1 March 2006
US President George Bush has paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan. A preliminary, it seems likely, to a surprise visit to Iran. He breathed the usual phrases about spreading freedom and democracy. Freeing Iran's oil from the Iranians is probably top of his priorities (or rather, of his puppet-masters).
2 March 06
Bush, hotfoot from proclaiming that Iran must not be allowed to get a nuclear weapon (the alleged aim of its nuclear-power program), has signed a nuclear-power deal with India.
'... Mr Bush, on his first visit to India, called the deal "historic".
'But he said it might be hard to get it through the US Congress, which must ratify it. India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) [!! ...
'The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohammed ElBaradei, welcomed the deal, calling India "an important partner in the non-proliferation regime". [Further evidence, if any were needed, that ElBaradei is a petro-puppet.]
'Those opposed to the deal, in the US Congress and elsewhere, disagree.
'Many supporters of the NPT believe the deal ignores India's nuclear weapons programme. ...'
4 March 06
The Toronto Star prints extracts from James Risen's new book, State of War. The book was published in January 06, and its claims were noted in the media at that time (cf. January 2006 diary, under 4 January 06) ...
'CIA used A-bomb plan as bait
U.S. gave flawed design to Iran: Author
'Goal to derail or delay Tehran's work [... or to ensure the pretext to invade the next oil target.]
'In his book, State of War, James Risen includes the startling claim that the U.S. actually handed Tehran the blueprints for an atomic bomb in 2000 [February 2000: see January 2006 diary, under 4 Jan. 06]. ...
'James Risen is the [New York Times] reporter who revealed a secret domestic U.S. wiretapping surveillance program exists in the United States. [Also in State Of War. See December 2005 diary, under 16 Dec. 05.]
5 March 06
John Bolton, US ambassador to the UN, has threatened Iran with "tangible and painful consequences" if it "continues" down the nuclear path, and said the United States will use "all tools at our disposal" to stop this "threat". He was speaking at a convention of Jewish-Americans.
(Reuters, "US warns Iran of consequences of nuclear ambitions", ABC News [USA])
6 March 06
The International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), meeting in Vienna, says it hopes that a deal can be reached with Iran in the next few days over its nuclear programme.
However, the US has said that no deal can be reached with Iran.
Whatever happened to Nazi diplomacy too.
The trial of "twentieth 9/11 hijacker" Zacarias Moussaoui has begun. He faces either death or life in prison.
Moussaoui was arrested a month before 9/11 on immigration charges. Moussaoui's lawyers argue that US government agencies knew more about the plot than he did.
'WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. government will begin this week to detail how much it knew before the September 11 attacks [RFOMBL!] at a trial to decide if Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in the United States in connection with the hijackings, will receive the death penalty. ...
'Moussaoui, 37, pleaded guilty in April [2005] to all six counts against him — three of which carry the death penalty. ...
'The court-appointed defence attorneys say it will be hard to prove that Moussaoui could have told the FBI anything that would have prevented the September 11 hijackings.
'"Substantial evidence will be presented at trial that the United States government knew more about al Qaeda's plans to attack the United States than did Mr. Moussaoui," the defence said in a court filing. [My emphasis.] ...
'When he pleaded guilty last year, Moussaoui said he was not meant to be part of the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon.
'But he told the court he had pledged allegiance to al Qaeda and was "guilty of a broad conspiracy" to use aeroplanes as a weapon, and said he was being trained on a 747 airliner to strike the White House. ...'
7 March 06
US Vice-President Cheney has condemned Iran's nuclear programme, as Defense Secretary Rumsfeld claims that Iran is supplying Iraqi insurgents with roadside bombs to kill soldiers.
It should be obvious by now to even the most opaque-minded and cowardly that the American invasion of Iran is imminent; diplomatic and "air-attack" dissimulations notwithstanding.
