1 February 2004

'DYKE SAYS [in The Sunday Times] No 10 "BULLIED" BBC

'Greg Dyke has accused Downing Street of "systematically bullying" the BBC over its coverage of the war in Iraq. [I.e. during the Iraq invasion.]

'The former BBC director-general said the Hutton Report "completely failed to acknowledge the pressure that Number 10 had been putting us under".

'He also released a letter [he had written] to Tony Blair showing the feuding between the Government and BBC preceding the report that sparked the Hutton Inquiry.'

(ITV Teletext, p.305)

'[British Conservative] leader Michael Howard has joined calls for an inquiry into the intelligence which led Britain into war with Iraq. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Feb. 04, p.109)

'Consumer groups in India's north-east states have condemned a government move to prohibit use of pre-paid cash cards in mobile phones in the troubled area.

'The central government says it is imposing a ban on the cards because they are used by separatists [ presumably for anonymous phoning].

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Feb. 04, p.118)

Paedophiles here, separatists there; enemies everywhere, comrades.

'Greg Dyke has made it clear [on BBC TV's "Breakfast With Frost"] he was forced to leave his role as director-general of the BBC by its governors. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Feb. 04, p.105)

'The Bush administration is to announce an independent inquiry into the use of intelligence material to justify the war in Iraq, say senior US officials. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Feb. 04, p.106)

BRITISH AIRLINE PILOTS QUESTION US TERROR INTELLIGENCE

'British airline pilots have questioned the strength and validity of US intelligence on terror threats that grounded six transatlantic flights.

'Their union [Balpa] has called on the Government to examine the security information from America as concerns grew over its quality.

'US-bound flights from Britain and France were cancelled amid the latest security alert.'

(ITV Teletext, 1 Feb. 04, p.308)

'MORE THAN 50 DIE IN IRAQ SUICIDE BLASTS

'Two suicide bombers have attacked offices of the two main Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, killing at least 56 people, including top officials.

'announcing the death toll, US General Mark Kemmit also said more than 200 people were injured by the blasts, on Sunday morning [today] in Irbil.

'In virtually simultaneous attacks, the bombers hit offices packed with guests for the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha. [[People wearing explosive belts walked into the buildings — TV news]

'Kurdish officials blamed al-Qaeda and its allies [viz. Ansar al-Islam] for the attacks.'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Feb. 04, p.107)

'At least 20 Iraqi looters have been killed by an explosion at a munitions depot, according to a spokesman for the multi-national force in central Iraq.

'The blast occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday about 180 kilometres (112 miles) south-west of Karbala [Kerbala].'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Feb. 04, p.108)

Presumably all in honour of Wolfowitz's visit to Iraq. The Mydoom email worm, the fastest (or widest) spreading internet virus to date, has paralyzed the website of software firm SCO, which owns the Unix operating system. It is set to attack Microsoft's site on Tuesday 3 Feb. 04.

'Both SCO and Microsoft have offered $250,000 rewards each to help catch the author of the worm'.

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Feb. 04, p.124)

2 February 04

'PLAN FOR NEW [UK] TERROR LAWS

'Home Secretary David Blunkett aims to bring in anti-terror laws which would see pre-emptive trials for Britons suspected of international terrorism.

'The threat from suicide bombers is so great the burden of proof may have to be lowered so extremists can be tried before they can mount attacks, he said.

'Proposals allowing UK terror suspects to be tried at least partly in secret will be put forward soon, he added.' (My emphasis throughout.)

(ITV Teletext, p.306)

'... [Blunkett's] plans, revealed on his six-day trip to India, ... include keeping sensitive evidence from defendants and secret trials before vetted judges.

'Civil rights groups have condemned the plans as "wholly unacceptable".'

(BBC Ceefax, 2 Feb. 04, p.110)

Hotfoot from their victory over the BBC, the Blairites are proceeding forthwith with their plans for the vivisection of the British constitutional state. No doubt there will be more and greater terror scares to back them up ...

'BUSH ORDERS INDEPENDENT PROBE

'US President George Bush is to appoint an independent panel to investigate any discrepancies in intelligence used to justify the war against Iraq.

'He said he will name an independent bipartisan inquiry into intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 2 Feb. 04, p.304)

The World Health Organization in Vietnam claimed two sisters who died of bird flu there may have caught it from their brother.

Previously, people were only known to have contracted it from birds.

(BBC News 24, 2 Feb. 04)

'[Pakistani} SCIENTIST "ADMITS" NUCLEAR LEAKS

'Pakistan's top nuclear scientist has admitted he leaked nuclear secrets to groups working for Iran, Libya and North Korea, Pakistani officials say.

'Officials told journalists that Dr Abdul Qaeer Khan had confessed to passing on information about nuclear technology in the 1980s and 1990s.

'Dr Khan was dismissed as a scientific adviser to the government on Saturday [31 Jan. 04; cf. Jan. 2004 diary] — a move that caused an outcry.

'He is regarded as a national hero for making Pakistan a nuclear power.'

((BBC Ceefax, p.104)

All this stuff is certainly on the US cabal's imperial-agitprop menu.

All all-party panel will pick the new BBC chairman, said Media Secretary Tessa Jowell.

'An independent inquiry into intelligence used to justify the UK's decision to go to war with Iraq is expected to be announced on Tuesday [3 Feb. 04] ...'

(BBC Ceefax, p.104)

'More than a million computers could now be infected with the Mydoom virus. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, p.154)

'The "specific and credible" terrorist threats that led to the cancellation of six transatlantic flights have passed, a US official has revealed. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 2 Feb. 04, p.306)

'New terror laws proposed by David Blunkett have been described as "shameful" by a leading Labour peer. ...

'[T]he proposals drew a stinging response from Baroness Kennedy QC, who compared Mr Blunkett to brutal Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe.'

(ITV Teletext, 2 Feb. 04, p.307)

US defence spending is to increase by 7 percent for the 2005 fiscal year, and homeland defence 10 percent. This when all other discretionary spending is to be capped at 1 percent.

