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1 June 03

British Prime Minister Tony Blair says that "intelligence" leaves him in not the slightest doubt that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and that evidence will be assembled in the coming weeks and months to show the public the "truth" of this.

(BBC Ceefax)

The "evidence" hasn't been assembled yet? Two months after the conquest of Iraq?

"In our country the lie has become ... a pillar of the state", Solzhenitsyn remarked about Soviet Russia. Now it's our turn. Just the beginning.

Yesterday I came across this article—

Huge Homeland Security Drill Planned
"Dirty Bomb" in Seattle, Disease in Chicago Part of Scenario for May 12 Exercise
Edward Walsh and John Mintz, Washington Post, 5 May 03, p.A09

'This is the scenario: At noon in Seattle, a hidden bomb explodes south of the central business district, causing more than 100 casualties. Significant levels of radiation are detected near the site of the explosion and its soon becomes apparent to local officials that this was no ordinary bomb, but a radiological dispersal device, commonly known as a "dirty bomb."

'The next day and some 2,000 miles to the east, people complaining of flu-like symptoms begin to trickle into hospitals in the Chicago area. Over the next 24 hours, the number of arriving patients escalates dramatically. Local officials diagnose the cause of the illness and ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to confirm their worst fear — a deadly, biological agent has been released near Chicago.

'These fictional events are set to unfold over five days beginning May 12 in what federal officials say will be the largest homeland security exercise in U.S. history. Dubbed TOPOFF 2 (for Top Officials) ...

'This will be the second homeland security exercise staged by the government. The first occurred in 2000 in Denver and involved a mock germ warfare attack. [There was another "terror exercise" in Denver about the time of the Salt Lake Olympics last year, and the great "security operation" there.] ...

'In announcing plans for the exercise, federal officials stressed that no real weapons will be used to simulate the attacks. [!!] They also said that the scenario they have developed, while "credible," was not based on any U.S. intelligence findings on the plans of terrorist organizations.

'Planning for TOPOFF 2 began in June 2001. ...

'Under the scenario, the Seattle and Chicago attacks are the work of two cells of GLODO, a fictional terrorist organization that is said to have "a history of ruthlessness." [They could as well have called it SPECTRE ... or al-Qaeda ... .] Six days before the May 12 bomb explosion in Seattle, "credible threats" against the United States picked up by intelligence agents cause the Department of Homeland Security to raise the national threat level from yellow (elevated) to orange (high).

'... over the weekend of May 10 and 11, GLODO agents in Illinois release a biological agent that takes three to six days before causing symptoms of illness in those who are infected.

'On May 12, a Monday, the bomb explodes in Seattle ...

'[Homeland Security Secretary] Ridge said government officials are most concerned about the use of a biological agent that can spread from person to person, as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) does. He said that possibility, which will be simulated in the Chicago attack, is "the true nightmare scenario." ...'

The exercise can be seen, in however blurred a way, as a case of art mirroring life. About the beginning of May, US intelligence warned of an al-Qaeda terror plot against American interests in Saudi Arabia. (See May 2003 diary, under 1 and 2 May.)

Then, late-night 12 May Saudi time, occurred the series of suicide car-bombings of foreign residential compounds in Riyadh, killing 34, including 10 Americans and two British. (See ibid, under 13 May.)

On 25 May, we learned of the "resurgence" of the ubiquitous flu-symptomed SARS in Toronto. (Well, perhaps it swam the Great Lakes from Chicago.) And as we learned on 29 May (if we hadn't already done so), SARS is a bureaucratic disease, augmented by redefinition — the redefinition being required by the World Health Organization. (Ibid, 25, 29 May.)

All this is open-secret state terrorism. It is (one example of) a blending of fact and fiction, of reality and video game, a carrot-and-stick to encourage public support for imperial and police-state policies. "Bread and circuses", as an earlier civilization knew it in its "world-empire" phase. These visible methods can only work on those who (through agreement or cowardice) allow themselves to be washed along in the sewage-flow.

Of course, the plans were published beforehand, so anyone could have "parallelled" them. But who bar the US government has the global resources and abilities at its disposal to do so?

I saw the BBC TV Correspondent "programme on al-Jazeera TV" tonight. I learned that al-Jazeera is just down the road (so to speak) from US Central Command (CENTCOM) HQ in Qatar.

Jazeera's "front-line" offices in Kabul and Baghdad were both bombed by the USAF during the campaigns against Afghanistan and Iraq. Probably deliberately, but that's just a matter of "keeping up appearances".

Most of the Jazeera's staff would not have concrete knowledge of the station's role as a conduit of CIAgitprop — those crudely faked al-Qaeda tapes. But being intelligent people, they must have more-or-less of an idea of it.

'US TO FORM IRAQI COUNCIL "WITHIN WEEKS"

'Iraq's American rulers will form a political council to head an interim government within six weeks, senior US officials have revealed.

'The council, of 25-30 members, will follow broad consultations, they said.

'It will advise the occupiers on economic and political issues, and name advisers to join government ministries.'

'Plans for a national conference as a step towards formation of a government have been abandoned.'

(BBC Ceefax, 1 June 03, p.107)

'South Korea says its navy has fired warning shots at three North Korean fishing boats after they entered its territorial waters.

'The incident near Yongpyong Island is the sixth encounter along the disputed western sea border in seven days. ...'

(Ceefax, p.142)

The South Korean government is a left-wing one, and seems less inclined to collaborate with US junta machinations. But the junta could be sneaking under their feet to collaborate directly with the South Korean military (always a force to be considered in the country's politics) in staging incidents.

2 June 03

Blair has reiterated that he is "absolutely 100% behind" Iraqi WMD (which may be an interesting slip of the tongue).

'IRAQ WMD EVIDENCE OVERWHELMING — STRAW

'Evidence that Iraq had [how times change!] chemical and biological weapons was "overwhelming", [British] Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insists.

'And he said it was "likely that two trailers found in Iraq had been used as mobile biological weapons laboratories. ["Clutching at straws"?]

'A biological arms expert had said he was "sceptical" this was the case. [My emphasis] ...'

(BBC Ceefax, p.108)

See also—

'US and UK stand by WMD claims', BBC News online, 2 June 03:-

'... US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he believed the evidence was overwhelming that Iraq had the weapons and that it continued to develop weapons programmes after UN inspectors left in 1998. ...'

We see that Jack Straw monkeys the language of his Big Brother in Washington.

'Spanish daily El Mundo claims that US Secretary of State Colin Powell was forced to exaggerate the threat posed by Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

'"The facts show that it did not have the slightest foundation," it says.

'The paper adds that the US military command has formally complained over CIA warnings of biological attacks [my emphasis].

'Hungary's Nepszabadsag sees the current series of world summits as part of a US bid to make "major adjustments".

'It argues that the US will try to "fit Nato into peacemaking duties" which it has planned for the Middle East.

'The paper adds that the US will then seek to force the Middle East into a system of globalised free trade.

'"This may lead to another war and another Euro-Atlantic split," it concludes gloomily.'

(BBC Ceefax, 2 June 03, p.147, reviews of European papers)

And indeed, undeterred by the furore over ever-more-dubious Iraqi WMDs, the US junta is pressing ahead with its "disguised" imperial agenda against Iran and N Korea (i.e. China):—

G8 issues weapons warning
BBC News online, 2 June 03

'Leaders of the world's richest nations have called for tighter control of arms, including nuclear weapons and missiles which could be used by terrorists.

