.community
.commons
.comparison
.combat
.comprehend
.compatriots
.commerce
.company


1_9169

 


 

Bush's War

Survey Estimates 100,000 Iraqi Deaths Attributable to the Occupation
28-Oct-04
Bush's War

The British medical journal The Lancet reports that researchers who conducted a survey of Iraqi households have concluded 100,000 (that's ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND) more people died in Iraq than would have died had the U.S. not invaded and occupied the country. Violence accounted for most of the extra deaths, and airstrikes from coalition forces caused most of those deaths. In other news (http://www.gnn.tv/articles/article.php?id=761), the ghostwriter for George W. Bush's "autobiography" A CHARGE TO KEEP has revealed that Bush was talking about invading Iraq as far back as 1999. Remember that on November 2, and don't let anyone deter you from voting.

Bush Invaded Iraq with NO Plan for the Occupation
16-Oct-04
Bush's War

We've known it all along, and now the Detroit Free Press provides the proof. Bush invaded Iraq without even the beginnings of a plan to win the peace. The civilian officials at the Pentagon ignored the advice and warnings of the military leaders, and launched an invasion with inadequate -- well, with inadequate everything. We know the result: more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers dead, coalition soldiers dead, tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, hostages dead.

Seymour Hersh's Alternative History of Bush's War
22-Sep-04
Bush's War

Mary Jacoby writes for Salon.com: "In a new book, 'Chain of Command: The Road From 9/11 to Abu Ghraib,' Hersh expands upon his work in the New Yorker to contribute new insights and revelations. He discloses how a CIA analyst's report on abuses against captured Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, made its way to the White House in 2002, putting National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice on notice two years before the Abu Ghraib scandal that human rights violations were taking place in U.S.-run prisons abroad. In March 2002, Hersh writes, a military action against al-Qaida, known as Operation Anaconda, was botched in Afghanistan's mountainous border with Pakistan. Billed at the time as a success story by the Pentagon, it was in fact a debacle, plagued by squabbling between the services, bad military planning and avoidable deaths of American soldiers, as well as the escape of key al-Qaida leaders, likely including Osama bin Laden."

Guess What: It Was About the Oil
21-Sep-04
Bush's War

Among the documents Dick Cheney's Energy Task Force finally released under court order is a map of Iraq. It doesn't show the detail normally shown on maps - cities, political boundaries, features like rivers and mountains. It shows Iraq's oil fields. Another task force document is a chart titled "Foreign Suitors for Iraqi Oilfields." It lists 63 oil companies and specifies which Iraqi oilfields each company wants. No wonder Tricky Dicky fought so hard to keep these documents secret. Is anybody surprised?

Bush's War is Not only Illegal Under International Law - It is Inherently Criminal
21-Sep-04
Bush's War

This week, G.W. Bush scoffed at UN Secretary Kofi Annan's declaration that the war against Iraq, founded on false evidence and prosecuted without provocation, was illegal. But Kofi Annan was not stating his own opinion - he was merely reasserting the prevailing opinion that has been the guiding rule of global law pertaining to war since World War II. In fact, it was an American chief justice who perhaps framed it the most eloquently and powerfully

Bush has the Blood of Maj. Kevin Shea and 1,027 other Soldiers on his Hands
21-Sep-04
Bush's War

Kevin Shay writes: "If it was up to George W. Bush..and other administration chickenhawks who used various schemes and excuses to avoid military combat when they were younger, only to now send other people's sons and daughters to die in similar situations, most Americans would never know Major Kevin Shea existed. His body would be quietly slipped into this country, as so many have been before, and be quickly buried in Arlington National Cemetery. There is a political reason why Bush has never attended a funeral service for one of the 1,027 U.S. troops killed in Iraq...There is a beyond-callous reason why Bush to this day refuses to allow the flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to be photographed by news media: Bush doesn't want to call attention to those American lives his shallow, selfish, short-sighted foreign policy sacrificed...Bush wants to hold onto power by any means necessary."

Bush's Version of Freedom: A Contagious, Disabling, and Possibly Terminal Disease to be Spread Like a Virus
18-Sep-04
Bush's War

Yahoo: "Bush said he will make new proposals to spread "freedom" when he addresses the United Nations this week. I will make some additional proposals to expand prosperity [yeah, like the 'prosperity those malnourished Afghans and Iraqis without power or clean water or sanitation are enjoying] and accelerate the march of freedom [in the form of helicopter gunships firing on unarmed crowds] in our world," he said Saturday in his weekly radio address, recorded at the Bush family [hideout] in Maine. "Never in the history of the United Nations have we faced so many opportunities to create a safer world by building a better world. " Yeah, and never has one man worked heard to trash those same opportunities.

Bush Promises Endless, Poorly Defined 'War on Terrorism'
11-Sep-04
Bush's War

Beneath Bush's slick, exploitive 9/11 speech is a terrifying promise of neverending, every-expanding, NEVER DEFINED, war. Billions of more dollars. Thousands of more deaths of civilians and soldiers combined - with no end in sight as hatred of Bush grows globally. "The United States is determined to stay on the offensive and to pursue the terrorists wherever they train or sleep or attempt to set down roots...We have conducted this campaign from the mountains of Afghanistan, to the heart of the Middle East, to the Horn of Africa, to the islands of the Philippines, to hidden cells within our own country...." Nowhere in his grandiose speech does Bush ever define just what "terrorism" is - it seems to vary according to the attractiveness of a nation's resources (thus Iraq is being hammered while No. Korea is continually placated).

More Casualties from Bush's War? Soldiers die in apparent murder-suicide
25-Jul-04
Bush's War

AP Reports: "Two Fort Hood soldiers, husband and wife, were found dead in what appeared to be a murder-suicide, authorities said Saturday. Authorities found Sgt. Erin E. Edwards' body on the front porch of her home early Thursday. She had been shot in the head, Capt. Jackie Dunn said. The body of Edwards' estranged husband, Sgt. William M. Edwards, was discovered in a parking lot across the street. Police said he suffered what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound. The soldiers, both 24, had served with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq before returning to Fort Hood in recent months. The couple's two young children were not home at the time of the shootings, and were believed to be with their mother's family in Pennsylvania, officials said." Psychological harm to troops - even suicide and homicide - is part of the cost of war. That's one reason Bush/Cheney should NEVER have rushed into this unnecessary war as a FIRST resort.

Kofi Annan Smacks Bush on Terrorism and Women
22-Jul-04
Bush's War

"The world is no safer than it was three years ago, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday, countering Bush 's claims he had made the world a safer place. Annan, at a news conference, also criticized a Bush administration decision to withhold $34 million from the U.N. Population Fund, saying the agency was saving women's lives... 'No, I cannot say the world is safer today than it was two, three years ago,' the U.N. leader said... Bush, who has launched two wars since moving into the White House in January 2001, repeatedly asserts in campaign swings ahead of the Nov. 2 presidential election that his policies are making the world safer. 'America is a safer place. Four more years and America will be safer and the world will be more peaceful,' he said on Tuesday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 'The world is a safer and better place as a result of (Iraqi leader) Saddam Hussein not being in power,' he told NBC Television in February."

Bush Assembled a 'War-as-Big-Business' Pentagon in Spring 2001 - then Declared 'Permanent War' after 9/11
21-Jul-04
Bush's War

Common Dreams (2001): "Executives from some of the nation's largest defense contractors have been tapped by the Bush administration for Pentagon jobs overseeing defense budget that now gives the lion's share of $94 billion in taxpayer money to their former employers. Those with the inside track for top-level Pentagon posts come from Lockheed-Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop-Grumman, companies that get a combined $27.6 billion a year from the Pentagon. And, these companies get the biggest chunk of the additional $34 billion earmarked for research and development. While the Constitution calls for civilian control of the military, the administration has picked a retired Navy captain to head the Air Force and a former Army general to oversee the Army." In short, Bush was assembling a "war-is-business" Pentagon - and, within six months, had used 9/11 as the pretext to declare "permanent war."

Bush is The Arabian Candidate
20-Jul-04
Bush's War

Paul Krugman imagines an update of "The Manchurian Candidate." "This time the enemies would be Islamic fanatics, who install as their puppet president a demagogue who poses as the nation's defender against terrorist evildoers. The Arabian candidate wouldn't openly help terrorists. Instead, he would serve their cause while pretending to be their enemy." Read the whole terrifying film script - it sounds like reality to us.

While Soldiers Die Needlessly in Iraq, Al Qaeda Plots in Pakistan
13-Jul-04
Bush's War

Bob Herbert writes, "Nearly 900 G.I.'s and more than 10,000 Iraqi civilians have already perished, and there is no end to the war in sight. The situation is both sorrowful and disorienting. The colossal intelligence failures and the willful madness of the administration, which presented war as the first and only policy option, can leave you with the terrible feeling that you're standing at the graveside of common sense and reasonable behavior. A government with even a nodding acquaintance with competence and good sense would have launched an all-out war against Al Qaeda, not Iraq, in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11... You might think that would have been enough to provoke an all-out response from the U.S. Instead we saved our best shot for the demented and already checkmated dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda must have gotten a good laugh out of that. Now they're planning to come at us again. "

Al Qaeda Is Using BushAllawi's Iraq as a Base to Overthrow Saudi Regime
12-Jul-04
Bush's War

Is Iraq the new Afghanistan? The Washington Post reports, "An increasing number of Saudis who crossed the border into Iraq to fight the U.S.-led military occupation are returning home to plot attacks against the Saudi government and Western targets in the desert kingdom, according to Western counterterrorism officials and Saudis with ties to militant groups." Terrorist networks are mining Iraq for new recruits, leading officials to worry this "trend could become an echo of the 1990s, when thousands of Saudis traveled to Afghanistan to enlist in training camps sponsored by al Qaeda and other Islamic groups. Many of those radicals were dispatched around the world to launch attacks, including the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackings in the United States." After the Iraq insurgency is over, "there will be people who are freshly trained in the art of guerrilla warfare," said one Western diplomat. "It's a real concern.

Grieving Mothers May be the Ones Who Bring Bush Down
09-Jul-04
Bush's War

Guardian: "There is a remarkable scene in Fahrenheit 9/11 when Lila Lipscomb talks with an anti-war activist outside the White House about the death of her 26-year-old son, Michael, in Iraq. A pro-war passerby doesn't like what she overhears and announces: "This is all staged!" Ms Lipscomb turns to the woman, her voice shaking with rage, and says: "My son is not a stage. He was killed in Karbala, April 2. It is not a stage. My son is dead." Then she walks away and cries: "I need my son." Watching Ms Lipscomb doubled over in pain on the White House lawn, I was reminded of other mothers who have taken the loss of their children to the seat of power and changed the fate of wars. Lila Lipscomb is not alone. Other American and British parents whose children have died in Iraq are also coming forward to condemn their governments, and their moral outrage could help to end the military conflict still raging in Iraq. "

Saddam Could Call CIA in His Defence
08-Jul-04
Bush's War

No wonder the Bush regime wants to censor the broadcasts of Saddam Hussein's trial. His defense could create one of the greatest diplomatic disasters the United States has ever known. The U.S. war hawks have for years claimed that "Saddam gassed his own people," and have used this claim to create an emotional appeal to support their invasion of Iraq. But Stephen Pelletiere, the CIA's senior political analyst on Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, says the agency's investigations have concluded that an Iranian, not Iraqi, gas attack killed the Kurds of Halabja. Not one of George W. Bush's justifications for the invasion stands up to scrutiny; when will he be put on trial for violating international law?

UK Reveals that Bush Tried to Start War with Iran in July, 2003
30-Jun-04
Bush's War

Bloomberg: "America's top general in Iraq last July ordered British troops to prepare to attack Iranian forces that had crossed the border into Iraq...Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez told the British to prepare to send thousands of troops to the border region north and east of the southern city of Basra in order to reclaim territory occupied by the Iranians." The incident was revealed at a conference in London last week. "The incident lasted about a week and had fighting broken out, U.K. forces would have faced attacks by Iranians and Iraqi insurgents, the paper said. Iran's Revolutionary Guard has 125,000 soldiers; 25 percent more than the whole British Army. ". The situation was resolved without a shot by Jack Straw. What is scary is that if the Brits had followed Bush's orders, thousands of them may have died in an Operation Northwoods-style slaughter designed obviously as a pretext for war.

A Mother's Grief, Anger, and Patriotism
29-Jun-04
Bush's War

When Nadia McCaffrey's son came home from Iraq in a coffin. Knowing she had a duty to democracy that transcended her grief, she summoned news outlets to photograph the coffin arriving at Sacramento International Airport, to protest a Pentagon policy banning media coverage of America's war dead. Her son, she says, "had grown disillusioned" with his mission in Iraq. She will honor his memory by continuing to speak out against the war. Honor Nadia McCaffrey's sacrifice: vote to redefeat George W. Bush on November 2.

Seymour Hersh Says Bush's War 'Is Worse than you Think'
25-Jun-04
Bush's War

"Hersh 'seems to begin every phone call with the line, 'It's worse than you think.' He is haunted by the as-yet-unpublished photographs of Iraq prison abuses. 'You haven't begun to see evil until you've seen some of these pictures that haven't come out,' he says. Hersh is worried that America doesn't have good intelligence within the Iraqi insurgency. 'We don't know what's going to happen next,' he says. 'We have no endgame.' Whether you agree with him or not, this kind of frankness makes Hersh an anomaly among his tightly buttoned investigative peers. 'The fragility of our government is terrifying,' he tells his U. of C. audience. A handful of neoconservatives took control of the levers of government 'without a peep from the bureaucracy, the Congress, the press,' he says. 'It was so easy... What is it about us that made us so vulnerable to these people?'" Read this fascinating portrait of a remarkable journalist.

'Anonymous' Says Osama Wants To Give Incompetent Bush a Second Term
19-Jun-04
Bush's War

"A senior US intelligence official is about to publish a bitter condemnation of America's counter-terrorism policy, arguing that the west is losing the war against al-Qaida and that an 'avaricious, premeditated, unprovoked' war in Iraq has played into Osama bin Laden's hands. 'Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror,' due out next month, dismisses two of the most frequent boasts of the Bush administration: that Bin Laden and al Qaeda are 'on the run' and that the Iraq invasion has made America safer. In an interview with the Guardian the official, who writes as 'Anonymous', described al Qaeda as a much more proficient and focused organisation than it was in 2001, and predicted that it would 'inevitably' acquire WMD's and try to use them... 'I'm very sure they can't have a better administration for them than the one they have now,' he said. 'One way to keep the Republicans in power is to mount an attack that would rally the country around the president.'"

Timeline of Bush Administration's Recent Interest in Taking the War on Terror to Malaysia/Indonesia
07-Jun-04
Bush's War

March 14, 2004: Huge oil field is discovered off the coast of Malaysia...."potentially the country's most significant in years..." http://www.aseanenergy.org/information/news_service/2004/march/41st_issue/news_09.htm Early May: Straits of Malacca (between Malaysia and Indonesia) accused by US of being hotbeds of piracy. Bush admin proposes sending troops to area. May 7: Malaysian and Indonesian reject US troops in the Straits. http://www.unobserver.com/layout4.php?id=1660&blz=1 June 5: Donald Rumsfeld, at Singapore conference, pushes for "war on terrorism" to be carried into SE Asia. Tells US Naval troops he expects them to be "hunting terrorists" in SE Asia "very soon." http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/88580/1/.html June 7: Malaysian leaders reassert they do not want a US troop presence in the area. http://www.unobserver.com/layout4.php?id=1660&blz=1 To be continued....

Rumsfeld Invokes Hitler Comparison to Browbeat Asian Nations into 'Joining War on Terror'
07-Jun-04
Bush's War

Straits Times: "US Defence Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld called on Asian nations on [June 5] to join the United States in its offensive against international terror groups, warning that terrorists could strike again in the region." For some months, the Bush Admin. has been trying to get the go-ahead from Singapore and Malaysia to deploy troops into the area, and have met with unexpected resistance. "Rumsfeld noted that some governments, which he didn't identify, see less of a threat in terrorism than the Bush administration does, and he compared the split in views to the early days of Hitler's rule in Germany in the 1930s." Translated: You are with us or against us.

Bush Wants to Expand his Global War to the Straits of Malacca - Despite Objections of Malaysia and Indonesia
07-Jun-04
Bush's War

Here's a story being kept well out of the mainstream news headlines. Bush desperately wants to deploy thousands of US troops near Malaysia - an area where some of the last big unexploited oil and gas fields are. As ever, his excuse is "fighting terrorism." Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak stated this week that the presence of US forces will destabilize the region (look at Iraq!) and fuel Islamic fanaticism. Already, the Malaysian government is following Bush's despotic lead and using torture techniques on terrorist "suspects" identical to those used at Abu Ghraib.

Iraq War has Galvanized Al Qaeda, while Weakening Anti-Terrorism Efforts
25-May-04
Bush's War

BBC: "Al-Qaeda … has been galvanised by the war in Iraq, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Osama Bin Laden's network has set its sights firmly on the United States and its closest Western allies, the report says. It would ideally like future operations to make use of weapons of mass destruction. According to conservative intelligence estimates, the group is present in more than 60 countries and has "18,000 potential terrorists at large". The IISS says the war in Iraq has focused the energies and resources of al-Qaeda and its followers, while diluting those of the global counter-terrorism coalition. The report also addresses the broader issue of relations between Islam and the West, saying the Bush administration did not fully appreciate that the 11 September attacks were a "violent reaction to America's pre-eminence". To win hearts and minds, the report says, the appearance of American unilateralism needs to be tempered."

On 60 Minutes, Gen. Zinni Says Neocon Heads Should Roll
23-May-04
Bush's War

"Accusing top Pentagon officials of 'dereliction of duty,' retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni says staying the course in Iraq isn't a reasonable option. 'The course is headed over Niagara Falls. I think it's time to change course a little bit or at least hold somebody responsible for putting you on this course,' he tells Steve Kroft in an interview to be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, May 23, at 7 p.m. ET/PT... Zinni blames the poor planning on the civilian policymakers in the administration, known as neo-conservatives, who saw the invasion as a way to stabilize the region and support Israel. He believes these people, who include Paul Wolfowitz and Douglas Feith, the undersecretary of defense, have hijacked U.S. foreign policy. 'They promoted it and pushed [the war]... even to the point of creating their own intelligence to match their needs. Then they should bear the responsibility,' Zinni tells Kroft."

Soros Asks: What is Wrong with US?
21-May-04
Bush's War

George Soros writes, "I would dearly love to pin all the blame on Bush and his team. But that would be too easy. It would ignore the fact that he was playing to a receptive audience and even today, after all that has happened, a majority of the electorate continues to have confidence in Bush on national security matters. If this continues and Bush gets reelected, we must ask ourselves the question: "What is wrong with us?" The question needs to be asked even if he is defeated because we cannot simply ignore what we have done since September 11. We need to engage in some serious soul-searching. The terrorists seem to have hit upon a weak point in our collective psyche. They have made us fearful... Lashing out indiscriminately, we are creating innocent victims and innocent victims generate the resentment and rage on which terrorism feeds. If there is a Single lesson to be learned from our experience since September 11, it is that you mustn't fight terror by creating new victims."

Thomas Friedman Deserts the Sinking Ship
13-May-04
Bush's War

The scales have fallen from the eyes of Thomas Friedman, long an apologist for American imperialism. He now asks, "Do we have any chance of succeeding at regime change in Iraq without regime change here at home?" He confesses, "I thought the administration would have to do the right things in Iraq -- from prewar planning and putting in enough troops to dismissing the secretary of defense for incompetence -- because surely this was the most important thing for the president and the country. But I was wrong." And he gets it right, finally: "There is something even more important to the Bush crowd than getting Iraq right, and that's getting re-elected and staying loyal to the conservative base to do so. It has always been more important for the Bush folks to defeat liberals at home than Baathists abroad."

BushRice Missed 3 Chances to Kill Al-Zarqawi
13-May-04
Bush's War

On 3/2/04, NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reported: "long before the war the Bush administration had several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself - but never pulled the trigger." In June 2002, "the plan was debated to death in the National Security Council." In Oct. 2002, "the Pentagon drew up a second strike plan, and the White House again killed it." In Jan. 2003, "the Pentagon drew up still another attack plan, and for the third time, the National Security Council killed it. Military officials insist their case for attacking Zarqawi's operation was airtight, but the administration feared destroying the terrorist camp in Iraq could undercut its case for war against Saddam. The United States did attack the camp at Kirma at the beginning of the war, but it was too late - Zarqawi and many of his followers were gone. 'Here's a case where they waited, they waited too long and now we're suffering as a result inside Iraq.' "

Bush's War on Terror: a Crusade to Dehumanize All Who Oppose the US
12-May-04
Bush's War

William Pfaff writes, "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld repeatedly says that those who oppose the United States in Iraq and elsewhere have to be killed. He does not speak in terms of defeating them, much less of negotiating with them, as the British do in southern Iraq. Dehumanizing language has deliberately been employed to describe all those who oppose the United States. The cumulative effect of this has conveyed to American troops that international and national norms of lawful conduct have been suspended or crucially limited in the war against terror. It can be argued that the Bush administration created a state of expectation, mode of conduct, hostility to traditional norms of military behavior, and attitude toward Iraqi, Afghan and other Islamic 'terrorists,' that opened the way to atrocities."

'Bounding the Global War on Terrorism'
16-Apr-04
Bush's War

"The author [Dr. Jeffrey Record] examines three features of the war on terrorism as currently defined and conducted: (1) the administration's postulation of the terrorist threat, (2) the scope and feasibility of U.S. war aims, and (3) the war's political, fiscal, and military sustainability. He believes that the war on terrorism--as opposed to the campaign against al-Qaeda--lacks strategic clarity, embraces unrealistic objectives, and may not be sustainable over the long haul. He calls for downsizing the scope of the war on terrorism to reflect concrete U.S. security interests and the limits of American military power." Linked below is this article published by the US Army's think tank, The Strategic Studies Institute.

Musharraf: Iraq War Undermining Battle against Al-Qaeda
07-Apr-04
Bush's War

After spending millions and risking tens of thousands of American troops' lives, the big 'Spring Offensive" designed allegedly to "get Bin Laden" and round up terrorists has fizzled out at the Pakistani border. The official reason given by the Bush junta is that US forces are not allowed to conduct combat operations inside Pakistan. (See http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4772906) But now Musharaf says its because the war in Iraq has drained off the funding that was supposed to go to fighting and capturing Al Qaeda. HI Pakistan reports: "Musharraf said his government was receiving 'very minimal' assistance as it tried to pacify tribal areas along the Afghan border where leaders of Al-Qaeda and the former Afghan Taliban regime are believed hiding. Asked if the US-led Iraq war has been a distraction from the battle against Al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants by diverting resources from Afghanistan and Pakistan, Musharraf replied: 'Yes indeed.' "

Hey Zell - Go to Hell
31-Mar-04
Bush's War

"U.S. Sen. Zell Miller is questioning the usefulness of a panel investigating the terrorist attacks of 2001, arguing its public quarrels with the Bush administration could 'energize our enemies and demoralize our troops.' Miller, the Senate's lone Democrat to endorse Bush for re-election... [said] 'It's obvious to me that this country is rapidly dividing itself into two camps - the wimps and the warriors,' Miller said. 'The ones who want to argue and assess and appease, and the ones who want to carry this fight to our enemies and kill them before they kill us. And in case you haven't figured it out, I proudly belong to the latter.'" No Zell, the two camps are those who want to destroy Al Qaeda - and those like you who want to promote it by establishing unwanted US bases and puppet regimes throughout the Muslim world.

It's Time for the Media to Demand Straight Answers from Bush
29-Mar-04
Bush's War

Philip J. Trounstine writes, "Given how they have peppered Kerry with questions about name-calling, claims of foreign support, Botox, and other minor 'issues,' isn't it time to bore in on Bush regarding 9/11 and the war in Iraq? Mr. President: Condoleezza Rice (on 'Meet the Press') and Richard Clarke (in his new book) have said that the war in Iraq was part of your response to 9/11. How do you justify going to war against a country that, according to your own intelligence agencies, had nothing to do with the attacks on New York and Washington? Mr. President: Your own former counter-terrorism czar, Richard Clarke, and others say you used the war in Iraq as a political tool to demonstrate that you were responding to international terrorism and the attack on the United States. Is that true? Did you, as Paul O'Neill and Richard Clarke have charged, come into office with the intention of overthrowing Saddam Hussein, whether or not he posed a strategic threat to the United States?"

Bush's Critics Gain Critical Mass
24-Mar-04
Bush's War

"Criticism of Bush's motives and decision-making in attacking Iraq last year may be acquiring critical mass with voters following criticism by former top counterterrorism official Richard Clarke. Political consultants and analysts said Clarke's allegation that Bush ignored the al Qaeda threat before the Sept. 11 attacks and was obsessed by a desire to invade Iraq were especially damaging because they confirmed other previous revelations from policy insiders... Before Clarke, there was former Treasury Sec. Paul O'Neill, who asserted in a book published in January that Bush began laying the groundwork for an attack on Iraq from the moment he took office. Then came the bombshell from former weapons inspector David Kay that the Iraqi WMD's that Bush launched the war to find and destroy probably did not exist... 'This administration has shown a tremendous ability to demonize its opponents. But at some point, people start to ask themselves, could all these people be pathological liars?'"

Powell Slips, 'Crusade' Re-Enters US Lexicon on War
24-Mar-04
Bush's War

Two-and-a- half years after assuaging Muslim anger over US President George W. Bush's use of the word "crusade" to describe anti-terror efforts, Secretary of State Colin Powell slipped and allowed the term to re-enter the lexicon. Powell repeated the word as he described US efforts to bring Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on board to topple Afghanistan's Taliban ..."We gave them 24, 48 hours to consider it and then I called President Musharraf and said: 'We need your answer now. We need you as part of this campaign, this crusade'," Powell recalled in testimony before a commission investigating the attacks

Nixon Contemplated Middle East 'Oil War' But Unlike Bush, Heeded Warning of Intelligence
23-Mar-04
Bush's War

"The British, whose laws require declassifying most papers after 30 years, have released a document that describes communications from Nixon's secretary of defense, James Schlesinger, to the British ambassador, Lord Cromer, and a British intelligence assessment of the situation. Nixon was drawing a bead not on Iraq but on our current allies, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, plus the emirate of Abu Dhabi. If the embargo had lasted too long, he might have sent airborne troops to take over their oil fields. As it happened, the gas lines disappeared, and Nixon evidently thought better of sending troops to the Middle East. It's probably a good thing he did. British intelligence concluded that if the U.S. sent troops into that part of the world, we'd alienate a lot of the neighbors and we'd better count on keeping the troops there for at least 10 years. " So reports Daniel Jack Chasan.

Citizens Tribunal Convicts Bush of War Crimes
16-Mar-04
Bush's War

"A citizens' tribunal in Tokyo convicted George W. Bush of war crimes for attacking civilians during the U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan. The tribunal participants spent two years examining Bush's role in the war, making eight trips to Afghanistan and holding nearly 20 public hearings. The tribunal ruled that 'the war on Afghanistan [is] not in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, customary International Law and the decisions of the International Court of Justice.'"

US Sends Special Forces into North Africa
15-Mar-04
Bush's War

The UK Guardian: "US special forces troops have arrived in several north African countries over recent months amid Pentagon warnings that the region runs the risk of becoming an al-Qaida recruiting ground and a possible back door into Europe... Units of around 200 from the US army's 10th Special Forces Group are already installed, or are due to arrive, in Mauritania, Mali, Chad and Niger to train their armies in anti-terrorism tactics... Unconfirmed reports have already emerged from anonymous Pentagon sources of on-the-ground operations involving the US soldiers. One carried by Voice of America said US troops on the ground in Mali helped track and drive into the arms of the Algerian army a big haul of weapons due to be delivered to a radical Islamist group there."

Obsessed with Hussein, Bush Failed to Get Zarqawi, Despite Several Opportunities
02-Mar-04
Bush's War

"Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant with ties to al-Qaida, is now blamed for more than 700 terrorist killings in Iraq. But NBC News has learned that long before the war the Bush administration had several chances to wipe out his terrorist operation and perhaps kill Zarqawi himself -- but never pulled the trigger. In June 2002, U.S. officials say intelligence had revealed that Zarqawi and members of al-Qaida had set up a weapons lab at Kirma, in northern Iraq, producing deadly ricin and cyanide. The Pentagon quickly drafted plans to attack the camp with cruise missiles and airstrikes and sent it to the White House, where, according to U.S. government sources, the plan was debated to death in the National Security Council." Said Terrorism Expert Roger Cressey, "People were more obsessed with developing the coalition to overthrow Saddam than to execute the president's policy of pre-emption against terrorists." There has never been any evidence of a link between Zarqawi and Hussein.

Bush and Musharraf Use Al Qaeda/Bin Laden Spin to Take the Heat Off their Own Butts
23-Feb-04
Bush's War

Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda have been allegedly at large in Pakistan and/or Afghanistan for over three years now. But SUDDENLY, Bush and Musharraf are making a serious, high-profile push to round the terrorists up? How can Americans be impressed by this "effort" when the same effort could have been made last year INSTEAD of putting all our resources into a trumped-up war against Iraq? This new "anti-terrorist" crusade only proves what we have said all along: Bush doesn't care about justice OR the American people. Everything is merely a poker chip, to be played in his high-stakes game when needed. If it had been done when the WORLD needed it, thousands of lives might have been saved.

Chickenhawks: War Advocates Didn't Fight
07-Feb-04
Bush's War

"Strangely, many conservative Washington 'hawks' who are strong advocates of war contrived to duck combat duty when they were young. The label 'chickenhawk' is applied to such leaders. The New Hampshire Gazette, America's oldest newspaper, and other groups have posted GOP chickenhawk lists on the Internet. Newt Gingrich, Dan Quayle, Trent Lott, Tom DeLay, William Bennett, Elliott Abrams, George Will, Rush Limbaugh, Kenneth Starr, Bob Barr, Ari Fleischer, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Bill O'Reilly, Phil Gramm, Jeb Bush, Steve Forbes, Jerry Falwell -- these and many others are cited for ducking wars... Bush himself managed to avoid Vietnam combat... Although he signed up for a six-year enlistment, he left in 1972 ... Allegations of 'going AWOL' have been raised... everyone should ponder the disturbing pattern of Washington hawks -- leaders eager to send young soldiers into killing fields -- who wriggled out of that dangerous duty themselves."

Nepal & the Bush Administration: Into Thin Air
06-Feb-04
Bush's War

"More than 8,000 Nepalese have died since a civil war broke out in 1996, and the death rate has sharply increased with the arrival of almost 8,400 American M-16 submachine guns, accompanied by U.S. advisers, high-tech night fighting equipment, and British helicopters. For most Americans, Nepal, birthplace of the Buddha and home to Everest, the world's high mountain, is a charming tourist haven. For the native Nepalese, 42% of whom, according to the World Bank, live below the poverty line, Nepal is a land enchained by caste, riven with ethnic rivalries, and dominated by a feudal landlord class... The Bush administration has concluded that the civil war threatens to make Nepal a 'failed state' and a haven for international terrorists, leading it to place the CPNM on the State Department's 'Watch List,' along with organizations like al Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf, and Lebanon's Hezbollah."

Pope's Response to Bush Speech: There Can Be No Peace through Force
22-Jan-04
Bush's War

Dawn reports: "Pope John Paul cautioned world leaders on Wednesday against obtaining peace through the use of military force, a day after the US president defended his decision to invade Iraq. 'The world ardently aspires towards peace, needs peace, today as yesterday, but often searches for it by improper means, sometimes even through recourse to violence. In such conditions, man lives with a heart troubled by fear and uncertainty,' the pontiff said during his weekly general audience at the Vatican. The pope had waged a lengthy diplomatic campaign to avert the invasion of Iraq. He will get an opportunity to restate his steadfast opposition to the conflict in talks with US Vice President Dick Cheney slated for Tuesday during a visit by Mr Cheney to Italy and the Vatican." So what's Cheney's objective? Papal reassurances that he really won't roast in hell after all?

US Army Severely Overextended, Says Three-Star General
21-Jan-04
Bush's War

"A senior Army general, breaking with Rumsfeld and his service's own leadership, said the Army is too small to meet its global commitments and must be substantially increased. Lt. Gen. John M. Riggs, a decorated Vietnam veteran who is in charge of building an Army for the future, said the force of 480,000 must grow even beyond the 10,000-soldier increase that was endorsed by the Senate last year but failed to win full congressional approval Riggs: 'I have been in the Army 39 years, and I've never seen the Army as stretched in that 39 years as I have today." Riggs said he came to his conclusion over the past year while studying the Pentagon's military strategy requirements, which call for assisting in homeland security, deterring potential foes, engaging in major combat and carrying out peacekeeping operations.'" So reports the Baltimore Sun.

State Department Official Says We Didn't Need To Invade Iraq
04-Jan-04
Bush's War

Lawrence Korb writes: "Eight months after the Bush administration got us involved in a bloody war in Iraq, we are now told by one of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell's closest advisers that Iraq was a war of choice after all. According to Richard Haass, director of policy planning at the State Department until June 2003 and still the Bush administration's special envoy to Northern Ireland, the administration 'did not have to go to war against Iraq, certainly not when we did. There were other options." Really? This is not what the administration told us before the war and continues to tell us to this day." Impeach Bush Now!

PNACers Demand Global War
31-Dec-03
Bush's War

"George W Bush was sent a public manifesto yesterday by Washington's hawks, demanding regime change in Syria and Iran and a Cuba-style military blockade of North Korea backed by planning for a pre-emptive strike on its nuclear sites. The manifesto, presented as a 'manual for victory' in the war on terror, also calls for Saudi Arabia and France to be treated not as allies but as rivals and possibly enemies. The manifesto is contained in a new book by Richard Perle, a Pentagon adviser and 'intellectual guru' of the hardline neo-conservative movement, and David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter. They give warning of a faltering of the 'will to win' in Washington. In the battle for the president's ear, the manifesto represents an attempt by hawks to break out of the post-Iraq doldrums and strike back at what they see as a campaign of hostile leaking by their foes in such centres of caution as the State Department or in the military top brass."

Dean Was Right - America is No Safer After Saddam's Capture
22-Dec-03
Bush's War

"Security is being increased at airports, borders and ports as the nation stands at 'Code Orange,' the second-highest alert level for terrorist threats. The upgrade Sunday from 'Code Yellow,' or 'elevated' status, followed warnings from the government that al-Qaida militants may be plotting attacks on America during the holidays. The new designation indicates a high risk. 'The information we have indicates that extremists abroad are anticipating near-term attacks that they believe will either rival or exceed' the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said in announcing the change."

Rumsfeld and Myers Defend Killing Women and Children - and Then Kill Some More
11-Dec-03
Bush's War

"US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld defended the practice of targeting individuals in strikes such as one in Afghanistan that aimed to kill a suspected Taliban operative but left nine children and an unidentified male dead. Rumsfeld and General Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed condolences over the children's deaths. But Myers insisted that the US military selects its targets with 'exquisite' care..." Such exquisite care that two days later they killed six more children..."while Rumsfeld said the view that such attacks amounted to 'targeted killings' was 'a misunderstanding of the fact that we're in a war.'" Say what? Operation Phoenix was still about targeted killings -- even if it was part of the Vietnam War.

'Superpower Syndrome': America's Apocalyptic Confrontation With the World
11-Dec-03
Bush's War

Robert Jay Lifton writes, "We are experiencing what could be called an apocalyptic face-off between Islamist forces, overtly visionary in their willingness to kill and die for their religion, and American forces claiming to be restrained and reasonable but no less visionary in their projection of a cleansing warmaking and military power. Both sides are energized by versions of intense idealism; both see themselves as embarked on a mission of combating evil in order to redeem and renew the world; and both are ready to release untold levels of violence to achieve that purpose... The American apocalyptic entity is less familiar to us... [It] represents a new constellation of forces bound up with what I've come to think of as 'superpower syndrome.' By that term I mean a national mindset--put forward strongly by a tight-knit leadership group--that takes on a sense of omnipotence, of unique standing in the world that grants it the right to hold sway over all other nations." Fascinating!

Bush Wants To Invade Iran
22-Nov-03
Bush's War

"Even as its occupation of Iraq plunges further into disarray, the Bush administration is stepping up its drive for similar 'regime change' in neighbouring oil-rich Iran... Washington's provocative campaign reached new heights this week, with... Colin Powell flatly rejecting as 'deficient' a European draft resolution criticising Iran for allegedly concealing various nuclear activities. Briefing reporters after meeting European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, Powell condemned the British-French-German resolution for not having 'trigger mechanisms' for intervention against Iran, a country with 65 million people. Powell added a thinly-veiled threat of unilateral military action if Washington did not get its way at today's scheduled meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

Bush Steals $2 Million of Iraq Reconstruction Money for Bounty on Head of Liberia's Charles Taylor
08-Nov-03
Bush's War

"Nigeria has reacted furiously to reports that the US has posted a $2m bounty for the capture of Liberia's exiled former leader, Charles Taylor. A Nigerian spokesman said the US offer verged on state-sponsored terrorism and they would resist any attempts to seize Mr Taylor. He went into exile in Nigeria as part of a plan to end Liberia's civil war. Many assumed that once Mr Taylor was taken out of Liberia the Americans would leave the matter there. But a small clause in a bill signed into law this week by... George W Bush suggests they have not forgotten him. The bill in question provides funds totaling $87.5bn for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. But a small part of that budget refers to the provision of $2m reward money for the capture of what it describes as an indictee of the Sierra Leone war crimes tribunal - a clear reference to Mr Taylor."

Is Bush Getting Ready to Attack another Middle East Nation?
08-Nov-03
Bush's War

"Since Saturday (Nov. 1) people in the Highlands of Scotland have been witnessing large movements of US warplanes overhead. Experienced observers say the large numbers are reminiscent of those preceding the 1998 Iraq bombing, strikes on Libya in the 1980's and the first Gulf War. At the weekend warplanes were flying over at a rate of roughly. one every 15 minutes. As well as watching them from the ground the plane spotters have also been able to overhear pilots talking by listening to their radio frequencies. At this rate some 288 warplanes would have passed over Scotland in three days. It is thought that the planes have flown on a route from the US over the north pole to bases in Europe and the Mediterranean. The size and scale of the movement suggests that the US may be preparing to strike at a country in the Middle East in the next week to ten days." - Peacewatchers at USAFs Fairford and Welford bases in the UK

By 61% to 14%, Americans Reject Bush's Claim that Iraq is 'Central Front' in War on Terror
05-Nov-03
Bush's War

"Since Sept. 7, [Bush] and his aides have described Iraq as 'the central front' in the war on terrorism. 'We will fight this war against terror until it is won,' Bush said recently. 'We are fighting on many fronts. Iraq is now the central front.' But the poll found that, although 61% of the respondents believe Iraq is part of the war on terrorism, just 14% think it is the 'most important' part. This doubt - shared by some experts in military strategy - poses a potential problem for Bush, because it indicates that a large majority of Americans disagrees with his main argument for justifying the continuing occupation of Iraq, which has proven costlier and bloodier than was generally predicted... Kohut said Americans view the 'central front' in the war on terrorism as much closer to home than Iraq. 'When you say war on terrorism, they think about the things protecting us, like the Department of Homeland Security and screening at the airports'" - where Bush is a Miserable Failure.

Beginning in March '02, Bush Ordered Officials Tracking al Qaeda to Switch Focus on Iraq
23-Oct-03
Bush's War

"By early March, 2002, a former White House official told me, it was understood by many in the White House that the Resident had decided, in his own mind, to go to war. The undeclared decision had a devastating impact on the continuing struggle against terrorism. The Bush Administration took many intelligence operations that had been aimed at Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups around the world and redirected them to the Persian Gulf. Linguists and special operatives were abruptly reassigned, and several ongoing anti-terrorism intelligence programs were curtailed." [Part V of Seymour Hersh's 'The Stovepipe']

Wesley Clark Says (NeoCon) Plan for Bush is to Attack Seven Muslim Nations
24-Sep-03
Bush's War

Wesley Clark: "[After 9/11], many in the Bush administration seemed most focused on a prospective move against Iraq. This was the old idea of 'state sponsorship'-even though there was no evidence of Iraqi sponsorship of 9/11 whatsoever-and the opportunity to 'roll it all up' [i.e. deceive Americans into war]... I went back through the Pentagon in November 2001, and one of the senior military staff officers had time for a chat. Yes, we were still on track for going against Iraq, he said. But there was more. This was being discussed as part of a five-year campaign plan, he said, and there were a total of 7 countries, beginning with Iraq, then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iran, Somalia, and Sudan. So, I thought, this is what they mean when they talk about 'draining the swamp.' It was evidence of the Cold War approach: Terrorism must have a 'state sponsor,' and it would be much more effective to attack a state than to chase after individuals, nebulous organizations, and shadowy associations."

Mistakes of Vietnam Repeated with Iraq
18-Sep-03
Bush's War

Former U.S. Senator Max Cleland, a war hero who lost an arm and both legs in Vietnam, spells out the disastrous parallels between the Vietnam quagmire and the Iraq qWagmire. He reminds us of the lessons we should have learned from the earlier conflict, and warns us of what we're in for because the chickenhawks in the White House skipped those lessons.

Bush's $87 Billion for Iraq Is $9 Billion MORE than the Shortfall Being Suffered by All 50 States Combined - Where's THEIR Money?
09-Sep-03
Bush's War

"Congressional Democrats on Tuesday said they would approve President George W. Bush's $87bn emergency budget for Iraq only if the administration recruits more international support. Describing the extra costs needed for occupying and rebuilding Iraq as a "bitter pill for the American people to swallow", Carl Levin, the senior Democrat on the Senate armed services committee, said: "We must assure ourselves that the administration is willing to give more than lip service to enlisting the support of the international community." Bush's call for $87 bn is more than the $78 bn all 50 states need to finance their predicted 2004 budget shortfalls, which are crippling many local services."

National Security Expert's Report Card Gives Bush Mostly F's for His 'War on Terror'
09-Sep-03
Bush's War

Ivan Eland, senior fellow and director of the Center on Peace & Liberty at the Institute, says Bush's 'War on Terror' "has only 'drawn a bull's eye on the American people and undoubtedly caused rogue states to speed their weapons programs.'... He provides preliminary data that suggests that more children were killed by the U.S.-backed embargo (500,000) than the total number of Iraqis (including Kurds and Shiites) killed by Hussein. 'When bombs purposefully kill civilians, the U.S. government labels it terrorism,' Dr. Eland said. 'But when a U.S.-led economic embargo does the same, it is justified as needed to make a despotic leader meet Western demands.'... He also raised the issued of the 'demonstration effect'... 'Iraq got invaded, and North Korea will likely get concessions.' ... 'What would you do if you were the leaders of Iran? Just what they are doing - accelerating their nuclear program (which somehow came as a shock to the administration).'"

In War on Terror, 'Iraq is The Central Front' - Impeach Bush Now!
07-Sep-03
Bush's War

Before Bush invaded Iraq on 3-19-03, there was NO terrorism against Americans (or anyone else) coming from Iraq - none, nada, zippo, zilch. Now, 6 months after Bush's invasion, Iraq-based terrorism has become so serious that Bush told the world on 9-7-03 that "Iraq is the CENTRAL FRONT." Bush sacrificed nearly 300 American lives, over 30,000 Iraqi lives, countless wounded, and $160+++ of OUR tax dollars - and turned Iraq into the WORLD CENTER OF TERRORISM! Of all the countless horrible things Bush has done in 3 years, this must rank as the worst. It's time to Impeach Bush Now! (http://democrats.com/impeach).

Former UK Official Believes Bush Used 9/11 as Pretext to Start War for Global Domination
06-Sep-03
Bush's War

"Former minister Michael Meacher has blamed the Iraq war on the US desire for world domination. Mr Meacher also suggested the Americans might have failed to prevent 11 September as it gave a pretext for military action. Mr Meacher was environment minister until three months ago and has already spoken out in opposition to the war, describing the case for it as an 'uncertain fantasy'. Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Mr Meacher said the 11 September attacks gave an invaluable excuse for attacking Afghanistan. And he said the US Government intended to take military control of the Gulf region whether or not Saddam Hussein was in power because of its need for further secure oil supplies." See http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/comment/0,12956,1036687,00.html

BushFeld and Poodle Have Turned Iraq into a Throbbing Hub of Terror
03-Sep-03
Bush's War

"With astonishing speed, the United States and Britain are making their nightmares come true. Iraq is fast becoming the land that they warned about: a throbbing hub of terror. Islamists bent on murder, all but non-existent in Saddam's Iraq, are now flocking to the country, from Syria, Iran and across the Arab world. In the way that hippies used to head for San Francisco, jihadists are surging towards Baghdad. For those eager to strike at the US infidel, Iraq is the place to be: a shooting gallery, with Americans in easy firing range. Afghanistan is perilous terrain, but Iraq is open country. For the Islamist hungry for action, there are rich pickings."

Would you like some freedom fries with your crow, Mr Bush?
03-Sep-03
Bush's War

Gary Kamiya writes, "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. Let me make sure I've got this right. After being insulted, belittled and called irrelevant by the swaggering machos in the Bush administration, the United Nations is now supposed to step forward to supply cannon fodder for America's disastrous Iraq occupation - while the U.S. continues to run the show?... The Bush administration is probably hoping that the American people won't notice that the invasion created the very problem it was supposed to solve... Perpetual war for perpetual reelection: According to this master strategy, even a losing 'war on terror' is a winning hand for Bush, because it makes the world a scarier place and when people are scared they vote for the tough guys. Even if the tough guys don't know what they're doing."

Bush's War is Lost: When Will Washington Face the Truth?
02-Sep-03
Bush's War

James Carroll: "The war is lost. By most measures of what the Bush administration forecast for its adventure in Iraq, it is already a failure. The war was going to make the Middle East a more peaceful place. It was going to undercut terrorism. It was going to show the evil dictators of the world that American power is not to be resisted. It was going to improve the lives of ordinary Iraqis. It was going to stabilize oil markets. The American army was going to be greeted with flowers. None of that happened. The most radical elements of various fascist movements in the Arab world have been energized by the invasion of Iraq. The American occupation is a rallying point for terrorists. Instead of undermining extremism, Washington has sponsored its next phase... Because American leaders could not admit the nation's mistake [in Vietnam], and move to undo it, hundreds of thousands of people died, or was it millions? The war in Iraq is lost. What will it take to face that truth this time?"

Myth and Denial in the War on Terrorism
25-Aug-03
Bush's War

William Blum writes: "It dies hard. It dies very hard. The notion that terrorist acts against the United States can be explained by envy and irrational hatred, and not by what the United States does in and to the world -- i.e., U.S. foreign policy -- is alive and well. The fires were still burning intensely at Ground Zero when Colin Powell declared: 'Once again, we see terrorism; we see terrorists, people who don't believe in democracy... George W. and high officials of his administration may or may not believe what they tell the world about the motivations behind anti-American terrorism, but, as in the recent examples just given, other officials have questioned the party line for years. A Department of Defense study in 1997 concluded: 'Historical data show a strong correlation between U.S. involvement in international situations and an increase in terrorist attacks against the United States.'"

Bush Pursues a Failed Neocon Strategy of 'Smash and Conquer'
24-Aug-03
Bush's War

William Pfaff writes, "The neoconservatives believe that destruction produces creation. They believe that to smash and conquer is to be victorious. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel is an influence, although one would think they might have seen that a policy of 'smash and conquer' has given him no victories in Lebanon or the Palestinian territories. They believe that the United States has a real mission, to destroy the forces of unrighteousness. They also believe - and this is their great illusion - that such destruction will free the natural forces of freedom and democracy. In this, they are influenced by the Trotskyist version of Marxist millenarianism that was the intellectual seedbed of the neoconservative movement... What is the exit strategy? There never was one. For the philosophers of chaos in Washington, who created this situation, there is an instinctual reaction to their failure: escalation, and the pursuit of elusive victory by mounting new attacks elsewhere."

Congress is Just as Guilty as Bush Because they Failed to Stop an Unconstitutional War
23-Aug-03
Bush's War

Jacob Hornberger writes, "Given that the U.S. Supreme Court has long refused to involve itself in the enforcement of this particular section of the Constitution [which requires Congress to declare war], there remains only one method by which the people can enforce it. That method lies with a clear pronouncement by Congress that if the president goes to war without the constitutionally required congressional declaration of war, he will be impeached. By failing to do that during the run-up to Bush's Iraq war and by unconstitutionally delegating their power to declare war to the president, the members of Congress not only betrayed the oath they took to defend the Constitution, they also betrayed the American people."

After Jumping Off Cliff Against World Advice, Bush Wants World to Jump Off Same Cliff to Rescue Him
23-Aug-03
Bush's War

"When the US launched its attack on Iraq last March, it did so in clear violation of the UN charter and in open defiance of a world body that refused to sanction an illegal war," reports "Dawn." "Five months later, Washington has returned to the same organization in search of an exit strategy for 140,000 US troops bogged down in what appears to be turning into a guerrilla war in an increasingly hostile Iraq. Colin Powell came to the UN on Thurs to explore support for a new US resolution that would convince reluctant member states - including France, Russia, India, Pakistan and Turkey - to provide troops for a proposed multinational force. "The issue of ceding authority is not an issue we have had to discuss today," Powell told reporters. "You have to have control of a large military organization. That's what US leadership brings to the coalition," he said. In other words, any nation that jumps in for Bush better be sure to ask the US how high on the way up.

Amnesty Int'l Condemns the Precedents Being Set by the US 'War on Terror'
21-Aug-03
Bush's War

"The US has displayed a troubling tendency to seek unchallengeable executive power for itself in the context of its 'war on terror'. It has created a parallel justice system in which the executive has the power to detain, interrogate, charge or try suspects under the 'laws of war', Amnesty International said as it published a new report today. 'All too often where the US leads others follow - increasingly by using the language of 'war', governments have disregarded human rights obligations; by using the term 'terror' they have endeavoured to avoid international human rights law; and by using the phrase 'war on terror', they have challenged the very framework of human rights and international humanitarian law.'"

Buying 'Friends' with Arms
08-Aug-03
Bush's War

Before the war, the Bushco message to the world was 'my way or the highway' and 'we'll go it alone'. Now that things are sour and Bushco needs help, how do they go about getting it? Bribery, of course -- and in the form of ever popular US made weapons -- we're offering new, advanced arms to both India and Pakistan, in order to get them to send some peacekeeping troops to Iraq. India and Pakistan! The folks whose hatred of each other regularly gets right to the edge of the nuclear abyss. Bushco is offering them MORE weapons!?

Why Bush Keeps Troops Trained in Conflict Diffusion Trapped at Fort Bragg While Iraq Situation Deterioriates
01-Aug-03
Bush's War

"Why has Bush failed to deploy the hundreds of highly-trained, conflict-diffusing reservists from the Psychological Operations battalions - soldiers who are still, after many months, sitting in taxpayer-funded motels in North Carolina awaiting orders? Simple. Bush is not interested in 'waging peace.' As long as US soldiers are dying, Bush's friends at Halliburton, Bechtel and SAIC have the perfect excuse for not involving Iraqis in major reconstruction efforts and for stuffing oil and communications industry jobs with American personnel. As long as US soldiers are dying, Bush can continue to refuse to declare the war officially over -legally- and thus be called upon to abide by the Geneva Convention. As long as US soldiers are dying, Bush can continue to call himself a 'war time president' and manipulate Congress, the media, and the American public accordingly." - Cheryl Seal

The Big Picture about the Bush Administration Deserves Much Closer Scrutiny by Americans
26-Jul-03
Bush's War

Grant Millin writes: "The debatable weapons of mass destruction information leading to our troops being in harm's way in Iraq, and a $4 billion monthly 'burn rate' on our tax dollars, appears to be a red herring. This is what is known to date: U.N. inspectors were cleaning up mere 'debris' of such Iraqi weaponry by the time March 17 arrived. Top U.S. intelligence officials have discredited the connection between Saddam's Iraq and al-Qaida. The myth of Saddam being in possession of chemical, biological, and/or nuclear warheads attached to 45-minute-capable intercontinental missiles targeting the U.S. is a totally outrageous concept. The truth is something the media, Congress, and the courts will need to uncover."

Who's Unpatriotic? The Right-Wing Ideologues Who Lied and Weakened America
21-Jul-03
Bush's War

Paul Krugman writes, "The invasion of a country that hadn't attacked us and didn't pose an imminent threat has seriously weakened our military position. Of the Army's 33 combat brigades, 16 are in Iraq; this leaves us ill prepared to cope with genuine threats... instead of explaining what happened to the Al Qaeda link and the nuclear program, in the last few days a series of hawkish pundits have accused those who ask such questions of aiding the enemy. Here's Frank Gaffney Jr. in The National Post: 'Somewhere, probably in Iraq, Saddam Hussein is gloating. He can only be gratified by the feeding frenzy of recriminations, second-guessing and political power plays'... Well, if we're going to talk about aiding the enemy: By cooking intelligence to promote a war that wasn't urgent, the administration has squandered our military strength. This provides a lot of aid and comfort to Osama bin Laden - who really did attack America - and Kim Jong Il - who really is building nukes."

As Iraq Body Count Rises, Afghan Rebels Plan Coordinated Attacks on Troops, Aid Workers
11-Jul-03
Bush's War

"Several Afghan opposition leaders, including senior members of the ousted Taliban, have met near the Pakistan border to plot coordinated attacks on government and foreign troops and aid workers, a provincial governor said on Friday. The governor said Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of a radical Islamic party, and two commanders of the ousted Taliban -- Jalaluddin Haqqani and Saifur Rahman -- drew up the strategy at a meeting in Pakistan's lawless tribal area near the Afghan border. 'We have reports they met recently and talked over launching coordinated attacks,' the governor of Ghazni province, Haji Assadullah, told Reuters." How many dead American soldiers will it take before the folly of this endless oil war becomes unspinably clear?

Endless War: Any Time, Any Place -- Just Say 'WMD'
18-Jun-03
Bush's War

Dwight Welch writes: "George Bush has transformed three letters of the alphabet into his own tool of terror. He has discovered that Americans will support instant death for anyone, anywhere, who can somehow be linked to substances that might be described as potential WMDs...Bush has concocted a blanket WMD excuse to use military force anyplace on the planet. This logic, accepted by a majority of the Congress, can be applied to the tiniest Caribbean or Pacific island nation, in conjunction with any political grouplet thought to be located in any corner of the world. Low-level germ stocks can be manufactured in the smallest countries, and stolen or purchased by any serious terrorist organization. No industrial base is necessary. Under the Bush Doctrine, any nation accused of harboring people who might possess such 'weapons of mass destruction' can be targeted and summarily neutralized. If capability alone justifies attack, universal capability means worldwide targets and permanent war."

Bush's Former Counterterrorism Adviser: 'They're Making Us Less Secure, Not More Secure'
16-Jun-03
Bush's War

WashPost reports: "Five days before the war began in Iraq, as Resident Bush prepared to raise the terrorism threat level to orange, a top White House counterterrorism adviser unlocked the steel door to his office, an intelligence vault secured by an electronic keypad, a combination lock and an alarm. He sat down and turned to his inbox. 'Things were dicey,' said Rand Beers, recalling the stack of classified reports about plots to shoot, bomb, burn and poison Americans. He stared at the color-coded threats for five minutes. Then he called his wife: I'm quitting. Beers's resignation surprised Washington, but what he did next was even more astounding. Eight weeks after leaving the Bush White House, he volunteered as national security adviser for Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.)... in a campaign to oust his former boss. 'The administration wasn't matching its deeds to its words in the war on terrorism. They're making us less secure, not more secure,' said Beers."

Film Alleges Media Cover-up of US Complicity in Massacre of 3,000 Taliban Prisoners
28-May-03
Bush's War

"'Afghan Massacre: The Convoy of Death' ... provides eyewitness testimony that U.S. troops were complicit in the massacre of thousands of Taliban prisoners... The film tells the story of thousands of prisoners who surrendered to the US military's Afghan allies after the siege of Kunduz. According to eyewitnesses, some three thousand of the prisoners were forced into sealed containers and loaded onto trucks for transport to Sheberghan prison. Eyewitnesses say when the prisoners began shouting for air, U.S.-allied Afghan soldiers fired directly into the truck, killing many of them. The rest suffered through an appalling road trip lasting up to four days, so thirsty they clawed at the skin of their fellow prisoners... Witnesses say that when the trucks arrived and soldiers opened the containers, most of the people inside were dead. They also say US Special Forces re-directed the containers carrying the living and dead into the desert and stood by as survivors were shot and buried."

Bush is Doing Exactly What Bin Laden Wants
26-May-03
Bush's War

Mike Hersh writes: "It's pretty clear at this point that Bush is doing exactly what bin Laden wants. Not as his goal, perhaps, but certainly in effect. During the 1980s, the Republicans broke our laws and spent $billions to build up Saddam Hussein. Unless they were just lying about why they were helping Saddam, Iraq provided at least some counter-balance against the extreme Islamicists. Were the Republicans lying then or are they lying now? And what is Bush doing now? Undercutting those we need to keep us safe. Needlessly increasing the power of terrorists and the risks they will attack, squandering time and resources, and alienating allies we need. The most ardent Bush supporter cannot show how any of this makes any US citizen any safer."

Insanity! The Dollar Collapsing, Iraq and Afghanistan in Chaos, Bin Laden and Saddam Still At Large But NOW Bush Plans to Attack Iran!
25-May-03
Bush's War

Bush is a resident without a plan. All he knows how to do is play act for the camera and play soldier - with real soldiers' lives. So, as the dollar slides downward, the jobless rate climbs, Afghanistan reverts to pre-war conditions, revolt is threatened in Iraq, and Bin Laden and Saddam are still thumbing their noses at us from parts unknown, Bush and his minions, including some blue dog democrats (who MUST be voted out in 2004), are now fomenting war in Iran. Bush may call it "destabilization," but the world knows what he really means: WAR. Endless, bloody, pointless war. Hey - it worked for Hitler...for a while.

Paul Krugman: 'Paths of Glory'
18-May-03
Bush's War

"Mr. Bush strikes heroic poses on TV, but his administration neglects anything that isn't photogenic. I've written before about the Bush administration's amazing refusal to pay for even minimal measures to protect the nation against future attacks -- measures that would secure ports, chemical plants, nuclear facilities and so on. (But the Department of Homeland Security isn't completely ineffectual: this week it helped Texas Republicans track down their Democratic colleagues, who had staged a walkout.) The neglect of homeland security is mirrored by the Bush administration's failure to follow through on overseas efforts once the TV-friendly part of the operation has come to an end. The overthrow of the Taliban was a real victory -- arguably our only important victory against terrorism. But as soon as Kabul fell, the administration lost interest. Now most of Afghanistan is under the control of warlords, the Karzai government is barely hanging on, and the Taliban are making a comeback."

McGovern: A Real Top Gun
12-May-03
Bush's War

George McGovern was a real top gun in WWII unlike George W. Bush, who only played a top gun in the Iraq war on TV (If Dubya really wanted to see it what it was like to land on an aircraft carrier as realistically as possible, he should have voluntered to serve his country in the regular military during the Vietnam War). George McGovern's riposte to DLC member Will Marshall's editorial on "Blair Democrats" articulates the difference between Democratic internationalism and Bush's unilateral attack on Iraq.

MotherEarth.org Lists Bush's Crimes
05-May-03
Bush's War

"Since George W. Bush came to power, he has systematically flouted international agreements that the US had previously signed up to. While previous US administrations might not be able to claim much better records, it is clear that Bush is not even making an attempt to stick to these numerous treaties, laws and obligations."