(BBC Ceefax, p.118)

3 February 04

'TELEGRAPH[:] The BBC was accused of "editorial cowardice" after it axed a satirical radio show about Hutton in which the PM is referred to as a liar.'

(ITV Teletext, p.328, reviews of British papers)

... The BBC has said it will go ahead with the show, the third series of "Absolute Power", on Radio 4. (BBC Ceefax, p.119)

"RICIN" FOUND IN US SENATE LEADER'S OFFICE

A white powder found in an envelope in the offices of Senate majority leader Bill Frist was "probably ricin", local police said. It was subjected to several tests (one of which concluded that it wasn't ricin).

A number of Senators and their staff work at Frist's office in the Dirkson Senate Office Building.

(BBC News 24; ITV Teletext, p.303; BBC Ceefax, p.109: 3 Feb. 04)

A repeat performance (so far one-off) of (the most important single targeting in) the anthrax attacks of autumn 2001.

The difference is that this time it's defensive, an attempt to deflect attention from the scrutiny that the intelligence services are going to come under in the Iraqi WMD enquiry.

(Cf. "The Anthrax Attacks of Autumn 2001".)

'RICIN FIND SHUTS SENATE OFFICES

The Dirkson, Hart and Russell Buildings were closed on Tuesday [today], and Capitol tours were suspended.

'Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, whose staff found the powder, said no-one appeared to have been poisoned.'

(BBC Ceefax, 3 Feb. 04, later, p.109)

White Powder has become a standard code for a "bio/chem mailing" — it creates the impression of one, whether genuine or not.

Ricin is relatively easily produced from a routine source (US/Brit intelligence agencies have been at pains to point this out), and thus the CIA doesn't repeat the error of using a substrain of anthrax available from very few sources (the CIA's assigned beltway-bandit" labs, and US Army research, among the few).

Once again the constitutional enemy, Congress, is interfered with. (A miniature replay, so far, of autumn 2001.)

There seems to have been a dry run last year, with a white powder found in a Congressional building, but not found to contain anything dangerous.

'BLAIR ORDERS IRAQ [intelligence] INQUIRY

'[UK] PM Tony Blair has set up a review of intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction — but the Lib Dems [the Liberal Democrats, Britain's third-largest party] dashed hopes it would be an end to the affair.

'The Government sought to draw a line under its use of secret information to promote the case for war against Iraq with an all-party committee.

'But the Lib Dems refused to take part when it emerged the political use of intelligence would not be examined.'

(ITV Teletext, 3 Feb. 04, p.303)

The intelligence services were the manipulators in the affair. But Blair, Hoon and others were willing and eager puppets (for whatever reasons).

'[British intelligence] BOSSES "IGNORED WMD DOUBTS"

'Intelligence chiefs ignored warnings from experts that they had doubts over Iraq's WMD, a former top official said.

'Brian Jones, an ex-branch head in the Defence Intelligence Staff, said the most senior intelligence officials may have "misinterpreted" key evidence.

'Dr Jones, who gave crucial evidence to the Hutton inquiry, said he formally complained about the Iraq dossiers, fearing he would be made a "scapegoat".'

(ITV Teletext, 3 Feb. 04, p.305)

4 February 04

'MAIL[:] Tony Blair was accused of rigging a new Iraq probe after appointing a "naive" ex-civil servant as its head.'

(ITV Teletext, p.328, reviews of British papers)

'INDEPENDENT[:] The official whose revelations stunned the Hutton inquiry suggested not a single intelligence expert backed Tony Blair's WMD claims.'

(Ibid.)

'[British] Intelligence Bosses Ignored Experts' Doubts over Iraq's Wmd'
Gavil Cordon, PA News, The Scotsman

'Intelligence chiefs ignored warnings from their own leading experts that they could not be certain Iraq had chemical and biological weapons, an ex-intelligence official who gave crucial evidence to the Hutton Inquiry claimed yesterday.

'Dr Brian Jones, a former branch head in the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS), said that the most senior intelligence officials may have "misinterpreted" key evidence on Iraq's weapons programmes.

'He also disclosed, in an article for The Independent, that he and a DIS colleague had formally complained about the Iraq dossier because they feared that they would be made "scapegoats" after the war when no weapons were found.

'Dr Jones's disclosures ... also cast new doubts on the role played by the Joint Intelligence Committee [JIC] — which includes the heads of all the intelligence agencies — and its chairman, John Scarlett.

'At the time, Dr Jones headed the branch within the DIS scientific and technical directorate which was responsible for analysing all intelligence on nuclear, chemical and biological warfare.

'He described his team as the "foremost group of analysts in the West" on the subject.

'But he said that when they had warned that the dossier had overstated the case that the Iraqis still had chemical weapons (CW) and biological weapons (BW), they were overruled.

'DIS was told that the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, had other intelligence to back up the claims but it was considered to be so sensitive that it was "compartmented" and not shown to the other agencies [My emphasis. ... or, that it was a lie so brazen that any "details" would quickly have been seen through.]

'However, Dr Jones said that did not satisfy the experts in DIS. ...'

'A letter addressed to the White House and containing the lethal poison ricin was intercepted in November [2003], US police sources have revealed. ...

'A US security source said that the White House package was found to contain ricin of "low potency". [What next? Health-giving cyanide?] ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 4 Feb. 04, p.109)

This story may be a diversionary tactic to say that the cabal's front men "were targeted too". (We didn't get any publicity at the time about this alleged incident, in sharp contrast to the current one.)

For the ricin story, see also "Poison threat stymies Capitol", Kansas city newspaper, 4 Feb. 04.

'Pakistan's top nuclear scientist has confessed to leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

'Abdul Qadeer Khan met President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday [4 Feb. 04] and later went on TV to accept full responsibility for all nuclear transfers ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 4 Feb. 04, p.114)

Comrade Khan has joined Comrades Ryder, Birt, Dyke, Gregson and Gilligan (of the BBC) in apologising for his errors. We may ask again, as so many Soviet citizens did (very privately) during the Great Purge — can they all really have done what they are confessing to?

