1 September 03

The new head of UN weapons inspections says that the "ready-in-45-minutes" claim for Iraqi biochem weapons was a load of rubbish.

'"SADDAM TAPE" DENIES NAJAF BOMBING ROLE

'The Arab TV station al-Jazeera has broadcast what it says is an audio tape of Saddam Hussein denying any role in the bombing of a Shi'ite mosque in Iraq.

'Top cleric Ayatollah Muhammed Baqr al-Hakim was among nearly 100 people killed in the blast in Najaf on Friday.

'The voice said: "The infidel invaders are accusing, without proof, the followers of Saddam Hussein after the killing of Shi'ite leader Hakim".

'It added: "This is not what Saddam attributes to himself".'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Sept. 03)

"Saddam" too is doing his bit in targeting al-Qaeda/Saudi/Iran for conquest.

'IRAQ CABINET "HAS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT"

'The first post-war cabinet in Iraq has wide support from the country's people, a governing council member has said.

'Speaking on al-Jazeera TV, Nasir Al-Chadirchi said the cabinet was representative of most Iraqis.

'He added that because the cabinet was appointed by Iraqis, any opposition would "gradually fade away".

'Thirteen ministries have gone to Shia Muslims, five to Sunnis, five to Kurds and one each to Turkmen and Christians. All the ministers report to US advisers. [My emphasis.]'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 Sept. 03)

3 September 03

'INDEPENDENT[:] Alastair Campbell's successor [David Hill] has signalled his intention to maintain Downing Street's onslaught on the BBC .'

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

Following testimony by an assistant chief constable to the Hutton Inquiry, saying that David Kelly's death was almost certainly suicide, we have the testimony of Brian Jones, intelligence analyst at the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS), that the British Government "over-egged" its dossier statements on alleged Iraqi bio/chem capabilities.

Britain's top policeman says that the threat of suicide bombings in Britain is at an all-time high.

This is a usual response by the police-state/empire lobby when it feels under threat.

And of course the CIA has said that the latest "Saddam" audiotape is probably genuine.

4 September 03

The British Government has launched a review of British troop numbers in Iraq (after the attacks in Basra). A leaked report suggests they would like another 5,000. (There are currently just over 10,000 in the British-occupied southern sector — small fry compared with the 150,000 US troops in their sector.)

The US Government is pressing ahead with a UN resolution to allow more international troops into Iraq, under the UN flag, but still under US command. The French and Germans seem unlikely to play ball.

A central sector of Iraq, including Najaf and Hillah, was handed over by the US to a mixed command of 17 nations, including Poland. The ceremony was held at the ancient site of Babylon.

Keeping the main oilfields in the American and British zones.

All these moves may well be preparatory to having US/UK troops available for an invasion of Saudi Arabia and/or Iran.

'The [British] Foreign Office says non-essential staff and dependants at the British embassy in Iran can leave if they wish.

'The advice comes a day after the Tehran building came under attack from a motorbike gunman. No one was injured. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 4 Sept. 03, p.112)

'SAUDI POLICE SEIZE MISSILES CONSIGNMENT

'Police in Saudi Arabia have seized a truckload of surface-to-air missiles near the port of Jeddah.

'Saudi officials say they have no doubt that the consignment of weapons was destined for a terrorist group, but did not give further details. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 4 Sept. 03, p.122)

'EX-CIA CHIEF PUT ON PARAMILITARY WATCH [in Northern Ireland]

'A former US intelligence chief is to sit on a new body monitoring paramilitary activity in N Ireland.

'Richard Kerr, CIA ex-deputy director, will join two British government nominees and an Irish government representative on the new commission.

'The monitoring body will report on demilitarisation in the province and the IRA and loyalist ceasefire.

'Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy has hailed the commission as crucial in restoring devolution to the province.'

(BBC Ceefax, 4 Sept. 03, p.119)

5 September 03

'WORLDWIDE SEARCH FOR FOUR TERRORISTS

'The FBI has begun a worldwide search for four men wanted for illegal terrorist threats against the US, according to a bulletin on its website.

'The FBI posted the bulletin and contacted law enforcement agencies after recent intelligence found the four could be plotting against the US.

'The men are named as Karim El Mejjati, Adnan G El Shukijumah, Subayr Al-Rimi and Abderrasuf Jdey.

'The search came as [the] FBI warns that terrorists could poison water supplies.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.114)

Wrong. It's American terrorism that's poisoning the world's atmosphere. (And I don't mean greenhouse gases.)

The four men, a Moroccan, a Tunisian and two Saudis [Ah yes! The Saudis.], are "believed to be involved in an unspecified plot against US interests.'

(ITV Teletext, 5 Sept. 03, p.307)

Just as tanks at Heathrow Airport, and plastic sheeting across American windows to keep out WMD, was used to square the public for the Iraq invasion, so further terror-scares will pave the way for further conquests. 6 September 03

'US WANTS WORLD DOMINATION — [British] EX-MINISTER

'Former environment minister Michael Meacher has claimed the US invasion of Iraq was sparked by a desire for domination and control of oil supplies.

'America wants "world hegemony, built around securing command over oil supplies," he wrote in the Guardian.

