Frank Freeman's Diary, February 2003

'The Pentagon is considering a request to send more troops to the Pacific to deter any "adventure" by North Korea [!!!] in the event of an Iraq war, reports say.

'The area's US forces commander has also asked for more aircraft and warships. ...'

Tony Blair actually said it in the House of Commons: "Korea next". Aren't the imperialists getting a little confused (or greedy)? Didn't Bush imply "Iran next" in his State of the Union address?

Terrorist groups could try to contaminate food supplies with chemical or biological agents in a new tactic, the World Health Organisation warned.

Was this terror-warning issued under American and/or British influence? It's just another item in the grand build-up to Middle-East conquest. And tomorrow — the world! And the general public is here being targeted for terrorization. (Well, it might worry them a bit, anyway.)

The US Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entry, killing its crew of seven, including one Israeli and one Indian-born American.

The aging Shuttle fleet has been running a long time; it could well be an accident. But once more a catalogue of terror-warnings and disasters is building up, and has now spread to the United States; cf. the exploding factory belonging to West Pharmaceuticals several days ago. This time the "campaign" coincides with the final build-up to Middle East invasion.

'A flotilla of British naval ships bound for the military build-up in the Gulf has entered the Suez Canal.

'The convoy, accompanied by a US nuclear-powered submarine, entered the canal from the Mediterranean, amid tight security, on its way to the Red Sea.

'They will join 35,000 UK troops already preparing for possible [!!!!!!] war against Iraq.'

'Police in Italy are taking "very seriously" a possible foiled plot to assassinated Britain's Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce.

'A ringed newspaper photograph of Sir Michael, the head of the UK armed forces, was found along with high explosives during a raid in Naples.

[Admiral Boyce was due to have visited Nato's southern HQ in Naples later this month.] 'Police said a link between the Mafia and a suspected terrorist cell has not been ruled out. ...'

If you can attack your own local problem at the same time, so much the better! :-)

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is to release American spy tapes, of dastardly "Iraqis talking about how they are fooling the UN arms inspectors", to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, 5 Feb. I think this coincides with the date the Council is due to vote on a second Iraq resolution explicitly authorising force.

If so, the US is copying Blair's tactic of releasing his dynamic dossier on Iraq to the British Parliament just two hours before they were due to vote on the issue. In other words designed to stampede the measures through without proper time for consideration. (Not unlike the slower but more vicious way the anthrax attacks helped to stampede Congress into enacting the "Patriot Act".)

Such "evidence", as also its visual "satellite-photo" counterpart, will probably be a well-crafted mixture of facts, lies and video-fakes.

'White House efforts to build a case for war against Iraq by linking it with al-Qaeda have split US intelligence agencies, the New York Times, reports.

'Several analysts at the CIA and FBI had complained the administration had inflated secret evidence linking the regime with the terror network, it said.

Clearly the CIA and FBI are still full of "liberal commie faggots" (as my redoubtable buddy Col. Blitzenburger has just "whispered" — at 120 decibels — over my shoulder). "Time to round 'em all up and drop a daisy-cutter on 'em", as he redoubtably comments.

But seriously folks ... Those puppet-masters in the CIA who do not fit Blitzie's description must still have reservations (put it that way) about stringing along with the unsubtle Bush bludgeon instead of their own fine scalpel. Although rank-and-filers may reject the approach on grounds that it's got-up bullshit for an imperial agenda, the prime movers may be positioning themselves to "distance themselves" from the Bushite front-men, once (or if) they do the dirty work.

'USA[:] A detainee being held at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is in hospital after the "most serious" suicide attempt yet.' (ITV Teletext, 3 Feb. 03, p.318)

The deployment of about 60 RAF aircraft to the Gulf, including Jaguar, Tornado and Harrier bombers, is expected to be announced by the British government later this week. (BBC Ceefax, 3 Feb. 03, p.109)

'US bombers, fighter jets and warships have been put on standby for possible [!] deployment to the Pacific, to fend off potential aggression from North Korea[ !].

'The reinforcements have been requested by the head of US forces in the Pacific and Asia rim, Admiral Thomas Fargo.

'The troops will only be moved to deter N Korea from taking action in the event [!!!] of a war in Iraq, US officials said.'

And Tony Blair actually blurted it out in the House of Commons: North Korea next!

The only possibility of the American fascist clique not attacking Iraq — followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia, N Korea etc etc — is if they are deterred from doing so by domestic and foreign opposition.

'A [British] Government report on dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist chemical or nuclear "dirty bomb" attack has raised the spectre of riots at the scene.

'"If there is impatience to enter the decontamination facility, responders should expect public disorder," the Home Office document warned.

The real agenda may be the suppression of protests against the government's fascist-puppetism.

British "opposition" Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith has told MPs that a new UN resolution was not an essential prerequisite for war against Iraq. (BBC Ceefax, 3 Feb. 03, p.110)

Let's not forget that the Tories are as bad, or worse, than the so-called Labour government in this respect.

'President Bush has sent Congress a spending plan that would result in record deficits of $304bn (Ł181bn) this year and higher again in 2004.

'It would also overhaul some of the government's social programmes and pour billions more dollars into defence.

'Opposition Democrats say the tax cuts will rob social security of money to pay for pensions.'

The administration is presumably banking on covering the deficit with stolen Mid-East oil. If their plan of conquest fails, and hopefully it will, then America will be left as an economically-ruined Big Brother state. Which is not a good outcome either; but then likely there aren't any.

'Saddam Hussein has denied any link with the al-Qaeda network and believes the US and Britain are intent on war.