All we lack now is the mass physical terror (that is, outside the conquered territories); at that will surely follow, sooner or later ...

'BBC APOLOGISES ON INTERVIEW

'The BBC apologised over a Jeremy Paxman interview which ended in a police chief walking out.

'Chief Constable David Westwood stormed off BBC2's Newsnight programme after he was repeatedly questioned about errors over Soham killer Ian Huntley.

'Mr Westwood complained the interview had been "edited misleadingly" and gave the impression he was trying to avoid answering difficult questions.'

(ITV Teletext, 4 Feb. 03, p.314)

'[British] PM ADMISSION ON [45-minute WMD] CLAIM

'Tony Blair was unaware that the "45 minute claim" in the Iraq dossier referred only to battlefield weapons when he asked MPs to vote for war.

'The Prime Minister told MPs [at the House of Commons] that he had not known what sort of weapons were being referred to at the time of the crucial Commons vote on March 18 [2003]. [However, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said he did know.] ...

(ITV Teletext, 4 Feb. 04)

5 February 04

'INDEPENDENT[:] BBC governors spurned their lawyers' advice that the Hutton report was legally flawed and instead offered the apology that No 10 demanded.'

(ITV Teletext, p.328, reviews of British papers)

'BBC "IGNORED LAWYERS' ADVICE"

BBC governors spurned their lawyers' advice that the Hutton Report was legally flawed, it has been reported.

'A 135-page document leaked to The Independent reportedly outlines 12 key ares Lord Hutton ignored and said i=his findings were legally "wrong".

'But a spokesman for the BBC governors denied the claims, adding: "The BBC had already accepted during the course of the inquiry that mistakes were made".'

(ITV Teletext, 5 Feb. 04, p.303)

'BBC STAFF TO PROTEST OVER HUTTON

'Thousands of BBC staff are to stage a nationwide protest against politicians' "pressure and interference" following the Hutton Report.

'Demonstrations are due to be held outside BBC buildings across the UK.

'They were organised by the National Union of Journalists and broadcasting union Bectu, who say they are urging protests but not industrial action.

'NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said: "The Hutton Report poses a real and grave threat to journalism".'

(BBC Ceefax, 5 Feb. 04, p.106)

Abdulghani Mzoudi, who has been on trial in Germany, charged with involvement in the planning for 9/11, has been acquitted.

He said he knew the "hijackers" (Mohammed Atta, et al), but was unaware of the so-called plot.

CIA chief George Tenet has said that Iraq posed "no imminent threat" before the invasion.

The US Senate's Russell Building was reopened "at noon" (EST?), after the ricin scare; other buildings are expected to re-open soon.

(BBC Ceefax, 5 Feb. 04, p.119)

6 February 04

'LAWYERS ATTACK TERROR TRIAL PLANS [for UK]

'Plans to make it easier to convict UK terror suspects have been condemned by a group of leading barristers.

'The group had been appointed to work as special advocates in immigration cases but opposes plans to roll out the scheme to include UK [citizen] terror suspects.

'Home Secretary David Blunkett is pushing for non-jury trials which would take place in secret.

'But five of the barristers due to play a central role in the plans have dismissed the idea as "untenable".

(BBC Ceefax, p.119)

'BUSH LAUNCHES IRAQ WMD COMMISSION

'President Bush has named a panel to probe pre-war intelligence failures over Iraq, where no weapons of mass destruction have been found.

''The commission will be co-chaired by a Republican and a Democrat and includes maverick Senator John McCain.

'It will also look at what the US knew about weapons programmes in North Korea, Iran and Libya.

'The commission is to submit its report by 31 March 2005 — well after November's US presidential election.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.110)

7 February 04

'Austria's Der Standard describes as "unsatisfactory" CIA director George Tenet's defence of the US intelligence agencies' work before the war in Iraq.

'"His explanations rather fail to shed light on the matter," the paper said.

'It says Mr Tenet's speech on Thursday [5 Feb. 04] said more about his "precarious position" than about the issue itself.

'It suggests "he had to guard against accusing President Bush of interpreting secret intelligence in a biased way".'

(BBC Ceefax, p.147, reviews of European papers)

An opinion rather naive, and behind-the-times. Tenet is/was — one of — Bush's string-pullers. And, when push comes to shove, he would rather set the President up to take it than himself.

8 February 04

'The top story in the Observer is a claim that "Britain spied on UN allies over war vote".

'The paper alleges translators and analysts at GCHQ [General Communications Headquarters, Cheltemham, England] "were ordered to co-operate with an American 'surge' on Security Council delegations".'

(BBC Ceefax, p.148, reviews of British papers)

Last year there surfaced a story that the US was bugging the UN in connection with this.

'... The information was intended for US Secretary of State Colin Powell before his presentation on weapons of mass destruction to the Security Council on 5 February [2003]. ...

'Details of the operation were first revealed in The Observer on the eve of the war last year, after the leaking of a top-secret memo from the NSA requesting British help.

'But until today it was not known whether British spy chiefs had agreed to participate. The operation was ordered before deliberations over a second UN resolution and targeted the so-called "swing nations" on the Security Council — Chile, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Angola, Guinea and Pakistan — whose votes were needed to proceed to war.

'The first evidence has also emerged that China, a permanent member of the Security Council, was a likely target of the operation. ...'

The data apparently comes from Katherine Gun, a translator at GCHQ sacked last June and arraigned for trial recently for breaching the Official Secrets Act. (See January 2004 diary, under 19 January.) 'The former translator says she leaked an e-mail from US spies in an attempt to prevent the "illegal" war in Iraq.'

The Observer/Guardian has an online facsimile of the email, which is the evident source of this story.

'INDEPENDENT[:] One of three pre-war [British] intelligence reports warned [the UK government that] information on whether Saddam Hussein still held WMD was "inconsistent" and "sparse".

(ITV Teletext, 8 Feb. 04, p.328, reviews of British papers)

'BLAST TESTS WMD ATTACK RESPONSE [in Britain]

'Emergency services are to be put to the test in an exercise to see how they would deal with a radioactive, biological, chemical or nuclear attack.