'Mr Meacher also accused Washington of inaction in the face of warnings of the September 11 hijackings. {In fact, Meacher said this was part of the grand scheme.]

'A US embassy spokesman said the charges would be monstrous "if they came from someone serious or credible".'

(BBC Ceefax, p.115)

Michael Meacher, "This war on terrorism is bogus", The Guardian, 6 Sept. 03

"Meacher sparks fury over claims on September 11 and Iraq war", ibid.

Meacher's article is a good compilation of various facts and arguments that have emerged since 9/11.

The moderate Palestinian Prime Minister has resigned. Meanwhile, the Israelis have made a failed attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders including the quadriplegic "spiritual leader".

'... On Monday [8 Sept.], [British] Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is expected to announce plans to send up to 2,500 more troops [to Iraq].

'Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has reportedly called for a further 5,000 to be deployed [in total].'

(BBC Ceefax, 6 Sept. 03, p.109)

A small question. If 15,000 troops are reckoned to be enough to control the southern British-occupied sector of Iraq, and a similar figure for the newly-carved-out Polish-led central zone, what are 150,000 troops for in the northern US-held zone?

7 September 03

'[London] UNDERGROUND FACES CHEMICAL ATTACK TEST

'A large area of central London has been closed off as emergency services test their ability to respond to a terrorist attack on the Underground [the London subway or metro system].

'"Casualties" are to be brought to ground level at Bank station in the City of London, to be taken to hospital after decontamination in special tents.

'Police, ambulance and firefighting teams are attending, with dozens of volunteers standing by as "victims".

'Ministers have stressed the exercise is not in response to a specific threat.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.104)

'PLANS MADE TO EVACUATE LONDON — REPORT

'A Government conference has been told of a plan [codenamed "Operation Sassoon"] to evacuate London in the event of a terrorist attack, The Sunday Times has reported.

'The confidential plan [it wasn't intentionally leaked?] was presented to the London Resilience Forum [how's that< for a totalitarian moniker?] at the Cabinet Office in July, says the paper.

'It says intelligence of an imminent attack could spark evacuation of large parts of the capital.

'Londoners would be directed to safe areas on foot before being transferred to camps outside the M25, it goes on. [Where, no doubt, they will be allowed to occupy themselves with activities for the greater glory of the People's Reich.]'

(BBC Ceefax, 7 Sept. 03, p.105)

'ANTI-TERROR PREPARATIONS "HALF-HEARTED"

'Tories [Conservatives] have criticised the Government's preparations for a possible terrorist attack as "half-hearted".

'Shadow homeland security minister [now how's that for a 1984 title?] Patrick Mercer called for new laws to make every workplace rehearse what to do in a chemical or nuclear attack. [Good heavens, comrade! However did we manage during the Cold War?]

'He said Sunday's anti-terror exercise was timed to deflect accusations of incompetence as the September 11 anniversary approaches. [On the contrary, it is timed to take full psychological advantage of it.]

'He pointed out that a promised "civil contingency force" had not yet emerged.'

(BBC Ceefax, 7 Sept. 03, p.106)

We must admit that, when it comes to satrapism, Blair's renegade socialists are only a second-best to Iain Duncan Smith's New Right.

'The Sunday Telegraph says a Cabinet revolt is brewing over plans to bring in compulsory identity cards.

'The paper says Gordan Brown and John Prescott are leading those pressing Tony Blair to "tone down his radical agenda" ahead of the next election.'

(BBC Ceefax, 7 Sept. 03, p.148, reviews of British papers)

'AL-QAEDA DENIES LINK TO NAJAF EXPLOSION

'A member of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network has denied the group planted the car bomb which killed a Shi'ite Muslim cleric in the Iraqi city of Najaf.

'Abdel-Rahman al-Najdi made the denial in an audio tape broadcast by the Arabic television channel Al Arabiya.

'The tape also threatened further attacks against Americans everywhere.

'In Najaf, the armed militia of Iraqi firebrand Moqtade Sadr has rejected a US deadline of Saturday [13 Sept.] to disarm in the wake of the bombing which killed 84.'

(BBC Ceefax, 7 Sept. 03, p.109)

In a televised speech, President Bush 'has said he will ask Congress for $87bn to fight terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, appealing for troops and money from other countries. ...'

(ITV Teletext, p.303)

... Most would be spent on "ongoing military and intelligence operations in Iraq and elsewhere".

(BBC News 24)

8 September 03

The Daily Telegraph reports on a YouGov poll which says that "we" (Britons) are overwhelmingly in favour of compulsory identity cards, but object to paying the £40 fee for them.

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

My favourite institution, The Church of the Second Coming of the Profit Microsoft, also conducts opinion polls. Its latest one shows that the world's population is overwhelmingly in favour of mass suicide to prevent them being murdered by al-Qaeda. But they object to shelling out the red cent it would cost to pay for the touchpaper to set off the doomsday bomb.

But seriously. This underlines, once again, YouGov's role as agitpropnik of the empire/police-state lobby.

'[British] POLICE SEEKING COMPLETE UK DNA BASE

'Police have called for every person in the UK to have their DNA placed on a database at birth to combat crime.

'Police Superintendent Association leader Ch Supt Kevin Morris said a "rational" debate was needed but that the public would support the plan. [Presumably he's been reading YouGov polls (see above).]