'The Iraqi leader made the comments in an interview with [British] former Labour MP Tony Benn which was broadcast on Channel 4.

'"If we had a relationship with al-Qaeda and we believed in that relationship, we wouldn't be ashamed to admit it," Saddam told the peace campaigner.'

'US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has dismissed a denial by Saddam Hussein that Iraq has arms of mass destruction.

'Mr Rumsfeld said the Iraqi leader ["never — almost never — rarely"] tells the truth ...'

For some reason, this reminds me of the logic puzzle, based — in pre politically-correct days — on the premiss that "black men always lie, white men always tell the truth".

'Kuwait's northern regions bordering Iraq have been declared a military zone and are to be closed from February 15. ...' (Ibid, p.142)

They are already, of course. But this could be a signal of an imminent attack on Iraq. (It could also be another deception to distract attention from the main target — the Saudi oil fields.)

Meanwhile, Blair visiting Chirac has been having a good old agreeing session on many issues — in spite of Chirac's "refusal" to back an imminent war against Iraq. They have agreed that any action on Iraq "must be decided by the Security Council, and have agreed on a "joint naval plan", and to cooperate against "asylum seekers". (Ibid.)

'F[inancial ]T[imes :] The US has warned about the dangers of North Korea supplying nuclear weapons to rogue states and terrorism.'
(ITV Teletext, p.326, reviews of British papers)

"... The possibility that North Korea could soon begin selling raw materials for nuclear weapons, while Iraq's ability to produce those materials remains in doubt, prompted questions from both Republican and Democratic senators about why the Bush administration felt the urgent need to use military force to disarm Iraq. ..."

One of the methods of the far-right clique ruling the USA is to substitute repetition for evidence. To repeat the mantra of Iraq's "WMD", Korea's "nukes" ad infinitum, until they become dinned into our brains as "facts". The forerunner, for the West, of the style of "mind-numbing propaganda" to which Soviet citizens were daily subjected.

'Giant Stalinist crabs are heading for the UK, The Daily Express says. The 3ft monsters are escapees from a project started by the late Soviet dictator.'

'The [SQL] Slammer worm that recently crippled the internet was the fastest spreading computer bug in history, experts say. [See Jan. 2003 diary, under 25, 27 Jan.]

'Analysis carried out by the Cooperative Association of Internet Data Analysis, California, showed the worm took just 10 minutes to spread across the world.

'It infected servers rather than home computers, causing network outrages and problems with airline flights.'

'An intelligence service document states there is no current link between Iraq and al-Qaeda, contradicting comments made by Tony Blair, the BBC has learned.

'The ["top-secret"] document, written three weeks ago, was sent to Mr Blair, amongst others.

'It says while Iraq had links with al-Qaeda in the past, the relationship foundered due to incompatible beliefs.

'Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden views [sic] Iraq's ruling Ba'ath Party as an apostate regime, it adds.'

'Saddam Hussein's top intelligence men held secret talks with Osama bin Laden, claimed US Secretary of State Colin Powell as he set out a US case for war.

'Addressing the UN Security Council, he used satellite photos and intercepted phone calls to back US claims Iraq is continuing to work on banned weapons.

'He said bin Laden himself had twice met senior Iraqi officials in the 1990s. [Cf. previous item.]

'Iraq has active links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, ... Powell told the UN.

'Iraq is using its embassy in Pakistan as a "liaison office", Mr Powell said. [Now wasn't it the CIA boys who used Pakistan as a base to connect with al-Qaeda in the 1990s? (See Oct. 2002 diary, under 31 Oct.) This is what you might call "top brass".]

'The [Iraqi] regime is harbouring top al-Qaeda member Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi and has set up a terror training camp, he said. ...'

'Hundreds of tons of chemical weapons in Iraq are unaccounted for, ... Powell has told the UN.

'Iraq has tried to enrich uranium for nuclear missile production, Mr Powell insisted.

'It is now "irrefutable that Iraq is in breach of UN Resolution 1441" [the punchline!] and the UN risks "irrelevance" if it lets it "continue to defy its [!!] will", he added.'

There is nothing new in allegations of unaccounted-for biochem weapons, but Powell was backing them with supposed satellite photos of supposed underhand activities, and tapes of alleged Iraqi officials going "nya-ha-ha-ha". All this, as I say, can be a "pretty neat" mixture of facts, lies and video-fakes.

'TIMES[:] A presentation by US Secretary of State Colin Powell has failed to persuade key members of the UN Security Council to back action to disarm Iraq.'

'The overthrow of Saddam Hussein could reshape the Middle East in a way that enhances US interests, Colin Powell has said. ...' (BBC Ceefax, 6 Feb. 03)

A British government "intelligence" paper, supposedly reporting on the present situation in Iraq, and described in Colin Powell's lecture to the UN as a "fine paper", was plagiarised in large part (10 pages out of 19) from a 12-year-old research paper by a Californian graduate student. Word-for-word, including grammatical errors, but with certain terms "improved": e.g. "opposition groups" became "terrorists". The rest of the document was copied from two already-published papers. (Various news reports)

John Snow, the anchorman of British Channel 4 news, pertinently questioned the validity of other such British government reports.

"20th 9/11 hijacker" Moussaoui's US trial has been delayed for another six months — it has already been put off for a year. Apparently the prosecution and defence (whoever that is these days) both requested it (again). (From BBC TV news)

Are the US authorities afraid of what will be uncovered about the ultimate responsibility for the 9/11 attacks in such a trial?

