süden Kaliforniens. Dabei entstanden im vergangenen Monat mehr als 50 Millionen Dollar Sachschaden.
Friday, August 29, 2003
SWITZERLAND
Sia News: Genuine ''Homeland Security'': an Assassinated Congressman's Proposal
While Americans wrestle with the defense matters of growing costs, manpower needs, volunteerism vs. the draft, and even the matter of a national will, it is refreshing to note that there is one country that has adopted a formula that has resolved those same vexations. That country is Switzerland, and amazingly, the Swiss have successfully applied this national defense formula for centuries without the problems of popular division. To the contrary, the Swiss concept has promoted unity among the people of that small but mature nation.
The people of Switzerland are to be envied for their many achievements, and the policy achievement of a plan for armed neutrality could be a model either in whole or in part for those seeking a rational approach to survival problems.
The concept of armed neutrality was a policy favored by our Founding Fathers but the warnings and advice of Founding Father George Washington has been lost to Twentieth Century Americans. Perhaps even at this late date, we could find many answers to our current problems by observing the Swiss way of a total defense concept.
THE SWISS REPORT: A special study for Western Goals Foundation
by Congressman Lawrence Patton McDonald, General George S. Patton, U.S.A. (Ret.) and General Lewis W. Walt, U.S.M.C. (Ret.)
Copyright © 1983 Western Goals
Sia News: Genuine ''Homeland Security'': an Assassinated Congressman's Proposal
While Americans wrestle with the defense matters of growing costs, manpower needs, volunteerism vs. the draft, and even the matter of a national will, it is refreshing to note that there is one country that has adopted a formula that has resolved those same vexations. That country is Switzerland, and amazingly, the Swiss have successfully applied this national defense formula for centuries without the problems of popular division. To the contrary, the Swiss concept has promoted unity among the people of that small but mature nation.
The people of Switzerland are to be envied for their many achievements, and the policy achievement of a plan for armed neutrality could be a model either in whole or in part for those seeking a rational approach to survival problems.
The concept of armed neutrality was a policy favored by our Founding Fathers but the warnings and advice of Founding Father George Washington has been lost to Twentieth Century Americans. Perhaps even at this late date, we could find many answers to our current problems by observing the Swiss way of a total defense concept.
THE SWISS REPORT: A special study for Western Goals Foundation
by Congressman Lawrence Patton McDonald, General George S. Patton, U.S.A. (Ret.) and General Lewis W. Walt, U.S.M.C. (Ret.)
Copyright © 1983 Western Goals
PROFIT OVER PEOPLE
Spiegel: Generalrat verweigert Dritter Welt Billigmedikamente
Bis zuletzt hatte man bei der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) mit einer Einigung gerechnet. Entwicklungsländer sollten nachgemachte Medikamente billig importieren dürfen, um Krankheiten wie Aids und Malaria zu bekämpfen. Jetzt hat der Generalrat der WTO das Vorhaben in letzter Minute abgelehnt
Für die Länder aus der Dritten Welt ist die Entscheidung des Exekutivorgans der WTO ein schwerer Schlag. Sie müssen für Medikamente gegen Aids, Malaria oder Tuberkulose weiterhin die hohen Patentgebühren an die Pharmakonzerne zahlen.
Spiegel: Generalrat verweigert Dritter Welt Billigmedikamente
Bis zuletzt hatte man bei der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) mit einer Einigung gerechnet. Entwicklungsländer sollten nachgemachte Medikamente billig importieren dürfen, um Krankheiten wie Aids und Malaria zu bekämpfen. Jetzt hat der Generalrat der WTO das Vorhaben in letzter Minute abgelehnt
Für die Länder aus der Dritten Welt ist die Entscheidung des Exekutivorgans der WTO ein schwerer Schlag. Sie müssen für Medikamente gegen Aids, Malaria oder Tuberkulose weiterhin die hohen Patentgebühren an die Pharmakonzerne zahlen.
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
IRAQI WMD
New York Times: A Weapons Cache We'll Never See by Scott Ritter
N.Y. — Some 1,500 American investigators are scouring the Iraqi countryside for evidence of weapons of mass destruction that has so far eluded them. Known as the Iraq Survey Group and operating under the supervision of a former United Nations weapons inspector, David Kay, they are searching mostly for documents that will help them assemble a clear, if somewhat circumstantial, case that Iraq had or intended to have programs to produce prohibited weapons.
It is a daunting task. And according to many Iraqi scientists and officials I have spoken to, it is not being done very well.
"CHECK IT"
New York Times: A Weapons Cache We'll Never See by Scott Ritter
N.Y. — Some 1,500 American investigators are scouring the Iraqi countryside for evidence of weapons of mass destruction that has so far eluded them. Known as the Iraq Survey Group and operating under the supervision of a former United Nations weapons inspector, David Kay, they are searching mostly for documents that will help them assemble a clear, if somewhat circumstantial, case that Iraq had or intended to have programs to produce prohibited weapons.