'The operation in Wrexham, north Wales, is intended to test the response and co-operation of the services.

'North Wales Police are overseeing the exercise — codenamed Damaged Dragon — at an industrial estate.

'There will be a controlled explosion and the council's contingency plan will start operating.'

(BBC Ceefax, 8 Feb. 04, p.112)

North Wales police have been one of the bodies forward in pushing "modernizing" state measures. The Chief Constable already proposed legalizing all drugs in Dec. 2001 (thus legitimizing circus for the mob). They have also led the way in the use, in Britain, of weapons such as plastic bullets on civilians ...

Former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said on BBC TV's Breakfast With Frost today that the "ready-in-45-minutes" claim for Iraqi WMD was used like a sales pitch for the Iraq invasion (which had other motives).

(BBC Ceefax, 8 Feb. 04)

9 February 04

'ELITE AGENCY [SOCA] TO FIGHT CRIME [in UK]

'Tony Blair has announced the creation of an elite new law enforcement agency to combat organised crime.

'The Serious Organised Crime Agency [SOCA] is expected have more than 5,000 investigators probing crimes such as drug trafficking and people smuggling.

'The PM said the new FBI-style agency must be "ruthless" to break down the complex networks established by international crime lords.'

(ITV Teletext, p.303)

'BLAIR HINTS AT CRIME SHAKE-UP

'Tony Blair has hinted at some radical proposals which could feature in Government plans to target the country's most serious criminals.

'Launching the Serious Organised Crime Agency in London, the PM appeared to suggest criminals may be required to explain how they acquired their wealth.

'Mr Blair also hinted that the burden of proof in organised crime cases may be lowered to help secure convictions. [My emphasis.]'

(ITV Teletext, 9 Feb. 04, p.304)

Operation Distract/Justify, part III ...

'US REVEALS "AL-QAEDA IRAQ PLOT"

'Al-Qaeda plans to stir sectarian hatred among Iraq's Muslims as part of its fight against US troops, according to a document disclosed by the Americans.

'US officials believe the memo came from Abu Musal al-Zaraqawi, a suspected Jordanian militant with al-Qaeda ties.

'The message bemoans extremists' failure to expel US troops from Iraq — but suggests igniting the Shia-Sunni conflict could rescue the resistance ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 9 Feb. 04, p.106)

... Colin Powell says it tends to confirm the "pre-war links" between Iraq and Qaeda that some of them alleged.

But a commentator (on BBC News 24) questioned the authenticity of the letter (supposedly from Zaraqawi), saying that Qaeda doesn't commit its plans to paper.

Al-Qaeda being a mirror of the US cabal, does it mean that the latter is intending a dissension-sowing strategy in Iraq (perhaps as a means to justify a continuing US military presence in the country)?

'Colin Powell has demanded that Pakistan dismantle "by its roots" the secret networks of nuclear technology deals ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 9 Feb. 04, p.120)

10 February 04

'[W]riting in the Mail, John Stalker has "grave reservations" [about the proposed SOCA anti-crime agency] and says his experience of the US makes him fear we may be creating a "monstrous agency".'

(BBC Ceefax, p.148, reviews of British papers)

Britain's Prince Charles is in Saudi Arabia, after visiting Iraq and Iran.

'N KOREA DENIES NUCLEAR DISCLOSURE

'North Korea has denied an admission by Pakistan's top nuclear scientist that he sold nuclear weapons technology to the Communist state.

'A statement by a foreign ministry spokesman described the claim as "false propaganda" spread by the US, the state-run KCNA news agency reported.

'The spokesman said a "US smear campaign" justified Pyongyang's moves "to build a nuclear deterrent force".

'It was North Korea's first official response to the Pakistan disclosure.'

(BBC Ceefax, 10 Feb. 04, p.113)

While the Hindustan Times, in its story "China denies role in nuclear proliferation", on behalf of India's Big Buddy in America, conveniently highlights the real target of US cabal's campaign against North Korea.

A bomb outside a police station in Iskandariyah, south of Baghdad, has killed 35 — 50 people, mostly civilians. People for the new police force were being recruited there at the time.

The true extent of US military casualties in Iraq is being covered up, according to British Channel 4 News (10 Feb. 04). ...

11 February 04

Another bomb, this time at an Iraqi army recruiting site in Baghdad, has killed dozens more.

Bush speech to focus on WMD proliferation
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN.com, 11 Feb. 04

'President Bush [today] will make a major policy speech on combating the [?!] proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, a senior administration official said.

'Bush is scheduled to speak Wednesday afternoon at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington. The speech will be a follow-up to a May 2001 address in which he asked the international community to confront the threats of weapons of mass destruction. ...

'The official said Bush will argue that the September 11 attacks showed "what 19 people could do with planes and box cutters" and forced him to see the world through a different prism. [My emphasis. "Shock and Awe" is what will shock people hardened on an established course into a new one, according to Kenneth Adelman (citing in this case the atomic attacks on Japan). 9/11 was precisely another such example ...] ...'

Bush will cite two alleged sources of WMD proliferation, according to the same article. One is the "evil axis" states, the other (topically and conveniently "black market entrepreneurs such as Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist who turned over nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya". (The article goes on to say that "[President] Musharraf [of Pakistan] pardoned Khan after the father of Pakistan's nuclear program admitted he gave nuclear secrets to other countries".)

Bush's speech highlighted "nuclear proliferation" and, of course, the evergreen "Qaeda" ...

(BBC Ceefax)

12 February 04

'GUARDIAN[:] A Middle East-based British businessman has emerged as a key suspect in a secret network supplying equipment to build nuclear bombs.'

(ITV Teletext, p.328, reviews of British papers)

Britain's most senior judge, Lord Woolf, has criticised Home Secretary Blunkett's plans for secret non-jury trials and lessening of the burden of proof in certain criminal cases. He said he hoped Blunkett had been misquoted.

(BBC Ceefax, 12 Feb. 04)

'The report also mentions that "On Wednesday [11 Feb. 04], Attorney General Lord Goldsmith said the idea of changing the standard of proof from 'beyond all reasonable doubt' to the 'balance of probabilities' raised serious issues. ..."

