1 May 02
'TUNISIA[:] The defence minister said that 12 people died in an army helicopter crash on Tuesday, including the army's top official.'
(ITV Teletext, p.318)
Shades of Venezuela! (See last month's diary, under 20 April.)
How many helicopter crashes have there been around the world in the last couple of months involving deaths of military personnel? Most of the deaths have been of American rank-and-file soldiers. A crash in Afghanistan, killing about eight, could be attributed to the 'war' there. Another crashed off the Philipines; most were initially reported to have survived, and have been in a dingy or something; then, mysteriously, all were reported dead. There was another fatal crash off Greece; and another, of a US Navy helicopter, in California. (And a couple of other such crashes, I think.) While a certain amount could be the inevitable accidents accompanying US global mass mobilization, it seems pretty steep, even for that. Is it going too far to hypothesize that the US cabal's 'special operatives' are doing this in order to 'blood' the US military, to ginger them up for the campaigns of world conquest which lie ahead? The cabal have proved themselves as lacking not one whit in the ruthlessness department, even if they do not match this record in terms of efficiency or (yet) accomplishment.
'SIEGE ENDING AT ARAFAT HQ
'Israeli forces are ending their siege of Yasser Arafat's Ramallah compound after six wanted Palestinians were taken to a jail in Bethlehem. ...
'About a dozen US and British diplomatic vehicles arrived at the buildings in Ramallah to remove the prisoners.'
(ITV Teletext, 1 May 02, p.303)
2 May 02
In the latest 'campaign' in eastern Afghanistan, 1000 British Royal Marines are being 'assisted' by a few hundred American troops. The American cabal's British satellite is bearing the brunt of the cabal's dirty work. Of course, they haven't made contact with 'the enemy'. Only the CIA and US special forces have the ability to 'fight against' this phantom of their own making. It's a true 1984-style war.
The possibility remains that the campaign is a disguise for preparations to invade Pakistan. Small numbers of American special forces' are already in the mountainous areas of Pakistan 'pursuing al-Qaeda', and they could be de facto advance guards for an invasion. The Bush administration will simply announce that Pakistan is the real terror master behind al-Qaeda; and indeed Pakistan's intelligence service and its military seem to have been intermediaries, acting in turn as a front for the US cabal.
Similar 'psyops' could be used in turn against Saudi Arabia or Iraq, for example; assuming the cabal ever gets up the nerve and coherence for other invasions.
4 May 02
Sixty civilians were killed and 93 injured by a bomb in a town in Columbia. They were sheltering in a church from fighting between left-wing rebels and rightist paramilitaries.
Colombia has some oil of its own and, probably more important, is next to Venezuela, the USA's third-largest supplier of oil. Having failed (for the time being at least) to overthrow the populist Chavez government in Venezuela, is the American cabal now concentrating on destabilizing Colombia as a 'back-door' route to Venezuela?
Satellite photos (US of course) have been publicized, apparently showing the resumption of building work in Iraqi nuclear sites. (BBC News 24 at 4:10 a.m. BST.) The resolution of the photos is not that high (what a surprise!). The cabal is still hard at work to produce 'evidence' of Iraq's mass-destruction-weapons programme, as an excuse to invade the country.
'[SWISS] MONEY LAUNDERING UP AFTER 11 SEPTEMBER
'The Swiss authorities have announced a "marked increase" in suspected cases of money laundering following September's attacks on New York and Washington.
'The authorities say there were 417 cases of suspected money laundering in the past year, involving £1.16bn.
'The Swiss say this represents an increase of 34% on the year 2000, and that 380 cases are being investigated.
'The biggest increase was in the no-banking sector, and involved financial transfers and asset management.'
(BBC Ceefax, 4 May 02, p.143) At least 120 have died, including at least 50 on the ground, when a jet exploded and crashed on the city of Kano in Nigeria, hitting two mosques and other buildings. The latest in a series of deadly accidents in oil-producing countries.
5 May 02
'The US wants Saddam Hussein ousted, whether or not Iraq allows UN weapons inspectors to return, Secretary of State Colin Powell has said. ...' (BBC Ceefax, p.115)
'IRAQ TO END MONTH-LONG OIL EXPORT BAN
'... The [Iraqi] cabinet decided to resume exports after midnight on May 8, state TV said.