Why the Anti-War Movement was Right
17-Apr-03
Bush's War

Arianna Huffington writes: "The Bible tells us that pride goeth before the fall. In Iraq, it cameth right after it. From the moment that statue of Saddam hit the ground, the mood around the Rumsfeld campfire has been all high-fives, I-told-you-sos, and endless smug prattling about how the speedy fall of Baghdad is proof positive that those who opposed the invasion of Iraq were dead wrong. What utter nonsense. In fact, the speedy fall of Baghdad proves the anti-war movement was dead right... Well, it turns out that, far from being on the verge of destroying Western civilization, Saddam and his 21st century Gestapo couldn't even muster a half-hearted defense of their own capital. The hawks' cakewalk disproves their own dire warnings. They can't have it both ways. The invasion has proved wildly successful in one other regard: It has unified most of the world -- especially the Arab world -- against us."

US [i.e. the Bush Crime Family] Accused of Plans to Loot Iraqi Antiques
13-Apr-03
Bush's War

The destruction of the Baghdad museum by looters is a cultural crime equaled only by the burning of the Library of Alexandria 2,000 years ago. The U.S. had promised to provide military protection to keep looters out -- why didn't that happen? According to the Glasgow Sunday Herald, "a coalition of antiquities collectors and arts lawyers, calling itself the American Council for Cultural Policy (ACCP), met with US defence and state department officials prior to the start of military action.... The group is known to consist of a number of influential dealers who favour a relaxation of Iraq's tight restrictions on the ownership and export of antiquities." How many of the looted artifacts will end up in American museums -- or worse, private collections? How many of those private collectors will just happen to be Bush campaign contributors?

Syria and Iran: Prepare for Invasion
10-Apr-03
Bush's War

Thomas Ball writes, "Which members of the Administration said that they need 'some catastrophic and catalyzing event, like a new Pearl Harbor' in order to fulfill there dreams of Middle-East conquest? Who is pushing the Bush Administration toward Middle-East domination and how long have they been planning this? Why does the Administration seem so unconcerned about an exit strategy from Iraq after the toppling of Saddam? What country is the most likely to be invaded next? What other countries are on Washington's list for a US invasion? Find the answers to these questions..."

Triumphant Bushevik Says Syria, Iran, and North Korea Are Next
09-Apr-03
Bush's War

Reuters reports, "The US on Wednesday warned countries it has accused of pursuing weapons of mass destruction, including Iran, Syria and North Korea , to 'draw the appropriate lesson from Iraq .' John R. Bolton, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, also appealed to Syria and other countries in the Middle East to open themselves up to 'new possibilities' for peace in the region... [Bolton] specifically mentioned Syria, North Korea and Iran in his comments in response to a question about what the postwar period would hold... 'I think Syria is a good case where I hope that they will conclude that the chemicals weapons program and the biological weapons program that they have been pursuing are things that they should give up. It is a wonderful opportunity for Syria to foreswear the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and, as with other governments in the region, to see if there are not new possibilities in the Middle East peace process,' he said."

Iraq is Bush's 'Alderaan'
08-Apr-03
Bush's War

Robert Parry writes, "The decimation of the outmatched Iraqi army is a message being sent to other countries that cross George W. Bush, that death and destruction will be their fate at the hands of the most powerful military force ever seen on earth. In that way, Iraq is playing the role of Alderaan, the hapless planet in the original Star Wars movie."

Bush's Alice-in-Wonderland Logic
07-Apr-03
Bush's War

Peter Freundlich writes, "Let me see if I understand the logic of this correctly. We are going to ignore the UN in order to make clear to Saddam Hussein that the UN cannot be ignored. We're going to wage war to preserve the UN's ability to avert war. The paramount principle is that the UN's word must be taken seriously, and if we have to subvert its word to guarantee that it is, then by gum, we will. Peace is too important not to take up arms to defend. Am I getting this right?... I think it is a good thing that the members of the Bush administration seem to have been reading Lewis Carroll. I only wish someone had pointed out that 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass' are meditations on paradox and puzzle and illogic and on the strangeness of things, not templates for foreign policy. It is amusing for the Mad Hatter to say something like, 'We must make war on him because he is a threat to peace,' but not amusing for someone who actually commands an army to say that."

Neocons Wrestle with Doubts about W-ar
07-Apr-03
Bush's War

Ha'aretz reports, "In the course of the past year, a new belief has emerged in [Washington]: the belief in war against Iraq. That ardent faith was disseminated by a small group of 25 or 30 neoconservatives, almost all of them Jewish, almost all of them intellectuals (a partial list: Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, William Kristol, Eliot Abrams, Charles Krauthammer), people who are mutual friends and cultivate one another and are convinced that political ideas are a major driving force of history... Are they wrong? Have they committed an act of folly in leading Washington to Baghdad? They don't think so. They continue to cling to their belief. They are still pretending that everything is more or less fine. That things will work out. Occasionally, though, they seem to break out in a cold sweat. This is no longer an academic exercise, one of them says, we are responsible for what is happening. The ideas we put forward are now affecting the lives of millions of people."

Bush Applauds Rummy's Threats to Iran and Syria
07-Apr-03
Bush's War

David Sanger writes: "Shortly after [Don] Rumsfeld issued a stark warning to Iran and Syria last week, declaring that any 'hostile acts' they committed on behalf of Iraq might prompt severe consequences, one of [Bush's closest aides warned] him that his unpredictable defense secretary had just raised the specter of a broader confrontation. Mr. Bush smiled a moment at the latest example of Mr. Rumsfeld's brazenness, recalled the aide. Then he said one word -- 'Good' -- and went back to work. It was a small but telling moment on the sidelines of the war... In fact, some administration officials are talking about the lessons Mr. Bush expects the world to take from this conflict, and they are debating about where he may decide to focus when it is over." Bush is an insane megalomanic warmonger. Oh, sorry - the truth is verboten.

Powell Lies about Bush's Invasion 'Wish List'
05-Apr-03
Bush's War

"Iraq should be ruled by its own people and American forces will not invade Syria and Iran after liberating Baghdad, Colin Powell was quoted as saying in an interview published Saturday. 'Nobody in the American administration (has) talked about invading Iran or Syria,' Powell said [remember that quote, folks!]. 'It seems that there is a constant desire by everybody to accuse us of invasion operations. That didn't, and won't, take place.'" Just when you really wanted to believe he hadn't sold out to the dark side completely, Powell proves, thru this statement, that he will lie - even suicidally (in terms of his credibility) for Bush. See http://newsinsider.org/madsta/us_bombs_iran.html

Woolsey Declares World War IV - Next Stops are Iran, Syria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia
04-Apr-03
Bush's War

CNN reports, "Former CIA Director James Woolsey said Wednesday the US is engaged in World War IV, and that it could continue for years... Woolsey has been named as a possible candidate for a key position in the reconstruction of a postwar Iraq. He said the new war is actually against three enemies: the religious rulers of Iran, the 'fascists' of Iraq and Syria, and Islamic extremists like al Qaeda. Woolsey told the audience of about 300, most of whom are students at the University of California at Los Angeles, that all three enemies have waged war against the US for several years but the US has just 'finally noticed.' ... Singling out Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the leaders of Saudi Arabia, he said, 'We want you nervous. We want you to realize now, for the fourth time in a hundred years, this country and its allies are on the march and that we are on the side of those whom you -- the Mubaraks, the Saudi Royal family -- most fear: We're on the side of your own people.'"

21st Century Crusades: The Clash of Two Fundamentalisms
03-Apr-03
Bush's War

Henri Tincq writes, "'Crusade' against 'jihad'? Faced with the war in Iraq's risks of getting bogged down, the feared scenario of a religious confrontation seems already in place. From one side, calls to prayer and fasting, constant references to the Bible: George Bush's speeches also mobilize Christian ritual and dogma for the legitimization of the war. The more the war causes death and suffering, the more this sort of mystic-politic risks taking over. In a parallel way, Saddam Hussein is happy to drape himself in the garments of a modern Saladin and to demand God as a witness to the aggression of the 'the impious' on his territory. In spite of reservations with regard to Saddam, his calls for the solidarity of the umma and to 'holy war' resonate in most Muslim countries, from Algeria to Pakistan, by way of Cairo and Teheran."

The State Department Does Not Want Democracy for Iraq
03-Apr-03
Bush's War

According to the London Independent, "The caricature is that the U.S. State Department is a force for moderation and sanity against those nasty, trigger-happy neo-conservatives centred around the Pentagon. Most caricatures have a basis in fact. This European view is thus unique, since the Pentagon is on the side of democracy and self-government for Iraq, and the State Department wants to see Iraq run as something approaching a US colony.... Resident Bush is speaking the language of democracy, but the State Department has been making the running. Resident Bush's envoy to the Iraqi opposition is reported as having decided that democracy is too risky, and that the only realistic way forward is to replace the top three Baathist officials in each ministry with US officers 'advised' by Iraqis. This would be a disaster." The invasion of Iraq was never about liberating the Iraqi people from dictatorship, but only about replacing a hostile dictatorship with a dictatorship the U.S. controls.

Bush's War Is an Enron-Style Scam, Wrapped in a Litany of Lies
02-Apr-03
Bush's War

Cheryl Seal Reports: 'Bush and his chickenhawks constantly assure the American public all is well - the war plan is 'on track' and 'progress is remarkable.' But this is the EXACT SAME SCHEME used by Bush pal Ken Lay and the other con artists at Enron.. Remember how the Enron execs, knowing full well the company was going down, claimed the co. was 'on track' and 'progress was remarkable'? They even encouraged stockholders to buy MORE soon-to-be-worthless stocks. So Bush is urging America to 'buy more stock' in the war with his phony rosy assurances. Meanwhile, when the ugly reality sets in, he and his pals, like the Lay gang, will make out like bandits, no matter what happens (troop support contracts, weapons contracts, the huge sea of petroleum products sold to fuel the tanks, ships, planes and other vehicles). And America, like the Enron stockholders, will be left holding the bag and wondering why justice is not being served."

Who Committed Treason: Arnett or Bush?
02-Apr-03
Bush's War

Murdoch mouthpiece John Podhoretz says Peter Arnett is guilty of treason for criticizing Bush's War on Iraqi TV, thus giving "aid and comfort" to "the enemy." But when exactly did Iraq become America's enemy? Iraq never attacked the US, or even threatened to attack the US. Moreover, Congress never declared war on Iraq. Since 9-11, America's enemy has been Al Qaeda. But Bush isn't fighting Al Qaeda - in fact, he is turning the entire Muslim world into Al Qaeda supporters. Even Hosni Mubarak says Bush's War will create hundreds of new Bin Ladens. So who is giving "aid and comfort" to our real enemy, Al Qaeda? GEORGE BUSH.

UK Says It Will Have No Part in a Bush War against Iran and Syria
02-Apr-03
Bush's War

Guardian reports, "Britain would have 'nothing whatever' to do with military action against Syria or Iran, the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, signalled today. Mr Straw's comments will be seen as an attempt to ensure that speculation about an Anglo-American attack on the two countries is quashed ahead of his meeting with EU foreign ministers tomorrow. George Bush has previously identified Iran as part of the so-called 'axis of evil', while America's defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, recently accused Syria of supplying military equipment to Iraq and threatened to hold it to account for its actions."

Bush's War Boosts Anti-American Recruiting
01-Apr-03
Bush's War

AP reports, "Riding a wave of anti-American sentiment, outlawed Islamic extremist organizations that were routed by the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan in 2001 are making a comeback. Recruitment in Pakistan of potential terrorists appears to be on the rise... Muslim radicals are feeding on anger over the war in Iraq to regroup and revitalize, raising the threat of more anti-U.S. terrorism around the world... In Afghanistan, where U.S. troops are still pursuing Taliban and al-Qaida holdouts, the Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar is circulating posters of his fresh decree calling for a holy war against the US. The signatures of 600 Muslim clerics are attached... Other Islamic countries face a similar surge of support for violent movements: Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, to name those most friendly toward the US. 'Militants know that the US is fully engaged in Iraq and that has diluted their focus on the war on terror,' said Riffat Hussein, a political analyst."

A Handy Guide to Pentagonese: Black Humor from the War Zone
01-Apr-03
Bush's War

Cheryl Seal offers following helpful definitions of Pentagonese terms to the perplexed viewer of mainstream media war coverage. Here's a few examples: SADDAM TORTURE FACILITY: Any junk room where an old battery has been dumped... EVIDENCE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: Anything we can get away with planting... COMBAT DEATH TOLL: The real number minus the ones we don't plan to report ... FLEXIBILITY: The right for Donald Rumsfeld to withdraw a billion or two from the defense budget any time the spirit moves him without having to notify anyone.

Might Makes Right
01-Apr-03
Bush's War

Our current war puts a new turn on an old phrase, with pre-emptive being applied to both the big and the small picture... countries and villages... women and children. Saddam might have weapons of mass destruction. Civilians might be paramilitary in disguise. That truck filled with women and children might be a suicide bomber. On the other hand, they might not have WMD, they might just be escaping a war zone, and the oil we're fighting for just might be fueling the fires of terrorism all over the world.

Insane Busheviks are Ready to 'Move On' - to Iran and North Korea
01-Apr-03
Bush's War

Apparently, the Busheviks have not grasped the reality that conquering and occupying Iraq is going to take a LOT of time, money, and US lives. In a series of important speeches to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Condi Rice and John Bolton took aim at Iran and North Korea. "In the aftermath of Iraq, dealing with the Iranian nuclear weapons program will be of equal importance as dealing with the North Korean nuclear weapons program," Bolton said. So how will the Busheviks deal with these issues? By taking the failed doctrine of "shock and awe" global. Bolton said U.S. officials hope that a decisive toppling of Saddam may give pause to other nations with secret weapons programs and "that some of these states will back off." The Busheviks are utterly delusional and insane. Impeach Bush Now - before he gets us all nuked!

Lyndon Baines Bush
01-Apr-03
Bush's War

Richard Cohen writes, "In about a week, the Bush administration has done in Iraq what the Johnson administration took more than a year to do in Vietnam: opened a credibility gap... I wonder about a timetable that increasingly threatens one of the stated goals of this war -- to bring the manifest blessings of democracy to the entire Arab world... Keeping the peace is going to be more difficult than expected. It just could be that administering Iraq after the war is going to be as expensive and dirty as some recently rebuked Pentagon planners suggested. Lyndon Johnson's credibility gap turned out to be a mortal wound. He became such a polarizing figure that he limited himself to one elected presidential term. It is too soon to say that Bush is Johnson redux. Certainly the war in Iraq is nothing like the war in Vietnam. But what the two wars are beginning to have in common is a bristling arrogance coupled with an insistence that everything is going according the plan."

War, Cowardice, and Peace
01-Apr-03
Bush's War

William Pastille writes, "We got hit hard by dirty fighters on 9/11. So what is our response? Find someone to hit back. This is not the response of a courageous nation. A courageous nation faces death and does not let a vicious attack alter its character. But we have jettisoned our courage; we have allowed ourselves to indulge our fears and our leaders to play on our fears; we have overthrown all our commitments to international law in order to hit back hard and hit back first. We are afraid of death, and we are now willing to destroy anyone and anything - even our own souls - to try to avoid it. Which is of course, madness: the wise man knows he has to die, so he does not let fear of death alter his behavior in any way. We have become cowards who are pretending to be strong, to be principled, to be undeterred, to be persistent. The rest of the world doesn't buy this self-justification, because they are not invested in hiding American cowardice."

Mubarak Says Iraq War 'Will Create 100 Bin Ladens'
31-Mar-03
Bush's War

London Times reports, "The invasion of Iraq will backfire spectacularly, igniting Islamic fanaticism and creating '100 new bin Ladens', President Mubarak of Egypt told the US yesterday. Mr Mubarak, accused by many of his countrymen of being a White House stooge for maintaining Egypt's increasingly unpopular peace treaty with Israel, voiced the fear of moderate Arab states that America was playing into al-Qaeda's hands by waging war. 'When it is over, if it is over, this war will have horrible consequences. Instead of having one bin Laden, we will have 100 bin Ladens.' His warning followed the suicide bombing in Iraq at the weekend in which four American soldiers were killed, and the claim by Islamic Jihad that it has sent 4,000 volunteers for suicide missions to Baghdad. The linking of Iraq with the Palestinian conflict was made explicit when Islamic Jihad leaders dedicated a suicide-bomb attack at the Israeli coastal resort of Netanya on Sunday as 'a gift to the heroic Iraqi people.'"

The 'Infallibility' of America's God King
31-Mar-03
Bush's War

BuzzFlash: "How did we ever come to enter this parallel universe where no one is willing to say that we have Fredo Corleone running our government and that crimes have been committed against this nation, including the ongoing use of strategically created terrorist alerts and duct-tape farces to cow Americans into submission? Isn't it a crime to scare a nation half-to-death to achieve political goals and launch a politically motivated war? How did we get to the point that we have a media that daily bombards us with Orwellian dispatches and images that are crafted in the Pentagon and White House offices of disinformation? How did we ever get to the point that the Democratic 'Opposition' leadership has voluntarily had its tongue cut out about the true purposes of this war?... How can the daily outpouring of lies from this administration, even when they are unmasked, make no dent on the image of Bush's 'infallibility' nurtured by the White House and disseminated by the corporate press?"

'Oil for Food' Transformed Into 'American Humanitarian Aid' By Piracy on the High Seas
31-Mar-03
Bush's War

"During the past seven days of the war the US Navy detained all ships in the Persian Gulf going to Iraq under the US 'Oil for Food' program. Since yesterday all these ships are being unloaded in Kuwait. Unloaded food is being delivered by the US military to Iraq and is being distributed as 'American humanitarian aid' and as a part of the 'rebuilding Iraq' program. These US actions have already cause a serious scandal in the UN. The US explained its actions by its unilateral decision to freeze all Iraqi financial assets, including the Iraqi financial assets with the UN. These assets the US now considers its property and will exercise full control over them. Captains of the detained ships have already called these actions by the US a 'piracy.'"

Is the US Using Israeli Airbases to Launch Airstrikes against Iraq? Russian Military Intelligence Thinks So
31-Mar-03
Bush's War

"Radio communications intercepted during the last five days suggest that the coalition is using Israeli airfield for conducting night air strikes against Iraq. Combat aircraft are taking off regularly from the [Israeli] Hatzerim and the Navatim airbases do not return to the same bases but fly toward the border with Jordan while maintaining complete radio silence. Possibly these are just Israeli Air Force exercises, However, [Russian] radio intercept and radar units observe increased intensity of radio communications coming from the Jordanian air force and air defense communication centers during such overflights, as well as changes in the operating modes of the US Army 'Patriot' tracking radars deployed in Jordan. This indicates the Israeli airbases as used as forward airfield or that some of the coalition air force units are based there... Experts believe that these airbases may be used by the F-117 stealth bombers 'officially' based at the Al-Udaid airbase in Qatar."

Thanks to Bush's Bombs, The Battle for Arab 'Hearts and Minds' is Over
30-Mar-03
Bush's War

PentaPost reports, "A shuddering sense of outrage at Bush and the US fell over the Arab world today as television networks and newspapers reported a U.S. air assault that Iraqi officials said killed 58 people at a vegetable market in Baghdad. 'Monstrous martyrdom in Baghdad,' said a huge headline in al-Dustur, a newspaper in Amman, Jordan... 'Mr. Bush has lost us. We are gone. Enough. That's the end,' said Diaa Rashwan, head of the comparative politics unit at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo. 'If America starts winning tomorrow, there will be suicide bombing that will start in America the next day. It is a whole new level now.' The anger was a clear sign that U.S.-Arab relations, despite Bush's campaign to win hearts and minds, was at a low point. 'Bush is an occupier and terrorist. He thought he was playing a video game,' said George Elnaber, 36, an Arab Christian. 'We hate Americans more than we hate Saddam now.'"

Aznar-Bush Alliance Puts Spanish Socialists Ahead in Polls
30-Mar-03
Bush's War

Guardian reports, "Jose Maria Aznar, the third man on the international stage beside George Bush and Tony Blair in the run-up to war, was staring at political disaster yesterday as anti-war demonstrations spread and opinion polls revealed 91% of Spaniards against the war. Madrid, Barcelona and other cities resounded to the noise of people beating pots and pans out of their windows on Thursday night in the latest of a series of anti-war demonstrations... The scale of opposition to war has forced the People's party government on to the defensive. Mr Aznar has not dared to back his pro-Bush stance before the war with combat troops. Even the sending of 900 troops for 'humanitarian work' has provoked the fury of the anti-war camp... Recent polls of voting intention show that, over two months, the People's party has gone from running neck-and-neck with the anti-war socialists to trailing them by six points. A clear majority of people now expect the socialists to win next year's election."

Arab Street Says Bush Has 'Made Thousands of Bin Ladens'
30-Mar-03
Bush's War

Reuters reports, "A massacre, a crime against humanity, another U.S. atrocity against the people of Iraq. These were some of the words many Arabs and much of the Middle East's state-run press used on Saturday to describe Friday's devastating air assault on a busy Baghdad market that an Iraqi doctor said killed 62 people and wounded 49... 'The Americans can go to hell,' Egyptian coffee shop waiter Mohamed Shukman spat out. 'They don't care about Iraqi civilians, they just want Iraq's oil.' 'This is brutality, the Americans have no right to do this,' declared veiled Egyptian businesswoman Rawya Shaker. 'This is colonialism, this is an aggression against innocent people. This is something even an infidel wouldn't do.'... 'Everyone now wants to be like Osama bin Laden,' said Muhanad Abdullah, an outraged Jordanian computer programmer. 'They have made thousands of bin Ladens. They will see what the future will bring upon them.'"

George McGovern Says Bush Plans Invasion of Iran and North Korea and Could Face War Crimes Charges
27-Mar-03
Bush's War

"George McGovern charged Wednesday that Bush intends to invade North Korea and Iran after finishing with Iraq. 'Even now, these wars are being planned by the current administration,' McGovern said. 'I'm positive, based on conversations with people close to the White House, that plans are in place for the next invasions.'.... McGovern, a decorated World War II veteran... said he supported the Gulf War but opposed the current action. 'This is clearly an American invasion. The chance of Iraq attacking the U.S. is about the same as attack from Mars,' McGovern said. 'Everybody knows Osama bin Laden was the man who conceived the 9-11 attack, but by harping on this, [Bush] has gradually convinced 51% of the American people that Saddam was behind it.'... Noting that Japan's plotters were found to be war criminals, McGovern said, 'it's quite possible an action of that kind (by the World Court) would be brought against Bush if there are a lot of people killed in a country we've invaded.'"

US Learns the Lessons of Rome in the Deserts of Iraq
26-Mar-03
Bush's War

Knute Berger writes, "You'd think people who come from the land built on slogans such as 'Live Free or Die' or 'Don't Tread on Me' would understand something about grassroots resistance to invasion. Whatever you think about Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime, it is also true that the United States and its so-called 'coalition' is an invading force. And it shouldn't surprise us that the Iraqis are fighting back. Think of the boys who fought to the death to save Hitler. How would we feel if America were invaded by 'liberators?' Remember Red Dawn? I can safely say that if the Germans, Russians, French, or Canadians-or even the French Canadians-stormed into America to liberate us from George W. Bush, I would take up arms and fight them in the streets. Not because I love Bush and 'freedom fries,' but damn it, this is our country, and he's our problem."

BushBlair Plan to Carve Up Middle East and Rewrite the Koran
26-Mar-03
Bush's War

British MP George Galloway told the Arab News that Bush and Blair plan to carve up the Middle East after the Iraq war to suit their schemes. "They openly discuss changing the boundaries of old countries, creating new countries - removing this and that leader." Galloway has no respect for Bush: "The U.S. has stirred up a vast amount of hatred against itself by this swaggering arrogance of its intellectually limited leader, roaring like a bull in a bomber jacket in air hangars" to the troops. Galloway suspects the real motivation for the war is the "geopolitical aspirations of the U.S. government." "These people have decided that Arab countries must metamorphose into countries acceptable to the US. That means they must change their way of life, their culture, even their religion. It's openly stated in the American media that the Qur'an itself has to be changed, because in it there are concepts of justice and resistance which are completely unacceptable to the new American century.'"

Republicans Blocked Congressional Debate on the W-ar
26-Mar-03
Bush's War

According to a letter from Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), published in the Milford (MA) Daily News, House Democrats sent a letter to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, requesting a debate on the issue of war. Hastert didn't even bother answering the letter, but the Democrats were told orally that their request would be refused. This is just one of the many instances of the Republicans getting their war on by stifling dissent and disrespecting our country's democratic traditions.

'No Dialogue is Possible with Washington's Current Leadership'
26-Mar-03
Bush's War

Canadian journalist, Paul William Roberts, gives an eyewitness account of what is really going on in Iraq, not the sanitized stuff we see on television. He speaks about the bending of truth and demonstrates something we have been searching for: Outrage! "I have been in and out of Iraq more often than the Turkish army these past few days, viewing the war both firsthand and on the surprisingly copious array of television news channels available all over Syria and Jordan. I heard Donald Rumsfeld on the radio discussing 'the humanity that goes into' building the kind of weapons of mass destruction that America prefers these days. I saw for myself enough of their effects, the inevitable consequences of their inbuilt humanity, to convince myself that no dialogue is possible with Washington's current leadership."

Iraq Policy is an 'Epic Battle of World Views'
25-Mar-03
Bush's War

Jock Gill writes, "Iraq is the symptom of neo-con dogma and ideology as embedded in 'The Project for a New American Century' [PNAC], the Federalist Society and American religious fundamentalism. What we are up against is a new world view that justifies a whole new, and very aggressive, American strategy in defense of the cheap energy dependent US life style. Iraq is but a symptom of that strategy. Clinton and the New Liberals say we cannot deny to others what we claim for ourselves. The Neo-Cons say yes we can and they created the PNAC to justify that position. We are confronting a huge moral, intellectual and political battle between the Clintonian position and its diametric opposite, the neo-cons PNAC. It is a shame that the press in general is not writing about this epic battle of world views that is emerging in America... If we want to stop Iraq and the next 'wars' justified by PNAC, we have to defeat the PNAC, The Federalist Society and their fundamentalist supporters."

Marching on Babylon: Is Billy Graham Leading Bush and the World to Armageddon?
24-Mar-03
Bush's War

"The Bible plainly forecasts the coming of yet another great war.... It will embrace most of the nations of the world; and its focal point will be in the Middle East... This great war has been called the battle of Armageddon. In the midst of this terrifying war that could destroy civilization the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth in glory and power to judge the nations of the world and set up His own glorious kingdom.... We are told that the waters of the Euphrates River will be 'dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared'... Unclean spirits, demons, will go out into the world to the kings of the earth 'to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty'." Read it yourself, from the Armageddon Page at the Web site of Bush's Mentor Billy Graham.

War Bubble Bursts on Wall Street as Bushevik Fantasies Crash into Reality
24-Mar-03
Bush's War

CNN reports, "Heavy selling pounded U.S. stock markets early Monday, as the latest reports from Iraq indicated the U.S.-led war in the country would not be as easy or quickly-won as Wall Street had hoped for and expected... Monday's selloff came on the heels of one of the strongest rallies on Wall Street in years. With a gain of 8.4 percent last week, the Dow industrials had their best weekly advance since 1982... But Wall Street's war euphoria came to an abrupt halt Monday, when traders returned to their desks having watched footage of tough battles and reports of U.S. casualties and the capture of U.S. soldiers over the weekend. Despite little factual evidence on its side, Wall Street had placed heavy bets that the war would be short and swift, bolstered by rumors that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was either injured or dead as a result of U.S. air strikes on Baghdad. The news over the weekend... indicated otherwise and the selling that came to the stock market was punishing."

George W. Fear
24-Mar-03
Bush's War

R.C. Longworth writes, "When Bush made his final case for war in his ultimatum speech, what came through was the voice of a frightened man trying to infect the nation with his fear... Americans not only are afraid but they are isolated in their fear... arrayed against the overwhelming opinion of a world that thinks we have gone collectively nuts. Most commentators... have blamed the Iraq policy more on testosterone than terror, with an unhealthy dash of hyper-religious certainty mixed in. But Bush often comes across as truly frightened, convinced of threats that the rest of the world just doesn't see... National hysterias come and go, leaving a great deal of damage and creating a sense of communal shame when the panic wears off: The McCarthyite era is an example. Invariably, the cause is fear--of foreigners, of nameless threats, of Reds under the bed. The US is going through such a hysteria now. We can only pray that not too many lives are sacrificed to it."

Pakistan Says 'Show Me the Money'
24-Mar-03
Bush's War

"Pakistan has assigned one third of its armed forces to protect American troops, it has provided logistics support to American troops, shared intelligence with Americans, allowed Americans to monitor Afghan-Pakistan border, allowed Americans to monitor ports of entry and exits, suffered at the hands of terrorists from Afghanistan and India with 5 major attacks in the last one and half year and has seen investments and orders for its goods dry up. Just the direct, on-going expense of participating in the U.S. led global war in terrorism is costing Pakistan $100M USD per month. It would be fair to ask when and if Pakistan will be compensated, if not rewarded? It is no surprise that looking at Pakistan's situation and disparity, other countries are finding hard to come forward eagerly to commit their resources."

Canada is Outraged over US Refusal to Punish 'Friendly Fire' Pilots
23-Mar-03
Bush's War

Toronto Star reports, "Canadians wanted to see justice prevail in the 'friendly-fire' accident that cost Pte. Nathan Smith, Sgt. Mark Leger, Cpl. Ainsworth Dwyer and Pte. Ricky Green their lives in Afghanistan last year. Let us be absolutely clear: Most Canadians sought justice, not revenge. So there was widespread disappointment last week over the recommendation by U.S. Air Force Col. Patrick Rosenow that criminal charges be dropped against William Umbach and Harry Schmidt, the U.S. pilots responsible for the deaths of the four Canadian soldiers and the wounding of eight more. [Rosenow recommended] "administrative remedies" [that] don't involve criminal findings, [so] such punishments could range from a simple reprimand to dismissal from the air force. But such 'remedies' wouldn't constitute justice because they wouldn't hold the two pilots to account for their negligence, which sent four Canadians to their graves. Only trial by court martial could do that."

In December, US Army Killed 2 Afghan POW's
23-Mar-03
Bush's War

PentaPost reports, "The U.S. Army is conducting a criminal investigation into whether its soldiers caused the deaths of two Afghan prisoners at Bagram air base in December... The men died while under U.S. control, and a military pathologist listed homicide as their official cause of death... Many al Qaeda and Taliban operatives captured by U.S. and allied forces reportedly have been brought to the base at Bagram, about 35 miles north of Kabul, where a detention center has been established. U.S. officials will not identify prisoners held there... One of the prisoners, listed as Dilawar, 22, from the Khost area in southeastern Afghanistan, died on Dec. 10 from 'blunt force injuries to lower extremities complicating coronary artery disease,' according to his death certificate. The other, Mullah Habibullah, about 30, from the southern province of Oruzgan, died on Dec. 3. According to King, his death was also attributed to a blunt force injury, in addition to a blood clot in the lung."

Republicans Demand Vote to Hail Bush
23-Mar-03
Bush's War

"House Dems who wanted to voice their support for U.S. soldiers in Iraq with a congressional resolution said they were outraged that it also contained 'unequivocal' support for Bush, whose war policy they oppose. The House approved the two-page resolution early yesterday, with 11 Democrats voting against it and one Republican and 21 Democrats voting 'present.' The resolution lauded U.S. troops and praised the commander-in-chief 'for his firm leadership and decisive action in the conduct of military operations as part of the ongoing global war on terrorism.'... Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., who voted against the House resolution, said Republican leaders turned a resolution supporting U.S. troops into 'a political document supporting Bush. It's clearly stated over and over that we're giving unequivocal support for Bush, his leadership as commander in chief and it just seemed to me there was no need to bring in Bush, who I really thought failed at his diplomatic initiative,' Rangel said."

Iraqi Invasion Planning Began in Early 2002
23-Mar-03
Bush's War

Power elite portraitist Bob Woodward writes, "In his State of the Union address on Jan. 29, 2002, Bush declared that Iraq was part of an 'axis of evil' -- setting the country on what, in hindsight, seems like an inevitable course toward [conquest]. At about the same time, as the first phase of the war in Afghanistan was winding down following the ouster of the Taliban militia from power, Bush signed a secret intelligence order authorizing the CIA to undertake a comprehensive program to remove Hussein. He authorized spending upwards of $200 million to support opposition groups and expand intelligence collection... On a parallel track to this covert operation, Rumsfeld, Franks and other civilian and uniformed Pentagon officials began work on the administration's top-secret war plan... Early in September, according to sources, Bush was presented with a feasible, credible version of OPLAN 1003 V, the first that he truly seemed comfortable with."

Warmongers Celebrate Conquest of Iraq and Take Aim at Iran, Syria, France, Germany, and the UN
22-Mar-03
Bush's War

"Billed as a 'black coffee briefing on the war on Iraq', yesterday's breakfast for the influential hawks of the American Enterprise Institute was more of a victory celebration. With a few words of caution... the panel of speakers, part of the Bush administration's ideological vanguard, set out their bold vision of the postwar agenda: radical reform of the UN, regime change in Iran and Syria, and 'containment' of France and Germany. The failure of the first Bush administration to finish the job in 1991, according to William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, the US magazine, had resulted in 'a lack of awe for the US' in the Middle East, an absence of respect that fostered contempt of the US among Arabs and encouraged the rise of the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation. This war would redress those mistakes, Mr Kristol declared.. The fall of Mr Hussein would be an 'inspiration' for Iranians seeking to be free of their dictatorial mullahs, Mr Perle said." We have been warned...

Bush's Propaganda War: Only The Blood Is Real
22-Mar-03
Bush's War

Cheryl Seal writes, "The Bush War has begun. The God-fearin' armchair warriors are parked in front of their TV sets popping a beer and the American media is in all its gory, er, glory. If you are feeling a sense of unreality, you are not alone. Nor is your sense wrong. If there is anything that is real about this debacle, it is its total unreality. Sheer movie magic, in fact. I suspect most thinking folk out there have already put the evidence together and realize this war is not only being staged, it has been "under development" since shortly before Bush's inauguration. In fact, the project was "optioned" long before that. It's not enough that Bush already has the American mainstream press -hardcopy, online, or TV- promoting every off-the-cuff lie, fantasy scenario or piece of manufactured evidence he tosses out at them. He's into bigger stuff now. He has become the Samuel B. Goldwyn of bloodletting."

Breslin: 'We Are the Germany of 1939'
22-Mar-03
Bush's War

Jimmy Breslin writes, "I wonder if anybody watching this Shock and Awe bombing Friday noted that Iraq didn't have a plane. There is no joy to kill the bull unless he fights. You can't call this a war. The television people, and the politicians in Washington, said this was an extraordinary exhibition of bombing that never has been seen before. They used the right word, exhibition. An exhibition war, not a real war. You'll take it right now, if it keeps these young men of ours alive. Take it and gag on it, for this is a total character collapse of a country that was supposed to be so far above this loathsome act. You become the thing you hate. And Friday, we did. We became the Germany of 1939."

Death, Destruction, and Empire - The NeoCons REAL Goal
22-Mar-03
Bush's War

The Bush War of Empire and Dynastic Revenge began with an attempt to kill Saddam - had it succeeded, the war might have ended before it began. That would have been a disaster for the NeoCon chickenhawks. Alternet reports, "fortunately for the neo-conservative hawks over at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) on 19th St., three blocks from the White House, it appears that Hussein remains alive, and the invasion will now go forward as planned. 'That we appear not to have gotten Saddam Hussein last night ... may be a blessing in disguise,' came the email message from AEI's press center. A 'decapitation' strategy targeted on Hussein, his sons, and a few other top Ba'ath officials without a full-scale invasion and occupation represents a dangerous threat to the neocon vision for the future of the Middle East."

Bush Could Be Dictator of the World
21-Mar-03
Bush's War

Michael Kinsley writes, "Might is important, probably most important, but there are good, practical reasons for even might and right together to defer sometimes to procedure, law and the judgment of others. Uncertainty is one. If we knew which babies would turn out to be murderous dictators, we could smother them in their cribs. If we knew which babies would turn out to be wise and judicious leaders, we could crown them dictator. In terms of the power he now claims, without significant challenge, George W. Bush is now the closest thing in a long time to dictator of the world."

The Oil Currency War Theory
21-Mar-03
Bush's War

Although completely suppressed by the U.S. media and government, the answer to the Iraq enigma is simple yet shocking -- it is an oil currency war. The real reason for this upcoming war is this administration's goal of preventing further Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) momentum towards the euro as an oil transaction currency standard. However, in order to pre-empt OPEC, they need to gain geo-strategic control of Iraq along with its 2nd largest proven oil reserves. This essay will discuss the macroeconomics of the `petro-dollar' and the unpublicized but real threat to U.S. economic hegemony from the euro as an alternative oil transaction currency. The author advocates reform of the global monetary system including a dollar/euro currency `trading band' with reserve status parity, and a dual OPEC oil transaction standard. These reforms could potentially reduce future oil currency warfare.

Canadians Boo American National Anthem
21-Mar-03
Bush's War

Not all Canadian anti-war sentiment is reserved for Jean Chretien. A sellout crowd of hockey fans at Montreal's Belle Center gave their opinion when asked to show their "support and respect for two great nations" prior to the game pitting the Montreal Canadiens against the New Jersey Islanders. Fans booed loudly during the entire length of the American national anthem which was the second night in a row the anthem was dissed. Let's hope King George wasn't watching. He might interpret their actions as threatening the security of the United States and order a pre-emptive strike!

Texas NBA All-Star Speaks Out Against the War
21-Mar-03
Bush's War

Dallas Maverick's Steve Nash, an NBA All-Star, has become basketball's most outspoken anti-war advocate. The world of professional basketball holds parallels similar to the political world. When Nash wore a shirt bearing the slogan, "No War. Shoot for Peace," he was met with mostly positive reactions. However, as war loomed closer, Nash's words were twisted by the media and his views came under attack by the public as well as fellow Texas NBA star and ex-Naval Officer, David Robinson. Nash stuck to his guns and offered a poignant response to the criticism. "I'm not embarrassed by America," Nash said. "I'm embarrassed by humanity. More than embarrassed. I think it's really unfortunate in the year 2003 that we're still using violence as a means of conflict resolution. That is what I am speaking out against."

Putin Denounces 'The Law of the Fist'
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

"Vladimir Putin on Thursday demanded an immediate end to the U.S.-led military action against Iraq, denouncing it as a 'big political mistake' that threatens the existing international security system and could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe in the region. 'This military action cannot be justified,' a stern-looking Putin said in his toughest statement to date... 'If we allow international law to be replaced by the law of the fist, under which the strong is always right and is unlimited in the choice of means to achieve his goals, then one of the basic principles of international law, the principle of the inviolability of the sovereignty of states, will be put into question,' he said. Once this principle is ignored, 'no country in the world will feel safe, and the vast hotbed of instability that has appeared today will grow and prompt negative consequences in other regions of the world. For precisely these reasons, Russia demands the swiftest end to the military action,' he said."

Report Says War in Iraq is 'Unequivocally Illegal'
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

"War against Iraq is 'unequivocally illegal under the UN Charter and international law generally', according to a new report. The report rejects efforts by the U.S., U.K, and Australia to circumvent the U.N. Security Council and claim legal justification from past resolutions. Attempting to legitimize a war opposed by world public opinion, the U.S. Secretary of State, the U.K. Attorney-General, and the Australian Prime Minister have in the past 24 hours each issued major statements insisting that international law justifies their decision to attack Iraq. The report, issued by the New York-based Center for Economic and Social Right, cites a range of authoritative legal sources to dismiss their arguments. According to Professor Thomas Franck, a leading authority on the use of force, the use of old resolutions to support military action today 'makes a complete mockery of the entire system' of international law."

The Warmongers Who are Responsible for This W-ar
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

Will Pitt writes, "This war belongs to the cable news 'journalists' who have absolutely gone above and beyond the call of duty to sell this war to the American people... This war belongs to Richard Perle, Don Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, John Bolton, Dick Cheney and all the fellows from PNAC... [But] this war belongs first and foremost to George W. Bush. Mr. Bush ran a number of oil companies straight into the ground before becoming the constitutionally castrated governor of Texas... 160 nations want nothing to do with this attack, and eleven of the fifteen United Nations Security Council vote-counters told him to go pound sand, despite a month-long bribery campaign that would have made John Gotti blush with envy. The inevitable terrorist attacks upon our wholly unprepared shores are also, by the way, the sole property of Mr. Bush. The aftereffects of this attack on Iraq, which will effect your children's children, are also the sole property of Mr. Bush."

'Coalition of the Bribed, Bullied, and Bludgeoned' Fact Sheet
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

Colin Powell declared, "We now have a coalition of the willing that includes some 30 nations." The US has deployed 300,000 troops, the UK has 45,000. The rest of the coalition is: Australia, 2000... Romania, 278... Poland, 200... Albania, 70. That brings the total for "New Europe" up to 548. BushPowell's "coalition of the willing" is really "stepping up", as they say on TV - NOT!

Hitler Started WW2 after Running out of Patience, Claiming Wide Support with a Single Ally, Promising War until the Homeland was Secure
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

Newsday's Jimmy Breslin reminds us that on 9-1-39, Hitler declared: "If the German government and its leader patiently endured such treatment Germany would deserve only to disappear from the political stage. But I am wrongly judged if my love of peace and my patience are mistaken for weakness or even cowardice. I, therefore, decided Wednesday night and informed the British government that in these circumstances I can no longer find any willingness on the part of the Polish government to conduct serious negotiations with us. The other European states understand in part our attitude. I should like all to thank Italy, which throughout has supported us, but you will understand for the carrying on of this struggle ... we will carry out this task ourselves... Whoever fights with poison gas will be fought with poison gas. Whoever departs from the rules of humane warfare can only expect that we shall do the same... until the safety, security of the Reich and its rights are secured." Chilling.

BushPowell 'Diplomacy' Was a Joke - and a Pathetic Failure
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

William Pfaff writes, "We can certainly expect the war to be run with more professionalism than the diplomacy that has led up to the war [which] recalled Freedonia going to war in 'Duck Soup,' except that the Marx Brothers meant to be funny... A final UN resolution and vote were abandoned by the allies not only because they lacked the votes for authorizing war, but also because they faced the possibility of a majority vote against them - sending them to war in actual defiance of the Security Council. The problem was not the French veto. America and Britain had already said they would be satisfied with a 'moral victory' - a majority vote the French were forced to veto. The allies were blocked by concern that Angola, Chile, Pakistan, Cameroon, Guinea and Mexico might vote against them. This inability to persuade (or even intimidate or bribe) friendly countries on a matter so vital to the U.S. government is unprecedented in postwar history."

WWSD: What Will Sharon Do?
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

Because of the events of Gulf War I, it is assumed that Sharon will stay out of Bush's W-ar unless Iraq attacks Israel. But according to Ha'aretz, "Moshe Arens, Likud defense minister during the first Gulf war, suggested that Israel had been wrong in giving in to American pressure and refraining from responding to the dozens of Iraqi Scud missiles that rocked Israeli cities during the 1991 conflict... 'The absence of an Israeli response to Iraqi aggression against this country, no doubt, caused some damage to Israel's deterrent image in the Arab world,' he said... Tough-talking Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, told reporters over the weekend, 'In the event that Israel will be attacked, it will retaliate. There are also plans ready for such an incident,' he said. Asked if that meant Israel would consider striking Iraq first, he replied, 'This includes offensive acts. Unequivocally yes.'" Sharon has hundreds of nukes, and a right-wing government with no moral objections to using them.

'Is the War on Iraq Lawful?'
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

Michael C. Dorf, Professor of Law at Columbia University, asks "Is the war to disarm [Iraq] justified under international law? Has it been adequately authorized under U.S. law, with proper Congressional approval?...Under international law, force is authorized in essentially two or, at most, three circumstances. First, Articles 39 and 42 of the U.N. Charter permit the Security Council to 'determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression' and to authorize the use of force 'to maintain or restore international peace and security.' Second, Article 51 of the U.N. Charter recognizes 'the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence' against 'an armed attack.' Third, an international norm may be emerging that would permit nations to use military force to prevent genocide or other humanitarian catastrophes... Do either of the first two grounds - based on U.N. Charter provisions - justify war?"

Asian Muslims and Buddhists Denounce Attack on Iraq
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

Reuters reports, "Muslim leaders in Asia condemned the U.S. attack on Iraq on Thursday and said Americans would pay the price... 'This is not an attack on Islam but an attack on humanity,' said Syafii Maarif, head of the 30-million-strong moderate Muhammadiyah Muslim group in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. Malaysia's conservative Islamic opposition said Allah would bring about the U.S. superpower's eventual downfall. 'This despicable war exposes the ugliness of America and its allies,' said Abdul Hadi Awang, the president of Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS). 'PAS is convinced that this war is the start of America's destruction because Allah will not let any major power reign supreme forever.'... Murid Timasaen, spokesman for Thailand's Muslims for Peace Group, said Americans would never live in peace again. 'They have attracted more enemies than ever, not only from the Muslim world, but also from the Buddhist community,' he said."

W-ar is a Formality - the CEO's Have Already Won
20-Mar-03
Bush's War

Arianna Huffington writes, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner in Iraq. Yes, I know that the first smart bomb has yet to be dropped on Baghdad. But that's just a formality. The war has already been won. The conquering heroes are not generals in fatigues but CEOs in suits, and the shock troops are not an advance guard of commandos but legions of lobbyists. The Bush administration is currently in the process of doling out over $1.5 billion in government contracts to American companies lining up to cash in on the rebuilding of postwar Iraq. Bombs away! The more destruction the better -- at least for the lucky few in the rebuilding business. The United Nations has traditionally overseen the reconstruction of war zones like Afghanistan or Kosovo. But in keeping with its unilateral, the-world-is-our-sandbox approach to this invasion, the White House has decided to nail a 'Made in the USA' sign on this Iraqi fixer-upper. Postwar Iraq will be rebuilt using red, white, and blueprints."

Children Around the World Already Suffer Because of W-ar
19-Mar-03
Bush's War

"'The Iraq crisis has virtually blocked out every other emergency in the world,' Executive Director Carol Bellamy, said. 'Donors have been reluctant to commit resources to other major humanitarian emergencies because they're uncertain how much they might be asked to do for Iraq. That's understandable, but it's a real crisis for children in need in other countries.' Of the $501 million UNICEF requested for emergency programmes in more than 30 countries and territories for 2003, less than 14 per cent had been received by last month. Last year at the same time more than 30 per cent had already been met. Twelve countries in the 2003 appeal have received no funding at all, including Colombia, the Central African Republic and Rwanda. Even major emergencies in places such as Ethiopia and Eritrea, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Afghanistan are severely under-funded, leaving millions of children in jeopardy, UNICEF said."

The American Failure (Le Monde)
19-Mar-03
Bush's War

Le Monde writes, "Washington was mistaken on the firmness of the intentions in Paris; misled on the reactions of Turkey in this affair; misled on the state of the public opinion, including inside the United States; misled on its capacity to exert pressure on "the small" member states of the UN Security Council. The United States was mistaken on the role which they believed they could make the UN play, the role of recording a war prepared in advance and which had been decided for a long time. They did not improve their stand when they proclaimed, suddenly, as by coincidence on the day before going to war against an Arab country, their belated concern for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The effect was more negative than positive, winding up an obvious political-diplomatic failure, whatever the continuation of this unhappy adventure will prove to be."

Why W-ar? Because of the 9-20-01 Neocon Ultimatum for W-ar Against Saddam
19-Mar-03
Bush's War

Pat Buchanan writes, "On Sept. 15, 'Paul Wolfowitz put forth military arguments to justify a U.S. attack on Iraq rather than Afghanistan.' Why Iraq? Because, Wolfowitz argued in the War Cabinet, while 'attacking Afghanistan would be uncertain - Iraq was a brittle oppressive regime that might break easily. It was doable.' On Sept. 20, forty neoconservatives sent an open letter to the White House instructing Bush on how the war on terror must be conducted. Signed by Bennett, Podhoretz, Kirkpatrick, Perle, Kristol, and Krauthammer, the letter was an ultimatum. To retain the signers' support, Bush was told, he must target Hezbollah for destruction, retaliate against Syria and Iran if they refuse to sever ties to Hezbollah, and overthrow Saddam. Any failure to attack Iraq, the signers warned Bush, 'will constitute an early and perhaps decisive surrender in the war on international terrorism.'" Was this an act of treason?

The Cost of W-ar: There Is No Best Case Scenario
19-Mar-03
Bush's War

Cheryl Seal writes, "Bombs, alas, are no respecters of persons, places, or things, no matter what tidy euphuism you give them or their deployment. Bombs and the flying pieces of the targets they strike rip huge holes in streets, nearby buildings, and vehicles -not to mention people and animals, over a concentric area that extends far from the target. Bombs tear the hell out of power lines, out of sewage and water pipes, out of trees, roads, and everything else... 75% of the population now depends on the daily distribution of food from the state, 750-1,000 calories per adult per head, just to keep from starving. Bombs will wreck these already fragile supply lines. In the weeks following a bombardment by the US, the first to die in Baghdad will be small children, who, already malnourished, will be unable to get even canned milk. Bush says he has a few thousand tons of food ready to drop, but that same sham was used in Afghanistan with pathetic, if not disastrous results."

Bush's Naked Bid to Redraw the World Map
18-Mar-03
Bush's War

Robert Scheer writes, "The island bit over the weekend was a revealing farce. The three wannabe liberators, determined to export popular rule to Iraq, had to flee the protests of their own peoples to an inaccessible retreat in the Azores. How fitting to choose an island chain originally settled by a Portuguese Crusader whose goal was to encircle the Muslim world with Christian armies... Bush can at least claim a slim majority at home in support of his war after selling frightened Americans the big lie that Iraq is connected to 9/11. But how do British and Spanish leaders claim to be acting in the spirit of democracy when almost no one in their countries supports going to war without the backing of the United Nations, which has now been gutted?... How dare Bush and company champion freedom and the rule of law after running roughshod over the U.N. Security Council, following their failed attempt to intimidate or bribe a majority of members into compliance?"

Russia Will Keep Fighting for Peace within the UN
18-Mar-03
Bush's War

AP reports, "Russia's foreign minister on Tuesday called on the U.N. Security Council to hold a session that would return the UN to the forefront of efforts to settle the Iraq crisis even after the start of a U.S.-led war. 'We would like to hope that if the US starts a war against Iraq, that issue returns to the U.N. Security Council in the nearest time,' Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told reporters. 'In other words, we should bring this situation into the legal framework because only the Security Council has the right to settle such situations.'... He also warned that a war against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein would severely destabilize the world and the alliances it has created to fight terror. 'Regrettably, the integrity of the international anti-terror coalition is now in danger because of the looming threat of war against Iraq,' Ivanov said, hours before his scheduled departure for a meeting of U.N. foreign ministers in New York."

Pushed Into War By Liars And Cheats
18-Mar-03
Bush's War

UK Daily Mirror writes, "It was a rare moment of truth in the shabby charade which is plunging the world into war. Suddenly Bush's mask slipped. The pretence that he is a great statesman and the saviour of international freedom was laid bare. He was revealed as a petulant little man, sick of having to wait before sending his massive forces into Iraq, his patience with pretending to listen to other nations totally exhausted. Yesterday's trip to the Azores was always going to be a farce... No time for discussion but plenty of time to nod agreement with Bush. There is no longer any doubt that this rush to military action is one of the most sordid episodes since the Second World War. Mr Bush is only interested in blitzing Iraq... Responsibility for the coming conflagration lies four-square on America's shoulders."

NY Times Wrongly Thinks America's Power Will Survive W-ar
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

NY Times writes, "The country now stands at a decisive turning point, not just in regard to the Iraq crisis, but in how it means to define its role in the post-cold-war world. Bush's father and then Bill Clinton worked hard to infuse that role with America's traditions of idealism, internationalism and multilateralism. Under George W. Bush, however, Washington has charted a very different course. Allies have been devalued and military force overvalued... This war crowns a period of terrible diplomatic failure, Washington's worst in at least a generation. The Bush administration now presides over unprecedented American military might. What it risks squandering is not America's power, but an essential part of its glory." Hey NYT - how will we preserve America's "power" if Bush's jihad against Iraq puts a bullseye on the back of every US soldier, businessperson, and tourist throughout the Muslim world?????

The Idiot Prince Will Have His War
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

"FTW asked retired U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sergeant Stan Goff to re-examine what we can expect on the battlefield when the United States begins its invasion. The former instructor of military science at West Point describes a scenario that is vastly different from what was expected last September before the Bush administration encountered effective economic and political opposition. Now denied the luxuries of a multi-front invasion from Turkey and Saudi Arabia the U.S. war strategy has changed. The bottom line is that a great many more innocent civilians are going to be killed. And the first and possibly crippling breakdown of U.S. plans will happen in Kurdistan."

Russia Says Bush's W-ar is Illegal under UN 1441
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

Reuters reports, "Vladimir Putin said war 'will not only bring about human casualties but also destabilize the international community in general. 'There are 20 million Muslims living in Russia. We cannot afford not to consider their opinion and we fully share their alarm,' he added. Both Washington and Britain say military action now against Iraq would be legal. But Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said existing U.N. Security Council resolutions gave no one any legal right to launch a strike on Iraq. 'We believe the use of force against Iraq, especially with reference to previous resolutions of the U.N. Security Council, has no grounds, including legal grounds... Resolution 1441, to which so many references are made, does not give anyone the right to use force automatically,' he said... Ivanov said the resolution contained a clause obliging Security Council members, if necessary, to meet immediately to ensure Iraq's strict implementation of its terms."

General Hoar Predicts a Military Disaster in Baghdad
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

ABC Australia reports, "General Joseph Hoar would have commanded an assault on Baghdad if it were ordered six years ago. He says that now a siege and street to street fighting are highly likely. JOSEPH HOAR: The plan would be for [Republican Guard] divisions to fall back on Baghdad and it is going to be very difficult to prevent all of them from getting back and getting into defensive positions in the city. It is, I'm sure you know, Baghdad is a city of 4.5 million people... So it's a formidable obstacle and I would suggest to you that if only two or three of those divisions stand and fight it is going to delay a rapid, clean, quick victory... It's a disaster in my view, but the point is this is political from start to finish. I mean this is a pre-emptive attack. We're going to destroy a regime, because that's what it's about, it's not about weapons. [Cheney] said so about six or eight months ago before it was decided that we were going to go to the UN. That's what it is about."

If You Can't Get Your Way, Bamboozle, Bribe and Bully
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

"U.S. Resident George W. Bush and his gang of two claimed to be acting in the United Nations' best interest last night at their drive-by summit in the Azores. It's hard to see how. After paying lip service to the plight of the much-battered Iraqi people, Bush, Blair and Aznar gave the Security Council a 24-hour deadline to adopt a resolution threatening Iraq with war within a few days - unless Saddam can prove within that ludicrously short time that he has disarmed. If Bush and his allies can't raise the required 9 of 15 votes, or if they face a veto, they threaten to attack Iraq without authorization. This is raw contempt for the council and reckless disregard for the rule of law. U. N. Resolution 1441 contains no automatic trigger for war. Infuriating as Saddam is, and needful of being contained, the trio are on shaky moral and legal ground. Rather than making their case persuasively, they have tried to bamboozle, bribe and bully others into line."

Americans Vote for Internet Interracial Romance over W-ar and Murder
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

BBC reports, "Bringing Down the House, starring Steve Martin and Chicago's Queen Latifah, has topped the North American box office for a second week. The comedy, starring Martin as a lonely man who meets a prison inmate (Latifah) on the internet, took $22.4m to hold the top slot, despite strong competition from a host of new films. Agent Cody Banks, a comedy adventure spy parody, debuted at number two having taken $15m in its first three days. In third place was The Hunted, a serial killer thriller starring Benicio Del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones. It took $13.5m to make number three. Tears of the Sun, the Bruce Willis military thriller, is at number four in its second week of release. Bringing Down the House has proven to be an unexpected hit... 'Bringing Down the House is a perfect antidote for what's going on in the world. 'You go in for an hour and a half and escape from the world situation,' said Paul Dergarabedian." Americans want LOVE not W-ar!

UK Media Calls Blair 'Prime Monster'
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

Robin Cook, a key minister, House leader and former foreign secretary met with PM Tony Blair and resigned as a result of the impending war of aggression which will be perpetrated by the United States and the United Kingdom without United Nations Security Council approval. Other ministers and cabinet members are expected to jump ship as well. The British public has responded with outrage that is reflected in the British media. The Daily Mirror called Blair the "Prime Monster," and warned him, "Drag us into this war without the UN, Tony, and that's how history will judge you. For God's sake, man, don't do it." Labour MP George Galloway wrote in The Spectator magazine, "He is roving ambassador to the right-wing, born-again, Bible-belting fundamentalist crew which first turned Texas into the toxic execution chamber of the western world." Blair has called for an emergency meeting of Parliament on this issue, but it looks as though he will meet with even greater resistance.

Scud Stud Lobs a Missile at Bushevik Fundamentalists
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

Salon.com summarizes: "During the Gulf War, NBC reporter Arthur Kent was famed for his boyish good looks. Today, liberated from the network, he's free to say that Bush is out of control." From the article: "These [Bush administration] people appear to be doctrinaire political fundamentalists," he told Salon during a recent interview in New York. "It's rash amateurism, a doctrinaire, hard, right-wing attitude on the part of the Bush administration and its advisors. There are other explanations of ulterior motives related to the exploitation of oil resources, or the redrawing of the political map." (Only *political* fundamentalists, Arthur? How 'bout real, live nutty Christian ones, too?!)

UN Majority Stands Firm for Peace, So SORE LOSER Bush Defiantly Prepares CRIMINAL W-ar
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

AP reports, "The US, Britain and Spain on Monday ended diplomatic efforts to win UN approval for an ultimatum to Iraq, clearing the way for them to launch a [CRIMINAL] war without Security Council authority... French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said that in one-on-one consultations in the past hours 'the majority of the council confirmed they do not want a use of force.'... Tony Blair said Sunday that British diplomats would work through the night to try to persuade France to reverse course. But clearly, the efforts didn't yield results... France was undeterred from the start and scheduled Monday's round of consultations to discuss a joint declaration by Paris, Moscow and Berlin calling for foreign ministers from the 15 council nations to meet Tuesday to discuss a 'realistic' timetable for Saddam Hussein to disarm." But Bush doesn't WANT Saddam to disarm, he wants him gone. SORE LOSER Bush lost the UN game, so he grabbed his marbles and went home to launch a CRIMINAL W-ar.

Cuomo Says Bush's W-ar Will Ensure Defeat in 2004
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

Mario Cuomo writes, "And what of his political future if Bush's war becomes his proudest boast in 2004? I think he will face the same fate Winston Churchill did in 1945 ... and his father did in 1992. The majority of the United Nations and world opinion comes closer to the truth than does Bush, and by November 2004, that will be clear to a majority of the American voters. After the music of the victory parades fade, we will reflect upon the sober truth of the war. We will remember the death and destruction, the debilitated economy, the increased terrorism, the deteriorated world unity and the ugly irony of a nation which says it is too poor to provide its people the health care, education and old age security they need, but rich enough to fight wars, reconstruct other nations and give its wealthiest taxpayers huge tax cuts. Why then, would we want to vote for more of the same?"