'A statement issued at the end of a Group of Eight meeting in France made specific reference to Iran and North Korea, urging them to comply with international nuclear safeguards. ...'

—A BBC Newsnight commentary added that France, Germany and Russia could hardly oppose such a "reasonable" statement.

They could, of course, but they reckon they've made their big effort in opposing the Iraqi annexation, and have earned a little friendly relaxation. Aka the beginning of appeasement.

Ballistic tests on the ammunition that killed journalist James Miller, in Rafah, Gaza Strip, show that it was of the type used by Israeli troops.

(ITV Teletext, 2 June 03, p.310)

3 June 03

GUARDIAN[:] Security services carried out pre-war secret meetings with cabinet members to convince ministers of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.'

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

'SENATE TO PROBE WEAPONS ROW

The US Senate's Armed Services Committee is to hold hearings about why banned weapons have not yet been found in Iraq. "The credibility of the administration and Congress is being challenged", it says.

'Senators have already asked the CIA to probe whether pre-war assessments of Iraq's weapons capacity were flawed, [:->] the New York Times reported.'

(ITV Teletext, 3 June 03, p.306)

But Tony Blair says there is "no need" for a similar enquiry in Britain. (Ibid, p.305)

UN weapons inspectors had found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq by the time the imminent US-led invasion forced them to leave, chief inspector Hans Blix said.

However, they had questions about its "programmes", and further leads to follow. But the US and UK banned UN inspectors from returning, deployed their own teams and did not request assistance, Blix added.

(ITV Teletext, 3 June 03, p.306/2)

One likely reason for stopping them carrying out any more inspections was to prevent them from discovering that Iraq had no WMD.

A CIA report says al-Qaeda is preparing to use nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in deadly strikes, [what else?] a newspaper (not named) claims.

(ITV Teletext, 3 June 03, p.318)

Al-Qaeda was always the CIA's agenda (and protιgι, for that matter). Unfortunately for them, Pinocchio-Bush came to life with his own transparent Iraq-attack agenda, and forced them to string along by producing bogus evidence of WMD and Qaeda links.

Perhaps CIA/SOCOM deliberately failed to plant the needed WMDs, to undermine Bush & Co's position. Maybe they can get to take the fall for 9/11 while they are about it.

4 June 03

'TIMES[:] Rogue elements in the [British] intelligence services are seeking to undermine the Government in the Iraqi weapons row, senior ministers said.'

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

Our rogue government has undermined itself.

'REID ATTACKS "ROGUE" BRIEFINGS ON IRAQ

'Rogue elements in the intelligence services have tried to undermine the Prime Minister's claims on Iraq's weapons, Commons Leader John Reid says.

'The PM denies intelligence reports were doctored [by the Government] to support the case for war.

'Dr Reid told The Times that the elements had made the allegations in uncorroborated briefings.

'"I find it difficult to grasp why this should be believed against the British Prime Minister," he said.'

(BBC Ceefax, 4 June 03, p.104)

'Shadow [Conservative] foreign secretary Michael Ancram has branded [the] remarks ... as "rather silly".' (Ibid, p.105)

These fascist puppets are coming apart at the seams. The question remains, are the CIA and its MI5/MI6 sidekicks deliberately undermining the Bush and Blair governments?

'CIA REVIEWS IRAQ REPORT

'The CIA is reviewing a top-secret intelligence report to decide whether Washington [sic] miscalculated the extent of the threat posed by Iraq's biological weapons.

'The US report concluded that Baghdad had chemical and biological weapons and was seeking to reconstitute its nuclear programme, the New York Times said.

'CIA director George Tenet has denied [that] the Iraq intelligence was warped in order to suit the Bush administration. [See May 2003 diary, under 31 May.]'

(ITV Teletext, 4 June 03, p.304)

'[British Parliamentary] REBELLION ON IRAQ ARMS PROBE

'Eleven Labour backbenchers have backed an opposition call for an independent inquiry into the Government's handling of intelligence prior to the war in Iraq.

'But a Liberal Democrat led motion, also supported by the Tories, was defeated by 301-203, a Commons majority of 98.

'The government's amendment stating the intelligence and security committee was the "appropriate body" to carry out an inquiry was carried without a vote.'

(ITV Teletext, 4 June 03, p.303)

'NERVE GAS INGREDIENT IN BELGIAN LETTERS

'A nerve gas ingredient has been found in letters to the Belgian prime minister's office and some embassies, the Belgian government has said.

'At least 10 letters were mailed to addresses including the US, British and Saudi embassies in Brussels.

'Some of the letters were intercepted by police because of anthrax fears.

'The finds came as the trial continues in Belgium of 23 suspected members of the terrorist organisation al-Qaeda.'

(BBC Ceefax, 4 June 03, p.108)

(1) The CIA is under pressure from WMD enquiries, and wants to distract from/justify itself by highlighting (its alter ego) al-Qaeda;

(2) Belgium is a suitable target, because a Belgian lawyer is prosecuting CENTCOM CINC Tommy Franks for "war crimes" in Iraq.

The US , UK and Saudi embassies were also targeted, but it was only a nerve-gas ingredient — harmless by itself? (otherwise there would surely have been a much bigger fuss). The country directly targeted was Belgium — which was the odd target out in the Morocco bombings too.

Of the 150 Israeli settlements founded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since Israel occupied them in 1967, 60 have been founded since 2001. The proportion of Israeli settlers the 60 represents was not indicated, but there has evidently been a major acceleration of colonization under the Sharon government (and since its Big Brothers came to power in America). (There are a total of 250,000 in the 150 settlements, compared with 3.6 million Palestinians.) Many of the 20 offered to be removed under the "road map" plan are tiny.

(The Times, London, 4 June 03, p.4)

5 June 03

'TWO NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS QUIT JOBS

'New York Times editor Howard Raines has resigned his post following weeks of scandal over reporting standards.

'Managing editor Gerald Boyd also quit, the prestigious US paper announced.

'The Times has been dogged by scandal since reporter Jayson Blair resigned after it was found he stole material from other papers and invented quotes. [And we look forward to a better-known faker with the same surname doing the same! ]

'Top reporter Rick Bragg also quit after he was accused of relying too heavily on a freelance journalist's work.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.118)

'INDEPENDENT[:] Tony Blair refused to withdraw claims by MI6 that Saddam Hussein tried to buy uranium.'

(ITV Teletext, 5 June 03, p.328, reviews of British papers)

'CIA "PRESSURED" ON IRAQI ARMS

'US Vice-President Dick Cheney pressured CIA staff to produce reports supporting White House claims about banned Iraqi weapons, intelligence staff have said.

'Mr Cheney and an aide made "multiple" trips to the agency to quiz analysts studying Baghdad's suspected chemical, biological and nuclear arms programme.

'The visits "sent signals, intended or otherwise, that a certain output was desired", said a senior US official. [Diplomatically.]'

(ITV Teletext, 5 June 03, p.304)

The al-Jazeera office in Baghdad was attacked with a US air-to-ground rocket on the same day as the Palestinian Hotel in the city was shelled by a US tank — the hotel housed most of the ("unembedded") journalists. On the same day, too, Abu Dhabi TV was attacked by ground forces too.