It is a daunting task. And according to many Iraqi scientists and officials I have spoken to, it is not being done very well.
"CHECK IT"
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
ADVERTISMENT VS. GRAFITTI
L.A Times: Graffiti Gets Philosophical
Graffiti and advertising have many things in common. Both convey messages by occupying public space; indeed, both are omnipresent and unavoidable. At the upper reaches of excellence both are arts, though they are more often merely puerile and annoying noise. But there are some key differences.
Advertising is designed to manipulate people, whereas graffiti is essentially a pure mode of self-expression. Advertising is encouraged or courted by the authorities. Graffiti is illegal. And here is the difference that makes sense of all the others: money. All the legitimacy of advertising derives from the money that is paid to post it and the revenue it generates.
On the other hand graffiti is, in every sense, free and hence criminal. In fact, law enforcement is often called on to defend advertisements from graffiti.
Advertising is the public expression of wealthy people and organizations. Graffiti is the public expression of people who are more or less broke. And that is exactly why advertising is authorized and graffiti is eradicated.
L.A Times: Graffiti Gets Philosophical
Graffiti and advertising have many things in common. Both convey messages by occupying public space; indeed, both are omnipresent and unavoidable. At the upper reaches of excellence both are arts, though they are more often merely puerile and annoying noise. But there are some key differences.
Advertising is designed to manipulate people, whereas graffiti is essentially a pure mode of self-expression. Advertising is encouraged or courted by the authorities. Graffiti is illegal. And here is the difference that makes sense of all the others: money. All the legitimacy of advertising derives from the money that is paid to post it and the revenue it generates.
On the other hand graffiti is, in every sense, free and hence criminal. In fact, law enforcement is often called on to defend advertisements from graffiti.
Advertising is the public expression of wealthy people and organizations. Graffiti is the public expression of people who are more or less broke. And that is exactly why advertising is authorized and graffiti is eradicated.
ISRAEL
Haaretz: Jewish terror and its sources
Nine young Jewish men were arrested recently on
suspicion of planning and carrying out attacks
against Palestinians. At least one of them is
suspected of attempted murder, weapons violations,
and planning a crime involving dangerous
materials. All of the suspects are rooted deep in
Yesha (the Hebrew acronym for the West Bank and
Gaza) and its culture. All grew up on settlements
and all are faithful sons - to the point of
hallucinatory extremism - of the national
religious Zionism of the post-Six Day War period.
Some reside on outposts; some are the sons of
well-known rabbis and others are the younger
brothers of local leaders.
Haaretz: Jewish terror and its sources
Nine young Jewish men were arrested recently on
suspicion of planning and carrying out attacks
against Palestinians. At least one of them is
suspected of attempted murder, weapons violations,
and planning a crime involving dangerous
materials. All of the suspects are rooted deep in
Yesha (the Hebrew acronym for the West Bank and
Gaza) and its culture. All grew up on settlements
and all are faithful sons - to the point of
hallucinatory extremism - of the national
religious Zionism of the post-Six Day War period.
Some reside on outposts; some are the sons of
well-known rabbis and others are the younger
brothers of local leaders.
ISRAEL
Haaretz: Inside Israel's secret prison
Detainees are blindfolded and kept in blackened cells, never told where they are, brutally interrogated and allowed no visitors of any kind. Dubbed 'the Israeli Guantanamo,' it's no wonder facility 1391 officially does not exist.
M, who serves in the Intelligence Corps reserves,
remembers the first time he was sent to do guard
duty at Camp 1391. Before climbing to the top of
the observation tower he received an explicit
order from the responsible officer: "When you're
on the tower you look straight ahead only, outside
the base, and to the sides. What happens behind
you is none of your business. Do not turn
around."
Haaretz: Inside Israel's secret prison
Detainees are blindfolded and kept in blackened cells, never told where they are, brutally interrogated and allowed no visitors of any kind. Dubbed 'the Israeli Guantanamo,' it's no wonder facility 1391 officially does not exist.
M, who serves in the Intelligence Corps reserves,
remembers the first time he was sent to do guard
duty at Camp 1391. Before climbing to the top of
the observation tower he received an explicit
order from the responsible officer: "When you're
on the tower you look straight ahead only, outside
the base, and to the sides. What happens behind
you is none of your business. Do not turn
around."
NORTH KOREA
Rense: Hard Warning To N Korea By Former CIA Director
'Change of regime only alternative to war in Korea' James Woolsey, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States, urged China to step up to its responsibility and exert its substantial influence on North Korea to induce a change in its regime, saying this was the only credible alternative to war on the peninsula.
"The only option to keep (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il from producing more nuclear warheads is for China to exert is pressure in North Korea to change its regime," he said during a press conference yesterday after attending a session at the ongoing Pacific Basic Economic Council. "There are no other possibilities other than that, short of military action."