'The White House website has published guidance for Americans on what to do in the event of a nuclear, biological or chemical attack. [My God, how the political establishment missed the Cold War! It's ba-ack!]

'It recommends that people keep emergency supplies of food, buy battery-operated radios and seek out the emergency exits in their buildings.'

But it's infinitely-easier to say this than do this, not least because we can't be sure of who all the prime movers are.

'The bodies of any US soldiers killed in Iraq by chemical or biological attacks could be cremated rather than taken home for burial, the Pentagon has said. ...

This will be convenient for covering up pretended biochem victims that haven't in fact been killed this way — merely claimed to have been to "justify" the pretext for invasion.

'The Bush Administration is preparing a bold, comprehensive sequel to the USA Patriot Act passed in the wake of September 11, 2001, which will give the government broad, sweeping new powers to increase domestic intelligence gathering, surveillance and law enforcement prerogatives, and simultaneously decrease judicial review and public access to information.

'The Center for Public Integrity has obtained a draft, dated January 9, 2003, of this previously undisclosed legislation and is making it available in full text [at] http://www.publicintegrity.org/dtaweb/downloads/Story_01_020703_Doc_1.pdf (12MB). The bill, drafted by the staff of Attorney General John Ashcroft and entitled the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, has not been officially released by the Department of Justice, although rumors of its development have circulated around the Capitol for the last few months under the name of "the Patriot Act II" in legislative parlance. ...'

With the (apparent) demise of the "Justice Department's" neighbour-against-neighbour Operation TIPS, and its hi-tech Pentagon successor TIA, under question in Congress, it's a case of try, try, try again.

Like that computer-guided missile in Airport 3 : The Concorde, the police state is still lurking out there in the clouds of the far right, calculating its next line of attack.

'UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has warned the US must not go to war with Iraq without international backing.' (ITV Teletext, p.306)

'A plan allegedly [ — confirmed today — ] drawn up by France and Germany for disarming Iraq has angered US officials.

'The German magazine Der Spiegel says the plan would make Iraq allow UN troops to supervise disarmament.

'The Americans claim they were not told about it when Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld attended talks in Munich.

'They allege that the German defence minister told Mr Rumsfeld: "We're not ready to talk to you," about the plan.'

Which is pretty much the treatment that the American executive clique gave Congress et al over "Patriot Act II" (see above, under 7 Feb.).

You can already see the battle lines being drawn up between America and "old Europe", for a later stage in America's campaign for world empire.

'An Iraqi germ warfare expert who refused to speak to UN inspectors has told the BBC that her country has a right "to have something as a deterrent".

'Dr Rahib Taha said in an interview for [BBC] Panorama and the Sunday Telegraph that her team produced biological agents such as anthrax and botulinum toxin.

'But she claimed these materials were never turned into weapons. ["But I didn't inhale", as Clinton might have said.]

"British troops have begun shipping tanks and other armoured vehicles from Germany to the Gulf.

'Six thousand military vehicles have travelled by road and rail from bases in Germany to the port of Emden.

'Next week, around 10,000 British soldiers will begin flying to the Gulf from their German bases.

'The equipment will be repainted in sand colours and fitted with sand filters to protect it in the desert.'

'In Spain, Barcelona's Avui [newspaper] says Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's explanation to parliament of his support for the US shows how he stands alone on the issue.

'It says only the Prime Minister "advocates unconditional support for the intervention against Saddam".

'"Only he is assured that there is incontrovertible evidence that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.'

But who else does he remind me of? It's on the tip of my tongue. B — L — A — I .....

According to Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 'Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac "have forced EU countries to pledge allegiance either to Washington or Brussels."

'INDEPENDENT[:] America has pulled out all but its most senior diplomats from countries surrounding Iraq.' (ITV Teletext, 9 Feb. 03, p.326, reviews of British papers)

'Police in the US have stepped up security at airports, subways and hotels after the country was put on heightened terrorist alert[ as announced two days ago].

'Law enforcement officials have indicated that New York is again a possible target. [This liberal metropolis must indeed be a hate object for the far-right cabal.]

'New Yorkers went about their business after being told to be vigilant, but streets and subways have been empty.'

'France and Belgium have formally blocked a request from the US to provide Nato protection for Turkey in the event of a war on Iraq.

'The move further deepens the divisions emerging between the US and some European countries over the Iraq crisis.

'Washington is also facing coordinated opposition from France and Germany, who have proposed reinforcing weapons inspections in Iraq — a plan endorsed by Russia. ...

'Der Spiegel says that, under the plan, Iraq would, in effect, become a UN protectorate with Saddam Hussein its ruler in name only.

The European battle lines in America's world-empire campaign are already being drawn up.

Four hundred soldiers have been assigned to "guard" Heathrow Airport in London against terror attacks during the Muslim festival of Eid. (BBC Ceefax)

Things are starting to look putschy again — this time in Britain (instead of the the US).

'The United States has condemned Iran's decision to begin mining and processing its own uranium for its nuclear power programme.

'On Sunday [9 Feb.] President Mohammed Khatami announced that deposits of uranium had been discovered in Iran for the first time. [Amazing timing! Co-incides with the anniversary of the Iranian revolution too.] He said the country was now ready to produce nuclear energy for civilian use without outside help.

'US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington had "very grave concerns that Iran is using its supposedly peaceful nuclear programme ... as a pretext [now that's the pot calling the kettle "pretext"] for advancing a nuclear weapons programme". [And may I suggest another US argument? "If Iran has nuclear power, they won't mind us stealing their oil."]