'The current database risked becoming discriminatory as samples were kept from people who had been charged, but not necessarily convicted, he said. [By the same logic, if you want to assassinate a political leader, nuke the country he leads. And I'm sure they will.]

'The process would be costly, but safety and justice were crucial, he added.'

(BBC Ceefax, 8 Sept. 03, p.119)

It's still quite difficult to believe that some of the crazy rubbish you read isn't from a future-fiction film or a bad dream. But this is the future. And the old apparition of the Loony Left has been replaced, since 9/11, by that of the Rabid Right.

'CHILDREN TO HAVE ID NUMBERS

'Every child in England [won't the Welsh and Scottish assemblies stand for it?] is to be given a credit-card style ID number in reforms drawn up in response to the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie [who died after prolonged ill-treatment by a relative].

'The Government will also create a Children's Commissioner, Education Secretary Charles Clarke has told MPs.

'Prime Minister Tony Blair said the proposals were a "significant step" towards ensuring there was no repeat of the Climbie abuse case.'

(ITV Teletext, 8 Sept. 03, p.305)

'AMERICAN TO HEAD [British] POLICE UNIT

'A US police chief will be given limited powers over British chief constables after he was appointed [by Home Secretary Blunkett] head of a Home Office unit, it has emerged.

'Boston police commissioner Paul Evans is to take over at the Police Standards Unit in November.

'He will have the power to take over aspects of the day-to-day running of under-performing British police forces in certain circumstances.'

(ITV Teletext, 8 Sept. 03, p.308)

Why don't they sell Britain to the USA lock, stock and barrel and have done with it.

'... The former US marine and Vietnam veteran helped cut Boston murders by 68% and violent crime by 34% since 1995.

'He will be paid £115,000 a year, plus up to £17,000 in performance bonuses.'

(BBC Ceefax, 8 Sept. 03, p.123)

And I have it! Zero-tolerance hero Rudy Giuliani can be chief commissar of Britain — sorry, of Airstrip One.

9 September 03

'GUARDIAN[:] Every child in England will be given a unique identification number attached to an electronic file of personal information about their lives.'

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

'INDEPENDENT[: British] Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was implicated for the first time in David Kelly's naming in documents released by the Hutton inquiry.'

(Ibid.)

Two suicide bombs, said to be by Hamas, have killed at least 15 Israelis.

10 September 03

'BIN LADEN VIDEO PLAYED ON TV

'Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has appeared in a video played by Arabic TV on the eve of the second anniversary of the September-11 attacks.

'The al Jazeera satellite channel also played a tape from his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahari, calling on Iraqi guerillas to "bury" American troops in Iraq.

'A voice attributed to bin Laden praised the September 11 attacks for causing "great damage to the enemy".

(ITV Teletext, p.306)

This was probably an old film (of bin Laden walking about). Either that or al-Jazeera borrowed one of the CIA's ouija boards.

11 September 03

The second anniversary of 9/11, the Great Facilitating Event of the Fourth Reich.

Brian Stevens, the British Soham case detective who was cleared of child-porn charges, has been re-arrested on a charge of "perverting the course of justice". It is claimed that Louise Austin, "his former lover", provided him with a false alibi for a time when, according to a previous charge, he downloaded child-porn onto a laptop computer.

The Soham Experimenters are not going to let a victim go once they have him in their jaws.

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has said that Benito Mussolini never killed anyone, and that he sent people "on holiday" to internment camps.

British Channel 4 News said of the first comment that it ignores the million who died in Libya, Ethiopia and elsewhere as a result of Mussolini's policies.

Mussolini's ideology was fascism. If Berlusconi follows any "ism", it's exhibitionism.

'[British] CABINET "SCEPTICAL" OVER ID CARD PLAN

'Members of the Cabinet have expressed "perfectly reasonable scepticism" about plans for a national ID card, Home Secretary David Blunkett has said.

'He said a decision whether to go ahead with the project would be taken by the end of the year — later than expected.

[The "doubts" are about costs and effectiveness.]'

BBC Ceefax, 11 Sept. 03, p.122)

'SPAIN TO TRY NEWSMAN AS AL-QAEDA MEMBER

'A Spanish judge has ordered an Al Jazeera journalist to be tried, charged with belonging to an al-Qaeda cell.

'Syrian Tayseer Alouniis accused of supplying members of the terrorist organisation with money and information, and recruiting fighters.

'Judge Batazar Garzon ordered Mr Alouni to stay in prison without bail after his arrest last week in Granada.

'Shortly after the September 11 2001 attacks, Mr Alouni interviewed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden for Al Jazeera.'

(BBC Ceefax, 11 Sept. 03, p.124)

12 September 03

US troops have shot dead 10 Iraqi policemen who were chasing car thieves. The shootings happened in or near Fallujah (where, I believe, US troops shot dead about 10 demonstrators earlier this year).

'"SPYING" POWERS UNVEILED [in Britain]

'New powers for a range of state agencies to use undercover agents and deploy secret surveillance have been unveiled by ministers.

'Local councils, fire authorities, Jobcentres and the Gaming Board will be among organisations able to use spying and "covert human intelligence".

'They can use the[ir] power[s] to proect national security, detect crime, guard public safety and even collect taxes.'