"Das dumme für die USA ist, dass Sie solange die ganze Armee im Irak und Afghanistan stationiert ist, keinen Milit?rischen Druck machen k?nnen. Nord Korea hat eine Armee von über einer Million Soldaten die innerhalb von Stunden oder wenigen Tagen einsatzf?hig sind. Amerika braucht Wochen oder Monate um genug grosse Truppenkontigente in Süd Korea aufzubauen um einen Krieg zu führen"
Rense: Hard Warning To N Korea By Former CIA Director
'Change of regime only alternative to war in Korea' James Woolsey, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States, urged China to step up to its responsibility and exert its substantial influence on North Korea to induce a change in its regime, saying this was the only credible alternative to war on the peninsula.
"The only option to keep (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il from producing more nuclear warheads is for China to exert is pressure in North Korea to change its regime," he said during a press conference yesterday after attending a session at the ongoing Pacific Basic Economic Council. "There are no other possibilities other than that, short of military action."
"Das dumme für die USA ist, dass Sie solange die ganze Armee im Irak und Afghanistan stationiert ist, keinen Milit?rischen Druck machen k?nnen. Nord Korea hat eine Armee von über einer Million Soldaten die innerhalb von Stunden oder wenigen Tagen einsatzf?hig sind. Amerika braucht Wochen oder Monate um genug grosse Truppenkontigente in Süd Korea aufzubauen um einen Krieg zu führen"
USA
Palestinian Chronicle: Secret Saudi History
"I smiled at my own joke, but the clerk's smile disappeared. 'Ask again,' he hissed, 'and I will call security to remove you from the building and have you barred as a security risk ..'"
"I'm sorry," the clerk at the U.S. National Archives says: "You can't see the Saudi Arabian documents." I'm surprised. All the National Archive's documents are already reviewed and then declassified or removed. In theory, whatever's there is no longer secret.
Until 911.
"It's part of the Patriot Act," the clerk averred, referring to Public Law 107-56, the hastily-passed legislation entitled, "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001."
"The U.S. State Department records you requested are indeed declassified and theoretically available. But they also may contain information that terrorists can use, like names and addresses and information of U.S. citizens." I gave a blank look. "So?" The clerk's brow furrowed with concern. "A terrorist could come into the National Archives and try to steal their identities or target them for assassination."
I protested: "The documents I seek are over thirty years old and even older." Now the clerk's smile became nothing but teeth, his eyes narrowed with suspicion
Palestinian Chronicle: Secret Saudi History
"I smiled at my own joke, but the clerk's smile disappeared. 'Ask again,' he hissed, 'and I will call security to remove you from the building and have you barred as a security risk ..'"
"I'm sorry," the clerk at the U.S. National Archives says: "You can't see the Saudi Arabian documents." I'm surprised. All the National Archive's documents are already reviewed and then declassified or removed. In theory, whatever's there is no longer secret.
Until 911.
"It's part of the Patriot Act," the clerk averred, referring to Public Law 107-56, the hastily-passed legislation entitled, "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001."
"The U.S. State Department records you requested are indeed declassified and theoretically available. But they also may contain information that terrorists can use, like names and addresses and information of U.S. citizens." I gave a blank look. "So?" The clerk's brow furrowed with concern. "A terrorist could come into the National Archives and try to steal their identities or target them for assassination."
I protested: "The documents I seek are over thirty years old and even older." Now the clerk's smile became nothing but teeth, his eyes narrowed with suspicion
IRAQ
Monday Morning: Baghdad: The hand of Mossad?
Sometimes it is difficult to understand why some events should occur and change a positive path into a negative situation leading to bloodshed. It is no longer a matter of resistance; the situation is turning into an open intelligence game regardless of the interests of the parties concerned in this situation. First in Baghdad: who carried out this suicide operation against the UN mission? Is it true that Saddam Hussein’s old guard is able to carry out such an operation?
Monday Morning: Baghdad: The hand of Mossad?
Sometimes it is difficult to understand why some events should occur and change a positive path into a negative situation leading to bloodshed. It is no longer a matter of resistance; the situation is turning into an open intelligence game regardless of the interests of the parties concerned in this situation. First in Baghdad: who carried out this suicide operation against the UN mission? Is it true that Saddam Hussein’s old guard is able to carry out such an operation?
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Rense: A Drug For The Addict - The End Of The Hudna By Uri Avnery
It was a putsch. Like any classic putsch, it was carried out by a group of officers: Sharon, Mofaz, Ya'alon and the army top brass.
It is no secret that the military party (the only really functioning party in Israel) objected to the hudna (truce) from the first moment, much as it opposed the Road Map. Its powerful propaganda apparatus, which includes all the Israeli media, spread the message: "The hudna is a disaster! Every day of the hudna is a bad day! The reduction of violence to almost zero is a great misfortune: under cover of the truce, the terrorist organizations are recovering and rearming! Every terrorist strike avoided today will hit us much harder tomorrow!"