15 Reasons Why Karl Rove Wants W-ar
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

BuzzFlash writes, "1. The permanent war public relations strategy is, in large part, aimed at keeping any of the numerous Bush domestic disasters off of the political table. War supersedes even an economy down the tubes. 2. Keeping the threat of terror simmering on the burner through ginned up and meaningless terror alerts scares Americans into supporting Bush, because they seemingly have no option, since they believe they are under a constant terrorist threat. This leads to a sort of 'Stockholm Syndrome' for the nation as a whole. Most Americans look to their psychological tormentor for protection from an outside threat perceived as the more serious of two evils... [But] the number one reason is that it has no Plan 'B.' In a just-published book about Karl Rove, 'Bush's Brain,' a Democratic political consultant is quoted as saying about the Bush Cartel: 'They just picked a war they could win....It has to be the most evil political calculation in American history.'"

Even the Ultimatum is Bushit!
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

In the Azores, "Bush said that Monday would be 'a moment of truth for the world' and urged other nations to support 'the immediate and unconditional disarmament' of Saddam Hussein. But diplomats said it was not immediately clear what the US, Britain and Spain wanted from the Security Council on Monday. Washington could call for a vote on a resolution that would set an ultimatum for Iraq to disarm within days or face war. The current resolution would set the deadline for Monday, but U.S. officials said that could be extended briefly. The US also could abandon the initiative... U.S. and British diplomats were doubtful their resolution would be put to a vote Monday... Bush made no commitment to call a vote, change the deadline or withdraw the resolution. Bush said last week he would seek a council vote even if it appeared doomed to defeat. Under U.N. rules, the US and Britain must give a 24-hour notice before calling a Security Council vote."

Why the World Opposes Bush's W-ar
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

LA Times writes, "What Americans see largely as a campaign to eliminate one Middle Eastern dictator -- Saddam Hussein -- is viewed by many in Europe and especially the Arab world as nothing less than a watershed in global affairs. They worry that America's self-declared right to launch preemptive wars, its willingness to dismiss the UN, to shuck allies and make plans to invade and occupy another country -- all amid talk of remaking the Mideast -- are the beginning of the end of the post-World War II order and the start of an American Imperium. Indeed, for a growing number of observers outside the US, the central issue in the crisis is no longer Iraq or Hussein. It is America and how to deal with its disproportionate strength as a world power. What the Bush administration describes as a war of liberation is widely seen abroad -- even by those who condemn the Iraqi president -- as a war of occupation."

W's Wanton W-ar of Lies
17-Mar-03
Bush's War

Michael Hammerschlag writes, "Again and again GB2 has tried to tie Saddam with Osama: Saddam supports him, he gives Al Qaida refuge, he's about to finish a nuclear bomb. Lies, damned lies, and whatever the third one is. OBL hates Saddam, he is an unbeliever who's annihilated Moslem leaders along with any others who could lift a finger in opposition...OBL would boil him in oil, if given his druthers. Trumped up evidence, repackaged long past its freshness date, till it stinks with the corruption of this regime. The truth is- Bush planned to invade Iraq, to outdo and avenge his father, to kill a persistent irritant, to guarantee a stable source of oil, to cow the world... before he became President. All rationales, all reasons, all explanations, are window dressing on a clumsy thuggish foreign policy, one opposed by 98% of the world. If Saddam was stripped naked and staked to the ground in the western Iraq desert, it wouldn't be enough to stop Bush's Wanton War."

The 'Axis of Empire' Meets in Azores to Launch the 21st Century US Empire
16-Mar-03
Bush's War

Portugal, Spain, and England were the greatest empires of the past 5 centuries, until the US emerged from WWII as the world's dominant power. Although FDR and subsequent Presidents rejected the idea of outright US imperialism, they nevertheless used the CIA to impose semi-imperial rule by overthrowing democratic governments and imposing right-wing dictators - including Iraq's Baathist regime. So the gathering of these 4 nations in the Azores can rightly be called the "Axis of Empire." This meeting is the last act of Bush's massive charade of make-believe "negotiations" whose only object is to provide international support for the destruction of the United Nations and the formal creation of the US Empire, starting in Iraq. BushBlairAznar were forced to meet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean because the people of the world have united behind a single word: NO!

Bush's W-ar Could Rank with Pol Pot's Genocide
16-Mar-03
Bush's War

Marc Ash writes, "What George W. Bush and Tony Blair are planning is the greatest act of human slaughter since Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge orchestrated the Cambodian genocide in the mid 1970s. That act killing some 1.5 to 2 million largely defenseless and quite peaceful Cambodians. Civilian Iraq is utterly defenseless and totally unprepared for the carnage that is about to be visited upon them. It is murder plain and simple, murder on an unimaginable scale. There is no 'war' looming, no 'conflict' with Iraq, and no 'standoff.' What exists is a vast military force poised to inflict death and destruction on a major population center. Those who live there will attempt to defend themselves, but they will fail, and the dead will cover the ground like a fallen forest. Should this act of insanity proceed, it will stand as one of the greatest crimes against humanity ever recorded."

Bush Started Iraq Invasion Planning at First NSC Meeting
16-Mar-03
Bush's War

Bush campaigned on a "humble" foreign policy. But at his very first National Security Council meeting, he ordered the Pentagon to begin planning an invasion of Iraq, according to Mark Matthews of the Baltimore Sun. The younger Bush entered office "determined to do something about the Saddam problem," a White House official agrees. "Those around the table, including the president [sic], were clearly regime-change supporters," said another official at the meeting, who declined to be identified. "On Sept. 17 2001, Wolfowitz pushed the idea [of invading Iraq] at a Camp David meeting Bush held with top aides, according to Woodward and others. But Powell said it would unsettle the anti-terror coalition he was building. Cheney said the timing was not right." Thus, any link to 9-11 is utter Bushit.

Cheney's W-ar is a BIG LIE about WMD
16-Mar-03
Bush's War

Vice Emperor Cheney spent a full hour on Meet the Press justifying the US conquest of Iraq. When pressed, Cheney's reason for W-ar was his claim that Saddam is "REBUILDING" his WMD arsenal - chemical, biological, and nuclear - and would share it with Al Qaeda. For 4 months, UN inspectors have combed Iraq and found ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE of any active WMD program. Every shred of "evidence" that Bush's CIA has provided has been proved to be a manufactured fraud. Mohamed ElBaradei has flatly declared that Iraq has no nuclear program, and evidence to the contrary was forged - which Cheney simply denied. Hans Blix has reported no active chemical or biological program, and is working with Iraq to account for pre-1991 stocks. Nevertheless, Tim Russert never once challenged Cheney's BIG LIE that Saddam is "REBUILDING" WMD's. We MUST stop Bush's Big Lie W-ar!

Bush Will Make Iraq our 51st State - Hello?
16-Mar-03
Bush's War

Thomas Powers writes, "When the regime finally changes in Baghdad, and Saddam is dead, in custody or in exile, 70 years of Iraqi independence will end, political authority will pass into the hands of George W. Bush and Western rule will be planted on Arab soil for the first time since the French and British left the region in the middle of the last century. What then happens to Iraq's 23 million people, its oil and its relations with its neighbors will remain the personal responsibility of Mr. Bush and his successors in the White House until one of them chooses to surrender it. This dramatic expansion of Bush's job description, little discussed during the long months of argument at the United Nations over Iraqi weapons, will be the immediate practical result of an American military victory and the occupation of Iraq by the Army's Central Command. As the military commander in chief, the president will have virtually unlimited power to change and rebuild Iraq as he sees fit."

Blair Will Present W-ar Ultimatum to UN, but Faces Revolt from Labour MP's
16-Mar-03
Bush's War

UK Guardian reports, "Tony Blair held an emergency 'war Cabinet' meeting Saturday to finalise plans for military action against Iraq and demand that the United Nations comes to a decision on the vital second resolution against Saddam Hussein within 24 hours... The UN was given until tomorrow evening to come to a final choice on whether to back a second resolution or see America and Britain launch military action alone. If it is clear Britain and the US cannot get the necessary nine votes to pass the resolution in the council, they will dump plans to put it to a vote and announce that Saddam is in 'material breach' of UN resolution 1441 passed last November... It is expected that an air bombing campaign, followed by a massive ground offensive, would start within a few days... Only 17 of the 129 MPs, asked if they would support military action against Iraq without a second resolution said that they would, and 95 said that they would not."

Kurds Fear Turkey More than Saddam
15-Mar-03
Bush's War

Nick Kristof writes, "'The Turkish government has been far worse to the Kurds than Saddam has,' one well-educated Kurd said bitterly. His comment stunned me, for Turkey never used poison gas or conducted mass executions as Saddam did, but one Kurd after another said the same thing. They described past Turkish military techniques like raping wives in front of husbands, or assembling villagers to watch men being tied and dragged to their death behind tanks, and they noted that Turkey had been less tolerant of Kurdish language and culture than Saddam... If our claims to be acting on behalf of the people of Iraq are to have credibility and moral legitimacy, we must try to stop Kurds from being slaughtered not only by our enemies in Baghdad, but also by our friends in Ankara. And we should certainly not acquiesce in such steps as a Turkish invasion of northern Iraq, which could trigger a new spiral of clashes and repression in Turkey."

To Avoid Global Protests, BushBlairAznar Summit Will Be in the Ocean
14-Mar-03
Bush's War

On Sunday, citizens around the world will gather for candlelight vigils for peace. But Bush, Blair, and Anzar won't see these protests - because they are holding their W-ar "summit" in the Azores, an island chain in the Atlantic 900 miles from the Portuguese coast. In defiance of world opinion, BBA will abandon their failed efforts for a UN ultimatum, and instead make a secret decision to launch an illegal W-ar of aggression. To provide "cover" for this criminal action, BBA will make vague noises about a "roadmap" to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, maybe around the year 2005 or 2050 or 2500. Impeach Bush Now!

Bush is Lying about Bringing Democracy to the Middle East
14-Mar-03
Bush's War

When his pretexts for starting a war were disproven one after the other, George W. Bush began claiming that the war would replace Saddam Hussein's tyranny with a democratic government. And that the beneficent influence of this democracy would lead to democracies springing up all over the Middle East like mushrooms after a heavy rain. But a leaked State Department document tells a very different story. It says that economic and social problems are likely to undermine stability in the region for years, let alone prospects for democratic reform. It also warns that anti-American sentiment could lead to the rise of Islamic-controlled governments hostile to the United States. The "domino theory" that justified the long and disastrous war in Vietnam was proven to be nonsense, and this new "domino theory" is just as nonsensical and dangerous.

Secret US Government Report Says Mideast Democracy Promise is Bushit
14-Mar-03
Bush's War

LA Times reports, "A classified State Dept report expresses doubt that installing a new regime in Iraq will foster the spread of democracy in the Middle East, a claim Bush has made in trying to build support for a war... The report exposes significant divisions within the Bush administration over the so-called democratic domino theory... [It] says that daunting economic and social problems are likely to undermine basic stability in the region for years, let alone prospects for democratic reform. Even if some version of democracy took root - an event the report casts as unlikely - anti-American sentiment is so pervasive that elections in the short term could lead to the rise of Islamic-controlled governments hostile to the US. 'Liberal democracy would be difficult to achieve... Electoral democracy, were it to emerge, could well be subject to exploitation by anti-American elements.'"

BushBlair UN Ultimatum is Dead
14-Mar-03
Bush's War

PentaPost reports, "A US-backed U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing war against Iraq appears doomed to fail, though the Bush administration agreed to a British request to continue negotiations until Monday... US officials in recent days have claimed, without providing evidence, that they were within striking distance of reaching the necessary nine votes on the deeply divided Security Council. But officials were noticeably gloomy today after a British compromise offered Wednesday was largely rejected by the six countries that are officially undecided. In addition to an almost certain French veto, and the possibility of a Russian veto, officials said they were convinced they would not even achieve what they call the 'moral victory' of nine votes... The apparent defeat of the resolution would be a stunning diplomatic setback for Bush and... Blair... The failure to win all but a handful of votes for military action is an unusually public rebuff of the US. "

W-ar without 2nd UN Resolution is Illegal - PERIOD
13-Mar-03
Bush's War

UK law professor Matthew Happold writes, "Is war illegal without a second UN resolution? The prohibition of the use of force is a foundational rule of international law. Only two exceptions are permitted: the use of force in self-defence, or with the express authorisation of the UN security council exercising its powers under chapter VII of the UN charter. Iraq has not attacked the US, the UK or their allies, nor is there any evidence that it is about to do so. Force may only be used in self-defence in response to an actual or (according to some commentators) an imminent armed attack. Therefore any arguments based on self-defence fail. What the US national security strategy has advocated are pre-emptive attacks on countries which may threaten the US. The use of armed force in such circumstances is contrary to international law. What about UN resolution 1441? Security council resolution 1441 does not authorise the use of force. Any attack on Iraq would consequently be illegal."

Court Says Declaration of War Lawsuit is Not 'Ripe'
13-Mar-03
Bush's War

Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., "The Federal Appeals Court in Boston today upheld the District Court's ruling, but dismissed it's reasoning... The appellate court held that it needed additional facts for 'ripeness'... If the UN votes against a war resolution - or does not vote at all, which is tantamount to voting against a war resolution - but Bush indicates that the U.S. will proceed in leading a preemptive attack against Iraq, our lawyers will immediately go back to the appellate court and request a rehearing... If such actions occur, we believe today's appellate court ruling infers that they will be on our side because the October, 2002, congressional resolution requires a UN Resolution in support of military action against Iraq. Absent a UN resolution, we believe Bush lacks the legal authority to conduct a military action against Iraq. 'We still contend that Article I, Section 8, affirms that only Congress, not the Executive Branch, has the power to declare war.'"

The Dubya War Glossary (Humor?)
12-Mar-03
Bush's War

For those who wonder what Bush's words mean, Geov Parrish has compiled a helpful dictionary of Bush's Newspeak. "allies n. Tony Blair... disarm v. To blow to smithereens... precision bombing n. Replaces smart bombs. What a morally enlightened country like the United States does. Involves using MOABs, daisy cutters, or up to 3,000 cruise missiles to create firestorms that convert oxygen to carbon monoxide and asphyxiate anyone within range of the miles-wide inferno; and then pretending that the resulting fatalities do not exist. See: civilian casualties... World n. The collection of nations and peoples which thinks George Bush is out of his freakin' mind." Amen.

To Scare Saddam, Bush Bombs... Florida!
12-Mar-03
Bush's War

We pity the poor psychological warfare experts at the Pentagon. Since September, they have tried every conceivable trick to scare Saddam into surrendering. They put 200,000 troops at his doorstep... dropped millions of leaflets urging citizens to revolt... broadcast propaganda from airborne radio stations... threatened to unleash 3,000 missiles over the first 48 hours... even e-mailed Iraqi generals urging them to kill Saddam (Subj: We'll make you the biggest dick in Iraq). Alas, none of this psychobushit has worked. So they must have asked Gomer Pyle for one last idea that would surely cause Saddam to run screaming from his palace begging for peace. How else to explain a near-nuclear attack on the very state that put Bush himself in the White House?

Bush May Have to Invade Iraq without Britain
11-Mar-03
Bush's War

UK Independent reports, "America has suggested for the first time that Britain may have to reduce its role in a war against Iraq -or not take part at all - because of Tony Blair's political difficulties. Asked whether the US would go to war without Britain or with Britain playing a smaller part than planned, Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, said Britain's situation was 'distinctive', an apparent reference to the opposition among the public and Labour MPs to an invasion without the passage of a second United Nations resolution. Mr Blair faced fresh pressure yesterday when 40 Labour MPs called publicly for him to step aside. Mr Rumsfeld said: 'What will ultimately be decided is unclear as to their [Britain's] role in the event that a decision is made to use force.' Speaking at the Pentagon, he added 'Until we know what the resolution is, we won't know what their role will be and the extent they'll be able to participate.'" That would leave Australia as Bush's only ally.

Bushfeld Pentagon Threatens to Kill Independent Reporters in Iraq
11-Mar-03
Bush's War

Fintan Dunne writes, "The Pentagon has threatened to fire on the satellite uplink positions of independent journalists in Iraq, according to veteran BBC war correspondent, Kate Adie. In an interview with Irish radio, Ms. Adie said that questioned about the consequences of such potentially fatal actions, a senior Pentagon officer had said: 'Who cares...They've been warned.' According to Ms. Adie, who twelve years ago covered the last Gulf War, the Pentagon attitude is: 'entirely hostile to the the free spread of information'... She also warned that the Pentagon is vetting journalists according to their stance on the war, and intends to take control of US journalists' satellite equipment -- in order to control access to the airwaves. Another guest on the show, war author Phillip Knightley, reported that the Pentagon has also threatened they: 'may find it necessary to bomb areas in which war correspondents are attempting to report from the Iraqi side.'"

Bush Can't Get a Majority on the UN Security Council, and Never Will
10-Mar-03
Bush's War

"Bush's urgent phone campaign to world leaders, seeking their support for a tough deadline on Iraq, came up short Monday - forcing a delay of the Security Council's vote and opening the doors to a possible compromise to give Saddam Hussein more time. The US had hoped to present the resolution to the council on Tuesday, setting a March 17 deadline for Iraqi disarmament or war. But the vote was put on hold when it became evident that America and its allies had not yet won the nine votes they needed for a majority. But even nine votes wouldn't be enough. French President Jacques Chirac declared that his country would veto any resolution that opened the way to war. The Russians also said they would vote against the proposal as it was currently worded... Pakistan's prime minister said for the first time publicly that his country, a key swing vote on the council, wouldn't support war with Iraq. And Chile suggested it is not prepared to embrace the resolution without changes."

Have the Americans Gone Mad?
10-Mar-03
Bush's War

Salon's Gary Kamiya writes, "[This] is the view of most of the people in the world - one forcefully expressed by the British novelist John le Carre, who wrote a piece in the Times of London called 'The USA has gone mad.' It isn't just the Security Council, or the U.N., although America's isolation there is disturbing enough. That the overwhelming majority of people on earth - regardless of their paid-off or strategically-aligned governments' official positions - believe that America is going down a terribly wrong path is something that should inspire far deeper reflection, and doubt, among American policymakers, and the general public, than it has. When millions of people ... took to the streets in dozens of cities around the globe, Bush dismissed them as a 'focus group.' So much for the largest worldwide demonstrations in human history, a first stunning street plebiscite in a nascent global democracy."

BushBlair Love Affair Hits the Skids
10-Mar-03
Bush's War

Newsweek reports, "British officials have questioned the suggestion by Colin Powell that there are links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. And London has complained that the Bush administration has limited diplomatic maneuvering room with its harsh rhetoric and restrictive U.N. deadlines. Privately, British officials agree with their French counterparts that there has been a 'rush to war' led by the US - a rush dictated by the political cycle in Washington and military concerns about the weather... Bush Blair also differ on the whole U.N. process. One senior Bush administration official admitted last week that the latest resolution was designed only to help the British and Spanish leaders at home, where they face huge opposition to war... For Blair, the fate of the latest vote will influence whether he wins or loses a parliamentary vote on war-and that, in turn, could even determine whether he keeps his job in Downing Street. "

Russia Will Veto BushBlair UN Ultimatum
10-Mar-03
Bush's War

Reuters reports, "Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Monday Russia would vote against the new draft U.N. resolution on Iraq, a move that would veto the U.S.-sponsored measure. 'Russia thinks that now there is no need for any new U.N. resolutions, and that is why Russia has openly declared that if the draft that has been submitted for consideration, and which contains unfulfillable ultimatum-type demands, will be put to vote, Russia will vote against this resolution,' he said. Ivanov did not use the word 'veto' but a Russian foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that he meant exactly that. Ivanov, speaking at a ceremony at a Moscow university, said U.N. weapons inspectors needed several more months to finish their work in Iraq, where they are looking for suspected weapons of mass destruction."

Chile Tells Bush to Define 'Disarm'
09-Mar-03
Bush's War

The very heart of Bush's Iraq charade has been his adamant refusal to define "disarmament" - the precise actions Iraq must take to avoid W-ar. Two weeks ago, Canada's Jean Chretien exposed Bush's charade by proposing a compromise UN resolution that would specify "benchmarks." Bush has refused to set benchmarks so he can keep repeating his empty mantra that "Saddam refuses to disarm." Bush dismissed Canada's proposal, but now Chile is proposing the same plan - and Bush can't ignore Chile because it is one of the crucial swing votes on the Security Council. Keep your eye on the Chile plan...

The Xanax Cowboy Lies About Iraq-Al Qaeda Link to Justify W-ar
09-Mar-03
Bush's War

Maureen Dowd: "As he rolls up to America's first pre-emptive invasion, bouncing from motive to motive, Bush is trying to sound rational, not rash. Determined not to be petulant, he seemed tranquilized. But the Xanax cowboy made it clear that Saddam is going to pay for 9/11. Even if the fiendish Iraqi dictator was not involved with Al Qaeda, he has supported 'Al Qaeda-type organizations,' as Bush fudged, or 'Al Qaeda types' or 'a terrorist network like Al Qaeda'... It still confuses many Americans that, in a world full of vicious slimeballs, we're about to bomb one that didn't attack us on 9/11 (like Osama); that isn't intercepting our planes (like North Korea); that isn't financing Al Qaeda (like Saudi Arabia); that isn't home to Osama and his lieutenants (like Pakistan); that isn't a host body for terrorists (like Iran, Lebanon and Syria)... Citing 9/11 eight times in his news conference was exploitative, since the administration concedes there is no evidence tying Iraq to 9/11."

Advisors Warn Bush He Faces 'Humiliating' Defeat on World Stage
08-Mar-03
Bush's War

From the rightwing Capitol Hill Blue: "Senior aides to George W. Bush say he faces a humiliating defeat before the United Nations Security Council next week. Secretary of State Colin Powell, fresh from his latest round of meetings with representatives of countries on the Security Council, delivered the bad news to Bush on Monday. 'You will lose...,' Powell told Bush. 'You will lose badly and the United States will be humiliated on the world stage'... Some White House advisors are now urging the resident to back off his tough stance on war with Iraq and give UN weapons inspectors more time. 'We have no other choice,' admits one Bush advisor. 'We don't have the votes. We don't have the support.'" But Smirky don't need no stinkin' allies...

Bush Won't Speak in Europe Unless It's a Nuremberg Rally
08-Mar-03
Bush's War

Daily Mirror reports, "Bush pulled out of a speech to the European Parliament when MEPs wouldn't guarantee a standing ovation. White House officials said Bush would only go to Strasbourg to talk about Iraq if he had a stage-managed welcome. A source close to negotiations said last night: 'Bush agreed to a speech but insisted he get a standing ovation like at the State of the Union address.' His people also insisted there were no protests, or heckling... Mr Bush's every appearance in the US is stage-managed, with audiences full of supporters. It was hoped he would speak after he welcomed Warsaw pact nations to Nato in Prague last November. But his refusal to speak to EU leaders face-to-face is seen as a key factor in the split between the US-UK coalition and Europe. The source added: 'Relations between the EU and the US are worsening fast - this won't help.'"

Bush Presents March 17 Ultimatum, But Russia Warns Bush against Defying the UN
08-Mar-03
Bush's War

Fascist News reports, "With a quarter-million troops poised to swarm into Iraq, the US and Great Britain are giving Saddam Hussein until March 17 to comply with U.N. inspections and disarmament demands - or face war. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Friday distributed the text of a deadline addendum to a British-American-Spanish resolution authorizing war with Iraq. The US and Britain will ask the council to vote early next week... France rejected the deadline proposal and threatened to use its veto to defeat it... Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also said his country opposes setting a deadline and warned that unilateral military action against Iraq would violate the UN' charter. 'If the US unilaterally begins military action in relation to Iraq, it would violate the U.N. charter and, of course, when the U.N. Charter is violated, the Security Council must gather, discuss the situation and make the corresponding decisions.'" Stop Bush's War!

We are the Hijacked Passengers Aboard a Doomed Nation
07-Mar-03
Bush's War

Geov Parrish writes, "You know what I feel like? I feel like one of those passengers on those doomed jets that were hijacked on 9/11.. I very much feel like the unlucky passenger in a jet that has been hijacked, and piloted for over two years now, by religious maniacs who, I am gradually concluding, are on a path to kill us all -- along with a great many other innocents on the ground -- on the way to fulfillment of their obscure religious and political agenda... It is as if, firstly, the United States is presumed to have the right to invade the privacy of political opponents anywhere and everywhere; and secondly, it is as if the United States, having had all its arguments for invasion refuted, is now simply taking the position that it is so militarily powerful that it needs no stinkin' reason. And nobody on the jet says a word... We have given up all hope of subduing the hijackers, and so pretend we don't care or sink into our private fate." Read this powerful essay.

Bush Hits a Brick Wall at the U.N.
07-Mar-03
Bush's War

NY Times reports, "Hans Blix, said that Iraq's cooperation has been 'proactive' and its destruction of a hotly disputed missile system offered a 'substantial measure' of disarmament... He said 'it will not take years, nor weeks, but months,' for his inspections to be completed. France's foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin... said that France would oppose any deadline imposed on Iraq to comply with inspections, saying that such a deadline would be 'a pretext for war.'... Russia, Germany, and China voiced similar concerns... Mexico and Chile... said today that they preferred to seek a peaceful outcome to the crisis rather than a military strike." Bush says "No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote" - but Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Al-Douri says "They don't have the votes." Hey George, this may be the first election you can't steal!

Republicans Say Bush is Playing 'Texas Poker'
06-Mar-03
Bush's War

Bob Novak writes, "A senior Bush official privately admits what his administration cannot declare publicly. The stagnant economy, a dagger aimed at the heart of George W. Bush's second term, will not immediately respond to Bush's economic growth program. The economic engine will not be revived until the war against Saddam Hussein is launched and won. Military victory is anticipated inside the Bush administration as the tonic that will prompt corporation officers and private investors to unleash the American economy's dormant power. Although it is impolitic to say so, the fact that the U.S will be sitting on a new major oil supply will stimulate the domestic economy. That puts a high premium on quickly gaining control of Iraq's oil wells before they can be torched -- a major uncertainty in an otherwise strictly scripted scenario. 'This is Texas Poker, with Bush putting everything on Iraq,' a Republican senator (who thoroughly approves of this policy) told me."

Who Lost Iraq (2): PentaPost Blames Bush
06-Mar-03
Bush's War

PentaPost blames Bush's Iraq failure on "a number of factors. These include its hard-edged rhetoric, and what many say is a growing distrust of the administration's motives and its failure to make a case that Iraq poses an imminent danger." Start with the "Fox Factor": "The blunt talk often used by Bush and other senior U.S. officials when referring to Iraq - often effective among supporters at home - has not translated well among foreign audiences." Second is the Rumsfeld-Wolfowitz-Perle axis of W-ar: "The Pentagon intensified its military buildup around Iraq even as the inspections got underway, signaling that the United States was prepared to go into battle regardless of what the United Nations decided." Last is the Bushit Factor: "Most fundamentally, the administration has not been able to convince enough people around the world that Iraq posed enough of a threat to justify war," by constantly switching rationales from "regime change" to "disarmament" to "democracy."

Who Lost Iraq (1): NYTimes Blames France First, then Bush
06-Mar-03
Bush's War

Despite months of spin that the UN would support Bush's W-ar, the UN is ultimately saying NO. That means Bush's Iraq policy is a dismal failure, and the "blame game" is about to begin. The NY Times is first out of the box, blaming French "intransigence." Sorry guys, France was consistent - inspectors had to be given a chance to succeed, not declared a failure from day 1 as Bush did. The Times reluctantly admits that Bush shares the blame: "Mr. Bush and his team laid the groundwork for this mess with their arrogant handling of other nations and dismissive attitude toward international accords." You got that right.

France & Russia Promise Veto - Powell Promises Illegal W-ar
05-Mar-03
Bush's War

AP reports, "French, German, Russian foreign ministers said Wednesday at a news conference in Paris that they will 'not allow' passage of a U.N. resolution to authorize war against Iraq. 'We will not allow a resolution to pass that authorizes resorting to force,' French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said at a press conference. 'Russia and France, as permanent members of the Security Council, will assume their full responsibilities on this point'.... [But Colin] Powell said that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein 'must be disarmed ... and he will be disarmed - peacefully, hopefully, but if necessary, the United States is prepared to lead a coalition of the willing, a coalition of willing nations, either under U.N. authority or without U.N. authority, if that turns out to be the case, in order to disarm this man.'" All eyes turn to Britain - will the opposition let Blair go to war without UN approval?

The First War of the Age of Proliferation
04-Mar-03
Bush's War

Martin Amis writes, "The coming assault on Iraq may perhaps be the Last War of the Ottoman Succession; it will certainly be the first War of the Age of Proliferation - the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)... The frank answer to the question 'why now?' [is] something like: a) to pre-empt Saddam's acquisition of more WMDs; b) in good time for the next election; and c) before the weather gets too hot. Without his war, Bush is an obvious one-term blowhard; and he listens to his political handler, Karl Rove, at least as keenly as he listens to Donald Rumsfeld. The supplementary motivation, hatched at the thinktank and prayer-breakfast level, is, I fear, visionary in tendency. It has been noticed that a great deal of the world's wealth is in the hands of a collection of corrupt, benighted and above all defenceless regimes. The war, as they see it, will not be an oil-grab so much as a natural ramification of pure power: manifest destiny made manifest, for the good of all."

War Criminals Bush and Blair Plan W-ar over UN Objections
03-Mar-03
Bush's War

Pentagon Post writes, "If nine votes can be assembled within several days of the Friday meeting with Blix, and if Russian and Chinese abstentions are assured, U.S. and diplomatic officials said they may vote at the end of next week even under threat of a French veto. 'We could let them veto it and then turn on them,' one official said. If there are not nine votes, the official said, 'then there will be no vote.' Under such a scenario, the United States and Britain would then proceed to a decision on war without the council. Although British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he prefers a council vote, officials have said in recent days that he is committed to the participation of British troops with or without one." This violates Bush's promise to Congress to exhaust all diplomatic options, and Blair's repeated promises to the Labour Party and to Parliament to get UN approval. It will also make Bush and Blair war criminals when the first shot is fired. Impeach Bush and Blair!

Add Your Name to MoveOn's Anti-War Petition to the Security Council
03-Mar-03
Bush's War

MoveOn has launched an emergency petition from citizens around the world to the U.N. Security Council. The petition expresses support for UN authority and opposition to Bush's War. MoveOn will be delivering the list of signers and your comments to the 15 member states of the Security Council on THURSDAY, MARCH 6. If hundreds of thousands of people sign, it could be an enormously important and powerful message -- people from all over the world joining in a single call for a peaceful solution. But they really need your signature, and soon. Please sign and ask your friends and colleagues to sign TODAY.

Turkey Gets $$$Billions, While US Gets Bushit
03-Mar-03
Bush's War

Knight-Ridder reports, "Bush is stepping up his efforts to rally Americans for war with Iraq as polls continue to show deep misgivings about the prospect of military action. As part of his outreach to the public, Bush will meet today with reporters from 14 regional newspapers. White House aides also are looking at the possibility of a formal prime-time news conference and a speech to the nation explaining his decision to go to war, should it come to that." Bush wants to pay Turkey $15+ BILLION just for letting our troops set foot on their soil. But what does Bush offer get America for sending our precious sons and daughters to kill or be killed? Nothing but a speech - pure Bushit!

The Last Thing Bush's War is About is Democracy
03-Mar-03
Bush's War

Eric Margolis writes, "It's frightening to see Bush claim with a straight face his war against Iraq will bring democracy and peace to the Mideast, and save Iraqis from repression. Why didn't he begin by saving Palestinians from the repression by his alter-ego, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon? If Bush really cared about Mideast democracy, he's had two years to do something about U.S.-sponsored dictatorships like Egypt and Pakistan, or medieval autocracies such as Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and America's Gulf protectorates. When Bush says he will bring democracy to benighted Iraqis, what he really means is U.S. rule. In Bush-speak, 'democracy' has been perverted to mean U.S. imperial hegemony: nations run by puppet rulers who make all the right noises, like Afghanistan's U.S.-installed figurehead, Hamid Karzai, while following Washington's orders to the letter."

Coalition of the Bribed, Bullied, and Bludgeoned
03-Mar-03
Bush's War

"As U.S. officials intensify their arm-twisting offensive to gather support for a war on Iraq, the Institute for Policy Studies is releasing a new study today that examines the specific levers of U.S. military, economic, and political power. The study, entitled 'Coalition of the Willing or Coalition of the Coerced?', looks at how this leverage applies to each current member of the UN Security Council. It also analyzes the power the U.S. government exerts over the broader group of countries that the Bush Administration has dubbed the 'Coalition of the Willing.' Although the Administration refuses to release a list of the members of this coalition, the authors compiled a list of 34 nations cited in press reports as supporters of the U.S. position on Iraq. Major findings: Although the Bush Administration claims that the anonymous 'Coalition of the Willing' is the basis of genuine multilateralism, the report shows that most were recruited through coercion, bullying, and bribery..."

Bush Demands a Recount - In Turkey
02-Mar-03
Bush's War

Bush stole the White House by blocking a manual recount in Florida. But after LOSING a democratic vote in the Turkish Parliament, Bush is now demanding a recount - indeed, a revote! Obviously, Bush will bribe a handful of Turkish legislators to get a majority, even though 95% of Turks oppose the war. What makes this most outrageous is that Bush's "reason du jour" for the war is to bring "democracy" to Iraq, to make it a model for the Middle East. Turkey's democracy is already the most successful in the Muslim world - yet Bush is doing everything in his power to subvert it through bribery and extortion. Bush's contempt for democracy knows no bounds. You lost the Turkish election George - get OVER it!

Likud Advisor Richard Perle is Using Bush to Redraw the Map of the Middle East
02-Mar-03
Bush's War

On NOW with Bill Moyers, former diplomat Joseph Wilson said, "I think it's far more about re-[draw]ing the political map of the Middle East... trying to install regimes in the Middle East that are far more friendly to the United States - there are those in the administration that call them democracies. Somehow it's hard for me to imagine that a democratic system will emerge out of the ashes of Iraq in the near term. And when and if it does, it's hard for me to believe that it will be more pro-American and more pro-Israeli than what you've got now... [Richard Perle is] the architect of a study that was produced in the mid-'90s for the Likud Israeli government called 'a clean break, a new strategy for the realm.' And it makes the argument that the best way to secure Israeli security is through the changing of some of these regimes beginning with Iraq and also including Syria. And that's been since expanded to include Iran."

The NSA 'Dirty Tricks' Memo - Read for Yourself
02-Mar-03
Bush's War

"From: FRANK KOZA@Chief of Staff (Regional Target) CIV/NSA
on 31/01/2003 0:16
Subject: Reflections of Iraq debate/votes at UN - RT actions and potential for related contributions
Importance: High
TOP SECRET/COMINT/XL
All,
As you've likely heard by now, the Agency is mounting a surge particularly directed at the UN Security Council (UNSC) members (minus US and GBR of course) for insights as to how to membership is reacting to the on-going debate RE: Iraq, plans to vote on any related resolutions, what related policies/ negotiating positions they may be considering, alliances/ dependencies, etc - the whole gamut of information that could give US policymakers an edge in obtaining results favourable to US goals or to head off surprises. In RT, that means a QRC surge effort to revive/ create efforts against UNSC members Angola, Cameroon, Chile, Bulgaria and Guinea, as well as extra focus on Pakistan UN matters...
"

Bush's NSA Bugs UN Security Council in 'Dirty Tricks' Campaign to Coerce 'Yes' Votes
01-Mar-03
Bush's War

The London Observer reports that the NSA is conducting an "aggressive surveillance operation, which involves interception of the home and office telephones and the emails of UN delegates in New York" to get information the U.S. government can use to pressure delegates to vote for Bush's War. The Observer obtained a memorandum written by Frank Koza, a chief of staff in the National Security Agency, that describes the purpose of the surveillance as providing "up-to-the-minute intelligence for Bush officials on the voting intentions of UN members regarding the issue of Iraq"; the language and content of the memo were judged by former intelligence operatives to be authentic. This is what our foreign policy has become under George W. Bush: plotting dirty tricks against our allies to force them to do his bidding.

Rummy Tells Al Jazeera 'It's Not About Oil'
01-Mar-03
Bush's War

"Donald Rumsfeld dismissed as 'utter nonsense' the notion that the US is after Iraqi oil. 'The only idea we have for the region is that it not be producing weapons of mass destruction and it not be invading its neighbors and that it be peaceful,' Rumsfeld said. He added that the US also wants to see an Iraq where the citizens can 'figure out how they want to run their country free of a dictator like Saddam Hussein' ... In his Al Jazeera interview, Rumsfeld directly addressed a number of misperceptions spreading on Arab streets. He told the interviewer the US has no intention to act as a colonial power in the Middle East. 'We don't take our forces and go around the world and try to take other people's real estate or other people's resources, their oil. That's just not what the US does,' he said. 'We never have, and we never will. That's not how democracies behave.'" True - but the U.S. stopped being a democracy when the Supreme Court appointed Bush.

Turkey's Parliament Erupts in Chaos over US Troop Vote
01-Mar-03
Bush's War

CNN reports, "The U.S. troops vote by Turkey's parliament Saturday has been declared null, and the issue must now face a second vote -- which is expected to be rescheduled... Opposition leaders challenged the vote, saying that it was not approved by a majority of the parliament's membership. The vote was 264 in favor, 251 against, and 19 abstaining. With 534 ministers present, a 'yes' vote of 268 was needed, according to the opposition. Opposition members were said to have walked out of the session. The proposal has little popular support -- hundreds of thousands of Turks protested on the streets of Ankara, and public opinion polls show that more than 90% of the population opposes war." Will the Turkish people allow their leaders to be bought by Bush? This could get very ugly in the week ahead...

US Says Regime Change While Canada Asks Who Will Be Next?
01-Mar-03
Bush's War

"The White House said Friday it wants Saddam Hussein ousted even if Baghdad disarms, a stand that immediately provoked a sharp response from Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who said the United States can't just wander the world changing regimes it doesn't like. 'Myself, I think that the consequences can be very grave when we go for a change in regime,' the Prime Minister said in French. 'When are we going to go elsewhere? Who's going to be next? This is a very dangerous concept."

Gen. Jay Garner Will Rebuild Iraq after His Company's Weapons Destroy It
28-Feb-03
Bush's War

David Lazarus writes, "The retired general tapped by Bush to oversee rebuilding of post-war Iraq was, until just a few weeks ago, an executive at a leading defense contractor working on missile systems that would be used to bomb Baghdad. Although a Pentagon official said Jay Garner's new role as head of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance does not constitute a conflict of interest, [why] would the White House pick a man from a company directly concerned with attacking Iraq to spearhead the country's aid and restoration?... Garner, 64, a former three-star Army general and friend of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, served until last month as president of SY Coleman, a division of defense contractor L-3 Communications specializing in missile- defense systems... Garner faced allegations from another retired military officer that the company had received $100 million in defense contracts without undergoing competitive bidding."

Bush v John Paul II
27-Feb-03
Bush's War

War-mongering Dubya may have met his match. According to Mary McGrory: "Pope John Paul II is causing heartburn among one of the resident's key constituencies: conservative Catholics. The pope is unequivocally and fervently against the war in Iraq, and George W. Bush, who fancies himself something of a spiritual leader, has to grin and bear it. His holiness cannot be attacked like other war critics, such as France and Germany." Pope John Paul II refuses to condone the war with Iraq as a "just war." Further, the idea of a pre-emptive war has brought new vitality to the ailing pontiff. Will the feisty 82-year-old take on Dubya or Saddam? Apparently he feels this is a principle worth fighting for. "No matter what they say, his holiness says war is 'always a defeat for humanity.'"

Gulf War 2 (aka World War 2.5)
25-Feb-03
Bush's War

Here is a clever computer game that does a devastating job of "playing out" the consequences of Bush's W-ar in Iraq. EVERY politician and journalist - including George Bush and the editors of the NY Times and WashPost - should be required to play this game. If they did, there is no possibility they would unleash W-ar in the Middle East.

U.S. Builds Coalition of the Unwilling
25-Feb-03
Bush's War

That "coalition of the willing" that George W. Bush keeps bragging about is, in fact, a "coalition" of the bribed and/or the intimidated. Nearly all the countries that have offered support for Bush's War are motivated either by the bribes Bush has offered, or by a fear of angering Bush (how do you oppose somebody who's not just ready but eager to send the full force of the U.S. military to destroy somebody he dislikes?). More to the point, the Coalition of the Willing or COW, is really the Coalition of the COWED!

Global Peace Movement Forced Bush to Seek 2nd Resolution
25-Feb-03
Bush's War

NY Times reports, "'He has to do it primarily because it is now a necessary action to ease Tony Blair's problems,' with the torrent of popular domestic opposition to war, said James Schlesinger, a former secretary of defense... With large antiwar demonstrations expected again this weekend, Mr. Bush is also aware that the longer inspections go on, the greater the risk of declining public support. The work of the weapons inspectors has created a burgeoning perception that inspections backed by the threat of force can lead more effectively to Iraq's disarmament, while also containing the threat he poses to the West. To underscore this point, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany and President Jacques Chirac of France appeared in Berlin today and spoke against the resolution. 'We do not see any reason to modify our position,' Mr. Schroeder said. Mr. Chirac agreed, and said a Security Council majority stood behind the European position."

Bush Gives Ultimatum to UN - Surrender or Die
25-Feb-03
Bush's War

WashPost reports, "The Bush administration has begun to characterize the decision facing the Security Council not as whether there will be war against Iraq, but whether council members are willing to irrevocably destroy the world body's legitimacy by failing to follow the U.S. lead. In meetings yesterday with senior officials in Moscow, Undersecretary of State John R. Bolton told the Russian government that 'we're going ahead,' whether the council agrees or not. 'The council's unity is at stake here.' A senior diplomat from another council member said his government had heard a similar message and was told not to anguish over whether to vote for war. 'You are not going to decide whether there is war in Iraq or not,' the diplomat said U.S. officials told him. 'That decision is ours, and we have already made it. It is already final. The only question now is whether the council will go along with it or not.'" This is an ultimatum to the UN - surrender or die. Impeach Bush Now!

How Our Neo-Imperialism Will Unite the Planet against Us
24-Feb-03
Bush's War

"Recently the novelist John le Carre wrote in the Times of London that the United States has entered a 'period of madness' that dwarfs McCarthyism or the Vietnam intervention in intensity. One generally would not pay much attention to the cynical British spy-tale weaver, never especially friendly to America. But concern about America's mental health is more broadly in the air, spreading well beyond the usual professional anti-Americans. It is now pervasive in Europe, and growing in Asia, and when Matt Drudge posted le Carre's piece prominently on his website, it got passed around and talked about here in ways it never would have five years ago." Thus begins an excellent analysis of the real goals and disastrous consequences of the Bush Imperialists in, of all things, Pat Buchanan's magazine.

Bush Pays BIG Bucks For 'Coalition of Willing' Bribery
24-Feb-03
Bush's War

"US faces a bill running into many billions of dollars even before the first missile strike against Iraq as it tries to coax, pressure and buy allied support... Russia gets: Guarantees on $10-$12bn of Iraqi debt and possible oil contracts; Hungary gets: Enhanced international status and financial support; Bulgaria gets: US support for entry to EU and increased military co-operation within Nato; Chile gets: Strengthened position in talks on US trade tariffs; Jordan gets: $1bn in direct aid and military assistance; Egypt gets: $1bn and promise of increased US support for Middle East peace process; Israel gets: $12bn in direct aid and loan guarantees and US promises of defence; Mexico gets: Improved immigration regulations; Angola gets: Future co-operation with US companies in developing offshore oilfields; Guinea, Cameroon get: Development aid and increased international status; Turkey gets: At least $26bn in direct aid and loans..."

Bushevik Lobbyist Helped Draft Eastern Europeans' Iraq Statement
24-Feb-03
Bush's War

"A former Pentagon official helped draft a controversial statement by 10 Central and Eastern European nations this month that supports the United States in its stand-off with Iraq, according to a press report published in Paris. In an interview, Bruce Jackson, a former US Defense Department official who heads a Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, said that he was among those who 'helped' initiate the statement supporting the US stance, the daily International Herald Tribune reported."

Busheviks Seek to Dismiss Anti-War Lawsuit
24-Feb-03
Bush's War

"The federal court should not get involved in this 'delicate international political scenario,' the government's attorneys argued in court papers. 'Such an intrusion could embolden Iraq and thus reduce the chances of a peaceful resolution.' A group of U.S. servicemen, their parents and six congressmen filed the lawsuit last week, arguing the resolution Congress approved in October supporting military action against Iraq did not specifically declare war and unlawfully ceded the decision to the Resident. A hearing on the injunction request was scheduled for Monday."

The World Opposes W-ar
23-Feb-03
Bush's War

The leaders of the world's non-aligned countries, representing 55 percent of the world's population and nearly two-thirds of the members in the United Nations, have drafted a declaration that urges Iraq to comply with U.N. resolutions but also expresses opposition to a U.S.-led war. The document says, "We reiterate our commitment to the fundamental principles of the non-use of force and respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and security of all member states."

U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton Tells Israelis that Syria, Iran and North Korea are Next after Iraq
23-Feb-03
Bush's War

Ha'aretz reports: "U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton said in meetings with Israeli officials on Monday that he has no doubt America will attack Iraq, and that it will be necessary to deal with threats from Syria, Iran and North Korea afterwards. Bolton, who is undersecretary for arms control and international security, is in Israel for meetings about preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. In a meeting with Bolton on Monday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that Israel is concerned about the security threat posed by Iran. It's important to deal with Iran even while American attention is turned toward Iraq, Sharon said." (Scroll down to story below EU article)

Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz Tried to Start Iraq War in 1998
21-Feb-03
Bush's War

Jason Leopold writes, "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield and Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz undertook a full-fledged lobbying campaign in 1998 to get former President Bill Clinton to start a war with Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein's regime, claiming that the country posed a threat to the United States, according to documents obtained from a former Clinton aide. This new information begs the question: what is really driving the Bush Administration's desire to start a war with Iraq if two of Bush's future top defense officials were already planting the seeds for an attack five years ago?"

Republic or Empire
19-Feb-03
Bush's War

Joseph Wilson, the senior American diplomat in Baghdad during Desert Shield, advocated a muscular US response to Saddam's brutal annexation of Kuwait in flagrant violation of the United Nations charter, but has different views of Bush's new adventurism. "The upcoming military operation has one objective, though different from the several offered by the Bush Administration. This war is not about weapons of mass destruction. The intrusive inspections are disrupting Saddam's programs, as even the Administration has acknowledged. Nor is it about terrorism. Virtually all agree war will spawn more terrorism, not less. It is not even about liberation of an oppressed people. Killing innocent Iraqi civilians in a full frontal assault is hardly the only or best way to liberate a people. The underlying objective of this war is the imposition of a Pax Americana on the region and installation of vassal regimes that will control restive populations."

Gucci Guerillas and Chickenhawk Warmongers
19-Feb-03
Bush's War

Mark Shields writes, "Norman Schwarzkopf had a gentle rebuke for the fawning flatterers who tried to lionize him after his successful leadership in the Persian Gulf War: 'It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.' The time is long past for Washington's 'Gucci guerillas' -- so full of swagger, bluster and themselves -- in the Bush administration, in the Congress and, yes, in the press corps to confront the truth of the Schwarzkopf maxim and reflect on its wisdom. Lately, I have heard the clear and cautionary words of American heroes, Marine officers who repeatedly went into battle and who still carry the scars of war, warning against another United States war against Iraq."

Bush's 'Coalition of the Willing' is Heading for the Trash Heap of History
18-Feb-03
Bush's War

Wayne Madsen writes, "The so-called willing coalition is collapsing. Bush's chicken hawks who drone on about some 30 countries supporting the war will soon have to face the fact that many of these nations will soon join France, Germany, Russia, Canada, and Mexico in opposition... Bulgaria's monarchist-based conservative government is on the verge of collapse and will be replaced by one opposed to Bush's war plans. A newly resurgent Dutch Labor Party is now within striking distance of the conservatives... Spain's pro-war conservative government has united the opposition against it with 65% of Spaniards opposed to a war... Only 24% of Czechs favor Bush's war, while 62% of Slovenians and Poles are against their governments' support for Bush... Italy's scandal-plagued Silvio Berlusconi... may soon be voicing his support for Bush from an Italian prison."

Bush to World: DROP DEAD
18-Feb-03
Bush's War

"Bush said today that he is still determined to use force, if he must, to disarm Saddam Hussein, and that a weekend of worldwide protests by millions of people did nothing to change his mind. 'Democracy is a beautiful thing. People are allowed to express their opinion, and I welcome people's right to say what they believe.' But he continued, 'Evidently some in the world don't view Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace; I respectfully disagree.' Bush said again that Mr. Hussein is 'providing links to terrorists.' He said, 'Saddam Hussein is a threat to America, and we will deal with him.' ... Coming on the heels of the biggest antiwar protests since the Vietnam era, Mr. Bush's words were significant because they indicated no change in his thinking despite vigorous opposition - especially overseas - to his aggressive approach in dealing with Iraq. Bush said he would base his decisions not on protests or opinion polls but on what he thinks is right for history." LOL! W is now a historian!

Retired CIA Officer Says Bush's War is about Oil and Empire
16-Feb-03
Bush's War

Bill Christison, a retired CIA analyst, offers an insider's view of the reasons for war: "Category 3: Reasons the Bush Administration publicly claims are the most important, but which may actually be the least important to the administration. 1) U.S. desire to 'disarm' Iraq--to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. 2) U.S. desire to 'introduce democracy' into Iraq. CATEGORY 4: THE REAL REASONS FOR THE WAR 1) Oil--U.S. desire for greater control over Iraqi oil resources. 2) U.S. drive for global domination. 3) Desire in the Bush administration, and in the Sharon government of Israel, that conquest of Iraq be first stage of 'strategic transformation' of the entire Muslim Middle East." In other words, grab that Iraqi Oil, and bring on the Neo-Con World Order!

US Offers $26 Billion Bribe to Turkey, Which Holds Out for $50 Billion
16-Feb-03
Bush's War

Although the Turkish people overwhelmingly oppose W-ar, Turkey's Islamic government is willing to go along - for the right price, of course. Bush initially offered $14 Billion of OUR money, but Turkey rejected that amount. Now Bush is offering $26 Billion of OUR money, but Turkey is holding out for $50 Billion. Meanwhile Israel wants $12 Billion of OUR money, while poor little Jordan will take a measly $1 Billion, pretty please sir. Pretty soon third world nations will be selling their support to Bush on eBay - Paypal accepted! The Constitution says a President can be impeached for "treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors." Impeach Bush Now!

Rummy Declares War - on Germany
16-Feb-03
Bush's War

Guardian reports, "America is to punish Germany for leading international opposition to a war against Iraq. The US will withdraw all its troops and bases from there and end military and industrial co-operation between the two countries - moves that could cost the Germans billions of euros. The plan - discussed by Pentagon officials and military chiefs last week on the orders of Rumsfeld - is designed 'to harm' the German economy to make an example of the country for what US hawks see as Chancellor Schroeder's 'treachery'. The hawks believe that making an example of Germany will force other countries heavily dependent on US trade to think twice about standing up to America in future... 'We are doing this for one reason only: to harm the German economy' ... The Pentagon plan - and the language expressed by officials close to Rumsfeld - has horrified State Department officials, who believe that bullying other countries to follow the US line will further exacerbate anti-Americanism."

No W-ar for W-imps!
16-Feb-03
Bush's War

As Maureen Dowd writes, the only reason for war now is because Bush would look like a w-imp if he pulled back. "The real reason the Bush team has leapfrogged Iraq over more urgent priorities is that conservatives won't be happy until they erase what they see as the emasculating legacy of leaving Saddam in power, back when we were tied up with our coalition of nervous Nellie allies. Henry Kissinger summed up the logic of conservatives: 'If the US marches 200,000 troops into the region and then marches them back out ... the credibility of American power ... will be gravely, perhaps irreparably impaired.' The painful parts of Washington history have often been about men trying harder to save face than lives. With or without the fussy Frenchies, we're going to war. For this White House, pulling back when all our forces are poised for battle would be, to use the Bush family's least favorite word, wimpy." Forget "No Blood for Oil" - we must now declare "No W-ar for W-imps!"

Iran out of Bush's New Spin on 'Axis of Evil'
15-Feb-03
Bush's War

The United States now distinguishes between Iran and the other countries that George Bush lumped together in an "axis of evil" and does not plan to target the Islamic republic after the likely war in Iraq. Despite growing concern about Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program, its assistance in the "war on terrorism" and the evolution of liberal thought there put it in a different category from Iraq or North Korea, the Deputy Secretary of State, [longtime Bush-CIA drugrunner, Mafia friend and Iran-Contra criminal] Richard Armitage, said. "The axis of evil was a valid comment [but] I would note there's one dramatic difference between Iran and the other two axes of evil, and that would be its democracy. [And] you approach a democracy differently," he said. "I wouldn't think they were next at all." Does that mean North Korea is next?

Bringing the Battle Back Home: Linking War and Domestic Violence
15-Feb-03
Bush's War

Heather Wokusch writes: "Last summer, the military base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina was rocked by a series of brutal killings. In separate incidents, four soldiers murdered their civilian wives, with two of the men committing suicide right after. A fifth woman then murdered her soldier husband. The upshot: a body count of 7 dead in only 43 days. The US Army Epidemiological Consultation (EPICON) team sent in to investigate found marital problems and a flawed military mental health system to blame; the team recommended increased access to psychological and family counseling for returning soldiers. Case closed. But dirty little secrets behind these seemingly random acts of violence remain: the possible influence of prescription medication on service members' later destructive acts, and a culture of silence about violence. Both issues have urgent implications for all of us."

French Predict a Hundred-Year War
14-Feb-03
Bush's War

"Jacques Myard struts around his tiny office at France's National Assembly predicting catastrophe if U.S. President George W. Bush and his "Texan" allies go ahead with their plans to launch a military attack on Iraq. "They are going to get screwed," said Mr. Myard, a small, rotund member of President Jacques Chirac's government and an outspoken opponent of U.S. policy in Iraq. "They are opening a Pandora's box," he said, predicting that even a short war will inflame passions in the Muslim world and lead to vast regional instability. "We are at the start of a hundred-year war." Impeach Bush Now!

Chretien Disses Dubya
14-Feb-03
Bush's War

Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chretien gave a speech before the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations that will not make our resident happy. "The price of being the world's only superpower is that its motives are sometimes questioned by others," Mr. Chretien told his audience. "Great strength is not always perceived by others as benign. Not everyone around the world is prepared to take the word of the United States on faith." There is a ring of truth to Chretien's words considering that many Americans feel the same way.

Blix Complains of Bush/Media Distortion of his Reports
13-Feb-03
Bush's War

When Hans Blix reported his findings to the UN Security Council on 1-27-03, he was exceptionally careful to report both positive and negative findings. But Bush and the W-armonger Media ignored his positive findings and screamed about his negative ones. In preparation for his report on 2-14-03, Blix is privately complaining that "parts of his reports that are favorable to Iraq are being ignored by the media and 'other groups'". Hey Hans - why don't you send truth inspectors to the corporate media!

Bush Hawks Bully Allies over War Opposition
13-Feb-03
Bush's War

Molly Ivins writes, "Bush W-armonger Richard Perle declared, 'France is no longer an ally of the US, and the NATO alliance must develop a strategy to contain our erstwhile ally or we will not be talking about a NATO alliance.' I have news for Mr. Perle. Our allies have democratically elected governments. Their people overwhelmingly oppose this war. The antiwar sentiment ranges from 47% and rising in Britain, putting our friend Tony Blair in electoral peril, to 88% against the whole idea in Turkey, where the new government has been literally bribed into going along with us. Who knows what future reckoning it faces at the polls? If 88% of Americans were opposed to this war, do you really think we'd be doing it? Would you want us to? Perle also referred to Germany's Gerhard Schroeder as 'a discredited chancellor.' The ever-tactless Donald Rumsfeld managed to lump Germany with Cuba and Libya. We don't have enough enemies that we have go around insulting our friends?"

Don't Trust Colin Powell, He's Just Another Bushevik
13-Feb-03
Bush's War

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Harley Sorensen isn't fooled by Colin Powell's reputation as an upright kind of guy who would never lie to us. He remembers that Colin Powell led the initial cover-up of the My Lai massacre. He remembers that Colin Powell was appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff a few months after writing an unabashedly flattering article about Ronald Reagan. He studies Colin Powell's career and sees that Powell's motto is "To get along, go along." And Sorensen examines the evidence that Colin Powell presented to the United Nations, and recognizes it for the load of hooey that it is. Don't let Bush's "good cop" lull you into believing there's any good reason for invading Iraq. Any man who would agree to work for George W. Bush shouldn't be trusted in the first place.

CIA's Tenet and FBI's Mueller Prove There's a 'Partnership' between Osama and BUSH
12-Feb-03
Bush's War

The lies and nonsense exiting the mouths of Bush, Powell, Tenet, and Mueller are beyond contemptible. If Powell - backed by Tenet and Mueller - can assert a "partnership" between Osama and Saddam simply on the basis of a common enemy - the US - then there must be a "partnership" between Bush and Osama, who also share a common enemy - Saddam! And if the presence of an Al Qaeda cell (no evidence offered) in Saddam's Iraq is proof of a "partnership", then the Al Qaeda cells in Bush's USA (no evidence offered) further prove the Osama-Bush "partnership". But Saddam and Bush are not Osama's only partners - according to Tenet, Al Qaeda cells exist in 100 countries! Folks, we are paying over $30 BILLION a year for this so-called "intelligence". This isn't a case of "dumbing down" - it's a case of utter intellectual corruption, where all information is turned completely on its head in the service of a single goal - manufacturing a justification for W-ar against Iraq. Impeach Bush Now!

Bushites Trot Out 'Theologian' from Crypto-Fascist American Enterprise Institute to Speak up for W-ar
12-Feb-03
Bush's War

ROME -- In an unusual effort to counter increasingly fierce criticism by the Vatican against a war in Iraq, the U.S. government hosted a theologian here Monday who argued that a military strike against Saddam Hussein would meet the definition of a "just war" in Catholic doctrine. "Public authorities are responsible for one supreme duty: to protect the lives and the rights of their people," said Michael Novak, a Catholic thinker and a scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute in Washington, speaking to an international group of journalists invited by the U.S. Embassy.

Bush Reich Orders 77,000 Body Bags
11-Feb-03
Bush's War

"Fears that Iraq will inflict heavy casualties on British and American troops intensified...when it emerged the Pentagon had ordered almost five times the number of body bags it requested before the last Gulf War. Within weeks it will have more than 77,000 bags at the ready, compared with 16,000 in 1991...The increased order will reinforce concern that Saddam might be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons. It will also fuel speculation that planners are expecting to suffer high casualties in street fighting as the troops try to take major cities such as Basra and Baghdad. 'We hope no one dies, but you just don't know what will happen,' said Frank Johnson, director of public affairs for the Defence Supply Centre in Philadelphia."

Powell Tells a Big Lie about Bin Laden Tape Proving 'Partnership' with Iraq, and the Media Promotes the Lie
11-Feb-03
Bush's War

Al Jazeera TV gave the US an advance copy of Osama Bin Laden's tape - and lied to the world saying it didn't have such a tape. Colin Powell used his advance copy to go before Congress and manufacture a Big Lie that Bin Laden declared "how he is in partnership with Iraq." For the next few hours, CNN, FOX, and the NY Times perpetuated this Big Lie by proclaiming this "partnership" in their headlines, as though it was a fact. But as translations of Bin Laden's speech became available, the propagandists were forced to acknowledge that Bin Laden actually denounced Saddam's al-Baath party as "infidels" and "communists." MSNBC TV was the first to defy Powell's Big Lie - thanks to Chris Witcomb and Walid Phares for making clear there was NO connection between Osama and Saddam. E-mail letters@nytimes.com, cnn@cnn.com, comments@foxnews.com and tell them to stop promoting Bush's Big Lies about Iraq!