(ITV Teletext, 12 Sept. 03, p.308)

C.I.A. Thinks bin Laden Made Tape, Though It's Uncertain When
David Johnston, New York Times, 12 Sept. 03

'A C.I.A. technical analysis has concluded that the voice on an audiotaped message broadcast this week and represented as that of Osama bin Laden is probably authentic, an official at the intelligence agency said yesterday.

'But the evaluation has not determined when the message was taped ...

'The [previous most recent audiotape attributed to Mr. bin Laden was broadcast in April, but the last time a tape said to contain the voice of the terrorist leader mentioned a specific event was in November 2002, when a tape referred to the assassination of an American diplomat in Jordan.
[Very possibly a fake, but if they keep doing it they'll be rumbled.]

'Mr bin Laden's appearances on videotapes have been more mysterious. The last time he was in a video that could be dated with certainty was in December 2001, when he was pictured discussing the [9/11] hijackings with an Islamic religious figure.'

Bin Laden has probably been dead since, or shortly after, 9/11. It must be easier to fake a voice recording than moving pictures. Especially when the most prominently-reported "verifiers" are the CIA, part of the machine which has vested imperial interests in him remaining "alive".

'TEHRAN REJECTS UN NUCLEAR RESOLUTION

'Iran has rejected a resolution by the UN's nuclear watchdog in the "strongest terms", a delegate to the UN has said.

'The International Atomic Energy Agency earlier approved an October 31 deadline for Tehran to prove it had no secret nuclear weapons programme.

'Failure to comply could result in UN sanctions. Iranian delegates left the meeting in Vienna, Austria, in protest.

'Iranian delegate Ali Akbar Salehi said the resolution reflected US desire for "confrontation and war", and walked out.'

(BBC Ceefax, 12 Sept. 03, p.110)

Whatever their criticisms of past US machinations, ElBaradei and the IAEA are the objective allies of the Fourth Reich.

The negative I would like to see proved in the US government's "non-complicity" in 9/11.

13 September 03

US gives Iran nuclear caution
BBC News online

'The US has warned Iran that failure to co-operate with the UN's nuclear watchdog would constitute further proof [!!!] of a secret nuclear weapons programme.

'The warning follows the adoption of a new resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) giving Iran until 31 October to prove that it is not pursuing such a programme. ...

A spokesman for the US state department [which now, incidentally, may as well be renamed the Ministry of Truth] said: "If Iran fails to take those steps by the deadline, that would constitute further evidence of its ongoing efforts to conceal its clandestine activities. ...'

Totalitarians always employ such perverse logic, and the Third Form is living up to type.

'[British] E-MAIL AND CALL DATA TO BE RECORDED

'The Government is asking phone firms and internet sites to keep records of calls and e-mails for up to a year.

'The proposal is being made under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act and would see details such as number and call time — but not content — kept.

'It envisages a voluntary agreement with communications service providers, which the Home Office said could be made compulsory if not followed. [On the lines of "Jump or I push you over".]

'The Home Office says companies already keep this data for up to six months.'

(BBC Ceefax, 13 Sept. 03, p.121)

This is a very watered-down version of their original proposals, where service providers would have been required to keep emails for six years. (I don't remember about phone calls.) See, e.g, Jan. 2003 diary, under 30 Jan.

14 September 03

'SUNDAY TIMES[:] The Church of England has forced [British Defence Secretary] Geoff Hoon to drop his plans to commemorate the end of the Iraq war with a triumphant thanksgiving service.'

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

With the heads of the vanquished paraded as an offering to Mars, presumably. (The god, not the planet.)

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has visited Baghdad, and warned about infiltration by terrorists from outside.

Developing the pretext to invade Saudi Arabia, Iran etc.

15 September 03

'ATTACK ON BBC "ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED"

'The [British] Government's attack on the BBC over its reporting of issues around the Iraq war was "pretty near unprecedented", BBC Director General Greg Dyke has said.

'Comments by former Downing Street press chief Alastair Campbell had been "ferocious", he told an inquiry into the death of scientist Dr David Kelly.

'The attack had been "on the BBC's journalistic integrity", he said.

'Downing Street had denied a number of things that had never been alleged, Mr Dyke told the Hutton inquiry.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.107)

MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove, speaking to the Hutton inquiry by audiolink, said that the "Iraqi-biochem-weapons-ready-in-45-minutes" claim in the September dossier was "misinterpreted". It could have been thought to have been applicable to longer-range weapons than battlefield weapons.

Sixty-seven inmates and three guards have been killed in a fire at a prison in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

16 September 03

Tracked like an enemy of the state, police chief who challenged Met's racist attitudes
Superintendent subject of an investigation as thorough as a murder hunt acquitted on [even] minor charges
Vikram Dodd, The Guardian

Superintendent Ali Dizaei.

'US VETOES UN MOTION ON ARAFAT EXILE [protection]

'The US has vetoed a resolution put the UN Security Council on protecting Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from harm if Israel "removes him.

'The UK, Bulgaria and Germany abstained from the Syrian-backed resolution.

'Israel has been widely condemned for its decision last week to use "unspecified" means to remove Mr Arafat ..."

