PHOTOS
Some Photos of 1st May 2003 in Zürich.
Saturday, May 10, 2003
Tuesday, May 06, 2003
911
Heise: Ist es Zufall?
Die Nationale Kommission zur Untersuchung der Ereignisse vom 11.9. hat die ersten Anhörungen durchgeführt, die Bush-Regierung blockiert weiter die Aufklärung
Seit der Tragödie vom 11. September sind fast 20 Monate vergangen. Die Fragen, die durch diese Ereignisse entstehen, müssen in den USA erst noch durch eine öffentliche Untersuchung geklärt werden. Der Widerstand der Bush-Administration gegenüber der notwendigen öffentlichen Untersuchung hatte ein bedeutendes Hindernis dargestellt. Das ist desto mehr eine Anklage der Bush-Regierung, da sie das Mantra des 11. Septembers verwendet hatte, um einen Krieg gegen Dissidenten und Bürgerrechte im Land und gegen die Zivilbevölkerungen und Regierungen im Ausland zu führen.
Newsweek web exclusive: The Secrets of September 11
The White House is battling to keep a report on the terror attacks secret. Does the 2004 election have anything to do with it?
Even as White House political aides plot a 2004 campaign plan designed to capitalize on the emotions and issues raised by the September 11 terror attacks, administration officials are waging a behind-the-scenes battle to restrict public disclosure of key events relating to the attacks.
Heise: Ist es Zufall?
Die Nationale Kommission zur Untersuchung der Ereignisse vom 11.9. hat die ersten Anhörungen durchgeführt, die Bush-Regierung blockiert weiter die Aufklärung
Seit der Tragödie vom 11. September sind fast 20 Monate vergangen. Die Fragen, die durch diese Ereignisse entstehen, müssen in den USA erst noch durch eine öffentliche Untersuchung geklärt werden. Der Widerstand der Bush-Administration gegenüber der notwendigen öffentlichen Untersuchung hatte ein bedeutendes Hindernis dargestellt. Das ist desto mehr eine Anklage der Bush-Regierung, da sie das Mantra des 11. Septembers verwendet hatte, um einen Krieg gegen Dissidenten und Bürgerrechte im Land und gegen die Zivilbevölkerungen und Regierungen im Ausland zu führen.
Newsweek web exclusive: The Secrets of September 11
The White House is battling to keep a report on the terror attacks secret. Does the 2004 election have anything to do with it?
Even as White House political aides plot a 2004 campaign plan designed to capitalize on the emotions and issues raised by the September 11 terror attacks, administration officials are waging a behind-the-scenes battle to restrict public disclosure of key events relating to the attacks.
Monday, May 05, 2003
SARS BIOWEAPON
AFP: Rumours Abound Of SARS Link To BioWeapons
BEIJING (AFP) -- The mounting death toll exacted by Sars in China has triggered speculation that the virus could ultimately be traced back to a leak from military bio-weapon programmes.
Although most reports favour a natural origin for Sars, a bio-weapon link should not be ruled out, according to Mr Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based think-tank.
'While there is no reported evidence that Sars is indeed a weapon, there are plenty of ways that a real weapon with the properties of Sars could prove decisive in a military conflict,' he said.
Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, in an opinion piece published in the International Herald Tribune this week, cited rumours circulating in China such as the idea 'that Sars emanated from China's biological weapons research facilities'.
Many analysts consider a link between Sars and bio-weapons far-fetched
AFP: Rumours Abound Of SARS Link To BioWeapons
BEIJING (AFP) -- The mounting death toll exacted by Sars in China has triggered speculation that the virus could ultimately be traced back to a leak from military bio-weapon programmes.
Although most reports favour a natural origin for Sars, a bio-weapon link should not be ruled out, according to Mr Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based think-tank.
'While there is no reported evidence that Sars is indeed a weapon, there are plenty of ways that a real weapon with the properties of Sars could prove decisive in a military conflict,' he said.
Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, in an opinion piece published in the International Herald Tribune this week, cited rumours circulating in China such as the idea 'that Sars emanated from China's biological weapons research facilities'.
Many analysts consider a link between Sars and bio-weapons far-fetched
SWITZERLAND
AFP: War crimes charges filed in Switzerland against Bush, Blair
BERN (AFP) - A private group called "Solidarity with Victims of the War Against Iraq" has filed war crimes charges in Switzerland against US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites), the public prosecutor's office said Thursday.
