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Anti-Bush Protests
On 2/15 at 10 a.m., join Democrats.com in a rally for the Franco-German Peace Plan at the German Consulate, 49th St. and 1st Ave. in New York City. On 2/15 and 2/16, join the largest anti-war protest in WORLD HISTORY in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and all across the US and the world (for events in your area, use the drop-down list at the 'United for Peace' website linked below). Through 3/8, join the Women's Vigil for Peace at the White House.
Pope John Paul II Declares 'God Bless Iraq'
AP reports, "Strong war opponent Pope John Paul II held a private meeting with a top Iraqi leader Friday, urging the government of Saddam Hussein to commit fully to U.N. weapons inspections in hopes of averting a U.S.-led attack. The pontiff's hopeful words came hours before chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix reported to the Security Council that his team had so far not found weapons of mass destruction. The pope met with Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz for about 30 minutes Friday, gripping the Iraqi's hand firmly at the end. 'God bless you. God bless Iraq,' John Paul said." Hey George, is Pope John Paul with us - or against us?
Terror Alert Based on Fabricated Information
"A key piece of the information leading to recent terror alerts was fabricated, according to two senior law enforcement officials in Washington and New York. The officials said that a claim made by a captured al Qaeda member that Washington, New York or Florida would be hit by a 'dirty bomb' sometime this week had proven to be a product of his imagination. The informant described a detailed plan that an al Qaeda cell operating in either Virginia or Detroit had developed a way to slip past airport scanners with dirty bombs encased in shoes, suitcases, or laptops, sources told ABCNEWS. The informant reportedly cited specific targets of government buildings and Christian or clerical centers. 'This piece of that puzzle turns out to be fabricated and therefore the reason for a lot of the alarm, particularly in Washington this week, has been dissipated after they found out that this information was not true,' said Vince Cannistraro, former CIA counter-terrorism chief and ABCNEWS consultant."
Iraqi Missiles 'Declared Year Ago'
Iraq declared almost a year ago that it had tested missiles beyond the range permitted by the UN, a weapons expert said today. Douglas Richardson, editor of Jane's Missiles and Rockets, said the missiles criticised by UN diplomats yesterday appear to have been mentioned in Iraq's March 2002 declaration to UN weapons inspectors. Richardson said Iraq told the UN last March that "a couple of their missiles had been tested beyond that range" to just over 180 km). He said those appeared to be the al-Samoud 2 rockets referred to yesterday, when UN diplomats said experts had concluded that Iraqi missiles in some tests exceeded the maximum range allowed under Security Council resolutions in place since the 1991 Gulf War.
Bush Lies! We're Shocked
Clarence Swinney writes, "His background makes Clinton look like a Saint. His penchant for lying, when he is presented a conflict, is scary for a Devout Christian. My Lies list is not complete. I have 150 with more to come. 10) I will protect the environment... 14) I will Leave No Child behind - just the funding... 20) My Tax Cuts will not create deficits even in a recession... 32) I knew nothing about a possible attack. One of all time shameful lies. Eight months later Oh! I knew plenty... 39) I will pay down a record amount of the federal debt. Up is down to this BOY... 61) I will have a humble foreign policy. I would dread seeing an arrogant one... 91) We did not support the Venezuelan coup... 115) We will not become the police of the world. OK! Just judge, jury and executioner... 144) I am a Uniter not a Divider. Sho! Got the world united against us... 145) Ken Lay-First met him in 1994. Very stupid lie..."
Enron 'Bribed Tax Officials'
"A crucial report into the collapse of disgraced energy giant Enron has discovered the firm's executives bribed tax officials. The outraged committee's chairman, Charles Grassley (R-IA), described a week-long programme of wining and dining, tennis, fishing and golf as part of Enron's strategy to get its own way. Mr Grassley also said the report called into serious doubt the ethics of tax advisers and the 'desperate' bankers, accountants and lawyers who helped Enron. 'The report reads like a conspiracy novel, with some of the nation's finest banks, accounting firms and attorneys working together to prop up the biggest corporate farce of this century,' he said."
Mexico Will Vote No On War
The divide between the United States and Mexico could become greater after the February 14, 2003 meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Mexico is prepared to vote against the United States if a new resolution for war is proposed. Despite all of the bullying, the United States only has five sure votes with Cameroon, Pakistan and Mexico agreeing with France, Russia and China that all means of peaceful resolution have not been exhausted and inspections should continue. "The Mexican constitution expressly forbids the deployment of forces beyond the country's own borders, and pledges that Mexico will not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. If at the end of the day, Mexico has to vote against the United States at the Security Council, we are sure Bush will understand, and will not attempt to punish the Fox government economically or politically, Mexican Ambassador Maria Madero said." Sure ... when pigs fly!