The flocks of western reporters have now departed Iraq, and cannot record the sporadic guerrilla-style violence, and the violent behaviour of patrolling US troops, that occurs. These are sometimes recorded by amateur cameramen. An example was shown of a rough arrest by troops (throwing the arrestee in a semi-circle to the ground, soldiers temporarily putting their boots on his neck and back); when the troops spotted the cameraman, they open fire on him. (It seemed dark, they could have thought he was a sniper.)

(John Snow, "The War We Never Saw", British Channel 4, 5 June 03, 11:15pm)

Blix has made his final report to the UN (before retiring at the end of the month). He said no evidence of WMD had been found in Iraq.

'BLIX ATTACKS ARMS INTELLIGENCE QUALITY

'The man who led the UN hunt for Iraq's banned weapons has criticised the quality of the intelligence given to him by British and US officials.

'Chief weapons inspector Hans Blix told the BBC he followed up leads at a large number of suspected arms sites.

'"In none of these cases were there any weapons of mass destruction," he said.

'He added that he thought: "If this is the best intelligence they have and we find nothing, what about the rest?"'

(BBC Ceefax)

—Somebody compared US/UK intelligence on Iraqi conventional arms, which was extremely accurate.

6 June 03

'US intelligence services reported in September that they had no reliable evidence that Iraq had chemical arms, Pentagon officials have said.

'But the Defence [Defense] Intelligence Agency also said Iraq probably had stockpiles of banned chemical warfare agents. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, p.104)

'UN inspectors have returned to Iraq to investigate the looting of the country's main nuclear facility. ...'

'Iraqi scientists who checked the damage at Tuwaitha said looters left behind uranium and spilled radioactive sources. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 6 June 03, p.105)

TV news said locals took radio-contaminated containers for household use. ...

Hamas has rejected disarmament talks with Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas, after two of their members were killed by Israeli troops. But they're still working on it ...

'The US has said a leaked UN report on Iran's nuclear programmes was "deeply troubling" ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 6 June 03, p.107) 7 June 03

'Sheriff seeks homeland security grant'
Bill Douthat, Palm Beach Post Florida, 7 June 03

'Sheriff Ed Bieluch pictures a homeland security force in which deputies attend community meetings and "pass on and collect" information about possible terrorist activity.

'Sound Orwellian?

'Maybe, but Bieluch needed to explain to the federal government why his department needs 13 new full-time deputies and what they would do to bolster his Homeland Security Division.

'The federal government is awarding grants to law enforcement agencies nationwide in an effort to boost community policing and homeland security plans.

'Bieluch said the money would be used to "improve communications between community Policing deputies and Homeland Security deputies," according to the grant application.

'While attending meetings, "they will pass on and collect information from the citizens." ...

'The sheriff indicated in the application that his deputies would increase their time spent on homeland security-related activities from the current 6 to 10 hours a week to 11 to 20. ...

'While the grant — through the Department of Justice — would pay $975,000 towards the salaries of the 13 deputies over three years, the government would require matching local money of $1.4 million. ...

'The sheriff's office would pay the $1.4 million, using revenue from drug and property seizures. ...

'... three local law enforcement agencies were [already] receiving their [own] grants.

'The city of Boca Raton received $375,000 for five officers; Port St. Lucie received $450,000 for six officers; and West Palm Beach received $900,000 for 12 officers. ...'

TIPS is dead, long live TIPS! By hook or by crook, Ashcroft and his train will set up their participative police state, aka police society, aka totalitarian state.

We will soon find (indeed already are) that the exercise will go beyond the — almost entirely mythical — US Islamic terrorists, and embrace an increasingly wide field of public nonconformity.

The financing shows that Ashcroft's Injustice Department is still pulling the strings, federal-wise. Little boy Ridge and his Homeland Security Department have got a way to go yet (they weren't even mentioned in the above article).

'The Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has ruled out dialogue with the militant group Hamas after it broke off truce talks, an official has said. ...

'Hamas scrapped talks in retaliation for Mr Abbas's "concessions" at a summit.

'He had promised to end violence against Israelis at a meeting with George Bush and Ariel Sharon.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.115)

The besuited US "appointee" Abbas has taken his lead from Bush, who called Hamas "enemies of peace" because of the boycott.

Another reason for the Hamas boycott was that the Israelis have just killed two of them.

8 June 03

A joint attack by three gunmen of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa in the Gaza Strip killed four Israeli soldiers as well as the gunmen. Ariel Sharon has said the "road map" won't be followed until violence stops.

All this is utterly predictable. The "road map" is just another "pacifist" facade on the road to the Final Solution.

Eleven trainee policemen in Pakistan were shot dead by some-militants-or-other there.

British Home Secretary David Blunkett has said the Government's second Iraq dossier, parts of which that plagarised from various public sources (some obsolete), should never have been published. (The moving finger wrote ...)

Alistair Campbell has sent an "apology" (as near as the Government can get to one) to the Secret Intelligence Service's (MI6's) head, Sir _____ Dearlove.

The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Iain Duncan Smith, has said the Government's credibility is on the line over "Iraqi WMD" ("no-one will believe anything he says again").

This from the man who has consistently tried to outstrip Blair for servility to the US junta, who was at least as supportive of the Iraq invasion as the Prime Minister.

US plans death camp in Guantanamo
Daily Times, no date, url shows 28 May 03

'WASHINGTON: The US has floated plans to turn Guantanamo Bay into a death camp, with its own death row and execution chamber.

'Prisoners would be tried, convicted and executed without right of appeal, The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported recently.

'The plans were revealed by Major-General Geoffrey Miller, who is in charge of 680 suspects from 43 countries, including two Australians. The suspects have been held at Camp Delta on Cuba without charge for 18 months.

'General Miller said building a death row was one plan. Another was to have a permanent jail, with possibly an execution chamber.

'The Mail on Sunday reported the move is seen as logical by the US, which has been attacked worldwide for breaching the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war since it established the camp at a naval base to hold alleged terrorists from Afghanistan. ...

'American law professor Jonathan Turley, who has led US civil rights group protests against the military tribunals planned to hear cases at Guantanamo Bay, said: "It is not surprising the authorities are building a death row because they plan to try capital cases before these tribunals.

'"This camp was created to execute people. The administration has no interest in long-term sentences for people it regards as hard-core terrorists". ...'

'The Pentagon is taking final steps for military tribunals of detainees held in Guantanamo Bay — preparations that include contingency planning for executions, according to the top U.S. military official at the prison camp in Cuba. ...'

9 June 03

The N Korean news agency is reported as saying (if anyone can decipher its cryptic remarks) that it will be force to develop nuclear weapons because of the US's continuing hostile stance to it. And no prizes for guessing which way the US junta will always choose to interpret N Korea's remarks — when it's not inventing them outright.

The US says N Korea is softening towards five-way talks between the US, China, Japan, and North and South Korea.

As a start on demolishing Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories, in support of the "road map to peace", the Israelis have 'destroyed several disused caravans near Ramallah [my emphasis]. ...

'Palestinian minister Yasser Abed Rabbo denounced the Israeli move as symbolic and part of a game of deception.'

(BBC Ceefax, 9 June 03, p.118)

'IRAQ[:] US units hunting for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction have run out of places to look and are getting time off or are being assigned to other duties.'