'The US, which last year labelled Iran as part of an "axis of evil", considers the Islamic Republic a state sponser of terrorism. ...'

'The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, says a new message — allegedly from Osama Bin Laden — is proof of a link between the al-Qaeda network and the Iraqi government.

'The Bush administration believes the tape to be almost certainly genuine and officials say the message heralds a "burgeoning alliance of terror".

'The message, in which Bin Laden calls for Muslims to stand with the Iraqi people against the United States, was broadcast by the Arab-language television station al-Jazeera on Tuesday.

'The broadcast came as the head of the CIA, George Tenet, warned of an increased risk of al-Qaeda attacks in the US and on the Arabian peninsula using a "dirty bomb" or poisons.

'The message was contained in a poor quality audio recording in which a man;s voice, alleged to be Bin Laden's is heard calling for suicide attacks against Americans and resistance to any attack on Iraq. ...

'Many remain unconvinced by [sic, = "about"] the veracity of the tape, citing the convenience of the timing amid heightened tension between the US and Europe over Iraq. ...

'The tape revelation came as Mr Tenet said that US intelligence pointed to possible terror attacks in a matter of days — perhaps involving chemical or nuclear weapons.

'The CIA director was speaking at a US Senate committee hearing alongside Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller. ...'

The American ruling clique is now approaching Nazi/Stalinist levels of hysteria-propaganda. Which is "proof" (in their terms) that their Middle-East invasion is imminent. (They may, of course, boost their case by staging actual WMD attacks, to be blamed on the Saddam-Qaeda compound chimera.)

See also 'Bin Laden Calls Iraqis to Arms', Washington Post, 12 Feb. 03, p.A01, which reveals that "[Colin] Powell drew attention to the taped message before it was aired on al-Jazeera" (my emphasis).

'... The West Bank and Gaza Strip have been sealed off from Israel since Monday[ 10 Feb.], amid fears of suicide attacks by Palestinian militants during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. ...'

Re-enacting measures taken just over two weeks ago (see Jan. 2003 diary, under 26 Jan.). The excuse on that occasion was the Israeli elections. The Israeli clique may well be preparing the final solution for the Palestinians, under cover of American invasion of the Middle East.

Like our own Western terrorist ruling cliques, they are using the Muslim festival of Eid as their current pretext. A suggestion as outrageous as one that the West would use Christmas as an occasion to mount terrorist attacks on Muslims. No, probably more outrageous ...

'The US hopes a recording it says is Osama bin Laden urging Iraqis to stage suicide attacks against Americans will win it backing for war against Baghdad. ...' (ITV Teletext, 12 Feb. 03, p.304/2)

'... following a CIA warning that al-Qaeda could strike against the United States this week.

'Avenger anti-aircraft missiles were place at strategic sites around the capital as the nation remained on a heightened [Orange] state of alert.

'North Korea has been declared in breach of UN safeguards by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

'It followed a vote by the IAEA's 35-nation governing board; Russia and Cuba abstained. [And all the others voted for it???]

'North Korea has an untested ballistic missile capable of reaching the western US, intelligence officials have said.

'The North Korean missile is a three-stage version of the Taepo Dong 2, said Vice Admiral Lowell Jacsby, director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency.

'Previous reports have said the missile probably could carry a nuclear weapon-sized payload across the Pacific.'

'The US is prepared to consider asylum for Saddam Hussein as an alternative to military action, Colin Powell has said. ...' (BBC Ceefax, 12 Feb. 03, p.110)

'an Italian judge has ordered the release of 28 Pakistanis who had been accused of plotting terrorist attacks. ...

'GUARDIAN[:] Intelligence suggests Islamist extremists with links to al-Qaeda have smuggled portable Sam-7 anti-aircraft missiles into Britain from Europe.' (ITV Teletext, p.326, reviews of British papers)

'Some senior Congressional leaders want to introduce measures making it more difficult to sell French products, such as wine and bottled water, in the US. [And kicking French poodles.]

'There are also moves to sharply cut the number of US servicemen in Germany. [A sensible move anyway, while imperial conquests are as yet planned elsewhere.]

'A bi-partisan group of senators plan a separate resolution thanking 18 other European countries [they claim to find that many?] for their support.'

'The army is maintaining a lower profile at Heathrow Airport after armoured cars were pulled out ...' (ITV Teletext, 13 Feb. 03, p.304/2)

Not a great deal of use against terrorists armed with hand-held missile launchers, one would have thought.

Meanwhile, the US government has advised its citizens to stock up on food and water, and buy plastic sheeting to seal windows, in case of terrorist bio/chem/rad-attack.

They already are under terrorist attack, spilling out of their TVs, radios and newspapers. Whether they believe this this crazy rubbish is another matter.

Iraq's al-Samoud 2 missile 'has a range of 115 miles, greater than the 93 miles allowed under UN rules.

'Washington said that it amounted to a serious violation, and PM Tony Blair said it represented "a significant breach" of the UN resolution 1441.'

'... but Russia said it proved inspectors were collecting good information and should be allowed to go on working.

'Iraq deputy premier Tariq Aziz insisted the missiles do not exceed UN limits. [Such test overshoots were beyond the accurate guided range, he said.]'

'Terrorists planned to shoot down a plane at Heathrow[ Airport, London], security officials have cited "highly credible" intelligence as indicating.

'The information sparked a huge security operation at Heathrow that has gone on for three days, the sources said.

'Fears of an attack are said to involve surface-to-air missiles that went missing [!!!] in Afghanistan 20 years ago[ !!]].'