The army command was like an addict deprived of his drug. It was forbidden to carry out the action it wanted. It was just about to crush the intifada, victory was just around the corner, all that was needed was just one final decisive blow, and that would have been that.
The military was upset when it saw the new hope that took hold of the Israeli public, the bullish mood of the stock exchange, the rise in value of the shekel, the return of the masses to the entertainment centers, the signs of optimism on both sides. In effect, It was a spontaneous popular vote against the military policy.
CHECK IT
Rense: A Drug For The Addict - The End Of The Hudna By Uri Avnery
It was a putsch. Like any classic putsch, it was carried out by a group of officers: Sharon, Mofaz, Ya'alon and the army top brass.
It is no secret that the military party (the only really functioning party in Israel) objected to the hudna (truce) from the first moment, much as it opposed the Road Map. Its powerful propaganda apparatus, which includes all the Israeli media, spread the message: "The hudna is a disaster! Every day of the hudna is a bad day! The reduction of violence to almost zero is a great misfortune: under cover of the truce, the terrorist organizations are recovering and rearming! Every terrorist strike avoided today will hit us much harder tomorrow!"
The army command was like an addict deprived of his drug. It was forbidden to carry out the action it wanted. It was just about to crush the intifada, victory was just around the corner, all that was needed was just one final decisive blow, and that would have been that.
The military was upset when it saw the new hope that took hold of the Israeli public, the bullish mood of the stock exchange, the rise in value of the shekel, the return of the masses to the entertainment centers, the signs of optimism on both sides. In effect, It was a spontaneous popular vote against the military policy.
CHECK IT
FRIEDEN IN AFGHANISTAN
Spiegel: Taliban kehren mit Terrorwelle zurück
In den vergangenen zwei Wochen wurden mindestens 150 Menschen bei den Kämpfen vor allem im Süden und Osten Afghanistans getötet. Fast jeden Tag greifen die Rebellen die von den Amerikanern angeführten Koalitionstruppen, afghanische Sicherheitskräfte, Hilfsorganisationen oder Zivilisten an.
Hunderte von Kämpfern attackieren Armeestützpunkte mit Raketen, sprengen Busse voller Zivilisten in die Luft oder eröffnen das Feuer auf Fahrzeuge von Minenräumern. Über Stunden besetzen mutmaßliche Taliban Grenzposten und Polizeistationen, aus dem Hinterhalt erschießen sie Soldaten und hochrangige Polizeioffiziere. Knapp zwei Jahre nach den Anschlägen vom 11. September haben sich Taliban und Osama bin Ladens Terrornetzwerk al-Qaida offenbar neu formiert, Afghanistan erlebt die schlimmste Welle der Gewalt seit dem Sturz des radikal-islamischen Regimes Ende des Jahres 2001.
Frieden und Demokratie sind im Land am Hindukusch immer noch in weiter Ferne. Der Westen droht mit seiner Aufbaumission zu scheitern
"Mag sich noch jemand erinnern was den Afghanen an Aufbauhilfe versprochen wurde? Mag sich noch jemand erinnern wie westliche Medien von Frieden und Demokratie gesprochen haben? Mag sich noch jemand erinnern wie uns der ganze Angriff als Kampf für die rechte der Frauen verkauft wurde? Nichts davon ist eingetroffen. Afghanistan musste als Blitzableiter Amerikas hinhalten und wird nun wieder dem Chaos überlassen"
Spiegel: Taliban kehren mit Terrorwelle zurück
In den vergangenen zwei Wochen wurden mindestens 150 Menschen bei den Kämpfen vor allem im Süden und Osten Afghanistans getötet. Fast jeden Tag greifen die Rebellen die von den Amerikanern angeführten Koalitionstruppen, afghanische Sicherheitskräfte, Hilfsorganisationen oder Zivilisten an.
Hunderte von Kämpfern attackieren Armeestützpunkte mit Raketen, sprengen Busse voller Zivilisten in die Luft oder eröffnen das Feuer auf Fahrzeuge von Minenräumern. Über Stunden besetzen mutmaßliche Taliban Grenzposten und Polizeistationen, aus dem Hinterhalt erschießen sie Soldaten und hochrangige Polizeioffiziere. Knapp zwei Jahre nach den Anschlägen vom 11. September haben sich Taliban und Osama bin Ladens Terrornetzwerk al-Qaida offenbar neu formiert, Afghanistan erlebt die schlimmste Welle der Gewalt seit dem Sturz des radikal-islamischen Regimes Ende des Jahres 2001.
Frieden und Demokratie sind im Land am Hindukusch immer noch in weiter Ferne. Der Westen droht mit seiner Aufbaumission zu scheitern
"Mag sich noch jemand erinnern was den Afghanen an Aufbauhilfe versprochen wurde? Mag sich noch jemand erinnern wie westliche Medien von Frieden und Demokratie gesprochen haben? Mag sich noch jemand erinnern wie uns der ganze Angriff als Kampf für die rechte der Frauen verkauft wurde? Nichts davon ist eingetroffen. Afghanistan musste als Blitzableiter Amerikas hinhalten und wird nun wieder dem Chaos überlassen"
Monday, August 25, 2003
USA
Truthout: The Danger of American Fascism
This story ran in the New York Times in 1944. Draw your own conclusions and compare Henry Wallace's analysis to the situation we find ourselves in today.