Why is Blair Bush's Poodle? Because of Right-Wing Extortion
11-Feb-03
Bush's War

In an eye-opening interview with BuzzFlash, Greg Palast explained why Tony Blair is Bush's W-ar slave. "The answer is Irwin Stelzer. He is the guy who is a good friend of George Bush from the Hudson Institute, and the most powerful lobbyist in Britain representing British-American interests. As soon as Bush seized the White House, Stelzer walked into Blair's office and said 'we noticed that you were supporting Mr. Gore during the Presidential election' - even though clearly that didn't carry many states. Blair's effective endorsement of Al Gore did not go unnoticed. And there was a price to be paid. Blair was given a list of the things that would befall Britain from military subsidies and equipment, to a reduction of value in the dollar versus the pound, which would destroy England's exportability. And Blair was basically told get in line, stand up and salute or 'here's your last cigarette, Tony.'" Palast also explains how Chevron won Gulf War I, then shared its profits with Bush.

At the 11th Hour, 'Old Europe' Unites to Stop Bush's War
08-Feb-03
Bush's War

Bob Fertik writes, "The entire US media is running a single story line written by Bush propaganda minister Karl Rove: that a US invasion of Iraq is inevitable... But suddenly this story line is about to change. Germany and France - dismissed only days ago by Donald Rumsfeld as 'Old Europe' - have come up with a comprehensive plan to avoid war by sending thousands of UN troops to take effective control of Iraq. The stakes here are larger than Iraq. The question now before the world is whether George Bush will himself support the 'relevance' of the UN, or whether Bush has truly transformed the US into a 'new Rome' that is determined to rule the world through imperial might. If Bush launches an aggressive war in direct defiance of the UN Security Council, he will destroy the UN and the entire post-war order. The world is at a tipping point, swinging on the fulcrum between the rule of international law and the raw assertion of US imperialism. Will the US media tell the people?"

Once Again, A Bush Secretly Plays Iraq and Iran off Against Each Other
08-Feb-03
Bush's War

It's deja vu all over again, as Bush II engages in secret negotiations with Iran to support W-ar against Iraq. One main reason Bush II is going to W-ar against Iraq is because Iraq still has the chemical and biological weapons that Bush I sold him in the 1980's in order to wage W-ar against Iran! Will this madness EVER end? Impeach Bush Now!

BushRove Propaganda Team Deceives Americans into Believing Osama and Saddam are the Same Person
08-Feb-03
Bush's War

Salon's Kane Pryor writes, "The Knight Ridder poll raises the specter of an unsettling truth. It suggests that whatever support there is for a war against Iraq, it owes much to the erroneous belief of at least half of the American people that it was Saddam Hussein's operatives who flew the planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. If it is disturbing to conclude that many Americans may be supporting a war on the basis of a falsehood, it is potentially even more disturbing to consider how this falsehood came to be. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have received more news coverage than any other single event in history. How could it possibly be that in less than 18 months this event has become a victim of gross historical revisionism?"

Bush's Crusade Feeds Hamas Counter-Crusade
08-Feb-03
Bush's War

NY Times reports, "In an open letter released today, the Hamas leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, wrote, 'Muslims should threaten Western interests and strike them everywhere.' Hamas leaders had previously said they would not widen their conflict with Israel to focus on Americans and other Westerners. Calling an attack on Iraq part of 'a crusaders' war' against Islam by 'the envious West and the U.S. first among them,' Sheik Yassin urged, 'As they fight us, we have to fight them.' Sheik Yassin also called for a boycott of products from the United States and its allies. The letter came as Hamas was already flexing its muscles within Palestinian society, increasing longstanding tension with Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, and with his Fatah faction, which is less religious than Hamas."

Bush Wants to Scrub the Possibility of Body Bags Returning from Iraq - Through Cremation
07-Feb-03
Bush's War

Tom Flocco writes, "In a few weeks, American military parents, husbands, wives, and children may face the prospect of receiving ashes of a dead family member instead of the time-honored tradition of a body in a flag-draped casket if a Pentagon-sponsored plan takes effect shortly. According to CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/06/sprj.irq.cremating.soldiers/index.html), the US military has floated a trial balloon to determine how military families and the public in general would react if soldiers falling victim to either biological or chemical attacks in Iraq by Saddam Hussein were cremated in a Middle East crematorium near Iraqi battlefields. The disturbing report, which has received little attention save on CNN, also fails to address religious and cultural implications which are sure to be raised by American families." Returning body bags fueled the anti-Vietnam War movement - no doubt BushRove decided to eliminate the risk - by eliminating the body bags!

US Plans Use of Biochemical Weapons in Iraq
07-Feb-03
Bush's War

The Sunshine Project writes, "Top US military planners are preparing for the US to use incapacitating biochemical weapons in an invasion of Iraq. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed the plans in February 5th testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee. This is the first official US acknowledgement that it may use (bio)chemical weapons in its crusade to rid other countries of such weapons. The Sunshine Project and other nonprofits have warned since late 2001 that the 'War on Terrorism' may result in the United States using prohibited biological and chemical armaments, thereby violating the same treaties it purports to defend. The US announcement creates grave concerns for the future of arms control agreements, particularly the Chemical Weapons Convention."

Bush Bribes Turkey by Selling Out the Kurds
07-Feb-03
Bush's War

After Gulf War I, Bush Sr. encouraged Kurds to revolt against Saddam - and thousands were slaughtered as a result. Under Clinton, the Kurds enjoyed an unprecedented decade of peace and prosperity. Now Bush is selling out the Kurds once again, by cutting a deal with Turkey to send their military into Kurdish areas, in order to suppress Kurdish autonomy. Bush's claim to be fighting for human rights in Iraq is once again exposed as a cynical farce.

Draft Boards Are Rested And Ready
07-Feb-03
Bush's War

Chicago Tribune reports, "As U.S. troops get deployed in greater numbers abroad and reservists are called to active duty every week, the Selective Service System is poised to do its job: Draft young American males into the military. It has been 30 years since Uncle Sam last sent induction letters telling nervous recipients they're in the Army now, but officials say he can be as efficient as ever supplying needed manpower against Iraq, North Korea or whomever. 'We're a big system-in-waiting,' said Army Lt. Col. Dianna L. Cleven, the service's Region I director for a 17-state area that includes Illinois. 'It's 'be prepared' as far as we're concerned.' A draft may be totally foreign to the latest, coming-of-age generation, plus many parents, but mandatory military service used to be a fact of life for healthy, young American men both in war and peacetime." If you oppose the draft, sign our "Hell No - We Won't Go" petition at http://democrats.com/hellno

US Braces for Terrorist Attack Following US Invasion of Iraq
06-Feb-03
Bush's War

CNN reports, "The threat of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil is at a higher level than in previous months because of the possibility of impending military action against Iraq, U.S. counterterrorism officials told CNN on Wednesday. 'The threat level is definitely up. Our guys have been told to act as if we have already bombed Iraq,' one senior counterterrorism official told CNN. Government officials said they are concerned that al Qaeda, Iraqi agents or individuals could launch an attack coinciding with a U.S. strike against Iraq. There has been debate about putting out an alert warning or actually raising the national threat level, but threat level will remain at yellow, or elevated, sources told CNN. Sources say the FBI is closely watching a 'handful' of people believed to be Iraqi intelligence officers in the United States... There is also surveillance of at least several hundred Iraqi nationals who are thought to be supporters of Saddam."

CIA Finds Al Qaeda Cell in Iraq - Funded by Qatar
06-Feb-03
Bush's War

The CIA has determined that an Al Qaeda "network based in Iraq has operated for the last eight months under the supervision of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian of Palestinian origin who is also a veteran of the Afghan war against the former Soviet Union." Soon after Mr. Zarqawi arrived, Mr. Powell said, "nearly two dozen extremists converged on Baghdad and established a base of operations there." But according to the NY Times, "Mr. Powell withheld some critical details today, like the [fact] that a member of the royal family in Qatar, an important ally providing air bases and a command headquarters for the American military, operated a safe house for Mr. Zarqawi when he transited the country going in and out of Afghanistan. The Qatari royal family member was Abdul Karim al-Thani, [who] provided Qatari passports and more than $1 million in a special bank account to finance the network." So why not invade Qatar instead of Iraq?

The War you Won't See on TeeVee
05-Feb-03
Bush's War

Since the crappy American media will never show the truth, here is a report by Robert Fisk on the actual horrors of war, as opposed to the neat TV - video game war we will be served up by the servile networks: "The things we [war correspondents] see - the filth and obscenity of corpses - cannot be shown. First because it is not 'appropriate' to depict such reality on breakfast-time TV. Second because, if what we saw was shown on television, no one would ever again agree to support a war..."

Bush's W-ar is a GREAT Friend to the Undertaker
03-Feb-03
Bush's War

The Navy has posted this job on Hotjobs:

MORTICIAN-$6,000 Sign-On Bonus
Location: New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA
Position Type: Employee
Position Duration: Full-Time
Date Posted: 01/31/2003
The Navy Mortuary Affairs Program is responsible for the recovery, preparation and final disposition of Navy and Marine Corps deceased personnel and their eligible beneficiaries.
Requirements are a graduate of accredited Mortuary school and licensed Funeral Directors/Embalmers willing to serve where needed in locations such as Italy, Spain, Guam and the United States. An enlistment award of $6000 is available as well as advanced rate upon completion of training.
Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen , less than 35 years of age, and in good health.
Worldwide. Position will require relocating.
For more information, contact a Career Development Specialist at hj@cnrc.navy.mil (email), or 888-633-9674 (toll free).

Crazy 'Christians' are Cheerleading for a Rapturous W-ar
03-Feb-03
Bush's War

Justin Raimondo writes, "It's pathetic, really, to read the sniping smears of the War Party, who are trying to tar the antiwar movement with the 'Communist' brush - what about their nutballs?! What about Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who called the 9/11 attacks 'God's punishment' because all us evil queers have been partying like it's - the end of the world? This is not some marginal sect, with less than a few hundred members, like the Workers World Party, which so much has been made of, but a mass friggin' movement, one that forms the heart and soul of the War Party. The followers of a genocidal 'Christian' heresy, who number in the millions, are determined to drive their country into World War IV. They just can't wait for that mushroom cloud to billow up over the horizon - and we're supposed to worry about a couple of dozen Communists whose ideology is about as relevant as phrenology?"

'Born-Again' Bush Defies God - and Refuses to Meet Christian Leaders
31-Jan-03
Bush's War

WashPost reports that Win Without War, a coalition of organizations opposed to invading Iraq, is "accelerating" its ad campaign for TV, radio, and print. "In the latest ad, actress Janeane Garofalo says she keeps wondering: Does the US have the right to invade 'a country that's done nothing to us?' Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, the chief ecumenical officer of the United Methodist Church, answers: 'No nation under God has that right. It violates international law, it violates God's law and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Iraq hasn't wronged us. War will only create more terrorists and a more dangerous world for our children.' Talbert... decided to make the commercial only after Methodist leaders failed in several attempts to obtain a private meeting with Bush. More than 40 bishops and pastors of Protestant and Orthodox churches will issue an open letter today imploring Bush to meet with antiwar religious leaders," but Bush refuses. Is Bush Christian - or the anti-Christ?

The Heartland Opposes Bush's W-ar
30-Jan-03
Bush's War

How is the prospect of war playing in Peoria? Detroit Free Press columnist Susan Ager doesn't know, but she tells us how it's playing in an overwhelmingly Republican small town in western Michigan. "On Wednesday morning, nobody was convinced by George Bush's State of the Union speech that we ought to go to war."

Bush Wants to Kill Millions to Capture 1 Man
30-Jan-03
Bush's War

NY Post reports, "A one-legged Jordanian terrorist is the man the Bush administration believes could be plotting a biological attack on the US for Saddam Hussein if war with Iraq erupts. He is Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi... the mastermind of the London ricin plot, as well as the assassination of American diplomat Laurence Foley in Jordan last October. Intelligence officials said Zarqawi is the man Bush was referring to when he warned the nation in his SOTU Address Tuesday night that terrorists could 'bring a day of horror like none we have even known'... Zarqawi was badly injured during U.S. bombing raids on Kabul last year and fled Afghanistan to Iran. Last August, Zarqawi ended up in Baghdad, where he stayed in the hospital for several weeks following the amputation of his leg by Iraqi doctors. U.S. intelligence learned of Zarqawi's presence in Iraq through intercepts of phone calls he made to his family in Jordan." So why nuke Baghdad? Let's demand that Saddam turn over Zarqawi!

Good Reasons for W-ar? There Aren't Any
30-Jan-03
Bush's War

Tina Brown (yes, THAT Tina Brown) writes, "There are plenty of superficial reasons why Americans want to want to go to war. The cable TV news community because the alternative is yet more months of seeing ratings tank from opining on stasis. Wall Street because business is stagnant with caution and anxiety (the money guys see no one in the White House or the Treasury they can relate to like Clinton's savvy financial guru Robert Rubin). Hollywood because all this not quite going to war is like bad sex -- tense and boring, and not worth living through unless there is a big climax at the end. Magazine editors because they are sick of asking themselves whether a cover of Cameron Diaz with legs akimbo is 'appropriate' when war looms (they run the cover anyhow). Main Street wants to want war because the thought that our leaders might be making a catastrophic blunder is simply too painful."

Those Who Know History Condemn Bush
30-Jan-03
Bush's War

"At the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Historical Association in January, historians from more than forty colleges and universities agreed to form a new national network, 'Historians Against the War.' A committee was appointed to draft the following statement, which has been circulated for other historians to sign: 'We historians call for a halt to the march towards war against Iraq. We are deeply concerned about the needless destruction of human life, the undermining of constitutional government in the U.S., the egregious curtailment of civil liberties and human rights at home and abroad, and the obstruction of world peace for the indefinite future. Since that meeting, more than one THOUSAND historians, from 250 colleges and universities in 47 states, have endorsed the HAW statement."

Bush Shows 'Utter Contempt' for America and the World with In-Your-Face SOTU
28-Jan-03
Bush's War

Bush's ultra-hyped State of the Union contained NOT ONE SHRED of evidence about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. Bush insisted Iraq is building nukes, in flagrant contempt of Mohamed ElBaradei's report to the U.N. just yesterday. Bush insisted Iraq is not cooperating with U.N. inspectors, in flagrant contempt of Hans Blix's report to the U.N. Bush's speech was full of warmongering and demagoguery, and entirely devoid of facts. His speech was a completely in-your-face litany of lies. If Clinton could be impeached for one insignificant lie, shouldn't Bush be held accountable for his globe-threatening lies?

Richard Butler Condemns Bush's 'Shocking Double Standards'
28-Jan-03
Bush's War


'Shock and Awe': Guernica Revisited
28-Jan-03
Bush's War

Gar Smith writes, "Forget Osama. Forget Saddam. The Pentagon's newest target is the city of Baghdad. US military strategists have announced a plan to pummel the Iraqi capital with as many as 800 cruise missiles in the space of two days. If Bush gets the war he wants, Baghdad could become the 21st Century's Guernica. On April 26, 1937, 25 Nazi bombers dropped 100,000 pounds of bombs and incendiaries on the peaceful Basque village. 70% of the town was destroyed and 1,500 people, a third of the population, were killed. The Pentagon now predicts that its Baghdad blitzkrieg could approximate the devastation of a nuclear explosion... 'There will not be a safe place in Baghdad,' a city of 5 million people. The Pentagon dubbed its cold-blooded plan 'Shock and Awe' - the very emotions that Americans experienced on Sept. 11, 2001. Now, like the 9/11 terrorists, Bush and Co. are planning a similar act of unparalleled ferocity - a devastating premeditated attack on a civilian urban population."

When Bush Unleashes Death and Destruction on Iraq, New York Will (Once Again) Pay the Bill
28-Jan-03
Bush's War

Jimmy Breslin writes, "Bush talks about this war as if he is driving us to it on a one-way street. We bomb them. We flatten them under tank treads. What happens then? Why, America wins again! The Bush people want the thrill of the invasion news without having to read the casualty lists on the following days. Neither he, nor anybody else, mentions the obvious fact that an attack on Iraq will cause a response someday. Maybe a month, a year, five years. They will come. And the only place they will attack is New York. That came to mind naturally yesterday during a walk along the fence of the old World Trade Center site. No suicide bomber wants to go to Waco, Texas. Nobody tries poison gas on Denver. They can't wait to hit New York again. And if there is one sure thing, this Bush and his southern Republicans will simply shuck off the news of anything happening to New York."

Bush Could Win the Battle in Iraq, But He Has Already Lost the War with the World
27-Jan-03
Bush's War

Toronto Star's Haroon Siddiqui writes, "Having positioned enough U.S. troops and equipment all around this Persian Gulf neighbourhood, George W. Bush can launch a war on Iraq any time, with or without United Nations' approval. But he has already lost the political war. That came through loud and clear in my journey through Europe, the Middle East and Asia in the last three weeks... Governments everywhere are dreading the dawn of American imperial unilateralism. They are even more scared of their riled-up citizenries. Most Muslims are characterizing American designs on Iraq as racist. Others are calling it a colonial endeavour - the return of the Ugly American. From Europe through Africa and Asia to the Far East, public opinion is solidly ranged against America. The dissidents include the Pope, the archbishop of Canterbury and Nelson Mandela. This anti-war movement may be more potent than the one against the Vietnam War. It is worldwide and it has gelled before the war has even begun."

Bush-krieg Will Use 600-800 Cruise Missiles to Create 'Shock and Awe'
26-Jan-03
Bush's War

CBS reports, "If the Pentagon sticks to its current war plan, one day in March the Air Force and Navy will launch between 300 and 400 cruise missiles at targets in Iraq... more than number that were launched during the entire 40 days of the first Gulf War. On the second day, the plan calls for launching another 300 to 400 cruise missiles. 'There will not be a safe place in Baghdad,' said one Pentagon official who has been briefed on the plan... The battle plan is based on a concept developed at the National Defense University. It's called 'Shock and Awe' and it focuses on the psychological destruction of the enemy's will to fight rather than the physical destruction of his military forces. 'We want them to quit. We want them not to fight,' says Harlan Ullman, one of the authors of the Shock and Awe concept... 'So that you have this simultaneous effect, rather like the nuclear weapons at Hiroshima, not taking days or weeks but in minutes,' says Ullman."

Waiting for War Hurts the Economy
25-Jan-03
Bush's War

Business owners are reluctant to build new factories, hire new workers, or make other new investments because of the uncertainties about oil prices, a possible military draft, and retaliatory terrorist attacks. After showing signs that it may be starting to recover, the economy has fallen into a state of suspended animation. Bush has been told by his favorite economists that the war talk is hurting the economy, but don't expect more than hypocritical assurances from him about it.

In Bush's W-ar, Bodies of U.S. Soldiers Could End Up in Mass Graves
25-Jan-03
Bush's War

While Bush and his fellow warmongers in the White House keep pushing the idea that war with Iraq would be quick and painless as a video game, the Pentagon brass are quietly making plans for how to dispose of the corpses of soldiers who die from chemical or biological weapons. If the bodies cannot be shipped home to their families because of fears of contamination, they will most likely be cremated as soon as possible after death. But the most disturbing possibility is that the bodies would be bulldozed into mass graves in enemy territory. The inhumanly cynical reason? A proper burial(or sending the ashes back in an urn for each soldier) "would be expensive and time-consuming." Who will make final decision? Why - those "compassionate conservatives" -- George "I Hit the 911 Trifecta" Bush or Donald "Draftees Provided No Value" Rumsfeld!

War, What is it Good For?
24-Jan-03
Bush's War

Steven Leser writes: "I drove to work listening to the song WAR! by Edwin Starr. Who can forget the chorus to that song? 'War, what is it good for, absolutely nothing!' The song goes on to talk about loss of innocent lives, mother's tears, and such. As I thought more about it, I realized that this song, and similar anti-war rhetoric are an optimistic view of events. By now, many of you are wondering where I am going with this. My drive to work is 25 minutes long, mostly down a semi-crowded interstate, so it affords my mind the opportunity to go into an autonomic overdrive. If we look at the wars of the last century, several of which (so it seems) really had to be fought, it becomes clear that each caused more problems than (or at least as many as) they solved."

American Taliban
22-Jan-03
Bush's War

Daniel Patrick Welch writes: "Obsession with Iraq by George Bush and his henchmen has set the US firmly on a course to becoming the world's pariah. In opposing these zealots we can ill afford to tread lightly."

Bush's Real War
22-Jan-03
Bush's War

What war is George Bush really fighting? War against terrorism? War against the axis of evil? Writer Jeffrey J. Mariotte thinks there's only one war going on, and it's against us: "What has become ever more obvious is that Bush's real war is the one he's waging against the American people. This war is undeniably the kind of war Bush claims to despise, a class war, and it's the class of Bush and his friends against everyone else. George Bush, remember, despite the folksy talk and the Texas twang, is a son of influence, moneyed northeastern elite, product of Andover and Yale, as upper crust as it's possible to get in this country. His friends are people like Ken Lay and James Baker, wealthy older men who also knew his father and who have proved very helpful to Bush's political and economic life. He is not a regular guy, never has been, and has rarely even mixed with the 'common folk.' It seems apparent that he doesn't like them very much."

European Leaders Listen When Their People Say 'No W-ar!'
21-Jan-03
Bush's War

A poll in Germany shows that 76% opposes invading Iraq even with U.N. backing. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder says unequivocally that Germany will not take part in a military intervention in Iraq. In France, a recent poll shows 82% oppose W-ar. Senior French officials say France will use its seat on the Security Council "to restrain U.S. militarism." Opinion surveys in Britain show a slim majority support military action, but only if the U.N. authorizes it. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been warned by members of his Labour Party that he faces a full revolt if he continues to support Bush's W-ar. Bush's coalition for W-ar isn't exactly falling apart -- it never existed.

You Don't Have to be Anti-War to be Anti-War-in-Iraq
20-Jan-03
Bush's War

John Aravosis articulates why even people who believe there are often valid reasons for going to war are opposed to Bush's plans to invade Iraq: even most hawks can see that Bush hasn't provided any reason why his war is necessary.

The Psychotic Hawks of the Bush Administration are a Threat to World Peace
20-Jan-03
Bush's War

Buzzflash reports that Capital Gang's Robert Novak declared, "The last thing that the hawks inside the administration, and their friends outside the administration, want is a coup d'etat that would replace Saddam Hussein. They want a war as a manifestation of U.S. power in the world and as a sign that the United States is capable of changing the balance of power and the political map of the Middle East." Mark Shields didn't miss the outrageousness of this quote: "You're saying that there are people, I mean, who almost have a blood lust in this administration." Even Novak was terrified: "This war, I just trust it comes off easily. But I have trepidation that it won't be easy, and there's going to be terrible consequences from it." Then stop it before it starts - Impeach Bush Now!

Car Wars
18-Jan-03
Bush's War

Ian Roberts writes, "War in Iraq is inevitable. That there would be war was decided by North American planners in the mid-1920s. That it would be in Iraq was decided much more recently. The architects of this war were not military planners but town planners. War is inevitable not because of weapons of mass destruction, as claimed by the political right, nor because of western imperialism, as claimed by the left. The cause of this war, and probably the one that will follow, is car dependence. The US has paved itself into a corner. Its physical and economic infrastructure is so highly car dependent that the US is pathologically addicted to oil. Without billions of barrels of precious black sludge being pumped into the veins of its economy every year, the nation would experience painful and damaging withdrawal... Those who oppose war in Iraq must work together to prevent the conflicts that will follow if we fail to tackle car dependency."

Pentagon Plans to Fight Terror - and Occupy Iraq? - for Decades
18-Jan-03
Bush's War

According to Tom Englehardt, the Pentagon is "proudly planning a war against terrorism for 2020, and 2030, too. Imagine, this is a period of years that would take us almost from the onset of World War I to the end of World War II... Is this success? For military and militarizing dreamers maybe, but for the rest of us a thirty-year campaign against terror is an abject admission of failure. [A Washington Post article] notes that 'even under the best of circumstances, U.S. forces likely would remain at full strength in Iraq for months after a war ended, with a continued role for thousands of U.S. troops there for years to come.' Years to come, maybe those same 20 to 30 years mentioned in the Times."

John LeCarre Says Bush's America 'Has Gone Mad'
15-Jan-03
Bush's War

Spy novelist John LeCarre writes, "America has entered one of its periods of historical madness, but this is the worst I can remember: worse than McCarthyism, worse than the Bay of Pigs and in the long term potentially more disastrous than the Vietnam War. The reaction to 9/11 is beyond anything Osama bin Laden could have hoped for in his nastiest dreams. As in McCarthy times, the freedoms that have made America the envy of the world are being systematically eroded. The combination of compliant US media and vested corporate interests is once more ensuring that a debate that should be ringing out in every town square is confined to the loftier columns of the East Coast press... Without bin Laden, the Bush junta would still be trying to explain such tricky matters as how it came to be elected in the first place; Enron; its shameless favouring of the already-too-rich; its reckless disregard for the world's poor, the ecology and a raft of unilaterally abrogated international treaties."

Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) Says Declarations of War are Obsolete - Then So is the Constitution
12-Jan-03
Bush's War

During the Bush Blank Check Resolution debate in the House last October, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) offered a substitute resolution that was a straightforward declaration of war. He was fiercely opposed by House Judiciary Chair Henry Hyde (R-IL), who gained fame during the Clinton Impeachment for thundering, "The Law Is The Law." But Hyde thinks the Constitution is NOT "the law," especially Article I, Section 8, which gives Congress - not the President - exclusive power to declare War. "There are things in our Constitution that have been overtaken by events, by time. Declaration of War is one. Letters of mark and reprisal are others. There are things no longer relevant to a modern society" (page 127).

Time's European Readers Say US - Not Iraq or North Korea - is Greatest Threat to World Peace
11-Jan-03
Bush's War

Time Europe writes, "Who really poses the greatest danger to world peace? Iraq and North Korea are certainly high on Bush's list though Iraq is still working hard to deny him a reason to attack... Bush and his dependable friend Tony Blair say they have 'solid evidence' that Saddam is lying and have called for weapons inspection teams to step up their work. Meanwhile, as the fuel rods go in and UN inspectors go away, the specter of a nuclear-armed North Korea is keeping the reclusive regime on everybody's radar. Washington and Pyongyang are talking tough but is the biggest danger to peace closer to home? European antagonism towards Bush's robust stance is now being mirrored in the U.S., with even those he might normally consider his allies now urging caution. So TIME asks you: which country poses the greatest danger to world peace in 2003?" After 61,000 votes, it's U.S. 71.6%, Iraq 18.0%, North Korea 10.4%. Watch how fast Karl Rove scrubs this poll!

Honor Dr. King's Memory by Opposing Bush's W-ar
09-Jan-03
Bush's War

Sponsors of the anti-war rally scheduled for January 18 in Washington D.C. say that the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is a perfect time to demonstrate for peace. We have little time left to tell Bush that we don't want the U.S. to be an aggressor nation.

British Train Drivers Refuse to Move W-ar Cargo
09-Jan-03
Bush's War

British train drivers refused to move a freight train carrying ammunition believed to be destined for British forces being deployed for Bush's W-ar. At first, the rail company denied that the train had been halted. Then, attempting to cover up this evidence of widespread opposition to invading Iraq, the Ministry of Defence claimed later that mechanical problems caused by cold weather were the reason the train was halted. The truth, however, is that the drivers deliberately refused to have any part in an unjust war.

Turkey Refuses to Join in 'W'ar, Earning the Wrath of the American Empire
09-Jan-03
Bush's War

Pentagon spokesman Michael Gordon (whose paycheck is processed by the NY Times) writes: "More than a month after Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz visited Turkey seeking approval to deploy the American forces, public opinion in Turkey remains overwhelmingly against the war, and Turkey's new government has repeatedly taken the position that it would be politically difficult to accommodate a major deployment of American ground troops." In fact, 83% of Turks oppose American use of Turkish bases to conquer Iraq. Yet Bush and the NY Times find it astonishing that the democratically-elected Turkish government actually wants to represent its own people! Worse, Turkey has not been swayed by bribes exceeding $14 billion (of YOUR money). How dare Turkey resist the American empire? "We are dealing with a new and inexperienced leadership," an American official said. Watch out, Turkey: "inexperienced" means: "we'll have to smack them around to teach them a lesson."

Bush's Push to War is Unconstitutional
06-Jan-03
Bush's War

Washington Post columnist William Raspberry reminds us that "it's right there in the Constitution -- Article I, Section 8 -- that Congress, not the president, has the power to declare war." So why is nearly everybody in Congress just sitting passively by while the White House makes its own plans to invade Iraq. And why does nearly everybody in the news media reinforce the delusion that it's Bush's decision to make? Raspberry provides a persuasive answer: "The trend of recent years has been for politicians to avoid controversy when possible." If Congress thinks that opposing Bush's W-ar would be controversial, then We The People need to tell them just how controversial it will be to have our sons and daughters coming home in body bags.

Forget Iraq: The Real Battle is in Turkey
02-Jan-03
Bush's War

Heather Wokusch writes: "All eyes are on Iraq these days, but conventional wisdom holds it's just the first step of the Bush administration's larger push to gain hegemony over the international oil and gas industry. Two factors could stand in the way of the US grand plan though: Central Asia and Europe. A microcosm of this battle is quietly being fought now in Turkey, and in many ways the outcome could determine the future of the entire region."

Bush's CIA Covertly Tortures Al Qaeda Suspects in Violation of International Law
26-Dec-02
Bush's War

WashPost reports, "nearly 3,000 suspected al Qaeda members and their supporters have been detained worldwide since Sept. 11, 2001. About 625 are at the U.S. military's confinement facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba... Fewer than 100 captives have been rendered to third countries. Thousands have been arrested and held with U.S. assistance in countries known for brutal treatment of prisoners. At a Sept. 26 joint hearing of the House and Senate intelligence committees, Cofer Black, then head of the CIA Counterterrorist Center, spoke cryptically about the agency's new forms of 'operational flexibility' in dealing with suspected terrorists. 'This is a very highly classified area, but I have to say that all you need to know: There was a before 9/11, and there was an after 9/11,' Black said. 'After 9/11 the gloves come off.' According to one official... 'We don't kick the [expletive] out of them. We send them to other countries so they can kick the [expletive] out of them.'" Impeach Bush now!

Barbara Boxer Denounces Bush's W-ar
23-Dec-02
Bush's War

SF Chronicle reports, "The Bush administration's drumbeat for war and backing for political assassination could be a long-term disaster for the country, Sen. Barbara Boxer said Monday. 'I believe we have lost the moral high ground with the talk of war, assassination and first strikes coming out of Washington,' she told about 200 people at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco... Boxer, one of the Senate's most liberal Democratic members, was preaching to the choir in her talk on Monday. She was interrupted by loud applause when it was mentioned that she voted earlier this year against giving Bush the authority to wage war in Iraq and was given a standing ovation at the end of her speech. 'I didn't go to the U.S. Senate to be a rubber stamp for any president,' she said. 'I'm doing everything I can to ensure that the devastation . . . of war is avoided and that disarmament (of Iraq) is achieved,' she added." You go, Barbara!

Evidence Shows Bush and Blair Colluding to Stage Attack on Iraq in Late January
23-Dec-02
Bush's War

Put these two pieces of news (Stratfor.com 12/23) together: "The United States plans to increase the number of U.S. forces being deployed to the Persian Gulf region ahead of a possible invasion of Iraq, Knight Ridder reported, citing senior U.S. officials. As many as 100,000 U.S. troops reportedly could be in place by the end of January or early February...British defense officials plan to send 5,500 Royal Marines to join U.S. forces in a potential assault on Basra, Iraq's second largest city, in late January. The Royal Marines will be part of an amphibious force of at least 40,000 troops. Washington reportedly has requested four Royal Navy mine-hunters, now in the Persian Gulf, to open the Shatt al Arab waterway into Basra." What do you get? A preplanned attack scheduled for late January, with total indifference by Bush and Blair to what the rest of the world wants or the weapons inspection process.

Bush Regime Covers-Up Attacks on U.S. Forces in Kuwait
23-Dec-02
Bush's War

"Attacks on American forces in Kuwait are being covered up and played down because of concerns that further disclosures will destabilise military preparations for war against Iraq," reports the UK Telegraph. "Incidents have either gone unreported or have been passed off as harmless recreational shooting by hunters. 'The Americans have told us to downplay these incidents for fear of creating the sort of climate in which further attacks can happen,' one official said." Meanwhile "western diplomats" are disseminating lies about Kuwaiti support of Bush: "The majority of Kuwaitis fully back what the Americans are doing. All this trouble is being caused by a very small, extremist fringe." Fringe, huh? A nationwide poll of thousands of Kuwaitis found that 7 in 10 sympathize with Osama Bin Laden, while an October Gallup Poll http://www.usatoday.com/advertising/orbitz/orbitz-window.htm shows 69% of Kuwaitis say U.S. incursion into Iraq is unjustifiable. Quite a big fringe, eh?

Award-Winning Filmmaker Releases Documentary that Details My Lai-Like Treatment of Afghan POWs by U.S. Troops
20-Dec-02
Bush's War

"Scottish filmmaker Jamie Doran hopes a documentary about an alleged massacre of Taliban prisoners of war last year will lead U.S. authorities to investigate. Mr. Doran, an award-winning documentary filmmaker who covered the Afghan war for Japanese television, said that as many as 3,000 Taliban POWs were killed late last year after surrendering at the northern Afghan town of Kunduz. Witnesses saw U.S. special forces stand by and watch as Northern Alliance allies murdered their foes. 'This film is about the disappearance and murder of up to 3,000 Taliban PoWs, and the involvement of the U.S. special forces in that disappearance,; Mr. Doran said in Berlin before a screening of his film Afghan Massacre: The Convoy of Death on Germany's ARD television network." So reports Globe & Mail. The Pentagon's response? Same as always: Deny, deny, deny.

Unions Oppose Bush's War
16-Dec-02
Bush's War

While public statements by union leaders against Bush's War are still rare, there is a growing awareness among those leaders that W-ar would be very bad for workers and their families. The leaders are seeing increasing evidence that rank-and-file members don't believe Bush has made the case for war, and that they know exactly whose children would (and would not) be shipped off to die in battle. Union members and leaders also see the connection between Bush's war lust and his anti-worker policies: both are designed solely to make the world safe for Bush's corporate cronies by crushing all opposition.

Bush Armageddon Obsession Reaches Insane Pitch as He Threatens World with Nuclear War
11-Dec-02
Bush's War

"The White House issued a chilling reminder Tuesday to Iraq and other hostile countries the United States is prepared to use 'overwhelming force' - including nuclear weapons - in response to any chemical or biological attack," reports AP. Self defense is one thing - sending in the troops or using patriot missiles localizes the response. But to threaten to use nukes is to threaten the entire world. Fallout from a nuke attack would not be localized...it would soon girdle the globe and be concentrated on countries well removed from the object of attack - not to mention the potential climate impact. Any "leader" who threatens to use nukes is, in effect, threatening the entire globe.

Anti-War Protesters are Flowing in from the Mainstream
07-Dec-02
Bush's War

The media have been doing their best to portray the opponents of Bush's War as leftwing lunatics and hippies who never got over Vietnam. But, reveals Sacramento Bee columnist Marjie Lundstrom, the people swelling the ranks of the opposition movement are "as American as apple pie": military veterans, entrepreneurs, grandparents, schoolteachers, attorneys, people from all parts of the country and all walks of life, united in their desire for a sane U.S. foreign policy instead of Bush's imperialistic warmongering.

Bush Bribes Turkey to Gain Bases for War, then Pressures EU to Make Good on HIS Promises!
06-Dec-02
Bush's War

"Anger is growing in Brussels and some of Europe's capitals at the increased pressure from the US to admit Turkey as a member of the EU," Euroserver.com reports. "The US lobby became stronger this week during a visit to Europe of US secretary of State Paul Wolfowitz.'The US are entitled to exert influence, but the EU is not obliged to bow to its pressure, we will do what we think is right' said Hans-Gert Poettering told the European Parliament. Bush bribed the Turkish goverment to gain access to Turkish airbases, promising $3 billion and, apparently, admittance to the EU - as if that were his to grant!

For Bush-Cheney and Co., War Is the Ideal Business Environment - the Longer and Bloodier, the Better
06-Dec-02
Bush's War

From the Black Commentator: "The figure had been bouncing around think tanks and Capitol Hill for months, and on December 1 made the front page of the Washington Post: Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq will cost the American taxpayer between $100 and $200 billion. Think of this fantastic sum as a mountain of contracts, because that is precisely the way the gang that runs America looks at it. Citizens see the $200 billion figure as a mind-numbing cost of war. But Dick Cheney and George Bush represent the people who will soon pocket much of this money. For them, war is the ideal business environment. The rest of us, normal human beings attempting to live in as civilized a way as we can manage, find it difficult to imagine that the world as we know it may be destroyed in a mad rush for war-generated contracts. Bush and Cheney, on the other hand, work tirelessly to achieve that result. They smell gold."

The Pentagon Muzzles the CIA: Devising Bad Intelligence to Promote Bad Policy
05-Dec-02
Bush's War

Robert Dreyfuss writes: "Even as it prepares for war against Iraq, the Pentagon is already engaged on a second front: its war against the Central Intelligence Agency. The Pentagon is bringing relentless pressure to bear on the agency to produce intelligence reports more supportive of war with Iraq, according to former CIA officials. Key officials of the Department of Defense are also producing their own unverified intelligence reports to justify war. Much of the questionable information comes from Iraqi exiles long regarded with suspicion by CIA professionals. A parallel, ad hoc intelligence operation, in the office of Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas J. Feith, collects the information from the exiles and scours other raw intelligence for useful tidbits to make the case for preemptive war." The intelligence arm of the CIA has always had much greater integrity than the CIA's Directorate of Operations, which has committed Iran-Contra type crimes since its inception.

Bush Administration Becoming Hysterical in its Determination to Start War
05-Dec-02
Bush's War

"Convinced that the team would find scores of chemical and biological weapons, the tone of Washington's declarations reaches the hysterical now that it becomes obvious that Saddam Hussein was telling the truth all along. While Kofi Annan praises the Iraqis for the collaboration, George W. Bush declared that the Iraqi response to the weapons inspectors was 'not encouraging.' ' Not encouraging' is indeed a strange statement to make. It is acceptable to not see evidence which exists but to see something which clearly does not exist, is more worrying. In the land where the insane outnumber the sane, those who are mad become sane and the sane become mad. Such is the world advocated by George W. Bush and his evil team of collaborators at the White House, the Pentagon and the National Security Agency." So writes Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey.

Since March, Bush-Blair Have Dropped 126 Tons of Bombs on Iraq
04-Dec-02
Bush's War

"The total amount of bombs dropped by British and American aircraft on targets in southern Iraq has increased dramatically over the past few months, in a clear indication that the no-fly zone is being used to destroy the country's air defence systems in anticipation of an all-out attack," reports the UK Guardian. "The total tonnage of ordnance released over Iraq between March 1 and November 13 this year was 126.4 tonnes. This is an average of nearly 15 tonnes a month - a 60% increase over last year." Bomb tonnage increased by 30% in November....so Bush has been conducting his own limited war since March, and is accelerating it - totally indifferent to the will of the U.S. people.

We Are Being Set Up for a War against Saddam
04-Dec-02
Bush's War

British journalist Robert Fisk reports, "In North Carolina last month, a woman attending a lecture I was giving asked me when America would go to war in Iraq. I told her to watch the front page of The New York Times and The Washington Post for the first smear campaigns against the UN inspectors. And bingo, right on time, the smears have begun....The inspections appear to be going unhindered in Baghdad. And what does George Bush tell us? 'So far the signs are not encouraging.' What does this mean? Simply that America plans to go to war whatever the UN inspectors find."

Families of 9/11 Victims Make Thanksgiving Plea to Bush to Stop Exploiting Tragedy to Promote His Violent Agenda
29-Nov-02
Bush's War

Family members of September 11 victims spent Thanksgiving holiday in front of the White House, demanding an end to war as a response to their personal and national tragedies. Ryan Amundson, who lost his brother Craig at the Pentagon, said, "I feel the best way to show my gratitude is to extend this compassion to victims' families in Afghanistan who have also suffered as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks." Said David Potori, who lost a brother at the WTC, "The Bush administration has repeatedly linked Iraq to the crimes of September 11, even though no link has been proven. We ask the administration to stop using the deaths of our family members as a reason to kill other innocent civilians already suffering under the regime of Saddam Hussein. As we gather this holiday to give thanks, let us behave like a great nation and choose a more practical and effective path."

Email From Afghanistan: 'We're in a Bloodbath Here....Pray for Us!'
24-Nov-02
Bush's War

Writes Auset Lee: "I'm a bit cranky because I woke up to an email from an American woman who received an urgent message from her husband, an Air Force Commander in Afghanistan" who said "We're in a blood bath here!" The person who sent the email was calling for prayer.

Bush Will Attack Iraq No Matter What
23-Nov-02
Bush's War

The Mirror UK reports, "George Bush's top security adviser last night admitted the US would attack Iraq even if UN inspectors fail to find weapons. Dr Richard Perle stunned MPs by insisting a 'clean bill of health' from UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix would not halt America's war machine. Evidence from ONE witness on Saddam Hussein's weapons programme will be enough to trigger a fresh military onslaught, he told an all-party meeting on global security. Former defence minister and Labour backbencher Peter Kilfoyle said: 'America is duping the world into believing it supports these inspections. [Mr.] Bush intends to go to war even if inspectors find nothing. This makes a mockery of the whole process and exposes America's real determination to bomb Iraq.'"

Afghanistan Peacekeepers Fear War in Iraq May Trigger Terrorist Attacks on International Security Forces
23-Nov-02
Bush's War

"War on Iraq could trigger terror attacks on the 4,800-strong international force maintaining security in Afghanistan, the unit's Turkish commander said Friday," reports WorldNews. 'The only thing I can say is that if there is any Iraq operation, it means terrorist attacks against ISAF may start,' Maj. Gen. Hilmi Akin Zorlu said. 'This is my concern and the concern of other commanders' in the International Security Assistance Force....He said al-Qaida groups and others opposed to the government still carry out isolated attacks and disrupt life in Kabul. He said the number of daily foot patrols by his peacekeepers has increased from 30 in a 24-hour period during June to 42, and on some days it reaches 60. His forces also are involved in reconstruction, health and education projects." Those projects that would most certainly be undermined by any Iraq invasion and its consequences.

Bush's W-ar Strategy Digs the U.S. into a Bottomless Hole
22-Nov-02
Bush's War

Steve Chapman writes: "If the Bush administration gets its way, defense spending next year will be $394 billion, or about $100 billion higher than in Bill Clinton's final year. The United States has the most powerful military on Earth. We now spend as much on defense as the next 15 nations combined. And you know what? It's not enough....The administration gives us a glimpse of what to expect. [Bush's] budget calls for piling spending increases upon spending increases, boosting national defense outlays to $442 billion by 2007--up by nearly 50 percent from 2000....Making it our job to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is like trying to drink the oceans dry. The Pentagon says at least 25 countries have or are trying to get 'nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or the means to deliver them.' Every action we take to forcibly disarm a potential threat gives other nations additional incentive to acquire such armaments so it can avoid that fate."

Blix Hits Back at Washington Hawks' Smear Campaign
21-Nov-02
Bush's War

Helena Smith and Ewen MacAskill write: "United Nations chief weapons inspector Hans Blix has accused hardliners in Washington, who are bent on going to war with Iraq, of conducting a smear campaign against him. The extent of the tension between Dr Blix and elements of the US administration burst into the open on the day he led UN weapons inspectors back to Baghdad for the first time. Key figures in the Bush administration have criticised Dr Blix in recent weeks, claiming he is too weak to stand up to the Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, and that he may fail to find the weapons the CIA claims have been hidden by the Iraqis. In an interview with The Guardian in Cyprus, the last stop before his flight to Baghdad, Dr Blix rounded on his critics. Asked whether he thought US hawks were behind the smear campaign, Dr Blix said: 'You can say there's some truth in that judgment.'"

U.S. Turns its Back on Afghan Misery as it Moves onto Next Misery-Generating War
20-Nov-02
Bush's War

"Like many of the more than 800 children at this shabby orphanage on the western edge of Kabul," reports NapaNews, "5-year-old Reeka was left by her only surviving parent -- her father, who has since remarried. He occasionally comes to see her. Other children are here because their families were too poor to care for them. When the Taliban collapsed last year, reports of the grim conditions at the orphanage brought help from international and local aid agencies. But a year later, most of the aid workers are gone and the children remain -- their numbers rising. "For a while everyone was coming and wanting to give, bringing clothes and blankets," said Mohammed Yunus, a gray-bearded man in charge of the dormitories." Has America really grown this shallow in just two years?

Dictator Bush and his Dreams of Empire Will Wreck the US & World Economy -- And Make Us Less Secure
16-Nov-02
Bush's War

James K. Galbraith writes, "Talk in Washington these days is of Rome and its imperial responsibilities. But George W. Bush is no Julius Caesar. France under Napoleon may be the better precedent. Like Bush, Napoleon came to power in a coup. Like Bush, he fought off a foreign threat, then took advantage to convert the republic into an empire. Like Bush, he built up an army. Like Bush, he could not resist the temptation to use it. But unlike Caesar's, Napoleon's imperial pretensions did not last...There is a reason for the vulnerability of empires. To maintain one against opposition requires war -- steady, unrelenting, unending war. And war is ruinous -- from a legal, moral and economic point of view. [The disaster of] the Bush-Cheney war policy lies in the neglect and indifference, which it fosters, of all our other economic problems."

Bush Appoints Karen Hughes Protege' to Top Military Communications Post
14-Nov-02
Bush's War

"One of the White House's top communications troubleshooters, James R. Wilkinson, was named today as the chief spokesman for the United States Central Command, in another sign that (Mr.) Bush is preparing for war with Iraq. Mr. Wilkinson, 32, is a protege of Karen P. Hughes, Mr. Bush's longtime adviser, and his appointment puts a White House loyalist with Washington experience in a pivotal position at the Central Command, which is based in Florida and which will be charged with waging and winning any war against Saddam Hussein....picking Mr. Wilkinson over a career military officer sent a signal that the administration wanted its own political appointee in the sensitive communications job." Wilkinson formerly headed an anti-Taliban propoganda outlet; was Rummy's spokesman; and was Texan Dick Armey's political director and press secretary.

Bush W-ar Could Claim 250,000 Lives in THREE MONTHS
12-Nov-02
Bush's War

"A report to be released today predicts that an invasion of Iraq could lead to a 'human catastrophe' with casualties as high as 250,000 within the first three months. 'Collateral Damage: The Health and Environmental Costs of War on Iraq' was prepared largely by Medact, the British affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. The U.S. affiliate, Physicians for Social Responsibility, also was involved. Most of the estimated casualties would be Iraqi civilians caught in the bombing, said Bob Schaeffer, a spokesman in Massachusetts for the International Physicians organization. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 for what the committee called its 'considerable service to mankind by spreading authoritative information and by creating an awareness of the catastrophic consequences of atomic warfare.'" So writes George Edmonson for the Star.

Church of England Embraces BushBlair Unilateral W-ar
12-Nov-02
Bush's War

Looks like the Brits have the same problem we do: clergyfolk forgetting they are supposed to be "men of God", not "men of Gov." Now the Church of England has decided that British and American plans to attack Iraq unilaterally could be justified even without the further backing of the UN (did someone grant these people new powers and forget to tell the public?). The decision was a slap in the face to senior bishops, who had proposed that only the UN could permit war. Their proposal was rejected by the Church's General Synod by 141 to 110 votes. In an often-passionate debate, speaker after speaker warned of the dangers of war. The Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Rev Colin Bennetts, expressed what's been in many minds: "Some of us cannot avoid the suspicion that this crisis may have been somewhat manufactured to suit American foreign policy interests," he said."

Former Navy Secretary Blasts Bush W-ar
12-Nov-02
Bush's War

When Former Secretary of the Navy James Webb spoke at the elite Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, he did not give a shallow, Bush-style call to "go get 'em in Iraq." Instead, Webb blasted the Bush administration's push for war, calling it not only unnecessary, but a critical mistake. Was the audience appalled? Hardly - the response was one of warm support. John Arquilla, professor of defense analysis, summed up the prevailing view: "Iraq is a terrible detour from what we ought to be doing," Arquilla said. "The real threat is from the al Qaeda network. Saddam is a minimal threat to us. He knows that if he uses any of his weapons of mass destruction against us or our allies, we're going to nuke him into glass, but if al Qaeda uses them, what are we going to retaliate against? Whom do we target?"

Bush's W-ar is 'Operation Wishful Thinking'
12-Nov-02
Bush's War

George W. Bush has signed off on plans for an invasion of Iraq that assume the Iraqi military will not fight for long and that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will capitulate. The people of Iraq and our own military forces will pay the price of Bush's imperialist ambitions and his delusions of omnipotence.

Wars Don't Stop When The Shooting Ends
09-Nov-02
Bush's War

Detroit News columnist Betty DeRamus reminds us that the disastrous effects of war linger for years after the shooting stops -- not just in the country where the war was fought, but in the bodies and souls of the warriors. We must not inflict the trauma of mass killing without just cause on another generation of Americans - unless you consider W-ar to consolidate oil companies' interests "just cause."

Old Glory Flies Over Ashamed Soldier Guarding Hooded Detainees
08-Nov-02
Bush's War

CNN.com reports: "The Pentagon is investigating an apparently unauthorized release of photographs of detainees on a U.S. military transport plane out of Afghanistan. Several electronic images were e-mailed to news organizations, including CNN. A Pentagon spokesman says the photographs appear to be genuine. It is not known who took or e-mailed the pictures. The images show men wearing hoods and headphone-type ear protection. The men are held to the floor of what appears to be an open interior area of a C-130 transport by chains, leg cuffs and other restraints. A large U.S. flag hangs from the ceiling." The disturbing pictures can be seen at http://www.artbell.com/letters88.html

No Child Unrecruited - Or Lose All Federal Funding
07-Nov-02
Bush's War

MotherJones.com reports: "Sharon Shea-Keneally, principal of Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vermont, was shocked when she received a letter from military recruiters demanding a list of all her students, including names, addresses, and phone numbers. The school invites recruiters to participate in career days and job fairs, but like most school districts, it keeps student information strictly confidential....buried deep within the (No Child Left Behind) law's 670 pages, is a provision requiring public secondary schools to provide military recruiters not only with access to facilities, but also with contact information for every student -- or face a cutoff of all federal aid.... Recruiters are up-front about their plans to use school lists to aggressively pursue students through mailings, phone calls, and personal visits -- even if parents object. 'The only thing that will get us to stop contacting the family is if they call their congressman,'" said a recruiter.

Even Bush's Fellow Oil Barons Think His Lust for Iraqi Oil Goes Too Far
31-Oct-02
Bush's War

The chief executive of BP, Lord Browne, has warned Washington not to carve up Iraq for its own oil companies in the aftermath of any future war.The comments from the most senior European oil executive, who has impeccable political connections in Britain, will be seen by anti-war protesters as further proof that… George Bush, has already made his mind up about an early attack.The warning came as United Nations negotiations continued for a compromise resolution on Iraq that will satisfy Washington, Paris and Moscow. Lord Browne's comments serve to underline concern that the US is primarily concerned with seizing control of Saddam Hussein's oil and handing it over to companies such as ExxonMobil rather than destroying his weapons of mass destruction.

Halliburton Ready for Corporate Imperialism in Iraq
31-Oct-02
Bush's War

Halliburton and other corporations are already lining up to get their share of the profits for "reconstructing" Iraq after the U.S. accomplishes its hostile takeover of the country. Has Halliburton kept Ticky Dicky's seat open for him, so he can go back to raking in multimillions after he leaves the vice presidency?

Thanks to the Anti-War Movement, Only 27% of Americans Support U.S. 'Solo Act' Against Iraq
31-Oct-02
Bush's War

"American public support for military action against Iraq, while still in the majority, is slipping amid increased concerns about consequences, says a new poll. Just over half, 55%, support military action against Iraq to replace President Saddam Hussein, according to the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. That is down from 64% in mid-September. And support for such action drops by half - to 27- if the United States is not joined by allies in such an effort. 'In addition to concerns about whether it is a multilateral effort, the public has deep concerns about chemical or biological attacks on U.S. troops, casualties or the higher risk of domestic terrorism,' said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center. He said the concerns about the increased risk of terrorism here are almost 20 points greater than in 1991, before the Persian Gulf War and the Sept. 11 attacks." Congratulations to the anti-war movement for awakening the American people!

Arsenal of Propaganda
29-Oct-02
Bush's War

In the speech that Bush gave on Oct. 7, he spoke of Iraq's "history of aggression and its drive toward an arsenal of terror." I urge you to study the analysis of his speech by a panel of a dozen international experts at http://www.accuracy.org/bush/. You will see very plainly that the administration, just as it promised, has indeed confronted this threat, this arsenal of terror. And it has done so with an arsenal of propaganda, a treasury of deceptions. We here join with a global community of millions of people gathering today in the US, in Paris, in Rome, Berlin and London, in Mexico City, Japan and India, to oppose a war whose justifications are fabricated by an administration which continues to make war on truth and justice. Pope John Paul II on Peace Day in 1980, made an urgent plea: "I now repeat, violence is a lie for it goes against the truth of our faith, the truth of our humanity. Do not believe in violence. Do not support violence."

Walter Cronkite Warns Against War - and the Bush Oligarchy
28-Oct-02
Bush's War

Walter Cronkite, one of the most trusted and respected public figures in America, has said that if the U.S. takes unilateral action against Iraq, it could cause a new World War. "Uncle Walter" also said that we are at a critical point in our history, comparable to the social and political upheaval of the 1960's. He fears that there is widespread ignorance and apathy, and deplores the low participation in elections: "That means we don't have a democracy. We've got an oligarchy here, not a democracy. Our democracy is in some danger if we don't concentrate on educating the populace." He lays much of the responsibility for that crisis on the news media, which have transformed news programs into mere entertainment for the sake of profits. You're right, Walter - "that's the way it is"!

Bush's Amigo Vicente Fox Says No to Iraq War, and Bush Blows His Top
27-Oct-02
Bush's War

Mexican President Vicente Fox was widely expected to fall in line behind his pal Dubya on Iraq. Mexico holds a crucial vote on the UN Security Council, but Fox expressed solidarity with France and Russia. "With other leaders not rushing to embrace his plans, [Bush] did not conceal his testiness today. The only time he spoke to reporters was during a photo session with Fox, and he glowered during Fox's windup and looked annoyed at the unruliness of the camera crews. The last straw was when a cell phone went off, which infuriates Bush, even when the violator is a member of his staff. In a breach of protocol, Bush cut off the translator before Fox's answers could be rendered in English, and the White House transcript ignored Fox's words, saying simply, 'Answered in Spanish.'"

Military Officers Warn of Stretching Forces Too Thinly
27-Oct-02
Bush's War

Not just personnel and weapons, but the focus and energy of military leaders, would be stretched too far if the United States invaded Iraq. That's the assessment of the people who understand these things best -- military leaders. Mr. Bush, please GET OVER YOURSELF and listen to the experts for once in your life.

Pentagon Politicizes Intelligence Gathering to Concoct Pretext for W-ar
25-Oct-02
Bush's War

Making the right decisions about foreign policy and national security depends on thorough, accurate information from intelligence agencies, uninfluenced by a political agenda. This must be why the Pentagon's hawks are creating their own department to gather information from sources scorned by the unbiased intelligence analysts. They are actively seeking information from sources like the exiled Iraqi National Congress, which are the least reliable sources because they have so much reason to encourage the W-ar.

Daniel Ellsberg Says Shame on Members of Congress Who Voted for W-ar
23-Oct-02
Bush's War

Daniel Ellsberg, whose leak of the Pentagon Papers was the beginning of the end of the Vietnam War, understands how foolish it is to trust a government that is determined to have a war. He calls the recently passed resolution authorizing military action against Iraq "an absolutely blank check, just like the Tonkin Gulf resolution." And just like the Tonkin Gulf resolution, he sees that it's based on lies and deceit, and he says the votes for the resolution were "shameful." He encourages people in the administration and the Pentagon to take courage from his own example and make public the documents that would show Bush is lying to us about the "need" to invade Iraq.

The Internet Connects and Encourages Antiwar Protestors - Thanks, Al Gore!
21-Oct-02
Bush's War

Scripps Howard reports, "If it was a mass movement that protested the war in Vietnam, it is a massive movement that is taking shape to oppose a possible war on Iraq. Beyond the tens of thousands who marched in the streets of yesteryear, it is hundreds of thousands who already are signing petitions, writing letters and e-mails and meeting in person with decision makers of the modern day. Huge demonstrations such as the ones scheduled for Oct. 26 in Washington and San Francisco are still a staple of protest in the 21st century. But this also is a day of mass mobilization made easier, with organization as simple as pushing the 'send' button on the home computer. Leaders are everywhere and nowhere." The growing number of people who gather for public demonstrations against W-ar with Iraq is dwarfed by the number who are signing online petitions, planning and organizing via online communication, and spreading the antiwar message in emails and web sites. Thank you, Al Gore, for the Internet.

Czech Intelligence Retracts Link Between Iraq and al Qaida Terrorists
21-Oct-02
Bush's War

UPI reports: "Czech intelligence officials have knocked down one of the few clear links between al Qaida terrorists and the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, UPI has learned. Senior Czech intelligence officials have told their American counterparts that they now have 'no confidence' in their earlier report of direct meetings in Prague between Mohammed Atta, leader of the Sept. 11 hijackers and an Iraqi diplomat stationed in Prague who has since been expelled for 'activities inconsistent with his diplomatic status.' 'Quite simply, we think the source for this story may have invented the meeting that he reported. We can find no corroborative evidence for the meeting and the source has real credibility problems ' a high-ranking source close to Czech intelligence told UPI Sunday...The nearest to a smoking gun connecting Iraq to al Qaida, the Czech report was taken very seriously in Washington, in the face of growing skepticism at the Central Intelligence Agency."

Eight United Methodist Bishops Denounce Bush's W-ar
20-Oct-02
Bush's War

Eight United Methodist bishops and other leaders spoke against war with Iraq. Bishop C. Sprague of Chicago calls for massive protests, including civil disobedience, should the US government start a war against Iraq that is morally wrong. Such an act will destabilize the Middle East and is not likely to succeed. Philadelphia Bishop Peter Weaver warned, "War will not end terror. It will simply seed terror." It will come back on the US like a boomerang, and make US personnel into recruiters for al Qaeda. "Can God really bless America?" asked retired Bishop Lloyd Knox of St. Petersburg, FL. Answering his own question, he said that the real question is, "What does God expect of America?" The bishops went to the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. They had hoped to make a pastoral call at the White House, because Bush is a United Methodist. They were not able to arrange a meeting and spent a good portion of the afternoon praying for Mr. Bush. Each bishop wrote him a letter.