Ah yes, some of those Stingers absentmindedly misplaced by the CIA or US special forces training al-Qaeda's predecessors for the Afghan anti-Soviet resistance. And what were the terrorists planning to do with these antiques? Rust an airliner out of the sky?

Wooooooo-eeeeeeeee! Haven't the agitprop boys done well!! They fully deserve a Nobel war prize for their current efforts. (And I'm sure the Norway boys will soon invent one — or else).

What is it about February? The propaganda campaign was previously at its most intense a year ago; this time round it's surpassed itself, if anything. We're now getting a taste of what life was like under jolly Joe Stalin.

St Valentine's Day, and the Cerberii of war are hoping that Hans Blix's report will give them the excuse for a Middle-East Massacre. It won't hand it to them on a plate, though. Cue a fresh round of terror scares, and very possibly staged terror attacks — perhaps on a 9/11 scale, and possibly involving WMD.

'Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has put the brakes on the US drive to war with Iraq, insisting Saddam Hussein could be disarmed without force.

'Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and US Secretary of State Colin Powell warned there must be no backing away from the threat of military intervention.

'France has moved to head off the prospect of UN-backed military action against Iraq after the report of chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.

'Foreign minister Dominique de Villepin told the UN: "The option of inspections has not been taken to the end."

'His intervention appeared to [have] put paid to any attempt by America and the UK to propose a new resolution allowing war.'

'The US will wait only "weeks" before deciding whether Iraq is complying with UN demands to disarm, Colin Powell [told CNN]. ...' (BBC Ceefax, 14 Feb. 03, p.108)

'France [their Foreign Minister] says Iraq arms inspections are yielding results and is calling for another UN Security Council meeting to take place on March 14. ...' (BBC Ceefax, 14 Feb. 03, p.109)

In Britain, up to a million demonstrators are expected in London, and 25,000 in Glasgow, where the ruling Labour Party is holding a conference. They may well become the biggest British protests ever.

In London, 'Speakers include Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy[ the least-bad British party leader with respect to American-puppetism], ex-Labour MP Tony Benn and US activist the Rev Jesse Jackson.' (BBC Ceefax at 8:30am GMT, p.104)

'Large crowds have marched in Australia and New Zealand, beginning a day of global protest against war with Iraq.

'Rallies in Canberra, Perth, Wellington and Auckland saw [tens of] thousands take part.

'Major protests are being held in south Africa, Japan, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Greece, France, the Netherlands, Spain[ where the Barcelonian paper Avui said Prime Minister Aznar was in a minority of one in his support for war : see above, under 9 Feb.], Ireland, Portugal, Belgium and Germany.

'In the US, large rallies are planned in several cities, including a protest outside the UN headquarters in New York.'

And various other places (Hong Kong, Bahrain ...) were mentioned on news bulletins.

But all this seems to have made Possessed Puppet Blair all-the-more obstinate in his support of Middle-East conquest. If a million march, he says, this is still less than the number of Kurds displaced during the last Gulf War.

'Millions of people in more than 600 cities across the globe have joined in a mass protest to voice opposition to plans to wage war on Iraq.

'In Rome a million people [a news bulletin said three million] wrapped themselves in rainbow flags with peace slogans and marched into the centre.

'Demos in Japan, Australia, South Korea, Norway, Malaysia, Russia, China, Syria and the US also attracted [many, many] thousands.'

Later reports said 250,000 people from the north-eastern US attended a New York rally.

'Anti-war protesters have staged the biggest demonstration ever held in the UK, bringing London to a standstill.

'Organisers claimed up to two million people took part, but official police estimates put the figure at 750,000[ or more]. ...'

'[British] Lib[eral] Dem[ocrat] leader Charles Kennedy urged a recall of the [House of] Commons to debate a possible second resolution on Iraq. ...' (Kennedy was one who spoke at a British rally.) (ITV Teletext, 15 Feb. 03, p.307/1)

'Around 250,000 protesters ['up to half a million', ITV Teletext] have taken to the streets of Sydney in protest at war against Iraq.

'The Australian government has strongly backed President Bush's tough stance on Iraq. The protest is the city's largest since the 1960s Vietnam war.

'There are a "substantial" number of al-Qaeda operators in Britain and the terror threat is no hoax, the [London] Metropolitan Police Commissioner says.

'Sir John Stevens said possible use of surface-to-air missiles was why security was upped at UK airports.

'Other threats involved people "using whatever means necessary to create mayhem," he told Breakfast with Frost.

Indeed, the threat is very real. As British newspapers reported two months ago (see Dec. 2002 diary, under 22 Dec.), CIA hit squads have moved into Britain. They (in conjunction with their MI5 and MI6 sidekicks), may feel compelled to move beyond the timely terror-scares to actual staged attacks. To persuade the nation of the need to attack the Saddam-Qaeda hybrid chimera.

Such attacks would probably be more convincingly organised than the original 9/11 and anthrax attacks, the latter of which were carried out with the US government's own Ames sub-strain of the bacillus. (Even the weaponization in this case matched that of the Dugway Proving Ground's stocks.)

Sir John evidently knows which side his bread is buttered, and supports a rearranged state of society where a policeman's lot is indeed a happy one.

'Leading science journals warn they may have to restrict publication of some research to prevent bioterrorists from getting their hands on it. ...

'The warning came at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Denver.'

Now here is a prima facie case for censoring that pesky Internet, and Usenet ... comrades.

'Global terrorism could be dealt a fatal blow if the international community removes Saddam, the [British] Tory [opposition] leader claims.

'Iain Duncan Smith told BBC 1's The Politics Show that the Tories backed Tony Blair's tough stance on Iraq.