Rumsfeld is taking up British claims about roadside bombs. According to the UK's Independent (16 October 05), the technology was first supplied by MI5 and the "FRU" to the IRA in the early 1990s. The "FRU's" successor, the SRR, has been active in southern Iraq, and last September two of its members were caught in Basra, disguised as Arabs, with a carload of explosives and a detonator. (See "The Special Reconnaissance Regiment".)
And doubtless terror-alerts, actual terror attacks, and "bird-flu pandemics" are prepared as contingencies to provide the pretext for squashing the inevitable mass popular opposition that the invasion of the next Gulf-oil target will engender.
And how about child-porn or child-molestation allegations against leading oppositionists, or (stealing a march here from the old Communist Bloc) incarceration in asylums for the politically insane?
The latest on Cheney and Rumsfeld was on British Channel 4 News tonight, which is this week running a series of items on Iran. (See "www.channel4.com/iran".)
8 March 06
The US government has broadened its attack on Iran to WMD in general (according to British Channel 4 News, continuing its Iran Week.
It also reiterated its claim that Iran has enough nuclear material for ten bombs.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is referring Iran to the Security Council.
In a response to John Bolton's menaces (See above, under 5 March 06), the Iranian representative to the IAEA said,
"The United States may have the power to cause harm and pain, but it is also susceptible to harm and pain. So, if the United States wishes to choose that path, let the ball roll.
It seems that, in the process of empire-formation, imperator and targets alike play their roles. ...
9 March 06
How convenient for petro-imperialism, and how like Nazi Germany mutatis mutandis the Jews ...
Negative Perception of Islam Increasing
Poll numbers in U.S. Higher Than in 2001
Claudia Deane and Darryl Fears, Washington Post, p.A01
'As the war with Iraq grinds into its fourth year, a growing proportion of Americans are expressing unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority now say that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
'The poll found that nearly one half of Americans — 46 percent — now have a negative view of Islam, seven percentage points higher than in the tense months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, when Muslims were often targeted for violence.
'The survey comes at a time of increasing tension; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq show little sign of ending, and members of Congress are seeking to block the Bush administration's attempt to hire an Arab [UAE] company to manage operations at six ports. Also, Americans are reading news of deadly protests by Muslims over Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammed. ...
'Ronald Stockton, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan at Dearborn who helped conduct a study of Arabs in the Detroit area and on views of them held by non-Arabs, said an exceptionally high percentage of non-Muslims feels the media depicts Arabs unfairly, yet still holds negative opinions.
'"You're getting a constant drumbeat of negative information about Islam," he said. ...'
Iran 'poses major US challenge'
BBC News online, 9 March 06
'Iran may pose a greater challenge than any other nation to the US, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said.
'She said Iran was determined to develop nuclear weapons, was the "central banker for terrorism" in the Middle east and was a block to democracy.
'Her comments to a Congressional hearing in Washington came as Iran vowed to resist international pressure over its nuclear programme. ...
'Ms Rice said: "We face no greater challenge from a single country than from Iran, whose policies are directed at developing a Middle East that would be 180 degrees different than the Middle East that we would like to see develop." [And we cannot but agree with Ms Reich.] ...'
10 March 06
'The U.S. military will rely primarily on Iraq's security forces to put down a civil war in that country if one breaks out, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told lawmakers yesterday. ...'
(Ann scott Tyson, "U.S. Sets Plans to Aid Iraq in Civil War", Washington Post)
And so the 150,000 US troops in the country are for ...? It's on the tip of your tongue ...
11 March 06
Milosevic 'found dead in prison'
BBC News online
'Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has died in The Hague, radio reports and his lawyer say.
'Steven Kay, Mr Milosevic's lawyer, told BBC News 24 that he had been found dead in his cell on Saturday [today] morning.
'Mr Milosevic, 64, has been on trial at the UN war crimes tribunal for genocide and other war crimes.
'The tribunal last month rejected a request by Mr Milosevic to go to Russia for medical treatment. He had high blood pressure and a heart condition.'