Bush Says the Anti-Christ Is Among Us - Is He Looking in the Mirror?
20-Oct-02
Bush's War

Michael Hill Ortiz had "become accustomed to George W Bush's use of the word evil until he told the nation this last spring, 'The evil one is among us.' Anyone with a passing understanding of the evangelical world of Bush's faith knows he was referring to the Antichrist. The implications of this are grave beyond telling and yet scarcely ever noted in the public discourse. On the eve of a misguided war [Bush has put] American foreign policy within a Biblical narrative that leads inexorably towards the plains of Megiddo, roughly fifty five miles northwest of Jerusalem: the battle of Armageddon. [Even Brent Scowcroft] declared that Bush's plans could unleash 'an Armageddon in the Middle East.' [Significant] figures in the Republican party are attempting to rein in a rogue president before American men and women begin coming home in body bags... The religious underpinnings of Bush's war against evil are evident as is the absolutist theology he shares with Radical Islam."

10,000 in Glasgow protest W-ar plans
20-Oct-02
Bush's War

The opposition to Bush's War is strong, deep, and persistent all over the world. In Glasgow, "politicians, poets and campaigners called for diplomatic action rather than war as the crowds sang the John Lennon hit Give Peace a Chance.... Socialists, trade unionists and nationalists marched together and staged a sit- down protest outside an army recruitment office." The crowds will continue to grow until Bush and Blair have no choice but to recognize that "going it alone" means the two of them and NOBODY else.

Head of Bush's Own Church Condemns W-ar against Iraq
20-Oct-02
Bush's War

Jim Winkler, the general secretary of the United Methodist Church, has said Bush's preparations for war against Iraq are "without any justification according to the teachings of Christ." Bush claims that the teachings of Christ guide his life. He claims to be a member of the Methodist Church. But the London Observer reports that "all attempts at a 'dialogue' between the President and his own church over the war had fallen on deaf ears at the White House."

The Push for War and The Threat from America
18-Oct-02
Bush's War

In a penetrating essay, Anatol Lieven writes, "Twice now in the past decade, the overwhelming military and economic dominance of the US has given it the chance to lead the rest of the world by example and consensus. It could have adopted (and to a very limited degree under Clinton did adopt) a strategy in which this dominance would be softened and legitimised by economic and ecological generosity and responsibility, by geopolitical restraint, and by 'a decent respect to the opinion of mankind', as the US Declaration of Independence has it. The first occasion was the collapse of the Soviet superpower enemy and of Communism as an ideology. The second was the threat displayed by al-Qaida. Both chances have been lost - the first in part, the second it seems conclusively. What we see now is the tragedy of a great country, with noble impulses, successful institutions, magnificent historical achievements and immense energies, which has become a menace to itself and to mankind."

UN Members Adamantly Oppose Bush's W-ar Resolution, Leaving Bushwell Scrambling
17-Oct-02
Bush's War

AP reports, "Facing strong opposition from dozens of nations, the US has backed down from its demand that a new U.N. resolution must authorize military force if Baghdad fails to cooperate with weapons inspectors... Instead, the US is now floating a compromise which would give inspectors a chance to test Iraq's will to cooperate on the ground. If Iraq then failed to disarm, the Bush administration would agree to return to the Security Council for further debate and possibly another resolution authorizing action... During an open Security Council debate on Iraq, which started Wednesday and continued Thursday, more than two dozen nations - including Iraq's closest neighbors and key U.S. allies - refused to endorse the Bush administration's demand for an authorization of military force if Baghdad fails to cooperate with U.N. weapons inspections. They said Iraq must be given a chance to completely disarm without the imminent threat of military action." Vive la France!

Even Bush Ambassador Anthony Zinni Thinks GOP Hawks 'Live on Another Planet'
17-Oct-02
Bush's War

Salon's Eric Boehlert writes, "Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, former head of Central Command for U.S. forces in the Middle East ... has worked recently as the State Department's envoy to the region... In a keynote address striking for its critical assessment of the Bush administration, Zinni stressed the need to get the Israeli-Palestinian peace process back on track, build a broad coalition against Iraq, create trust among allies in the region -- and put Saddam Hussein's threat in perspective. He also took issue with hawks in and around the administration who downplay the importance of Arab sentiment in the region. 'I'm not sure which planet they live on,' Zinni said, 'because it isn't the one that I travel.' And he challenged their suggestion that installing a new Iraqi government will not be especially difficult. 'God help us,' he said, 'if we think this transition will occur easily.'"

Urge the UN Security Council to Say NO to Bush's W-ar
17-Oct-02
Bush's War

Voices in the Wilderness writes, "As the Security Council enters its second day of debate on a new resolution relating to military action against Iraq, Voices would like to generate a huge number of letters to specific members of the SC. I spoke two days ago with Mr. Hans von Sponeck and he concurred that this could be an effective action at this time. Letters should go to three of the permanent members of the SC (France, China, Russia) and to Ireland (currently president of the SC) and to Denmark (currently heading the EU). Write short letters saying how as US citizens we have worked to keep our nation from escalation of the economic and military warfare on Iraq. Tell them that now we ask them to do all in their power to keep the US from carrying out its war plan against the Iraqi people." Just copy/paste these e-mails into your "to" box: china@un.int, france@un.int, ireland@un.int, nycmis@um.dk, rusun@un.int, info@vitw.org

World to Bush - Drop Dead
17-Oct-02
Bush's War

NY Times reports that Bush's "push for an early American-led war against Iraq drew broad opposition today in an unusual open debate in the Security Council. Many countries backed weapons inspections, and Arab states said they would not support an attack without UN endorsement, considering an attack only as a last resort... 'An attack on Iraq would open a Pandora's box,' said Yahia A. Mahmassani, the representative of the Arab League. 'It will lead to civil and ethnic war in Iraq and also destabilize the whole Arab region, which is already outraged at the Israeli occupation,' he said. 'The war on Iraq will negate the present world order, the charter of the UN and international law,' he said. Even Kuwait, which was freed from Iraqi occupation in the Persian Gulf war of 1991, insisted that 'any use of force must be a last resort and within the UN framework, and only after all other available means have been exhausted.'" The world is united - AGAINST Bush's War.

Get Ready for the Draft - and Conscientious Objection
16-Oct-02
Bush's War

Moveon writes, "A new bill was introduced last year that would reinstitute the draft. It continues to languish in the House, but the possibility remains that the bill could be given more serious consideration if a need arises for replacement troops -- or if the idea of making young Americans more patriotic by enlisting them gathers more support. 18-year-old men are still required to register (in many states, they can't receive their driver's license unless they do so), meaning that it would take little time to begin calling people up for a draft once Congress approved it... [Thus] it is still important to understand what conscientious objection means, and how to legally qualify to become one of the two federally recognized types of conscientious objector."

Despite Massive US Pressure, France Leads UN in Saying NO! to W-ar
16-Oct-02
Bush's War

For two months, Karl Rove has filled the NY Times with almost daily predictions that UN Security Council permanent members France, Russia, and China would roll over for Bush. But it's all a Big Lie. Jacques Chirac is more adamantly determined to require separate vote on inspections and invasion, and direct denounced W's latest Bushit about links between Iraq and Al Qaeda, even as he tours the Middle East to show France's solidarity with the Arab world. Bush has finally encountered a political leader who refuses to knuckle under, and team Bush is quietly seething. Their latest spin is to offer a resolution with "one and a half" stages, but Chirac won't buy it. Hey George - what part of "NO" don't you understand?

ABC Finds Americans Oppose the W-ar, Even in Military Towns
16-Oct-02
Bush's War

"Across the nation, in city after city, ABCNEWS found voices of opposition, and many of them were from military towns. 'I am not convinced Bush has yet made the case,' said Miles Harvey, a San Diego retiree. San Diego is home port to the Navy's Pacific Fleet, which directly employs more than 100,000 people. 'We have to be convinced that there is a credible threat from Iraq and that's what I haven't seen,' said Harvey...'What concerns me,' said Rhame, the retired Vietnam War vet, 'is what we do over there could bring more terror to the United States.' Denver resident Cassens agreed. 'We need to build some bridges with the Muslim world, not make things worse,' she said. Contrary to what the president says, when it comes to war, Americans do not speak with one voice. A national day of protest has been scheduled for Oct. 26."

Bush Tries to Varnish Abrogating the Constitution With Another Photo Op
16-Oct-02
Bush's War

AP reports: "George W. Bush summoned dozens of lawmakers to the White House to accept formally Congress' go-ahead for military action against Iraq, hoping that a tableau of a unified America would help win over hesitant allies. Bush was to sign into law on Wednesday the newly passed resolution authorizing the use of force, amid the grandeur of the East Room and surrounded by supportive lawmakers. In a major victory for the president, weeks of back-and-forth between Congress and the White House produced little significant change in Bush's initial draft of the resolution. The measure giving Bush the authority to use military force, if necessary, to rid Iraq of its biological and chemical weapons and disband its nuclear weapons program was approved last week by strong margins in the House and Senate." Call your legislators and tell them you oppose Bush's W-ar! Then call the White House, too, at: 202-456-1414.

While Powell Pretends to Negotiate at the UN, Rumsfeld Insists on Provoking W-ar
16-Oct-02
Bush's War

The UK Telegraph reports: "The increasingly public war of words within the Bush administration over Iraq reached new heights yesterday, with senior hawks questioning the right of Colin Powell, the secretary of state, to make concessions at the United Nations. Unnamed State Department officials used newspaper accounts to accuse hawks of trying to wreck the UN process and clear the way for a 'fast-track' invasion of Iraq....One diplomat from a US ally on the Security Council in New York said: 'There is serious doubt here about the willingness of the Bush administration to find a peaceful solution.'...But there is nothing feigned about the philosophical gulf between the State Department and civilian leaders at the Pentagon, who have little faith in the UN and would love to see weapons inspections fail as a result of Iraqi non-co-operation."

To Wag the Dog, Bushfeld Concocts 'Old Shoe' - Where is Woody Harrelson?
15-Oct-02
Bush's War

In Barry Levinson's cynical hit "Wag The Dog" (wag-the-dog.com), spin doctor Conrad Brean (Robert DeNiro) engineers a war to distract the nation from a Presidential scandal 2 weeks before the election. Brean invents a captured war hero named "Old Shoe" (Woody Harrelson) to keep the story alive. Now Bushfeld has rediscovered Gulf War pilot Michael Scott Speicher, who was shot down and presumed dead in 1991. But Speicher is dead no longer, thanks to Bushcroft's reclassification as "missing-captured." No doubt Willie Nelson is writing a patriotic ballad that will soon be "discovered" in the archives of the Smithsonian.

Tell the UN Security Council that You OPPOSE Bush's W-ar
15-Oct-02
Bush's War

Bush is trying to bribe and coerce the UN Security Council into authorizing his illegal "aggressive war" against Iraq, in violation of the very founding principles of the UN. But Bush isn't the only one who can correspond with Security Council delegates. Congress.org has created a handy web form that lets you write to the delegates from all five permanent members of the Security Council (US, UK, Russia, China, and France). Tell them you oppose Bush's W-ar, and insist on Inspections, not Invasion!

Less than One Year After US 'Liberation', Afghanistan Prefers Iran and Iraq to US
15-Oct-02
Bush's War

The corporate media's inability to hold a thought longer than a nanosecond never ceases to amaze us. But here's an item that the meandering mullahs of meaninglessness might consider for 1.5 nanoseconds. The very guy BUSH put in charge of Afghanistan - Hamid Karzai - says he won't support Bush's war in Iraq. Not only that, but Karzai "is developing a close relationship with Iran" - a member of Bush's very own Axis of Evil. A year has not yet passed since we put Karzai in power, yet US influence there is practically nil. Why will we have any more influence after we conquer Iraq?

Less than a Week after Claiming Iraq War Is 'Last Resort,' Bush Deploys Forces in Gulf as If War Had Been Declared
15-Oct-02
Bush's War

As soon as Bush had the last YEA vote from Congress, he began mobilizing for war. Two aircraft carrier battle groups, each with about 10,000 sailors and marines, were moved into striking distance of Iraq The Navy has accelerated training schedules for other warships, and Gen. Tommy Franks, who would run any war with Iraq, announced his decision to move his battle staff to a newly outfitted command post in Qatar, in the central Persian Gulf in the next few weeks. Over the weekend, it was also announced that the battle staffs of the Army's V Corps and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force are being moved to Kuwait, where they would coordinate the ground element of an invasion. Gee, didn't Hitler reassure Chamberlain and FDR that he absolutely had no intentions of invading Poland about a week before he invaded?

Non-Aligned Movement Wants to Stop Bush's W-ar, and Asks for US Citizens to Show Solidarity at the UN
15-Oct-02
Bush's War

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) represent nations that refuse to dance to the tune of the US. Under the current leadership of South Africa, NAM is stepping up to challenge Bush's W-ar. They have asked American citizens to show their support by demonstrating outside the UN. There will be a daily vigil from 4-6 p.m. at the Isaiah Wall, 43rd St. and 1st Avenue, and a large rally at the same location on Wednesday October 23 at 9 a.m. Let's unite with the people of the world to stop Bush's madness!

Republican Presidential Advisor Says 'Controlling Iraqi Oil At Least as Important as Eliminating Weapons of Mass Destruction'
15-Oct-02
Bush's War

The Grand Rapid Press reports: "Hours after Congress authorized...Bush to use force in Iraq, an economic adviser under four U.S. presidents told Grand Rapids business leaders Friday that going to war 'is probably the most bullish thing I can think of.' Former FDIC chairman Bill Seidman, who served during the Nixon, Ford, Reagan and the senior Bush administrations, said defeating Saddam Hussein and controlling Iraqi oil is 'at least as important as eliminating weapons of mass destruction.'...'I think probably the most bullish thing I can think of today is winning the war. We are planning to set up a MacArthur-like' government, said Seidman, referring to U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's temporary rule over Japan after its surrender in World War II. 'Getting control of that oil,' and thereby gaining sway with neighboring Saudi Arabia's oil production, 'will make a vast difference (to the economy) in all sorts of things, but particularly the price of oil.'"

American Youth Vote with Their Feet - No One is Enlisting for Bush's W-ar
14-Oct-02
Bush's War

NY Daily News reports, "The commander-in-chief may be banging the drums of war against Iraq, but that is not stirring up a flood of new recruits looking to join the fight. At military recruiting posts throughout the New York area, the prospect of war with Iraq isn't swelling interest in enlisting - at least not yet, according to recruiters. 'Right after Sept. 11, we got a lot of patriotic people walking in more often because they knew we were going to war on terrorism,' said Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ramzan Monroe, a recruiter in downtown Brooklyn. 'But right now, it's business as usual.'" So how quickly will Bush revive the draft?

Putting Faith before Fear: Prayers from Those of Real Faith for Those in Congress with None
13-Oct-02
Bush's War

C. L. McElvaine writes, "The current calls for war and blood shed are coming mostly from people who nearly to a man and woman call themselves 'religious' - 'good Christians' and 'good Jews.' But though these people are awful darn fond of invoking the good Lord's name, I haven't yet seen just where God comes into any of this saber rattling and fear mongering. My Dad, a Methodist minister, used to say, 'the opposite of fear is Faith.' If that's the case, then these 'good Christians' don't have one drop of real faith in them. All I heard when I listened to C-Span and heard the 'yays' lined up giving their spiel, yielding this minute and that minute to other 'yays', was a bunch of grown men and women so scared they wanted to hide under the bed, all because G.W. Bush told them bogeyman stories - and stories that from what I can gather, had about a half ounce of fact to every 10 ounces of moonshine. I can't say when I was more ashamed of my government."

Our Fears Are Not a Reason for War
13-Oct-02
Bush's War

Harold Meyerson writes in the WashPost: "(Bush) needed lots of points, because he lacked the one point that could prove that Iraq actually poses an imminent danger to the US or to its Middle Eastern neighbors. As the CIA assessment that was declassified last week made clear, Saddam has shown little inclination or capacity to do the things we are determined to stop him from doing -- unless we attack to stop him from doing them....Bush's failure to make a convincing case gave rank-and-file House Democrats more freedom to vote their conscience and their judgment than anyone had anticipated. (Fully 61 percent of them opposed the resolution, as well as 21 of the 50 Democratic senators.)...The National Security Strategy of the US,...unveiled almost simultaneously with the initial draft of its war resolution,...(proclaims) a world in which the US is the model, arbiter and enforcer for the rest of the planet,...(with) the right to intervene preventively against any power it deems a threat."

Middle Eastern Countries Deride Bush Administration's Pledge to Institute Democracy
12-Oct-02
Bush's War

Eric Margolis writes: "Once the United States overthrows...Hussein and 'liberates' Iraq, it will then proceed to spread democracy, human rights, and enlightenment throughout the world, but most notably in the Mideast. So vows Bush Administration's National Security Advisor, Miss Condoleeza Rice, an academic expert on Soviet affairs, who has drawn up much of the recently-proclaimed Bush Doctrine of worldwide intervention. One hopes her preposterous assertion is simply part of the Administration's propaganda buildup before invading oil-rich Iraq....If Rice truly believes the US will bring democracy to the Mideast, she must also believe in the tooth fairy. Such naivete is unacceptable in a senior policy maker....Rice's silly claim was greeted from Morocco to Pakistan with profoundest derision by the very people she aspires to 'liberate.' In fact, the Bush Administration's stated goal of bringing democracy to the Muslim World faithfully echoes claims by... Britain's imperialists..."

In Senate, Only 1 Republican Opposes W-ar, While Dems Split
11-Oct-02
Bush's War

Senate Republicans voted 48-1 for W-ar, with only Lincoln Chafee (RI) opposed. Dems voted 29-21 for W-ar. Here is the Honor Roll: Akaka (HI), Bingaman (NM), Boxer (CA), Byrd (WV), Conrad (ND), Corzine (NJ), Dayton (MN), Durbin (IL), Feingold (WI), Graham (FL), Inouye (HI), Jeffords (I-VT), Kennedy (MA), Leahy (VT), Levin (MI), Mikulski (MD), Murray (WA), Reed (RI), Sarbanes (MD), Stabenow (MI), Wellstone (MN), Wyden (OR). Call your Senator at 202-224-3121 and express your feelings about their vote.

Congress Gives Bush a Blank Check for W-ar
11-Oct-02
Bush's War

WashingtonPost.com reports: "The House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to grant... Bush the power to attack Iraq unilaterally, remove Saddam Hussein from power and abolish that country's nuclear, chemical and biological weaponry. Moving the nation closer to a possible second war with Iraq, 77 of 100 senators and 296 of 435 House members voted to authorize (Bush) to 'use the armed forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq.' (Bush) needs no further congressional approval to deploy troops, order airstrikes and wage a ground war with Iraq... Not since Congress passed the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin resolution -- which helped bring expansion of the Vietnam War -- has a president won such broad and flexible authority to carry out an undefined military operation, historians say."

Crusading Toward Armageddon
11-Oct-02
Bush's War

Rick Friedman and Stewart Nusbaumer write: "All of us know that Osama bin Laden is a Muslim religious fanatic hell-bent on implementing his demented version of Armageddon in the Middle East. What we're not sure about, however, is whether or not George Bush is a Christian religious fanatic hell-bent on his demented version of Armageddon in the Middle East....If the chosen by God George Bush invades demonic Iraq he may very well ignite a larger war in the Middle East that will pull in other Arab states and Israel, leading us to the conclusion of Armageddon with both God's forces and Satan's army all going down the toilet of defeat. And just think, all of this from a man who can't spell "banana." So...hang on because revelation is bringing a revolution and we just may end up back in the Stone Age. By the way, if you're not the fatalistic type, you could get off your spreading computer butt and raise some hell! Bush might be chosen by God, but this is still a democracy."

What Bush Wants Us To Forget
11-Oct-02
Bush's War

Robert Fisk writes: "And of course, we must forget about oil. Indeed, oil is the one commodity -- and one of the few things which George Bush Jr. knows something about, along with his ex-oil cronies Cheney and Rice and countless others in the administration -- which is never mentioned. In all of Bush's 30 minutes of anti-Iraq war talk on Tuesday -- pleasantly leavened with just two minutes of how 'I hope this will not require military action' -- there wasn't a single reference to the fact that Iraq may hold oil reserves larger than those of Saudi Arabia, that American oil companies stand to gain billions of dollars in the event of a US invasion, that, once out of power, Bush and his friends could become multibillionaires on the spoils of this war. We must ignore all this before we go to war. We must forget."

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) Says 'The Bottom Line is I Don't Trust This pResident'
10-Oct-02
Bush's War

Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) says: "Make no mistake, we are voting on a resolution that grants total authority to the president, who wants to invade a sovereign nation without any specific act of provocation. This would authorize the United States to act as the aggressor for the first time in our history. It sets a precedent for our nation -- or any nation -- to exercise brute force anywhere in the world without regard to international law or international consensus. Congress must not walk in lockstep behind a president who has been so callous to proceed without reservation, as if war was of no real consequence. [Bush] admits that he was at best ambivalent about the Vietnam War. He skirted his own military service and then failed to serve out his time in the National Guard. [Years later Bush said that] in 1968 he didn't notice 'any heavy stuff going on.' So we have a president who thinks foreign territory is the opponent's dugout and Kashmir is a sweater."

A War of Terror
10-Oct-02
Bush's War

Brian Balta of the Hoosier Review writes: "We've gone from fighting a war on terror to fighting a war because we're terrified. And it's the wrong way to do it. If we're launching a war, it shouldn't be one from fear. That's why I watched Bush's speech. I was hoping for something concrete. Something real. A good reason for this war. All we were given was that we have to launch the war because of 9/11. Because of fear. We're supposed to ignore everything else because we're afraid. We're supposed to kill everyone who opposes us because we're scared of mushroom clouds. And we just can't do that. We can't just kill people every time we get afraid. We're better than that. I hope."

The Real Litmus Test of Public Support for War Should Be: Are You Willing to Die For It or Offer Your Sons and Daughters Lives?
10-Oct-02
Bush's War

"If the media and Bush were genuinely interested in whether Americans support a military occupation of another country, they should ask citizens: If you support a military invasion of Iraq and replacement of Saddam Hussein, are you willing to: Enlist in one of the armed services? Encourage your son or daughter to join the military? Renew a draft of all 18-year-olds?...If we are convinced that American ideals of freedom or justice are at stake, then we should be willing to offer our own bodies, or at least those of relatives or neighbors. Evidence of this willingness is remarkably absent. Military officials report no unusual increase of recruits since Sept. 11. And pundits, from conservatives such as Mona Charen to leftists such as Christopher Hitchens, have dodged this question entirely while parading under the pro-invasion banner." So writes Alexander E. Hooke.

Iraq Debate Comes Down to ChickenHawks Vs. Experienced Military...Who Know Better!
09-Oct-02
Bush's War

"It is interesting to me that many of those who want to rush this country into war and think it would be so quick and easy don't know anything about war," says Sen. Chuck Hagel, (R-NB). A decorated Vietnam veteran, Hagel is not eager to ship others off to Iraq. "They come at it from an intellectual perspective versus having sat in jungles or foxholes and watched their friends get their heads blown off," Hagel said. Chickenhawks, like Joe Leiberman and Trent Lott have readily bought the vague danger line - yet have themselves never suited up in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines. David Bonoir (D-MI), by contrast, says even being a cook in a war zone reveals that "war destroys lives in such a profound way." Chickenhawks are likely to be fearless because they've never been in danger. On the other hand, the only vet to advocate attack, John McCain, may be trigger happy because his own prisoner of war experiences left him too fearful. We say, listen to the REAL SOLDIERS!

Detailed Analysis of Bush's October 7 Speech on Iraq
09-Oct-02
Bush's War

The Institute for Public Accuracy, a nationwide consortium of policy researchers, seeks to broaden public discourse by gaining media access for those whose perspectives are commonly drowned out by corporate-backed think tanks and other influential institutions. The Institute has just issued its "Detailed Analysis of October 7 Speech by Bush on Iraq" describing: how Middle Eastern allies have urged America to tone down the W-ar rhetoric; how UN resolutions call for establishing a Middle East zone free of WMD; how Rumsfeld and Cheney helped Saddam construct his germ warfare arsenal; and, much more. Compare what you heard to the documented facts assembled by a cross-section of independent researchers and journalists.

Why Bush Won't Go to W-ar
08-Oct-02
Bush's War

"The President's party traditionally loses seats at midterm elections. This time around, tradition should be reinforced by the mounting woes that have befallen us under that party's aegis. A trillion dollar surplus has turned into a trillion dollar deficit within 18 months; the stock market has collapsed; and the economy is again falling into a recession. An administration that prides itself on...a CEO and pro-corporate mentality has witnessed the largest corporate crime wave in this century. A year after 9/11, investigations have shown that our intelligence apparatus is woefully incapable of protecting us from terrorist attacks. The Bush administration's only response is to create an entirely new and even more bloated intelligence agency which...will not have the most significant existing intelligence agencies in its portfolio...we confront the real possibility that the Republican Party will recapture the Senate and extend its majority in the House. How is this possible?"

Gangs of Kids, Snipers, and Random 'All-American' Violence Pose a Bigger Danger to the Average Citizen than Saddam
08-Oct-02
Bush's War

"I don't know about you, but I'm a lot more afraid of roaming snipers, gangs of violent kids, and the random, almost casual violence that permeates American society than Saddam. It seems to me that the odds are greater that I'll be attacked by a sociopath or psychopath right in my own neighborhood than a maniac thousands of miles away. Tonight Bush will address the nation and once again attempt to scare us into wholesale support of his lust for war with Iraq. But let's be real. What he needs to declare war on is unemployment, the ailing economy, corporate corruption, and the gun lobby. These are the things most of us are scared of every day. " - Jill Nelson, MSNBC

Pat Buchanan Denounces the Neo-Conservatives Behind 'World War IV'
08-Oct-02
Bush's War

Pat Buchanan writes, "Norman Podhoretz... claims that Bush's mission is 'to fight World War IV' - the war against militant Islam.' Podhoretz' enemies... 'are not confined to ... the axis of evil (Iraq, Iran, North Korea). At a minimum, the axis should extend to Syria and Lebanon and Libya, as well as 'friends' of America like the Saudi royal family and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, along with the Palestinian Authority'... Podhoretz believes, writes columnist Paul Craig Roberts, that Bush 'must find the stomach to impose a new political culture on the defeated' Islamic world, just as we did on Germany and Japan... How many body bags filled with American boys will it cost to realize the vision of Lantos, Ledeen and Podhoretz... Whose sons will they be? Do they care? How much treasure must we sink into a war of civilizations to impose Podhoretz's 'new political culture' on an Islamic world of hundreds of millions? Who made this America's mission, and why? Cui bono, World War IV?"

Bush Fails to Inform Public of the Very Real Dangers of War with Iraq: Unending Waves of Terrorism - Just Like Sharon's Israel
07-Oct-02
Bush's War

"A war in Iraq could provoke international terrorist cells within the US to attack American citizens at home, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Bob Graham (D-FL) said Friday. Moreover, Graham said, Iraq could respond to a U.S. attack by deploying chemical or biological weapons against Israel, which could possibly retaliate by firing nuclear missiles at Iraq. 'The worst case is modern Armageddon,' Graham said... Although Al Gore, Tom Daschle, Edward Kennedy, Robert Byrd and other senior Democrats have criticized Bush's war plans, Graham's objections were among the most substantive offered so far by any lawmaker... Among the groups Graham identified as already present in the US and poised for attack are Iranian-backed Hezbollah, Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network and 'agents of Iraq.' Hezbollah ... is a more serious threat to U.S. domestic security than most people realize. Hezbollah, or 'party of God,' has killed hundreds of Americans in bombing attacks in Lebanon."

Democrats Climb on Board the Runaway Bush Train: Ladies and Gentlemen, We are Screwed
07-Oct-02
Bush's War

"Ladies and Gentlemen: We are screwed. The government of the United States, behaving much like a runaway train, is screaming down the tracks toward a strike on Iraq that will take out Saddam and install a more favorable regime, complete with all the mind-boggling and unknown ramifications that act will provoke. This shocking truth has dawned on us over the past weeks. What is more unbelievable to millions of Americans is that there seems to be little we can do about it, at least at this stage. President George Bush is lining up Congressional approval for his plan, with the full support of the Democratic leadership, and most feel there will soon be a favorable U.N. Security Council resolution, as the administration wheels and deals with the Russians to bring them into the fold. After that, only a couple of months of preparation are needed before bombing begins." - Don Hazen, Japan Today.

Get Ready for The Draft - and Worse
06-Oct-02
Bush's War

Michael Ruppert writes, ""The administration's arrogance is as frightening as its power. I have recently learned from trusted sources on Capitol Hill that the Armed Services committees have quietly begun planning for a reinstitution of the draft. That harkens back to my June 2000 essay, 'When the Children of the Bull Market Begin to Die.' The eventual drafting of our youth is to me as much a certainty as anything else I have written about thus far. Reserve units, now having been called up for more than a year, are nearing the breaking point. A bloody and protracted war -- something the rest of the world may now be hoping for -- will overextend our military, and the draft will be essential as the criminals occupying the Executive Branch desperately attempt to make their grasp meet their reach. I think that there is better than a 50-50 chance that nuclear weapons will be used on the battlefield by either the U.S. or Israel within the next six months."

Sen. Levin Offers Additional W-ar Resolution; Wellstone Says To Go Multinational
04-Oct-02
Bush's War

CNSNews reports that Senator Carl "Levin's resolution would authorize [Bush] to offer U.S. troops for any military action against Iraq authorized by the U.N. Security Council. Should the Security Council fail to act 'promptly,' in the opinion of the resident, Bush would return to Congress to seek authorization for unilateral action. The Michigan Democrat stressed that nothing in his resolution ties... [Bush's] hands... Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) agreed with the need for multi-national support for any military intervention against Iraq. 'Only a broad coalition of nations, united to disarm Saddam, while preserving our war on terror, is likely to succeed,' he said in a prepared statement Thursday. 'We should act forcefully, resolutely, sensibly, with our allies, and not alone.'"

Thinking Clearly Through the Bush Fog of W-ar
04-Oct-02
Bush's War

Carla Binion writes: "Why has Bush designated Saddam the first and only one to go? Does he plan to force regime changes on all 'rogue' states? At what long-term cost? Why is there no urgency in the case of North Korea and Iran as there allegedly is with Saddam? Isn't it likely that, as even Chris Matthews has said, if Bush attacks Iraq he will cause countless Arab people to seek revenge on the U.S.? Or, as the San Francisco Chronicle's Michael Slackman and Jailan Zayan wrote recently, isn't it likely an attack on Iraq would 'open the gates of hell' and unleash a firestorm against us and create profound instability in the Middle East? If the Bush administration won't ask these kinds of questions, the public and Congress should. When it comes to whether to wage war, the country needs calm, critical thinking and analysis now more than ever."

Chirac and Schroeder Show Solidarity and Refuse to Yield to Bush Bullying on Iraq
03-Oct-02
Bush's War

This week, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder met to reaffirm their mutual commitment to oppose the immoral Bush W-ar. Chirac says he is "totally hostile" to any UN resolution that makes military intervention in Iraq automatic from the start, while Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder says his country remains fully opposed to intervention. We think it's just a little fishy that the American press, ever eager to make Bush's wishes come true, ran a headline earlier this week in some outlets suggesting Schroeder had backed down from his anti-war stance. Sorry, you folks at Goebbels' Central - you can't make a lie true, no matter how many millions of people see it!

Bush Shoots His Weapon of Mass Democracy: 'Crossing the Line Between Neo-Conservative and Neo-Crazy'
03-Oct-02
Bush's War

"The American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a major think tank whose ranks include, among others, Cheney's wife Lynne and the chairman of Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld's Defense Policy Board, Richard Perle, has long argued for extending the war on terrorism far beyond Afghanistan and al-Qaeda to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestine Authority of Yasser Arafat and even Washington's long-time ally, Saudi Arabia. 'What [the Bush administration] has in mind is a broad vision,' says Meyrav Wurmser, who directs Mideast policy at the Hudson Institute but works closely with Perle, 'which really involves changing the character of the Middle East.' If Saddam can be overthrown in an overwhelming show of force, the argument goes, then all of the autocracies that have dominated the Arab world, resisting democratic reform and peace with Israel, will themselves totter and collapse to popular pressures, creating a domino effect from Iran in the east, clear across North Africa as far as Libya."

A Whopping 9 Out of 10 Spaniards Are Against the Bush W-ar on Iraq
01-Oct-02
Bush's War

An astounding 87% of Spain's citizens are opposed to a U.S. military strike against Iraq, according to a poll taken by El Pais, one of Spain's most popular newspapers. Nearly 3 in 4 Spaniards believe that any attack should be UN-approved. Meanwhile, Bush buddy rightwinger Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has pledged conditional support to Bush, pitting him against nearly everyone in Spain. Once again, Bush's hawkish determination to plow forward to avenge his Daddy for an assassination attempt that, as it turns out, was either totally fudged or had nothing to do with Saddam, could bring about an unexpected "regime change."

Newsweek Poll Shows How Fragile Support for an Attack on Iraq Really Is
01-Oct-02
Bush's War

Despite what you've heard on the news, Americans overwhelmingly support an international coalition to confront Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein over an attempt by the U.S. to take unilateral action. Fully 86% say the support of our allies is important and 81% say UN support is important. Americans clearly picture a war that is casualty-free (for Americans, that is), because they are evenly split on whether or not the U.S. should commit ground troops to such a conflict. There is no war scenario being discussed openly that would not require a massive commitment of American soldiers on the ground. The poll also reveals why General Rove has chosen this moment to launch an attack on Iraq -- fewer than half of all Americans support Bush's economic or tax policies. Hey Bill O'Reilly - this is more evidence you're wrong on the Iraq polls!

'Chickenhawks Hall of Shame' - Watch the Flash Video!
30-Sep-02
Bush's War

America is being railroaded to war by an evil gang of chickenhawks. This funny and powerful Flash video tells the urgent and shameful story that the media won't tell.

'Gung-Ho' U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Read from Bushfeld Cue Cards
30-Sep-02
Bush's War

BBC News Report: "How do you feel about being here?" I asked a young corporal from Florida. "I'm proud to be serving my country, sir," he said. "We have a job to do and I'm glad to be part of it". Every soldier I spoke to was the same, proud, committed, raring to go. But a few minutes later, I was hailed by two young soldiers [who were] clearly not part of the guided tour. "Excuse me sir," they asked. "But do we really have to say this baloney?" The actual word they used was a little more colourful. "What baloney?" I asked. They handed me a small laminated card. On it were instructions on how to deal with journalists. These were not just general ground rules. It actually listed suggested answers: "How do you feel about what you're doing in Afghanistan"? Answer: "We're united in our purpose and committed to achieving our goals." "How long do you think that will take?" Answer: "We will stay here as long as it takes to get the job done - sir!" Just what the Fuhrer wants to hear!

Bush's War Could Lead To A Regime Change - In London
29-Sep-02
Bush's War

Tim Luckhurst writes "Could George W. Bush's push for regime change in Baghdad fall prey to the law of unintended consequences and cause regime change in London as well? The idea may seem absurd... But it is a rule of British politics that a prime minister's most dangerous enemies are on his own side of the aisle. And in backing Bush's war on Iraq--even though 80 percent of Labour MPs disagree--Blair has placed himself in direct opposition to the views of the party upon whose consent he relies. British premiers are party leaders, after all, not presidents with personal mandates from the electorate. And the Labour Party, already dissatisfied with the prime minister's domestic policies, may well take the opportunity of an unpopular war in Iraq to try to depose him once and for all."

'Attitude of the Bush Administration May be the Greatest Threat to World Peace that Modern Civilization Has Ever Faced'
29-Sep-02
Bush's War

The Practical Radical offers a truly stirring, terrifying look at the Bush National Security strategy, one that clearly answers the question of "Why Do They Hate Us?" better than anything Osama could say. The fact that the strategy involves waging W-ar against any country posing a "potential risk" to the US enlarges the possible list of targets to not only the other members of the UN Security Council, but to the other 27 countries with nuclear capability, including such notables as Israel, Pakistan, and India. The Bush Administration's contempt for the rest of the international community is clearly demonstrated by its self-exemption from the International Criminal Court, readily substantiating Nelson Mandela's recent assertion that "The attitude of the United States of America is a threat to world peace."

Iraq War Will Likely Add Saddam's Name to Bush's Growing List of 'Evildoers at Large'
29-Sep-02
Bush's War

Seems like over a year ago, all we were hearing from Bush was how he wasn't going to rest until he GOT Osama Bin Laden. But OBL is still at large, and appears to have his own film company, judging from the number of taunting videos regularly released from parts unknown. Now we are supposed to believe Saddam Hussein, who has at least three doubles, isn't already bunkered down somewhere - perhaps even outside of Iraq - waiting to start his own film company? What a joke Bush will have made of the U.S. as the list of "Evildoers at Large" grows longer... and longer... and longer, as the body count grows.

Bush Believes War is Peace
29-Sep-02
Bush's War

Gene Lyons writes, "Now let me get this straight: Saddam Hussein is a deadly threat to American security, the worst since Hitler or Stalin. Why, it may take as long as two weeks to conquer Iraq. So now that President Junior's returned from a month-long vacation at his Texas ranch, which he apparently spent rounding up and branding golf carts, the sky is falling and there's not a moment to spare. [A headline quoted Bush] stating 'If you want peace, it's necessary to use force.' War is Peace. Where have I heard that before? 'Regime change,' the man calls it. Translation... the administration is determined to invade a sovereign nation that hasn't attacked or threatened us, kill thousands of its citizens and install a dictator more to our liking. Preferably one who sells cheap oil and buys mass quantities of American-made weapons to replace the ones we're fixing to blow to smithereens. Meanwhile, it's everybody's patriotic duty to keep a straight face."

Toy in J.C. Penney Catalog Suggests Bush's Hawk Propaganda Now Targets 5-year-old Kids
27-Sep-02
Bush's War

When we saw this, we thought it had to be a sick joke - the kind of dark, dark satire Saturday Night Live sometimes presents. But no, God help us all - it's for real. In the J.C. Penney Christmas catalog in the toy section is a photo of a trashed doll house that has apparently just been commandeered by an M-16-wielding soldier in full combat gear. Beneath it is this text: "Take command of your soldiers from this fully outfitted battlezone. 75-piece set includes one 111/2"H figurine in military combat gear, toy weapons, American flag, chairs and more. Assembled dimensions; 32x16x32"H. Plastic. 10 lbs. Ages 5 and up." So under Bush it's come to this already - using toys to normalize for kids "5 and up" what should be nightnarishly unthinkable, let alone acceptable and "fun."

Senator Byrd Blasts Bush on the Cost of Attacking Iraq - And That's Just In Terms of Dollars, Not Lives
27-Sep-02
Bush's War

Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia has nothing to lose, so he can speak the truth in the U.S. Senate. In a series of emotional floor speeches that have caused some Republicans to clench their teeth and jump to their feet in anger, the Senate's senior Democrat has accused Bush of seeking a war with Iraq to distract the country from domestic problems just 43 days before an election that will decide which party controls Congress. And he has enraged Republicans by observing that they consider the $30 billion to $200 billion it will cost to fight a war in Iraq a minor expense. Yet they consider the $9 billion the Democrats want to spend on domestic economic security for more Americans an outrageous extravagance the nation cannot afford.

U.S. and Its Iraqi 'Regime Change' Supporters Ignore the Suffering of 24 Million Civilians
27-Sep-02
Bush's War

In the US, says Egyptian writer Firas Al-Atraqchi, Iraq and Saddam are synomymous: "MSNBC has taken to calling the latest crisis 'Showdown With Saddam,' while Senators fall over each other to 'Saddam this' or 'Saddam that.' When they speak of attacking Iraq they say, 'let's go and take this guy out.' Taking this guy out, however, would also take a chunk of innocent Iraqis out; we never hear of Iraqi civilians. That's because they don't fit into the greater scheme of things." At the same time, the vocal Iraqis overseas who support America ignore the suffering of their countryfolk: "They have hardly uttered a word about civilian casualties since 1991... They have never spoken out about the concentration of depleted uranium in the south of Iraq where Iraq newborns are without eyes and are terribly disfigured. Where the U.S. has barred any formal investigation into lethal radiation levels. Or the U.N. figure of some 500,000 infant deaths since the U.N. imposed punitive sanctions on Iraq."

Out-of-Control Bush Makes War by Himself
27-Sep-02
Bush's War

In pressing on with his war on Iraq, Bush is thumbing his nose at Americans, our ELECTED (unlike himself) officials, the UN, our allies, and ethical standards in general. Already, bombing raids have reportedly taken out a civilian air radar and killed several civilians. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is claiming what it always claims - it's only hitting "military targets." Who authorized Bush to even do THAT? Not the American people, not Congress, not a UN resolution, not any ally except Tony Blair. So, in essence, America has been hijacked by a white collar criminal who stole his office and is now driving us into a war zone, full speed ahead.

If Iraq Was Such An Imminent Threat, Why Did Bush Take A Month Long Vacation?
27-Sep-02
Bush's War

George, how dumb to you think we are? Right before you left to go on your 1 month vacation, you stated over and over that you had no war plans with Iraq. Since the day you came back, it has been Iraq war talk 24/7. If Iraq all of a sudden became a bigger threat while you were on vacation, why didn't you come back to DC to address the problem? So either Iraq is not an imminent threat,or your advisors are incompetent. Sen. Chuck Hagel said it right "To say 'Yes, there is evidence here but I don't want to tell you any more about it,' that does not encourage any of us... Nor does it give the American public a heck of a lot of faith that what anyone is saying is true." So George, what is true?

Russia Warns that Oil Companies are Driving US Aggression in Iraq - It's Indonesia 1965 All Over Again
27-Sep-02
Bush's War

As they say, it takes one to know one, and Russia knows that Iraq is shaping up to be Indonesia in the 1960's all over again. There, corporate barons at US corporations like Freeport McMohran and Mobil (now ExxonMobil), and their pals in high places like Kissinger, couldn't wait to oust the oil/gold/gas-rich nation's leader and replace him with a corrupt U.S. puppet. The blood in the streets hadn't even dried before the corporations swooped in and started setting up shop. Now US corporations are circling Iraq like sharks, the same way they circled Indonesia, all the while spouting the same phony lines they did 40 years ago: they will "liberate" and "raise the standard of living" of Indonesia. But today, the average Indonesian native lives in a miserable shanty slum on the outskirts of US corporate land and makes a few dollars a week. That is, if they are lucky enough to have a job at all.

53 MPs from Blairs Own Party Stage Second Biggest Rebellion Since Labor Party Took Power over Bush War
24-Sep-02
Bush's War

Did Tony Blair really imagine that anyone would buy his "instant evidence" and plea for war? It's not as if we hadn't all seen this badly-scripted, unconvincing performance before, starring G.W. Bush. But now 53 MPs from Blair's own party have given him the raspberry with a resounding protest vote. It was the second biggest such rebellion since the Labour party came into power. Blair, meanwhile, is like a lost and pathetic poodle, pitifully wagging his tail with lame backpedaling - trying to convince detractors he really DOES support the UN bit and that he's "distancing himself" from Bush over the idea of forcing a "regime change" in Iraq. PUL-eeze, TB! You're already made yourself enough of an embarrassment over your adolescent infatuation with Bush!

Attack of the Chickenhawks
24-Sep-02
Bush's War

Newsday columnist Ellis Henican writes, "The chickenhawks were in full-swoop mode. Flying low over Washington, making their loud squawking sounds, calling their fellow Americans out to war. George W. Bush (Texas Air National Guard, term abbreviated) was calling on Congress to 'use all means,' including a massive military assault, to remove Saddam Hussein as the leader of Iraq. Dick Cheney (Vietnam draft deferment, 'had other priorities') was up in Vermont, talking belligerently with that state's Air National Guard... No, there's not a real military-service record in the bunch. Just a group of guys who've learned to talk tough. Real military men have always understood: War is hell. War is best avoided. War is what you do when your very way of life is threatened - and you've tried everything, everything else. They know this because they've been to war... It's always the armchair generals who are the most gung-ho. And is Washington ever in the grip of armchair generals!"

Now, as in 1939, the World Sits On the Brink of Disaster, Waiting to Be Pushed into the Abyss By One Evil Man
23-Sep-02
Bush's War

"In the nightmare of the dark... All the dogs of Europe bark... .And the living nations wait... Each sequestered in its hate... Intellectual disgrace... Stares from every human face... And the seas of pity lie... Locked and frozen in each eye." W.H Auden, 1939. Today, the dogs of war are barking not in Europe but in the District of Columbia, and again people are looking on helplessly as the tragedy unfolds. We see the disaster being designed and touted, we observe the intellectual disgrace staring from the faces of George W. Bush and his advisers, and we note the seas of pity lying locked and frozen in their eyes. Yet we can do nothing to prevent the makers of this coming calamity from carrying out the devastation. I wonder if they ever lie awake at night and imagine the faces of the men, women, and children, people they do not know, people who do not know them and who cannot harm them, who will be dead soon." So writes Robert Higgs.

Condi Rice Tells Europe What U.S. Plans to Do in Iraq - As if it's Already a Done Deal
23-Sep-02
Bush's War

My, my - this administration seems to be afflicted with a contagious disorder that is getting worse and more resistant to "antidotes": Illusions of grandeuritis. Now Condi Rice, preening herself no doubt on authoring Bush's Wild West III Policy (as in WW III), is now taking it upon herself to "inform" Europe what the US plans to do with Iraq. Of course, some of us recall that Ms. Rice has no background whatsoever in southwest Asian affairs, other than what she might have picked up from cronies at Chevron. But that doesn't matter in Bushland, where anyone willing to kiss the royal butt can be named head of SOMETHING.

Bush's War Is Destroying the Stock Market and Making YOUR Money Disappear
23-Sep-02
Bush's War

What's that giant sucking sound? It's the sound of YOUR money going down the toilet as Bush ignores the economy and plans to invade Iraq. The stock market dropped to 6-year lows, and market watchers predicted worse times ahead. "We're getting hit heavier and harder than we thought,' said Warren Myers, New York Stock Exchange member. 'I think we should get ready to test the July lows. The economy earnings and Iraq are the problems. Threat of war is overhanging the marketplace. The earnings season is about to unfold and there is worry about what will happen when those real numbers come out,' Myers added." And just wait until the real killing begins! Are you better off than you were two years ago? If not, then Defeat ALL Republicans!

Bush is Getting Dangerouser and Dangerouser
22-Sep-02
Bush's War

Maureen Dowd writes, "Don't feel bad if you have the uneasy feeling that you're being steamrolled. You are not alone. As my girlfriend Dana said: 'Bush is like the guy who reserves a hotel room and then asks you to the prom'... The Bushies want to bring back the imperial, imperious presidency. The pre-emption proclamation had the tone of Cheney Caesar and Condi Ben Her. And the resolution sent to Congress seeking authority to go after Iraq was the broadest request for executive military authority since L.B.J. got the Gulf of Tonkin resolution rubber-stamped in 1964. At least L.B.J. had to phony up the Tonkin Gulf provocation. Mr. Bush can't be bothered. 'I cannot believe the gall and the arrogance of the White House,' Sen. Robert Byrd bellowed. Things are getting dangerouser and dangerouser. Karl Rove's gunning for the Democrats. Ariel Sharon's gunning for Arafat. W.'s gunning for Saddam. And Al Qaeda's still gunning for us."

Senator Byrd Will Oppose Bush's Declaration of War
22-Sep-02
Bush's War

"Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-WV, said... Bush's plans to invade Iraq are a conscious effort to distract public attention from growing problems at home... 'Are politicians talking about the domestic situation, the stock market, weaknesses in the economy, jobs that are being lost, housing problems? No... Congress will be putting itself on the sidelines... Nothing would please this resident more than having such a blank check handed to him.' Byrd said his belief in the Constitution will prevent him from voting for Bush's war resolution. 'But I am finding that the Constitution is irrelevant to people of this administration'... 'Instead of using the forum of the UN... to offer evidence and proof of his claims, the resident basically told the nations of the world that you are either with me, or against me,' 'I cannot believe the gall and the arrogance of the White House in requesting such a broad grant of war powers,' Byrd said. 'This is the worst kind of election-year politics.'"

Perpetual War Is The Only Hope For The Republicans To Hold Onto Power
21-Sep-02
Bush's War

Matt Miller writes "You can't understand today's Iraq debate without understanding Karl Rove's view of the nation's political crossroads and the longer-term struggle between Democrats and Republicans to achieve a new governing majority... If you want to understand the full picture, let's go to the heart of darkness... Most analysts view eras of closely divided power as periods in which one system of effective majority has broken down and the next system of effective majority has not yet come into being. [Because demographic trends favor Democrats, George W Bush pretends to have a 'compassionate' agenda.] Republican political consultants privately know the surest way to stem the Democratic drift is for the war on terror to become the master narrative of American politics... Serious Republican thinkers believe the only way for their party to achieve a governing majority is for the theme of war to be dominant."

Bush's War Against Afghanistan Was Illegal - No Wonder He's Struggling for UN Support to Invade Iraq
20-Sep-02
Bush's War

Professor of International Law Francis A. Boyle writes: "Bush, Jr. instead went to the United National Security Council to get a resolution authorizing the use of military force against Afghanistan and Al Qaeda. He failed... This war has never been authorized by the United Nations Security Council. If you read the two resolutions that he got, it is very clear that what Bush, Jr. tried to do was to get the exact same type of language that Bush, Sr. got from the U.N. Security Council... to authorize a war against Iraq to produce its expulsion from Kuwait... Indeed the first Security Council resolution refused to call what happened on September 11 an 'armed attack' - that is by one state against another state. Rather they called it 'terrorist attacks'... The critical point here is that this war has never been approved by the U.N. Security Council so technically it is illegal under international law. It constitutes an act and a war of aggression by the United States against Afghanistan."

War is Kind
19-Sep-02
Bush's War

Christian Dewar writes, "As our nation girds itself for war and the expenditure of the lives of our sons and daughters and the wealth of this country, it should be pointed out that the architects of this new slaughter are a cabal of little souls that avoided the draft when they could have served in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam. Despite a year and a half waiting list for the Texas National Guard, George W. Bush was accepted on the day he applied. He was allowed to enter flight training despite the lowest possible scores for flight aptitude. He was assigned an obsolete plane which was being fazed out of commission, assuring that he would not serve in South East Asia. He had many unexplained absences. (Vietnam vets have offered substantial rewards to anyone who can prove that Bush did serve at one post he claims to have been assigned to. See awolbush.com)."

Special Forces Are Waging Their Own War in Pakistan and Yemen
18-Sep-02
Bush's War

The Washington Post reports, "Traditionally, Special Operations Command has trained and equipped troops and turned them over to other commanders who have used them in military operations. Under the new plan, the Special Operations Command will have to directly oversee operations around the world... Special Operations units have been active in Pakistan for months and are training military forces in Yemen and Georgia. The presence of those training missions could provide a cover for conducting any covert raids and other actions against suspected al Qaeda members in the two countries... The planned move would make the Special Operations Command, which is headed by Air Force Gen. Charles R. Holland, the lead U.S. headquarters for most anti-terrorist actions around the world. Until now, each of the regional commanders in chief in the U.S. military had overseen all activities in their areas, whether conducted by conventional forces or Special Operations troops."

Bushfeld's 'Top Secret Briefings' for Congress Are Empty Bushit
16-Sep-02
Bush's War

Washington Post reports, "Sen. John McCain strode into the most secure room in the Capitol for a 'top secret' briefing by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on the threat posed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. With the windowless room swept for bugs and lawmakers sworn to deepest secrecy, Rumsfeld proceeded to disclose, well, absolutely nothing this group of lawmakers couldn't have read in the morning papers or watched on TV news channels, according to participants. Actually, they weren't told even that much. 'It was a joke,' said McCain (R-Ariz.), who soon rose and strode out the door. This has become an increasingly familiar scene on Capitol Hill, especially since the Bush administration blamed senators this summer for leaking classified information about top-secret intercepts of communications among terrorists in the days leading up to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks." Hey John - why support Bush's War if it's based on lies? Just Say No to Bush's War!

Bush Is Becoming Osama Bin Laden and Turning The United States Into A Terrorist Nation
11-Sep-02
Bush's War

Elijah Wald writes "It's a frightening thought, but the Bush administration seems to have decided to commemmorate 9/11 by committing its own senseless act of destruction. Horrific as it may be, [Bush] has essentially taken Osama Bin Laden as a model: He plans to attack a large civilian center for reasons that are almost entirely symbolic. He has no interest in long term results, but only in proving his willingness and ability to ruthlessly strike out against what, for tactical reasons, seems a useful image of evil. He trusts that this will increase his popularity in his own camp, proving him a strong and aggressive leader. And as for those who recoil from such barbarity, he thrives on their antagonism, taking his growing numbers of enemies a proof of his unique virtue. Could there be anything more insane than Bush's claim that this is all being done to defend democracy? He has done more than any resident in living memory to make our government more like that of Iraq."

Why Are The Bush Stumble Bums Leading Us Over A Cliff?
10-Sep-02
Bush's War

Robert Kaiser writes that amid the 9/11 hoopla, "three questions seem apt: Why did the Bush administration veer off the course it set for itself a year ago?.. Why has the administration now chosen to neglect its friends as it pursues its enemies -- or rather, the enemy most easily targeted, Saddam Hussein? Why is the United States flirting with a new doctrine of preemptive war so radical it has no precedent in international law or American history -- and why hasn't this flirtation provoked our politicians to conduct a serious national debate, first of all in Congress? [The] Bush administration's initial sure-footedness has given way to a stumbling clumsiness. This has been a bad summer for American diplomacy. It isn't easy for the world's leading power to alarm all of its allies in a matter of months, but this is what the United States has done, for purposes that remain mysterious."

While Bush Focuses on Iraq, Al Qaeda Quietly Returns to Afghanistan
10-Sep-02
Bush's War

The NY Times reports that Al "Qaeda operatives who found refuge in Pakistan are starting to regroup and move back into Afghanistan, less than a year after a successful American military campaign forced them to flee their onetime sanctuary by the thousands... American officials say the world's largest concentrations of Qaeda operatives are now in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the recent influx into Afghanistan is creating new dangers. Qaeda members are believed to have launched a series of small attacks against American forces in Afghanistan in recent weeks and may have been behind the attempted assassination of the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, and the deadly car bombing in Kabul last Thursday, according to Afghan and American officials. The return of some Qaeda operatives thus represents a serious threat to the American-backed Karzai government, which has been unable to gain effective control of the Afghan countryside." Impeach Bush Now!

Sharon Joins Bush and Blair in Nuke Witch Hunt
09-Sep-02
Bush's War

As Blair and Bush marched arm in arm like Tweedledum and Tweedledummer girding themselves for battle, Ariel Sharon joined the hysterical search for evildoers to attack. Not to be outdone by Bush, Sharon accused Libya of plotting to use weapons of mass destruction. Not only that, shrieked Sharon, but North Korea, Iraq and maybe Pakistan are all plotting with Muammar Gadhafi to develop new weapons. Not only that, but they're ALL using Saudi money. The way this trio is going, we half expect them to throw themselves down at the next press conference, shrieking and frothing at the mouth, Salem style and accuse Osama Bin Laden, Gadhafi, and possibly even the Sultan of Brunei of practicing witchcraft on them. Where's Cotton Mather when you need him?

Brie and Chablis for Armchair Warriors
09-Sep-02
Bush's War

"Some eyewitness observations from the protesters' side of the street from outside the luxury St. Regis resort hotel in Dana Point - famous for its brie and chablis: It was entertaining to witness the many 50 and 60-something white men, sans significant others, in their very expensive vehicles leaving the St. Regis, and while still under the protective wing of a few dozen cop cars, give us the finger as if it was something very special. A few young men in the largest available pickups sped past shouting 'Strike Iraq!' and other such endearments. To which I say, 'Sell your little toy and enlist, if you're so horny for it. It's a lot easier to just sit in your truck and listen to Rush all day. My sister's boy will be on the front lines, not you. Don't ask others to do what you're not willing to do yourself." So writes Kent Southard

Former Head Of British Intelligence Says Bush Can't Win Terror War
04-Sep-02
Bush's War

The Guardian UK reports that Dame Stella Rimington delivered "a damning critique of America's response to the September 11 assault on the US and says she was not surprised by the al-Qaida terrorist attack. She makes it clear that... US intelligence agencies failed to investigate the al-Qaida network properly, and says Resident Bush's war on terrorism will never be won... Referring to the CIA, FBI, and other US intelligence agencies, she writes: 'The nature and extent of the al-Qaida network seems to have escaped observation.' She adds: '[If the FBI had some intelligence that Islamic students were taking courses at US flying schools], security measures at US internal airports should have been reviewed.' Resident Bush's decision to set up a new department of homeland security will 'merely add to the confusion' in the American intelligence community."

George Orwell had Goldstein - George Bush has bin Laden
04-Sep-02
Bush's War

Ted Rall writes, "Bush's 'war on terrorism' (one uses quotes for things which exist in name only) has already manifested most of the characteristics of the dystopian society described in George Orwell's '1984.' Like Big Brother, Bush is an unelected figurehead for a secretive clan of wealthy hypocrites who live above the law. Like Orwell's fictional Oceania, the United States is engaged in a perpetual war in which victory isn't expected within our lifetime. Oceania bombs its own people, using the fear of faux terrorism to maintain control over the population. The United States trains and finances radical Islamist terrorists who predictably turn against Americans, then uses the specter of terrorism to justify everything from fast-track signing authority on free trade (opposition to NAFTA and the WTO, Bush's U.S. Trade Representative argues, is 'an attack on freedom') to tax cuts for the Administration's wealthy chums to smearing Tom Daschle as a communist terrorist enemy-of-the-state."

A Puritan on the Warpath -- Bush Channels The Original Ugly Americans
02-Sep-02
Bush's War

Tristram Hunt writes, "As America's war drums beat ever louder, the Bush administration has embarked upon an unprecedented exercise in diplomatic softening-up... [but] none of this will make the slightest difference. As this week's coverage has shown, America will continue to be resented as brash, imperialistic and arrogant. There can be no global improvement in the United States 'brand' so long as George W Bush remains pResident... Bush regards himself as America's Churchill, but he is in fact heir to a far less attractive aspect of the Anglo-American heritage - Puritanism. [The Puritan spirit has a self-righteous moral certainty and a frightening propensity to crush free-thinking.] Bush is now committed to conquering an entire 'axis of evil' as sinful, backward and fallen as Puritans once regarded the old world... This hubristic moral certainty now defines the global image of the United States... But behind the Puritan righteousness, there is as ever the whiff of hypocrisy."

Bush Says He's Reading a Book -- by a Leading Chicken Hawk Perfesser
29-Aug-02
Bush's War

Robert Higgs writes: "George W Bush has been reading a book. At least, he claims to have been reading one. I know what you're thinking, but the First Shrub swears that he has been reading more than just the funny papers lately. We'd all be better off, however, if he had stuck to the comics. [Bush says his vacation reading is a] book by Eliot Cohen, 'The Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen and Leadership in Wartime.' Cohen is a well-known neocon war-hawk and all-around armchair warrior who professes 'strategic studies' at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and, in his spare time, ponders mega-deaths (his own not included) with other lusty members of the Defense Policy Board. The quintessential civilian go-getter, he never met a war he didn't want to send somebody else to fight and die in."

American Stranger's 'Oily War' is a Powerful Protest Song
27-Aug-02
Bush's War

The band American Stranger has written a powerful song called "Oily War" to protest Bush's War for Oil. It begins:
"Send your sons and daughters to the oil war
See some bloody shithole where they've never been before
Come heed the cry
We've got to save the nation
Where the oil flows
well that's our destination
So God bless our boys,
And bless the corporations
As we all go off to war"
Download the .mp3 file.