'PRESIDENTS FACE SEPT 11 QUIZ

'US President George Bush and former President Bill Clinton will be asked to testify in public at the commission investigating the September 11 attacks.

''Their vice presidents will also give evidence to the probe into possible intelligence warnings received before the 2001 terrorist suicide attacks.

'But commission chairman Thomas Kean conceded that all four would probably decline to be questioned in public.'

(ITV Teletext, 12 Feb. 04, p.311)

An unnamed Israeli soldier has been charged with the manslaughter of peace activist Tom Hurndall in the Gaza Strip last year.

(ITV Teletext, 12 Feb. 04, p.314)

'US SOLDIER HELD IN "AL-QAEDA" PROBE

'an American soldier has been detained on suspicion of trying to sell information about military weapons to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

'Ryan Anderson, 26, a National Guardsman at a Washington state base, was held after a surveillance operation at his unit, which is preparing to go to Iraq.

'It is thought he did not pass on any information [that'd be a job ...], but may have tried to contact al-Qaeda through the internet.

'Officials said he had converted to Islam within the past few years.'

(BBC Ceefax, 12 Feb. 04)

13 February 04

The Butler Inquiry, into pre-war "Iraqi WMD intelligence", 'said it would concentrate on the systems and procedures that were in place, rather than the actions of individuals'. The Liberal Democrats say this justifies their boycott of the Inquiry.

'All hearings [at the Inquiry] will be held in private to avoid giving the public only a partial impression of the evidence [my emphases]'.

(BBC Ceefax, p.104)

It's probably not self-parody, in spite of the strong appearance to the contrary, but an example of the twisted, black-is-white logic of the nascent New Totalitarian Age.

And of course, as all good Brothers from the last such Age will recall, Ignorance is Strength.

'Microsoft says parts of the tightly-guarded blueprints of its Windows operating system have been leaked over the internet ...

'It is the second major security breach announced by Microsoft this week.'

(BBC Ceefax, 13 Feb. 04, p.110)

14 February 04

'CONCERNS OVER US COMPUTER VOTING

'Two leading American experts on computer voting have warned that the forthcoming US presidential election could be more chaotic than the last.

'They told a Seattle conference that the new systems may be less reliable than those used four years ago. [Yum yum yum! What opportunities for a massage job! Or are the two boys trying to explain away fraudulent voting in advance?]

'The issue of voting systems came to the fore during the controversy over ballot papers in the crucial state of Florida.

'The question of what really counts as a vote — a clear hole in a ballot paper, or a bulge? — was hotly debated.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.115)

The sad, shaggy, slow, suffocating end of the constitutional, electoral state. Drawn out over the 21st century ...

15 February 04

'[SUNDAY] TIMES[:] The BBC could be dismantled and its editorial independence curbed in the wake of the row over Iraq, according to leaked Government papers.'

(ITV Teletext, p.328, reviews of British papers)

I've just come across this article:- "What has become of Britain's 500 'terrorist suspects'?", BBC News online, 4 Dec. 03. The article says, "Of the [over] 500 people arrested in Britain under the Terrorism Act [of 2000] since 9/11, so far only seven have been convicted. What has happened to the others?"

It says that, of the 529 people arrested under the Act, 77 have been charged under it. (In addition 17 foreign nationals are being held in indefinite dentention under emergency powers introduced in late 2001.)

Almost all the rest "have yet to come to trial, although custody time limits mean that those who have been on remand the longest can expect to be tried soon".

In other words, around 500 people have been continuously detained in connection with "terrorism" Britain since 9/11. This puts a rather different perspective on what I (naively and carelessly) imagined were the "only 14" (in fact 17) detentions since September 11, in apparent contrast to the 1,000-odd detained in the USA from the same date.

The BBC article goes on to mention that "As its name suggests, the Terrorism Act 200 actually pre-dates the attacks of 11 September 2001. The legislation ... came into force in February of 2001 ...

"Critics say the sweeping poweres granted by the law, which lower the normal standards of reasonable suspicion, have been used to target Muslims in particuolar. ..."

This was indeed a law in search of a raison d'etre ...

16 February 04

Iran denies hiding atomic designs
Reuters, 16 Feb. 04

'TEHRAN (Reuters) — Iran has not hidden from U.N. inspectors sensitive research on specialised equipment capable of producing material for nuclear bombs, a senior Iranian official has been quoted as saying.

'Diplomats told Reuters last week that [the] International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had uncovered designs in Iran for "G2" uranium-enrichment centrifuges, fuelling renewed U.S. accusations that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons.

'But Hossein Mousavian, head of foreign relations at Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the G2 research was at an early stage and the IAEA had been informed about it.

''"Iran is carrying out very basic studies and research on G2 centrifuges and it has informed the agency about it," Mousavian told Hamshahri newspaper.

'"It is not something the agency has discovered, Iran has informed the agency about it... It's a sheer lie that Iran is manufacturing G2 centrifuges." ...'

'A date has been set for the start of an inquiry into how Soham killer Ian Huntley got a school job despite being the subject of sex-related allegations.

'The Bichard Inquiry has announced that it will begin the hearings on 26 February. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, p.113)

'Terrorists may be in the final stages of planning an attack in Saudi Arabia, the [British] Foreign Office has warned.

'It has issued fresh guidance to travellers about the possibility of an imminent attack. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 16 Feb. 04, p.105)

Marvellous knowledge these chaps always seem to have, for the (still ostensibly foreign) Islamic Oil Zone. And, it seems too, marvellously difficult for them to actually thwart them ...

'British pilots' leaders will fly to the US for talks on airline security amid concerns over flights cancelled because of American intelligence information.

'The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) will ask the American airline pilots' association how intelligence is gathered and tested.

'Balpa has also urged the UK government to investigate US security information. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 16 Feb. 04)

17 February 04

The Home Office in Britain has issued a new set of guidelines to police on the Data Protection Act, in the wake of the Huntley Soham murder case (cf. yesterday).