(BBC Ceefax, 16 Sept. 03, p.106)

Israeli officials had discussed the possibilities of exiling or assassinating Arafat. The US government had publicly protested against these suggestions.

'ALGERIAN PILOT TO SUE US INVESTIGATORS

'A pilot falsely accused by the US of training [!!] the September 11 hijackers is to sue the FBI and US Department of Justice for £8.2m, his lawyer has said.

'Algerian Lotfi Raissi, 29, was arrested by UK police after the 2001 attacks at the behest of US investigators who considered him the "chief instructor".

'The authorities jailed him while trying to extradite him to the US to face trial and the possibility of execution.

'But a British judge dismissed the case, ruling there was no evidence to back it.'

(BBC Ceefax, 16 Sept. 03, p.119)

17 September 03

Hans Blix, the retired UN chief weapons inspector, now says that Iraq probably destroyed all or most of its biochem weapons shortly after the 1991 Gulf War. He was speaking on the (delayed) eve of publication of a report by the Iraq Weapons Survey Group (which has apparently been having difficulties).

Another "Saddam" audiotape has been broadcast by Dubai's Al-Arabiya TV, calling for increased attacks on US troops in Iraq.

And if the Greek Bar Association can charge Blair & Co. with war crimes ...

'BIN LADEN TOLD TO APPEAR IN SPAIN COURT

[This should be good.]

'a Spanish judge has charged Osama Bin Laden with involvement in the September 11 attacks on the US and ordered the al-Qaeda leader to appear in court. [Sιance?]

'Bin Laden is one of 35 men charged by High Court Judge Baltasar Garzon as he looks into al-Qaeda activities in Spain.

'Judge Garzon has urged Interpol to arrest Bin Laden and extradite him to Spain, where he says there is evidence the September 11 plot was hatched.'

(BBC Ceefax, 17 Sept. 03, p.123)

No ghost hunt will abrogate the responsibility of the US oil cabal for 9/11.

18 September 03

'GUARDIAN[:] Saudi Arabia, in response to the current Mid East upheaval, has embarked on a strategic review that includes acquiring nuclear weapons.'

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

This sounds like more CIAgitprop (see-eye-AYE-jit-prop). The Guardian article quotes an unnamed UN official. A member of the US far-right-in-power, shouldn't we assume?

'[British] PUBLIC HAVE SAY ON BBC FUNDS

'The Government is to ask the public to take part in a review of how the BBC is funded, Media and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has announced.

'She set out details of a wide-ranging review into the corporation in the run-up to the Charter Renewal in 2006.

'It poses a crucial question of how the BBC is funded and whether it offers value for money — raising the prospect of the licence fee being abolished.'

(ITV Teletext, 18 Sept. 03, p.308)

The review 'will also ask what the BBC should deliver and how it should be regulated. Mrs Jowell said: "it is paid for by the British people and belongs to them".'

(BBC Ceefax, 18 Sept. 03, p.120)

This is typical of "populist dictatorship" — allowing the people to have a one-sided say. And paying them to give the "right" answer. (Like dropping a £40 fee in return for the "privilege" of having a compulsory ID card.)

Tessa Jowell has been prominent among those attacking the BBC (since its exposιs the Government's Iraqi dossiers):-
"The Hutton inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly will influence the BBC's future and the role of its governors, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell" told The Times (25 July: see July 2003 diary under that date).

19 September 03

'GUARDIAN[:] The BBC is to be subjected to a wide-ranging review of its role amid a clamour to abolish the licence fee and curb its governor's powers.'

(ITV Teletext, p.328, reviews)

Now we're getting down to it. And the rest of the media know that, once the Corporation falls, they will be next.

'TELEGRAPH[:] Britain's senior law officer urged Americans not to hand terrorists a victory [which terrorists?!!] by denying Guantanamo Bay detainees a fair trial.

(Ibid.)

'UN ASSEMBLY DEMANDS ARAFAT BE PROTECTED

'The UN General Assembly has voted in favour of a resolution demanding Israel drops its threat to deport or possibly harm Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

'Arab and non-aligned nations asked the Assembly to act after the US vetoed a resolution before the Security Council that sought to protect Mr. Arafat.

'Last week Israel's security cabinet warned it might "remove" Mr Arafat.

'The UN vote was passed by 133 votes to four, [with 15 abstaining,] but — unlike Security Council resolutions — carries no binding powers.'

(BBC Ceefax, 19 Sept. 03, p.110)

The resolution condemned Palestinian as well as Israeli terrorism. But the US was one of the four who voted against it anyway, on the grounds that it was "unbalanced". (All the EU nations voted for it.)

This seems to underline the double-dealing hypocrisy of the US junta.

'Paul Krugman is a mild-mannered university economist. He is also a New York Times columnist and President Bush's most scathing critic. Hence the death threats. ...'

In his 1957 book The World Restored, Henry Kissinger described the undermining of political statii quo by new forces. (He was referring to Napoleon, but he was also 'implicitly addressing the rise of fascism in the 1930s'.) Kissinger's scenario is also being realised in contemporary America, Krugman believes. And he's far from being the only one to believe it!)

20 September 03

'The UK, Germany and France have agreed the UN must play a "significant role" in Iraq, with power transferred "as soon as possible", Tony Blair has said. ...'