'It added that "Arab oil-producing brothers" had not responded with measures to make the move succeed.'
(Ibid., p.121)
6 May 02
Ariel Sharon has arrived in Washington. He will meet Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush. He brings with him a 100-page dossier 'proving' Arafat's personal involvement in Palestinian terrorism.
'"AXIS OF EVIL" WIDENED
'The United States has accused three more states, Libya, Syria and Cuba, of pursuing weapons of mass destruction.
'It warned it would take action to ensure they do not supply terrorists with such weapons.
'Undersecretary of State John Bolton added the three to President George Bush's so called Axis of Evil — Iraq, Iran and Syria.'
(ITV Teletext, 6 May 02, p.314)
--Cf. below, 7 May.
'US "UNSIGNS" INTERNATIONAL COURT TREATY
'The United States has pulled out of the treaty under which the International Criminal Court is being established.
'The treaty was signed by Bill Clinton in 2000, but in a letter to the United nations the US says it will not consider itself to be bound to it.
'The move was signalled yesterday by Secretary of State Colin Powell.
'The US fears the court, due to start work next year, could be used against its own soldiers and diplomats.'
(BBC Ceefax)
--This displays the guilt conscience of thhe ruling American hard right.
7 May 02
'CUBA[:] The USA says Cuba is believed to be developing biological weapons and transferring its technical expertise to counties hostile to America.' (ITV Teletext, p.318)
What a ragbag of little countries the US cabal is setting up as an artificial substitute for Cold-War Russia and China! It's important to note that the pretext is 'opposition to weapons of mass destruction', and thus that at least one of the imperial driving forces may be the CIA's Counter-Proliferation Division. This was the body apparently responsible for trying to blow the Kosovo war of 1999 up into a much worse confrontation, by bombing China's Belgrade embassy (see this. Counter-Pro seems to be at the heart of darkness of the cabal's evil agenda.
Sixteen Israelis have been killed, by a Palestinian suicide bomber (according to Israeli police). Unconfirmed reports say that Hamas has claimed responsibility. Israeli PM Ariel Sharon has broken off his visit to Washington, and is hurrying home with a pledge to begin smashing the Palestinians again. Meanwhile President Bush has said he is sending CIA chief George Tenet to the region 'to help build a unified Palestinian security force' (cf. 'The CIA's Connections With The Palestinian Authority', on this site).
We discern a complementary double-act here. Israel does the analysis, America the synthesis, of the Palestinians. They are being broken down and reconstituted — for a time — as puppets.
Plane crashes in China and Tunisia have killed 100 and 20 respectively. The 'top official' of the Tunisian army was killed in a helicopter crash on 1 May (see above).
8 May 02
A Russian military helicopter has crashed in the Altai (near the Chinese border), killing 11. 'The crash comes 10 days after General Alexander Lebed and six others died in a helicopter crash in the region.' (BBC Ceefax, p.142) (Lebed had once been a 'right-wing' force in Russian politics.)
A covert world war is really swinging into action! This particular incident could be Russian mimicry of the action in the rest of the world.
9 May 02
The Israeli cabinet (surprise surprise) has voted for retaliation against 'terrorist targets'. Arafat, apparently suitably cowed, has ordered (Palestinian) security forces to crack down on suicide attacks 'against Israeli civilians'. Colin Powell has given his bit of support to Israel, warning the 'peace process' is 'under threat'. (BBC Ceefax, pp.106-8) (This latter is rather as if Neville Chamberlain were to have said that the 'peace process' between England and Germany was 'under threat' in 1943, say.)
A bomb on a bus in Karachi, Pakistan, killed 14 including 11 French nationals. They were helping build two submarines for the Pakistani navy. The US expressed outrage, on behalf of 'its allies', for this 'heinous attack on two of its closest allies in the war on terror'. Surprisingly perhaps, 'French military leaders' have backed up the US cabal by blaming 'the bombing on al-Qaeda terrorists', that now-infinitely-clichéd bogeyman (no nebulous nameless phantom for them -- cf. March diary, under 4 March).