Which is doubtless a guidepost on the way to (effective) conviction by suspicion ...

'US BISHOP GUILTY OF HIT-AND-RUN

'A US Roman Catholic bishop has been found guilty of leaving the scene of a fatal hit-and-run incident.

'The conviction makes Thomas O'Brien the first Catholic bishop in US history to be convicted of a felony. {My emphasis.]

'The bishop of Phoenix, Arizona, left his post shortly after his arrest last June, though no specific reason for his decision was given at the time.

'He faces up to four years in jail over the incident, which caused the death of 43-year-old carpenter Jim Reed.'

(BBC Ceefax, 17 Feb. 04, p.123)

When they came for the communists, I didn't protest, because I wasn't a communist. When they came for the Jews, I didn't protest, because I wasn't a Jew. When they came for the Catholics, I didn't protest, because I wasn't a Catholic. And when they came for me, there was no-one left to protest.

'[British] POLICE CALL FOR ID CARDS

'The introduction of ID cards could have stopped Ian Huntley getting a job as a school caretaker, the inquiry into the Soham murder has heard.

'The Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, told the Bichard Inquiry ID cards [can't they say "identity cards" anymore?] could have stopped Huntley using a dual identity.

'A spokesman said: "Verification of an individual's identity will continue to be problematic without ID cards".'

(ITV Teletext, 17 Feb. 04, p.307)

The Soham case was an opportunity (such as from-time-to-time arises) for an experiment in police-state methods, and also a lever (one of various) for erecting an actual police state. This plan is now unfolding.

'The British Embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus has been closed to the public for security reasons.

'The Foreign Office confirmed on Tuesday [today] the measure had been in place since last Tuesday. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 17 Feb. 04, p.112)

18 February 04

Falconer open to stricter anti-terrorism measures
Jason Beattie, The Scotsman

'Radical options in the fight against terrorism should not be ruled out by the government, the Lord Chancellor [He-Who-Is-To-Be-Abolished] said last night.

'Lord Falconer of Thoroton appeared to give his backing to further Draconian anti-terrorism powers, depending on the threat to the UK.

'"The worse the threat, the more significant the changes to current arrangements," he said.

'My position on terrorism is simple — there are no options we should refuse to consider, but it must be in the framework of the rule of law and our international human rights obligations. ...'

Having uttered a statement worthy of the depths of 20th-century totalitarianism ("there are no options we should refuse to consider"), Falconer immediately "qualifies" it with another phrase ("but it must be within the framework", etc), which is in fact in contradiction to it. And how soon will it be before even this fig-leaf concession to the old constitutional state vanishes?

'NORWAY[:] The leader of suspected Iraqi terror group Ansar al-Islam [Mullah Krekar] was freed amid reports the testimony against him was obtained through torture.'

(ITV Teletext, 18 Feb. 04, p.318)

or go to the full report:- "Terror Network", BBC Newsnight, 26 Jan. 04 [transcript date, 27 Jan.]

'200 DIE IN IRAN TRAIN BLAST

'A train carrying fuel and chemicals has derailed, setting off blasts in north-east Iran which killed more than 200 people and devastated five villages.

'Officials news reports said the local governor, mayor and fire chief were killed, along with 182 fire and rescue workers. [Shades of the WTC!] At least 400 people were hurt.

'The 51 wagons were carrying sulphur, fuel oil and fertilizer when they blew up outside the city of Neyshabur.'

(ITV Teletext, 18 Feb. 04, p.303)

We've entered the Middle East accident season once again. Remember (to quote one leading event) those two trains which caught fire at opposite ends of the Mideast oil zone within days of each other? (Was it two years ago?) Hundreds were incinerated in each incident, in Gujarat (north-western India) and Egypt.

The Gujarat incident, at least, turned out to be an attack, apparently by Muslims, on Hindus. 1,000 to 2,000 Muslims were killed in revenge attacks. But the Gujarat state government was at the time (and maybe still is) carrying out an experiment in Muslim repression. The state government, like the national Indian government, is controlled by the Hindu-fundamentalist Janata Party — the junior allies of Big Buddy cabal in Washington.

21 February 04

'MI5 EXPANDS TO MEET TERROR THREAT

'The government is to expand the home security service — MI5 — by 50% in response to the terrorist threat in the UK, the BBC has learned.

'Home Secretary David Blunkett will announce plans to recruit another 1,000 staff in parliament next week ["to take the total to 3,000, the same level seen during World War II" (ITV Teletext, p.303)].

'It will take several years to find and vet the staff, principally to carry out surveillance and intelligence work [+ some linguists (Teletext)].

'Opposition parties welcomed the news, though a Conservative Party spokesman said the expansion was overdue.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.112)

Surprise surprise! ...

'NO IRAQ POLL BEFORE 2005 — BREMER

'The chief US administrator for Iraq says the UN estimates that "technical problems" will prevent full elections taking place for at least a year. [So now we're hearing the US cabal's version of what the UN "estimates"?! Soon, one Brotherly Mouth speaking for the whole world ...]

'In an interview with an Arabic TV station, Paul Bremer pointed to a lack of democratic and legislative [_____] in Iraq.

'The country's Shia majority have called for direct polls instead of a phased transition planned by the coalition.

'But a UN commission sent to Iraq found early elections were unfeasible.'

(BBC Ceefax, 21 February 04, p.120)

It is a central aim of the Kissinger-Cheney Siamese clique (don't forget Bremer was manager of Kissinger Associates for years) to consolidate Iraq as a central staging-post for the projected Mideast oil empire. It's necessary, of course, to continue to pay lip service to liberty, democracy and the American Way — for the time being at least.

Since the demise of the Soviet bloc, the UN has become more liable to one-sided puppetization by the remaining superpower. But the UN has so far contrived — just — to keep its head of independence above water.

How were the personnel and methods of this current UN commission managed? ...

'GUARDIAN[:] The Ministry of Defence may face a string of lawsuits over the deaths of at least 18 Iraqi civilians allegedly killed by British soldiers.'