Sunday 09 April 1944
On returning from my trip to the West in February, I received a request from The New York Times to write a piece answering the following questions:
What is a fascist?
How many fascists have we?
How dangerous are they?
A fascist is one whose lust for money or power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends. The supreme god of a fascist, to which his ends are directed, may be money or power; may be a race or a class; may be a military, clique or an economic group; or may be a culture, religion, or a political party.
The obvious types of American fascists are dealt with on the air and in the press. These demagogues and stooges are fronts for others. Dangerous as these people may be, they are not so significant as thousands of other people who have never been mentioned. The really dangerous American fascists are not those who are hooked up directly or indirectly with the Axis. The FBI has its finger on those. The dangerous American fascist is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way. The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information. With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power.
"CHECK IT"
Truthout: The Danger of American Fascism
This story ran in the New York Times in 1944. Draw your own conclusions and compare Henry Wallace's analysis to the situation we find ourselves in today.
Sunday 09 April 1944
On returning from my trip to the West in February, I received a request from The New York Times to write a piece answering the following questions:
What is a fascist?
How many fascists have we?
How dangerous are they?
A fascist is one whose lust for money or power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends. The supreme god of a fascist, to which his ends are directed, may be money or power; may be a race or a class; may be a military, clique or an economic group; or may be a culture, religion, or a political party.
The obvious types of American fascists are dealt with on the air and in the press. These demagogues and stooges are fronts for others. Dangerous as these people may be, they are not so significant as thousands of other people who have never been mentioned. The really dangerous American fascists are not those who are hooked up directly or indirectly with the Axis. The FBI has its finger on those. The dangerous American fascist is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way. The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information. With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power.
"CHECK IT"
WAR
Rense: Iraq War Foes Were All Correct
The French were right.
The liberals were right.
The peaceniks were right.
True conservatives were right.
Veterans opposed to the war - I hear from more of them than you might imagine - were also right. They said this war was based on lies, and it was. They said this war, like most wars, would lead to more chaos and killing, and it has.
Now some in the Bush administration are telling the world that the car bombing of United Nations headquarters in Iraq is evidence that our policy is right.
How illogical can you be? Insurgents blow up oil pipelines and water mains; American soldiers get killed or maimed almost daily. Demonstrations are ongoing. And the biggest blow from the Iraqi resistance so far - destruction of U.N. headquarters in Iraq - is presented by the Bush team as evidence that our policy is correct because - because - because this proves terrorists are really, really bad.
Duh. We all know terrorists are really, really bad. That's why it's best not to give them more chaos in which to thrive. That's why it's best not to stir up new nests unnecessarily as we did by invading Iraq.
The Soviets couldn't win in Afghanistan, and I'll be surprised if, in five years or seven, American-style democracy has taken hold in Iraq. Like Afghanistan under the Russians, Iraq has become the rallying point for a growing jihad.
"CHECK IT"
Rense: Iraq War Foes Were All Correct
The French were right.
The liberals were right.
The peaceniks were right.
True conservatives were right.
Veterans opposed to the war - I hear from more of them than you might imagine - were also right. They said this war was based on lies, and it was. They said this war, like most wars, would lead to more chaos and killing, and it has.
Now some in the Bush administration are telling the world that the car bombing of United Nations headquarters in Iraq is evidence that our policy is right.
How illogical can you be? Insurgents blow up oil pipelines and water mains; American soldiers get killed or maimed almost daily. Demonstrations are ongoing. And the biggest blow from the Iraqi resistance so far - destruction of U.N. headquarters in Iraq - is presented by the Bush team as evidence that our policy is correct because - because - because this proves terrorists are really, really bad.
Duh. We all know terrorists are really, really bad. That's why it's best not to give them more chaos in which to thrive. That's why it's best not to stir up new nests unnecessarily as we did by invading Iraq.
The Soviets couldn't win in Afghanistan, and I'll be surprised if, in five years or seven, American-style democracy has taken hold in Iraq. Like Afghanistan under the Russians, Iraq has become the rallying point for a growing jihad.
"CHECK IT"
USA-ISRAEL
San Francisco Gate: U.S. military may be needed for Israel-Palestinian stability, key Republican says
As violence escalates in the Middle East, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says military involvement by the United States and its NATO allies might be required to bring stability to Israel and the Palestinians.
"If we're serious about having a situation of stability, a very direct action, I think, is going to be required," Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition."
"At some point the United States and its NATO allies and somebody is going to have to work with the Israelis and the Palestinians who want a state to get rid of the terrorists. I think it's just that simple," Lugar said.