In a submission, the Geneva-based group said it represented Iraqi nationals whose family members had been victims of acts of war during the invasion carried out by US and British troops.
AFP: War crimes charges filed in Switzerland against Bush, Blair
BERN (AFP) - A private group called "Solidarity with Victims of the War Against Iraq" has filed war crimes charges in Switzerland against US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites), the public prosecutor's office said Thursday.
In a submission, the Geneva-based group said it represented Iraqi nationals whose family members had been victims of acts of war during the invasion carried out by US and British troops.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Arabicnews: 17 Palestinians killed in Israeli massacre, demolishing, damaging 93 houses
The Israeli occupation forces yesterday committed brutal acts which claimed the lives of 17 Palestinians including three brothers from Abu Hein family and two children, while more than 40 others were wounded when scores of Israeli tanks incurred yesterday at dawn at al-Shuje'eya quarters in Gaza under the cover of the Israeli military helicopters opening fire intensively at the homes of Palestinians.
Two other Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces in another incursion operation in Yata town, Hebron, in the West Bank and four were wounded, thereby making the number of Palestinians killed yesterday at 17.
Arabicnews: 17 Palestinians killed in Israeli massacre, demolishing, damaging 93 houses
The Israeli occupation forces yesterday committed brutal acts which claimed the lives of 17 Palestinians including three brothers from Abu Hein family and two children, while more than 40 others were wounded when scores of Israeli tanks incurred yesterday at dawn at al-Shuje'eya quarters in Gaza under the cover of the Israeli military helicopters opening fire intensively at the homes of Palestinians.
Two other Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces in another incursion operation in Yata town, Hebron, in the West Bank and four were wounded, thereby making the number of Palestinians killed yesterday at 17.
IRAQ
Omaha: U.N. blamed for causing Iraq's gas shortages
Iraq - Jay Garner, the former lieutenant general who has been in Iraq for nearly a month with a mandate to get the country running again, on Sunday blamed U.N. sanctions for the gasoline shortages that have prompted Iraqi anger at the American occupation forces here.
Waving his arm to indicate the long lines of cars waiting at a gas station in central Baghdad, Garner said the economic sanctions still in force on Iraq had stalled deliveries of oil for its domestic needs.
"Put in there that the U.N. really needs to lift the sanctions so we don't have all of this," he said.
"Was er nicht gesagt hat ist das die USA das Irakische Öl nicht verkaufen können solange das "Oil-for-Food" Programm der UNO in Kraft ist"
Omaha: U.N. blamed for causing Iraq's gas shortages
Iraq - Jay Garner, the former lieutenant general who has been in Iraq for nearly a month with a mandate to get the country running again, on Sunday blamed U.N. sanctions for the gasoline shortages that have prompted Iraqi anger at the American occupation forces here.
Waving his arm to indicate the long lines of cars waiting at a gas station in central Baghdad, Garner said the economic sanctions still in force on Iraq had stalled deliveries of oil for its domestic needs.
"Put in there that the U.N. really needs to lift the sanctions so we don't have all of this," he said.
"Was er nicht gesagt hat ist das die USA das Irakische Öl nicht verkaufen können solange das "Oil-for-Food" Programm der UNO in Kraft ist"
FINANCE
Guardian: Arise, investors, says Buffett
US investment guru calls for shareholder revolt against boardroom greed
Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, has urged shareholders to rise up against greedy executives, in a searing weekend attack on rising pay and the
business practices that grew out of the dotcom boom.
Mr Buffett was particularly critical of the trend to report Ebitda - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation - which became popular in the 90s and remain so today. His long-time business partner at investment fund Berkshire Hathaway, Charlie Munger, summed up their attitude: "Wherever you read Ebitda, you should substitute it with 'bullshit earnings'. "
At the annual shareholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, in Omaha, Mr Buffett also delivered a brutal assessment of the $726bn tax cuts proposed by President Bush, which, he said "screamed of injustice" to the poor.
Guardian: Arise, investors, says Buffett
US investment guru calls for shareholder revolt against boardroom greed
Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, has urged shareholders to rise up against greedy executives, in a searing weekend attack on rising pay and the
business practices that grew out of the dotcom boom.
