Frank Freeman's Diary, October 2004

'An Iraqi woman who begged the Labour conference not to vote to withdraw British troops has "strong connections" with the CIA, a backbench MP claims.

'Labour's Tam Dalyell has written to the Foreign Secretary to ask if he knew of Shanaz Rashid's alleged background.

'He also questions why Ms Rashid was given centre stage despite not being a delegate. The Foreign Office vowed to respond once it receives the letter.'

British Iraqi hostage Bigley's brother says British intelligence officers raided his Amsterdam home. The UK government denies it.

'Israel army chiefs said the current offensive in Gaza could last for weeks as the death toll from the fighting around the Jebaliya refugee camp passed 60.

'Authorities launched an operation to create a buffer zone on Thursday [1 Oct. 04] after Palestinian rocket attacks on Jewish settlements killed two children. ...'

'Four US soldiers have been charged with murder in connection with the death of an Iraqi general who was allegedly suffocated during an interrogation.

'Jefferson Williams, Lewis Welshofer, William Sommer and Jerry Loper could get life in prison without parole after the death of Gen Abed Hamed Mowhoush.

'The army said Mowhoush died of asphyxiation from chest compression and from being smothered at Qaim last year.'

The Iraq Survey Group's final report (previously leaked) was published today. It confirms that Saddam Hussein's Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction (WMD) at the time of the US-led invasion, and evidently destroyed them in 1991. Nor was Iraq, in its degraded economic state, capable of producing significant quantities of WMD. Saddam did, says the report, have the intention to resume production later on ...

US vice-president Cheney, in a debate with his would-be Democrat counterpart, has insisted the Iraq invasion was justified. This tends to contradict yesterday's statement by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, who said that there was — in fact — no strong evidence of links between Qaeda and Saddam's regime.

A top aide to Israeli PM Ariel Sharon says that Israel's "planned" withdrawal of Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip is a ploy to undercut the "peace process", and so thwart moves toward an independent Palestinian state. He said the US approved this policy.

Stunning outburst of honesty? Or an attempt to persuade Palestinians to keep the Gaza colonies?

The UN talks of an impending humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip. It says 70 percent of Palestinians there live in poverty because of the Israelis' blockading measures.

'The FBI has shut down some 20 sites which were part of an alternative media network known as Indymedia.

'A US court order forced the firm hosting the material to hand over two servers in the UK [my emphasis] used by the group.

'Indymedia says it is a news source for the anti-globalisation movement and other social issues.

'The reasons behind the seizure are unclear but the FBI has reportedly said the action was taken at the request of Italian [no surprise] and Swiss authorities.'

'American authorities have shut down 20 independent media centres by seizing their British-based webservers.

'On Thursday [7 Oct. 04] a court order was issued to Rackspace, an American-owned web hosting company in Uxbridge, Middlesex, forcing it to hand over two servers used by Indymedia, an international media network which covers social justice issues and provides a "news-wire", to which its users contribute.

'It is unclear why, or to where, the servers have been taken. The FBI, speaking to the French AFP, acknowledged that a subpoena had been issued but said this was at the request of the Italian and Swiss authorities.

'Rackspace told Indymedia that it had been served with a court order under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, under which countries assist each other in investigations such as international terrorism, kidnapping and money laundering.

'It is unclear why such a treaty would apply in this context. A UK Indymedia journalist said: "The authorities may just be using this as a trawling exercise. We don't know."

'The UK Indymedia site is now working, because it was backed up on another server, unlike others which are still shut down.

'One of the servers was used to stream web radio coverage of the European Social Forum conference in London next week. {Sic.]

'Aidan White, the general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, condemned the "intolerable and intrusive" action.

'Tim Gopsill of the NUJ [the UK National Union of Journalists] said: "If the security services of the UK or US can just walk in and take away a server, then there is no freedom of expression."'

See also "Indymedia Servers Seized ...", Democracy Now!, 18 Oct. 04. This includes the transcript of an interview with Devin Theroit-Orr of the Seattle Indymedia Center.