Recently a leading Croat military figure "committed suicide" after being convicted of war crimes during the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Is this the new justice? Who's next, Saddam Hussein? ...
Milosevic's Serbian lawyer says that Milosevic told him only yesterday that he was worried about being poisoned.
Though I wouldn't put it past Slobo to commit suicide partly in order to incriminate the West for his "murder".
12 March 06
Milosevic died of a heart attack caused by two heart conditions, a pathologist at the Hague has said. The results of a blood test will be released "as soon as possible".
Sixty-six people have been killed in bomb attacks and shootings in Baghdad.
The British Channel 4 News docu-drama "The Road To Guantanamo" ends with the statistic that, of about 750 people who passed through the camp, only ten were ever charged (never mind convicted).
Together with similar stats about the 1000-odd detained in the US after 9/11, and the hundreds detained in Britain under terror laws, this gives us one handle on the unreality of the Qaeda chimera ...
Eight hundred British troops are to be withdrawn from Iraq by May 2006, UK Defence Secretary John Reid has announced.
Blood tests on Milosevic's corpse have revealed the presence of a drug which would have cancelled the effect of his heart treatment — and worse. The Russians want to carry out their own tests.
A Dutch toxicologist suggested Milosevic was trying to damage his health as a pretext to go to Russia "for treatment".
Bush has echoed Cheney's and Rice's comments on Iran's nuclear programme. (Cf. above, under 7 and 9 March 06.)
In an evident continued continuation of Operation Surround-Iran-With-Bird-Flu, Azerbaijan reports that three people have died of avian influenza.
Previous human fatalities have occurred in eastern Turkey and northern Iraq, both bordering on Iran. (In northern Afghanistan, it was a different "disease': British troops were sent to deal with "anti-Mohammed-cartoon rioting".)
13 March 06
Former top judge says US risks edging near to dictatorship
Julian Borger, The Guardian (UK)
'Sandra Day O'Connor, a Republican-appointed judge who retired last month after 24 years on the supreme court, has said the US is in danger of edging towards dictatorship if the party's rightwingers continue to attack the judiciary.
'In a strongly-worded speech at Georgetown University, reported by National Public Radio and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Ms O'Connor took aim at Republican leaders whose repeated denunciations of the courts for alleged liberal bias could, she said, be contributing to a climate of violence against judges.
'Ms O'connor, nominated by Ronald Reagan as the first woman supreme court justice, declared: "We must be ever-vigilant against those who would strong-arm the judiciary."
'She pointed to autocracies in the developing world and former Communist countries as lessons on where interference with the judiciary might lead. "It takes a lot of degeneration before a country falls into dictatorship, but we should avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings." ...'
14 March 06
Israeli forces stormed a jail for top Palestinian "terrorists" after British and American monitors "suddenly" withdrew. This sparked attacks in the Palestinian territories on British targets and kidnappings of Westerners.
The move was said to be because the monitors felt increasingly unprotected by the Palestinian Authority — which threatens to pass, despite efforts to the contrary, into the hands of the elected Hamas.
But was another, more significant reason for the withdrawal the imminence of an Iran invasion? Was it one small, accidentally well-publicized part of a larger-scale withdrawal of specialist personnel in advance such an event? Partly for their own safety, of course, but also to assist in such an invasion? (Cf. the announced withdrawal of 800 British troops from Iraq — see above, under 12 March 06.)
15 March 06
$15 billion has been squandered or misappropriated in Iraq during the last three years, much of it Iraqi, and much of it by US companies contracting in the country.
Halliburton, Vice-President Cheney's "old" company, has had half of reconstruction contracts in Iraq. Though no longer officially in charge of the company, he has great sums in stock options with it, and still receives "compensation" payments. ...
Another company, Custer Battles, received a $2 million advance payment to provide security for an airport, but their work was inadequate ...