(ITV Teletext) In contrast to Blair, etc, who say there are still loadsa places.

You can almost see those WMD being planted.

10 June 03

The Israelis failed to assassinate a Hamas leader in a helicopter rocket attack, but killed two bystanders. And a similar attack with similar results in the Gaza Strip.

I saw the BBC Newsnight report on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's repression of media independence in Italy.

Berlusconi is an example of the international "new right", the natural leaders of whom are the ruling group in the USA. This brand of politician is corrupt, self-seeking, anti-libertarian; the (first) face of the post-constitutionalist breed of ruler of the 21st century (and after).

'The FBI on Monday began draining the pond in the Frederick Municipal Forest, where authorities believe the suspect may have filled the envelopes with deadly spores underwater for his own protection. ...

'The attacks killed five people and sickened 17 others who were infected by anthrax bacteria sent through the mail.

'The pond is eight miles from the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious diseases at Fort Detrick in Frederick, the primary custodian of the strain of anthrax found in envelopes sent to the victims.

'Dr. Steven Hatfill, a bioterrorism expert who formerly as a researcher at the institute, has been described as a "person of interest" in the investigation. His apartment was next to Fort Detrick.

'Hatfill has denied any involvement in the attacks. ...'

'The pond is one of 10 searched by divers in December and January after the FBI reportedly received a tip that someone may have used the spring-fed reservoir to assemble anthrax-filled envelopes using equipment submerged in water.

'The Washington Post first reported May 11 that items recovered from the pond included a clear box with holes that could accommodate gloves to protect a user, Also recovered were vials wrapped in plastic. ...' ('Draining Possible Anthrax Pond Could Take Month', The WBal Channel.com, 10 June 03)

Since the anthrax investigation began, the FBI has been thoroughly purged of its old guard, who have been replaced by those who at least owe their positions to the current junta. The junta has no intention of exposing the realities behind one of its fundamental methods — the anthrax attacks — for achieving its initial political goals (see "The 'Patriot Act'"). The "pond investigation" is probably a red herring.

In an apparently separate news item, the Pentagon reoprted in late May that it had discovered, during two years of digging, over 2,000 tons of hazardous materials buried at a landfill belonging to Fort Detrick. Also vials of a "non-virulent, vaccine" form of anthrax which, however, contained live virus "to stimulate an immune reaction". See May 2003 diary, under 28 May.

11 June 03

'BLIX ANGER AT SMEAR CAMPAIGN

'UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix has hit out at people in Washington who he claims ran a smear campaign on him.

'In an out-of-character outburst as the normally diplomatic 75-year-old is due to retire from his post, he said: "I have my detractors in Washington.

'"They spread things around and plant nasty things in the media. It was like a mosquito bite in the evening that is there in the morning, an irritant."'

(ITV Teletext, p.310)

Cf. 'As arms inspectors arrive, row erupts over US smears', The Guardian, 19 Nov. 02

Another day of violence and counter-violence in Israel/Palestine has left at least 23 dead. 12 June 03

Hamas has "declared war".

13 June 03

'US TROOPS KILL 70 IN RAID ON IRAQI CAMP

'At least 70 people have died in a US operation against an alleged terrorist training camp in Iraq, the US has said.

'One US soldier was wounded in the attack, 90 miles northwest of Baghdad, and an Apache helicopter was shot down.

'The raid is still in progress[ 1pm BST], and involves the 101st Airborne Division.

'Meanwhile, fires are blazing on a major oil pipeline in northern Iraq following two reported bomb attacks aimed at sabotaging exports through Turkey.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.107)

'US KILL 27 IRAQIS FOLLOWING TANK AMBUSH

[a later action, according to ITV Teletext]

'US troops have killed 27 Iraqis who they say ambushed one of their tank patrols north of Baghdad.

'The assailants were said to have fired anti-tank weapons at an armoured patrol in Balad, 35 miles from the capital.

'Tanks fired back, killing four Iraqis, while armoured vehicles backed by helicopter gunships pursued the rest of the group, killing a further 23.

'The tank patrol was from the US Army's 4th Infantry Division, based in Texas.'

(BBC Ceefax, 13 June 03, p.108)

It is easy to sabotage pipelines, and the only way the infrastructure of the American oil empire can really be secured is by the wholesale removal of the native population — by whatever means — and the transformation of the relevant regions into an electronically-supervised armed camp.

'"SADDAM LETTER" TELLS FOREIGNERS TO GO

'Saddam Hussein has warned foreigners to leave Iraq, according to a letter he allegedly faxed to an Arabic newspaper.

'The letter, sent to the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi, also threatened to attack countries with troops in Iraq.

'"As they kill the sons of Iraq, we will respond," it says.

'The paper's editor said the handwriting and signature were the same as in four other letters faxed to it since the war and attributed to Saddam Hussein.'

(BBC Ceefax, 13 June 03, p.114)

Perhaps significantly, the editor didn't say the handwriting was the same as Saddam Hussein's (though this shouldn't be difficult to verify).

Whether the editor is a dummy or a clever actor, he is as much a front for CIAgitprop as al-Jazeera.

Saddam Hussein has joined Osama bin Laden in CIAberspace, bogeymen to bolster the US junta's oil-empire campaign.

FBI Promises Change in Immigrant Terror Cases
Associated Press, Fox News, 13 June 03

'Faced with a highly critical report, FBI Director Robert Mueller on Friday [today] promised changes in the handling of illegal immigrants suspected of having links to terrorism.

'In a speech to an American Civil Liberties Union conference, Mueller said the report last week from the Justice Department's inspector general "did a very good job of pointing out areas where we can do better."

'The inspecotr general, Glenn A. Fine, criticized the lengthy detentions — some up to eight months — of many of the 762 aliens held in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and the FBI's assumption of sole authority to decide whether individuals remained a threat.

'Conditions were unduly harsh and none of the detainees were convicted of terrorism-related offenses, with charges brought only against Zacarias Moussaoui. ...'

15 June 03

'US TROOPS SEAL OFF IRAQI TOWN

'More than 1,300 American troops in Iraq have moved to seal off the town of Fallujah, intending to raid the homes of suspected militia leaders.

'The soldiers were to search for illegal weapons as part of a major, coordinated operation called Spartan Scorpion.

'It follows repeated ambushes on nearby supply convoys. Iraqi residents flashed the porch lights of their homes in warning that the troops were coming.' P> (ITV Teletext, p.305)

'DEAL HARSHLY WITH HAMAS, SAYS BUSH

'The world must "deal harshly" with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups, President Bush has said. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 15 June 03)

'BUSH SAYS IRAN DEMOS A PUSH FOR FREEDOM

'The protests in Iran are a positive push for broader freedom in the Islamic republic, President Bush has said.

'Five nights of demonstrations in Iran have centred on Tehran University.

'Police last night prevented attacks on protesters seen in earlier demos by hardliners loyal to the ruling group.

'Earlier, leaders from across Iran's political spectrum condemned earlier US "support" of the rallies, backing claims that the US was inciting unrest.'

(BBC Ceefax, 15 June 03, p.112)

America has said it could contribute troops to a Middle-East peace force suggested by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin.

The US junta is angling to get its troops in everywhere in the Middle East now.