(BBC Ceefax, p.111)
German troops are being deployed in Uzbekistan as part of the 'anti-terror coalition'. (BBC News 24 at 5 a.m.)
The Americans have caused apparently successful negotiations, to end the siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, to stall. The 'objected to an EU [European Union] monitor entering the church to finalise the deal'. (BBC Ceefax, p.108) 'Peace in our time' is not in accord with the US cabal's Middle-East oil-imperialist conflict-mongering schemes.
'Israeli soldiers are massing around the Gaza Strip after the government approved a response' to the latest suicide attack. (ITV Teletext, p.304) Gaza was left relatively intact while the Israeli army smashed up the Palestinian infrastructure in the West Bank. Now, after the latest dead-on-cue suicide bombing, it's Gaza's turn. No doubt final approval for all this, including the suicide attack, was reached at Sharon's meetings with Rumsfeld and/or Cheney. First news of the attack was actually received while Sharon was later meeting Bush -- underlining what we already know, that real world decisions don't originate with Bush. The suicide attack was staged to provide the excuse to devastate Gaza. It's reminiscent of last December when (also during a cut-short visit by Sharon to Washington) Hamas etc launched a wave of such attacks, providing the scenario for Israel to step up its anti-Palestinian campaign (see diary for 2001, 2 Dec. et seq).
11 May 02
The Gaza invasion is on hold — so the Israelis say.
12 May 02
'RESERVISTS STOOD DOWN IN GAZA U-TURN
'Israel has started standing down reservist soldiers called up in expectation of a large army operation in the Gaza Strip. ...
'Israeli defence minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer said the plan had been reconsidered after details were leaked.
'The reduction in tension comes after Arab leaders issued a call for peace.'
(BBC Ceefax, p.109) 'ISRAELI LEADER FACES NO CONFIDENCE VOTE
'... Ariel Sharon is facing a vote of no confidence from the central committee of his rulling party.
'Likud members booed Mr Sharon when he asked them not to take a vote on outlawing a Palestinian state, proposed by his rival Benjamin Netanyahu.
'Mr Sharon said such a move swould tie his hands in future.
'To avoid directly confronting the issue his supporters have asked for a vote of confidence in the PM and government.'
(BBC Ceefax, 12 May 02, p.109)
But the Central Committee has now passed Netanyahu's resolution, never to create a Palestinian state, by 669 votes to 465. (Same page, a little later.)
Netanyahu is to the right of Sharon (God help us!). He also speaks English with an American accent. On both these counts, the US hard-right cabal would prefer him as leader (in spite of Bush's protestations, made purely for public consumption). Having done much of the dirty work of crushing the Palestinians, Sharon could even be turned into a scapegoat.
13 May 02
An accord has been reached between the US and Russia to reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals by two-thirds over ten years. This will still leave each side with the capacity to exterminate the human race several times over. (It's merely 'back to the sixties'.) The Russian arsenal is the bottom line of limitations on America's would-be world-empire building. As soon as Russia is pushed too far, it's back to the unstable bipolar stalemate of the Cold War.
14 May 02
'At least 29 people have been killed in an attack by suspected militants on an army residential area in Indian-administered Kashmir, police say. ...
'Explosions rocked the complex ...
'The attack comes as a US envoy is in the region to try to ease tension. [This presumably refers to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is visiting New Delhi.]'
(BBC Ceefax, p.111)
--And we all know how American envoys ease tensions by now! Are they accompanied by maitres provocateurs? Cf, e.g., the 'motorbike' attack on the American cultural center in Calcutta last January, when FBI head Mueller was visiting India. The alternative explanation (common sense, or cop-out, as you judge) is that terrorists try to embarrass the US with such attacks.
'NATO AND RUSSIA UNITE AGAINST TERRORISM
'Nato has formed a landmark partnership with Russia to co-operate on arms control and tackling terrorism. ...
'Nato has also signalled that it will no longer limit its action to the Euro-Atlantic areas.
'It said its forces must be able to "move quickly to wherever they are needed" to combat new threats.'
(BBC Ceefax, 14 May 02)
15 May 02
President Bush has signed an order to tighten up border controls, with incomers required to carry cards holding fingerprint and retinal identification.