Attempts to initiate Congressional investigations have been stymied, and the only punishment was handed out to investigator Bunny Greenhouse, who was called difficult to deal with, and was demoted ...
16 March 06
Bush Reaffirms Pre-Emptive Use of Force
Deb Riechmann, The Associated Press, ABC News (US)
'WASHINGTON — Undaunted by the difficult war in Iraq, President Bush reaffirmed his strike-first policy against terrorists and enemy nations on Thursday [today] and said Iran may pose the biggest challenge for America [funny how he always follows Rice and Cheney]].
'In a 49-page national security report, the president said diplomacy is the U.S. preference in halting the spread of nuclear and other heinous [nice word!] weapons.
'"If necessary, however, [here it comes] under long-standing principles of self-defense, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur ...", Bush wrote.
'Titled "National Security Strategy," the report ... is an updated version of a report Bush issued in 2002. ...
'The report had harsh words for Iran. It accused the regime of supporting terrorists, threatening Israel and disrupting democratic reform in Iraq. Bush said diplomacy to halt Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons work must prevail to avert a conflict.
'"This diplomatic effort must succeed if confrontation is to be avoided," Bush wrote. [And didn't Hitler bend over backwards to avert the invasions of Austria ... Czechoslovakia ... Poland?] ...'
'He did not say what would happen if international negotiations with Iran failed. The Bush administration currently is working to persuade Russia and China to support a proposed U.N. Security Council Resolution demanding that Iran end its uranium enrichment program. ...
'Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced it was moving about 700 additional U.S. troops into Iraq from Kuwait because of the escalating killings there [a cover for larger-scale movements up to the Iranian boarder?] ...'
US launches 'major Iraq assault'
BBC News online, 16 March 06
[But by a comical typing error they hit Iran?]
'The US military says it has launched its biggest air offensive in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, targeting insurgents near the central city of Samarra.
'More than 50 aircraft [mostly helicopters] and 1,500 Iraqi and US troops have been deployed in the operation, a military statement says. ...
'The US military said the assault, dubbed Operation Swarmer, was intended to "clear a suspected insurgent operating area" north-east of Samarra [my emphasis; this is near to the Iranian border].
'The operation is expected to last several days, "as a thorough search of the objective area is conducted. [Time to prepare another forward position for an Iran invasion? ...'
So what gives with this one? ...
US and Iran agree to Iraq talks
BBC News online, 16 March 06
'Iran and the US say they are prepared to hold bilateral talks on Iraq.
'It would be the first public dialogue since the 1979 hostage crisis, after which the nations broke off ties, correspondents say. ...'
'On Wednesday [15 March 06], an influential Iraqi Shia leader had urged "clear dialogue" between the US and Iran on Iraq. "It is in the interests of the Iraqi people that such dialogue is opened," Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim said.
'[Ali] Larijani [the Iranian chief nuclear negotiator] said that Iran "accepted the proposal" to start a dialogue. ...
So, though the talks proposal seems to have been immediately an Iraqi one, the US has been quick to agree ...
Iran, U.S. Disagree Over Goal of Talks
Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times, 18 March 06
'WASHINGTON — A day after raising international hopes by agreeing t hold direct talks about stabilizing Iraq, U.S. and Iranian officials Friday [17 March 06] took a decidedly sharper tone toward each other, differing markedly over the purpose of their planned discussions.
'U.S. officials accused Iran of meddling [!] in Iraq's internal affairs [!!] and said the discussions were aimed only at expressing [!] American unhappiness over the interference. [The roadside ("IRAn") bomb attacks are quite likely the work of US/UK special forces. See "The Special Reconnaissance Regiment" for a possible British example.] In Tehran, senior officials said Iran's goal in meeting with the Americans was to accelerate the U.S. departure from Iraq. ...
'U.S. and Iranian officials fueled expectations for improved relations between the two countries Thursday [16 March 06] when each said that teams of officials would meet to discuss Iraq. On Friday, U.S. officials said arrangements were being made by unidentified intermediaries to set the date and place for a meeting.