16 June 03

The White House has put the CIA in charge of "finding" weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; the Pentagon having failed to find any.

(British Channel 4 News at 7pm BST)

The big boys will have no problem in "finding", i.e. planting, WMD should they choose to do so (or if they have already done so).

The point is, is CIA/SOCOM trying to embarrass the White House/Pentagon by not tipping them off on any plants the former may have made? Saudi Arabia was always (via 9/11) the CIA's main target — not Iraq. They are undoubtedly annoyed with a Pinocchio that tries to dance by himself.

Tony Blair has sneaked in a basic constitutional change as a "by-product" or sidelight" of a cabinet reshuffle. He has abolished the ancient office of Lord Chancellor, and is seeking to set up an "American-style" Supreme Court. (Thus transferring the powers of the Law Lords.)

This follows proposals by David Blunkett (the blind Home Secretary) to establish (also "American-style") policing with community participation — which in the current Ashcroft-atmosphere looks more a threat of a 1984-style police society. Blunkett is already going hell-for-leather for compulsory ID cards. All-in-all Ashcroft & Co. must find this a handy experiment for America.

Having got away with the Iraq conquest (a minor role in it anyway), Blair is beginning to mistake himself for God. Such a mistake is a classic tool of the Devil — who in this case might be represented by the American coalition of far-right interest groups such as Christian fundamentalists, ultraZionists and the oil lobby.

'IRAQ[:] US troops have been sweeping towns and villages west of Baghdad, arresting suspected resistance leaders, and searching for banned weapons.'

(ITV Teletext, 16 June 03, p.318)

17 June 03

'The US-led reconstruction of Iraq is "in chaos" according to the lead story in The Daily Telegraph.

'The paper quotes a "very senior British official" as saying the plans are suffering from a "complete absence of strategic direction".'

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

With the exception of Iraq's oil, the "official" could have added. That's all the present gang in power in America cares about. And no doubt there are some among their ranks who would be more comfortable if the Arabs and Muslims weere to die out.

The Bush camp has overwhelmingly better access to financial resources for the next Presidential election campaign than do the various Democratic candidates, according to Sky News.

And it would be inconvenient if the Democrats were to win, when the twin campaigns for police state and world empire are in their infancy.

US Democratic Senator Carl Levin says that the CIA withheld intelligence on Iraq.

'MI6 "SAID IRAQ WAS NO THREAT"

'Clare Short [speaking to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, presumably] has said she was told by MI6 in the run-up to the war against Iraq that Saddam Hussein's weapons did not pose any immediate threat.

'Ms Short, who resigned as International Development Secretary over the war, said she had been briefed by MI6.

'She said that No 10 tried to prevent her seeing the weapons evidence and she was only given access after she took up the issue with PM Tony Blair himself.'

(ITV Teletext, 17 June 03, p.303)

'WAR DECISION WAS PRE-DETERMINED — MPs [Short and Cook]

'"Highly suggestible" intelligence was selected by the Government to fit its position on going to war in Iraq, ex-Commons leader Robin Cook has argued.

'He has appeared at a Foreign Affairs Select Committee hearing into whether intelligence reports were "sexed up".

'The "dodgy" dossier did not add "an iota" on Iraq's threat, he said.

'Fellow ex-Cabinet minister Clare Short echoed his comments, saying the UN arms inspectors had been sidelined.'

(BBC Ceefax, 17 June 03, p.104)

Meanwhile, MI5 is riposting with "its own" (i.e. the CIA's) agenda:-

'DIRTY BOMB "A MATTER OF TIME"

'A biological, chemical or nuclear terrorist attack on a Western city is "only a matter of time", the head of MI5 has said.

'Intelligence suggests "renegade scientists" have given terrorist groups information needed to create such weapons, Eliza Manningham-Buller said. [Comrades! The counter-revolutionary traitors are everywhere! And indeed, "our brothers in Washington" exposed this conspiracy last February :-) ... What Z-grade movie did they dredge up this scenario from?]

'Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute in London, she said al-Qaeda was "the first truly global threat".'

(ITV Teletext, 17 June 03, p.315)

The "global threat" of the catch-all "al-Qaeda" was always the facilitating chimera of the CIA and its sidekicks MI5, MI6, Mossad and certain other allied intelligence forces and elements. Indeed, "al-Qaeda" is the mirror-image of these "intelligence imperialists" themselves, whose global threat faces the opposite way. And 9/11 was the CIA's agenda aimed primarily at Saudi Arabia.

They could not have been amused at the sight of Bush-Pinocchio trying to dance by himself, cooking up his own ill-constructed Iraqi-threat chimera. The CIA, always tried to distance themselves from it, and now appear to be stabbing him (and the Blairite puppets' puppets) in the back by refusing to back them up with phoney intelligence and planted WMDs (but don't speak too soon on this; the CIA has just gone into Iraq).

As for the terrorist agenda. It was no doubt for the purpose of spreading dirty-bomb fear that the world was allowed to think that there had been free looter access to high-grade uranium at an Iraqi nuclear facility. (But they would hardly let this happen in reality — any more than they would allow the mass destruction of oil facilities.)

'US ARMY ARRESTS 371 IN IRAQ OPERATION

'The US Army has arrested 371 people in its ongoing Desert Scorpion operation against supporters of Saddam Hussein's regime, military officials have said.

'Some 47 raids took place around Baghdad, Tikrit and Kirkuk, and several banned weapons were seized.

'The campaign is aimed at ending pockets of resistance and is due to last all summer. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 17 June 03)

Earlier, NBC News reported on the massacre/action by the US military (101st Airborne Division?) against what was claimed to have been a terrorist camp near the Syrian border. Some of the inhabitants were claimed to have been non-Iraqis. Locals interviewed by the NBC reporter said the victims were local farmers. They had been incinerated where they slept.

18 June 03

'TELEGRAPH[:] Britain is pressing Europe to give Iran a two-month ultimatum to halt its nuclear programme and cut off support for terrorists.'

(ITV Teletext, 18 June 03, reviews of British papers)

These puppets' puppets can't even think of anything more original than to repeat the excuse-formula used for the invasion of Iraq, almost word-for-word it seems.

'WE NEED NUCLEAR DETERRENT, N KOREA SAYS

'North Korea has vowed to strengthen its nuclear deterrent and dismissed US calls for multilateral talks.

'Pyongyang insists it is necessary to counter what it sees as a US strategy to "isolate and stifle" North Korea.

'The Foreign Ministry said its programme was a "justified self-defence measure". ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 18 June 03)

Did they really say all this? The trouble is, neither the US government nor the BBC (it seems) can be relied on to report accurately what the North Korean government says. The US government, of course, has an — imperialist — motive for "establishing" that the country has nuclear weapons: it wants to pick a fight with China through North Korea.

But the BBC seemed to side with it on one occasion last autumn. Was the translation — N Korea has "come to have nuclear weapons", as the BBC insisted, or — "reserves the right to have nuclear weapons", as the South Koreans themselves said?

'US President George Bush has said he will not tolerate nuclear weapons in Iran and he urged Tehran to treat protesters with respect. ...'

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

For some reason he did not add that he would not tolerate covert WMD in the United States, nor did he demand respect for Iraqis demonstrating against the American occupation of their country.