'A Territorial Army soldier will appear before a court martial over the fake Daily Mirror photos which appeared to show British troops abusing an Iraqi.

'Stuart MacKenzie, 25, was charged over the hoax which led to the departure of Mirror editor Piers Morgan and will face a hearing at Catterick Garrison. ...'

'The White House has rejected claims that George Bush was fitted with a transmitter to give him help during a televised debate with John Kerry.

'Some internet sites have claimed that a bulge seen under the president's jacket [another one, over his bad posture,] was a device that allowed an advisor to feed him answers to tricky questions. ...'

'Since September 11 Britain has been warned of the "inevitability" of catastrophic terrorist attacks. But has the danger been exaggerated? A major new TV documentary ["The Power of Dreams", BBC 2, 3 parts, beginning Wed. 20 Oct. 04] claims that the perceived threat is a politically-driven fantasy — and al-Qaida a dark illusion. ...

'The Power of Nightmares seeks to overturn much of what is widely believed about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. The latter, it argues, is not an organised international network. It does not have members or a leader. It does not have "sleeper cells". It does not have an overall strategy. In fact, it barely exists at all, except as an idea about cleansing a corrupt world through religious violence.

'... Curtis [the series' writer and producer] points out that al-Qaida did not even have a name until early 2001, when the American government decided to prosecute Bin Laden in his absence and had to use anti-Mafia laws that required the existence of a named criminal organisation. [But other stories say that the name (qaeda = "base") derives from a Pakistani safe house for anti-Soviet militants in the late 1980s, and suchlike. Cf. my "Al-Qaeda: a CIA protege".]

'Curtis also cites the [UK] Home Office's own statistics for arrests and convictions of suspected terrorists since September 11 2001. Of the 664 people detained up to the end of last month, only 17 have been found guilty. Of these, the majority were Irish Republicans, Sikh militants or members of other groups with no connection to Islamist terrorism. Nobody has been convicted who is a proven member of al-Qaida. ...

'Bill Durodie, director of the international centre for security analysis at King's College, London, says: "The reality (of the al-Qaida threat to the west) has been essentially a one-off. There has been one incident in the developed world since 9/11 (the Madrid bombings). There's no real evidence that all these groups [around the world] are connected. ...

'... "Almost no one questions this myth about al-Qaida because so many people have got an interest in keeping it alive," says Curtis. He cites the suspiciously circular relationship between the security services and much of the media since September 2001: the way in which official briefings about terrorism, often unverified or unverifiable by journalists, have become dramatic press stories ... Few of these ominous announcements are retracted if they turn out to be baseless: "There is no fact-checking about al-Qaeda."

[The Qaeda chimera is seen to be a substitute for the Soviet opponent of the Cold War. ...]

'The war on terror already has a hold on western political culture. "After a 300-year debate between freedom of the individual and protection of society, the protection of society seems to be the only priority" ...'

I see this analysis as Too Timid, Too Late. I would add that the "War On Terror" is a struggle for global empire and police state, and that 9/11 — the key founding event of this struggle — was probably perpetrated by far-right elements within the US political establishment and "security/intelligence" apparati for this very purpose.

A new "modernised" head of security is to be appointed for Parliament (following the incursion by several pro-hunting protesters).

UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has acceded to the US request for British troops as substitutes in the American zone (Baghdad, etc), so that US troops can be released to attack Falluja. (As Romanians were substitutes for Nazi troops in the Russian campaign ...)

Five hundred troops and 350 support personnel from the Black Watch regiment will be used. PM Tony Blair says the troops will be back for Christmas. (I hope they bring the Kaiser's head back with them. I'll mount it on my wall, next to Osama bin Laden's.)

'A secret report on Westminster security has recommended electric fences, road-blocks, and a barrage on the Thames to protect [or rather, isolate?] MPs, according to reports.

'The Sunday Times said that it had received a leaked copy of the document drawn up by MI5 and the [London] Metropolitan Police amid breaches [of security] at the Palace. [Presumably, the Palace of Westminster, where Parliament sits.]