Mr Buffett was particularly critical of the trend to report Ebitda - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation - which became popular in the 90s and remain so today. His long-time business partner at investment fund Berkshire Hathaway, Charlie Munger, summed up their attitude: "Wherever you read Ebitda, you should substitute it with 'bullshit earnings'. "
At the annual shareholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, in Omaha, Mr Buffett also delivered a brutal assessment of the $726bn tax cuts proposed by President Bush, which, he said "screamed of injustice" to the poor.
IRAQ: HALLIBURTON
MSNBC: Halliburton cash registers ring in Iraq
WASHINGTON, May 2 — Halliburton Energy Services, the giant government contractor formerly headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, is overseeing no-bid Army projects worth nearly a half-billion dollars that involve almost every aspect of U.S. operations in Iraq, NBC News has learned. The projects extend well beyond a previously reported Pentagon contract the company won to put out oil-well fires in Iraq two months ago.
MSNBC: Halliburton cash registers ring in Iraq
WASHINGTON, May 2 — Halliburton Energy Services, the giant government contractor formerly headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, is overseeing no-bid Army projects worth nearly a half-billion dollars that involve almost every aspect of U.S. operations in Iraq, NBC News has learned. The projects extend well beyond a previously reported Pentagon contract the company won to put out oil-well fires in Iraq two months ago.
AFGHANISTAN
Times of India: Senior Taliban leader resurfaces, vows jihad
SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan: One of the most senior leaders of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime vowed on Sunday to continue a jihad, or holy war, against the United States and its Afghan allies.
Mullah Mohammad Hasan Rehmani, former governor of the province of Kandahar and a close associate of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, was speaking to Reuters by satellite telephone from an undisclosed location in his first interview since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001.
"The Taliban will continue their jihad and struggle for peace, implementation of Islamic sharia law, and against America and its agents", Rehmani said. "The jihad will continue because American troops are occupying Afghanistan".
Afghan officials say the Taliban appears to be regrouping this year and blame the hardline militia for a series of attacks on American and Afghan government troops in recent months
Times of India: Senior Taliban leader resurfaces, vows jihad
SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan: One of the most senior leaders of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime vowed on Sunday to continue a jihad, or holy war, against the United States and its Afghan allies.
Mullah Mohammad Hasan Rehmani, former governor of the province of Kandahar and a close associate of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, was speaking to Reuters by satellite telephone from an undisclosed location in his first interview since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001.
"The Taliban will continue their jihad and struggle for peace, implementation of Islamic sharia law, and against America and its agents", Rehmani said. "The jihad will continue because American troops are occupying Afghanistan".
Afghan officials say the Taliban appears to be regrouping this year and blame the hardline militia for a series of attacks on American and Afghan government troops in recent months
USA
Guardian: Firm in Florida election fiasco earns millions from files on foreigners
A data-gathering company that was embroiled in the Florida 2000 election fiasco is being paid millions of dollars by the Bush administration to collect detailed personal information on the populations of foreign countries, enraging several governments who say the records may have been illegally obtained.
US government purchasing documents show that the company, ChoicePoint, received at least $11m (£6.86m) from the department of justice last year to supply data - mainly on Latin Americans - that included names and addresses, occupations, dates of birth, passport numbers and "physical description". Even tax records and blood groups are reportedly included.
Nicaraguan police have raided two offices suspected of providing the information. The revelations threaten to shatter public trust in electoral institutions, especially in Mexico, where the government has begun an investigation.
Guardian: Firm in Florida election fiasco earns millions from files on foreigners
A data-gathering company that was embroiled in the Florida 2000 election fiasco is being paid millions of dollars by the Bush administration to collect detailed personal information on the populations of foreign countries, enraging several governments who say the records may have been illegally obtained.
US government purchasing documents show that the company, ChoicePoint, received at least $11m (£6.86m) from the department of justice last year to supply data - mainly on Latin Americans - that included names and addresses, occupations, dates of birth, passport numbers and "physical description". Even tax records and blood groups are reportedly included.
Nicaraguan police have raided two offices suspected of providing the information. The revelations threaten to shatter public trust in electoral institutions, especially in Mexico, where the government has begun an investigation.
IRAQ
Sunday Herald: US: 'Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction'
The Bush administration has admitted that Saddam Hussein probably had no weapons of mass destruction.