'FBI Director to Propose "Super Squad" for Terror', Washington Post, 15 May 2002, p.A01.
The Indian Defence Minister has claimed that Pakistan was behind yesterday's attack in Kashmir; Prime Minister Vajpayee has said that India 'must retaliate' for the attack which killed 34 people. (ITV Teletext, p.309/1)
--Clearly this incident was set up as an eexcuse for India to attack Pakistan. The hawks are doubtless frustrated that the mass mobilization, still in place on the border since January, has not yet been put to use. India is evidently working by analogy and probably in collaboration with the US cabal.
16 May 02
'... A spokesman [?Ari Fleischer, for the White House] said the US government had received "heightened reporting" on threats to the US from May last year.
'As a result, several actions were taken to button down security," he said.
'Members of the US Congress have demanded to know whether the Government had enough details to head off attacks.'
(BBC Ceefax, p.114)
Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) adds that an FBI agent asked last summer that foreigners learning flying in US aviation schools should be investigated, and that the US government knew that al-Qaeda was planning to hijack US domestic passenger aircraft -- though not that it intended to use them as 'missiles', Ari Fleischer said.
17 May 02
'CHENEY WARNS OF ONGOING ATTACK THREAT
'The US faces the threat of an attack even worse than September 11, Vice-President Dick Cheney has warned.
'He said any inquiries into possible intelligence failings last year must not harm efforts to stop another attack.
'"Without a doubt a very real threat of another, perhaps more devastating attack, still exists," he said. ...'
(BBC Ceefax, 2:30 a.m. BST, p.104)
He, probably, should know.
This speech is not merely an attempt to divert attention from the gangster-cabal's conspiracy, but a direct threat to use violence should the cabal come under too much threat itself. The cabal has made generous efforts to ingratiate itself with the troops, not least through money, and the threat that it will try to use the troops against the legislative authorities is always there.
20+ Israeli tanks have entered Jenin, 'and witnesses have reported hearing gunfire and explosions'. (ITV Teletext, 2:45 a.m., p.303)
(6 p.m. BBC TV news:-)
Bush, with audience of (apparently) USAF officers behinds him, firmly (and laughingly) rejects the criticism, but is apparently short on details. You can see that ol' daisy-cutter droppin' on those liberal commie fag Democrats on Capitol Hill! (As my esteemed buddy Col. Horace J. Blitzenburger of the Tuxedo Ninth Cavalry would say.)
'BUSH IN TERROR WARNING ROW
'US Democrats are pushing ahead with a probe into how much warning the Bush administration had of the September 11 terror attacks.
'President George W. Bush has said he would have acted to foil the plot had he known such a threat was possible.
'The White House claims intelligence that al-Qaeda might try to hijack planes was "too general to act upon".'
(ITV Teletext, 17 May 02, p.306)
The Democratic mice are practically playing in the cabalistic cat-basket. But there is no safe-and-easy course of action now. Except to lie down quietly in the mud for an unknown number of years and hope it all blows over without touching you.
'MORE TERROR WARNING QUESTIONS
'George Bush has insisted he didn't ignore warnings about the September 11 attacks -- despite a warning al-Qaeda might use planes to attack targets.
(ITV Teletext, 18 May 02 at 00:45 a.m. BST, p.307)
--Who's responsible for publicising this ''report' now? Are the cabal (CIA etc) now trying to make their puppet Bush take the fall, as a cover for themselves?
18 May 02
'CONTROVERSY GROWS ON US TERROR WARNING
'... President Bush has publicly defended his role, saying he would have done everything possible to protect the US had he known of the attacks in advance.
'But Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Mr Bush had missed the point.
'If information was available, he said, why was the President kept in the dark?'
(BBC Ceefax, p.113)
'PAKISTAN'S AMBASSADOR EXPELLED
'India expelled Pakistan's ambassador as cross-border fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours escalated, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
'Both sides used heavy weapons to fire at each other across the border ..."