'He added: "If the UN will stand up to this man, there is a chance that, once and for all, we may rid ourselves of terrorism and those who support it.

The sordid depths of Bush-licking garbage to which Duncan Smith can sink in his rivalry with Blair for the post of satrap of Airstrip One.

'The U.S. government has asked Internet users and businesses to practice "safe computing" online and promised to bolster its own cyber-defenses in a much-anticipated online security plan released Friday[ 14 Feb.]

'More than a year in the making, the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace seeks to protect the nation's myriad computer networks from damaging attacks like the [SQL] "Slammer" virus that knocked out wide swaths of the Internet last month. [For the "Slammer", see Jan. 2003 diary, under 25 and 27 Jan., and above, 5 Feb.]...

'But [the report] imposes few new requirements on the private businesses that control 85 percent of the global computer network.

'Instead, the Bush administration sees its role largely as a cheerleader, encouraging businesses to keep their networks secure and supporting publicity campaigns to encourage greater individual use of antivirus software, firewalls and other security tools. ...

'The White House released the plan with little fanfare, reflecting the fact that its primary architect, former cybersecurity advisor Richard Clarke, resigned his post abruptly two weeks ago.

'Privacy advocates have worried the plan could lead to Big Brother-type surveillance online, while software makers and other businesses have feared increased liability and excessive regulation.

'Security experts, meanwhile, say the state of online security will remain dismal as long as businesses do not make it a priority and have criticized preliminary versions of the plan as toothless.

'The final version of the report is shorter and less specific than a previous version released by Clarke in September.

'The report places many government responsibilities within the Department of Homeland Security. ...'

Three US personnel on a secret intelligence mission in Colombia "have been abducted by leftist guerrillas" (implying the FARC). "The men were described as Pentagon contractors who were assisting the Colombian military on an unspecified anti-drug mission." (The Times, 17 Feb. 03, p.16)

Is this an excuse/lever for the US cabal to sink its hooks deeper into Colombia? Right next door to Venezuela, America's third-largest supplier of oil ...

Cf. the Venezuelan with Islamic names and a Koran, who flew from Colombia and was caught at Gatwick Airport, Britain, last week, "with a live hand grenade in his luggage".

Last year the US Congress's Republican-controlled International Affairs Committee cooked up a Colombian conjuncture between FARC guerrillas, the IRA, Iranian advisers, etc. Is al-Qaeda at last being thrown in here too, to finally establish a link between the US's principal Mideastern and South American petroleum suppliers?

'The Bush administration, pressing forward with plans for war despite mounting public protest, has picked a retired army general and friend of Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary, to replace President Saddam Hussein in Iraq, The Times has learned.

'Lieutenant-General Jay Garner, who led Operation Provide Comfort to help fleeing Kurds at the end of the last Gulf War, is in line to become the US military governor in Iraq, American sources say.

'a former Vice-Chief of US Army Staff, the 64-year-old was appointed recently to head a new Pentagon office for post-war planning that has become a virtual "government-in-waiting". ...

'Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, told Congress last week that a post-Saddam Iraq would be run by a US general for at least two years, using many of the bureaucrats who administer the country now ... General Powell told the House International Relations Committee. ...

'Lieutenant-General Garner was appointed last month to head a new Pentagon Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, which will be deployed en masse to Iraq after an invasion. ...

'Lieutenant-General Garner will report to General Tommy Franks, Commander-in-Chief of US Central Command, and Mr Rumsfeld. ...'

'A former Assistant Chief of the [British] Defence Staff[, Sir Tim Garden,] has warned that Britain's stance on war with Iraq is not the Prime Minister's personal decision. ...' (ITV Teletext, 17 Feb. 03, p.305)

This is pretty close to the knuckle, coming from a military man. Indeed Blair is the soul-puppet of those who would master the Middle East's oil resources.

'An investigation is under way into the deaths of 21 people in a stampede at a Chicago nightclub.

'It is thought panic broke out when security staff used pepper spray to try to break up a fight.

'The victims were crushed in stairwells as they tried to escape from the dance floor; many died because exit doors were locked or blocked.

'Fire chiefs said more than 1,500 people had been in the two-story Epitome club.'

I don't know if I misrecorded the word 'fire' in the headline; I wrote it down before I heard the news of the South Korea subway arson, on 18 Feb.

'The authority of the UN is at stake over the Iraq crisis, Tony Blair has told an emergency meeting of EU leaders.

'He added: "There is no intelligence agency --- that does not know that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. ...'

You've checked with every intelligence agency in the world, Tony? Or is that just another piece of CIA-supplied "intelligence" that you're parroting?

Certainly, many Western intelligence agencies are eager to play the al-Qaeda game, even the German, where the government is against an Iraq attack.

'Israeli troops hiding in a van loaded with vegetables killed a top Hamas militant in a roadside ambush.' (ITV Teletext, 17 Feb. 03, p.318)

In Leningrad in 1935, the NKVD hid in ice-cream vans to ambush citizens for the Gulag.

Earlier, six Hamas were killed when a booby-trapped remote-control glider they were examining exploded in the Gaza Strip. It was thought to have been set off via a pilotless aircraft.

'... "Bush forced into diplomacy," read the headline on Le Figaro', vis-a-vis the massive (global) anti-war demonstrations last weekend.
(BBC Ceefax, 17 Feb. 03, p.147, reviews of European papers)

In contrast to Bush (did he wimp out without the authorization of his puppet-masters?) ...