(ITV Teletext, 21 Feb. 04, p.328, reviews of British papers)

'[Financial Times:] A Pakistani-led black market network airlifted radioactive material to Libya in 2001 aboard a Pakistani airliner, a Malaysian police report has said.'

(Malaysia is of course run by the worthy Dr Mahathir ...)

'JAPAN[:] Riot police have been ordered to guard airports and nuclear plants amid fears of possible terrorist attacks as the country deploys troops in Iraq.'

(ITV Teletext, 21 Feb. 04, p.318)

Two Red Cross personnel say they have seen Saddam Hussein, held captive by the Yanks "somewhere in Iraq", and have received a letter from him for his relatives.

22 February 04

'The SAS and US special forces in Pakistan are "poised to seize" Osama bin Laden, reports the Sunday Express.

(BBC Ceefax, p.148, reviews of British papers)

The utterances of this gutter agitprop front must always be treated with caution. But it's always possible the US/Brits are preparing to stage another spectacular "show-capture", like that of Saddam Hussein.

'Evidence gained from "electronic eavesdropping" [by the British "security"/"intelligence" services) on phone calls could be used in court as part of new anti-terrorism powers, the Observer reports.

'This could enable cases involving some of 14 terror suspects detained without trial to come to court, the paper says.'

(Ibid.)

Which, since our services will tend to be reluctant to reveal their "sources", will be another nail in the coffin of traditional standards of proof, substituting the taking of High Authority's word.

23 February 04

'NEW POWERS FOR [British] "FBI-STYLE POLICE"

'New powers giving investigators access to confidential client details held by lawyers, bankers and accountants are due to be unveiled, the Times reports.

'The newspaper said the measures were among plans for the new FBI-style Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).

'The powers would reportedly target professionals with links to criminals, who could face fines or prison if they refused to co-operate.

Civil liberties campaigners would oppose the move, said the paper.'

(BBC Ceefax)

'The Daily Telegraph leads on the Jerusalem suicide bombing [claimed by the al-Aqsa Brigades, which killed eight] on the eve of an international court hearing into Israel's security barrier.

'In terms of building support for the barrier, the attack created "a script that even an Israeli spin doctor could scarcely have invented", the paper says. [My emphasis.]'

(BBC Ceefax, 23 Feb. 04, p.148, reviews of British papers)

'The Daily Mirror has details of MI5's "bizarre internet quiz" aimed at finding 1,000 new spies.' (Ibid.)

'IRAN[:] The government admitted publicly to buying nuclear equipment from an international black market, including dealers on the Indian subcontinent.'

(ITV Teletext, 23 Feb. 04, p.318)

'The US is moving a secret commando unit from Iraq to Afghanistan to step up the hunt for Osama bin Laden, it has been reported in Washington.'

(ITV Teletext, 23 Feb. 04, p.318)

'The US Army is building a second version of [the] Earth on computer to help it prepare for conflicts around the world. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 23 Feb. 04, p.154)

Reminds me of that scene from The Great Dictator, with Adenoid Hynkel (alias Charlie Chaplin) playing with a balloon replica of the Earth (and becoming inconsolable when it burst).

Now our valiant British Marines are getting frostbite in Norway "because of inadequate kit" — "20-year-old sleeping bags"; though "Armed Forces minister Adam Ingren denied poor equipment was to blame for the high number of casualties on the exercise".

(BBC Ceefax West, 23 Feb. 04, p.161)

They'll just have to stick to invading hot countries! ;-)

Meanwhile, a report suggests the Marines may move to the West Country (south-west England).

24 February 04

'[Two] GUANTANAMO INMATES [finally] CHARGED

'The US has brought war crimes charges against two Guantanamo Bay prisoners said to have been aides and bodyguards to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

'A Yemeni man and a Sudanese man will stand trial before the first US military tribunal convened since the Second World War, the pentagon said.

'The tribunals are expected to take place at the US prison camp in Cuba, but no dates have yet been set.'

(ITV Teletext, p.303)

'The five Britons being released from US custody in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba will be flown home in the next few weeks, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 24 Feb. 04, p.304)

'AL-QAEDA "STILL A POTENT THREAT" [says Tenet]

'The head of the CIA has warned that the al-Qaeda terror network remains capable of mounting another 9/11-style attack on America.

'George Tenet said although the network had been seriously damaged it continued to pose a major threat to the United States and its allies.

'Mr Tenet said there was evidence al-Qaeda was planning to recruit [!] airline pilots to carry out attacks. [Perhaps some of those dastardly Balpa pilots who recently questioned the validity of American intelligence. Interesting word, "recruit"; perhaps Tenet was thinking of the new MI5/6 recruitment drive when he used it.]

'Terrorists were still trying to obtain catastrophic weapons, he said.'

(BBC Ceefax, 24 Feb. 04, p.105)

And agitprop a-plenty ('tis the season) ...

'NUCLEAR SUBSTANCE FOUND IN IRAN

'International inspectors have found that Iran has produced and experimented with polonium, a radioactive element that can help trigger a nuclear blast.

'Western diplomatic sources told the BBC [Which ones? Brow-beaten BBC becoming a cabal-agitprop mouthpiece?] that while Iran still insists it had no clandestine weapons programmes, the discovery does raise new questions.

'Iran was previously forced to concede it had not disclosed full details of its centrifuge technology.

'Centrifuges have a vital role in the uranium enrichment process. [Thanks for the helpful explanations, BBC!]'

(BBC Ceefax, 24 Feb. 04, p.105)

'CIA "HAD 9/11 HIJACKER DETAILS"

'US officials were given the first name and telephone number of an 11 September hijacker more than two years before the attacks, the New York Times has said.

'Quoting German officials, the newspaper says the CIA was given the name and number of Marwan al-Shehhi by German intelligence, who wanted him tracked.

'They reportedly did not hear from the Americans until after the 2001 attacks.

'A US commission into the attacks will investigate whether there was a failure to pursue the lead aggressively.'

(BBC Ceefax, 24 Feb. 04)

Well, a first name and phone number was enough to ask him out on a date.