'However, differences began to emerge almost immediately. ...
'U.S. officials [said] Friday that the talks would be held to discuss "unhelpful activities in Iraq," including, they alleged, allowing the shipment of components for roadside bombs used in Iraq [see "The Special Reconnaissance Regiment"and sending Iranian military agents into the country.
'"These concerns are well known and we have talked about them," the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said in a statement, adding that "Iraqis will decide the future of Iraq."
'U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Australia, said the talks would be limited in scope, and cast doubt on whether they would take place. ...
'... President Bush's national security adviser, Stephen J. Hadley, charged Friday that Iran's
ID cards Bill returns to Commons
BBC News online, 16 March 06
'The Identity Cards Bill is due to return to the House of Commons after a third defeat in the House of Lords.
'Peers insist it should be voluntary for people who apply for new-style biometric passports to have the details entered on a national database.
'They voted by a majority of 35 to overturn the proposal, which was backed by MPs earlier this week.
'But ministers have threatened to use the Parliament Act to get the bill through without Lords approval. [My emphasis.]...'
It is ironic that the unelected House of Lords is standing for freedom against the elected Commons ...
17 March 06
Patriot Act renewed, repression continues
Emile Schepers, People's Weekly World
'By a vote of 280-138, the House of Representatives has agreed to renew the USA Patriot Act with only minor new safeguards for civil liberties and several troubling new items. As the Senate had already voted 89-10 to renew the act, the legislation was quickly signed by President Bush. ...
'... 397 city and county councils had passed resolutions calling for the repeal of all or part of the [original 2001] act, as had eight state legislatures. ...
'... the [renewed] act [has been] extended with a few positive modifications ...
'But some new negative things were also added. The Secret Service will be able to arrest peaceful demonstrators at "special events of national significance" [My emphasis.] ...'
18 March 06
US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales seems to be continuing the bad work of his predecessor (See "Ashcroft's Paedophile Terror") ...
Google Ordered to Submit Data for Child Pornography Study
Reuters, New York Times
'As expected, a federal judge ruled on Friday [17 March 06] that Google, the Internet search engine, mist turn over some search data including 50,000 Web addresses to the government for a study of child pornography online.
'But the judge, James Ware of the Federal District Court for Northern California, denied a government request that Google be ordered to hand over keywords that customers use to search its database. ...'
'The United States attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, had subpoenaed Google to turn over data the government wanted from the company as part of the Bush administration's attempt to defend the effectiveness of a 1996 online child pornography law.
'During the court hearing on Tuesday [14 March 06] the government reduced the request for data from Google searches to just 50,000 Web addresses and roughly 5,000 search terms from the millions or potentially billions of addresses it had initially sought [my emphasis]. ...
'"The court grants the government's motion to compel only as to the sample of 50,000 URL's from Google's search records index", the judge ruled on Friday [17 March 06], referring to the searchable catalog of documents that form the core of Google's Web search service.
'He ruled that the request for 50,000 Web addresses, or URL's, was a relevant one by the government for use in a statistical study it is doing to defend the constitutionality of its child antipornography law. ...
'In his decision, the judge wrote of the "three vital interests" that needed to be weighed in the case: national interest, proprietary business information and privacy concerns. [Note carefully the ordering here.] ...'
One of the many useful functions of the paedophile campaign is to facilitate the intrusion of police-state spying into the general arena of life. The fear of being "soft on paedophilia" makes it hard to resist. And, on the other side of the coin, such a potent label (or even the threat of it) will make it a powerful weapon against those who oppose the schemes of the upcoming Fourth Reich. ...
19 March 06
Former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi said that Iraq is now in a state of civil war. The country is losing 50 to 60 lives a day in the internecine conflict, he said. "If that isn't civil war, then God knows what is."