Bush Reduced to Using Half-Senile War Criminals and Flaming Religious Nuts to Promote His EO (Ego & Oil) War
21-Aug-02
Bush's War

One of the saddest spectacles to come across the small screen in many months is the Bush administration's presentation of its case for invading Iraq, presented on Sunday Morning State TV, better known as "Meet the Press." It says it all that the only people they could find to pontificate in favor of sending thousands of our boys and girls off on a new Bush "EO" war — as in Ego and Oil — was a half-senile wanted war criminal (Henry Kissinger) and a flaming rightwing religious nut who believes it is the U.S.'s duty to promote Armageddon and thus the Rapture. James Inhofe (Rep. OK). This dog and pony show couldn't even get the regular host, Tim Russert, to host it. As big an ass as Russert can be, he may actually have asked a few decent questions. Instead, they pulled out the bubble gum patrol: former Sears catalogue model-turned-talking head Tim Williams (at least that's how he looks and sounds), who could be counted on not to stray from the White House-generated script.

Bush to Steal $5.1 Billion in Civilian Aid to Afghanistan and Funnel it Into Homeland Security and Iraqi War
15-Aug-02
Bush's War

On Aug. 13, Bush announced his intention to steal money earmarked for war-battered civilians in Afghanistan and pour it into his Homeland Security scheme and his pre-Iraqi war media show. That's right - once Bush pulled his phony photo-op scheme of "aid" by dropping thousands of yellow plastic bags of rations over Afghanistan (most of which went to warlords), his interest in civilian aid disappeared. Now he's going to pull the same fraudulent show of goodwill on the Iraqi people using money that was supposed to go to victims of his bogus corporate war in Afghanistan - the same "war" that has yet to bag Osama Bin Laden.

Iraq is Just a Stepping Stone in the Plan for Bush Global Dictatorship -- His Real Target is Saudi Arabia
09-Aug-02
Bush's War

Joshua Micah Marshall writes in Salon, "The Bush administration's most right-leaning political appointees are concentrated at the Pentagon. And nowhere is that tilt more evident than in its Middle East policies. The Bush appointees have not just ignored recommendations from military advisors and civil servants but have often ousted or sidelined those who [offer any policy advice. Since the Bush takeover, there has been an exodus of career civil servants leaving the Pentagon. They've been replaced by right wing ideologues. A retired Army colonel says, 'Wolfowitz is a right-wing sucker -- he's to the right of Genghis Khan.'] Taking out Saddam Hussein is only part of a larger puzzle... to Bush's hawkish Pentagon appointees the real prize isn't Baghdad, it's Riyadh. And the Saudis know it."

Armageddon Wheel of Fortune -- Will Bush Invade Iran After Iraq?
31-Jul-02
Bush's War

Simon Tisdall writes, "Is Iran next after Iraq? Iranians have good reason to wonder as the Bush administration refines bellicose plans for 'regime change' in Baghdad. If George Bush can seriously contemplate an all-out invasion of the next-door neighbours, then Tehran's theocrats must ask what Washington has in store for them. After all, they meet Bush's fatuous 'rogue state' criteria with ease."

Bush's War Has Become a Con Game
30-Jun-02
Bush's War

A Progressive Populist Editorial reports that "Nine months after the expertly coordinated terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon killed more than 3000 people and tore the heart out of New York City, the Bush administration appears to pose a greater threat to civil liberties and domestic programs than it does to Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda."

Bush 'Smoked Them Out' But Let Them Get Away - and the Afghan War Made the Al Qaeda Terror Threat WORSE!
17-Jun-02
Bush's War

On 9-15-01, Bush famously declared: "We will find those who did this, we will smoke them out of their holes [or did he say 'smirk them out'?], we will get them running, and we will bring them to justice." Nine months later, read this carefully, from the front page of the NY Times: "Classified investigations of the Qaeda threat now under way at the F.B.I. and C.I.A. have concluded that the war in Afghanistan FAILED TO DIMINISH the threat to the United States, the officials said. Instead, the war might have COMPLICATED counterterrorism efforts by dispersing potential attackers across a wider geographic area." In Bushspeak, Bush "got them running" - but then they got away! So the threat of Al Qaeda terror is now WORSE as a result of Bush's failure. Since Bush's so-called "popularity" is based entirely on "getting them running", public awareness of this simple fact should bring Bush's popularity where it belongs - to 0%. Hey Democratic leaders - is anyone out there listening?

'Massacre at Mazar' Documents Bush Administration Atrocities in Afghanistan
13-Jun-02
Bush's War

A British documentary, "Massacre at Mazar" presents highly disturbing evidence of U.S. atrocities in Afghanistan. A report in the Guardian states: "The documentary describes how thousands of Taliban troops were rounded up after the battle of Kunduz in late November and transported in sealed shipping containers to Sheberghan prison, a jail then under US control in northwestern Afghanistan... large numbers of the prisoners died during the journey. US troops suggested the drivers take the bodies out into the desert at Dasht-i-Leili for burial. Two men said they were forced to drive hundreds of Taliban, many of whom were still alive, into the desert, and said that the living were shot. Footage showed large areas of compact red sand dotted with the traces of bones, including jaw bones, and pieces of clothing." No wonder Bush wouldn't sign the recent international human rights accord. He'll probably be the first one tried.

Bush Declared a 'State of Emergency' on 9-14-01 - When Will it End?
13-Jun-02
Bush's War

On 9-14-01, Bush issued a "Declaration of National Emergency by Reason Of Certain Terrorist Attacks." "A national emergency exists by reason of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, New York, New York, and the Pentagon, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States... I hereby declare that the national emergency has existed since September 11, 2001." As citizens, we have a right to know when the "State of Emergency" will end. Call your Representatives at 202-224-3121.

Mr Bush's 'Titanic War on Terror' Will Eventually Sink Beneath the Waves
12-Jun-02
Bush's War

Robert Fisk writes in the Independent UK, "First it was to be a crusade. Then it became the 'War for Civilization'. Then the 'War without End'. Then the 'War against Terror'. And now - believe it or not - President [sic] Bush is promising us a 'Titanic War on Terror'. This gets weirder and weirder. What can come next? Given the latest Bush projections last week - 'we know that thousands of trained killers are plotting to attack us' - he must surely have an even more gargantuan cliché up his sleeve... America's new security rules are already being framed around Mr Bush's political fantasies rather than the reality of international crime."

Bush's USA: Let Us Now Crush Everybody
12-Jun-02
Bush's War

"This is the message. This is our new attitude. Boom crash attack. Utter destruction of our enemies. Crush through mostly violent means any sign of anti-Americanism, no matter the cause, no matter that we can't actually pinpoint the source, no matter that we claim to be the most peaceful and progressive and intellectually advanced superpower on Earth. Be pre-emptive and destructive and bomb-happy, or be a tree-hugging traitorous liberal commie sympathizer. There is no in-between... Will this new thick-necked first-strike posture actually intimidate some terrorist groups? Possibly. Will it gratify and satiate the more paranoid and gun-happy God-fearing right-wingers among us? Very likely. Will it also make us more loathed and tumultuous and combative and confrontational and openly despised among the international community for our isolationist attitude and immature cockiness and love of ham-fisted reactionary politics? No question." So writes Mark Morford on sfgate.com.

Al Qaeda and Bush are 'Playing With our Heads'
12-Jun-02
Bush's War

Maureen Dowd writes, "It's bad enough that the terrorists are using fear as a device. Does the Bush administration have to do the same thing? The Islamic enemy strums on our nerves to hurt our economy and get power. The American president strums on our nerves to help his popularity and retain power. Both the bad guys and the good guys are playing with our heads and ratcheting up the fear factor. If you'd only paid cursory attention lately, you'd think the government had grabbed the offensive against terrorists and that the C.I.A. and F.B.I. were now cuddle buddies. But the question is being asked here: Is the Bush crowd hyping things?"

While the Saudi Government Protects al Qaeda Benefactors, Bush's List of Terrorist-Supporting Organizations is Cut from 100 to 10
02-Jun-02
Bush's War

The Economist writes, "Choking off the money that funds terrorism sounded, after September 11th, like a neat and peaceable way to help prevent future attacks… People leading the effort to cut off funding say that there is already evidence that terrorists have been disrupted by increased financial scrutiny. On the other hand, according to a UN official, there is no sign that the flow of funds to al Qaeda from charities in Saudi Arabia has ceased… Those operate…under the protection of the government … A list of organisations, issued by America in April, started out with 100 names, but got whittled down to ten after a number of countries had their say… The need for a delisting mechanism is under discussion among UN members… In the back of the minds of those trying to shut off money, however, is how little terrorists need. Hassan Salameh, a captured Hamas bomber, said that the budget for a suicide bombing is about $1,500."

As WTC Cleanup Ends, Trans-Afghan Pipeline Begins - And It's Easy to Connect the Dots!
29-May-02
Bush's War

The US media is unable to connect the dots between the end of the WTC cleanup in NYC, and the beginning of the deal between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to build a 907-mile pipeline. But even the FBI could connect these two dots. Bush's oil cronies wanted to build the pipeline, so Bush reversed Bill Clinton's hard-line stance towards the Taliban and tried to negotiate a deal - sweetened by a $43 million foreign aid payment and a promise of a "carpet of gold" - requiring the Taliban to turn over Osama Bin Laden. In response, Al Qaeda activated its "sleeper" cells in the US, and Bin Laden produced a video tape warning the US of an attack. As warnings streamed in, Bush went on vacation for a month, ignoring his duty to protect the country by hardening airports and cockpits and keeping our Air Force on high alert. He waited for the attack, knowing it would give him the justification for his pre-planned war on Afghanistan to gain control of Central Asia's oil and gas resources.

'War' Against Terrorism is Evil Right-wing Ideology
29-May-02
Bush's War

Eric Alterman writes, "The current 'war' on terror is not really a 'war' and we should stop allowing the Bush Administration to manipulate our political system and undermine our freedoms as if it were. The whole notion of a 'war' against terrorism is a right-wing ideological construct designed to further a bunch of goals that have nothing to do with protecting Americans. I'm all for using the military to kill and otherwise disable terrorists... But these are police and intelligence functions, albeit with a heavy dose of covert military operations... While reading [a report on the] fundamental failure of the FBI, one (admittedly) not terribly important question kept nagging at me: How was it that ex-Director Louis Freeh managed to snooker so many people into treating him like some sort of hero? Sure, he got points from the media for hating Clinton, but the bureau was a catastrophe under Freeh."

Did Bush Order US Troops in Afghanistan to Kill Women and Children?
29-May-02
Bush's War

Here's a shocker from upstate NY: "In an April interview with The Ithaca Journal at his family's Cayuga Heights home, [Army Private Matt] Guckenheimer, 22, shared his experiences during Operation Anaconda. He was sent on March 6 in a company of more than 100 soldiers to participate in the largest U.S.-led ground engagement in Eastern Afghanistan. 'We were told there were no friendly forces,' said Guckenheimer, an assistant gunner with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. 'If there was anybody there, they were the enemy. We were told specifically that if there were women and children to kill them.'" Did this order come from the Commander-in-Thief? We demand Congressional hearings!

Afghan War Syndrome? 38 British Soldiers Hit with Severe 'Mystery Disease'
17-May-02
Bush's War

Will the two Bush Oil Wars be the lethal "gifts that keep on giving?" Bush I's war is estimated to have killed at least 100,000 Iraqi civilians and soldiers immediately, then up to 1.5 million civilians later (mostly small children) from the effects of bombed water purification plants and post-war starvation. Tens of thousands of Gulf War vets have been afflicted by a syndrome the Pentagon refuses to acknowledge. Bush II's war is also taking its toll, with thousands of Afghan civilians dead. Now soldiers in Afghanistan are coming down with a severe mystery illness that officials fear may spread. To fund Bush Oil War II, Americans have now paid out $17 billion in taxes. But the cost will undoubtedly climb - both in dollars, and in as yet untold "mystery illnesses" and the emotional toll taken on a generation of young men.

Bush's Permanent War No Longer Has ANY Connection to 911 - Now It's All About Global Conquest
15-May-02
Bush's War

Andrew Murray writes in the Guardian UK that each passing week Bush is "placing both new targets and new justifications for attack on the menu for military action. There is now not the slightest pretence that [Bush's regime-change wishlist is] tethered to the attacks of September 11. Instead, the world is witnessing the rapid emergence of a plan to dispose of any government hateful to the sight of US ultra-conservatism... It is instead an open-ended war to make the world congenial for the most chauvinistic elements in US public life. Every government in the world they dislike is to be removed, every grudge they have been nursing from the cold war... is to be exorcised. Military force... destabilisation, sanctions and coup will be deployed. [The Bushies] seem to regard themselves as masters of the universe, and show every sign of planning to implement their [program] before the US people gets the chance to elect anyone slightly more sensible."

Conditions for Jailed Taliban in Afghanistan Are Compared to Auschwitz
14-May-02
Bush's War

Justin Huggler writes in the UK Independent, "Thousands of former Taliban fighters are being held prisoner by a US ally in Afghanistan in conditions that resemble Auschwitz, a European Union envoy said yesterday... 'The people have nothing on their bones any more,' Mr Klaiber told the Agence France Presse news agency. 'They are being treated like cattle, crammed into tents. The kitchen, you cannot imagine. There were ghost-like figures just stirring soup'... The men being held there are being fed on thin soup, and some 400 are so malnourished they are being given emergency rations from the Red Cross... Many Afghans are starving to death outside the prison walls. This is a country where people eat grass to stay alive, where people are so poor they sell their children. Promises of aid from the West have not materialised, now that Afghanistan is out of the news."

Beware the Dangers of Dogma
14-May-02
Bush's War

Jimmy Reid writes in the Scotsman, "Marx was a social scientist, but so-called Marxists turned his theories into a dogma... In Soviet Russia, Leninism masquerading as Marxism was made into a secular religion. Their political theoreticians became de facto theologians. Right-wing intellectuals similarly made a dogma of Adam Smith's writings. Margaret Thatcher's mind was closed to the possibility of ever being wrong. She embraced the concept of untrammeled market forces as if it was handed down from Heaven by a Tory god. But in this New (post-Cold War) World, dogmatism and its blood brother, religious fundamentalism, are thriving as never before... George Bush's response to September 11, when analyzed, is absolutist and dogmatic... He has all the arrogance of ignorance and unfettered power. Start praying, folks. Or start fighting back."

Army Reservists Begin Mystery Mission
13-May-02
Bush's War

"A hundred medical professionals spent a last hour with their families in Coraopolis yesterday morning before hoisting duffel bags and boarding buses for a destination unknown. Their status as reservists of the 339th Combat Support Hospital had suddenly shifted their lives when they were called up this week. The word that they would probably be deployed came down about three weeks ago, but the date and time of departure weren't fixed until a few days ago. The destination is still classified information." (Lillian Thomas, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Where to? Afghanistan? Iraq? The Middle East?

'Those Are the Ones You Have to Concentrate On'
13-May-02
Bush's War

"Shortly after coming to Bratislava I met a man who told me, 'You know, after 1989 we realized that the lies the capitalist west had been telling about the communist block were true, but then we began to realize that the lies that the communists had been telling about the west were also true.' Another young man once told me he thought that communism had failed because of corruption. 'You are probably right,' I told him, 'but not exactly in the way you think. It wasn't because your system was more corrupt than ours, but rather because western corruption was stronger than yours.'" So writes John Doyle.

Bush Is Reduced to Disseminating New 'Terror Alerts' through Rightwing Foundations and Newspapers
13-May-02
Bush's War

Bush is the little boy who cried "Wolf!" one too many times. The general public and even the mainstream news folks have become pretty darn skeptical when each new "terror alert" seems to coincide with dropping Bush polls, embarrassing revelations (remember all the '"warnings" that coincided with the first flood of Enron revelations!), and efforts to find new "evil ones" to attack. Now Bush's people are reduced to spouting their vague threats through rightwing propaganda outfits like the Heritage Foundation, where John Bolton revealed Cuban "bioterrorism" - which is already discredited. This week, we have "intelligence sources" and "U.S. officials" (doesn't say WHO!) using the Washington (Moonie) Times to warn of attacks on nuke plants, scheduled for long about July... which of course is when the Congressional races will really be heating up. Is the mainstream media starting to rebel against Bush's propaganda? Stay tuned...

Bush's War on Terror Threatens Democracy Everywhere
08-May-02
Bush's War

Thomas Friedman writes in the New York Times, "Spend a few days in Indonesia and you'll find many people asking you a question you weren't prepared for: Is America's war on terrorism going to become a war against democracy? As Indonesians see it, for decades after World War II America sided with dictators, like their own President Suharto. [Today they're worried Bush's America] will judge which nations are with it or against it not by the integrity of their elections... but by the vigor with which [they] combat Al Qaeda. For Indonesia, where democracy is still a fragile flower, anything that encourages a comeback by the long-feared [army and police is not good news]. There is a broad feeling among Indonesian elites that while some of their more authoritarian neighbors [have] become the new darlings of Washington as a result of the war on terrorism, Indonesia is being orphaned because it is a messy, but real, democracy."

Fear As A Weapon (Rollback To The Right)
08-May-02
Bush's War

"Much has been made of Le Pen's scandalous victory in France, and greater Europe's wartime march towards the right. This while the US Administration uses its convenient terror war to justify massive internal societal engineering to the right. What's behind both? Fear... Fear leaves little room for logic or moral platitudes - it demands simplistic responses to otherwise complex problems... [But] is neverending "total war" really the goal? Is the authoritative, xenophobic leadership demanded by war desirable? Each day we are trained to be fearful and to see weaponry as the solution. That makes the war on terror seem like a war on the hearts and minds of common citizens. And for those unlucky souls in Cheney's 40-50 countries, or the thousands who have already been slaughtered as collateral damage, the war on terror is looking more like terrorism everyday." So writes Heather Wokusch.

Bush Turns Enron's Afghanistan Interests into His Own
07-May-02
Bush's War

"George W. Bush is absorbing the Afghanistan interests of the now-bankrupt Enron and making them his own - while claiming to advance the national interests of the United States. For a number of years, Enron sought U.S. Government support for projects involving the harvesting of oil and gas from the Caspian Sea region near Afghanistan... If Bush can control Uzbekistan, he can control all of Central Asia and all the oil and gas that comes with it. And if Bush can control one of the world's largest supplies of untapped energy--energy from Central Asian gas and oil-- he can control the world's energy." So writes Harry Neville.

Cuba is the Next Target of the Perpetual Bush War
07-May-02
Bush's War

Julian Borger writes in the Guardian UK, "The US threatened to extend its war on terror to Cuba yesterday, accusing Fidel Castro's regime of developing biological weapons and sharing its expertise with Washington's enemies. In a speech called Beyond the Axis of Evil, the undersecretary of state John Bolton presented no evidence for his claims, pointing only to Cuba's advanced biomedical industry and Mr Castro's visits last year to three 'rogue states' accused by the the US state department of sponsoring terrorism: Iraq, Syria and Libya." Once again, Bush proves he is more cynical and corrupt than Nixon ever was. The Bush Rovesters are so intellectually bankrupt, an Orwellian strategy of perpetual war is the only way they can hold on to power.

In Europe's Georgia, As Everywhere Else, It's All About Oil
30-Apr-02
Bush's War

Armen Georgian writes, "The arrival of U.S. military advisors in Georgia on April 29 [was] touted as a new front in the 'war on terror,' [but] the Bush administration is in reality scrambling for Caspian oil in a bid to oust Russia from its traditional backyard. Washington insists its 'train and equip force' of 10 combat helicopters and 150 military instructors is solely intended to help Georgia combat Islamic radicals in the lawless Pankisi Gorge, allegedly a safe haven for al Qaeda militants and their Chechen allies. But other motives became apparent... when Georgian Defense Ministry official Mirian Kiknadze told Radio Free Europe on February 27: 'The U.S. military will train our rapid reaction force, which is guarding strategic sites in Georgia--particularly oil pipelines.' He was referring to the embryonic Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) project, set to reduce Georgia's and Azerbaijan's energy reliance on Russia and bring the southern Caucasus into the U.S. fold."

Frat Boys Rule The Earth
29-Apr-02
Bush's War

Mark Morford writes in the SF Gate: "There are no peacemakers in the world right now. Crusty macho hawks run the planet like never before in our generation. Violent money-addled males with far too much power and far too little perspective are in charge of far too many corporations and lobbies and governments... It's a tragic cliche: Wars and violence and hatred and injustice and cruelty and angry old men ordering their tribes to kill each other in the name of oil and money and land and dogma... World War III will not be two egomaniacal superpowers battling for supremacy and bragging rights. It will be scattershot and bewildering, a hundred different battles fought on a hundred different fronts for a thousand ever-shifting reasons, each and every one twisted and distorted by regulation GOP spin doctors who somehow convince the bulk of the populace that it's somehow patriotic to be cavity searched and fingerprinted and beaten with a stick when you buy groceries."

The Truth About the War in Afghanistan
28-Apr-02
Bush's War

There is exactly one journalist covering the war in Afghanistan and Bush's broader "War on Terror." His name is Robert Young Pelton, and he gained fame as the first to interview John Walker Lindh after the Qala Jangi fortress uprising. Pelton says Al Qaeda is "irrelevant." "We've blown this international conspiracy way out of shape; it's really not as big and as mean and as well-financed or as intelligent as our government makes it out to be... The bad guys are living in America and Saudi Arabia and Germany and the U.K.; they're not sitting in caves in Afghanistan." Pelton also sees "bad guys" in Pakistan, with close ties to Pakistan's ISI and military dictator Musharaf. Pelton says the military is wasting huge sums in Afghanistan, and that Americans should start demanding the truth from the government. We agree!

What do you get when you cross a canary with a gorilla?
25-Apr-02
Bush's War

"In Mr. Bush's words and actions one also senses that same conscience-numbed, sniggering tone he used… in speaking of the scores of prisoners executed in Texas… [Bush] has managed to give the world a nasty whiff of in-your-face Americanism and, while doing so, to create the beginnings of a dark, unholy alliance… I recognize the inconsistency of speaking about foreign policy and morality in the same breath, still America is the world's first great empire that pretends to adhere to principles of democracy and concern for human rights… Bush has worked against these important principles. His idiotic, undefined War against Terror has created needless destruction and privations, threatening itself to become a kind of global terror… I am reminded of the old joke, "What do you get when you cross a canary with a gorilla? I don't know, but when it sings, you had better listen." Perhaps better than any image I can come up with, this joke describes Mr. Bush as Emperor." So writes John Chuckman.

Federal Judge Says Islamic Charity Shut-Down Raises Distressing Questions
23-Apr-02
Bush's War

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler seemed very disturbed by aspects of the Holy Land Foundation's case against the government, which shut the charity down in December for allegedly channeling money to Hamas. She was especially bothered by the Bush administration's zeal for secrecy in the case. "I'll make no secret that the government is going to have a very heavy burden to submit information ex-parte [in secret, in the judge's chambers]," Kessler said. "In a case with as many serious ramifications as this one, unless the law is crystal clear... everything should be in public and on the record." The Holy Land Foundation's attorney says the government violated several laws as well as the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments by shutting the charity down without a court hearing. If those allegations prove to be true, it sure wouldn't surprise us!

Gore Vidal Says It's All About Central Asian Oil
19-Apr-02
Bush's War

"The thousands of innocent people who died on Sept. 11, [author Gore] Vidal says, were victims not only of the terrorists who perpetrated the attack but also of American foreign policy, which has been imposed around the world and has sparked enmity and wrath. It's a policy, Vidal says, that is driven by the United States' need for oil. 'We need Afghanistan because it's the gateway to Central Asia, which is full of oil and natural gas,' Vidal says. 'We've demonized Iran so we don't have to put a pipeline across it. One of the best ones would be across a tame Afghanistan. That's what it's all about. We are establishing our control over Central Asia.'" So writes Jonathan Curiel in the SF Chronicle.

Conditions in Taliban Prisoner Camp in Afghanistan Chillingly Similar to Andersonville
19-Apr-02
Bush's War

After Bush and Rumsfeld made their big show of rounding up "Taliban fighters" for the benefit of the deaf, dumb, and blind American press, they discarded these men like yesterday's newspapers. For months, these men, who should under the Geneva Convention be cared for by the U.S. as prisoners of war, have been kept in conditions appallingly like Andersonville GA, the infamous Civil War prison. In addition to malnutrition, many suffer from tuberculosis, severe diarrhea, respiratory infections and other afflictions. Cells are overcrowded, with 50 men or more crammed into a room, and officials here said dozens have died while in detention. But Bush has refused to intervene. Instead, the Red Cross has been forced to step in. Does this man have a soul, let alone a conscience?

Murder Once Removed: Is U.S. Bombing Responsible for Deadly Afghanistan Quakes?
18-Apr-02
Bush's War

"Bush administration scientists claim that the Afghanistan earthquakes which have shaken the country since October 2001 are just normal occurrences for the region. But consider this: For the past 16 years, roughly one major quake has occurred in Afghanistan every 2 years, with one quake of a 7.0 magnitude hitting every 4 years. There have been just 23 quakes with a magnitude of over 7.0 since 1900. The frequency of high-magnitude quakes over the centuries does not appear to have exceeded this average significantly - even in the volatile Hindu Kush region. However, since October 2002 - in just 6 months - there have already been THREE quakes with a magnitude greater than 7.0! This means, statistically, that the rate of major events is roughly 24 TIMES higher now than it was before the bombing campaign began." So writes Cheryl Seal in the News Insider.

Pretexts, Provocation and Deceit: Stage Two of the 9/11 War Begins
17-Apr-02
Bush's War

"Iraq holds more than 112 billion barrels of oil, the world's second largest proven reserves [and] 110 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Iran is OPEC's second largest oil producer and holds 9% of the world's oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves. A possible scenario: 1) Bush will find his cynical 'peace efforts' thwarted by an enraged and intractable Islamic populace. 2) Iraq, and/or transnational Islamic 'jihadists' sponsored by the US and its intelligence cells (Pakistan and Saudi Arabia) will commit acts that 'force the hand' of the US. The war in the Middle East will begin. 3) The '9/11-Afghanistan model' will be repeated. 4) The resources, land, labor and markets of targeted nations will be expropriated without regard to the death toll. What can stop the Bush juggernaut? Alan Nairn once wrote, 'The US wields powers that no nation should have. It can go anywhere and kill anyone. Only the American public can hold Washington back.'" So writes Larry Chin in Online Journal.

It's Iran-Contra II - Bush Pays Al Qaeda Ally for Hostages!!!
14-Apr-02
Bush's War

Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal exploded when a Lebanese newspaper revealed that Reagan officials - Ollie North and John Poindexter - delivered arms to Iran in exchange for US hostages, after Reagan vowed never to pay ransom. Well Shrub made the same promise - and now ABC News has revealed, "The United States was involved in arranging a ransom payment to the Abu Sayyaf rebel group in the Philippines meant to secure the release of an American missionary couple kidnapped nearly 11 months ago, but the couple has not been freed, ABCNEWS has learned." WHAT??? As ABC reports, Abu Sayyaf is Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda affiliate in the Philippines! So Bush helped raise $300,000 to PAY AL QAEDA RANSOM FOR HOSTAGES! This means BUSH HIMSELF SUPPORTS TERRORISM! We demand a Senate investigation!

Osama Bin Forgotten
13-Apr-02
Bush's War

"There are six syllables President Bush really doesn't want to say aloud: Osama bin Laden. In the first weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the al-Qaeda leader was on Bush's mind and prominent in his public remarks. Bush said he wanted him found 'dead or alive' and rarely missed an opportunity to refer to bin Laden as 'the evil one.' But it has been six months since the president launched the war on terrorism, bin Laden has not been caught, and Bush and his advisers have decided that making bin Laden the personification of the enemy is not a good idea. Mentioning him only serves as a reminder that U.S. forces in Afghanistan have failed to fulfill what was once a key objective of the war." So reports USA Today.

Presidential Orders Obviously Don't Apply to Oil Companies - or Bush
09-Apr-02
Bush's War

The case against John Walker Lindh puts the Bush administration in a very difficult bind. Steven Brill of Newsweek writes, "Lindh....is charged with... aiding and conspiring to aid terrorists, and aiding an organization, the Taliban, that supports terrorists. But it's now clear that the government only has a good case against him for violating a presidential executive order in 1999 that made it illegal to provide services to the Taliban because they were aiding Al Qaeda." Whose presidential order was it in 1999? Bill Clinton's of course. Besides Lindh, who else violated this order? Unocal, which wined and dined Taliban officials to approve their pipeline - and Bush's own State Department, which gave $43 million in aid to the Taliban. Will they be prosecuted like Lindh? Don't hold your breath.

Lindsey Graham Predicts Iraq Invasion Before Election Day
01-Apr-02
Bush's War

Strom Thurmond will not run for re-election in the fall, and House Impeachment Manager Lindsey Graham (R-SC) wants his seat. And Bush has come up with an evil plan to help Graham - by invading Iraq before Election Day. Just before Bush arrived in SC to raise money for Graham, Graham gave away this secret to the Chamber of Commerce: "Before the end of summer or fall we'll be in a major engagement with Iraq. We're looking at going after Saddam Hussein -- not to contain him, but to replace him." Graham says he wasn't explicitly told this by Bush, but based his "prediction" on "intelligence briefings, contact with the Bush administration and his attendance at a recent international conference in Germany." Here's evidence Graham is right - Bush is moving the Air Force out of Saudi Arabia, which isn't too pleased about Bush's invasion plans, into Qatar, which will do whatever Bush wants. If you oppose Bush's invasion of Iraq, join the protests in DC and SF on April 20!

Berlusconi Joins Forces with Bush to Spread 'Reign of Vague Terror' Abroad
29-Mar-02
Bush's War

Isn't it just a tad odd that one of the current "all points" (and we do mean all points, as there is no actual focal point) terrorism activity warnings is focused in Italy, of all EU nations? We don't. That's because Bush's only real European supporter, Blair, is under fire and the American Press is finally becoming a little less quick to trumpet vague threats across page one. So that leaves Italy, whose president Berlusconi is a Rupert Murdoch-type character after Bush's own heart. Better yet, Berlusconi, who has expressed support of Bush, exercises iron control over the Italian Press - a perfect formula for carrying the "vague threat" campaign abroad. These attacks on citizens in Italy are not going to be suicide missions, but might just be attacks with regular weapons, according to "sources." Hmm, that ought to help Bush's "terror campaign," since this means any crime committed with a handgun can be declared an "international terrorist attack."

Franks 'Forgets' to Mention This Little Detail on 3/29: U.S. Troops Conduct 3/28 Raid Inside Pakistan Under Direction of FBI
29-Mar-02
Bush's War

We guess aging "warrior" Tommy Franks is a bit distracted by all the college coeds on Spring break basking on the beach at his "rugged" Tampa "command post." For some reason, he just didn't mention this little tidbit at his Friday press conference: On Thursday, U.S. troops stormed houses in Pakistan alleged to be hiding al-Qaeda militants. According to the Times of India, two Arab nationals were killed in the commando-style raid, while 50 others, including 42 Arabs and five Afghans and some Pakistanis belonging to the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, were arrested. Several people were seriously injured in the raid, including two local policemen. FBI, US Marines, Pakistan police commandos, and officials from various intelligence agencies apparently participated. So what happened to the vow not to carry the war onto Pakistani soil? Maybe Franks and Rumsfeld could tear themselves away from the cocktail party circuit long enough to tell us.

Bill Berkowitz Roasts Some Chicken Hawks
26-Mar-02
Bush's War

Bill Berkowitz of Workingforchange.com lambastes those cheerleaders of the war on terrorism who have a past history of ducking out of military service themselves. The list of "chicken hawks" doesn't end with Tom Delay, who had the unmitigated gall to question Vietnam vet John Kerry's patriotism when Kerry criticized Shrub's never-ending-war. DeLay laughably suggested we would have won Vietnam if fellow AWOL chicken hawk Shrub had been president. The Repugnicant party is rogues' gallery of chicken hawks, including Dennis Hastert, Dick Armey, Trent Lott, Dick Cheney, John Ashcroft, abd Karl Rove... the list of draft-dodging Republicans goes on and on. As Berkowitz says, "After you've scanned the list, think about how quick these folks are to pounce on anyone raising questions about Bush's war... think of the outrageous claim by Tom DeLay, accusing Kerry of undercutting the military's efforts in Vietnam by returning home and protesting the war."

The Middle East for Dummies
26-Mar-02
Bush's War

"Confounded and dumbfounded by recent Bush Administration moves, once again I consult that invaluable reference series, this one titled 'The Middle East for Dummies.' I find their concise, no-BS answers help me through the confusing morass. Why does Bush keep moving toward attacking Iraq, when nearly everyone except his tight circle of advisors (we'll call them the Wolfpack, named for super-hawk Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz), keeps warning him against such a military adventure? Those who oppose Bush policy here, or Bush policy anywhere, must be fellow-travelers with evil terrorists, the Wolfpack reasoning goes. Bush and his advisors believe they know what's best for the world, what's best for the US, no need for Congress to get involved with all that messy democracy stuff like debates and hearings and suchlike." So writes Bernard Weiner in American Politics Journal.

The White House War Propaganda Machine is Revealed: Right Before Our Eyes, Every Sunday Morning
24-Mar-02
Bush's War

Here's how the White House war propaganda machine works, right in front of our eyes. A story that the White House wants to pump up or smooth over (the "reasonableness" of its nuke target list, military tribunals, etc.) will appear on Sunday morning in the WashPost or NY Times on page one. Then, just as the morning coffee and newspaper is done, the reader will - oh so conveniently - get to tune in to Meet the Press and/or Face the Nation to be force-fed an hour of spin from a White House "spokesperson" on the SAME topic. This AM (3/24), the NYT ran a story on alleged ties between Arafat and Iran and Voila! On BOTH MTP and FTN, the first guest is Dick Cheney talking about (surprise!) Iran and Arafat. White House toady Tim Russert also helped Cheney pump up the planted New Yorker story connecting Saddam to Al-Qaeda. Every question (even re: health!) was scripted. Suddenly, before Americans know what happened, we're at war with some "rogue" state, dropping nukes on innocent civilians.

Bush Repeats 'Axis of Evil' Phrase
21-Mar-02
Bush's War

Despite the global criticism and the dangerous ripple effects (a resurgence of support for hard-liners in Iran; a deterioration in relations between North and South Korea; widespread anger in Muslim countries) that the ill-considered "axis of evil" phrase wrought, Bush used it again at a recent roundtable in the Midwest. (On a side note, he mentioned "making the death tax permanent" at that same event). Either Bush is incapable of expressing new thoughts about the situation in the Middle East, or he's too thickheaded to understand why the label is so objectionable. Either way, the fact that he won't let the phrase go underscores how dangerous it is to have the village idiot as our Commander-in-Thief.

3,000 Taliban Prisoners Left by Bush Administration to Die a Slow, Miserable Death
15-Mar-02
Bush's War

"On most days, lunchtime at the Jowzjan Jail opens with a macabre display of the sick and dying Taliban prisoners, carried from their cells and laid in the dirt for a few moments of fresh air and sun," reports Dexter Filkins of the New York Times. "Splayed in silence atop baby blue blankets, the men appear dead. But then a limb moves or a groan rises, and the guards understand that this prisoner or that is well enough to be hauled back inside when lunchtime is done…'Every 15 days or so, one of them dies,' said General Jura Beg, the warden. 'We don't have enough food for them anymore. We don't have medicine.' He has 3,000 men in 40 cells, in a prison designed to hold 800. He has had to reduce food rations for the prisoners, he said, because of government cutbacks. Lacking medicine, the handful of doctors available at the jail are able to do little more than provide comfort for those who have fallen ill." Btw - note how NYT buried this story under an innocuous headline.

Veterans For Peace Condemn Bush Bush's Actions in Afghanistan as Unconstitutional and Dangerous to American Safety
14-Mar-02
Bush's War

"Veterans For Peace, an organization of men and women who have served in the armed forces, having collectively experienced combat, imprisonment, bombing, shelling, firefights, all the manifestations of war, and its after-effects in terms of human suffering and cultural decline, is deeply troubled that the United States administration, in violation of our own Constitution, has waged an announced, but not legally declared war on a sovereign nation in response to a terrorist attack, heinous though it was. The security of our nation is threatened by the fear and resentment generated by threats of unrestrained military action against named and un-named sovereign states said to harbor terrorists. The net result is an increase, not a decrease, of the likelihood of terrorist attacks upon U.S. citizens, possessions and territory."

The Tyson Administration: Menacing as a Lifestyle and a Public Philosophy
14-Mar-02
Bush's War

Writes Democrats.com co-founder David Lytel for our new 'Capital Offenses' column: "Washington, DC should welcome boxer Mike Tyson with open arms. Who else could be a better poster boy for the Bush Doctrine of bellicose threats and its commitment to giving war a chance than Tyson? And like Bush, Tyson is incapable of comprehending why his own image of himself is not reflected in the eyes of the world. If the credible and serious reports in the foreign press that the U.S. government threatened war against the Taliban before September 11th is correct, then the miscalculation by the Bush administration shows the terrible results of reckless menacing. Did we force them to choose between annihilation and capitulation? Did they, to the everlasting regret of every American, chose to strike first, while they still could?"

War on Terror Masks Bush's Grand Strategy: To Control the World's Oil
13-Mar-02
Bush's War

"Bush's claims the US invaded Afghanistan to 'defend democracy' and/or 'stamp out terrorism' is certainly not the whole story. The Pentagon had drawn up plans to invade Afghanistan, and US Special Forces were operating in Kyrgystan, well before 9/11. Over the past five months, the US has established permanent military bases in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and facilities in Kazakstan. In short, a constellation of air and army bases designed for long-term strategic control of the region, under the command of the US 3rd Army, whose headquarters was recently moved from the southern USA to Kuwait. The so-called 'war on terrorism' is being used to mask a far grander imperial design: the overthrow of Saddam Hussein that will allow the US to a. gain control of Iraq's huge oil reserves, which are second only to Saudi Arabia's, and b. secure American control of the giant Caspian Oil Basin." So writes Toronto Sun columnist (and Vietnam Vet) Eric Margolis.

Bush's 'Perpetual War' is Straight out of Orwell's '1984'
13-Mar-02
Bush's War

"Has anyone else following the aftermath of Sept. 11 been struck by the similarity to George Orwell's '1984' - in which a never-ending, faraway war against ever-changing enemies serves as a rationale for political and social repression? In the past five months numerous Americans, and not a few Europeans, have not dared speak their minds, and many more have not dared to think things through to a point at which the urge to speak one's mind becomes unbearable. There was no genuine war after Sept. 11 - there could not have been. And no country, not even one as powerful as the US after it lost the Soviet Union as its only rival, can hijack such an important concept as war without in the long run bringing disaster upon itself. Orwell, that great beacon of political common sense in the 20th century, educated at least two generations of reasonable observers of political reality in the danger of misusing words in this way." So writes Karel Van Wolferen in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Has Bush Turned Afghanistan into the 21st Century's Guernica?
13-Mar-02
Bush's War

"Just as Guernica was terrorised by the German bombings of almost 55 years ago, just as the women there shrieked at the killing of their children, just as innocent people in Guernica were crucified on their streets, just as chaos and horror was rained down upon them, so too do Afghan women shriek in grief over the killing of their children, so too are Afghan people crucified on their streets, so too is chaos and horror rained down upon them. So how is it we are unmoved? Even complaint is treated as heretical with insinuations that the complainants are running agendas of anti-Americanism, that they (the complainants) are themselves indifferent to other killings, such as the murders of September 11th." So writes Vincente Browne of the Irish Times.

Bush's Little Shop of Horrors--Where Fear Is Always on Sale--and the Truth Is Made to Order
08-Mar-02
Bush's War

Geoffrey Gray writes in the Village Voice, "For those on the woolly left, however, and a few academics and Washington insiders, there's another force driving homeland security: politics. 'It's second nature for any system of power to try and inspire fear,' Noam Chomsky... tells the Voice. 'Bush's managers realize they only have one card to play. Would you direct him to focus... on the Enron scandal, or the deliberate destruction of a decent environment for our grandchildren? Or... the image of a noble hero driving evil from the world while the population huddles in fear of monsters from whom our dauntless savior will rescue us? No choice.' Bush shows no sign of taking his foot off the nation's—and the world's—adrenal glands... an omnipresent enemy and a climate of fear have always served to unite fractured societies and reinvent politicians' mandate for power."

Preparing for Perpetual War
04-Mar-02
Bush's War

"Why did the Pentagon even bother to admit its intention to spread disinformation? After all, the US routinely disseminated propaganda and disinformation throughout the Cold War. So why not just do it? We could, of course, simply blame bureaucratic bumbling... But I think the answer is more complicated. The Bush administration is trying to prepare us for a war without end. The Office of Strategic Influence, created last fall, was supposed to spread propaganda to help topple the Taliban in Afghanistan. Proposing its continued use, like the president's [sic] declaration of an axis of evil, was a way of signaling that this country, for the foreseeable future, will remain in a constant state of war. Those who've read Orwell's dystopian novel '1984' will recall that perpetual war is precisely what justified Big Brother's official repression, as well as the disappearance of civil liberties." So reports Ruth Rosen in the SF Chronicle.

Howard Zinn Says The War on Terrorism Is a War on Us
01-Mar-02
Bush's War

As Bush tries to rope us into an endless war on terrorism around the globe to justify his bloated military budget and dismantling of civil liberties, Howard Zinn on Tompaine.com says it's time to stop and ponder what a miserable failure this sham of a war has been so far. "The 'war on terrorism,' which cannot locate the perpetrators of the crime of September 11th, is useful for our political leaders, because while searching for an invisible enemy we will not be paying attention to what the government is doing to the citizens of this country in the name of that war... Is it possible that the war being waged is really a war against us? Yes, we do have enemies in caves and compounds abroad, but perhaps our greatest danger comes from the corporate boardrooms and governmental offices where decisions are made that take away our tax dollars and satisfy the greed for profit and power." It's time to heed Zinn's call for a resurgence of democracy and free speech!

Trent Lott (R-Hypocrite) Attacks Tom Daschle for 'Daring' to 'Criticize' the Direction of Bush's War
01-Mar-02
Bush's War

"Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle criticized the U.S. military campaign Thursday for an 'expansion without at least a clear direction.'" Said Daschle, "I don't think the success has been overstated, but the continued success, I think, is still somewhat in doubt...Before we make commitments in resources, I think we need to have a clear understanding of what the direction would be...We've got to find Osama bin Laden and we've got to find other key leaders of the al-Qaida network, or we will have failed.'" Trent Lott retorted, "How dare Senator Daschle criticize President [sic] Bush while we are fighting our war on terrorism, especially when we have troops in the field. He should not be trying to divide our country while we are united." Hey Trent, remember what you said when Clinton was fighting the Kosovo war in 1999? "We can support our troops without supporting our president." Lott's brazen hypocrisy is a disgrace! How can Mississippi keep re-electing this bozo?

Bush's Latest Afghan Bombs Were Illegal
21-Feb-02
Bush's War

On 2-19-02, the NY Times reported that "U.S. aircraft had dropped precision-guided bombs when 'enemy troops' struck forces loyal to the government of Hamid Karzai near Khost... The bombing raids seemed to have placed the United States for the first time in a position of using American air power in defense of the [Karzai] government." In other words, the U.S. is taking sides in a civil war within Afghanistan.... Who gave George W. Bush and the Pentagon permission to wage this sort of war in Afghanistan? Not Congress. On September 14, Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing Bush to... "use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001" ... Nothing in the resolution allows the United States to use force to protect one militia (be it pro-Karzai or not) from another militia." So writes David Corn in The Nation.

Rumsfeld Uses ABC to Turn War on Terrorism into Prime Time Entertainment to Push Bush's 'War on Terrorism'
21-Feb-02
Bush's War

Donald Rumsfeld, we hear, is all excited about a new "State TV" venture that will intentionally blur the line between reality and entertainment for Americans by selectively - very, very selectively - glamorizing war. ABC is colluding with the Pentagon to produce a 13-part series that will "profile" military folk. The venture has outraged nearly everyone except the most jingoistic rightwingnuts. Real journalists were not allowed to cover the war, yet a made-for-TV commercial entertainment team IS? What could be sicker than that? Only the fact that this show is being produced by the DISNEY "Get 'em while they're young" NETWORK. What America will see in this show will be exactly - and absolutely ONLY - what Rumsfeld and the rest of the Bush machine wants them to see. So, whatever they decide to call it, "Reality TV" it most certainly WON'T be. Remember that movie "Wag the Dog?" Compared to this, that was mild!

Bu$h Unveils the GOP's Secret Plan to Steal 2004 Election
20-Feb-02
Bush's War

It looks like the war in Afghanistan is a trial run for the 2004 election. Here's a strategy we expect Bush to use in south Florida and few other Democratic areas in swing states."U.S. aircraft over southern Afghanistan have scattered $100 bills tucked into envelopes bearing a picture of President George W. Bush, witnesses said on Thursday... 'C-130 planes dropped white-coloured paper envelopes with a photo of President Bush and two bills of $100 each,' said Abdul Hadi, a resident of Chaman on the border with southern Afghanistan... Southern Afghanistan used to be a stronghold of the vanquished Taliban government." George Pataki is using this strategy to win Hispanic support in the South Bronx - he recently convinced State Senator Pedro Espada to become a Republican by offering a "carpet of gold" to Espada's impoverished district.

World War III Report Tracks the War on Terrorism in Awesome Detail
19-Feb-02
Bush's War

B%$#'s permanent worldwide war against terrorism is a story with far more threads than we can possibly cover. But there is an outstanding weekly newsletter that covers nearly every facet of this war, Bill Weinberg's World War III Report. You can read the Feb. 17 issue here, and click "join this list" to subscribe.

If You Oppose Bombing Iraq, Sign this Letter
11-Feb-02
Bush's War

"I am writing to oppose U.S. military action against Iraq. In recent weeks, President Bush, members of Congress, and administration officials have threatened an invasion of Iraq. Now is the time for diplomacy, not expanding the 'war on terrorism.' The price already paid by the people of Iraq under eleven years of sanctions has been enormous: hundreds of thousands dead, an economy in ruins, destruction of the infrastructure, preventable and curable diseases spreading and killing due to lack of supplies, and total isolation of Iraq’s professionals. To now target Iraq within the broad sweep of the 'war on terrorism' will only create more suffering and violence. Punishing the Iraqi people for the actions of a regime is an injustice that contributes to a growing anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East and throughout the world." Send this letter to your Representatives, courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee.

Bush's Bellicose State of the Union Profoundly Antagonized Our Allies
08-Feb-02
Bush's War

Salon writes, "Bush's State of the Union speech on Jan. 29 now seems clearly like a milestone in American foreign relations. Bush's bellicose rhetoric - which promised to put the US on a permanent war footing - alienated even our staunchest allies. And the chasm between the US and the rest of the world has only grown in recent days, as even administration moderate Colin Powell has hewed to the White House's hard line, vowing that if our allies did not support us in future military exploits such as an invasion of Iraq, the U.S. is prepared to go it alone... The international press has been filled lately with stunned and outraged reactions to the administration's arrogant unilateralism. Within a matter of days, the White House has come close to squandering nearly all of the global goodwill and cooperation that was built in response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks and America's effective response in Afghanistan."

War without End, against a Shadowy, Ill-defined Enemy: That's Bush's Reelection Strategy
07-Feb-02
Bush's War

"War without end against a shadowy, ill-defined enemy. That's what we are being offered, according to the most ominous State of the Union message in history," observes Jack Lessenbery of the Metrotimes of Detroit. (btw - The Metrotimes is suing John Ashcroft over the outrageous treatment of Michigan resident Rabih Haddad in the wake of 9/11). "What is clear is that our long national Clinton-era nightmare of peace and prosperity is over. But if the Bush administration is not to blame, they are at the very least attempting to sell us a bill of goods, and we need to pry open the crate and check the contents."

Were Innocent Civilians Killed in Commando Raid?
06-Feb-02
Bush's War

"U.S. forces in Afghanistan should apologize immediately to relatives of any innocent victims of a commando raid they are investigating, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said. American forces returned to the remote area north of Kandahar to look into circumstances surrounding the nighttime raid two weeks ago. Local officials say U.S. special forces troops killed people loyal to the pro-American interim Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai. Military officials have said 15 or 16 people were killed in the raid in Uruzgan province, and 27 were arrested. Rumsfeld said he had no information about reports that American investigators were apologizing for mistakes made in the raid and were paying $1,000 to the family of each man killed."

Cheney's Criminal Reading of the Geneva Convention Endangers All US Soldiers and Citizens
01-Feb-02
Bush's War

"The Geneva Conventions ... stipulate that 'such prisoners shall enjoy the protection of the present convention until such time as their status has been determined by a competent tribunal.' But, protests Cheney: 'These are the worst of a very bad lot... They may well have information about future terrorist attacks against the US. We need that information. We need to be able to interrogate them and extract from them whatever information they have.' In other words, our VP wants to torture our prisoners, which justifies our making an end-run around one of the most important international agreements... To hear these guys tell it, the Geneva Conventions exist solely to protect...American servicemen when they fall into enemy hands. When we capture foreigners in combat, on the other hand, we simply claim that they're 'unlawful combatants.' Unfortunately for future American P.O.W.s -- er, detainees -- the rest of the world is listening closely." So writes Ted Rall in Alternet.

For Bu$h, Central Asia is 'Pipelineistan'
28-Jan-02
Bush's War

"Enron, together with Amoco, Chevron, Mobil, UNOCAL and British Petroleum, were all spending billions of dollars to pump the reserves of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan... But Pipelineistan is not an end in itself. Oil and gas by themselves are not the US's ultimate aim. It's all about control. In Monopoly, Belgian writer Michel Collon wrote: 'If you want to rule the world, you need to control oil. All the oil. Anywhere.' If the US controls the sources of energy of its rivals - Europe, Japan, China and other nations aspiring to be more independent - they win. This explains why pipelines from the Caucasus to the West have to be America-friendly - ie Turkish or Macedonian - and not 'unreliable', meaning Russian-controled. Washington, always, has to control everything: that's what Brzezinski and Henry Kissinger always said. The same goes for the military bases in Saudi Arabia, and now in Pakistan and Afghanistan." So writes Pepe Escobar in the Asia Times.

Increasing Evidence that the Afghan War was Really About Oil
28-Jan-02
Bush's War

"The Afghan War was decided long before September 11. September 11 merely precipitated events. Plans to destroy the Taliban had been the subject of international diplomatic and not-so-diplomatic discussions for months [including] a crucial meeting in Geneva in May 2001 between US State Department, Iranian, German and Italian officials, where the main topic was a strategy to topple the Taliban and replace the theocracy with a 'broad-based government'... at the Group of Eight (G-8) summit in Genoa, Italy, in July 2001 when India... also contributed its own plans... [and] in secret negotiations in a Berlin hotel a few days after the G-8 summit, between American, Russian, German and Pakistani officials. And Pakistani high officials... have extensively described a plan set up by the end of July 2001 by American advisers, consisting of military strikes against the Taliban from bases in Tajikistan, to be launched before mid-October." So reports the Asia Times.

John Walker Lindh's Lawyer Will Put Bu$h On Trial
28-Jan-02
Bush's War

In Yellowtimes.org, Larry Chin writes: "James Brosnahan, former federal prosecutor and former member of the Lawrence Walsh Independent Counsel team, is John Walker Lindh's attorney." Brosnahan believes Reagan-Bush & Co. covered up their Iran-contra crimes. "Brosnahan has many points to raise [in Lindh's defense]. For example, Walker Lindh joined the Taliban during a period in which the Bush... administration considered the Taliban to be an ally. And that the Bush administration handed over $100 million in aid to the Taliban, including a $43 million check in May 2001. All of which... makes George W. Bush and his entire administration guilty of the same charges leveled against Lindh, including 'providing material support' and 'willfully and knowingly contributing goods and services to, and for the benefit of, the Taliban' and 'supplying directly and indirectly goods and services to the territory of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban." Stay tuned for a riveting trial - of Bu$h!

Saudis May Soon Ask for Withdrawal of US Military
21-Jan-02
Bush's War

"Senior Saudi rulers believe the United States has 'overstayed its welcome' and that other forms of less conspicuous military cooperation should be devised once the United States has completed its war in Afghanistan, according to a senior Saudi official. The United States has been using a state-of-the-art facility on the Prince Sultan base that was opened last summer as a key command-and-control center during the Afghan conflict. Saudis give several reasons for deciding that the Americans should leave, beginning with their desire to appear self-reliant and not dependent on U.S. military support...The U.S. military presence at Prince Sultan Air Base, [US analysts and Pentagon officials] say, is crucial to Washington's entire security system for defending America's oil-wealthy Arab allies against Iran and Iraq." To make the US the protector of OPEC is why Bush Sr. armed Saddam Hussein right up to the Kuwaiti invasion, followed by our ambassador April Glaspie giving Hussein the greenlight to invade.

Ashcroft Charges John Walker With 'Engaging in Transactions with the Taliban' - What about Bush??
16-Jan-02
Bush's War

John "Walker, 20, was charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, with four criminal counts. They include two counts of allegedly providing material support or resources to terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda and another group called Harakat ul-Mujahideen. Walker also was charged with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals abroad and engaging in transactions with the Taliban, the ousted regime in Afghanistan." Say what? Doesn't anyone remember the $43 MILLION in foreign aid given to the Taliban by George W. Bush? And what about Bush's offer of a "carpet of gold" if the Taliban would build Unocal's pipeline? What would Bush call that: transportation... transposition... transformation? Hey George, we seem to have a misunderestimation here!

Did the US Massacre 52 Civilians in Qalaye Niazi?
09-Jan-02
Bush's War

"Where a small village once stood in the arid plains of east-central Afghanistan, there is little left but torn clothing, piles of brick, pieces of human flesh and hair, and a substantial stockpile of small-arms ammunition. The United States launched a fierce bomb attack on Qalaye Niazi before dawn Dec. 29, as its inhabitants slept after a wedding celebration. Ten homes are said to have been destroyed and dozens of people killed; the exact numbers are in dispute. What isn't clear is why the village became an American target... In the minds of tribal elders, relatives of Qalaye Niazi residents and leaders of neighboring provinces, there is no doubt that the inhabitants of the village were civilians, innocent of any activity related to terrorism. The United States military has claimed that Taliban leaders were hiding among the villagers." So reports Alissa Rubin in the LA Times. What is the truth? Will the military produce its evidence?

More on the Report of the 3,767 Civilians Killed in Afghanistan
08-Jan-02
Bush's War

"A new report released by Professor Marc W. Herold of University of New Hampshire found that the Bush administration has overseen the killing of at least 3,767 civilians in Afghanistan between the dates of October 7, 2001 and December 6, 2001; an average of 62 civilians killed per day...The failure of the Pentagon to admit to their actions, along with the frequent statements by mainstream U.S. news sources that civilian death reports could not 'be independently verified,' inspired Mr. Herold to come up with an in-depth report on the number of civilians in Afghanistan using references from news reporters who visited the aftermath of U.S. bombing incidents, eyewitness and survivor accounts, distinguished non-governmental organizations, and news articles published in mainstream reputable national newspapers. Mr. Herold found that the Pentagon frequently shrouded the truth and even directly lied to the American people." So writes Christopher Reilly for Yellow Times.

Patriotism on the Cheap
06-Jan-02
Bush's War

"The new patriotism that was said to be a product of America's New War often seems to be little more than vicarious patriotism reminiscent of the pre-Sept. 11 fetishism of the Greatest Generation. We all applaud our selfless men and women in uniform, whether at ground zero or in battle, but we are not inclined to make even a fractionally commensurate sacrifice of our own. We have no interest in reducing our dependence on the oil from the country that nurtured most of the hijackers, Saudi Arabia, or revisiting an upper-brackets-skewed $1.35 trillion, 10-year tax cut to find the serious money needed to fight future hijackers and bioterrorists effectively." So writes NY columnist Frank Rich.

Bill Moyers Denounces Corporate War Profiteers in Texas
05-Jan-02
Bush's War

While Bu$h was fawning over his new portrait at the state capitol in Austin, Bill Moyers took on Bu$h's corporate buddies before a cheering, standing-room only audience of 2,000 a few blocks away at the LBJ Library. Moyers said he was bitter at "Texas bankers pull(ing) their strings at the White House" and what he called the rush of energy companies, airlines and other big corporations to get tax breaks while "firefighters and teachers pay out of their middle-class salaries for the war on terrorism." "Everywhere America's cheeks were stained with tears," he said, even as corporations "seized this moment" to push through legislation to reduce their taxes. "Whose side are these people on, anyway?" he asked, to applause. "Not just religious believers threaten our democracy" but "unfettered capitalism... They're picking your pocket." This is Moyers' second passionate speech in 2 months. Hey Bill - why don't you run as a Democrat for President?

Somalia May be Bush's Next Target
04-Jan-02
Bush's War

According to the AP, "U.S. forces are increasing reconnaissance flights over Somalia, looking for signs that Osama bin Laden 's al-Qaida network is reforming in the lawless African country, U.S. officials said. Dozens of al-Qaida members fleeing the fighting in Afghanistan have arrived in Somalia, which already had a small presence of the terrorist group, the officials said, speaking Thursday on the condition of anonymity. Al-Qaida also has ties to a larger, native Islamic fundamentalist movement, called al-Itihaad al-Islamiya, which aims to set up an Islamic state in Somalia. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher acknowledged that the Bush administration is concerned that the country could be a potential hideout. 'We are working to ensure that Somalia is not a haven for terrorists,' Boucher said."

'I Wish Al Gore Were President'
02-Jan-02
Bush's War

"I wish Al Gore were president. Why? Quite simply because instead of showing resolve, imagination, leadership and creativity on the domestic front, Mr. Bush has done just the opposite. He has tried to use the tremendous upsurge in patriotism, bipartisanship and volunteerism triggered by the tragedy of Sept. 11 to drive a narrow, right-wing agenda from Sept. 10 into a Sept. 12 world. It's wrong. It won't work. It sells the country short and it will ultimately sell the Bush presidency short. I have no problem with nation-building in Afghanistan, but what I'm really interested in is nation- building in America - using the power of Sept. 11 to make our country stronger, safer and a better global citizen in the world of Sept. 12, beginning with how we use energy. But so far, all that's happening is that we've made the world safer for Saudi Arabia and OPEC to raise oil prices again." So writes NY Times columnist Tom Friedman.

Professor Estimates 3,767 Afghani Civilians Killed Through Dec 10
28-Dec-01
Bush's War

"Now, for the first time, a systematic independent study has been carried out into civilian casualties in Afghanistan by Marc Herold, a US economics professor at the University of New Hampshire. Based on corroborated reports from aid agencies, the UN, eyewitnesses, TV stations, newspapers and news agencies around the world, Herold estimates that at least 3,767 civilians were killed by US bombs between October 7 and December 10…Of course, Herold's total is only an estimate. But what is impressive about his work is not only the meticulous cross-checking, but the conservative assumptions he applies to each reported incident. The figure does not include those who died later of bomb injuries; nor those killed in the past [18] days; nor those who have died from cold and hunger…It does not include military deaths (estimated by some analysts…to be upwards of 10,000)."

Before Prison Uprising, CIA Officer Mike Spann Questioned American Alleged To Be Taliban Warrior
08-Dec-01
Bush's War

"CIA officer Johnny 'Mike' Spann reportedly questioned fellow American and alleged Taliban warrior John Walker shortly before the Afghan prisoner uprising in which Spann was killed. Newsweek magazine said on its Web site Thursday the information came from a videotape of the incident taken by an Afghan cameraman. Spann, 32, was killed Nov. 25 after he questioned Walker, 20, of northern California, and other enemy captives who were imprisoned in the northern Afghanistan fortress of Kala Jangi. The prisoners were taken as the northern alliance, under cover of punishing U.S. airstrikes, finally overran the city of Kunduz, which had been the last Taliban stronghold in the north of the country." Dark questions remain as to whether the prisoners were bound while they were summarily executed.