"... The Germans considered the information on Shehhi particluarly valuable, and the [9/11] commission is looking into why it did not lead to greater scrutiny, the {New York Times] said. ..."

25 February 04

Katherine Gun (see above, under 8 Feb.) has had the case against her dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence.

'Mrs Gun was sacked from GCHQ [last year] for leaking a secret memo on an alleged US "dirty tricks" campaign against the UN.'

(ITV Teletext, p.303)

'WAR ADVICE "SPARKED U-TURN" [on Gun's case]

'Lawyers fuelled speculation that the case against Katherine Gun was dropped because of a request for disclosure of advice on the legality of the Iraq war.

'Mrs Gun's legal team served a document to the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service], outlining its intention to ask for disclosure of Attorney's General Lord Goldsmith's advice to ministers. [Last year it was reported that he advised the UK Government that an attack on Iraq would be illegal without specific UN authorization.]

'Hours later, her solicitor James Welch was informed that the case against her had been dropped.'

(ITV Teletext, 25 Feb. 04, p.304)

It's high time to drop our government of war criminals, too, and bring them justice; and their MI5/MI6 string-pullers.

'[British] Home Secretary David Blunkett has confirmed extra funding for MI5. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 25 Feb. 04, p.305/2)

'The [British] Government is considering introducing a range of new offences to combat the threat from terrorists. ...

'A discussion paper on ways to fight terror also suggested a possible relaxation of laws restricting the use of phone tapping evidence in court.'

(ITV Teletext, 25 Feb. 04, p.305/1)

'[British] CONSTITUTIONAL OVERHAUL UNVEILED

'Plans for a radical shake-up of the British constitution and legal system have been unveiled by the government.

'The Constitutional Reform Bill will create a supreme court, abolish the post of Lord Chancellor and set up a new commission to appoint judges.

'The government has described the bill as a vitally needed modernisation.

'The plans are widely expected to face stiff opposition from both Conservative peers [in the House of Lords] and also from some senior members of the judiciary.'

(BBC Ceefax, 25 Feb. 04, p.109)

Indeed, the government had better get a move-on with the creation of a yes-men state, to save their own skins ...

26 February 04

USA[, 25 Feb. 04:] The government commission reviewing September 11 said it was disappointed national security adviser Condoleezza Rice refused to testify in public.'

(ITV Teletext, p.318)

But it, or anyone else, should hardly be surprised.

'INDEPENDENT[:] Tony Blair is facing fresh questions about the legality of the war on Iraq after prosecutors dropped charges against a whistleblower [Katherine Gun].'

(ITV Teletext, 26 Feb. 04, p.328, reviews of British papers)

'UK SPIES "BUGGED UN'S KOFI ANNAN"

'British spies were bugging UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's office in the run-up to the Iraq war, former UK cabinet minister Clare Short has claimed.

'Ms Short said she had read transcripts of some of Mr Annan's conversations.

'She said she recalled thinking, as she talked to Mr Annan, "Oh dear, there will be a transcript of this and people will see what he and I were saying".

'Tony Blair said the claims were "deeply irresponsible" and appeared to cast doubt on her future as a Labour MP.'

(BBC Ceefax, 26 Feb. 04, p.105)

Any attempt to bug Kofi Annan's office would be illegal, UN [chief] spokesman Fred Eckhard said. ...

(BBC Ceefax, 26 Feb. 04, p.104)

'[British] Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has said the decision to drop the trial of GCHQ whistleblower Katherine Gun was taken for legal, not political reasons.'

(BBC Ceefax, 26 Feb. 04, p.106)

'CHURCH ISSUES ABUSE REPORT

'A report for the Boston Archdiocese, at the centre of a sex crisis that shook the Catholic Church, has shown 162 of its priests were accused [!] of abuse.

'The number of priests alleged to have molested youngsters since 1950 is equal to about 7% of 2324 priests who served in the archdiocese in that time. [Nationally, the rate amounted to 4%.]

'The statistics were compiled as part of a nationwide survey of clergy sex abuse conducted by a New York college.'

(ITV Teletext, 26 Feb. 04, p.309)

'US JUDGE BLOCKS TELEGRAPH SALE

'A US judge has ruled that media tycoon Conrad Black had no right to sell off newspaper titles, including the UK's Telegraph stable. [Also the Chicago Sun-Times.]

'The ruling blocks the sale and is a victory for Hollinger International, which publishes the papers.

'Lord Black had agreed to sell his controlling stake in Hollinger International to British millionaire media twins the Barclay brothers.

'The judge ruled that Lord Black's deal injured other shareholders.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.106)

27 February 04

'BLIX'S PHONE TAPPED — REPORT

'UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix had his mobile phone tapped whenever he was in Iraq, with the US and UK sharing any information, it has been reported.

'A source at the Australian intelligence agency was quoted in a broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

'It is claimed that Mr Blix's phone conversations were recorded in the run-up to war and transcripts given to Australia's allies.'

(ITV Teletext, p.304)

28 February 04

'PAKISTAN[:] The US and Pakistan denied Iranian radio reports that Osama bin Laden was captured in an area bordering Afghanistan "a long time ago".'

(ITV Teletext, p.318)

29 February 04

'"LATE CHANGE" IN WAR ADVICE

'The [British] Attorney General changed his advice on the legality of war in the run-up to the Iraq conflict, it is reported.

'Lord Goldsmith reportedly redrafted his advice to ministers assuring them the conflict was legal, something the Army had queried days before bombing began.

'Reacting to the newspaper stories [yesterday, presum.], Downing Street said Lord Goldsmith stood by his legal advice which was "right then and it is right now". [And we may judge Downing Street's sincerity from the fact that they were cliched then, and are cliched now.]'

(ITV Teletext, p.303)

'OBSERVER[:] Britain's Army chiefs refused to go to war in Iraq amid fears over its legality days before bombing began.'

(ITV Teletext, 29 Feb. 04, p.328, reviews of British papers)

'INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY[:] The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, changed his advice in the run-up to war in Iraq to declare the conflict was legal.'

(ITV Teletext, 29 Feb. 04, p.328, reviews of British papers)

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