19 June 03

Bush challenged over Iraq weapons
BBC News online

'US President George W Bush is facing fresh charges that he exaggerated the threat of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction to win support for the war.

'In a strong attack on Mr Bush's administration, Democratic Senator John Kerry accused the president [of] misleading everyone.

'Mr Kerry, a leading contender to contest the 2004 presidential election for the Democrats, [unfortunately, truth is going to get entangled with campaigning now] promised that Congress would get to the bottom of the matter.

'Committees in both houses of the US Congress are continuing private inquiries into the issue, but on the ground in Iraq no stocks of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have so far been found. ...'

'BBC DEFENDS IRAQ ARMS DOSSIER CONCERN

'Four sources confirmed BBC reports that intelligence agencies were unhappy with the [British] Government's dossier on Iraqi weapons, a BBC journalist has told MPs.

'Andrew Gilligan told a Commons select committee he had only reported what intelligence insiders had revealed.

'He was told the claim that Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes was from an unreliable source.

'He denied then Leader of the House John Reid's attribution to "rogue elements".'

(BBC Ceefax, p.109)

20 June 03

'"PLOT TO DESTROY BROOKLYN BRIDGE"

'A trucker who was allegedly involved in al-Qaeda plots to derail trains and destroy the Brooklyn Bridge [according to an announcement by US attorney-general John Ashcroft] has pleaded guilty to two terror charges in the US.

'Iyman Faris, 34, of Ohio, [originally Kashmir, he became a US citizen in 1999] is thought to have received instructions from senior al-Qaeda chiefs including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is in US custody abroad.

'Under an agreement kept secret for more than a month[ my emphasis], Faris admitted supporting terrorists and conspiring to support.'

(ITV Teletext, p.310)

Note that the charges he pled guilty to were not specifically plotting to destroy Brooklyn Bridge and derail trains. A superficial reading could leave the reader with this impression, something that dumbing-down policy of the government-mainstream media undoubtedly intends.

Faris only agreed to plead guilty under plea-bargaining or whatever. Propaganda by legal agreement in place of truth, perhaps.

Having sold us Brooklyn Bridge a year ago (in a plot derived from the Godzilla remake), Ashcroft is repeating the performance.

Iraqi documents supposedly implicating British MP George Galloway in receiving big money from the Saddam regime have been exposed as fakes. The Christian Science Monitor had published them, but came to doubt the authenticity and employed a document expert. It was found that, though the notepaper and some of the writing was authentic, yet incriminating passages had been subsequently added. The evidence was supposed to be up to ten years old, but the additions were made as recently as the beginning of this year! The documents were apparently produced by a minor Iraqi official. [Presumably at the behest of Iraq's new masters. "Hey, boy, you do this for us and we'll let you off the charges!"]

Christian Science Monitor has published an apology to Galloway, be he says that's insufficient, and wants monetary compensation (perhaps an unfortunate choice).

Nothing abashed, a spokesman for the Daily Telegraph continued to insist that similar documents published by the Daily Telegraph were authentic. He admitted that these documents hadn't been authenticated by an expert either, but "argued" that they had been found inside the Iraqi Information Ministry — as if this building hadn't been lying open at the time, for all-and-sundry to plant documents at their leisure; the Telegraph reporter was led to them by his Iraqi interpreter.

(British Channel 4 News, report and interview 20 June 03 at 7pm;
Julian Rush, 'Galloway allegations false', Channel 4 News online, 20 June 03, covers the above except for the Telegraph interview.)

'GALLOWAY CALLS FOR PROBE

'Suspended Labour MP George Galloway has called for PM Tony Blair to probe forged documents which alleged he took millions of pounds for Saddam Hussein.

'The rebel politician said he was the victim of a conspiracy after a US newspaper apologised for accusing the MP of taking money from the regime. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 20 June 03, p.308)

'The US has closed its embassy in Kenya after the Pentagon issued a terrorism alert to US interests and raised the threat level to "high", officials said. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 20 June 03, p.307)

'USA[:] The US Air Force dropped criminal charges against two fighter pilots who mistakenly bombed Canadian troops in Afghanistan last year, killing four.'

(ITV Teletext, 20 June 03, p.318)

Opponents of the appointment of a homosexual (not now practising, he says, but he's still living with the man) as Bishop of Reading will split the Anglican Church.

(BBC Ceefax, 20 June 03, p.114)

'The Guardian says some 12 countries may leave the Anglican church if a gay man is appointed Bishop of Reading.'

(BBC Ceefax, 20 June 03, p.148, reviews of British papers)

'TIMES[:] Up to 15 bishops are to challenge opponents of the new Bishop of Reading, Dr Jeffrey John ...'

(ITV Teletext, 20 June 03, p.328, reviews of British papers)

Another refugee boat, apparently en route from Libya to the Italian island of Lampedusa (which is nearer Tunisia than Sicily), has capsized and sunk. It was carrying 250 African refugees. Tunisian coast guard units and fishermen pulled 41 people and 12 bodies from the water.

(Sophie Arie, 'Search for 200 after refugee boat sinks', The Guardian, 21 June 03;
[map—] 'Europe-bound migrant drown at sea', BBC News online, 21 June 03)

This would seem to illustrate the desperation of the refugees to crowd into small wooden craft, perhaps being charged exorbitant sums by "refugee-runners" for the "privilege", so they can escape their conditions. But an outburst by Umberto Bossi, one of the far-right ministers in Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, throws a whole new light on the matter. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, shortly before the sinking of the first boat, Bossi was quoted as saying that boats carrying illegal immigrants should be shot out of the water. (a statement from his ministry later said his views had been misrepresented.)

"After the second or third warning, boom ... the cannon roars," the paper quoted him as saying. "Without any beating about the bush. The cannon blows everyone out of the water. Otherwise this business will never end."

Corriere della Sera has stood by its story.

So, the first question would seem to be:- What really caused the hole to open up in the side of that fishing boat? And the second, of course, did the second boat really capsize and sink because it was overloaded, or ...

Sources:-
Odyssey of despair ...', The Independent, 19 June 03, p.1;
'Italy in "fire on migrants" row', BBC News online, 16 June 03

'[US] TROOPS SEIZE SECRET PAPERS [in Iraq]

'US forces in Baghdad have seized piles of intelligence equipment and top-secret documents bearing the seal of Iraq's former secret service.

'Troops broke into an old community hall and found cryptographic machines, secure transmission devices and documents.

'The items, including documents relating to Iraq's nuclear programme, are being analysed to see whether they could be linked to weapons of mass destruction.'

(ITV Teletext, 21 June 03, p.307/2. See 'Raid turns up Intelligence Equipment, Documents in Iraq', Fox News, 21 June 03)

US President George Bush 'alluded to problems faced by US and UK forces in the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in his weekly radio address'. He 'warned that some evidence may have been looted'. (ITV Teletext, 21 June 03, p.307/1)

This is the best one yet. Perhaps they can now "buy them back" on the black market! But western intelligence already has experience in "buying" phoney documentation, in the shape of faked papers supposedly implicating Iraq in buying uranium for Niger, which were allegedly created for money.

Meanwhile, we have another poor-quality "al-Qaeda" video[ perhaps we should start a collection to buy the terrorist group some decent video recorders], this time from Pakistan, claiming Qaeda responsibility for the Saudi and Moroccan bombings last May and threatening attacks on Americans.