"Was für eine Idee! die US Christen Armee zusammen mit den Streitkraeften der Zionisten in Jerusalem. Das waere dann wohl die ultimative Provokation und die rechten Apokalypsen Fundis haetten endlich ihren "Clash of Civilisations".
San Francisco Gate: U.S. military may be needed for Israel-Palestinian stability, key Republican says
As violence escalates in the Middle East, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says military involvement by the United States and its NATO allies might be required to bring stability to Israel and the Palestinians.
"If we're serious about having a situation of stability, a very direct action, I think, is going to be required," Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition."
"At some point the United States and its NATO allies and somebody is going to have to work with the Israelis and the Palestinians who want a state to get rid of the terrorists. I think it's just that simple," Lugar said.
"Was für eine Idee! die US Christen Armee zusammen mit den Streitkraeften der Zionisten in Jerusalem. Das waere dann wohl die ultimative Provokation und die rechten Apokalypsen Fundis haetten endlich ihren "Clash of Civilisations".
IRAQ
Boston: U.S. troops using confiscated Iraqi AK-47s
BAQOUBA, Iraq (AP) An American soldier stands at the side of an Iraqi highway, puts his AK-47 on fully automatic and pulls the trigger.
Within seconds the assault rifle has blasted out 30 rounds. Puffs of dust dance in the air as the bullets smack into the scrubland dirt. Test fire complete.
U.S. troops in Iraq may not have found weapons of mass destruction, but they're certainly getting their hands on the country's stock of Kalashnikovs and, they say, they need them.
The soldiers based around Baqouba are from an armor battalion, which means they have tanks, Humvees and armored personnel carriers. But they are short on rifles.
Boston: U.S. troops using confiscated Iraqi AK-47s
BAQOUBA, Iraq (AP) An American soldier stands at the side of an Iraqi highway, puts his AK-47 on fully automatic and pulls the trigger.
Within seconds the assault rifle has blasted out 30 rounds. Puffs of dust dance in the air as the bullets smack into the scrubland dirt. Test fire complete.
U.S. troops in Iraq may not have found weapons of mass destruction, but they're certainly getting their hands on the country's stock of Kalashnikovs and, they say, they need them.
The soldiers based around Baqouba are from an armor battalion, which means they have tanks, Humvees and armored personnel carriers. But they are short on rifles.
IRAQ
Daily Mirror: Who are the extremists? by John Pilger
The "liberation" of Iraq is a cruel joke on a stricken people. The Americans and British, partners in a great recognised crime, have brought down on the Middle East, and much of the rest of the world, the prospect of terrorism and suffering on a scale that al-Qaeda could only imagine.
That is what this week's bloody bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad tells us.
It is a "wake-up call", according to Mary Robinson, the former UN Humanitarian Commissioner.
She is right, of course, but it is a call that millions of people sounded on the streets of London and all over the world more than seven months ago - before the killing began.
And yet the Anglo-American spin machine, whose minor cogs are currently being exposed by the Hutton Inquiry, is still in production.
According to the Bush and Blair governments, those responsible for the UN outrage are "extremists from outside": Al-Qaeda terrorists or Iranian militants, or both.
Whether or not outsiders are involved, the aim of this propaganda is to distract from the truth that America and Britain are now immersed in a classic guerrilla war, a war of resistance and self-determination of the kind waged against foreign aggressors and colonial masters since history began.
CHECK IT
Daily Mirror: Who are the extremists? by John Pilger
The "liberation" of Iraq is a cruel joke on a stricken people. The Americans and British, partners in a great recognised crime, have brought down on the Middle East, and much of the rest of the world, the prospect of terrorism and suffering on a scale that al-Qaeda could only imagine.
That is what this week's bloody bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad tells us.
It is a "wake-up call", according to Mary Robinson, the former UN Humanitarian Commissioner.
She is right, of course, but it is a call that millions of people sounded on the streets of London and all over the world more than seven months ago - before the killing began.
And yet the Anglo-American spin machine, whose minor cogs are currently being exposed by the Hutton Inquiry, is still in production.
According to the Bush and Blair governments, those responsible for the UN outrage are "extremists from outside": Al-Qaeda terrorists or Iranian militants, or both.
Whether or not outsiders are involved, the aim of this propaganda is to distract from the truth that America and Britain are now immersed in a classic guerrilla war, a war of resistance and self-determination of the kind waged against foreign aggressors and colonial masters since history began.
CHECK IT
IRAQI RESISTANCE
Asia Times: The plot thickens by Pepe Escobar
HANOI - Ahmad Chalabi, the Pentagon erstwhile protege, leader of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), member of the American-appointed Iraqi interim government in Iraq and a convicted criminal in Jordan, went on record in Baghdad saying that he had received intelligence on Thursday, August 14, that "a large-scale act would take place ... against a soft target, such as Iraqi political parties or other parties, including the UN". He even learned that the attack would be a truck bombing - by means of a suicide bomber or a remote-controlled detonator. Chalabi also made clear that according to this intelligence, "neither the Coalition Provisional Authority nor coalition troops" would be attacked.