21 March 06
US troops in Iraq apparently massacred two families in Haditha, 15 people in all, last November, in reprisal for a roadside bomb which killed a couple of soldiers. The civilian victims all died of shooting in their houses. Time magazine exposed the story.
A further 11 civilians were killed last week (today is Tuesday) to the east in Balad. This is on the Iranian border. (During the course of "Operation Swarmer"?)
Seven British men have gone on trial in the UK on terrorist charges. The men, evidently of Pakistani Muslim culture, were accused of a plot to bomb "pubs, clubs and trains". Three were said to have stored three-quarters of a ton of fertilizer, and aluminium powder, in preparation.
The plot was said to have been hatched in 2003-4; one man in Pakistan, met "al-Qaeda's no. 3". There is also said to be a connection with "al-Mujahiroun", a now-banned organization that has associations with MI5/6 (see "Al-Mujahiroun and its Spinoffs"). Another man, a detainee from America, has been offered immunity in return for "evidence" against the others.
Following the third anniversary of the Iraq invasion (yesterday), PM Tony Blair has made a speech "justifying" the "necessity" of confronting "the worldwide terrorist conspiracy". Reaffirming his role as the yapdog of American petro-imperialism, and perhaps pointing the way to the invasion of the next oil target.
Bush has blathered something similar in America.
Five people have died of bird flu in Azerbaijan, on the north-western border of Iran. (On 12 March 06, Azerbaijan reported that three had died. See above under that date.).
"Bird flu" now extends in an arc (a closing mantle, one might say) around the north-western region of the current oil-invasion target. Further to the south in Iraq, US troops have launched "Operation Swarmer", which may be cover for establishing a forward base for Iran invasion.
And the British are building "their largest military base since World War II" in Afghanistan's Helmand province, possibly as a rear position for such an invasion.
22 March 06
On the second day of the British terror trial, it emerges that they were trying to get an "atomic bomb' — which on closer inspection turns out to be a radiological "dirty bomb", with help from the "Russian Mafia" whom they met in Belgium. Though even the "proposer" of this idea thought it not particularly realistic.
This recycled drivel must suffice to galvanize the public for the invasion of the next oil target.
They were also said to have discussed targeting facilities such as electricity, gas and water stations. But MI5 and Special Branch were hot on their heels ...
Interestingly, relatives of two arrested brothers, Omar and Shujah Khyam, claimed that an MI5 agent calling himself "Mr Gould" visited the pair three times before their arrest in March 2004. Security sources dismissed the claims as "rubbish". (March 2004 diary under 31 March 04.)
Memorial service set for Fort Carson soldiers Dick Foster, Rocky Mountain News, 22 March 06
'A memorial service is scheduled for [today] at Fort Carson for four of its soldiers killed in Iraq [in] February.
'Three of the soldiers ... were killed Feb. 22 when a roadside bomb exploded near their Bradley Fighting vehicle at Balad, Iraq [my emphasis]. ...'
23 March 06
British peacenik Norman Kember, held for over 100 days in Iraq, is freed west of Baghdad by an SAS team, with help from SIS (MI6) and (if we believe the UK's Sun rag) the CIA as well.
24 March 06
Day Three of the British terror trial. American "Qaeda supergrass" Mohammed Babar "reveals" that the plotters considered poisoning football fans with spiked beer or poisoned burgers, etc.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said she is certain talks with Iran about Iraq will take place.
Envoy Accuses Iran of Duplicity in Iraq
Fighters Receive Support, Khalizad Says
Jonathan Finer and Ellen Knickmeyer, Washington Post, 24 March 06, p.A12
'BAGHDAD, March 23 — Iran is publicly professing its support for Iraq's stalemated political process while its military and intelligence services back outlawed militias and insurgent groups, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalizad said Thursday [yesterday].