BushCheney Have Lost Central Asian Oil To Russia
05-Dec-01
Bush's War

"Afghanistan, where the United States just suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the wily Russians. Happily for the White House, neither the media nor the American public understand what just happened...The Northern Alliance is…a Russian front organization run by leaders of the revived Afghan Communist party. It has also reopened the heroin trade the Taliban had shut down...Russia now dominates Afghanistan, thus reversing its historic defeat of the 1980s, shutting the U.S. and Pakistan out of Central Asia, and ensuring future Russian control of the Caspian Basin's oil and gas resources. Last week, hundreds of Taliban prisoners of war were reportedly massacred in the Mazar-E-Sharif fort...Some more neutral observers claim the prisoners were murdered en masse. Amnesty International is calling for an investigation. U.S. troops also watched while 140 Taliban prisoners were executed in southern Afghanistan." So writes Eric Margolis.

Fatal Errors Led To Massacre At Mazar-i-Sharif; Amnesty International Investigating Possible Human Rights Violations
03-Dec-01
Bush's War

"The convoy set off with the last two trucks not searched. This proved to be disastrous...That night eight of the fighters blew themselves up in a storage room in the prisoners' compound, Amir Jan said. It soon became clear that a large minority of the Taliban were still armed with grenades...At 11.25am the Taliban fighters were marched to the central grassy compound of their mini-citadel. The guards tied up the first eight prisoners, Amir Jan said. "The prisoners suspected they were about to be shot. They attacked one of the guards and grabbed his gun"….Another prisoner grabbed Mike [Spann, CIA officer] and set off a grenade, blowing him up. This conflicts with the CIA account of his death which says that he was shot... [An authority on the laws of war] described the [CIA officer's] conduct as 'incredibly stupid and unprofessional. '" Amnesty International is asking: Were those who were killed still bound? Did summary executions take place?

US Denies Bombs Hit Afghan Villages
03-Dec-01
Bush's War

"The U.S. Central Command Saturday denied claims that U.S. bombs dropped in airstrikes Friday killed 50 Afghan villagers and injured five others near Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan, a region of extensive cave and tunnel complexes. Nangarhar province security chief Hazrat Ali said the bombs landed in two villages, Talkhel and Balut, near the remote area of Tora Bora, where some reports have indicated al Qaeda leaders -- including Osama bin Laden -- are hiding. Tora Bora, located about 35 miles (60 km) south of Jalalabad near the Pakistan border, has been confirmed by U.S. officials as a target in the ongoing air war. Ali is an ally of the opposition Northern Alliance." With the Media coverage so tightly managed, who knows what is really happening there.

'An Enormous Blunder': For Big Oil, The BushCheney Regime Is An Abject Failure That Just Lost Central Asia To Russia
26-Nov-01
Bush's War

"When Pakistan ditched its ally, the Taliban, in September, and sided with the U.S., Islamabad and Washington fully expected to implant a pro-American regime in Kabul and open the way for the Pak-American pipeline...[But] in a dazzling coup, Russian President Vladimir Putin stole a march on the Bush administration, which was so busy trying to tear apart Afghanistan to find bin Laden it failed to notice the Russians were taking over half the country. To the fury of Washington and Islamabad, [Viktor] Kvashnin rushed the Northern Alliance into Kabul, in direct contravention of Bush's dictates...So long as the Alliance holds power, the U.S. is equally denied access to the much coveted Caspian Basin. Russia has regained control of the best potential pipeline routes. The 'new Silk Road' will become a Russian energy superhighway…the U.S. handed a stunning geopolitical victory to the Russians and severely damaged its own great power ambitions. " So writes Eric Margolis.

More On Why BushCheney Have Really Blown It, Big Time!
26-Nov-01
Bush's War

An important 1996 article. "Behind the tribal clashes that have scarred Afghanistan lies one of the great prizes of the 21st century, the fabulous energy reserves of Central Asia…Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan…are known to possess vast oil and gas reserves...But there is an immense problem. [They] are all land-locked and there is no way to get the oil and gas out. So a race has begun to find a route...This pipeline, initially for gas, would begin in the Dauletabad field in central Turkmenistan, traverse Afghanistan along the Herat-Kandahar corridor, territory controlled by the Taliban, and exit into Pakistan...Unocal, the Californian oil company, in alliance with Delta Oil, the Saudi Arabian company, has been in negotiation with the Taliban, as well as rival warlords, for much of this year over terms for the Turkmenistan-Pakistan pipeline...Pakistan is keen to have a source of oil that bypasses Iran and Russia."

The Goal Should Be Getting Osama bin Laden, Not Carpet Bombing Every Country The Bushies Want To Subjugate
24-Nov-01
Bush's War

"For the US, the whole country of Afghanistan is collateral damage. Or, to put it another way, a little hors d'oeuvre before they move on to the next course - Somalia, Yemen or, most worryingly of all, Iraq? The latter is already being openly touted in Washington as a possibility for the 'second stage' and tension is growing in the Gulf region...All this strengthens the view that what we have to fear from September 11 is not just Islamist fanaticism, but the US response to it. Indeed, the latter could well prove a far greater threat to the stability of many countries, further stoking the Islamist fanaticism it seeks to extinguish...It is a foreign policy of brute force and it draws legitimacy within the US from a lethal combination of three factors: a profound sense of righteous anger, the reality of unchallenged economic and military power and a pervasive ignorance of and indifference to the rest of the world." So writes Madeleine Bunting.

Bush v. Israel: Ashcroft Includes Dozens of Israelis Among 1,100 Illegal Detainees
21-Nov-01
Bush's War

According to the NY Times, "Among the more than 1,100 people the government has detained since Sept. 11 are dozens of young Israeli Jews who came to the United States in recent months and took jobs selling trinkets at shopping malls throughout the country. Charged with working without proper papers, some have been kept in detention by the Immigration and Naturalization Service for nearly a month. In some cases, the immigration service has invoked special post- Sept. 11 laws to keep the Israelis in jail but presented no evidence of a link to the terrorism investigation. 'We think there are about 50 in detention now, in San Diego, Houston, Kansas City, St. Louis and Cleveland, and there are some who have been released,' said Ido Aharoni, a spokesman for the Israeli consulate." Can't Ashcroft tell America's allies from its enemies? Ashcroft should be fired - or impeached!

Bush v. Europe: Opposition Growing to Continued War
18-Nov-01
Bush's War

As many as 100,000 activists marched in London to protest the continued bombing, the takeover by the Northern Alliance, and the failure to deal with the broader issue of global poverty. Labour MP Alan Simpson told the crowd: "When people say 'the bombing has won, the Taleban have been driven out', I say that it is not the answer at all. We have seen the removal of one feudal tyranny, only for it to be replaced by another." Organiser Lindsey German said the bombing campaign had done nothing to tackle international terrorism. "The war aims were never to install the Northern Alliance into Afghanistan to replace the Taleban. "Most people who know anything about both regimes regard the Northern Alliance as just as bad. Meanwhile terrorism continues and will continue because the real roots of terrorism have not been dealt with and are not being dealt with in this war."

Bush's Minister Gives Muslim Fundamentalists Useful Propaganda
17-Nov-01
Bush's War

Bush has been doing triple back flips to tell Muslims that we are NOT fighting a Crusade against Islam, just a war against terrorism. But Franklin Graham, who delivered the benediction at Bush's coup d'etat, refuses to be "politically correct." Instead, he called the entire Islamic religion "wicked, violent and not of the same God. I don’t believe this is a wonderful, peaceful religion," said Graham. "When you read the Koran and you read the verses from the Koran, it instructs the killing of the infidel, for those that are non-Muslim... It wasn't Methodists flying into those buildings, it wasn't Lutherans," said Graham. "It was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith." No doubt Al Qaeda is printing these words in big letters on posters all over the Islamic world. When will Bush denounce Graham's outrageous insult to the world's 1 billion Muslims?

Women MUST Be Included In Rebuilding Afghanistan
16-Nov-01
Bush's War

"Considering how women's subjugation in Afghanistan has become the political totem of the Taliban's repression, women's absence from these negotiations makes for bad symbolism-and even worse policy. Before the Taliban hid a nation full of females under house arrest and cover of the burqa, Afghan women were lawyers, judges, doctors, professors and government ministers. While the mujahedeen were off fighting the Soviet invasion in the 1980s and the civil war of the early 1990s, women were keeping the shops, the hospitals and the courts going. 'Do they think that because women wear veil we do not have a voice?' Jamila, an Afghan human rights worker, asked…those women have the experience and brainpower that will be necessary to rebuild what is now a thoroughly decimated country. Women's participation in the peace process is not just a matter of symbolic equality; it is a matter of insuring peace and stability for all of Afghanistan." So writes Gayle Forman.

BOMBSHELL: US Promised 'Carpet of Gold' to Taliban in Exchange for Oil Pipeline, and Blocked Terror Investigations
16-Nov-01
Bush's War

According to French investigative reporters Jean-Charles Brisard and Guillaume Dasquie, Bush representatives met with the Taliban "several times in Washington, Berlin and Islamabad" to get a deal to build an oil pipeline through Afghanistan. Bush promised a "carpet of gold," but the Taliban had to deliver Bin Laden and accept a "national unity" government including the Northern Alliance. If they refused, Bush vowed to "bury you under a carpet of bombs." While this "negotiations" took place, Bush "blocked U.S. secret service investigations on terrorism," prompting FBI Investigation's deputy director John O'Neill to resign in July in protest over the obstruction. O'Neill said "the main obstacles to investigate Islamic terrorism were U.S. oil corporate interests and the role played by Saudi Arabia in it." We demand an investigation!

Robert McFarlane and the Death of Abdul Haq
16-Nov-01
Bush's War

"Haq, the courageous American ally...makes a dangerous foray into Taliban territory. He is surrounded. He makes two desperate phone calls. One to a nephew in Pakistan. Another to an American supporter in Pakistan (James Ritchie, a wealthy supporter of an anti-Taliban coalition). An American warplane is dispatched to the area to assist Haq, but it is too late. Haq is tortured and hanged...Ritchie had placed a phone call to Robert 'Bud' McFarlane—national security adviser to president Ronald Reagan, Oliver North's Iran-Contra supervisor, and the man indicted on criminal charges of withholding information from Congress about secret aid to the Nicaraguan contras—is best known for his secret diplomatic mission to Iran in which he delivered a Bible and a cake, and offered US weapons in exchange for the release of US hostages. Allegedly, it was McFarlane who contacted the CIA, which in turn dispatched the US 'warplane' to Haq's 'coordinates.'"

In Bush's War, Class Differences Show Big-Time
15-Nov-01
Bush's War

"Class analysis has been out of favor for some decades, but it's amazing what a useful tool it has become. People with bodyguards are urging people without bodyguards not to give in to terror. A guy with Secret Service protection urges people to conquer their fears... Bush gives a speech in which he urges volunteerism on citizens. He suggests tutoring a child, working at a hospital or helping out at a military base. At the same time, he supports tax legislation that gives huge breaks to large corporations. He does not ask them to voluntarily give up their wealth so that the government will have more money to pay soldiers and upgrade the FBI. Volunteerism is for regular people. Volunteerism is for people who don't have undisclosed locations. [To] promote leadership and a sense of community. My suggestion is that every senior executive in every Fortune 500 company spend at least five hours a week in community service."

Mullah Omar Predicts 'Destruction of America'
15-Nov-01
Bush's War

In a satellite interview with BBC via satellite phone, Omar said "the current situation in Afghanistan is related to a bigger cause - that is the destruction of America... The plan is going ahead and, God willing, it is being implemented. But it is a huge task, which is beyond the will and comprehension of human beings. If God's help is with us, this will happen within a short period of time; keep in mind this prediction." Asked about Bin Laden's threats of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, Omar said This is not a matter of weapons. We are hopeful for God's help. The real matter is the extinction of America. And, God willing, it [America] will fall to the ground."

Ashcroft, Arafat & Oil: Behind the Magic Screen
13-Nov-01
Bush's War

Magicians rely for their success on the trick of distraction. We're looking at what they want us to look at, but the real action is elsewhere. That's why, of course, it's best not to restrict one's reading to the front pages. Oftentimes, clues to other vital news are buried inside the papers on Page 18C. In the case of America's current war, for example, while it's important to follow the shifting battle lines in Afghanistan and the hunt for the elusive Pimpernel of global terrorism, there is lot of important news happening almost under the radar screen, a good share of which will impinge on our lives much more than what is happening in the caves and tunnels around Kabul. Three items seem most important in this regard: 1) The assault on civil liberties and the way it's been handled; 2) The decoupling of the Israeli/Palestinian problem from America's agenda; and, 3) The future role of Central Asian oil.

'Revenge Killing' by Northern Alliance Delays Humanitarian Aid
13-Nov-01
Bush's War

With Mazar-e Sharif in the hands of the Northern Alliance, U.N. aid workers are trying to deliver desperately-needed food from Uzbekistan. However, "Northern Alliance fighters have killed as many as 600 people since they seized the northern Afghan city," according to CNN. A UN spokeswoman says "Overall the security situation in Mazar remains somewhat unstable. As of this morning, we heard reports that along with occasional looting there is also 'punitive action' that is being carried out." CNN adds, "As the alliance continues to gain wide swathes of territory in northern Afghanistan, Western officials are concerned that the anti-Taliban opposition and their sympathizers will commit revenge killings."

Bush v. America: Bush's Ideological Zealots Must Be Stopped
10-Nov-01
Bush's War

According to NY Times columnist Anthony Lewis, Bush "has not yet understood what a wartime president has to do at home: Put aside ideological politics so he can be president of all the people. With his evident approval, the ideologues in his administration are riding their conservative hobbyhorses as if the country did not have a higher purpose now. They, and the president, seem oblivious to the way those actions threaten national unity." Those conservative hobbyhorses include John Ashcroft's interference in Oregon's right-to-die law and California's medical marijuana law. They also include Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman's capitulation on road building in national forests and snowmobiles in Yellowstone. "Finally, there is the reeking scandal of the so-called economic stimulus bill passed by the House."

Bush v. New York: Bush Refuses to Send $10.8 Billion For New York
10-Nov-01
Bush's War

Shortly after 911, Congress appropriated $40 billion in emergency spending, $20 billion earmarked to rebuild New York City. But Bush refuses to send more than half of that money - $10.8 billion. Bush's arrogance has even angered upstate Republicans, who are trying to pass legislation to force Bush to send New York its funds. Bush says he'll veto such a bill. Hey George, who elected you king? It's OUR money, remember?

Bush v. America: While Bush Attacks Partisanship, He Cynically Embraces It
09-Nov-01
Bush's War

In his address to the nation, Bush declared: "Our government has the responsibility to put needless partisanship behind us and meet new challenges: better security for our people and help for those who have lost jobs and livelihoods in the attacks that claimed so many lives." Yet rather than embrace the sensible nonpartisan Democratic proposals on security, the economy, and energy, Bush IMMEDIATELY pushed his completely partisan Republican tax giveaways to the rich and big energy companies: "I made some proposals to stimulate economic growth, which will create new jobs and make America less dependent on foreign oil. And I ask Congress to work hard and put a stimulus plan into law to help the American people." We are outraged!

According to Pakistan Paper, Bodies of 18 Soldiers Await Flight Home to US, But Pentagon Is Silent
08-Nov-01
Bush's War

According to Pakistan's Frontier Post, "Arrangements are in place to fly home eighteen dead bodies lying in a Quetta hospital. The sources confirmed that these bodies are of US Special Forces troops who lost their lives on the course of the campaign in Afghanistan. 'These soldiers died in action and not in any accident', said a source." The soldiers were killed near Kandahar fighting with Pakhtoon leader Hamid Karazai, a former Afghan commander trying to rally support among the Pashtun majority to fight the Pashtun Taliban. "Sources in Quetta claimed that the US forces were suffering causalities and in the last few weeks many dead bodies were brought to Quetta and were flown away. Pentagon however has preferred to keep the exact number of causalities secret."

Pakistan Paper Reports 45 US Commandos Killed Near Kandahar
08-Nov-01
Bush's War

According to the Frontier Post of Pakistan, 45 US commandos were killed storming a suspected hideout of Osama bin Laden near Kandahar. "Their bodies were flown to Jacobabad Tuesday evening after US Special Forces were able to airlift them out of Afghanistan...The unit met some resistance from the guards, but were successful in going inside the hideout and undertaking intelligence tasks... The unit and the helicopters came under intense fire from Taliban forces... A US bomber, claimed to be B-52 by the Taliban, is believed to be covering the helicopters at the time of the skirmish. Taliban hit [the] low-flying bomber, and it crashed near Dalbandin." This story has not been reported or confirmed anywhere else.

God v. God
07-Nov-01
Bush's War

They feel the whole should adopt their version of "God." So do the fundamentalist Muslims. So do all the fundamentalists. Like bin Laden. Like Right to Life snipers, bombers and protesters. Like Ann Coulter. Like Jerry Falwell. And let's not forget "political fundamentalism." The intolerance for questioning the self-proclaimed "wisdom" of our court appointed leaders has become the norm amongst the corporate media and the mental lemmings who make up far too many of this country's population. In this so-called "war" our enemy is not terrorism. The enemy is fundamentalism. Both religious and political. The violent and intolerant perversion of any religion and the ignorance of any God's true word is the enemy. And it strikes me as odd that a certain "president" whose favorite "philosopher" was Jesus still doesn't "get it."

Bush v. Afghanistan: 'Collateral Damage' Is Losing the War for Afghan 'Hearts and Minds'
05-Nov-01
Bush's War

"'Before the bombing, the Taliban was always saying that Americans were enemies of Muslims and of Islam, and we did not believe that,' Khan said as he paced the dingy halls of the government hospital here. 'But nowadays, when [the U.S.-led forces] are killing innocent people, we believe that what the Taliban was saying about America is true: They are trying to kill Muslims and finish Islam.' Khan's disillusionment with America--and a newfound sympathy for his nation's Taliban regime--is shared by a number of Afghans in what aid and human rights workers say is a palpable shift in views since the bombing began... 'There's an increased feeling that the West doesn't care about what's happening to Afghan civilians,' said Peter Bouckaert, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch." So reports the Los Angeles Times.

Bush v. Taliban: Are We Bombing To Hide our Failure to Assemble a Political Alternative?
05-Nov-01
Bush's War

According to the Dawn of Pakistan, "The truth is that the intensity of air strikes has not been matched by any initiative on the political front. Last month's moot at Peshawar bore no fruit, and the proposed assembly of various Afghan factions in Turkey has been delayed. Also, for some reason, the move to present Zahir Shah as a unifying force has failed to attract much attention. This makes the continuation of the air strikes an end in itself. No sane mind would accept this. It is time the American strategists focused on the war aims rather than on a continuation of air strikes with their concomitant collateral damage. The Taliban are firmly in control, and the Pentagon and the state department seem to be groping in the dark to discover a focused strategy for achieving the war aims against a country already in ruins."

Bush v. Taliban: Getting Nowhere Fast, War Planners are In Denial
03-Nov-01
Bush's War

After four weeks of bombing, the war against the Taliban is going nowhere, and the Pentagon's plan is in shambles. Northern Alliance troops refuse to fight until our bombs clear Taliban positions. But after we bomb, Taliban soldiers jump right out of the craters and resume shooting. The Pentagon is ready to send thousands of ground troops, but what would they accomplish? If we take one mountain, the Taliban will simply move on to another. We'd need a million troops to occupy a country the size of Texas. The Soviet Union tried to conquer Afghanistan with all of its forces deployed at the border - and still failed, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union. There's a reason Afghanistan defeated the British and Soviet empires at the height of their power. Afghanistan is the graveyard for imperialist illusions - and Bush's Washington is living in a dreamworld.

Bush v. America: U.S. Troops Stop Green Leader from Flying to Political Meeting in Chicago
03-Nov-01
Bush's War

In a terrifying act of political repression, Bush has literally turned America's guns against law-abiding American citizens. According to Counterpunch, "Armed government agents grabbed Nancy Oden, Green Party USA coordinating committee member, Thursday at Bangor International Airport in Bangor Maine, as she attempted to board an American Airlines flight to Chicago. 'An official told me that my name had been flagged in the computer,' a shaken Oden said. 'I was targeted because the Green Party USA opposes the bombing of innocent civilians in Afghanistan.'" We are outraged! Call the White House 202-456-1414 and Congress 202-224-3121 to demand an explanation!

Bush v. Credibility: Pentagon-Controlled Coverage by the US Media Is Alienating World Public Opinion
03-Nov-01
Bush's War

The U.S. media has decided to serve as unapologetic cheerleaders for the Pentagon, and is paying the price with world public opinion. Many foreign consumers of the American media are frustrated at how U.S. journalists have wrapped themselves in the flag. "Objectivity and serious analysis went out the window," says Malaysian political scientist Farish Noor. Razak Baginda of the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre .says U.S. press coverage of the war "could lead to irreparable damage to the way we in the developing world will view the media" of America. Harvard's Alan Jones blames the Pentagon's determination to control the media - first exercised during the Gulf War - for its one-sided coverage. He says many Americans are using the Internet--which wasn't widely available in 1991--to turn to foreign news sources such as The Guardian in Britain, the BBC and Al Jazeera, the Arabic TV station in Qatar, to "get a different version" of the news.

Bush v. Human Rights: Significant Opposition Grows to Cluster Bombs
03-Nov-01
Bush's War

According to the BBC, "Human Rights Watch has called on the United States to halt the use of cluster bombs, fearing further civilian casualties... 'Cluster bombs have a wide dispersal pattern and cannot be targeted precisely, making them especially dangerous when used near civilian areas,' it said... The UN also criticised their use after several cluster bombs landed on the village of Shaker Qala, near the city of Herat in western Afghanistan, killing nine civilians and injuring 14. Human Rights Watch also pointed to other recent uses of the bombs in Kosovo and the Gulf War, claiming that an initial failure-to-explode rate of up to 7% percent can be expected." The BBC also reports that UK Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy urged Tony Blair to persuade Bush to stop using cluster bombs, to avoid a propaganda coup for Osama Bin Laden.

Bush v. Taliban: More on the Oil Angle
02-Nov-01
Bush's War

"While Afghanistan itself is relatively oil-poor, its neighbors in the Caspian region are quite the opposite. To quote Dick Cheney in 1998, back when he was just a humble oil baron: 'I can't think of a time when we've had a region emerge as suddenly to become as strategically significant as the Caspian...' I'm sure it's just a coincidence that: Cheney used to serve on the Kazakhstan Oil Advisory Board with executives from Chevron and Texaco; The Federal Trade Commission announced that it had approved a merger between Chevron and Texaco only days before the bombs began to fall on Afghanistan. The resulting company, ChevronTexaco, will have a 45 percent interest in Kazakhstan's huge Tengiz oil field near its border with Afghanistan (ExxonMobil has a 25 percent interest); Bush the Elder, also cozy with Texas oilmen, is a member of the $12 billion private equity firm the Carlyle Group, which invests heavily in defense contractors."

Houston Radio Station Wants To Buy a Bomb to Drop on Afghanistan
01-Nov-01
Bush's War

Some Texas talk show hosts are either clueless - or bloodthirsty. "A Houston radio station took aim at terrorists Tuesday by beginning a fundraising campaign to buy a bomb to be dropped over Afghanistan. KSEV 700 AM hopes to give Houstonians a chance to show their patriotism while helping fund the fight against terrorism." Now that's a really STUPID way to show patriotism! What if the bomb bought by this station falls on innocent civilians, or international aid workers? Will these Houstonians feel so proud and patriotic? Dropping bombs is not a game - it's life or death for the people on the ground, most of whom are not part of the Taliban or Al Qaeda. If we do not distinguish our real enemies from the rest of the people of the region, we will most certainly lose this war.

Bush v. Credibility: Afghanistan is Becoming Another Vietnam-like Quagmire
31-Oct-01
Bush's War

NY Times analyst R.W. Apple writes, "Like an unwelcome specter from an unhappy past, the ominous word 'quagmire' has begun to haunt conversations among government officials and students of foreign policy, both here and abroad. Could Afghanistan become another Vietnam? Is the United States facing another stalemate on the other side of the world? ... Echoes of Vietnam are unavoidable. Today, for example, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld disclosed for the first time that American military forces are operating in northern Afghanistan, providing liaison to 'a limited number of the various opposition elements.' Their role sounds suspiciously like that of the advisers sent to Vietnam in the early 1960's." Why is this another Vietnam? Because if we lose the "hearts and minds" of the Afghan people, we will never overthrow their government. And Afghan's "hearts and minds" appear to be casualties of Bush's bombs.

Why America Needs a Democratic President NOW
31-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Giving more money to individual taxpayers is not what we necessarily want from the government right now. How about a simple call to service and sacrifice? Asking not what your country can do for you; asking what you can do for your country. Remember that? ... So far, Bush says all we can do for our country is shop. That's the Republican vision of sacrifice: an electorate that buys and consumes to the limits of its income and beyond. If sacrificing is too strong a word for them, what about 'conserving'? ... But how can a Republican, who believes in the redeeming power of private capital, urge Americans to curb their consumption of anything?... [Bush] will not be asking you to do anything in the coming months except to keep your head down and to keep spending. That's the sum so far of W.'s vision thing. It's the Republican vision thing... Can we have that recount please? I would just like to know" who really won the Presidency.

Stop War Profiteering Now!
31-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The House has broken with the spirit of unity by voting, almost entirely on party lines, for massive new corporate tax breaks, while doing almost nothing for workers and the unemployed. This is economically backwards as well as unfair. We can do more to stimulate the economy by helping everyday people than by giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to America's biggest corporations. Congress must vote against these giveaways." Sign the Petition!

Bush v. America: Under Cover of War, Bush Attacks the Environment
30-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to the NY Times, "While the nation's attention is focused on the war against terrorism, the Bush administration is moving, both overtly and covertly, to dismantle major elements of Bill Clinton's environmental legacy." Gale Norton reversed Bill Clinton's regulations "on mining operations [that], for the first time, would have given federal officials the power to block mines likely to cause 'substantial irreparable harm' to water quality and other natural resources." Another attack "is the administration's sneaky effort to reverse a Clinton rule phasing out snowmobiles from Yellowstone National Park." Finally, Bush is sabotaging "a Forest Service rule protecting 60 million largely untouched acres of national forest from new road building, new oil and gas leasing and most new logging." This is just one more form of war profiteering by Bush's corporate buddies - stop war profiteering now!

Bush v. Credibility: Wag The Bush - Why The Pentagon Spin Of The War Through PR Is Failing
30-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The Pentagon has hired a PR firm to spin the war... Rendon Group, the firm in question, previously was used by the CIA to write good things about the Iraqui rebels. According to Con Vaitas, when Kuwait was overrun by the Iraquis back in 1990, another such firm was hired by Poppy Bush, which enabled him to tell us more than once that 'a young Kuwaiti girl got up in Congress and gave a tearful report of seeing Saddam's goons throwing babies out of humidicribs [Whatever those are.] so they could take the equipment back to Iraq.' Con Vaitsas went on to report that 'it was later discovered that she was the daughter of the Kuwaiti ambassador and hadn't been anywhere near Kuwait at the time. It was made up with the assistance of an American public relations company.' If Con Vaitsas is correct, let's hope Bush, Jr.'s Pentagon PR firm turns out to be a bit more trustworthy." So writes Jerry Politex in BushWatch.

Bush v. Credibility: Even During War, Bush Puts Special Interests Ahead of National Interest
30-Oct-01
Bush's War

"This is an administration that will let its special interests — particularly its high-rolling campaign contributors and its noisiest theocrats of the right — have veto power over public safety, public health and economic prudence in war, it turns out, no less than in peacetime. When anthrax struck, the administration's first impulse was not to secure as much Cipro as speedily as possible to protect Americans, but to protect the right of pharmaceutical companies to profiteer. The White House's faith in tax cuts as a panacea for all national ills has led to such absurdities as this week's House 'stimulus' package showering $254 million on Enron, the reeling Houston energy company (now under S.E.C. investigation) that has served as a Bush campaign cash machine." So writes NY Times columnist Frank Rich.

US Bombers Hit Red Cross Buildings Again, Taliban Execute Rival
26-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Afghanistan's Taliban...captur[ed] and execut[ed] a senior exiled opposition commander who had slipped back to raise rebellion. Soldiers of the hardline Muslim militia seized Abdul Haq...as he tried to flee on horseback under cover of U.S. air strikes...In Kabul, U.S. bombers killed five civilians on Friday and for a second time hit warehouses of the International Committee of the Red Cross. 'It has happened again. At 11:30 a.m. (Afghan time) huge explosions took place and three of our warehouses are on fire now,' ICRC spokesman Mario Musa told Reuters. Musa said the warehouses had food, tents, tarpaulins, blankets and other aid supplies intended for the impoverished people of Kabul. U.S. bombs also hit ICRC warehouses in Kabul on October 16. Warplanes dropped up to 10 bombs in night raids on the capital, killing five people and terrifying residents who cowered in their homes, witnesses and a Taliban official said."

Propaganda Watch: Military Stages 'Cosmetic' Raids For Cameras, But Met Unexpected Resistance; Did Rumsfeld Lie About Helicopter Shootdown?
26-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The 'cosmetic' raids were designed to provide a show of something happening on the ground, both for the psychological impact on the Taliban and to appease a US public increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of the war. Targets were selected because they were thought to be poorly defended and could be easily filmed to demonstrate that ground troops could go where they wanted. But the soldiers from Delta Force, the US equivalent of the SAS, and the US Rangers were stunned by the resistance they met...Two US Rangers were killed when their helicopter crashed inside Pakistan. Another helicopter landed so quickly while attempting to get the Rangers out that it lost part of its undercarriage. The wheels and metal were later exhibited for television cameras by the Taliban, who claimed to have shot it down." So was Rumsfeld lying when he earlier called the Taliban report of the shootdown a lie?

Bush v. National Unity: While Americans Die, Karl Rove Wants Bush to Fill GOP Political Warchest
24-Oct-01
Bush's War

While Americans are dying both at home and abroad in Bush's War Against Terrorism, Senior Advisor Karl Rove is urging Bush to sabotage our national unity and embrace partisan politics. Republican governors are holding a $1 million dinner on Thursday, and rich donors who give $100,000 were promised special access to Bush with the "official presidential arrival party." Even Dick Cheney thought Bush shouldn't go, but Karl Rove wouldn't quit, strongly urging Bush to attend right up to the last minute. Of course, Karl Rove was the chief architect of the Stolen Election, so we're not surprised that he would undermine America from within the White House. But if Bush is serious about keeping America united in his War Against Terrorism, it's time for serious action - including the renunciation of partisan politics for the duration of the War, and the immediate firing of Karl Rove.

Afghanistan's Future: It's the Women, Stupid
23-Oct-01
Bush's War

Feminists believe Bush should include women in the new government he is trying to establish in Afghanistan. The Feminist Majority's Eleanor "Smeal ultimately hopes that a constitutional democracy will restore women's human rights, with the full involvement of women themselves. 'I'd like to see a Loya Jirga convene... And there are educated women who should be at the table. They are a civilizing force who are absolutely opposed to this extreme form of religious doctrine that takes away people's rights.' This, along with a 'Marshall Plan for Afghanistan' (named for Andrew Marshall of the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment) that would oversee and rebuild the country's government, infrastructure, and economy, could go far toward dismantling terrorism at its source, says Smeal. 'If you are going to stop breeding terrorism, you must stop the conditions that breed it, the horrible economic conditions.'"

US Fights for Freedom from Diego Garcia, Where Freedom Was Exiled
23-Oct-01
Bush's War

The U.S. leases its military base on Diego Garcia from Britain. But in the late 1960's, Britain expelled the people of the Chagos archipelago, known as Chagossians (or Ilois), sending them 1,200 miles away to Mauritius. The Chagossians sued for return in British courts, and won the right to go back home on November 3, 2000. (We can't find any reports on whether any Chagossians have successfully returned, however.)

Afghan Women Oppose Northern Alliance and Taliban 'Moderates'
22-Oct-01
Bush's War

No one has suffered more in Afghanistan than the women. Nevertheless, the U.S. has made no effort to include women in the political coalition to replace the Taliban. Instead, the U.S. is trying to bring together Northern Alliance warlords and so-called Taliban "moderates." The desperate women of Afghanistan have another solution. "The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) asks that all anti-fundamentalist, freedom and democracy-loving and pro-women's rights forces and also the ex-king of Afghanistan, before it is too late, must play their role in the organizing of mass-uprising and as well thwart the plans of the internal and external enemies of Afghanistan."

Bush v. Rice: 'Realist' Doctrine Is Useless in War Against Terror
22-Oct-01
Bush's War

"A funny thing is happening as we dig into this war. The 'realist' foreign policy that many Republicans urge is looking increasingly threadbare... Realists hold that foreign policy is about relations between nation states, not about the political, economic or human-rights conditions within particular countries. Meddling in other nations' internal affairs only invites conflict, the realists argue, and conflict will reverse the humanitarian advance that the meddlers care about... Last year, future national security adviser Condoleezza Rice urged 'a focus on power relationships and great-power politics,' implicitly criticizing the Democrats for their preoccupation with soft transnational issues. How useful is Rice's recommended focus now? The United States is at war not with a great power but with a transnational network. It is bombing a country whose anarchic non-statehood is precisely what threatens our interests." So writes Sebastian Mallaby.

Bush v. Human Rights: FBI Considers Torturing Terrorist Suspects
22-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to the Washington Post, "More than 150 people rounded up by law enforcement officials in the aftermath of the attacks remain in custody, but attention has focused on four suspects held in New York who the FBI believes are withholding valuable information... 'We're into this thing for 35 days and nobody is talking,' a senior FBI official said, adding that 'frustration has begun to appear'... Under U.S. law, interrogators in criminal cases can lie to suspects, but information obtained by physical pressure, inhumane treatment or torture cannot be used in a trial. In addition, the government interrogators who used such tactics could be sued by the victim or charged with battery by the government." But investigators are discussing the possibility of torture, and Ken Starr - yes, THAT Ken Starr - recently suggested the Felonious Five would look the other way.

Bush v. Reagan-Bush: U.S. Soldiers Face Missiles the Reagan-Bush CIA Sent To Mujahadeen
22-Oct-01
Bush's War

"As the military campaign in Afghanistan shifts to lower- and slower-flying warplanes, Pentagon officials worry increasingly about the threat posed by U.S.-made Stinger missiles. Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters could have as many as 300 of the shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles that the CIA sent to Afghanistan in the 1980s to help mujahedeen in their war against the Soviet Union... The CIA eventually became sufficiently concerned about the Stingers that it instituted a buyback program in the 1990s. That only succeeded in driving up the black-market price of the weapon to $100,000, some three times the original cost. The agency, which provided the mujahedeen at least 1,000 and possibly as many as 4,000 weapons, was able to recover only 70 Stingers. CIA officials declined to comment." In the past, when black market arms dealers profited, some of the proceeds were laundered through CIA-linked banks such as BCCI. Who shared in the profits?

Bush v. Children: Bush's Fund For Afghan Children Raises Serious Questions About Accountability And Feasibility…And Safety
22-Oct-01
Bush's War

"It should be bad politics for the Republican Party to encourage a cash fund set up in the White House... [But] even if the Red Cross and the White House are able to convince the public that their new fund [for Afghan Children] is accountable and trustworthy, the public should have questions about its effectiveness... Millions more envelopes will arrive at the White House in the coming days and weeks. Staffers and interns will have to open the envelopes and count the money that arrives. Terrorists have already mailed anthrax spores to the House or Representatives, to the Senate, and to several media outlets... Even if the fund overcomes logistical problems in the White House, it will still find logistical problems in Afghanistan... In touting its dubious virtues, the President used not only American schoolchildren, but also starving children overseas, for his own political gain." So writes Tim Francis-Wright in Bear Left.

Top 10 Reasons Why Al Gore Would Be a Better Wartime President Than George W. Bush
22-Oct-01
Bush's War

On Saturday, the NY Times declared that Congressional Democrats were thrilled to have George W. Bush leading America's War Against Terrorism. "Bush Winning Gore Backers' High Praises," announced the story by Richard Berke. He writes, "Many Democrats who once dismissed Mr. Bush as too naïve and too dependent on advisers to steer the United States through an international crisis are now praising his and his advisers' performance. Some are even privately expressing satisfaction that Mr. Gore, who tried to make his foreign affairs expertise an issue in the campaign, did not win." My response can be summarized in one simple expletive: bull.

Pentagon Hires PR Firm To Sell Message To World
22-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The Pentagon has hired a well-known Washington public-relations firm to help it explain U.S. military strikes in Afghanistan to global audiences…It's part of a broader Bush administration campaign to try to reverse a rising tide of opposition in the Islamic world. The firm, the Rendon Group, has worked in the past for U.S. government agencies, including the CIA, which paid it to boost the image of the Iraqi National Congress, a U.S.-backed group of Iraqis opposed to the rule of President Saddam Hussein. That effort in the mid-'90s ended with an investigation by the CIA's inspector general over how a reported $23 million was spent on behalf of the Iraqi National Congress and its leader, Ahmed Chalabi, current and former intelligence officials said." Prior to the Gulf War, Citizens for a Free Kuwait hired the US PR firm Hill and Knowlton to push the fake story that Iraqi soldiers had pulled Kuwaiti babies out of incubators and left them to die.

Bush v. Pentagon: Bureaucracy Stops Pilots from Hitting Targets
21-Oct-01
Bush's War

In Afghanistan, US bombers are attacking targets on lists prepared each day by the U.S. Central Command - half a world away in Tampa, FL. Unfortunately, this delay means a lot of targets escape in the meantime. In Kosovo, allied planes flew 37,465 sorties and dropped 78,000 bombs and missiles. The Pentagon claimed to have hit 122 tanks, 222 personnel carriers, and 454 artillery tubes; but only found 14, 14, and 6. US pilots want to strike targets they see in real time, but Pentagon bureaucrats say no - probably because hitting the wrong targets (like schools and hospitals) would be a public relations nightmare.

Bush v. UN: UN Begs US to Stop Bombing to Permit Food Delivery
21-Oct-01
Bush's War

The UN "is set to issue an unprecedented appeal to the United States and its coalition allies to halt the war on Afghanistan and allow time for a huge relief operation. UN sources in Pakistan said growing concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country - in part, they say, caused by the relentless bombing campaign - has forced them to take the radical step. Aid officials estimate that up to 7.5 million Afghans might be threatened with starvation... The World Food Programme has calculated that 52,000 tonnes of wheat must be distributed in Afghanistan each month to stave off mass starvation. Since the aid programme was restarted - on 25 September - only 20,000 tonnes have been supplied and 15,000 distributed... the WFP operation was hampered by a lack of truck drivers willing to carry food... because of the bombing raids, high fuel prices and communication difficulties. The Taliban have also caused problems for aid agencies."

How to Be Patriotic Without Worshiping Bush
21-Oct-01
Bush's War

"There is more than one way to respond to the horror of Sept. 11. And there is more than one kind of patriotism. We forget this. You do not have to rally around Bush and tolerate Cheney's chthonic creepiness and wave a frantic flag and believe every scripted half-truth that drizzles out of the Pentagon, applaud the nonstop attacks on an already demolished nation. Pro-America does not mean pro-war. Or pro-Bush. Or anti-Afghanistan. Or pro-little-flags-on-SUV-antennas. It means thinking independently and getting better informed and filtering your news very carefully and realizing that just because one version of the American aggro attitude is currently being ramrodded down society's throat doesn't mean you have to swallow." So writes SF Gate Columnist Mark Morford.

Bush v. Pakistan: US Worries About Pakistan's Nukes Falling Into Bin Laden's Hands
20-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to the Times of India, "Proliferation experts within and outside the administration are increasingly invoking the nightmare scenario of the nuclear weapons falling into the hands of a fundamentalist jehadi regime that could overthrow the Musharraf rule... The fears have been aggravated by the unending street protests now roiling Pakistan and polls showing that contrary to Musharraf's claim that 80 per cent of the people back him, 80 per cent actually oppose his support to the US... Some experts are now pushing for a back-up plan that includes deployment of US forces to remove Pakistan's nuclear weapons should a jehadi regime take over."

Fund for Afghan Children Is Another PR Move By The Bush Propaganda Machine
19-Oct-01
Bush's War

Writes Sheryl McCarthy for Newsday: "George W. Bush posed for photographs the other day with a group of schoolchildren in Washington, D.C. Each child proudly held up a single dollar bill, which the president had asked them to donate to a fund for the suffering children of Afghanistan...I get nervous when public officials trot out the children. What president whose country is involved in a dicey war, what mayor whose approval rating is down doesn't look good when flanked by a group of earnest and trusting kids? The children's fund is pure public relations. Yes, it could make children feel they're contributing to the war effort, help allay their fears and bolster their confidence in their government. I just hate to see children used this way." What will the Rove and Hughes dream up next – a T-ball game on the White House lawn between Team "Good" and Team "Evil"?

Bush v. Fiction: Hey Ari - Do We Need to Watch What we READ?
19-Oct-01
Bush's War

Recently, Ari Fleischer ominously warned Americans to "watch what they say." But on October 10, Neil Godfrey was prevented from boarding a flight because of what he was reading: "On the cover of the book, Hayduke Lives! by Edward Abbey, is an illustration of a man's hand holding several sticks of dynamite." We'd like to hear some words of reassurance from Ari - or Tom Ridge - that reading novels doesn't turn us into terrorists in the eyes of our government.

Bush v. Terror: Cheney Leaves Bunker to Tell America that the War Against Terror Will Last Forever
19-Oct-01
Bush's War

Dick Cheney left his bunker to visit New York for the first time since September 11. In his remarks to a Catholic political dinner, "he warned Americans to prepare themselves for further attacks, and he said that the increased security that is beginning to alter life in the United States will be a lasting change. 'Americans reasonably wonder How long will it last? The answer is that many of these changes we have made are permanent, at least in the lifetime of most of us... For the first time in our history, we will probably suffer more casualties here at home in America than will our troops overseas.'" Cheney claimed the war "is proceeding on course," but gave no timetable for defeating the Taliban, let alone our larger enemy, Terrorism. Does Bush plan to keep America at war FOREVER?

Bush v. Islam: Powell Taps Ad Executive Charlotte Beers to Win Muslim Hearts & Minds
19-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to Alice Thompson of London's Daily Telegraph, "She has promoted Head and Shoulders shampoo, Uncle Ben's Rice, Gillette razors and American Express. Now Charlotte Beers has been put in charge of marketing the West. Colin Powell has made this advertising guru his under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs. Her job is to re-brand America and her allies, then sell them to the Muslim world. The West must look tough but caring, confident yet benign. Revenge is out. This isn't a war between Pepsi and Coke, East and West. It's all about making the world a safer place for Christians, Jews and Muslims." If Colin Powell thinks he can win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world from an ad agency office on Madison Avenue, he's only worsening Bush's Credibility Gap.

Bush v. Afghanistan: While Pakistan and Northern Alliance Argue over New Government, Taliban Support Grows
18-Oct-01
Bush's War

Colin Powell traveled to Pakistan to try to assemble a new government to replace the Taliban. "The general outline of the new political framework centers on the 87-year-old former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah, who was deposed in 1973 and has lived in Rome since. Under the plan, the different factions and interest groups would nominate candidates for an interim Afghan ruling council." However, the Northern Alliance and Pakistan appear incapable of working together to assemble that government. Meanwhile, the bombing inside Afghanistan seems to be strengthening support for the Taliban, rather than weakening it as planned by the U.S.

Bush v. National Unity: Bush Pushes Divisive Trade Bill As Response to 'Terrorism'
18-Oct-01
Bush's War

"President Bush used the terrorist attacks today to press for a quick vote on new authority to negotiate trade agreements without allowing amendment by the Senate. "The terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, and we will defeat them by expanding and encouraging world trade," Mr. Bush said, seeming to imply that trade was among the concerns of terrorists who brought down the towers… Opponents of the bill, which would limit Congress to approving or denying accords, say Mr. Bush is trying to force it through by wrapping it in the attacks, even though the connection is tangential at best. The strategy came from Robert B. Zoellick, the United States trade representative, who began making the argument soon after Sept. 11."

Bush v. Humanitarianism: Air Drops Are Just Feel-Good 'Military Propaganda'
18-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Never mind that the amount of food dropped per day -- two cargo planes worth -- is a tiny fraction of what a single refugee camp would need for one day. For 7.5 million people on the brink of starvation, we're dropping 37,500 meals a day. Even if the entire military stocks of 2 million meals were delivered to the people who need it, they would feed a fraction of the needy for one day. Never mind that those meals are being dropped in a country with 10 million land mines, according to United Nations estimates. Some of the starving Afghan people may blow themselves up as they try to get to the packages. Never mind that the military strikes have seriously disrupted existing humanitarian programs run by a wide variety of U.N. and private agencies...The Nobel Peace Prize-winning group Doctors Without Borders denounced the food drops as 'military propaganda.'" So writes Rahul Mahajan for the Houston Chronicle.

Bush v. Media: Pentagon Pays Millions to Censor Commercial Satellite Photos
18-Oct-01
Bush's War

The U.S. military is paying for the exclusive rights to commercial satellite imagery of Afghanistan even though its own satellites are thought to take far better pictures. This could serve two purposes: to provide an extra eye on Afghanistan, and to prevent anyone else from peeking at the war zone... The government is also denying the public the use of an important tool for oversight of its activities, [Federation of American Scientists analyst Steven] Aftergood said, noting the media frequently buys satellite pictures of areas of news interest. 'At the moment, we're essentially dependent on the Pentagon as a sole source for battle information and damage assessment,' he said. 'This commercial imagery would provide one independent channel for assessing the conduct of the war.' In Afghanistan, groups could also use such imagery to track the movements of refugees and better plan food supplies for them, Aftergood said.

Why Not A Real War On Terrorism?
18-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Would that there were, in fact, a strong fight being made against terrorism, against fundamentalist theocracies, against all the cynical leaders who murder innocent people to achieve their aims. Would that the result in Afghanistan showed any likelihood of being a more just and decent government, supported by international aid to provide education, medical care, and a decent standard of living. Would that this effort would expand into a worldwide commitment to avoid targeting civilian populations, and to bring those who do so to justice. Unfortunately, nothing of that sort is even being proposed by the people leading this war." So writes Elijah Wald in TomPaine.com.

US Muslim Clerics Issue Fatwa Approving Fight Against Terrorism
18-Oct-01
Bush's War

The Fiqh Council of North America, a group of prominent Islamic scholars in the United States and Canada, issued a fatwa (legal opinion) that approves of American Muslim soldiers fighting against terrorism. "The Muslim soldier must perform his duty in this fight despite the feeling of uneasiness of 'fighting without discriminating.' His intention must be to fight for enjoining the truth and defeating falsehood. It's to prevent aggression on the innocents, or to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.'" The ruling was issued in response to a request from Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, "first Muslim chaplain in the U.S. armed forces. There are now 13 such chaplains who serve about 15,000 Muslim soldiers, according to unofficial estimates."

Bush v. Pakistan: Pashtun Vow Jihad Against US
16-Oct-01
Bush's War

On the Pakistani side of the Afghan border, over 500 Pashtun tribal leaders held a Jirga to vow Jihad against the U.S. "This crucial decision in Bara - 25 kilometers from the Afghan border - should be taken seriously by the US. The tribal areas are practically untouched by Pakistani law, and they are ruled by elders according to Pashtunwali - the strict, ancient Pashtun honor code. This is the hotbed of the Taliban's rearguard troops - they are well armed, well motivated and profoundly knowledgeable of the treacherous terrain in the mountains of Afghanistan." So writes Pepe Escobar in Asia Times.

Bush v. Capitalism: Bush Socializes the Insurance Industry
16-Oct-01
Bush's War

When President Clinton proposed subsidies for soaring health insurance premiums, Republicans and conservatives screamed "Socialism!" But now Bush proposes massive subsidies to the insurance industry, violating the most fundamental principle of capitalism - namely, that profits are the reward for taking risk. And who will pay for these subsidies? Not corporations or the rich, because Bush is cutting their taxes. No, working families will pay for these subsidies. Welcome to Bushonomics - a massive redistribution from the poor to the rich. Where is the outrage???

Bush v. Taliban: Bush Unleashes Gunships, Special Forces, and the Northern Alliance
16-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Low-flying warplanes - AC-130 gunships - went in to action using air cannon against military and terrorist targets south of Kandahar. Their primary missions are close air support and the protection of troops on the ground in hostile territory... Russian television is reporting that a special forces mission against Brigade 55 - a 500-strong unit of Arab volunteers that is at the heart of Osama bin Laden's terrorist forces - began on Monday night... The opposition alliance says it has advanced close to Mazar-e-Sharif, the largest city in the north, and that some 4,000 Taliban troops defected over the weekend. The Taliban have denied the defection claim."

Bush v. Red Cross: Bomb Strikes Red Cross Storage Depots in Kabul
16-Oct-01
Bush's War

A U.S. bomb struck the Kabul compound of the International Red Cross during a daylight raid on Tuesday, destroying wheat stores and other supplies, according to Red Cross officials and witnesses. Although the Afghan relief workers braved fire and smoke in the buildings, running inside to salvage some blankets, medicines and tents, most supplies were destroyed. A second warehouse housing wheat supplies, where a security guard was injured in the bombing, was also left burning from the attack. An International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman said the roof of the building was marked with the Red Cross symbol.

Bush v. Hunger: Food Drops Contain Empty Promises for Camp of Hungry Afghans
16-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Dozens of Afghans strain their eyes to see if the truck driving down a nearby hill will bring what has become a much sought-after item -- bright yellow bags of U.S. food aid. But once again they are out of luck, having also missed out on Saturday's nightly air drop of jam, peanut butter and beans into fields outside the town of Khoja Bahawuddin in northern Afghanistan. 'We couldn't get any of the food because the soldiers took it and they have guns, ' said Delaver, 23... But the food aid came and then disappeared. The yellow bags of food are now being sold at the town's market. Aid agencies had said the U.S. air drops would be misguided, saying food could fall into the wrong hands or destabilise delicate humanitarian operations already in place, yet it is still sought after." So writes Elizabeth Piper for Reuters.

Bush's Biggest Risk Is the 'Credibility Gap'
16-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Bush has successfully persuaded America to go to war, but does he have the wisdom, judgment, and character to guide us through to the end of this war? Millions of Americans have doubts, and those doubts are certain to grow. Franklin Roosevelt was beloved while leading America towards victory in World War II. But Richard Nixon was despised after lying his way through America's defeat in Vietnam. George W. Bush faces many perils as we head into a prolonged war. His greatest challenge is to preserve his own dubious credibility, and to prevent a revival of the Credibility Gap." So writes Bob Fertik in Democrats.com.

Bush v. Afghanistan: Starvation and Dollar Bills for Afghan Kids
15-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The Pentagon's air drops of food parcels and President Bush's plea for American children to aid Afghan kids with dollar bills will go down in history as two of the most cynical maneuvers of media manipulation in the early 21st century... While thousands of kids across the United States stuff dollar bills into envelopes and mail them to the White House, the U.S. government continues a bombing campaign that is accelerating the momentum of mass starvation in Afghanistan. Relief workers have voiced escalating alarm. Jonathan Patrick, an official with the humanitarian aid group Concern, minced no words. He called the food drops 'absolute nonsense.' 'What we need is 20-ton trucks in huge convoys going across the border all the time,' said Patrick, based in Islamabad. But when the bombing began, the truck traffic into Afghanistan stopped. " So writes Norman Solomon in the Online Journal.

Bush v. Blair: Blair Backs Palestinian State
15-Oct-01
Bush's War

British Prime Minister Tony Blair endorsed a Palestinian state for the first time, following a meeting with Yasser Arafat. "The end we desire," he said, "is a just peace in which Israelis and Palestinians live side by side, each in their own state, secure and able to prosper and develop." Bush himself endorsed a Palestinian state two weeks ago, as an effort to nudge Israel towards renewed negotiations. But Bush got a blistering rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who warned Bush against selling out Israel for the sake of a building a coalition against terror that included Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority. As a result, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations appear to be dead in the water, and Bush's anti-terror coalition is weaker as a result.

Bush v. Pentagon: Where's Bin Laden?
15-Oct-01
Bush's War

After only a week of bombing, Bush is already impatient with the Pentagon's failure to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden or the Taliban leadership. Bush wants the Pentagon to send in the "special forces" - elite troops from the Army Rangers and Navy Seals - but the Pentagon is reluctant to deploy these troops without solid intelligence pinpointing the location of their targets. This is not laziness, but wisdom - Afghanistan is the world's largest minefield, and US troops should not be wandering around lost. Last week, administration officials dismissed the "Where's Waldo" game of finding Bin Laden, but that seems to be the Pentagon's big question. The Pentagon is pointing fingers at the CIA, which clearly has no useful sources within Al Qaeda or the Taliban.

Bush v. Taliban: 200 Villagers Killed in Koram
14-Oct-01
Bush's War

The Pentagon is struggling to explain the destruction of the village of Koram, which killed 200 of the 400 inhabitants. This attack has been seized upon by militants throughout the Islamic world, as an example of US bloodiness. The Pentagon says "the village was not on our target list," but it still may have ended up on a "tasking order" for a particular attack. Officials also theorize that it could have been a Taliban surface-to-air missile that went astray. The unexploded missile in the photo will probably identify the source of the attack...

Bush v. Pakistan: Lacking Food and Public Schools, Pakistan's Poor Study Jihad at Madrassas
14-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Along the border with Afghanistan, the vast majority of madrassas have become an assembly line for the jihad. Even the scholars themselves and their teachers say that this is so. Almost all the students come from poor families who cannot afford any other education in a country that spends about 90 percent of its budget on debt service and the military and almost nothing on public schools. A large family, said Mr. Khattak, often sends two or three sons to a madrassa because it cannot afford to feed them. 'There is no access to the regular education system,' he said. The madrassas, often supported by donors from other Islamic states like Saudi Arabia, offer a narrow education - many of them do not teach science, math, languages or any history beyond that in the Koran - but do offer students food and a place to sleep. In madrassas, children from the hardest poverty in Pakistan and orphans from wars in Afghanistan, get enough to eat."

Bush v. Pakistan: Two Killed in Jacobabad, Pakistan Anti-US Protests
14-Oct-01
Bush's War

Two demonstrators were killed and at least six were injured when the police fired on a stone-throwing crowd trying to block entrances to an airport where American aircraft are based to provide support for air strikes on Afghanistan. Several thousand protesters evaded a security cordon set up around the city of Jacobabad in southern Pakistan and tried to reach the airport, prompting police officers and paramilitary rangers to open fire with live ammunition and tear gas. One man was shot in the chest, and demonstrators took his body from the local hospital and paraded it through the streets, chanting anti-American slogans. Authorities said a second protester was shot to death in an outlying area...Though [a Newsweek] poll found support for General Musharraf, there was little sympathy for the United States. Eighty-three percent said they sympathized with the Taliban over the United States and only 3 percent favored the United States.

In Nigeria, Hundreds Killed In Anti-American Protests
14-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Hundreds of people have been killed in religious clashes after anti-U.S. protests turned violent, sources have told CNN. The demonstrations against the U.S.-led missile strikes on Afghanistan began peacefully on Friday but spiraled into a killing spree during Saturday, CNN's Lagos bureau chief Jeff Koinange said. Some of the unrest in the mainly Muslim city of Kano in northern Nigeria was attributed to traditional Muslim-Christian tensions, he added."

Bush v. Taliban: Bombing Raids Continue; Over One Hundred Civilians Likely Killed
14-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Serious blunders by American warplanes may have killed at least 100 civilians in Afghanistan, according to eye-witness accounts obtained by The Observer. Two US jets, they said, had bombed a village in eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 100 people. And the Pentagon yesterday admitted that a 2,000 lb bomb missed its Taliban military target at Kabul airport on Friday night, and apparently struck a residential area. The Taliban claim US and British military strikes have killed 300 or more civilians, including four workers who died earlier last week when an errant cruise missile was believed to have hit a building used by the United Nations for mine-clearing operations. Until now Western politicians have been quick to dismiss the claims as propaganda… Now apparent confirmation of serious casualties among non-combatants is beginning to emerge."

Bush v. Bush: Bush Flip-flops on 'Nation Building'
13-Oct-01
Bush's War

During the 2000 campaign, Bush's single harshest criticism of Clinton/Gore foreign policy was over "nation-building" in Africa, Haiti, and the Balkans. But during his press conference, Bush embraced nation-building in Afghanistan, acknowledging that America "should learn a lesson from the previous engagement in the Afghan area — that we should not just simply leave after a military objective has been achieved." In other words, the first Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Powell administration created the seeds of the present crisis when they abandoned Afghanistan after the Russian withdrawal.

Bush v. Taliban: No Victory in 30 Days
13-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The United States and Britain made clear today that they are marshaling for a long engagement in Afghanistan, stretching into next summer and including the possible use of ground forces... A prolonged operation would have far-reaching political implications abroad as well as in the United States. Pakistan, for example, wants a quick war and the speedy exit of American troops from the region." In fact, Gen. Musharraf thought he had a promise the US would win in a month, but Bush slapped Musharraf down when that was reported.

Republicans and Bush Betray America's Trust
13-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Almost as soon as President Bush finished hugging the high ground Thursday night in his news conference, House Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee spent all day Friday ramming through a $100 billion tax-cut package filled with bonuses for corporations, wealthy Americans and others least in need of help. Republicans waited until 10:30 p.m. the night before to spring the bill on Democrats, reverting to the poisonous old practices of steamrolling legislation through and, this time, exploiting a tragic national emergency in the process. Mr. Bush is not without some responsibility for ruining the bipartisan atmosphere. On Thursday he stunned Democrats by saying that energy legislation should be part of an immediate economic stimulus package. It was an invitation to exploit the economic crisis to ram through drilling in the Alaskan wilderness and tax breaks for big energy companies." So writes the NY Times.

Bush v. Law: Does Bush Have Legal Authority to Wage War?
13-Oct-01
Bush's War

The 1973 War Powers Act was enacted to prevent another Vietnam - a "war" that was never declared by Congress, as required under the Constitution. "The law requires a president to report to Congress on any commitment of U.S. combat forces abroad and requires that any troop deployment be ended within 60 days - unless Congress specifically votes to authorize it. In the Sept 14. resolution, the House and Senate cited the War Powers Act as its legal authority - and Bush's - to send U.S. military forces into action against terrorists and those who harbor them." So what happens on November 14? Unless Congress authorizes continued fighting, Bush must bring the troops home. Remember Henry Hyde's famous impeachment declaration, "the law is the law"?

Taliban Rejects Bush's Demand To Turn Over Bin Laden; Bombing Resumed; Taliban's Air Defenses Greatly Weakened
13-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The Taliban today rejected the latest demand from the US to hand over Osama bin Laden. The US president, George Bush, offered Afghanistan's ruling militia a 'second chance' on Thursday...After a brief lull yesterday for the Muslim day of weekly prayers, US strikes resumed in the early hours of this morning as several explosions hit the north side of Kabul...Taliban stronghold Kandahar, in northern Afghanistan, has also come under heavy missile attack in the last few hours...Unconfirmed eyewitness reports from Kabul reported at least four explosions in two separate raids early this morning, with at least one bomb hitting the airport...There will be no mass land invasion of Afghanistan by the US and its allies, the international development secretary, Clare Short, insisted today...On Monday, the prime minister, Tony Blair, will meet the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in London, it was announced today."