'The Guardian says Tony Blair will "defy anti-war protests" and says the marches will "not delay military preparations"."
(BBC Ceefax, 17 Feb. 03, p.148, reviews of British papers)

'About 134 people have been killed and 99 others are missing after a subway train in South Korea was set alight. ...

'A man reportedly threw a flaming milk carton into the train which started the blaze. [A passenger interviewed for British TV had a different story: the fire started after a passenger dropped a cigarette lighter.] One person has been arrested.'

A year ago a trainload of Hindus was set alight in Gujarat province, India, killing many. Up to 2000 people, mainly Muslims, were slain in resulting mob violence. This was the beginning of a experiment in subjugating the Muslim minority in the province. By the Janata government-movement, the Hindu-fundamentalist soul-brothers of the American far-right clique.

And they probably didn't just act "off their own bat", but in coordination with the American cabal. Within a couple of days, another train-burning at the other end of the Mideast oil region, in the US satellite Egypt, had incinerated about 370 more victims. This was never described as anything other than an accident. But it may have been intended as another component of a strategy (one that didn't work, in this case) to whip up agitation against "Islamists", which would have been to the advantage of America's Israeli ally and its Egyptian satellite in this case. The two taken together to have put an East-West squeeze on the oil region.

Is the US cabal, through its satellites and allies, once again playing its hellfire tricks on the world? This time to stir up South Korea, galvanize it for a coming war of conquest of the North, and/or blame the North for the atrocity?

'North Korea has threatened to pull out of the 1953 armistice agreement which ended the Korean War.

'The move, reported by North Korea's official news agency, was said to be in response to recent US actions.

'The US was building up reinforcements around the South Korean peninsula as it planned a pre-emptive attack on the North, an army spokesman said. ...'

'... Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said regime change in Iraq would solve one problem, but create five others endangering the entire region. [That, surely, is the idea. What opportunities for aggrandizement!]

'An attack without UN backing would be seen as aggression, Prince Saud al-Faisal told the BBC's John Simpson.

'Labour MP Ann Clwyd, who is visiting the [Kurdish] region, ... said she had passed on their concerns to Tony Blair, who promised they would be "fully protected".'

'Saudi Arabia has revealed that 90 Saudi nationals are to stand trial accused of membership of the al-Qaeda network.

'It would be the first prosecution in Saudi Arabia of alleged members of Osama bin Laden's organisation.

'Interior minister Prince Nayaf Bin Abdulaziz said over 250 detainees were being investigated on similar charges.

'However, he gave no further details about the charges against the 90 Saudis or the date of their trial.'

'At least 40 Israeli tanks have gone into Gaza City accompanied by attack helicopters, witnesses said.

'Several of the tanks entered the neighbourhood of Shajaiyeh, which straddles the main north-south road through the Gaza Strip.

'Gaza residents said the helicopters fired machine guns, but here were no reports of casualties.'

The Israelis may be going in for the final push against the Palestinians. This will be premature if the Americans don't go to war in the Gulf.

'Eleven Palestinians have been killed and 20 injured during [the above?] raid ..., Palestinian officials say. ...

It's not clear if this was a second raid on the same area. "Thirty tanks" were referred to in the second report.

'... The Foreign Office says tension and the risk of terrorist action [i.e., American-British] are increasing in the region.

'Britons are also advised against making non-essential journeys to Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinian territories. ...'

'The US has not satisfied demands which must be met before Turkey allows US troops in for a possible attack on Iraq, the Turkish government has said. ...

'It follows a warning from the American ambassador in Turkey, who said time was running out for it to meet US demands[ !].

Well, if the US is angling to rip off the entire region's oil resources, you can't blame lesser lads for wanting to make their own bit on the side.

'The Palestinians need at least Ł690m in aid to restore their crippled economy and tackle the humanitarian crisis, the World Bank has said. ...' ((Ibid, p.108)

'Saddam Hussein could have smuggle his chemical and biological weapons out of Iraq and hidden them on cargo ships to evade UN inspectors, an expert claims.

'A newspaper [The British Independent] said UK and US officials are monitoring three "mystery" ships suspected of carrying Iraqi weapons.

'One expert said it would have been an "extremely sensible" move for Iraq but Whitehall hinted the report is untrue.'

'A Moroccan student has been jailed for 15 years [the maximum sentence] for being an accessory in the murder of 3,045 September 11 victims.

'The German conviction brought to an end the first trial anywhere of a suspect in the terror attacks on the US.

'Mounir el Motassadeq, 28, was also convicted for organizing logistics for the Hamburg ring of the terror group, which included three of the hijackers.'

He denies the charges. Some German newspapers called the verdict a political one.

'A plane carrying 302 people — all military personnel — has crashed in [south-eastern] Iran, it has emerged.

'The plane was on a domestic route from Zahedan to Kerman ... It crashed about 50 miles from its destination in a mountainous area. [Bad weather was mentioned in a news bulletin.]

'Iran's official news agency said the passenger were elite Revolutionary Guards and all were believed dead.'

'The [US] government launched a multimillion dollar media campaign Wednesday [19 Feb.] urging Americans to prepare for terrorist attacks by assembling emergency kits, developing communications plans and learning about possible strikes.

'"Terrorists force us to make a choice. We can be afraid or we can be ready," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said, echoing the theme of the communications blitz. ...'

'The Foreign Office has advised against all non-essential travel to Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. [This follows a similar warning on Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinian territories. See above, 19 Feb.]

'The advice comes a day after a 37-year-old British engineer was shot dead in the Saudi capital Riyadh. ...' [22 Feb: they've now managed to find an al-Qaeda connection for this.]