(The leaders of the three countries have held a summit in Berlin.)

(BBC Ceefax, p.104)

While the little boys play at movers-and-shakers, the US cabal continues to grind the world's face with its brute reality. Blair's boy-scoutism is running head-first into it.

21 September 03

'[Sunday] Times[:] MI5 has been told of plots by suspected Russian agents to assassinate a media tycoon given asylum in Britain.'

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

'INDEPENDENT[ On Sunday:] The BBC's [Director General] Greg Dyke accused a small clique around the PM [Tony Blair] of putting British TV at risk by opening the gates for foreign multi-nationals to buy ITV.'

(Ibid.)

Two US media moguls have already popped up as prospective buyers. Thus the Blair clique is running a two-pronged attack on Britain's leading broadcasting media. Its politico-administrative assault on the BBC is now parallelled by a "commercial" one on ITV, via a prospective sale to American media tycoons — who (like the Blair government itself) do not exactly have a reputation for independent criticism of their own right-wing government.

IRAN[:] More than 190 Iranian pilgrims have died while making an illegal crossing into Iraq during the past five months, a provincial governor said.'

Iran's population is mainly Shi'ite Muslim, and the leading Shi'ite shrines are in Iraq (at Najaf and Kerbala). Thus there is a legitimate reason for crossing into Iraq. But this is grist to the mill of the US imperialists seeking to extend their conquests in the name of (amongst other things) combating "foreign" (!) terrorism.

'[British Home Secretary] BLUNKETT BACKS [compulsory] ID CARDS

'The Home Secretary has called for a UK-wide ID card scheme to be set up after admitting he has no accurate idea how many illegal immigrants there are in Britain.

'Asked for his best estimate of how many unregistered people are inside the UK, he admitted: "I haven't a clue".

'David Blunkett added there is vigorous debate within Cabinet over ID cards but argued the case for such a scheme to be included in the Queen's Speech [which lays out legislation to be introduced in the forthcoming session of Parliament].'

(ITV Teletext, 21 Sept. 03, p.309)

Blunkett 'outline a system in which the cards would be compulsory, but people would not have to carry them at all times.

'At the very least [!!!], no-one should be able to work or claim benefit without a card, Mr Blunkett told the BBC's Breakfast With Frost programme. ...'

I hate to think what the very most would be.

22 September 03

'INDEPENDENT[:] Iraq was "put up for sale" when the US-backed administration said it was opening up all sectors of its economy to foreign investors.'

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

But oil and minerals are excluded. The US's puppet regime will still "control" these — on behalf of the puppeteers, of course. Iraqi petroleum is already being contracted out amongst the Big Oil companies, and Condy's ChevronTexaco has already had first pickings. (Cheney's Halliburton is an oil services, and military services, company, and laid the groundwork for this looting.)

'GUARDIAN[:] Andrew Gilligan is likely to lose his Today programme position as part of a wide-ranging BBC shake-up.'

(Ibid.)

Charles Kennedy, the leader of the British Liberal Democrats (the "third party"), is opposed to identity cards "on purely civil libertarian grounds", he told a party conference in Brighton.

The Lib Dems, who were the only party of the "top three" to opposed the Iraq invasion, won a recent Commons by-election on a large swing. They hope to exploit electoral disillusion with both the Labour and Conservative parties.

The UN is considering a (further) scaling-down of its presence/operations in Iraq after a second suicide bomb attack. This time a car bomb exploded outside its Baghdad compound, killing an Iraqi security guard as well as the bomber.

23 September 03

Soft-spoken Kofi Annan has finally found his voice, albeit in esprit-d'escalair fashion ...

'ANNAN CONDEMNS UNILATERAL USE OF FORCE

'United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has denounced unilateral military action and warned that the world now stands at a "fork in the road". [Wrong. It already passed it on 9/11.]

'This may be a moment "no less decisive" than in 1945, when the UN was formed, Mr Annan told nearly 200 leaders at the UN in New York.

'The use of force by ad hoc coalitions and indivuals posed a "fundamental challenge" to world peace, he said.

'Without nameing the US, he condemned the pre-emptive" attack on Iraq.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.105)

One of the US junta's main business fellow-travellers, Microsoft, is promoting the censorship of free discussion, using paedophilia (Attorney-General Ashcroft's favourite tool) as the pretext ...

'MICROSOFT CLOSES CHATROOMS

'Computer giant Microsoft has announced plans to close most of its internet chatrooms around the world [in October] to protect children from potential harm.

'The landmark decision follows a string of cases where paedophiles have used chatrooms to "groom" youngsters for sexual abuse.

'Microsoft believes the only way to tackle the problem is to close almost [why almost?] all the chatrooms it operates through its MSN web sites in 34 countries.

The only chatrooms which will continue will either have content monitored or will be run on a subscription basis.'

(ITV Teletext)

'... The UK site, said to have 1.2m users, will be among those closing; a subscription-only service will continue in the US.

'Chatrooms will continue in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and Japan but content will be monitored.

'The move is also being used to combat unsolicited e-mails, known as "spam".'