(ITV Teletext, 18 May 02, p.311)
The London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat has become a notorious mouthpiece of US cabalistic propaganda. Now it has published an alleged report from 'a leading al-Qaeda commander', al-Mujayir, claiming that al-Qaeda has regrouped, and was behind the Tunisian synagogue attack (April?). This follows an alleged communication from Taleban leader Mullah Omar, saying bin Laden was alive and well and ready to exterminate the Americans, or whatever.
19 May 02
Today we have a spate such agitprop, as the US cabal, faced with a Democrat-Congressional investigation, desperately tries to divert this threatening move, and to justify itself:-
'SUNDAY TIMES [review of:] An encrypted video of Osama bin Laden singling out Britain as a terrorist target has been found.' (ITV Teletext, p.318)
'The FBI has warned that Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network may be considering plans to stage attacks on US [rented] apartment blocks.' The dastardly fiends are apparently considering renting apartments themselves and planting explosives in them. But 'The FBI has not issued an official alert following the information. There was "no reason to believe it (the threat) had gone beyond the discussion phase," the [presumably FBI] spokesman added.'
(BBC Ceefax, 19 May 02 at 1:30 a.m. BST, p.113; + ITV Teletext)
'BIN LADEN "IN TWO-MONTH OLD FILM CLIP"
'A British-based Islamic news agency has released video footage of Osama bin Laden which it said was filmed just two months ago.
'The clip from the Ansaar agency showed bin Laden seated in a camouflage jacket speaking to unseen supporters.
'It is reportedly part of a 40-minute film obtained in Pakistan.
'If it were two months old, it would be the first proof bin Laden had not died ...'
(BBC Ceefax, 19 May 02, p.115)
'ANOTHER ATTACK "NEAR CERTAIN" — CHENEY
'US Vice President Dick Cheney has said it is "almost certain" that al-Qaeda will carry out another terror attack on the country.
'It was "not a matter of if, but when", he added.
"Mr Cheney defended the Bush administration's handling of reports of al-Qaeda activity prior to the September 11 attacks.
'But he acknowledged that intelligence agencies had failed to pool information.'
(BBC Ceefax, 19 May 02, p.114)
20 May 02
India has stepped up border security in Kashmir. (BBC Ceefax at 1:20 a.m. BST, p.113)
British police have arrested 36 people for downloading child pornography from commercial American websites. This time their 'tip-off' came from the FBI. The police say they have 2000 more suspects, but haven't the resources to deal with them. Aka a 'quick flash' of the begging bowl at the government. (BBC TV news)
Are the (would-be) 'paedophile' mass arrests also a cover for political/'anti-terrorist' arrests? Are the British authorities acting in concert with the US cabal on this?
'Suicide bombers like those who have attacked public places in Israel will eventually hit the US, the director of the FBI has said.
'Robert Mueller added that he thought the development was "inevitable".
'The degree of fanaticism an informant must show to get to the inner circle of terror groups made them hard for the FBI to penetrate, he said.
'"I wish I could be more optimistic," Mr Mueller added.'
(BBC Ceefax, 20 May 02, p.119)
--looks like Mueller is part-and-parcel off the 'Stalinist' terror-conspiracy. How long has he been director?
'IRAN[:] Two military helicopters have crashed near the central city of Isfahan, killing two airmen.' (ITV Teletext, p.318)
21 May 02
'The Daily Express splashes on news that suicide bombers are to target [precognition?!] Britain as the island is put on bomb alert amidst terrorist fears.
'The FBI has admitted the [sic] "walk in" suicide bomb attacks in the US were also inevitable, the paper says.'
(BBC Ceefax at 3:30 a.m., p.148)
--This 'alert' coincides with the 'paedophhile'-arrest campaign and, although the above review doesn't say explicitly if there's a connection with the FBI, there is such a connection in the 'paedophile' case (see above, 20 May). Britain's authorities dance as the US cabal pulls the strings, and the police are no doubt glad of the improved employment opportunities and wage prospects this means.