'Ankara has said it will sign a pact in days that it will allow the US to deploy its troops on Turkish soil. ...

At least 96 died and dozens more were seriously hurt at a fire in a one-story wooden building in Rhode Island, USA, where a rock concert and fireworks display were held in conditions of low safety. The fire spread very rapidly.

One worker is dead, one seriously burned and one missing after a massive fire at an oil storage facility in Staten Island, New York. The fire started when a propane barge exploded as it was being loaded.

As a year ago, the Hellfire Club is creating a general atmosphere of disaster-fear.

'Around 200,000 American and British US troops are now massed in the Gulf region, US defence officials have said.

'More than half of the troops are in Kuwait, while Turkey is poised to allow the US to deploy troops on its soil.

'Military analyst Andrew Brooks predicted Iraq's air defences would be destroyed in the first 12 hours of any US-led attack.'

'Tony Blair must make "every effort" to avoid war on Iraq, he has been told by the Pope during a private audience. ...' (BBC Ceefax) 23 Feb. 03

'Of 2,032 people quizzed by YouGov for the Sunday Times, 47% regarded the US as a bully compared with 27% who thought its was a force for good.

'When asked to say who was the biggest threat to world peace, 45% said Mr Bush, the same proportion as for Saddam.

'Iran has agreed to provide prompt information on any atomic facilities in the country, following US concern [!] at its nuclear programme.

'UN nuclear inspector Mohammed ElBaradei ... has ended a two-day visit to the country ...'

'Seven Palestinians have been killed as Israeli troops continued an offensive against militants in the Gaza Strip.

'Tanks and troops backed by helicopter gunships entered the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoon, battling gunmen and destroying the homes of six militants.

'The latest deaths, which include five gunmen, brought the Palestinian death toll after a week of incursions to 41.'

'Seven railway workers have been detained by police investigating a fire at a South Korean underground station which killed at least 133 people. [see above, 18 Feb.]

'Police said they were also seeking warrants for two other rail officials, as well as the man accused of starting the blaze in the city of Daegu.

'The resolution stated that "Iraqi regime has failed to take its final opportunity to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1441".

'The mandate, signed by the US and Spain, was lodged at the UN by UK ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock.'

'President Jacques Chirac has announced that France, Germany and Russia have submitted a proposal in the UN for the step-by-step disarmament of Iraq.

'The proposal is part of a European drive to counter Anglo-American pressure for military action. ...'

'Turkey's cabinet has agreed to the deployment of tens of thousands of US combat troops ahead of a possible war in Iraq, according to reports ...' (ITV Teletext, 24 Feb. 03, p.305)

'Israel's ruling Likud party has joined forces with the centre-right Shinui party to form a coalition government. ...

'This follows a deal between Likud and the right-wing National Religious Party which opposes a Palestinian land and champions Jewish settlements.

'Britain is closing its consular service in Yemen amid heightened security fears, officials have announced.

'The embassy in Sana'a and consulate General in Aden will be shut to the public from March 1 amid a "deteriorating security situation".

'Britons have already been advised to quit the Arab state, which has become a stronghold for Islamic terrorists.'

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'[British] STAR QUIZZED OVER CHILD PORN

'A Bristol-based member of dance [music] group Massive Attack has been questioned over alleged internet child porn offences.

'Robert Del Naja, known as 3D and aged in his 30s, was bailed by police working on Operation Ore — a national crackdown on child porn.

'Detectives seized computer equipment and a quantity of suspected Class A drugs during a raid.'

(ITV Teletext West, 27 Feb. 03, p.333)

Del Naja 'said: "I have never looked at child pornography in my life.

'"I am fully co-operating with the police and I would ask everyone not to judge me prematurely. I have total faith in the justice system. [This boy's a fool!]

(BBC Ceefax West, p.162)

See BBC News online

Del Naja was a "prominent figure" on the recent anti-war demonstrations. (TV news; my emphasis)

Further evidence that Attorney-General Ashcroft and his British Operation-Ore puppets are turning the deadly paedophile weapon against its real intended targets — those who oppose the US cabal's aspirations to totalitarian world empire.

'Chief arms inspector Hans Blix's report on Iraq is not expected to heal UN divisions when it is delivered.

'A Security Council meeting ended in bitter dispute, with members unable to agree when he should next address them.

'Both the "hawks", led by Washington and London, and the "doves", led by Paris and Berlin, are set to seize on his report as support for their strategy.'

The Israeli Parliament voted 66-48 in favour of PM Ariel Sharon's new rightist cabinet, widely seen as likely to harden Israel's line on Mid East peace. Netanyahu has taken a post in it.

'The US government has shut down a website that gives information on bootlegged video games and movies.

'The Justice Department took over the domain name isonews.com after its owner admitted selling modification chips allowing people to bootleg games.

'But civil liberty groups have expressed concern about the government seizing websites and domain names. [My emphasis.]'

'the world must confront the twin threat posed by Iraq's arsenal and international terror or face a "living nightmare", Tony Blair has warned.

'The PM revealed he sees — almost on a daily basis — evidence of terror plots. [In invisible ink — special glasses needed.]

'He said in Swansea: "If we do not take a stand now, the world will be plunged into a living nightmare from which we will struggle long and hard to awake.'

'George Bush has given his clearest sign that an invasion of Iraq is imminent by declaring his administration is ready to disarm Saddam Hussein "now".

'The US President said a second United Nations resolution was no more than "a commitment to our allies and friends".

'The President described war as the "last option" but said most Americans understood an attack may start soon.'