The shaky video showed a man, whose face was covered by a black turban, reading his message out. It was shown on CNN, who however 'said it was unable to verify the authenticity of the video. [Which didn't stop this right-wing station from showing it.]

'Renegade group Hezb-i-Islami denied reports that it released the footage.'

(BBC Ceefax)

22 June 03

'[Sunday] TIMES[:] The [British] Home Secretary [David Blunkett] has sparked a row by proposing to allow police to seize the homes of cannabis users if they are deemed to be a "nuisance".'

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

Next : the homes of those who vote against the Labour Party?

But ...

'DRUG DEN "CLIMBDOWN"

'Home Secretary David Blunkett has backed down on plans to seize the homes of cannabis users deemed a "serious nuisance", it has emerged.

'The Home Office said it would not be going ahead with a proposal to extend the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill to cover class B and C drugs as well as class A.

'The plan was opposed by ministers who said it may cause problems for councils having to house those made homeless.'

(ITV Teletext, p.312)

'OBSERVER[:] US specialists are carrying out DNA tests on human remains believed by military sources to be those of Saddam Hussein and one of his sons.'

(ITV Teletext, 22 June 03, p.328, reviews of British papers)

A convoy in n.w Iraq was rocketed by US forces last week.

'NO PLANS TO ATTACK IRAN, POWELL INSISTS

'The US is not preparing for aggressive action against Iran despite concerns about its nuclear intentions, Secretary of State Colin Powell has said.

'"We are against Iranian support of terrorist activities, against a nuclear weapons programme," he said. [Tying the two together "pretty neatly" (as Oliver North might have said.]

'But the US was not looking for "another place to have a conflict," he insisted. [By jingo ...]

'The US was only "watching what was happening there and "encouraging and supporting" those seeking to speak out. [The third excuse in this unholy trinity, the use of freedom-seekers as a tool — to get Iran's oil, of course.]'

(BBC Ceefax, 22 June 03, p.114)

All the oil junta needs to do is "march" their forces in from neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan. They don't have enough at present, of course; watch out for further buildups of US troops in either of these countries.

'IRAQ EXPLOSION "WAS SABOTAGE"

'An explosion which caused a blaze at one of Iraq's major fuel pipelines was sabotage, according to the local major.

'No-one was hurt in the blast, near the town of Hit, [90 miles north-west of Baghdad,] ...

'•Workers are loading a million barrels of Iraqi crude oil on to a Turkish tanker, the first such export since the US-led invasion ousted Saddam Hussein.'

(ITV Teletext, 22 June 03, p.308) The sabotage illustrates yet again the near-impossibility of seizing the oil resources of a hostile population — short of wholesale ethnic cleansing or at least, imposing a state of extreme terror on the population.

23 June 03

'US PROBES SYRIA CONVOY ATTACK CLAIMS

'Several Syrians were injured in an attack on a convoy believed to be carrying Iraqi leaders and may have taken place in Syria, the US has said. [As if they didn't know! No-one violates sovereignty in this manner without knowing exactly what the hell it is they're doing.]

'An unmanned aircraft fired at the convoy travelling in western Iraq.

'It is widely believed to have been a bid to kill ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his sons Uday and Qusay.

'However the Americans have said there is no evidence to suggest Saddam was among the dead.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.110)

The incident illustrates the increasing impunity with which the US junta feels free to strike at will anywhere in the world.

The World Health Organization has declared Hong Kong SARS-free.

24 June 03

A little-known agreement was made last March between British Home Secretary David Blunkett and his US "counterpart", Attorney-General John Ashcroft, without Parliamentary approval. It allows the extradition of people from the UK to the US without any evidence being presented on the charges they face. An interviewee pointed out that there are 51 jurisdictions, the fifty states and the Federal, of varying qualities.

The agreement is not reciprocal: evidence of the charges must be shown for US citizens to be extradited to the UK. No other European country has made such a one-sided agreement with the US.

(BBC News 24 report)

One more instance of the slave-master relationship that Britain has fallen into vis-a-vis America.

Six British military policemen were killed by a bomb in Basra, Iraq.

The World Health Organization lifted its SARS alert against Beijing.

25 June 03

'TELEGRAPH[:] FBI files claim London muslim cleric Abu Hamza maintained a close contact with the al-Qaeda leadership.'

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

I'm surprised that the Telegraph restrains itself to the word "claimed".

The six British military policemen were killed by armed villagers of Al Majar, north of Basra. There was anger over "aggressive" house-searches for arms by British troops.

Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair's "Minister for Propaganda", has "regretted the 2nd dodgy dossier on "Iraqi WMD", but defended the "ready in 45 minutes" claim.

26 June 03

'... Former US ambassador Timothy Cornly said ... he was unaware of any meeting taking place [in the US government] on the issue of post-war Iraq before the end of last year ...'

(BBC Ceefax, p.109)

'Senior clerics [in Britain] have warned that the Anglican Church could break up if a gay bishop is appointed.

'A group of 35 Anglican met to discuss what they caused the "crisis" caused by the nomination of Canon Dr Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 26 June 03)

Nothing daunted by the Iraqi WMD debacle ...

'WORLD "MUST BACK US ON IRAN, N KOREA

'The world must back the US in its bid to stop Iran and North Korea acquiring nuclear weapons, US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice has said.

'It is the only way to prevent military action such as the attack on Iraq, she told the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

'To avoid a "made-in-America solution", we must work together, Ms Rice said.

'"We want multilateral solutions, but we want solutions," she added.'

(BBC Ceefax, 26 June 03, p.115)

'BAGHDAD WEAPONS PROJECT "NOT RESTARTED"

The UN nuclear agency has said that a find of parts from Baghdad's original nuclear weapons program indicates the project was not reactivated.

'A spokesman for the agency said: "The findings appear to confirm there was no post-1991 nuclear weapons programme".

'A US intelligence official acknowledged the find was not the "smoking gun" the US administration was seeking.

'It had argued that such a program existed in going to war with Iraq.'

(BBC Ceefax, 26 June 03, p.310)

'Britain is "highly unlikely" to go to war without America, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has said. ...'

(ITV Teletext, 26 June 03, p.310)

'BBC "MUST ANSWER DOSSIER ROW QUESTIONS"

'Downing Street has demanded answers from the BBC over coverage of claims a dossier on Iraq was "sexed up" by No 10.

'Communications chief Alistair Campbell wants to know if the BBC stands by its reports and how it obtained them "by the end of the day".

'BBC director of news Richard Sambrook said: "We stand by our entire story.

'"In my experience, this is an unprecedented level of pressure on the BBC from Downing Street," he added.'

(BBC Ceefax, 26 June 03, p.116)

27 June 03

'RIYADH BOMBING "MASTERMIND" IN CUSTODY

Ali Abdul Rachman Al-Gamdi, also known as Abu Bakr al-Azdi, aged 30, surrendered voluntarily.

'He is believed to have links to senior al-Qaeda figures.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.104)

UN REPORT CLEARS IRAQ OF AL-QAEDA CONNECTIONS, BUT IMPLICATES IRAN

'The United Nations' terrorism committee has found no evidence at all that Iraq had any links to al-Qaeda.

'Nowhere in its report charting global efforts to shut down Osama bin Laden's operations is there any mention of Iraq serving as a safe haven.