Senior officials in the Bush administration have admitted that they would be 'amazed' if weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were found in Iraq.
According to administration sources, Saddam shut down and destroyed large parts of his WMD programmes before the invasion of Iraq.
Ironically, the claims came as US President George Bush yesterday repeatedly justified the war as necessary to remove Iraq's chemical and biological arms which posed a direct threat to America.
Bush claimed: 'Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. We will find them.'
This represents a clearly dramatic shift in the definition of the Bush doctrine's central tenet -- the pre-emptive strike. Previously, according to Washington, a pre-emptive war could be waged against a hostile country with WMDs in order to protect American security.
Now, however, according to the US official, pre-emptive action is justified against a nation which simply has the ability to develop unconventional weapons.
Sunday Herald: US: 'Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction'
The Bush administration has admitted that Saddam Hussein probably had no weapons of mass destruction.
Senior officials in the Bush administration have admitted that they would be 'amazed' if weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were found in Iraq.
According to administration sources, Saddam shut down and destroyed large parts of his WMD programmes before the invasion of Iraq.
Ironically, the claims came as US President George Bush yesterday repeatedly justified the war as necessary to remove Iraq's chemical and biological arms which posed a direct threat to America.
Bush claimed: 'Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. We will find them.'
This represents a clearly dramatic shift in the definition of the Bush doctrine's central tenet -- the pre-emptive strike. Previously, according to Washington, a pre-emptive war could be waged against a hostile country with WMDs in order to protect American security.
Now, however, according to the US official, pre-emptive action is justified against a nation which simply has the ability to develop unconventional weapons.
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
EURO - DOLLAR WAR
Heise: Der Euro als Wunderwaffe
Ein Umstieg vom Petro-Dollar zum Petro-Euro könnte die Weltordnung verändern
Die militärische und wirtschaftliche Hegemonie steht seit dem neuen Irak-Krieg außer Zweifel. Vor diesem Krieg gab es noch eine vage Hoffnung, die von vielen im Rest der Welt inzwischen als Schurken-Supermacht gesehenen USA mit den Mitteln der Diplomatie zumindest einzudämmen. Doch seither haben die Vordenker der Bush-Regierung entdeckt, dass sie einen Krieg auch ohne Deckung der Vereinten Nationen führen können und ihre eigene Wählerschaft dennoch bei guter Laune bleibt.
Heise: Der Euro als Wunderwaffe
Ein Umstieg vom Petro-Dollar zum Petro-Euro könnte die Weltordnung verändern
Die militärische und wirtschaftliche Hegemonie steht seit dem neuen Irak-Krieg außer Zweifel. Vor diesem Krieg gab es noch eine vage Hoffnung, die von vielen im Rest der Welt inzwischen als Schurken-Supermacht gesehenen USA mit den Mitteln der Diplomatie zumindest einzudämmen. Doch seither haben die Vordenker der Bush-Regierung entdeckt, dass sie einen Krieg auch ohne Deckung der Vereinten Nationen führen können und ihre eigene Wählerschaft dennoch bei guter Laune bleibt.