'LEBANON[:] Members of the al-Qaeda terror network held an unprecedented meeting in March with Middle East militant groups in Lebanon, US sources say.' (ITV Teletext, 21 May 02, p.318)
--Did Richard Armitage (US Assistant Secreetary of State specializing in the Middle East and S.E. Asia) get his wires crossed when he said that there was 'a bit of a problem' with al-Qaeda and Hezbollah in Ecuador last month?! (See April diary, under 21 April)
International Monetary Fund mail has 'tested positive' for anthrax on a retest (preliminary results). [Fuller report below.] This follows similar results on Federal Reserve mail (they were uncertain in this case if this was cross-contamination from last autumn's attacks).
Meanwhile the US (State Dept?) has named Iran as the worst sponsor of terrorism. [Fuller report below.] The cabal has got all the bells, whistles, cymbals, extensible mechanical arms with boxing gloves on the ends, etc, on its Heath-Robinson agitprop machine ringing, blowing, clashing, going up-and-down, in-and-out etc, in response to the threat of Congressional investigations.
'IMF MAIL TESTS POSITIVE FOR ANTHRAX
'Some of the International Monetary Fund's mail in Washington has tested positive for anthrax.
'However, the IMF stressed that the test was preliminary, the result was not conclusive, and further tests would be carried out on the items concerned.
'The mail had originally tested negative, it said. [Cf. the tests on Microsoft's Reno anthrax mail, only the third on which was positive. See CNN report, 13 Oct. 01.]
'It was retested after preliminary tests on post sent to the World Bank revealed possible contamination on Monday.'
(BBC Ceefax, 21 May 02, p.106)
Freddie Mac, World Bank, IMF? Are they trying to pin this 'wave of attacks' on anti-globalization protesters?! Cf. the big 'security operation' during the World Bank / IMF meeting in Washington last _____.
'US ACCUSES IRAN IN REPORT ON TERRORISM
'The US [administration] has named Iran as the world's most active sponsor of terrorism [in its annual report].
'Iraq and Syria were also identified as providing training and encouragement for terrorist groups.
'But the government's annual assessment of terrorism did not directly link any country with the September 11 attacks.
'Secretary of State Colin Powell later told journalists that terrorists wee making determined efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction. [This appears as a 'mirror message' of Rumsfeld -- see below.]'
(BBC Ceefax, 21 May 02, p.109)
Sharon's hold on the Israeli government has become precarious now that he has 'sacked' the Shas Party from his coalition. Will there be a coup, supported by the US cabal, executed by its Israeli equivalent, the hard-right politicians, military leaders and Mossadites? They may install Netanyahu as 'leader'.
'PREMIER SAYS NO TERROR THREAT IN ITALY
'The Italian prime minister has ruled out the possibility [!!] of terrorist attacks in Italy, which he said had maintained a favourable Mid-East policy.
'"I reject any suggestion that there's any such intention [!] in Italy," Silvio Berlusconi said, after the US warned of planned terrorist attacks in Europe.
'"Italy has not presented itself in a hostile way to people struggling for their country — like the Palestinians."
'But he denounced attacks carried out on innocent people simply to make a point.'
(BBC Ceefax, 21 May 02, p.143)
--in other words, US terror-conspiracy keeep your mitts off.
'USA[:] Terrorists determined to destroy America will "inevitably" obtain weapons of mass destruction, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warns.' (ITV Teletext, 21 May 02, p.318)
'FBI WARNS OF STATUE OF LIBERTY THREAT
[Didn't Barbra Streisand do this one in 1972?]
'Terrorists could be planning attacks on the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the FBI has warned.
'The agency's warning was based on interviews with detainees, and had not been independently confirmed, an FBI in Washington said.
'No time or date for a possible attack was specified.
'New York's police were taking necessary precautions and were ready for "any eventuality", a police spokesman said.'
(BBC Ceefax, 21 May 02, p.110)
22 May 02
'ISRAEL IMPOSES NORTH-SOUTH GAZA SPLIT
'Israel has cut the Gaza Strip in half, barring Palestinians from moving between the southern and northern areas, Israeli military officials said.
'Israel said the move followed repeated attacks on Jewish settlements. ...
'Meanwhile an emergency Israeli budget plan has won Parliamentary approval, despite the Shas party not voting.'
(BBC Ceefax, p.108)
'INDIAN PM WARNS TROOPS OF BATTLES AHEAD
'India's prime minister has told soldiers on the disputed Kashmir border to prepare for a decisive battle with Pakistan-supported Islamic insurgents. {But we know that he means with Pakistan.] ...