'Iranian agents train and arm Shiite Muslim militias such as the Mahdi Army, linked to one of Iraq's most powerful clerics [Moqtadr al-Sadr], Khalizad said, and also work closely with Sunni Arab-led insurgent forces including Ansar al-Sunna, blamed for dozens of deadly attacks on Iraqi and American soldiers and Shiite civilians.
'"Our judgement is that training and supplying, direct and indirect, takes place, and that there is also provision of financial resources to people, to militias, and that there is presence of people associated with Revolutionary Guard and with MOIS," the Afghan-born Khalizad said, referring to Iran's main military force and its Ministry of Intelligence and Security. ...'
Russian agents in the US Central Command in Doha told Saddam (wrongly) that the American attack would come mainly from the north, avoiding Iraqi cities, according to a 300-page Pentagon report published today. The (dis-?)information was passed to Iraq via the Russian ambassador in Baghdad.
(BBC Newsnight, 24 March 06
'... One of the most sensitive revelations, which came in a captured letter detailing Russian intelligence on American troop movements, accurately informed Baghdad that U.S. forces were massing south of a narrow passage near the southern city of Karbala.
'The April 2, 2003, letter, which reportedly was passed through Moscow's ambassador to Baghdad, informed Iraq leaders that "the heaviest concentration of troops (12,000 troops plus 1,000 vehicles) was in the vicinity of Karbala. [Didn't the Iraqis know this themselves?]
'The 3rd Infantry Division, the main thrust of the U.S. invasion, eventually captured Baghdad by pushing through the Karbala gap just days later. [So the "information"didn't help Saddam.]
'Other information provided by the Russians, however, was wildly inaccurate, particularly an assertion made both in the April 2 letter and a March 24 document that the main U.S. offensive would come from the western desert, including a major attack from Jordanian soil. [Before the invasion, the Israelis offered US forces passage through Israel, which would have necessitated passage through Jordan as well.] ...'
Colum Lynch and Dafna Linzer, Washington Post, 25 March 06, p.A15
'... [US] Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a telephone conversation Friday [24 March 06] to support a [UN] Security Council statement that would call on Iran to halt its enrichment activities [or ... what? Or aren't the petro-imperialists pressing their luck yet?] They agreed to instruct diplomats to work through the weekend to try to break the impasse. The United States, Britain and France want the Security Council to threaten Iran with tough action [of what kind? of the "unspecific" type used as the legal figleaf for invading Iraq?], while Russia wants to resolve the crisis through continued negotiation. ...'
27 March 06
The Iraqi "government" has threatened to cut off relations with the US after US forces killed twenty worshippers in a Baghdad mosque. A "witness" said US and Iraqi forces fired rockets at the mosque.
The US has only said that its own forces only backed up Iraqi special forces, and did not enter the mosque.
At least 50 other Iraqis have been killed around Baghdad in "sectarian' fighting over the past 48 hours.
Zaccarias Moussaoui has ignored his counsel's advice at his trial, and testified that he was assigned by Osama bin Laden to fly an airliner into the White House on 9/11. (In 2003 he claimed that it was to be a "later" mission — an absurd story.) Moussaoui also claimed British "shoe bomber" Richard Reid was to be his co-pilot (thus replacing one absurdity with another, in souping up this idiot, who evidently had no connection with 9/11)).
Is it bribery, blackmail, or misplaced egotism that causes him to spout this petro-cabalistic agitprop?
Meanwhile, at the British terror trial, American "Qaeda supergrass" Mohamed Babar has testified that they were working on ricin (they couldn't leave that one out, in spite of the collapse of one ricin-plot trial — that of Kamel Bourgass & Co.), and that "the gang" considered they were working for al-Qaeda.
Is it coincidence that two "Qaeda gut-spillers" are sounding off simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic? Or did the British puppets time their sideshow to concur with the American masters' main attraction?
Both designed, of course, to rake up the "terror threat" just when Iran "needs" invading.