French Predict a Hundred-Year 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!
Battling Terror with Duct Tape
"Imagination and duct tape might just hold us together when panic attacks strike," states Roy MacGregor of Canada's Globe and Mail. MacGregor's dark humor provides a glimpse of how our current crisis sparked by the madness of King George and CNN appears to those outside our borders.
Canadians Will Protest War
Citizens in over 80 Canadian cities and towns will demonstrate against the U.S. push for war in Iraq. The number of cities is more than double those that held rallies on January 18 - when more than 82,000 people participated. "Marches, rallies and demonstrations are planned across the country," Josh Matlow, the Canadian Peace Alliance's national campaign organizer stated. The largest rallies anticipated will take place in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Canadians want to add to the voices of millions around the world who will join in the "day of action," February 15, 2003. "Mainstream Canada is against the war, our government needs to focus on what we're good at - peacekeeping, " Matlow said.
Chretien Disses Dubya
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.
Enron Used Tax Code as 'Profit Center' - With the Help of Top Bankers, Lawyers & Accountants
Enron used complex transactions that served no business purpose to avoid taxes and pump up reported profits, while paying 200 executives more than $1 million a year through equity-laden pay packages, according to a congressional report released Thursday. Enron reported net income of $2.3 billion, but tax losses of $3 billion, for 1996 through 1999... the company's 200 top-paid employees received a total of $1.4 billion in compensation in 2000, with $1.2 billion coming from stock options or restricted stock. "This report may be viewed by some as a road map for abusing the tax code. Rest assured that it is not a road map. This is the end of the road," said Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT). How long's Kenny Boy been in jail now? Oh, that's right - no charges filed!
Defy Emperor Bush and You're Toast - Even if Your Name is Allen Grenspan
"In a rare rift with Alan Greenspan, the White House has taken issue with the Fed chairman's assessment that now is not the time to boost the economy - at least not along the course Bush has chosen...Republican sources & economists said Greenspan may have thrown his future into question by breaking publicly with Bush on tax cuts. Some Bush allies were fuming after Greenspan bluntly told Congress in closely watched hearings on Tues. that stimulus was not needed right now and warned of the dangers of rising budget deficits... On Wed., in a second day of testimony, Greenspan sought to minimise the differences, endorsing Bush's proposal to eliminate the double taxation of share dividends. Greenspan's testimony has presented the White House with a difficult course. The Fed chairman's influence is such that his opposition could sway votes when Congress considers the full tax-cut proposal. The plan aims to lift the sagging economy and faltering share prices before next year's election campaign."
Bush Unites Europe in Hatred of US
NY Times reports, "As antiwar demonstrators prepare for what they are saying will be among the largest protest marches in history this weekend, many in Europe are asking themselves: how did trans-Atlantic relations, which were so good so recently, get so bad so quickly? [Bush's] preparations for a war with Iraq have provoked something far beyond the normal disagreements - as happened ... recently over such questions as the Kyoto Protocol on global warming or the International Criminal Court, both favored in Europe but rejected in Washington. Now, something deep and fundamental [has] been brought to the surface by the Iraqi crisis. Several hundred thousand antiwar protesters are expected Saturday on the streets of London alone, and it has become clear that the European public, from Britain to Poland, from 'old' Europe to 'new' Europe, is against war in Iraq. Indeed, it is almost as if Bush [has] unwittingly brought about a popular unity on this continent."
Carl Levin Says CIA Sabotaged Inspections and Hid Weapons Details
UK Independent reports, "Senior democrats have accused the CIA of sabotaging weapons inspections in Iraq by refusing to co-operate fully with the UN and withholding crucial information about Saddam Hussein's arsenal. Led by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), the Democrats accused the CIA of making an assessment that the inspections were unlikely to be a success and then ensuring they would not be. They have accused the CIA director of lying about what information on the suspected location of weapons of mass destruction had been passed on... Mr Levin has raised his concerns with the White House. In a letter to Bush, the senator asked that America provide the inspectors with as much information as available. He wrote: 'The American people want the inspections to proceed, want the United States to share the information we have with the UN inspectors and want us to obtain United Nations support before military action is used against Iraq.'" Bush is violating UN 1441 - Impeach Bush Now!
Belgium Indicts Ariel Sharon for War Crimes - Will Bush Be Next?