USA
Heise: Die Fürsten des IV.Weltkriegs
US-Think Tanks und das Netzwerk der Neokonservativen, Teil 1
"Die meisten Stiftungen", sprach Roger Hertog, der reiche, konservative Mäzen und neue Miteigner des politischen Magazins The New Republic vor einer Handvoll ranghoher Repräsentanten amerikanischer Think Tanks, "geben ihr Geld für Backsteine und Mörtel aus. Für Museen, Hospitäler, Konzerthallen und Universitäten". Das sei alles sehr fein und gut , aber die anwesenden Vertreter von der Heritage Foundation, dem Cato Institute, dem Manhattan Institute und dem American Enterprise Institute hätten etwas sehr viel weiter Reichendes vollbracht: Sie hätten es geschafft, den Kurs der amerikanischen Politik radikal zu verändern. Und: Alle zusammen würden "nur" 70 Millionen Dollar im Jahr kosten. "Man erreicht eine ziemliche Hebelwirkung für seine Dollars", versicherte Hertog der erlesenen Runde; die Herren von den Ideen-Instituten lächelten zustimmend
CHECK IT
Heise: Die Fürsten des IV.Weltkriegs
US-Think Tanks und das Netzwerk der Neokonservativen, Teil 1
"Die meisten Stiftungen", sprach Roger Hertog, der reiche, konservative Mäzen und neue Miteigner des politischen Magazins The New Republic vor einer Handvoll ranghoher Repräsentanten amerikanischer Think Tanks, "geben ihr Geld für Backsteine und Mörtel aus. Für Museen, Hospitäler, Konzerthallen und Universitäten". Das sei alles sehr fein und gut , aber die anwesenden Vertreter von der Heritage Foundation, dem Cato Institute, dem Manhattan Institute und dem American Enterprise Institute hätten etwas sehr viel weiter Reichendes vollbracht: Sie hätten es geschafft, den Kurs der amerikanischen Politik radikal zu verändern. Und: Alle zusammen würden "nur" 70 Millionen Dollar im Jahr kosten. "Man erreicht eine ziemliche Hebelwirkung für seine Dollars", versicherte Hertog der erlesenen Runde; die Herren von den Ideen-Instituten lächelten zustimmend
CHECK IT
GUANTANAMO WATCH
Heise: Die Kinder von Guantanamo
Auch Kinder unter 16 Jahren werden als "feindliche Kämpfer" vom Pentagon auf dem kubanischen Stützpunkt festgehalten, aber den "sehr, sehr gefährlichen Menschen" ginge es bestens
Letzte Woche erst wurde bekannt, dass das Pentagon im Gefängnislager Guantanamo auf Kuba auch Kinder unter 16 Jahren eingesperrt hat. Am 23. April räumte Oberstleutnant Barry Johnson ein, dass Kinder als "aktive Kämpfer gegen die US-Streitkräfte" festgenommen und nach Guantanamo gebracht wurden, um sie dort zu vernehmen. Insgesamt befinden sich noch über 660 "feindliche Kämpfer" in rechtlosem Zustand in dem amerikanischen Gefangenenlager. Auch der Status von Kriegsgefangenen wird ihnen verweigert, um sie im Prinzip unbegrenzt in den Zellen halten zu können.
Auf einer Pressekonferenz letzte Woche erklärte Stabschef Richard Myers dazu:
Die Kinder seien "trotz ihres Alters sehr, sehr gefährliche Menschen. Das sind Menschen, die hauptsächlich in Afghanistan festgenommen und einen sorgfältigen Verfahren unterzogen worden sind, um zu bestimmen, in welcher Art sie beteiligt sind. Einige wurden getötet. Einige haben gesagt, sie würden wieder töten. Sie können also Jugendliche sein, aber sie sind kein Schülerteam, sondern sie spielen in einem Erwachsenenteam, das ein Terroristenteam ist. Und sie sind in Guantanamo aus guten Grund - für unsere Sicherheit, für Ihre Sicherheit."
Heise: Die Kinder von Guantanamo
Auch Kinder unter 16 Jahren werden als "feindliche Kämpfer" vom Pentagon auf dem kubanischen Stützpunkt festgehalten, aber den "sehr, sehr gefährlichen Menschen" ginge es bestens
Letzte Woche erst wurde bekannt, dass das Pentagon im Gefängnislager Guantanamo auf Kuba auch Kinder unter 16 Jahren eingesperrt hat. Am 23. April räumte Oberstleutnant Barry Johnson ein, dass Kinder als "aktive Kämpfer gegen die US-Streitkräfte" festgenommen und nach Guantanamo gebracht wurden, um sie dort zu vernehmen. Insgesamt befinden sich noch über 660 "feindliche Kämpfer" in rechtlosem Zustand in dem amerikanischen Gefangenenlager. Auch der Status von Kriegsgefangenen wird ihnen verweigert, um sie im Prinzip unbegrenzt in den Zellen halten zu können.
Auf einer Pressekonferenz letzte Woche erklärte Stabschef Richard Myers dazu:
Die Kinder seien "trotz ihres Alters sehr, sehr gefährliche Menschen. Das sind Menschen, die hauptsächlich in Afghanistan festgenommen und einen sorgfältigen Verfahren unterzogen worden sind, um zu bestimmen, in welcher Art sie beteiligt sind. Einige wurden getötet. Einige haben gesagt, sie würden wieder töten. Sie können also Jugendliche sein, aber sie sind kein Schülerteam, sondern sie spielen in einem Erwachsenenteam, das ein Terroristenteam ist. Und sie sind in Guantanamo aus guten Grund - für unsere Sicherheit, für Ihre Sicherheit."