'India has redeployed five warships closer to Pakistan.'
(BBC Ceefax, 22 May 02, p.111)
'STRAW ANNOUNCES UK PAKISTAN WITHDRAWAL
'Britain is to drastically cut diplomatic representation to Pakistan amid security fears, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said.
'Many UK diplomats, their staff and families will leave with immediate effect, Mr Straw added.
(Ibid., p.112)
America made this move some time ago, on pretext of terror attacks on American personnel, which the US cabal itself doubtless orchestrated. Perhaps America and India will divide Pakistan between them, with America controlling enough of the territory to drive its Caspian-oil pipeline through. It will of course have to depopulate its sector, to ensure adequate security for the pipeline.
'US ENVOY IN BID TO EASE KASHMIR CRISIS'
'A senior US envoy is to meet the leaders of India and Pakistan to try and ease tension in Kashmir.
'Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's diplomatic mission is due to take place early next month. ...'
(BBC Ceefax, p.108)
--This is the guy who inadvisedly remarkedd on supposed al-Qaeda and Hezbollah penetration of Ecuador's (yes Ecuador's) oil-rich Amazon region (see April diary, under 21 April). Here the adventurous lad is back on safer ground (he is the Assistant Secretary specializing in the Middle East and South-East Asia).
Presumably the Americans are playing the same analysis-synthesis game with India on Pakistan that they play with Israel on the Palestinians. In Pakistan's case India does the heavy-duty Pakky-bashing (i.e. the analysis), while America operates perhaps more delicately, striving to rebuild or synthesise Pakistan (for a time) as a puppet-state. This process is a mirror image, on the eastern flank of the Middle-East oil region, of that in the Levant, on the western side.
24 May 02
'RUSSIA AND US SIGN ARMS TREATY
'Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President George Bush have signed a landmark treaty to slash their nuclear arsenals by two-thirds each.
'The accord signed at a Kremlin summit, will commit the former Cold War rivals to cut their deployed warheads from about 6,000 to 1,700 - 2,200 by 2012.
'It must now be ratified by the Russian parliament and US Congress.'
(ITV Teletext, p.303)
What this piece doesn't mention is that the surplus warheads are to be stored, not dismantled.
'India has decided to give Pakistan two months to cut back cross-border terror raids before it decides on possible military action [sources claim]. ...' (ITV Teletext, 24 May 02, p.311/2)
'India has said it has received notification from Islamabad that Pakistan intends to conduct a series of [short- and medium-range] missile tests from Saturday to Monday. ...' (Ibid., p.311/1)
25 May 02
'Terrorists might use scuba divers to carry out attacks in the United States, the FBI has warned. ...' (BBC Ceefax at 2 a.m. BST) -- Keep it up, baby!
'The US has criticised plans by Pakistan to begin short and medium-range missile tests amid great tension with India.' (Ibid., p.107)
'US NUCLEAR PLANTS PUT ON ALERT
'The US government has put the nation's 103 nuclear power plants on a heightened state of alert.
'A spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the move follows new intelligence, although this did not specify any particular threat. ...'
(ITV Teletext, 25 May 02, p.305)
'An old China Airlines plane flying to Hong Kong with 225 people on board has crashed, killing more than 100 people. ...' (Ibid., 5 p.m., p.303)
'About 200 people have been killed and hundreds more injured in a collision between a passenger train and a freight train in Mozambique. ...' (Ibid., p.305)
'PAKISTAN "READY FOR WAR"
Pakistan's military President Pervez Musharraf has said his country does not want war with neighbour India, but is fully prepared for it. ...
'He made the statement just hours after Pakistan [successfully] test-fired a missile.'
(Ibid., p.307)
26 May 02
It was the US embassy that 'found traces of explosives' (and drugs?) on the three IRA men's clothes in Colombia; Colombian tests 'were negative'. ('The Colombian Connection', Dispatches, British Channel 4 TV, 8:05 p.m.)