NY Times reports that Belgium's "high court said investigations and a trial could proceed even if a suspect was not physically present in Belgium. Several cases involving foreign leaders, past and present, had been on hold for almost a year, pending the high court's decision. The case against Ariel Sharon and Amos Yaron dates back to 2001, when survivors of the 1982 massacres at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut filed a criminal complaint." These massacres will be dwarfed by Bush's planned "shock and awe" attack on Baghdad, which could massacre hundreds of thousands. Will Bush ultimately face justice in Belgium? Will Henry Kissinger be held to account for his monumental war crimes? Stay tuned...
London Protest could Reach 1 MILLION
Guardian reports, "For weeks organisers have been confidently predicting that attendance at the [London] rally on Saturday will top 500,000, easily outstripping the autumn's Countryside Alliance march. But now they are daring to believe that the turnout may even outstrip their own original estimate, and the talk is that there could be a million people or more descending on Hyde Park. National organisers sense that support may have doubled in the past six weeks and has not yet peaked, a feeling confirmed by local groups... 'I've been involved in protest stuff since I first went on the Aldermaston march as a child and I've never known such strong public opposition to any government policy, such anger and such determination from people to have their views heard. People are not at all equivocal about it - they don't care much about UN resolutions and 'proof' - they just seem to think it's a crazy and dangerous idea and can't really believe that Blair could be serious about it.'"
GOP Phone Jamming Scandal Widens
The Executive Director of the NH GOP was recently fired for his role in a criminal conspiracy to keep voters from voting by jamming a Democratic get-out-the-vote phonebank. Now the investigation is widening to include Allen Raymond, the head of several Republican groups, his largest donor Robert Levine, and the Republican National Committee - which paid Raymond's group $75,600 for "phone calls." We demand prosecution of these criminals!
Blix Complains of Bush/Media Distortion of his Reports
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!
Show Me the Money! Quiz
Jonathan Hutson offers a Show Me the Money! Quiz: 1. Which of the following paid the SMALLEST PERCENTAGE OF INCOME in federal income taxes from 1996 through 1999?
(a) A U.S. Army Corporal deployed overseas
(b) Enron
(c) A public high school teacher
2. Which of the following paid THE FEWEST DOLLARS in federal income taxes from 1996 through 1999?
(a) A Legal Aid lawyer
(b) Enron
(c) A homeless woman receiving minimum wage in a welfare-to-work program.Get them all right and win dinner with Kenny Boy Lay!
Bonior Says Oppose War
Former Michigan U. S. Congressman David Bonior disagrees with the idea that Americans who protest the war are not patriotic. He suggests those who place anti-war signs in their front yard should display the American flag as well. Bonior said, 'It's our flag, too.' When asked what Americans can do to oppose this war, Bonior suggested placing 'No War' signs on front lawns and to actively participate in protests. 'He also mentioned voicing support for one of the United States' harshest international critics in regard to the Iraq situation. 'One thing you can do is to e-mail, write or call the French delegation at the United Nations and tell them you support what they're about,' Bonior said.' Maybe he should consider running for a higher office in the near future, like 'Bonior for Prez in '04!'
Michigan School Snubs Governor
For a fundraiser, newly-elected Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, donated a free luncheon at the request of a Mercy High School alumna. Initially, the school was thrilled to accept the donation until a few parents and alumnae complained to the school because of Granholm's stand on abortion rights. Although a Roman Catholic and personally opposed to abortion, Granholm campaigned that her religious convictions would not dictate policy. A religious group, Stop Granholm Truth and Church Project, which has criticized Granholm during and after the election praised the move by Mercy High School.
Bonior Blasts Bush on Iraq
'Our country has created alienation for half a century in the Middle East,' former Congressman David Bonior said at Wayne State University Tuesday. 'Military solutions only increase alienation.' Bonior's statement was made during a workshop with Reverend Ed Rowe in Detroit. Both Rowe and Bonior have visited the Middle East and witnessed the suffering of the people of Iraq due to what they call a militaristic approach to diplomacy by the United States. Rowe, a Methodist Minister, further said that Bush has governed as a 'fundamentalist Christian' since taking over the residency and was critical of Bush's refusal to meet with United Methodist bishops to discuss his stance on Iraq.
Gen. Tommy Franks will Replace Saddam as Head of Iraq's Ba'ath Government
Christian Science Monitor reports, "The head of the US military's Central Command, Gen. Tommy Franks, will rule Iraq in the initial aftermath of a US invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein [for at least 2 years!]. Iraqi opposition leaders are already attacking the plan, saying it amounts to a US military rule of Iraq that will favor the existing power structure in the country. Instead of turning Iraq into a beacon of democracy in the Middle East... the US has decided to run the country itself... 'To be kind, it is unworkable. Either reason will prevail, or time will demonstrate to the authors [of the US plan] the error of their ways,' says Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmed Chalabi. 'I really shudder to think.'... Much of Iraq's existing power structure, dominated by Hussein's ruling Baath Party, will maintain its role. 'Power is being handed, essentially on a platter, to the second echelon of the Baath Party and the [Iraqi] Army officer corps,' says Kanan Makiya."