MI5 telegrams to the Americans triggered the US "rendering" of two long-term British residents to Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan in 2002, where they were held in bad conditions, and subsequently to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (One at least appeared to be innocent.)
One of the men had previously acted as a courier for messages between MI5 and "Islamist cleric" Abu Qatada.
(BBC Newsnight, 27 March 06)
29 March 06
Khidima, the party created by Ariel Sharon just before he became comatose, has "won" the Israeli election, but has less than a quarter of the seats in the 120-seat Knesset. It will have to cobble together a coalition of several parties (nothing new in Israeli politics).
However, there seems little difference between the parties in their treatment of the Palestinians. Khidima stands for a "compromise" — but says it won't deal with the new Palestinian Hamas government. The plan is to unilaterally withdraw from smaller West-Bank settlements, and continue building the "defensive" wall around the larger settlements, almost cutting the West Bank in two.
But, since Israel vows to keep control of the Jordan Valley for "strategic" reasons — the strategy of boxing in the Palestinians being at least as important as external considerations — it is the Palestinians who will be "imprisoned". The more so, as Israel has a "reserve" plan to extend their barrier down the eastern side of the West Bank.
In the UK, the House of Lords has now come to a "compromise" with the Commons over identity cards and passports: up to 2010, those applying for passports will be able to opt out of applying for ID cards at the same time.
On the related matter of a national identity register, there is no word. The Lords has been opposed to it.
But there is little use in "opting out" of ID cards if Big Brother has your details on such a register. You will not be required to carry your passport at all times, but there were no plans to enforce this for ID cards either.
The Lords had five times rejected the bill and bounced it back to the Commons, and the government had threatened to use the Parliament Act to force it through. So it seems the Lords (whose "power" is only at the pleasure of the "House of Commons", i.e. the government) caved in.
The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed a "statement" calling on Iran to suspend its "nuclear" activities. (I don't know if this included threatened specified or unspecified measures in the default.)
30 March 06
Iran given stark nuclear choice
BBC News online, 30 March 06, 20:51 UK Summer Time
'Iran has 30 days to return to the negotiating table or face isolation, foreign ministers from the US and five other major powers have warned.
'The comments at talks in Berlin reinforced a deadline in a statement by the UN Security Council, which urged Iran to halt uranium enrichment.
'However the UN nuclear watchdog's [the IAEA's] chief [Mohamed ElBaradei] said Iran was not an imminent threat and sanctions would be a "bad idea".
'Iran said its activities are peaceful and has rejected the Council's call. ...
'The Berlin talks included the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Council — the US, China, France, Russia and the UK — as well as Germany.
'The foreign ministers were discussing what to do if Iran refused to drop its nuclear ambitions.
'US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the meeting sent "a very strong signal to Iran that the international community is united".
'The British foreign secretary [Jack Straw] said "the onus is on Iran to show the international community that its programme is entirely for civil purposes". ...
'The [Security Council's non-binding] statement was the third version of a draft drawn up by France and the UK, which made significant concessions to Russia and China.
'Moscow and Beijing, both allies of Iran, were concerned that Security Council involvement could lead to sanctions against Iran and wanted the IAEA to take the lead. ...'
31 March 06
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has begun a two-day visit to Britain. She visited the Blackburn constituency of her British "opposite number" Jack Straw.
She spoke of the historical significance of liberal democracy. (With the accent perhaps on "historical"?)
A planned visit to a mosque there was cancelled after planned protests. That'd have been like a Nazi leader visiting a synagogue.
An overloaded ferry sank off Bahrain, killing 57 people. The figure included 13 British construction workers celebrating the completion of a building project.
A Taleban leader threatened to attack British troops in the Helmand province of Afghanistan with "600 suicide bombers, one by one". He was talking in Pakistan to newsmen acting as agents for British ITV News.
Camp Bastion has 3000 UK fighting men. And they need the appearance of an internal enemy to "justify" their presence there. The real purpose of which is presumably to back up an invasion of Iran.
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