27 May 02
The US cabal's candidate Alvaro Uribe has won the Colombian presidential election outright. He's a new-right anti-guerrilla hardliner. Here's some compensation for the cabal's failure to win the coup in next-door oil El Dorado Venezuela. (1:30 a.m. BST)
Meanwhile ...
'COLOMBIA[:] The government grants asylum to [the] leader of [the] short-lived coup in Venezuela, Pedro Carmona.' (ITV Teletext, p.318)
28 May 02
'World leaders have signed an historic accord creating a joint security council between Nato and Russia. ...' (BBC Ceefax)
'BRITAIN "ON ANTI-TERRORISM BANDWAGON
'Britain is among several countries accused of double standards in the "war on terrorism" by the human rights group Amnesty International.
'A number of governments have "jumped on the bandwagon" to stifle political dissent, it says in a report.
'The British law to detain foreign nationals without charge or trial is cited for criticism.
'Foreigners in several countries are shown as "terrorists", the report says.'
(BBC Ceefax, 28 May 02, p.316)
29 May 02
More Doubt Is Cast on Cuba Bioweapons, Washington Post, May 25, 2002, p.A24.
'VATICAN[:] George Bush has met Pope John Paul II and raised his concerns regarding the Catholic Church's standing after US sex abuse scandals."
(ITV Teletext, p.318)
'SWEEPING CHANGES ANNOUNCED FOR FBI
'The FBI has announced sweeping changes, in response to criticism it failed to spot key intelligence that might have prevented the September 11 attacks.
'Director Robert Mueller said he planned to create a much larger role for combating terrorism and espionage.
'Information-gathering and analysis activities will be centralised and technology improved.
'A total of 3,718 agents will now work solely on counter-terrorism [my emphasis].'
(BBC Ceefax, 30 May 02 [applies to 29 May], p.109)
'MAJOR FBI CHANGES ANNOUNCED
The FBI has announced the biggest shake-up in its history after criticism it failed to spot key intelligence that might have prevented September 11.
'Director Robert Mueller said the bureau will now focus primarily on preventing terror-strikes rather than crimes.
'He said the FBI would strive to be "pro-active, not reactive", with more aggressive information-gathering.'
(ITV Teletext, 30 May 02 [applies to 29 May], p.306)
Israeli troops are continuing to stage raids into West Bank cities; the raids seem to be selective, targeted at making specific arrests.
30 May 02
'RUMSFELD SET FOR INDIA-PAKISTAN VISIT
'President Bush is to send his Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to the India-Pakistan region as part of a US bid to resolve a stand-off over Kashmir.
'Mr Rumsfeld will head to the region next week, said Mr Bush. ...'
(BBC Ceefax, p.108)
31 May 02
'BUSH IN KASHMIR WARNING TO PAKISTAN
'President Bush has given his strongest warning yet to Pakistan that it must prevent militants attacking Indian targets in Kashmir.
'The US president said he was applying pressure to both sides in the dispute — but especially to Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf.
'"He must stop the incursions across lines of control," Mr Bush added. [Musharraf denies that such incursions have happened.]
'It follows the deaths of three Indian police in an attack by militants.'
(BBC Ceefax, p.108)
'E-SNOOP POWERS ARE PASSED
'Law enforcement agencies have been granted greater poweres to eavesdrop on telephone calls, read private e-mails and intercept other communications.
'MEPs [Members of the European Parliament] have passed watered-down privacy and data protection rules after bowing to pressure from governments eager to fight terrorism.
'The legislation still faces final approval by the 15 EU [European Union] governments.'
(ITV Teletext, 31 May 02, p.305)
(BBC Ceefax, 18 May 02)
More on this speech at 'Cheney: Future Attacks Are Almost Certain', Washington Post, 20 May 2002, p.A01.
Cf. 2001 diary, under 16 Dec. and 26 Dec; April 2002 diary under 24 April.
FBI CHIEF WARNS OF US SUICIDE BOMBERS
The plane disappeared from radar screens without the pilot having time to radio an alert; there are no reports of survivors.
--Uribe is Harvard-educated; his father waas killed by FARC guerrillas. (BBC News 24, 2 a.m.)
--Colombia is the 3rd-largest recipient off US military aid (after Israel and Egypt). (BBC World Service news)