Bush Hawks Bully Allies over War Opposition
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?"
FBI Tries but Fails to Intimidate Peace Activist
Kawal Ulanday got a "home visit" from the FBI the day before his brother's funeral. The agents knew he has no criminal record and has done nothing even remotely suspicious -- except to protest Bush's War. They asked him a lot of questions to which they obviously already knew the answers. "Are you Muslim? Do you have any connection with any Muslim extremist groups connected to al Qaeda? Are you anti-American?" The answer to each of these questions is no. But the agents of George Bush's and John Ashcroft's government obviously weren't interested in the answers. They were just sending a message. What message should the rest of us get from this incident? That we must oppose a government that tries to use law enforcement officials to suppress freedom of speech.
Don't Trust Colin Powell, He's Just Another Bushevik
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.
In Georgia, 22,000 Voting Machines Got a Program Fix - Right Before the 2002 Election
Bev Harris writes: "In early February, 2003, programmers for Diebold Election Systems admitted that they had been parking highly sensitive company files on an unprotected web site, a serious security mistake by anyone's reckoning. The very next week officials from the state of Georgia admitted that a program 'patch' was administered to over 22,000 unauditable touch-screen voting machines in Georgia. This took place shortly before the November 2002 election...Putting patches on 22,000 voting machines without looking at the underlying code has put the Georgia election results in doubt...No official at Diebold or the Georgia Secretary of State's office has provided any explanation at all about the OTHER program patch files - the ones contained in a folder called 'rob-georgia' on Diebold's unprotected FTP site. Inside 'rob-georgia' were folders with instructions to 'Replace what is in the GEMS folder with these'...GEMS is the Diebold voting program software."
All the Kingdom's Lawyers & PR Firms, Saudi That Is...
Since 9/11, Saudi Arabia has had, to put it delicately, a public relations problem. For more than a year, it's had to dodge allegations that it had a hand in the terrorist attacks. To rehabilitate its image, the kingdom has lined up on offense, deploying a PR and lobbying machine worthy of royalty. The Saudis' U.S. embassy has enlisted K Street shops Qorvis Communications LLC, Gallagher Group Communications, and Patton Boggs to get its message out to the public and Congress. But it's not just image enhancement that the Saudis need. They need lobbying. Greenberg Traurig was hired by the General Council of Islamic Banks to enlighten Congress and the Bush administration on Islamic banking practices. And Arnold & Porter registered to represent a large holding company, the Saudi Economic & development Co., on charitable giving issues... The list goes on and on...
When the Bombs Start Dropping, Will British Labor Be Walking?
Speaking at a Stop the War coalition meeting, the leaders of five of Britain's biggest unions warned the prime minister that the day the bombing begins could see mass walkouts in workplaces across the country. The anti-war movement was compared by the RMT's Bob Crow to the Romanian revolution - which ended with the execution of dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu. Mr Blair was not listening to the public, the leftwing transport union leader said. "Look at what happened in Eastern Europe when people didn't listen," Mr Crow added. Question For Jimmy Hoffa and John Sweeney - Are You Paying Attention?
10 million to Join World Protest Rallies
Up to 10 million people on five continents are expected to demonstrate against the probable war in Iraq on Saturday, in some of the largest peace marches ever known. Yesterday, up to 400 cities in 60 countries, from Antarctica to Pacific islands, confirmed that peace rallies, vigils and marches would take place. "The internationalism of the opposition is the most powerful weapon people have. It's all we have. We think that Bush and Blair are well aware that global opposition is mounting fast and that they are now desperate to start the war before they are completely isolated by world opinion," said a spokesman for United for Peace and Justice, a US coalition. BE THERE!
Prince Charles is AGAINST the W-ar
A serious rift has opened up between Prince Charles and the British government because he is seen to be against a war on Iraq and against America. Whitehall also believes the prince is sympathetic to the view of his Arab friends that war on Saddam Hussein is a bid by the US to grab a stake in the Middle East's oil. A Whitehall source said: "Downing Street tries not to involve the prince in anything because they have concerns over how he will react... He has this lunatic view he is the voice of the people."... The prince's views have led to a worrying split with the American leadership. Two months ago, Charles had to abandon an official visit to the US because the White House made it clear he wasn't wanted. The snub, directly from Bush, came after security sources advised that Charles's presence in America would be "very unhelpful".
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