(BBC Ceefax)

The Microsoft business owes much to the conservative-Republican regime in respect to termination of anti-trust lawsuits and the like. It in turn is helping the junta to pave the way for post-democratic censorship. It is using Attorney-General Ashcroft's favourite tool, the ("anti") paedophile weapon — a cynical exploitation of a genuine evil for ulterior purposes. (See "Ashcroft's Paedophile Terror".)

Is this not the start of a general attack on web discussion sites, using the same pretext?

[Cheney/Halliburton crony] gets top Iraq energy post
David Ivanovich, Houston Chronicle, 23 Sept. 03

'Houston's Robert E. McKee III, a former [!] ConocoPhillips executive, has been appointed the new senior adviser to the Iraqi Oil Ministry.

'He will replace Philip J. Carroll, the one-time head of Shell Oil Co. who has overseen the often-tumultuous effort to jump-start Iraq's oil sector for less than five months.

'His selection as the Bush administration's energy czar in Iraq already is drawing fire from Capitol Hill because of his ties to the prime contractor in the Iraqi oil fields, Houston-based Halliburton Co. ...

''He will report to L. Paul Bremer, the civil administrator of occupied Iraq, and serve as the liaison with Iraq's newly reconstituted oil companies.

'McKee's appointment already is coming under scrutiny because of his role as chairman of Houston-based Enventure Global Technology, an oil-field joint venture owned by Shell and Halliburton.

'Halliburton's role in Iraq has been highly controversial, since the Corps of Engineers chose the firm once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney for the job of repairing Iraq's energy infrastructure without seeking bids from competing companies. ...

'As the senior oil adviser, McKee will be responsible for both establishing energy policy for Iraq's new oil industry as well as operating a large petroleum operation ...'

24 September 03

A leaked draft of an interim report by the 1,400-strong Iraq Survey Group, which is searching for evidence of WMD, says that so far none have been found. Not even minute amounts of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons have been discovered.

However the source in the US administration told British journalist Andrew Neil that the report would suggest that Iraq had been developing a WMD programme. The report is due to be published next month.

(BBC Ceefax, p.105)

But a spokesman for the CIA said the Iraq Survey Group's report would "reach no firm conclusions", neither "ruling anything or out".

(Ibid, p.106)

25 September 03

The United Nations is to withdraw its non-Iraqi staff from Iraq, to Jordan. ("Temporarily".)

Once more, cui bono? The "unilateralist" US bandit-cabal, winning out against "multilateralist" equity.

President Bush has again warned Iran that it "faces the condemnation of the world" if it "continues to pursue its nuclear weapons programme".

He's evidently working on the principle that, if you say something often enough, people will believe it to be true. The substitution of repetition for reason.

Oh, yes, minute traces of high grade uranium have been found in Iran, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Just enough to give a veneer of credibility to the US oil junta's claims. If you really want to believe them — or want others to.

26 September 03

'POLICE PROBE UK LINK TO CHILD PORN RING

'Seven people have been arrested in the UK following a German police operation to smash an internet child porn ring thought to involve up to 26,000 people. [My emphasis.]

'Police in Germany say they have broken up the ring after issuing 500 warrants there as part of Operation Marcy.

'Those held included a man in Bavaria who had 26,000 indecent pictures. [Is someone getting their statistics confused?]

'The UK's National Crime Squad said it had been tipped off about British links in December [2002] and 22 suspects had been identified, with seven arrests to date.'

(BBC Ceefax)

Modest figures by the standards of Operations Candyman, Avalanche (and their offspring Ore), but it once again illustrates the marvellous potential of such methods for raking people in — whatever ulterior purpose this might be applied to.

27 September 03

'15,000 US TROOPS PREPARE FOR IRAQ DUTY

'The US Defence Department has called up 15,000 reservists for possible service in Iraq.

'Two National Guard infantry brigades have ben told to mobilise in the next two weeks. A third is on standby alert.

'The US has around 130,000 troops in Iraq. The new contingents are expected to replace those taking leave. ...'

(BBC Ceefax)

And we remain on the alert for preparations for an invasion of Saudi Arabia and/or Iran.

28 September 03

'ITALIAN BLACKOUT FOLLOWS HUGE POWER CUT

'A massive power cut has plunged large parts of Italy into darkness. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, early morning, p.114)

Most of Italy, from Milan to Sicily, was affected. Italy imports much electricity from France and Switzerland, and a "cascading" effect stemming from problems here was initially blamed.

(BBC News 24)

"Shades" of America! A previously unheard-of problem arises in north-eastern America, then spreads in a series of copycat actions across the world. Blackouts hit parts of Denmark and Sweden a couple of weeks ago. We had our own dear little one in south London before that.

Too much for coincidence, it is evident, but for what purpose if intentional — apart from encouraging a general atmosphere of uncertainty and worry?

Italy is of course run by the US junta's junior "blood-brother", the ever-entertaining Silvio Berlusconi.

A later report blamed a tree uprooted by a storm in Switzerland. Do we believe this all-for-want-of-a-nail logic, similar-sounding to initial excuses for the American original?

'CIA DENIES LACKING IRAQ INTELLIGENCE

'The Bush administration has rejected claims that intelligence on Iraq's weapons capability was faulty.

'Two senior members of a Congressional committee have written to the CIA, claiming it failed to get up-to-date information before the US-led invasion.