IRAQ
Heise: Wenn es den eigenen Interessen dient
Das Pentagon hat ein Abkommen mit einer iranischen Widerstandsorganisation im Irak geschlossen, die bislang als Terrororganisation galt
Der Feind des Feindes wird zum Freund. Dieser Devise sind die USA schon oft gefolgt. Man hätte annehmen sollen, dass nach den Erfahrungen mit den Taliban und Bin Ladin sowie mit Saddam Hussein langsam ein strategisches Umdenken erfolgen könnte. Jetzt aber hat die US-Regierung mit dem bewaffneten Arm der iranischen Volksmudschaheddin, die sich im Irak aufhalten und von dort aus die iranische Regierung bekämpfen, einen Waffenstillstand angeboten, nachdem die Organisation zuvor noch als Terrorgruppe galt.
Heise: Wenn es den eigenen Interessen dient
Das Pentagon hat ein Abkommen mit einer iranischen Widerstandsorganisation im Irak geschlossen, die bislang als Terrororganisation galt
Der Feind des Feindes wird zum Freund. Dieser Devise sind die USA schon oft gefolgt. Man hätte annehmen sollen, dass nach den Erfahrungen mit den Taliban und Bin Ladin sowie mit Saddam Hussein langsam ein strategisches Umdenken erfolgen könnte. Jetzt aber hat die US-Regierung mit dem bewaffneten Arm der iranischen Volksmudschaheddin, die sich im Irak aufhalten und von dort aus die iranische Regierung bekämpfen, einen Waffenstillstand angeboten, nachdem die Organisation zuvor noch als Terrorgruppe galt.
WORLD
Harpers: Weekly Review
United States officials met in China with their North Korean counterparts and warned them that talks would cease if they did not stop issuing "bellicose" statements. The North Koreans admitted they already have nuclear weapons and may test, export, or use them depending on U.S. actions; Donald Rumsfeld thought this might present an opportunity for another "regime change." The U.S. warned Iran not to meddle in Iraq's political affairs and accused the country of sending agents into the south to promote an Iranian model of government; to counter the damage, troops and intelligence officers were asking Iraqi clerics to please issue fatwas in support of the American administration of the country. The U.S. warned Iraqis not to exploit their country's power vacuum by appointing themselves to political positions, and American soldiers arrested the former exile who announced that he was the mayor of Baghdad. Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein's foreign minister, negotiated a surrender to Diane Sawyer of ABC News but changed his mind and turned himself in to military officials, who were also holding the former liaison to U.N. weapons inspectors and a quarter of the 55 "most wanted" Iraqi fugitives...............
Harpers: Weekly Review
United States officials met in China with their North Korean counterparts and warned them that talks would cease if they did not stop issuing "bellicose" statements. The North Koreans admitted they already have nuclear weapons and may test, export, or use them depending on U.S. actions; Donald Rumsfeld thought this might present an opportunity for another "regime change." The U.S. warned Iran not to meddle in Iraq's political affairs and accused the country of sending agents into the south to promote an Iranian model of government; to counter the damage, troops and intelligence officers were asking Iraqi clerics to please issue fatwas in support of the American administration of the country. The U.S. warned Iraqis not to exploit their country's power vacuum by appointing themselves to political positions, and American soldiers arrested the former exile who announced that he was the mayor of Baghdad. Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein's foreign minister, negotiated a surrender to Diane Sawyer of ABC News but changed his mind and turned himself in to military officials, who were also holding the former liaison to U.N. weapons inspectors and a quarter of the 55 "most wanted" Iraqi fugitives...............
CAPITALISM
Corpwatch.org/SF Chronicle: USA: Bush Top Gun vs. S.F. Activist
Solicitor General Asks High Court to Toss Anti-Nike Suit
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's top Supreme Court lawyer urged the high court Wednesday to toss out a San Francisco consumer activist's suit against Nike Inc. because it could discourage corporations from defending themselves in public against their critics.
Solicitor General Theodore Olson argued Wednesday that the court must quash the lawsuit or citizens seeking to "advance their own agendas" would repeatedly haul corporations into court to challenge their views.