Chalabi is usually not recognized as a reliable source. But if this startling piece of information is true, it means two things: 1) The Americans in Iraq knew about an attack, and did nothing to try to prevent it. 2) The UN itself didn't know anything about it, according to Fred Eckhard, spokesman for secretary general Kofi Annan: "To my knowledge, that information was not relayed to the United Nations."
The frightening possibility that Chalabi knew it, the Americans knew it, the UN didn't and the Americans did nothing to improve security at the UN headquarters will only benefit one player: the Pentagon, according to which Iraq is now the central battle in the "war against terrorism". And right on cue, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and US Central Command chief General John Abizaid, in a joint briefing, declared Iraq now to be a sort of terrorist Woodstock
"CHECK IT"
Asia Times: The plot thickens by Pepe Escobar
HANOI - Ahmad Chalabi, the Pentagon erstwhile protege, leader of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), member of the American-appointed Iraqi interim government in Iraq and a convicted criminal in Jordan, went on record in Baghdad saying that he had received intelligence on Thursday, August 14, that "a large-scale act would take place ... against a soft target, such as Iraqi political parties or other parties, including the UN". He even learned that the attack would be a truck bombing - by means of a suicide bomber or a remote-controlled detonator. Chalabi also made clear that according to this intelligence, "neither the Coalition Provisional Authority nor coalition troops" would be attacked.
Chalabi is usually not recognized as a reliable source. But if this startling piece of information is true, it means two things: 1) The Americans in Iraq knew about an attack, and did nothing to try to prevent it. 2) The UN itself didn't know anything about it, according to Fred Eckhard, spokesman for secretary general Kofi Annan: "To my knowledge, that information was not relayed to the United Nations."
The frightening possibility that Chalabi knew it, the Americans knew it, the UN didn't and the Americans did nothing to improve security at the UN headquarters will only benefit one player: the Pentagon, according to which Iraq is now the central battle in the "war against terrorism". And right on cue, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and US Central Command chief General John Abizaid, in a joint briefing, declared Iraq now to be a sort of terrorist Woodstock
"CHECK IT"
IRAQI RESISTANCE
AP: Sanctions harden Iraqis attitude to U.N.
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- When a truck packed with explosives blew up outside the United Nations compound in Baghdad and killed at least 23 people, much of the world recoiled in shock, horrified anyone would attack an organization known everywhere for its good works.
Everywhere, that is, except in Iraq, where there is deep ambivalence toward the world body.
For many Iraqis, the United Nations was synonymous with economic hardship -- responsible for much of the everyday misery here.
The crippling international sanctions imposed by the world body after Iraq invaded Kuwait 12 years ago have been blamed for everything from high infant mortality rates to a ban on ice cream.
"Und nebenbei sind den Sanktionen über eine halbe Million Kinder zum Opfer gefallen. Auf die Frage "I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. and you know, is the price worth it?" von Repeorter Lelsley Stahl in der Fernsehsendung 60 Minutes hat Madeleine Albright 1996 geantwortet: ""I think this is a very hard choice, but the price — we think the price is worth it." Wieso moegen die Iraker bloss die UNO nicht?
AP: Sanctions harden Iraqis attitude to U.N.
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- When a truck packed with explosives blew up outside the United Nations compound in Baghdad and killed at least 23 people, much of the world recoiled in shock, horrified anyone would attack an organization known everywhere for its good works.
Everywhere, that is, except in Iraq, where there is deep ambivalence toward the world body.
For many Iraqis, the United Nations was synonymous with economic hardship -- responsible for much of the everyday misery here.
The crippling international sanctions imposed by the world body after Iraq invaded Kuwait 12 years ago have been blamed for everything from high infant mortality rates to a ban on ice cream.
"Und nebenbei sind den Sanktionen über eine halbe Million Kinder zum Opfer gefallen. Auf die Frage "I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. and you know, is the price worth it?" von Repeorter Lelsley Stahl in der Fernsehsendung 60 Minutes hat Madeleine Albright 1996 geantwortet: ""I think this is a very hard choice, but the price — we think the price is worth it." Wieso moegen die Iraker bloss die UNO nicht?
UK: DAVID KELLY
Independent: Revealed: how ministers tried to gag David Kelly
The Government went to extraordinary lengths to gag Dr David Kelly because of fears that he would expose fundamental flaws in its case for war.
Documents released yesterday by the Hutton inquiry into the scientist's death reveal that the Ministry of Defence was even prepared to block a police investigation into a secrets leak.
Under the plan, Scotland Yard's Special Branch was to be prevented from interviewing Dr Kelly and anyone else who had discussed his doubts about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
Guardian:It's official - Saddam was not an imminent threat by Clare Short
After eight days of the Hutton inquiry and enormous quantities of media coverage, it is worth pausing to try to take stock. Many of us have said that, deliberately or otherwise, Alastair Campbell's decision to go to war with the BBC had the potential to distract attention from the most important questions arising from the Iraq crisis - whether the nation was deceived on the road to war, and where responsibility lies for the continuing chaos and loss of life in Iraq.