'The report instead highlights Iran. Alleged Iraqi links were cited by the Bush administration as one of the key reasons for going after Saddam Hussein.'

(ITV Teletext, 27 June 03, p.303)

The UN's bureaucracy are ex post facto contradicting the US junta's given reasons for conquering Iraq. But they are once again (as with Blix's team before the Iraq invasion) objectively supporting US petro-imperialism in helping to set up another target for conquest — Iran this time.

'[British MP] George Galloway has begun a libel action against the Daily Telegraph over a claim that he was paid by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. ...'

(BBC Ceefax, 27 June 03, p.105)

'BBC ACCUSES NUMBER 10 OF INTIMIDATION

'The director of BBC News has accused No 10 of trying to intimidate it during reporting of the war in Iraq.

'Richard Sambrook added [that Tony Blair's] communications director Alistair Campbell was carrying out a "personal vendetta" against BBC defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan.

'Mr Gilligan quoted an intelligence source as saying a dossier on Iraq's weapons had been "sexed up".

'The source was credible, Mr Sambrook insisted in a letter to Mr Campbell.'

(BBC Ceefax, 27 June 03, p.106)

Alistair Campbell "invited himself" to Channel 4 News interview (as anchorman John Snow put it) to reply:-

'NO EVIDENCE TO BACK "BBC DOSSIER LIES"

'The BBC does not have "a shred of evidence" to justify its "lies" about the Iraq weapons dossier, Tony Blair's communications director has said.

'Alastair Campbell said the BBC had broadcast a damaging story without checking if it was true.

'The BBC had made "outrageous" claims and was "debased beyond belief".

'Earlier — before a committee of MPs — Foreign Secretary Jack Straw rejected claims the dossier was "sexed up".

(BBC Ceefax, 27 June 03, p.107)

A story comes that the Commons Intelligence Committee — the one that meets in private — will clear Alastair Campbell of adding embellishments to the British government's dossiers on "Iraqi WMD".

Apparently the government's emerging line is that its "squeaky clean" because the lies it used in the dossiers are not its own lies but other people's lies. It already seems to have taken this approach with the faked papers about Iraqi "uranium purchases" from Niger. It seems to doing the same thing with the "ready in 45 minutes" allegation about "Iraqi WMD". Perhaps it will try to blame both lies on (the "rogue elements" of) MI6.

And you can be by no means sure that it isn't down to that sidekick of the CIA — the Secret Conqueror of the World. But if the UK government's defence is that it has been a puppet of these, it has nevertheless been a willing and eager one.

28 June 03

'NEW BIN LADEN VIDEO FOUND

'A video cassette of Osama bin Laden warning of fresh attacks against US interests in Saudi Arabia has been seized during a raid in Pakistan.

'An Egyptian man was arrested during the house raid in Peshawar, near the border with Afghanistan.

'It is alleged the man, identified as Haris bin Asim, was to deliver the video cassette to the Arab television station al-Jazeera.

(ITV Teletext, p.305)

The notion of a bin Laden still alive and kicking is an important tool for the US junta's petro-imperialism. But there are increasing difficulties with credibility for re-editing and recycling old "spirit messages".

In this case, we see no video, only a story from Pakistan that there was one.

And it should be remembered that the ISI, Pakistan's military intelligence, is virtually an overseas branch of the CIA.

'... The al-Jazeera correspondent in Islamabad, Ahmed Zaidan, said he had no knowledge of any cassettes or deliveries. ...'

(Riaz Khan, for Associated Press, Peshawar, Pakistan, 27 June 03, 'Another Osama Tape Reported, CBSNews.com)

Five hundred UK troops have reoccupied the Iraqi village of Majar al-Kabir, where six British military policemen were shot dead. They say there won't be reprisals ...

Truces by Hamas and Islamic Jihad are on the cards, as US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice [Bush's strings] 'has begun talks on the peace process with Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen [an American installation] in Jerusalem.'

(BBC Ceefax, 28 June 03, p.108)

And Israel says Hamas's ceasefire isn't worth the paper it's written on. The "peace process" is part of the US-Israeli carrot-and-stick procedure for dividing the Palestinians and crushing them underfoot.

29 June 03

'IRAN REBUFFS UK'S NUCLEAR CHECKS CALL

'Iran has rejected Britian's call for it to allow "immediate and unconditional" inspections of its nuclear facilities.

'At initial talks in Tehran, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw urged officials to accept a request from the UN's nuclear watchdog [the International Atomic Energy Agency] for enhance inspections.

'Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said officials wanted to know more about what was expected of Iran.

'Mr Straw warned autumn EU-Iran trade talks could be damaged without progress.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.111)

The object is to make brazen demands over Iran's sovereignty, which no self-respecting country would acquiesce to, to provide an excuse to to conquer another Gulf oil land. Straw is an errand boy of the US junta.

'EVIDENCE "CLEARS CAMPBELL"

'Alastair Campbell is act to be cleared by a Commons inquiry of exaggerating intelligence on Iraq to justify war.

'[Labour] MP Eric Illsley said secret papers shared with the Commons committee probing allegations he "sexed up" an Iraq dossier prove he is innocent.

'They show intelligence chiefs were behind [!] the claim that Saddam Hussein could launch chemical or biological weapons in just 45 minutes, he said.'

(ITV Teletext, 29 June 03, p.305)

But a Conservative MP said the committee hadn't decided the matter. Wait for its report, he said.

"The claim of 45 minutes availability of weapons of mass destruction was inserted in the dossier by the intelligence services, not by Mr Campbell."

"Inserted" is still an interesting choice of word. ...

'The Independent on Sunday reports that a top US official says the [British] Government knew documents about Iraq's nuclear programme were fake.

'These comments "appear to be at odds with those of the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw", says the paper.'

(BBC Ceefax, 29 June 03, p.148, reviews of British papers)

A US new military sweep for resistance fighters north of Baghdad has netted 60 people so far. It is planned to continue.

30 June 03

'PALESTINIANS MOVING FREELY IN [northern] GAZA

'Palestinian police have been taking control of parts of the Gaza Strip, after an Israeli withdrawal.

'The pullout came after a ceasefire by Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad.

'The main checkpoints on the north-south highway were removed, allowing Palestinians to move freely.

'The truce was marred when a Romanian working for an Israeli firm was shot dead in the West Bank. The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade said it was responsible.'

(BBC Ceefax, p.110)

Iraq's leading Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, has issued a fatwah (an imperative religious decree) against the incipient American-formed provisional ruling council for the country. He says Iraqis should elect such a council.

Sistani also said the Americans released Saddam Hussein so that he would take refuge in Iran, thus providing the US with an excuse to invade that country.

Sistani's remarks are all the more noteworthy because he seldom makes pronouncements and was apparently getting on with the Americans up to now.

(BBC World Service News; BBC Newsnight; 30 June 03)

'A Milan court has queried the legality of a new law protecting the prime minister [Silvio Berlusconi] from prosecution and asked Italy's Supreme Court to investigate.

(BBC Ceefax, 30 June 03)

'INDEPENDENT[:] Fierce BBC critic Norman Tebbit [a former Thatcher minister] rallied behind the corporation in its fight with Alastair Campbell.'

(ITV Teletext, 30 June 03, p.328, reviews of British papers)

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