"Anyone with a whim, a grievance and a filing fee can become a government- licensed censor," Olson told the justices.
Marc Kasky sued Nike in 1998 under the state's false advertising laws, accusing the world's largest shoemaker of making false and misleading public statements about its treatment of hundreds of thousands of workers at Asian factories that produce shoes and sportswear with the company's "swoosh" logo.
"Würde Bush auch seinen Staatsanwalt lossenden wenn Nike nicht so viel Geld an seinen Wahlkampf gespendet hätte? that's Democracy"
Corpwatch.org/SF Chronicle: USA: Bush Top Gun vs. S.F. Activist
Solicitor General Asks High Court to Toss Anti-Nike Suit
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's top Supreme Court lawyer urged the high court Wednesday to toss out a San Francisco consumer activist's suit against Nike Inc. because it could discourage corporations from defending themselves in public against their critics.
Solicitor General Theodore Olson argued Wednesday that the court must quash the lawsuit or citizens seeking to "advance their own agendas" would repeatedly haul corporations into court to challenge their views.
"Anyone with a whim, a grievance and a filing fee can become a government- licensed censor," Olson told the justices.
Marc Kasky sued Nike in 1998 under the state's false advertising laws, accusing the world's largest shoemaker of making false and misleading public statements about its treatment of hundreds of thousands of workers at Asian factories that produce shoes and sportswear with the company's "swoosh" logo.
"Würde Bush auch seinen Staatsanwalt lossenden wenn Nike nicht so viel Geld an seinen Wahlkampf gespendet hätte? that's Democracy"
IRAQ
Counterpunch: Get the US Out of Iraq And Its Military Out of Our Mind by Ron Jakobs
So, the US is occupying Iraq. What does that mean? Does it mean that US
marines are shooting into crowds of Iraqis protesting the US presence
and killing some members of the crowd? Does it mean the reappearance of
death by cholera and typhoid in the city of Baghdad because the hospitals in
that city have been bombed, looted and burned and these hospitals don't have
the medicines to combat these diseases and others related to the
destruction wrought by years of US sanctions and days of bombing? Does it mean the
theft of priceless antiquities by organized gangs of criminals while US
marines stood guard at Iraq's oil ministry building? Does it mean the
death by cluster bombs and depleted uranium shell casings of more Iraqi
civilians? Does it mean the denial of entry into Iraq of UN weapons
inspection teams by the United States? Does it mean the construction of
US military bases on Iraqi soil? Bases constructed for the purpose of
maintaining US control of the country and to enable an easy attack on
any other nations or popular movements in the region who refuse to go along
with the US desire for global domination beginning in the Middle East?
Does it mean that anyone challenging the Americans and their plans is
subject to arrest by the US military? Does it mean incredible profiteering off the
Iraqi people's misery by corporations whose connections to the regime
in Washington DC are more than just coincidental? I wish I could
truthfully answer no to all these questions, but I can't. Unfortunately, the
answer to every single one of them is yes.
Counterpunch: Get the US Out of Iraq And Its Military Out of Our Mind by Ron Jakobs
So, the US is occupying Iraq. What does that mean? Does it mean that US
marines are shooting into crowds of Iraqis protesting the US presence
and killing some members of the crowd? Does it mean the reappearance of
death by cholera and typhoid in the city of Baghdad because the hospitals in
that city have been bombed, looted and burned and these hospitals don't have
the medicines to combat these diseases and others related to the
destruction wrought by years of US sanctions and days of bombing? Does it mean the
theft of priceless antiquities by organized gangs of criminals while US
marines stood guard at Iraq's oil ministry building? Does it mean the
death by cluster bombs and depleted uranium shell casings of more Iraqi
civilians? Does it mean the denial of entry into Iraq of UN weapons
inspection teams by the United States? Does it mean the construction of
US military bases on Iraqi soil? Bases constructed for the purpose of
maintaining US control of the country and to enable an easy attack on
any other nations or popular movements in the region who refuse to go along
with the US desire for global domination beginning in the Middle East?
Does it mean that anyone challenging the Americans and their plans is
subject to arrest by the US military? Does it mean incredible profiteering off the
Iraqi people's misery by corporations whose connections to the regime
in Washington DC are more than just coincidental? I wish I could
truthfully answer no to all these questions, but I can't. Unfortunately, the
answer to every single one of them is yes.
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