Times: Campbell did redraft Iraq dossier
Hutton releases 6000 pages of documents which show Blair’s spin chief actively involved in rewriting case for war
Independent: Revealed: how ministers tried to gag David Kelly
The Government went to extraordinary lengths to gag Dr David Kelly because of fears that he would expose fundamental flaws in its case for war.
Documents released yesterday by the Hutton inquiry into the scientist's death reveal that the Ministry of Defence was even prepared to block a police investigation into a secrets leak.
Under the plan, Scotland Yard's Special Branch was to be prevented from interviewing Dr Kelly and anyone else who had discussed his doubts about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
Guardian:It's official - Saddam was not an imminent threat by Clare Short
After eight days of the Hutton inquiry and enormous quantities of media coverage, it is worth pausing to try to take stock. Many of us have said that, deliberately or otherwise, Alastair Campbell's decision to go to war with the BBC had the potential to distract attention from the most important questions arising from the Iraq crisis - whether the nation was deceived on the road to war, and where responsibility lies for the continuing chaos and loss of life in Iraq.
Times: Campbell did redraft Iraq dossier
Hutton releases 6000 pages of documents which show Blair’s spin chief actively involved in rewriting case for war
IRAQI RESISTANCE
Asia Times: THE ROVING EYE
Why the lessons of Vietnam do matter
HANOI - Just as it took a few years for the Americans to lose the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese, it took them only a few weeks to lose the hearts and minds of the majority of Iraqis - which ultimately means losing the war, whatever the strategic final result. Topographic denials - this is the Mesopotamian desert, not the Indochinese jungle - don't work, nor do denials saying that the Iraqis are not as politicized as the Vietnamese were by communism. These totally miss the point: as happened in Vietnam, what is happening now in Iraq has everything to do with patriotism and nationalism.
Former Iraqi vice premier Tariq Aziz used to say, before the US invasion, "Let our cities be our swamps and our buildings our jungles." Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, aka "Comical Ali", the unforgettable former minister of information, used to say Iraq would be "another Indochina". The guerrilla war strategy against what was considered an inevitable US invasion has been perfected in Iraq for years. And the master strategist was neither an Assyrian nor a Mesopotamian general, but the legendary Vo Nguyen Giap, the Vietnamese general who coordinated the victories against French colonialism and US meddling.
CHECK IT
Asia Times: THE ROVING EYE
Why the lessons of Vietnam do matter
HANOI - Just as it took a few years for the Americans to lose the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese, it took them only a few weeks to lose the hearts and minds of the majority of Iraqis - which ultimately means losing the war, whatever the strategic final result. Topographic denials - this is the Mesopotamian desert, not the Indochinese jungle - don't work, nor do denials saying that the Iraqis are not as politicized as the Vietnamese were by communism. These totally miss the point: as happened in Vietnam, what is happening now in Iraq has everything to do with patriotism and nationalism.
Former Iraqi vice premier Tariq Aziz used to say, before the US invasion, "Let our cities be our swamps and our buildings our jungles." Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, aka "Comical Ali", the unforgettable former minister of information, used to say Iraq would be "another Indochina". The guerrilla war strategy against what was considered an inevitable US invasion has been perfected in Iraq for years. And the master strategist was neither an Assyrian nor a Mesopotamian general, but the legendary Vo Nguyen Giap, the Vietnamese general who coordinated the victories against French colonialism and US meddling.
CHECK IT
USA
Guardian: Bush appoints anti-Muslim to peace role
A Middle East expert who has written dismissively of diplomacy and holds views to the right of the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, was yesterday named to the board of the US Institute of Peace.
The largely honorary appointment of Daniel Pipes, a gift of President George Bush, has outraged Democratic senators, American Muslims and Arabs, liberal Jews and a large portion of the academic community, who say his opinions are not conducive to peace.
The manner of Mr Pipe's appointment is likely to deepen the sting. Mr Bush exploited the summer recess to avoid a congressional vote on his selection. But as a recess appointment, Mr Pipes will serve less than 18 months rather than the normal four years.
Guardian: Bush appoints anti-Muslim to peace role
A Middle East expert who has written dismissively of diplomacy and holds views to the right of the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, was yesterday named to the board of the US Institute of Peace.
The largely honorary appointment of Daniel Pipes, a gift of President George Bush, has outraged Democratic senators, American Muslims and Arabs, liberal Jews and a large portion of the academic community, who say his opinions are not conducive to peace.
The manner of Mr Pipe's appointment is likely to deepen the sting. Mr Bush exploited the summer recess to avoid a congressional vote on his selection. But as a recess appointment, Mr Pipes will serve less than 18 months rather than the normal four years.
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