'In a leaked letter, Republic[an] committee chairman Porter Goss and Democrat June Harman accuse the CIA of relying on intelligence from 1998 [with only piecemeal additions since].

'But Secretary of State Colin Powell has insisted the intelligence was solid.'

(BBC Ceefax, 28 Sept. 03, p.110)

'A tape purporting to be a recording of al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been broadcast by Arabic satellite TV stations. [Different versions were broadcast by Qatar's al-Jazeera and Dubai's al-Arabiya. Al-Jazeera says the tape was played to them down a phone line from Pakistan.]

'On the tape, the man urged Pakistanis to overthrow President Pervez Musharraf. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 28 Sept. 03, p.112)

29 Sept. 03

'WHITE HOUSE DENIES LEAK OF CIA AGENT

'The White House has denied claims that it leaked the identity of an undercover CIA agent [as a reprisal] because her husband had questioned US intelligence on Iraq. [In 2002, the US ambassador Wilson reported it was "highly unlikely" that Iraq had done a deal with Niger for uranium. But President Bush used the claim in his Jan. 2003 State of the Union address anyway. Wilson subsequently went public on the matter.] ...

'Revealing a covert agent's identity is a criminal offence and the US Justice Department is to investigate the claims.' [Which sounds rather like the Gestapo being asked to investigate the misdeeds of Hitler's Reichschancellory.]

(BBC Ceefax, p.114)

CIA Director George Tenet has called for a full investigation of the matter.

The CIA's oil target was always Saudi Arabia and, though it strung along reluctantly with the White House's variant Iraq agenda, it would no doubt be happy for the White House to take the fall for the whole oil conspiracy.

30 September 03

The BBC World Service programme "Pipeline Politics", prevented by Maurice Walsh, was a frank discussion of the US's oil motivations for its moves in the Middle East.

Next week:- the US and Venezuela.

Blaming in effect the alien hordes allegedly now overrunning Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair "argued" that, whereas in the 20th century identity cards were regarded as a threat to liberty, in the 21st they may be regarded as protecting it!

Blair is already monkeying the "war-is-peace" logic of totalitarianism — a method of rule his American puppet-masters would no doubt like to see further developed.

In his moderate, reasonable way, of course. Slavery may be freedom, he suggested.

Eleven North-African men have been arrested under anti-terrorism laws in London and Manchester. The raids were co-ordinated by the police and MI5.

Tony Blair (again speaking at the Labour Party conference) said that he did not regret the Iraq invasion and would do the same again.

He may well be planning to aid and abet the same thing again — this time in Saudi Arabia and/or Iran.

'IRAQ ARMS — INQUIRY INTO "CIA LEAK" ROW

'The US Justice Department has opened up an inquiry into the leak of a CIA officials identity, amid claims that the American Government was responsible. [I commented on this yesterday — see above.]

'The official, Valerie Plame, is the wife of diplomat Joseph Wilson, who has accused the White House of exaggerating the weapons threat from Iraq.

'Mr Wilson says White House aides leaked his wife's name to discredit [sic] him. [In fact, to attack his family.]

'President Bush has directed his staff to co-operate fully with the Justice Department's investigation.'

(BBC Ceefax, 30 Sept. 03, p.112)

Christopher Saunders, "MSN Next to Hook Up with Reuters", internetnews.com, 29 Sept. 03

"Toni Locy, "FBI fails to re-create anthrax production", USA Today, 29 Sept. 03

Carol D Leonnig, "D.C. FBI Chief Regrets Leaks and Labels in Anthrax Case", Washington Post, 30 Sept. 03, p.A07

CIA pursues [terrorist] video game
Bill Gertz, Washington Times, 29 Sept. 03

'The CIA is set to spend several million dollars to develop a video game aimed at helping analysts think like terrorists, The Washington Times has learned.

'The agency's Counter Terrorist Center, or CTC, is working with the Los Angeles-based Institute for Creative Technologies on a project designed to help its analysts, "think outside the box," a CIA spokesman said. The project is close to approval, but officials wouldn't comment on the exact cost of the program.

'The institute, part of the University of Southern California, works with Hollywood movies and video game specialists.

'Disclosure of the CIA video game project follows the Pentagon's recent cancellation of a plan for an online gambling parlor designed to predict a Middle East terrorist attack. The Pentagon's scheme led to the resignation of retired Navy Vice Adm. John Poindexter, head of the Total Awareness data-mining counterterrorism project.

'A military official said the CIA video game is "a ridiculous and absurd scheme that makes Poindexter's project look good in comparison".

'A second critic of the program said "These absurd ideas about countering terrorism suggest that the war on terrorism has been a failure, that terrorists are still ahead and that the CTC does not know what it is doing. ...

'CIA spokesman Mark Mansfield defended the video project and called it an "innovative approach" to counterterrorism The game will select a scenario that could involve analysts playing terrorist-cell leaders or members, a terrorist money-mover or a facilitator, he said. ...'

Is this a cover story for the CIA's own terrorist activities, links with al-Qaeda, etc? It's hard to puzzle out what the Department of Disinformation is up to. But then, that's the idea; they don't call them "intelligence" for nothing.

Oh yes, have you seen the one where they fly an airliner into a building?
The September-11 Atrocities

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