Bush v. Fear: Terrorist Attack Possible on Sunday
13-Oct-01
Bush's War

Last week, Republican Senators enraged Bush by leaking government fears to the Washington Post that our bombing of Afghanistan would guarantee a terrorist reprisal. But this week, the FBI put America on "Red Alert" for a terrorist attack, without providing any details. Reporters tried several times to ask Bush (Thursday) and Cheney (Friday) what ordinary Americans are supposed to DO with this frightening knowledge. Their reply? Report suspicious people to the police. Don't you feel better already?

A New Marshall Plan? Advancing Human Security and Controlling Terrorism
12-Oct-01
Bush's War

The United States and the other industrial nations should launch a global "Marshall Plan" to provide everyone on earth with a decent standard of living. We can already hear the cries of people claiming that such a global plan would "cost too much." But let's look at the numbers. A 1998 report by the United Nations Development Programme estimated the annual cost to achieve universal access to a number of basic social services in all developing countries: $9 billion would provide water and sanitation for all; $12 billion would cover reproductive health for all women; $13 billion would give every person on Earth basic health and nutrition; and $6 billion would provide basic education for all.

Karl Rove's Anti-Terror Media Strategy Stinks - But That's No Surprise
12-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Why did it take so long for the anti-terrorism coalition to focus on the media side of this 'war on terrorism'? This isn't a new idea, and Al-Jazeera hasn't been hesitant about airing the views opposite to those widely accepted by its viewers. For many years now pro-Israeli commentators have been using Al-Jazeera as a way to make Israel's case in the Muslim world. It's common sense: You define yourself or you'll be defined by someone else. Beyond the incompetence behind the administration's slow-moving media campaign on Al-Jazeera, is the White House's thought process to limit the press (not an unfamiliar concept to your average Iraqi), before thinking of utilizing it (the most American of concepts)." So writes Rob Miller in The Hotline.

UNOCAL Has the Biggest Stake in Afghan Victory
12-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Where the 'great game' in Afghanistan was once about czars and commissars seeking access to the warm water ports of the Persian Gulf, today it is about laying oil and gas pipelines to the untapped petroleum reserves of Central Asia... Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan together have 15 billion barrels of proven oil reserves." UNOCAL had plans to build a $2 billion pipeline, but withdrew in 1998 after President Clinton ordered cruise missile attacks on Bin Laden's bases in Afghanistan. "UNOCAL then stated that the project would have to wait until Afghanistan achieved the 'peace and stability necessary to obtain financing from international agencies and a government that is recognized by the United States and the United Nations'. The 'coalition against terrorism' that US President George W Bush is building now is the first opportunity that has any chance of making UNOCAL's wish come true." So writes Ranjit Devraj.

FAA Security Chief Quits Over Bush Publicity Stunt
12-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The head of security for the Federal Aviation Administration decided to quit after he was told to reassign air marshals to commercial flights carrying members of President Bush's Cabinet... Michael A. Canavan, named associate administrator for FAA's office of civil aviation security in December, said the marshals had been assigned to other flights that he felt could be more at risk of a hijacking... Bush administration officials had wanted marshals on the planes carrying Cabinet members, who took commercial flights to demonstrate that air travel was safe and thereby encourage Americans to return to flying." In other words, Bush put a PR stunt ahead of true security requirements. Imagine the screams we'd be hearing if Clinton had done that! We demand an investigation!

US Media Scrubs the Oil Angle
11-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Why can we assume that global businessmen like Bush Senior and Jim Baker care about who runs Afghanistan and NOT just because it's home base for lethal anti-Americans? Because it also happens to be situated in the middle of that perennial vital national interest -- a region with abundant oil. By 2050, Central Asia will account for more than 80 percent of our oil. On September 10, an industry publication, Oil and Gas Journal, reported that Central Asia represents one of the world's last great frontiers for geological survey and analysis, 'offering opportunities for investment in the discovery, production, transportation, and refining of enormous quantities of oil and gas resources.' It's assumed we need unimpeded access in the 'stans' for our geologists, construction workers and pipelines if we are going to realize the conservation-free, fossil-fueled future outlined recently by Vice President Cheney." So writes Nina Burleigh in TomPaine.com.

Northern Alliance is Ready to Take Kabul, But US Holds Them Back
11-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Afghan opposition forces said today they have agreed to delay a crucial offensive to take control of Kabul until an interim government can be established to replace the ruling Taliban regime, a decision that could prolong military action in Afghanistan for weeks... Logistical difficulties have proved daunting. Many of the representatives to participate in talks on Afghanistan's future have been stuck in Dushanbe, Tajikistan... [In the meantime,] Pakistani officials are vociferously urging the United States to prevent the Northern Alliance from taking over Kabul."

First American Soldier Dies; Afghans Report over 100 Civilian Deaths
11-Oct-01
Bush's War

Master Sgt. Evander Earl Andrews died in a heavy equipment accident in the Arabian peninsula, making him the first U.S. soldier to die in Bush's War on Terrorism. Meanwhile, the "Afghan ambassador to Pakistan accused the Pentagon of 'lying' about U.S. efforts to avoid civilian casualties. Abdul Salem Zaeem told a news conference here that a bombing raid early this morning killed about 100 noncombatants in a single village in the Torghar region, near the western city of Jalalabad. In an earlier attack Wednesday night, he said, 15 people were killed around a mosque in Jalalabad itself." Today the Taliban claims up to 200 civilians killed.

Has the US Captured Bin Laden?
11-Oct-01
Bush's War

Asked about rumors that suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden has been captured, Ari Fleischer said "I just don't have any information on that." That's not a NO, so it's probably a YES. Meanwhile, Bush announced his first prime-time news conference. What could be THAT important? Let's add 2+2: Is Bush going to dramatically announce the capture of Bin Laden? Stay tuned...

Bush Enlists FOX's 'America's Most Wanted' in His Unabashed Propaganda War
11-Oct-01
Bush's War

In response to widespread public depression - and Osama Bin Laden's stunning TV victories - White House aides cooked up the idea of a special edition of FOX's America's Most Wanted to rally Americans against our terrorist foes. FOX eagerly accepted, and FOX's "competitors" - CNN and MSNBC - couldn't wait to promote the show, which will air Friday at 9 pm. This article makes clear that there is absolutely NO journalistic distance between the TV networks and the White House. Rather, the networks are 100% propaganda arms of the Bush administration. That makes Democrats.com one of the few independent sources of information on Bush's War Against Terror.

Airport Ablaze As Kabul Suffers Biggest Raids Yet; Relatives Of Taliban Leader Killed
10-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Planes and cruise missiles pounded Kabul and other Afghan cities early today in the fiercest bombardments since US-led attacks started. Anti-aircraft fire blazed away for much of the night and jets screamed over the capital as bombs and missiles struck at targets around the city, including the airport and near a central residential area...Three huge blasts lit up the sky to the east of the city, near a big Taliban artillery complex. There were also attacks in the western suburbs of Rishkore, where terrorist training camps are thought to be located. The Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) agency said US jets had also struck at Shamshaad, a major Taliban base four miles from the Pakistan border...In Washington it was reported that two male relatives of the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar were killed in Sunday's raids. The claims, made by a US administration official to CNN, are the first sign that senior Taliban personnel may have been killed."

Bush Targets Al Qaeda Networks in Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia
10-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Terrorists tied to Osama bin Laden's network and based in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia are among the likely targets of future covert and overt American actions, United States officials said today... Militant Islamic groups in East Asia - chief among them, the Abu Sayyaf group, based in the Philippines - are high on the list of American counter-terrorism targets to come, officials said today. Hundreds of Abu Sayyaf fighters are battling the Philippine army on Basilan, an island in the south. The group has taken two American hostages: Martin and Gracia Burnham, missionaries from Wichita, Kan."

Networks Censor Bin Laden Videos - and Ari Expects Us to Believe His Big Lie #3
10-Oct-01
Bush's War

Condy Rice urged the networks not to broadcast statements by Bin Laden and his aides, and the networks immediately said Yes. According to Ari Fleischer, "At best, Osama bin Laden's message is propaganda, calling on people to kill Americans. At worst, he could be issuing orders to his followers to initiate such attacks." On the first point: If someone is urging folks to kill US, don't WE have a right to know - and doesn't the media have an obligation to TELL us? On the second point, are we REALLY supposed to believe that keeping Bin Laden's videos off CNN will keep his followers from seeing them? Guys who can fly airplanes can certainly type "www.aljazeera.net". There is only one reason for this censorship: Bush wants Americans to see ONLY official US propaganda about this war. After VandalGate and AirForceOneGate, you'd think Ari would have learned to stop lying to the American people. We demand a media expose - yeah, right.

First Congressman Questions Military Response
10-Oct-01
Bush's War

Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott on Tuesday questioned both the strategy and timing of Bush's bombing of Afghanistan. On strategy, he said, "The destruction of the infrastructure did not work in Iraq a decade ago. It's déjà vu. This sounds an awful lot like Iraq. Saddam Hussein is still in power! It is Iraq's citizenry, not Saddam, which continues to suffer the consequences of those air and missile strikes during the Gulf War and the sanctions we subsequently imposed against that nation." On timing, he said, "I am not so sure that we have fully developed a comprehensive strategic plan... A scant four weeks to plan and implement an operation like this doesn't seem like a very long time to me." McDermott replied to Republican denunciations by saying, "To simply say that whatever the president wants to do is right is not to use your own critical faculties."

Alarm Over Aid Drop in 'World's Biggest Minefield'
09-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The decision by the United States to drop 37,000 food packets on Afghanistan is not just irrelevant but could be lethal, aid workers are warning. The food aid is being dropped from two C-17 cargo planes flown from Germany at high altitudes to avoid missiles. But high-altitude food drops end up being scattered over wide areas and often do not reach the people they are intended for. 'Random food drops are the worst possible way of delivering food aid,' a spokesman for a big international charity active in Afghanistan told The Independent, on condition of anonymity. 'They cause more problems than they solve. We only use them as a last resort. 'They create flows of people fleeing the fighting migrating to the sites where the drops have been made. And most important, they are happening in Afghanistan, which is the world's biggest minefield.'" So reports the Independent of London.

First Daylight Bombing Raids On Afghanistan; 4 UN Workers Killed
09-Oct-01
Bush's War

From the London Guardian: "Four civilian Afghan employees of a mine-clearing agency affiliated to the United Nations died overnight in US-led raids on the Afghan capital, Kabul, UN officials said today...The US has previously stressed that it is not targeting civilians in its military campaign but the UN today appealed for greater protection for aid workers. Ms Bunker said: 'Today the UN coordinator for Afghanistan appeals to the international community to protect innocent civilians while military strikes are going on'...This morning, the former home of the Taliban's leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, was hit amid strikes on the regime's southern stronghold of Kandahar. Taliban officials said he was not killed in the attack but would not comment on his current location...Meanwhile, it has emerged that US military officers have arrived in Tajikistan." Also, click on the "Latest" at the bottom for news about the riots in Pakistan and Indonesia and more.

Fighting Commun... er... Terror... ism - Haven't We Seen This Movie Before?
09-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The Bush administration warned yesterday that the leftist Sandinista party in Nicaragua…has maintained ties over the years with Iraq and Libya. It was the second time in three days that the administration sought to link the Sandinistas to international terrorism...The Sandinistas, who ruled Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, are seeking a comeback in elections Nov. 4. Sandinista presidential candidate Daniel Ortega is running neck-and-neck." During the '80's, the Reagan-Bush team justified the CIA and Oliver North's support of the Contras in the specious name of "fighting communism." Now with the Iran-Contra gang back in place under Bush II -- Abrams, Negroponte, Armitage, Powell, Reich -- it looks like the handy new "fighting terrorism" brush will be applied to Nicaragua -- and anywhere else it serves Bush-elite interests. Whether or not it has anything to do with stopping the likes of bin Laden.

Tony Blair Articulates Goals Truly Worth Fighting For, While Bush Sticks to Platitudes
08-Oct-01
Bush's War

David Corn points out how Tony Blair's vision for the war against terrorism is much more progressive than Bush's. "'I believe this is a fight for freedom,' Blair stated. 'And I want to make it a fight for justice too .... The starving, the wretched, the dispossessed, the ignorant, those living in want and squalor from the deserts of Northern Africa to the slums of Gaza, to the mountain ranges of Afghanistan--they too are our cause.' If the world were to hear such sentiments from Washington as well, if Bush were to dump his empty rhetoric and truly tether his war on terrorism to an extensive campaign for global justice, then the president might be able to justify the Pentagon's initial choice for the mission name," which was Operation Infinite Justice.

Army Asks Hollywood What Terrorists Will Do Next
08-Oct-01
Bush's War

"An ad hoc working group convened at the University of Southern California just last week at the behest of the U.S. Army. The goal was to brainstorm about possible terrorist targets and schemes in America and to offer solutions to those threats, in light of the aerial assaults on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. Among those in the working group based at USC's Institute for Creative Technology (ICT) are those with obvious connections to the terrorist pic milieu, like 'Die Hard' screenwriter Steven E. De Souza, TV writer David Engelbach ('MacGyver') and helmer Joseph Zito, who directed the features 'Delta Force One,' 'Missing in Action' and 'The Abduction.'" Let's pray that life does NOT imitate art...

Bush Warns U.N. that U.S. May Attack Other Countries
08-Oct-01
Bush's War

Bush's new UN ambassador John Negroponte, told the UN that we might broaden the war to attack nations besides Afghanistan. "We may find that our self-defense requires further actions with respect to other organizations and other states," Negroponte said. Ari Fleischer "refused to say which other nations could be possible targets in the international terrorists hunt."

FBI Puts America on 'Highest State of Alert'
08-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The FBI urged law enforcement agencies across the country Sunday to move to their highest state of alert following the joint U.S.-British attacks on Taliban forces in Afghanistan earlier in the day. The FBI issued its alert in a bulletin that urged police departments to be prepared to respond to any act of terrorism or violence. The warning, sent through the agency's National Threat Warning System, was precautionary and not issued in response to any specific threat." In Baltimore and throughout the country, security has been stepped up around railroads, tunnels, bridges, water supply facilities, mosques, synagogues and important industrial sites.

More Details Emerge, But This Will Likely Be The Most Tightly Managed News Coverage In History
08-Oct-01
Bush's War

From the LA Times: "The Pentagon intended the strikes to give the United States control of the skies over Afghanistan and to ensure that the Taliban will be hard pressed to shoot down the helicopter-borne special operations forces that might have already begun searching the rugged terrain for Osama bin Laden and members of his Al Qaeda terrorist network. But the Bush administration had important indirect goals [to] provoke divisions within the Taliban…Although the strikes apparently took out the lights in Kabul, the capital, analysts speculated that the military probably dropped 'soft kill' munitions that short-circuit power plants but don't take them out permanently...B-2 Stealth bombers…were used to drop the satellite-guided bombs called Joint Direct Attack Munitions...In addition, the B-1 and B-52 bombers followed up by using so-called gravity bombs for the carpet bombing of larger areas."

The Bombing Of Afghanistan Begins
08-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Raining bombs on Afghanistan's air defenses and terrorist redoubts, the United States and Britain answered the terror attacks on U.S. soil with an assault that President Bush vows will be relentless. The strikes will last days or longer before a significant letup, a Pentagon official said. The first wave Sunday was soon followed by air drops of food and medicine to Afghanistan's beleaguered people. Firepower struck military command centers of the Taliban regime in Kandahar, Pentagon officials said, and Afghan sources said smoke billowed from the high-walled compound of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, who was believed to have fled. Explosions also rocked Kabul, the capital, and were heard coming from or near some of the training camps of Osama bin Laden...The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan said Monday that about 20 civilians were killed in the Kabul area during the U.S.-led attack." So reports the Boston Globe.

During Wartime, We Must Still Have A Voice
06-Oct-01
Bush's War

"If we do speak out and demand that our elected representatives to do the same, we'll have at least a chance of helping to shape public debate along wiser paths—like stopping a missile defense system that would not have protected us from the terrible attacks of September 11, and would not protect us the slightest bit in the future. We might, for instance, work to combine Powell's doctrine of multilateral intervention with policies that speak to the highest ideals of our democracy. And to reject the kinds of approaches that helped seed the ground for these desperate and inexcusable acts." So writes Paul Loeb, author of Soul of a Citizen.

Northern Alliance Is Corrupt and Incompetent - So Why Do We Support Them?
06-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to the NY Times, "In past years the alliance itself has been accused of shelling civilians, carrying out summary executions, and engaging in opium and weapons trafficking, according to human rights groups... The last time the alliance's leaders tried to run Afghanistan, Kabul dissolved into factional civil war. More than 25,000 people died in the fighting, which reduced a third of the city to rubble and carved the country into fiefdoms essentially run by warlords... The situation became so chaotic that the Taliban came to power, promising to restore order to the nation with their strict interpretation of Islam... [American] officials now sigh when asked whether they believe that the fractiousness of those earlier years will be put aside in the quest for a new government." So why are we supporting these guys?

Blair Tries to Assemble Broad-based Government for Afghanistan
06-Oct-01
Bush's War

Tony Blair has made a tremendous effort to find a viable way through the Afghan crisis. While the US tilts towards the undemocratic Northern Alliance, Blair has assembled a broad coalition of all of Afghanistan's ethnic groups. Following a whirlwind tour of the region, he now has the support of Russia's Putin and Pakistan's Musharraf. Blair will try to assemble 120 delegates in Afghanistan next week, in hopes of reaching agreement before the US launches military attacks.

Did the Bush Administration Make a 'Political Decision Not to Act Against Bin Laden'?
06-Oct-01
Bush's War

The Times of India reports, "The US administration had very specific information about Osama Bin Laden, his whereabouts, details of his al-Qaeda network and the degree of Pakistani military and security involvement in Afghanistan as far back as March, courtesy of the Russians, but still elected to take no action. The latest issue of Jane's Intelligence Review, published from London, says that Moscow's Permanent Mission at the United Nations 'submitted an unprecedentedly detailed report' to the UN Security Council six months before the American atrocities. According to Alex Standish, the editor of the Review, the attacks of September 11 were less of an American intelligence failure and more the result of US inaction based on 'a political decision not to act against Bin Laden.'" These extremely serious charges need to be explained by the Bush administration.

Lost in America
06-Oct-01
Bush's War

When you sit back and try to take everything in, we have a real mess on our hands. George Bush has declared war on terrorism. We declared war on poverty and lost. We declared war on racism and lost. We declared war on drugs and lost. You cannot win a war on any of those things without first defeating that which causes them. But that would take careful thought and foresight instead of knee-jerk legislation, fancy catch phrases and flag waving. I read somewhere that the conflict we as a country now find ourselves in will require the type of leadership we haven't seen since FDR. I couldn't agree more. Problem is, we don't have that right now

Los Angeles Worries About Retaliation
06-Oct-01
Bush's War

"CBS News has learned that Los Angeles could be a target of retaliation... there still seems to be some activity in at least one of Osama bin Laden's training camps. One camp of particular interest to U.S. intelligence appeared at one time to have a mockup of portions of Los Angeles International Airport, CBS2 reported... LAX was also targeted by terrorist Ahmed Ressam, who was part of an international plan to bomb the airport just before the millennium celebrations, according to authorities."

October 9 is 'D-Day'
06-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to Pakistan's Frontier Post, Donald Rumsfeld will go to Pakistan on October 7 and launch our invasion of Afghanistan on October 9. "The first phase of the plan is already in place that is to pressurize Taliban diplomatically and isolate them. The next phase will be to make targeted attacks on the Taliban and Al-Qaida military targets to soften them and push them away from Kabul. At the next stage troops will land in Kabul and install the new government... Sources said that US military action that may involve landing of at least twenty thousand troops will be short and swift and may not long for more than a month. The US forces will like to finish their job quickly and replace Taliban government quickly. US and Pakistani strategists are convinced that once Taliban are uprooted they can never make a come back as unlike the last time they wont be supported by Pakistani and Saudi governments." In and out in a month? History has not been kind to armies invading Afghanistan...

The Real American Traitors
05-Oct-01
Bush's War

"It is with awe, and with the purest disgust I have ever known, that I report to you another outrage, comparable to what transpired on September 11th. American Republicans are, right this minute, using the dead and the lost in New York and Washington for political vengeance and gain. There are many who do this, among whom are Congressmen and columnists, television pundits and hired hacks. By their actions, our American dead are being murdered again." So writes William Rivers Pitt in Democratic Underground.

US is 100% Certain of Second Terrorist Attack if We Attack Afghanistan
05-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to the Washington Post, "At a briefing Tuesday, in response to a senator's question about the gravity of the threat, one intelligence official said there is a '100 percent' chance of an attack should the United States strike Afghanistan... The concern about another attack is based on intelligence from sources in England, Germany, Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to a source familiar with what congressional intelligence committees have been told. Egyptian, Somali and Pakistani elements of bin Laden's network are thought to be involved... 'The investigative case has to take a back seat to preventing the next terrorist act,' a senior law enforcement official said. 'That comes right from the top, from the president of the United States on down.'"

When Journalists Report For Duty
05-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Much of the initial news coverage was poignant, grief-stricken and utterly appropriate. But many news analysts and pundits lost no time conveying -- sometimes with great enthusiasm -- their eagerness to see the United States use its military might in anger. Such impulses are extremely dangerous. For instance, night after night on cable television, Bill O'Reilly has been banging his loud drum for indiscriminate reprisals. Unless the Taliban quickly hands over Osama bin Laden, he proclaimed on Fox News Channel, 'the U.S. should bomb the Afghan infrastructure to rubble -- the airport, the power plants, their water facilities and the roads.'" So writes Normon Solomon in Consortium News.

Tough Anti-Terrorism Questions That The Media Won't Ask Bush
05-Oct-01
Bush's War

"If we had an aggressive, independent press corps in the United States, our national conversation about the terrorist attacks that demolished the World Trade Center towers in New York and damaged the Pentagon would be far more probing and informative. Here are some examples of questions that reporters might ask President Bush." Read Martin Lee's probing questions that the craven Media won't broach.

Guns, Butter, or Radios?
04-Oct-01
Bush's War

"A senior defense official traveling with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld indicated Thursday that the United States is considering pre-emptive strikes against air defense sites in Afghanistan to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid... President Bush presented the broad outline Thursday morning of a proposed $320 million humanitarian aid package for the people of Afghanistan... The United States, Bush said, would stand with the people of Afghanistan in the face of the Taliban... Meanwhile, Pentagon sources say the U.S. government -- as a precursor to possible military action -- is considering air-dropping transistor radios into Afghanistan to allow Afghan citizens to hear broadcasts produced by the U.S. State Department or military psychological operations units." This is a bizarre form of war indeed.

Bush Treats Proof of Bin Laden's Involvement As a Prize for Loyalty
03-Oct-01
Bush's War

According to the AP, "Two senior officials said bin Laden's involvement became apparent after officials concluded that some personnel involved in the Sept. 11 attacks also took part in the Aug. 7, 1998, bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa and the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000. The bin Laden associates were not identified…Different countries are receiving different presentations, based on their relationship with the United States, said one government source, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The British, for example, are receiving the most detail, with other allies receiving less, and other members of the anti-terrorism coalition still less." And where do the American people - the victims and future soldiers in the War Against Terrorism - fit into this loyalty reward system? Aren't we entitled to know? After all, it's OUR money!

Byrd Scolds Senate for Lack of Debate
02-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Senator Robert C. Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who stands constant guard over Congressional prerogatives, chided his colleagues today for avoiding debate on serious issues in what he called an excessive effort to seem united after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks." In particular, he objected to the Senate's abandonment of debate over restrictions on illegal missile defense tests by the Bush administration. He also objected to the vagueness of the Senate's unanimous use-of-force resolution on September 14, which could be construed as a military blank check, just like the horrendous Gulf of Tonkin resolution that was used to authorize the never-declared war in Vietnam. Congress adopted the War Powers Act of 1973 specifically to PREVENT a repeat of the Gulf of Tonkin, but this generation in Congress seems to have had amnesia over this and other crucial lessons of the Vietnam War.

Fired Editor Tom Gutting Defends our Freedom to Criticize Our Elected Leaders
02-Oct-01
Bush's War

Tom Gutting, who was fired as a city editor from the Texas City Sun for a column criticizing George Bush's behavior while the nation was under attack, has written an eloquent defense of the importance of free speech to a working democracy. "The citizens of Texas City would not be more secure today if my column had not been printed," he writes. "In fact, the outraged citizens of Texas City are better off because my column appeared. If my criticisms of Bush were right, they heard a truth they needed to hear. But even if I was wrong, the fact that I spoke out makes the truths I contested stronger... To be convinced of our beliefs, we must hold them up against the strongest arguments of those who disagree with us. If, after putting our views to the test, we still believe them, our principles will be all the more founded and strong."

Bush Excludes Gays from War Against Terrorism
02-Oct-01
Bush's War

"As a response to a security crisis, Executive Order 13223 on Sept. 14 was as routine as they come when America is mobilizing. Except for one thing. When President Bush signed it three days after the attack, administration officials didn't realize that it would require the government to admit that the president's call for national unity comes with an asterisk: He doesn't want any openly gay people involved, no matter how important their skills." So writes Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant.

We Are Fighting For Freedom, But The War Fever Crowd Wants Us All To March In Step
02-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Our 'war' on terrorism, then, only fits the definition in a metaphorical sense. It will be vastly harder to conduct such a struggle, because the enemy is a belief system, not a nation state. And our first goal must be to understand why Western culture -- with all its consumer toys, action movies and seemingly unlimited freedoms -- is not as compelling to these millions of young people as a religious mission whose greatest expression of faith is martyrdom. In light of the complexity and likely duration of this conflict, it is essential for the Bush administration to build a deeply entrenched public consensus -- and this can't be done by lying, hiding information, short-circuiting civil liberties or any of the other old 'national security' techniques of suspending democracy. Consensus, instead, must come over time from thorough and open debates." So writes David Talbot, founder and editor-in-chief of Salon.

Good Ways to Wage the Good Fight
01-Oct-01
Bush's War

NY Daily News columnist Pete Hamill has some excellent - and controversial - suggestions for how America can sustain our fight against terrorism. For example: Postpone the tax cut for 18 months... increase the minimum wage... scrap the missile defense system... limit executive salaries and bonuses paid to those who will receive government bailout money... have the President and all cabinet members forgo their salaries for the duration.

Bush's Permanent War Recalls Orwell's '1984'
01-Oct-01
Bush's War

"Seventeen years later than expected, 1984 has arrived. In his address to Congress [on September 20], George Bush effectively declared permanent war - war without temporal or geographic limits; war without clear goals; war against a vaguely defined and constantly shifting enemy. Today it's Al-Qaida; tomorrow it may be Afghanistan; next year, it could be Iraq or Cuba or Chechnya. No one who was forced to read 1984 in high school could fail to hear a faint bell tinkling. In George Orwell's dreary classic, the totalitarian state of Oceania is perpetually at war with either Eurasia or Eastasia. Although the enemy changes periodically, the war is permanent; its true purpose is to control dissent and sustain dictatorship by nurturing popular fear and hatred. The permanent war undergirds every aspect of Big Brother's authoritarian program, excusing censorship, propaganda, secret police, and privation." So writes Jacob Levich in Common Dreams.

This Is A Time When Questions And Debate Are What Patriotism Demands
01-Oct-01
Bush's War

"The White House is wrapping the flag around a little too snugly, as the senior Bush did in the 1988 campaign when he appeared at a flag factory and talked about being 'on the American side.' At a time when Americans are willing to vest extraordinary power in the president, to trust him with life-and- death decisions, to give him considerable leeway in curbing civil liberties and spending billions, this is a time when questions and debate are what patriotism demands. Even the most high-minded government is not infallible." So writes NY Times columnist Maureen Dowd.

Democracy Held Hostage
30-Sep-01
Bush's War

"Truth is not the only early casualty of war. So is rational thought. War breeds hysteria and a rush to conformity. The herd, under attack, instinctively groups together and seeks assurance that everyone is trustworthy and loyal, everyone is primed for defense. That's what we're experiencing in our country in the weeks after the Sept. 11 terror attacks -- assaults so seemingly out of the blue, dramatically violent and diabolically orchestrated that they shook the nation's confidence to its core...Unfortunately, the calls for herd-like conformity are on the rise. In the last week, self-appointed sheep dogs from across the political spectrum have begun yapping at our heels." So writes Salon's Editor David Talbot in an excellent critique of the reactions from the left and right (and points in between) to the 9/11 attacks.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) Explains Her Vote Against Unlimited Military Power for Bush
30-Sep-01
Bush's War

Why did Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) vote against the September 15 resolution authorizing Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force"? "We [Congress] are not the CIA, we are not the FBI, we are not the White House, we are not the Defense Department. We are the United States Congress; we have our role. And we can't give up that role during a national-security crisis. The President already has his role and his authority to do what he needs to do. We do have a unique position, and our Constitution demands it. And for those of us who love America and consider ourselves good Americans, pro-Americans, waving the flag, we want to preserve that democracy, especially in times of crisis, and we want to preserve civil liberties, and we know and understand that it's got to be balanced with public safety. Because we've got to secure the country, make sure that lives are not lost, and ensure that none of our actions create a spiral that could get out of control."

Bin Laden's Saudi Family Will Benefit from US Military Spending
28-Sep-01
Bush's War

"If the U.S. boosts defense spending in its quest to stop Osama bin Laden's alleged terrorist activities, there may be one unexpected beneficiary: Mr. bin Laden's family. Among its far-flung business interests, the well-heeled Saudi Arabian clan -- which says it is estranged from Osama -- is an investor in a fund established by Carlyle Group, a well-connected Washington merchant bank specializing in buyouts of defense and aerospace companies. Through this investment and its ties to Saudi royalty, the bin Laden family has become acquainted with some of the biggest names in the Republican Party. In recent years, former President Bush, ex-Secretary of State James Baker and ex-Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci have made the pilgrimage to the bin Laden family's headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia." So reports the Wall Street Journal.

Indonesian Protesters Attack US Embassy
28-Sep-01
Bush's War

"With hundreds of protesters burning American flags outside its gates and with fringe groups threatening to kill Americans, the United States Embassy told most of its staff today that they could leave the country if they chose. Despite the government's stated support for the United States, militant Islamic groups have been staging demonstrations in several cities and vowing to take revenge if the United States attacks any Muslim nation. These groups represent a small minority in this mostly Muslim country of 210 million, where the practice of Islam is largely tolerant and moderate. But they have made their presence felt in recent years with bombings, vandalism and threats."

US Special Forces Hunt Bin Laden Inside Afghanistan
28-Sep-01
Bush's War

"Elite troops from U.S. special operations forces have been inside Afghanistan the past 2 weeks looking for Osama bin Laden, but they're having difficulty locating him and are asking other nations for additional intelligence help, senior U.S. and Pakistani officials have confirmed privately. The presence of three-to-five member teams of U.S. commandos inside Afghanistan has not been officially acknowledged by either Pakistan or the United States. But their arrival here 2 weeks ago and subsequent movement into Afghanistan have been reported by English- and Urdu-language newspapers here, and would not come as a surprise to bin Laden or Afghanistan's ruling Taliban." Somehow, American taxpayers are always the last to know.

Does Bush Have a Plan?
27-Sep-01
Bush's War

When NY Times reporter R.W. Apple writes, the Washington establishment listens. So his probing question must be taken seriously: "Does the Bush administration have a well-defined plan of action in what it calls the war on terrorism, or is it groping its way toward a plan?" The Pentagon is not thrilled about bombing Afghanistan, Pakistan opposes our support for the Northern Alliance, and the administration remains divided over attacking Iraq. Meanwhile, Bush is flip-flopping on other key foreign policy positions, such as Russia's cruel suppression of Chechnya and sanctions against nuclear testing by Pakistan and India. Is there a plan - or chaos?

Ari Fleischer Chills Free Speech
26-Sep-01
Bush's War

Asked about the controversy over Bill Maher's comments about the use of cruise missile's as "cowardly," Ari Fleischer warned "all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do, and this is not a time for remarks like that; there never is." Wow - this comes less than a week after Bush declared that we are fighting for "our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other." So what is the real position of the White House? And when will Fleischer apologize for deceiving the public about the alleged threats to Air Force One (see below)?

An Opiate for the Mass Media
25-Sep-01
Bush's War

There is a tremendous need for such a political drug - to dull the aching throb of national duplicity. On one hand airlines want a bailout, on the other hand they engage in massive layoffs, as a way out of the expensive contracts that last year's season of strikes wrought. On one hand we are preparing massive tax breaks for the wealthy, while on the other hand the unemployment insurance system is vulnerable to a wave of layoffs. On one hand Bush calls for national unity, on the other he had his proxies in Congress attempt to funnel money approved for rebuilding New York over to the airlines. But this mass media morphine of crisis is an addiction that rules by fear. It does not take very long for addiction to opiates to pass, withdrawal is horribly painful, but it ends, and ends abruptly, unlike addictions to alcohol and nicotine. The best solution is to stop the political culture of duplicity, which is corroding the underlying national will.

America's Attention-Deficit Disorder Cripples our Foreign Policy
25-Sep-01
Bush's War

According to Washington Post columnist Fred Hiatt, "Osama bin Laden... has been cited often as an American weapon that boomeranged - a CIA asset who turned bad - and there is some truth to that... But there's a fair case to be made that America's mistake was not in that proxy war but rather in its abandonment of Afghanistan and especially of Pakistan once the war ended." The US showed similar disinterest after our wars in Central America, Iraq, and Kosovo. During the 2000 campaign, Bush and Condy Rice emphatically denounced foreign commitments. But now Bush says foreign affairs are the core of his Presidency - will this promise fall victim to Attention Deficit Disorder?

Bush's Simple Rhetoric is Not Sufficient to Defeat Terrorism
25-Sep-01
Bush's War

The Washington Post supports Bush's war on terrorism, but believes his analysis is too simplistic. "Because Mr. Bush has put this war at the very forefront of the nation's agenda - it is important to be careful and precise in measuring the foe and setting the goals. Is it the entire story, for example, that the terrorists target America because they hate its open society? Mr. Bush described a fight between freedom and fear, and that is part of it. But then why do the terrorists also target authoritarian regimes such as those of Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia? It's important to recognize distinctions where they exist - among different terrorist organizations and among varying goals even within organizations. And it's important to think about the ways in which 'a fringe form of Islamic extremism,' as Mr. Bush described the ideology of the foe, also might differ from the hostile ideologies of the past century in tactics, goals and sweep."

Americans Want to Wait Until Identity of Terrorists is 'Certain'
25-Sep-01
Bush's War

A NY Times/CBS News poll finds that Americans overwhelmingly (78%-17%) want to "wait to take military action until we are certain who is responsible for the attacks." But it is disturbing how anti-terrorism hysteria has persuaded Americans to give away their civil liberties. By 56%-38%, Americans say they are willing to carry a "smart card" with "detailed information about each person." And nearly half (45%-51%) are willing to "allow government agencies to regularly monitor telephone calls and e-mails of ordinary Americans." Is this the vision of freedom that we are fighting for?

Why is Bush Enlisting Nations that Sponsor Terror to Fight Terror?
25-Sep-01
Bush's War

BusinessWeek is not usually critical of Republicans. But they find his anti-terrorism battle plan self-defeating. "Bush has made a breathtaking promise. 'Our war on terrorism,' he told a joint session of Congress on Sept. 20, 'will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated...' Polls show more than 90% of Americans back the President's efforts. Unfortunately, these are vows that the President cannot keep. More troubling, U.S. diplomatic actions since his impassioned speech suggest the White House has no intention of even trying... In its effort to buy the loyalty of these nations, the White House has already lifted its long-standing arms embargoes against Iran, Syria, and Pakistan."

Most of the World Favors Extradition and Trial of Terrorists over Military Attack
24-Sep-01
Bush's War

Gallup International polled citizens of 37 countries about the appropriate US response to the terrorist attack on Sept 11. Most of the world strongly prefers the extradition of terrorists to stand trial over a military attack. And even in the US, majorities favor military attacks that are limited to military targets only, rather than military and civilian targets.

Stop the Un-American Surveillance Bills
24-Sep-01
Bush's War

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) urges continued activism against the "Anti-Terrorism Act" (ATA) [a.k.a. "Mobilization Against Terrorism Act" (MATA)], proposed by the US Department of Justice, and related legislation (presently 3 bills). Many provisions of the bills would dramatically alter the civil liberties landscape through unnecessarily broad restrictions on free speech and privacy rights in the United States and abroad. Your urgent action is needed TODAY. EFF again urges Congress to act with deliberation in approving only measures that are effective in preventing terrorism while protecting the freedoms of Americans. (Note: Congress is still debating this Act, so voice your dissent now to the draconian provisions of this Act!)

Will Cheney Let the Media Cover the War Against Terrorism?
23-Sep-01
Bush's War

In the first Bush administration, "Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's stringent press restrictions and adroit spinning made accurate reporting on the invasion of Panama and the Persian Gulf War virtually impossible, eliciting cries of censorship from the outraged news media... The Pentagon rules were characterized in an April 1991 letter signed by many prominent journalists--including Time's Washington bureau chief at the time, Stan Cloud--as giving Pentagon personnel 'virtual total control... over the American press' and enabling them to disregard 'the role of independent journalism that is... vital for our democracy.'" Will Cheney permit independent journalism in the War Against Terrorism?

How Can Baby Boomers Rush to Send Generations X and Y to War?
23-Sep-01
Bush's War

"Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many men did you kill today?" "Hell no, we won't go… hell no, we won't go!" A President who went AWOL for two years from the National Guard during the Vietnam War - a President who never once faced a Court Martial for desertion - prepares troops to face a long and enduring war. Talk of reinstituting the draft has already begun, and as I sit here, with my twenty-five years, I find it ironic that the generation so afraid to go to Vietnam - our classic lost cause - is so quick to send troops to fight a war that can never be completely won.

France Warns Bush Not to Fall into Bin Laden's 'Trap'
23-Sep-01
Bush's War

France wants to help combat terrorism, but the word most often heard now in reference to Bush's scheme against Afghanistan is "trap." "Frenchmen have learned the hard way that when you go to battle for a principle, it is important to win," writes AP's Mort Rosenblum. "From here, the picture is clear. Half of Afghanistan straddles mountains over a mile high. Winter is coming. And the allies' quarry is an elusive shadow of a man who survived in tunnels under the noses of elite Soviet troops. Europeans remember Britain's Afghan humiliation last century, well before the recent war that eroded the Soviet Union's last underpinnings. On this side of the Atlantic, many fear that Americans won't take history to heart. Charles de Gaulle warned John F. Kennedy not to repeat France's mistake in Vietnam. Now President Jacques Chirac, with more subtlety but equal vigor, has urged President Bush to reflect carefully on his options."

The CIA's Intelligence Failures Must be Investigated - Not Rewarded with Unlimited Powers
23-Sep-01
Bush's War

"There's something absurd in the sentiment of congressional leaders, who the New York Times reported Sunday 'have concluded that American spy agencies should be allowed to combat terrorism with more aggressive tactics, including the hiring of unsavory foreign agents.' When did the CIA stop hiring 'unsavory' agents?... Former President Bush's Gulf War, despite the enormous civilian 'collateral damage' - a horror never acknowledged in this country - did not topple Saddam Hussein but left a bitter trail of anti-U.S. fervor... But it's nonsense to suggest that the CIA has been hamstrung in going after Bin Laden, when President Clinton specifically empowered it to do so three years ago… If Bin Laden was responsible for this most recent attack, it represents nothing less than a startling failure of U.S. intelligence." So writes LA Times columnist Robert Scheer.

Our Dependence on Oil Compels Us to Wage War in the Middle East
23-Sep-01
Bush's War

Writes Johnny Angel in LA Weekly: "No one is willing to accept the blatantly obvious, the real underlying factor behind America's involvement in the byzantine labyrinth of Middle East politics. What could possibly motivate the propping up of repressive non-democracies like the Saudi and Kuwaiti royal families, or murderous regimes like that of Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran? Or pouring billions into the coffers of Saddam Hussein in the '80s, or even creating the monster that is possibly the mastermind of these attacks, Osama bin Laden, beneficiary of CIA lucre and training?… In order to keep this economic balm flowing, to keep the status quo static and the balance sheets of the major oil companies brimming, we've installed our military as a kind of mega police force in the region… The presence of American soldiers on the holy soil of Islam... has so enraged our new nemesis, bin Laden." If we conserved energy, we would not have to fight wars to control oil supplies.

The Niece Of Former CIA Director Richard Helms Is The Taliban's Key Representative In The US
23-Sep-01
Bush's War

"Richard Helms [was] director of the CIA during the tumultuous 1960s, the era of Cuba and Vietnam. After he was accused of destroying most of the agency's secret documents detailing its own crimes [as well as spearheading MK-ULTRA, the Agency's mind-control program that included LSD experimentation on unwitting military personnel and civilians], Helms left the CIA and became President Ford's ambassador to Iran. There, he trained the repressive secret police, inadvertently sparking the revolution that soon toppled his friend the Shah. Laili Helms, his niece by marriage, is an operative, too... This pleasant young woman... is the Taliban rulers' unofficial ambassador in the U.S and their most active and best-known advocate elsewhere in the West, [promoting] a severe regime that has given the White House fits... by throwing women out of jobs and schools, stoning adulterers, forcing Hindus to wear an identifying yellow patch, and smashing ancient Buddha statues."

The CIA Needs to Answer Tough Questions About its Recent Relationship with the Taliban
23-Sep-01
Bush's War

"The CIA and other Bush administration officials who have had close contact with the Taliban should be asked by Congress about the nature of their relationships with the protectors of bin Laden. For starters, CIA Director George Tenet should be asked what the United States received in return for even talking to the brutal mullahs who run Kabul. The State Department should be questioned as to why it has banned [the Northern Alliance] from occupying the vacant Afghan Embassy in Washington even though it is recognized by the United Nations as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. At the very least, the American people deserve to know why the Bush administration, through its words and actions, has given tacit support to a government that has provided safe haven to the man who may be the worst mass murderer of American civilians in the nation's history." So writes investigative reporter Wayne Madsen in In These Times.

Moving Star Telethon Unites World But Ends on Hawkish Note
22-Sep-01
Bush's War

We were all moved by the sincerity and lack of commercialism of the Star Telethon. The stars spoke for all of us in their efforts to support and honor the heroes among the everyday folk, whose courage and sacrifice outstripped anything you'll see on the silver screen. But some of us were angered when, as the "closing statement," Clint Eastwood gave a distinctly hawkish statement straight out of "Dirty Harry". The show then cut to Willie Nelson leading the stars in singing "America the Beautiful," which made this show of unity and patriotism appear (through the juxtaposition) to be a show of support for Eastwood's bellicosity.

Bush Fights for Freedom By Eliminating It
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

The Bush-Ashcroft police powers bill represents a wholesale assault on American freedom. It goes well beyond "broad new wiretapping authority and the power to deport immigrants suspected of terrorism without any court review of the evidence." It also eliminates the need for court orders for Internet records and voicemail searches, and allows police to use information collected illegally. This wholesale attack has united 150 groups on the political left and right, but that may not be enough to stop this massive attack on our civil rights.

United Nations Volunteers - Will Bush Accept the Offer?
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan writes, "The United Nations is uniquely positioned to advance this effort [against terrorism]. It provides the forum necessary for building a universal coalition and can ensure global legitimacy for the long-term response to terrorism. United Nations conventions already provide a legal framework for many of the steps that must be taken to eradicate terrorism — including the extradition and prosecution of offenders and the suppression of money laundering. These conventions must be implemented in full." Bush can call upon the UN to bring the terrorists to justice. Will he do so?

Pakistan Doesn't Trust US, and Cheney Didn't Help By Calling them 'Paks'
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

According to Steven Weisman of the NY Times, "the Pakistanis are being asked to turn against the religious zealots who have been their friends at the request of the infidels in the United States. 'Americans need to understand that Pakistanis are not that sympathetic to those bearded guys in Afghanistan,' says a Pakistani diplomat. 'The question Pakistanis are asking themselves is, "How can we trust the Americans?"' Vice President Dick Cheney did not help matters when, in his interview with Tim Russert last Sunday, he insensitively referred to Pakistanis several times as 'Paks.' (Is it conceivable that he would have used a similar slur with the Japanese?) At least the White House spokesman apologized for Mr. Bush's calling the American drive against Osama bin Laden 'a crusade.'"

Stock Market Responds Negatively to Bush's Address
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

On the day after Bush's speech, "Stocks dropped today for their fifth straight loss on a day of volatile trading, as the Dow Jones industrial average posted its worst weekly decline since the Great Depression. The expected American military retaliation for last week's terrorist attacks cast a pall on the stock market, where investors remained unsettled by the likelihood of a recession and the gloomy prospects for corporate profits... For the week, the Dow fell 14.3 percent, a five-day loss unmatched since the week ended July 21, 1933, when it fell 15.5 percent." Clearly, the fear of war is scaring investors, and Bush's tough words have not reassured them.

Eric Foner Reminds Us That Our Civil Liberties Are Not A Gift From the Government for Bush to Take Away
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

Eric Foner, Columbia history professor and president of the American Historical Association, reminds us of the long, hard-fought struggle to gain the civil liberties the Bush administration would so cavalierly strip from us in the name of security, and counsels against the new Bush/Ashcroft police state measures. We would be wise to heed his advice. But then, Benjamin Franklin told us more than two-hundred years ago that those who would give up their liberty for greater security, deserve neither liberty nor security.

Taliban Rejects Bush's Ultimatum, Making a US Attack Just About Inevitable
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

"President Bush demanded Thursday night that the Taliban surrender all leaders of bin Laden's al-Qaeda organization and close al-Qaeda's bases in the country. The Taliban have defied the U.S. demand, refusing to hand over bin Laden without proof or evidence that he was involved in last week's attacks on the United States... The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, said Friday that deporting him without proof would amount to an 'insult to Islam... If they want to show their might, we are ready and we will never surrender before might and force,' he said. 'It has angered Muslims of the world and can plunge the whole region into a crisis,' Zaeef said. 'We are ready to cooperate if we are shown evidence. If American agencies are bent on putting the blame on bin Laden, then they won't be able to catch the real culprits.'" Bush refuses to discuss the specific evidence against bin Laden, so it looks like a US attack is inevitable.

Peace Movement Emerges Amidst Conflicting Emotions at Ground Zero
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

The NY Times reports, "In Union Square Park, which has become an outdoor memorial to loss and grief, peace signs, antiwar slogans and pleas for nonviolence far outnumber demands for retribution... Although there are a handful of wanted posters featuring Osama bin Laden, there are far more that say, 'Mourn the Victims, Stand for Peace' or 'An eye for an eye creates blindness.' While much of the country clamors for martial retribution, with polls showing nearly 90 percent supporting a military response, many New Yorkers who were interviewed remain ambivalent about President Bush's promised war against terrorism. Many expressed fear that any strike would spark another wave of mayhem in New York. 'It's easy to call for blood when you live in Des Moines,' said Terrance Kincaid, 37, an insurance broker from Queens. 'We have seen the horrific consequences of aggression. For the rest of the country, it's still just a bunch of television images.'"

America's College Students Hold Nationwide Rallies for Peace
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

On Thursday, thousands of students turned out on campuses across the country to call for some sanity amid the pounding of war drums. On more than 150 campuses, students held peaceful rallies, signed petitions and held candlelight vigils for peace. As one Wesleyan student puts it, "for this to turn into an excuse to have a war and kill more people, it seemed like it would just be too horrible." Sensible thinking in a world in which "CNN is like a 24-hour Bruce Willis movie," as one professor put it.

Bush Starts His New War by Locking Down Protesters from the Last War
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

"The 77-year-old peace activist Philip F. Berrigan was immediately shifted into solitary confinement at a federal penitentiary Sept. 11 when terrorists crashed hijacked airliners into the Pentagon and World Trade Center. Berrigan was among a number of 'high-profile' inmates segregated from the general population in federal prisons across the nation, according to Internet messages received Wednesday at Jonah House, the Roman Catholic anti-war community that Berrigan helped found in Baltimore nearly 30 years ago." Other "high-profile" inmates include Leonard Peltier and Marilyn Buck. Hey guys, the 60's are ancient history - get over it!

The World Takes Sides
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

On September 20, Bush declared, "Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." This map indicates the decision each nation is making.

Secret Memo Reveals US Plan to Overthrow Taliban Regime
21-Sep-01
Bush's War

According to the UK Guardian, "The US government is pressing its European allies to agree to a military campaign to topple the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and replace it with an interim administration under United Nations auspices... The Guardian has also learned that two large US Hercules transport aircraft landed in Tashkent, capital of the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, on Tuesday loaded with surveillance equipment to be installed along the northern Afghan border... The US strategy to depose the Taliban regime is based on more than military thinking. A further plank appears to entail supporting the campaign of the exiled 86-year-old monarch of Afghanistan, King Zahir Shah, to return to power by encouraging the guerrilla army of the Northern Alliance opposition to fall in behind him." An 86-year-old ex-monarch?

Bush Targets Al Queda
20-Sep-01
Bush's War

Readying Americans for war, Bush singled out Osama bin Laden and his group, Al Queda, as well as the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Bush issued a clear threat to the Taliban: "They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate." He also threatened all of the other countries in Asia minor: "Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime." Beyond that, Bush was deliberately vague. Will our military or covert forces attack these "hostile regimes"? Stay tuned.

Justice, not Terror: Sign the Petition
20-Sep-01
Bush's War

"Our leaders are under tremendous pressure to act in the aftermath of the terrible events of Sept. 11th. We the undersigned support justice, not escalating violence, which would only play into the terrorists' hands: In bringing terrorists to justice, the U.S. must commit to protecting innocent civilians everywhere and ending the cycle of violence." Sign the petition and send an e-mail to your representatives!

NY Times Urges Equal Sacrifice, Not More Tax Giveaways to the Rich
20-Sep-01
Bush's War

According to the NY Times, "Wartime fervor has always, and should always, sideline narrow partisan considerations... But cooperation on details should not mean the surrender of basic principles, such as fairness in the way sacrifice is demanded... Until a few days ago, Representative Bill Thomas of California, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, had been talking about ramming through a cut in the capital gains tax, a step that would lavish 80 percent of its benefits on the top 2 percent of the wealthiest Americans. Fortunately Speaker Hastert, apparently with White House encouragement, has gotten the fire-breathing Republicans to back off what would certainly have been seen as an attempt to exploit the current crisis on behalf of the regressive G.O.P. economic agenda."

Bush Risks Bipartisanship with Tax Cuts for the Rich
18-Sep-01
Bush's War

If America goes to war, it will be the children of the poor - not the rich - who put their lives on the line. Nevertheless, "House Republican leaders have been developing a new tax plan, largely centered on reducing the tax rate paid by Americans when they sell stocks and other investments and earn a profit, known as a capital gain. Republicans say cuts in capital gains rates will encourage entrepreneurship and investments, but such tax breaks are opposed by many Democrats, who believe that only the very wealthy will benefit. Democrats are floating the idea of extending the advance tax refund of up to $600 to the 35 million Americans who only paid payroll taxes and thus were ineligible for the original tax cut." Bush's support for more tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans will send exactly the WRONG message if Americans are asked to fight and die.

Countries Urge Rational Response from the US
18-Sep-01
Bush's War

"An attack against terrorism should be based on concrete evidence and have clear orientation without hurting innocent people," said Chinese spokesman Zhu Bangzao. "If America wants to wage war on Afghanistan from bases in Pakistan and expand its influence in the region, it will see its problems mounting," said Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "To attack a country because of some individual, you are going to kill innocent people. We have to be very careful of that. We have to work hard not to be in a hurry, not to jump to conclusions unless you have hard evidence about who did it," said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "We need to react with a cool head. It is not about revenge. In the end, we should not create more instability than was the case previously by our reactions," said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer.

Sunni Moslems Rally Behind Afghanistan
18-Sep-01
Bush's War

The Pakistani government's "agreement to assist the US has provoked increasing outcry inside Pakistan, where bin Laden's appeal runs strong. In the city of Lahore, leaders of a coalition of 35 Islamic groups warned today that the US would be taking on 'the entire Muslim world' if it attacks Afghanistan. The Afghan and Pakistan Defense Council, which represents a broad spectrum Sunni Muslim factions, said it would declare a 'holy war' to defend Afghan and Pakistani sovereignty if such an attack comes." Sami ul-Haq, the coalition's chairman and leader of a pro-Taliban religious party, said "There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world. Will America take on all of them to go after just one Arab?" Speakers "denied that Muslims were responsible and blamed the attacks on Israeli and Jewish interests" who are trying to stop the spread of Islam in the West by provoking a cataclysmic confrontation between the West and the Muslim world. Paranoia like this makes reasoned discussion difficult.

Taliban Considers US Ultimatum
18-Sep-01
Bush's War

Using Pakistan as an intermediary, Bush gave Afghanistan an ultimatum: to hand over Osama bin Laden or face a US military attack. The Taliban initially replied with three conditions: 1) proof of Bin Laden's guilt, 2) inclusion of at least one Muslim judge in any trial, and 3) a formal demand for Bin Laden from the 50 Muslim countries in the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Taliban's final position will be determined by a gathering of religious leaders. But reports that the Taliban is positioning Scud missiles near Pakistan is worrisome, as are military threats from high ranking Taliban officials.

Moonie Times Urges Bush to Nuke Afghanistan
17-Sep-01
Bush's War

The Washington Times, owned by Papa Bush's buddy Sun Myung Moon, published this op ed by Thomas Woodrow. "The time has come for the United States to make good on its past pledges that it will use all military capabilities at its disposal to defend U.S. soil by delivering nuclear strikes against the instigators and perpetrators of the attacks against the nation's political capital and the nation's financial capital. At a bare minimum, tactical nuclear capabilities should be used against the bin Laden camps in the desert of Afghanistan. To do less would be rightly seen by the poisoned minds that orchestrated these attacks as cowardice on the part of the United States and the current administration. To consider use of the nation's nuclear forces, in the present circumstances, cannot be brushed aside as an overly emotional response to the unknown face of terrorism." Is Woodrow insane, or preparing the public for a Bush-planned nuclear attack? Read this important Buzzflash.com editorial.

If Congress Won't Call for Reason and Restraint, Perhaps Tony Blair Will
17-Sep-01
Bush's War

"War is a neat, quick, hard, simple word," writes the UK Guardian's Andrew Rawnsley. "War crowns skyscraper headlines and rolls off the tongues of politicians when the rest of the thesaurus of outrage is so inadequate to circumscribe the scale of the atrocity. War is declared by the bewildered leader frantic to suggest to a wounded and angered superpower that their President is strong and they will prevail. George W. Bush tells the United States that it is engaged in 'the first war of the twenty-first century' before the precise identity and location of the other combatants have been determined.. War has been beating its drum since horror visited America out of a clear blue sky." Now, says Rawnsley, Europe is depending on Tony Blair, as Bush's closest ally, to bring Bush back to reason and reality.

Let's Truly Fight for Freedom
17-Sep-01
Bush's War

In the wake of the attack on America, George W. Bush presented America with a remarkably idealistic set of goals. On the day of the attack, Bush declared: "We go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world." If we are to truly fight for freedom, how should we go about it?

Congress Wants the CIA to Become Murder, Inc.
16-Sep-01
Bush's War

Because of the atrocities committed by the CIA in the past, two minor (and easily evadable) rules were adopted: 1) no cold-blooded assassinations of foreign leaders, and 2) no hiring of bloodthirsty murderers as CIA employees. As the nation gears up for war, many in Congress wants to tear up these two rules. We will not let the CIA once again become Murder, Inc.

Bush's War in His Own Words: What EXACTLY Are We Fighting For?
16-Sep-01
Bush's War

Bush says "we're at war," and we take his words with deadly seriousness. If America's youth are going to be sent off to fight and die - and innocent lives taken abroad as "collateral damage" - then Bush owes America and the world a clear and meaningful and explanation of what we're fighting for, who we're fighting, and how we're going to win. Judge for yourself.

Tony Blair is the Only European Leader Willing to Support Revenge Attacks
15-Sep-01
Bush's War

Tony Blair is the only European leader willing to unquestioningly back U.S. military action in retaliation for the Sept. 11 attack. So, if Bush decides to bomb Iraq, even if there is no unequivocal proof that Iraq was involved, Blair will accede. The rest of Europe and Russia pledge support for the pursuit of justice, but won't back an attack aimed solely at revenge. Many European foreign ministers say their withdrawal of unqualified support for Bush is prompted by the fear that Bush may use the attack as a pretext for waging a second Gulf War against Iraq. We at Democrats.com support an all-out international manhunt for the terrorists (who should be re-categorized as mass-murderers, thus eliminating the political glorification). But we condemn any use of the tragedy as a justification for wanton vengeance or prosecuting aggressive political agendas that will jeopardize civil liberties and world peace. Honor the dead by making the world a better, not just a safer, place.

France and Germany Differ with US on Question of War
14-Sep-01
Bush's War

French Defense Minister Alain Richard said: "I think that this was a terrorist attack of particular gravity. American democracy is clearly endangered by such action, but in my opinion a war is something else entirely." Rudolf Scharping, the German defense minister, also cautioned against launching swift military strikes. "I hope we all remain calm and do not now speak of a state of alarm. We do not face a war. We face the question of what is an appropriate response. Not in the sense of revenge and retribution, but in order to be able to fight and break international terror."

Bush's Vague War Threats Are Causing a Reign of Terror in Afghanistan for Civilians
14-Sep-01
Bush's War

If Bush declares war on a whole nation to "get back at" one terrorist group, he will unleash an endless round of terrorism and counter-terrorism. His threats have already caused thousands of frightened civilians to abandoned their homes and flee from Kabul, Afghanistan's capital. Meanwhile, in response to Bush's threats, the Taliban is already vowing revenge through intensified terrorism against America and Pakistan. How can we bomb the people governed by the Taliban, after funding them (Bush gave up to $100 million plus in aid to Afghanistan several months ago)? How can we make make war over harboring terrorists, when we are hardly innocent of that ourselves?

Petition for Peace and Justice
14-Sep-01
Bush's War

"In the aftermath of the ruthless attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, we implore the leaders of the United States to ensure that justice be served by protecting the innocent citizens of all nations. We demand that the President maintain the civil liberties of all U.S. residents, protect the human rights of all people at home and abroad, and guarantee that this attempted attack on the principles and freedoms of the United States will not succeed. We plead for a thorough investigation of the terrorist events before any retaliation. We call for PEACE and JUSTICE, not revenge." Over 200,000 people have signed this petition!

Bush Says He Is Preparing for War
14-Sep-01
Bush's War

"President Bush made it clear today that he is preparing for war..." After calling foreign leaders, Bush said "There is universal support for the American people, sadness in their voice, but understanding that we have just seen the first war of the 21st century. And there is universal approval of the statements I have made, and I am confident there will be universal approval of the actions this government takes." Except for those Americans who don't believe in blind raging violence, or the killing of more innocent civilians to create an endless cycle of violence.

Hawks Are Pushing the US Into Blind and Self-Destructive Violence
12-Sep-01
Bush's War

Former Secretary of State James Baker - the chief architect of the Florida coup - wants the CIA back in the assassination business. Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger wants to obliterate Kabul. If these hawks get their way, the US will launch an endless cycle of violence that will destroy us.

 


Democrats.com:%20The%26nbsp;aggressive%20progressives%21%26nbsp;%26nbsp;
Join%20us%26nbsp;%26amp;%26nbsp;contribute

Privacy%20Policy
Copyright%202003%20Democrats.com.%20All%20rights%20reserved.

'"()&%