'The document has already been considered by the House of Commons Commission, a Commons spokesman said.'

The "security" and "intelligence" services, used to fight the underground Cold War, were ipso facto beyond the law. The injustice of the victors now descends on the subject peoples of the emerging new Evil Empire.

'The British Armed Forces has officially recognised its first registered Satanist, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

'Naval technician Chris Cranmer, 24, is being allowed to perform Satanic rituals on HMS Cumberland, based at Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth.

'A spokesman for the Royal Navy said: "We are an equal opportunities employer and we don't stop anybody from having their own religious views".'

Petroleum continues to spiral to new heights (in money terms; over $55 per barrel in New York), with a threatened strike in Norway.

About 350 tons of conventional high explosives (RDX, etc) have gone missing from a nuclear plant (Now? Just before the US elections??! No —) since the US invasion in spring last year. This data from Mohammed ElBarradei, head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Apparently he is worried that terrorists might use it (why not already?) not only for conventional attacks, but for nuclear and/or radiological bombs as well.

British Home Secretary David Blunkett is dropping the attempt to combine the proposed ID card with the driving licence and _______. Legislation for identity cards is to be introduced to the upcoming autumn session of Parliament.

'Poor planning, air strikes by coalition forces and a "climate of violence" have led to more than 100,000 excess deaths in Iraq, scientists have said.

'A study published by the Lancet claims the risk of death by violence for civilians in Iraq is now 58 times higher than before the US-led invasion. [According to British Channel 4 News, the study said it was about three times higher.]

'The Lancet admits the research is based on a small sample — under 1,000 homes — but says the findings are "convincing".'

The US military, aided at least indirectly by the British, seems to be preparing the Final Solution for Falluja, in its shadow war against the Zarqawi bogeyman.

'TAPE WARNS OF "US BLOODBATH"

A man describing himself as an American member of al-Qaeda has warned on a new video tape that the United States will be attacked "at any moment".

'The man — who calls himself "Azzam the American" — warns that "the streets of America will run red with blood" in the 75-minute tape, obtained by ABC News.

'"It appears to have been produced by al-Qaeda's media organisation, al Sahab productions," said a CIA spokesman. [My emphases.]'

... Who appears quick off the mark to comment.

The CIA of course regards Bush as a less-bad choice than Kerry.

OCTOBER SURPRISE? NO SURPRISE ...

'NEW BIN LADEN TAPE "SCREENED"

'[Al-Jazeera TV — no surprise here either] has aired a video of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden directly admitting for the first time that he carried out the 9/11 attacks [why now?.

'In the first footage of him to surface in more than a year, he refers to next week's US election. [Which is what it's all about. This video belongs in the same storage bin as the Zinoviev Letter.]

'Addressing Americans, he says: "Your security is not in the hands of [in the following order!] John Kerry, George Bush or al-Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands". [Well, it may depend on a few hanging chads as well.]'

(ITV Teletext, 29 October 04, p.303)

The the video is blurry. The CIA and their clients have had three years to work on this one, and will have the best technology available to produce a good-quality fake. The blurriness may have been introduced to cover any residual imperfections in the process. (Many previous "Qaeda" videos have had similar poor quality, which could in those cases have covered for non-matching of lip movements, etc. The quality is good enough in the present production to see that lips movements and speech do match, at least roughly.

Al-Jazeera, a Qatari "breakaway" from the Western media, was staffed by ex-members of the BBC World Service. It is financed by the government of Qatar, a US client state. It has been the favourite outlet for the airing of "Qaeda" videos which have been so convenient a justifying support for the imperial War On Terror.

"Osama's" critique of Bush and Kerry in the video is not evenly balanced, but shows a subtle leaning toward Kerry. Indeed, "he" concurs with some of Kerry's arguments against Bush. This is doubtless intended to blur the distinction between al-Qaeda and the US "liberals", a term of opprobrium by the American Right, and which "Osama" uses on the tape.

"US officials" have been quick to say that the video is genuine, according to news reports. And a senior Republican says it will help George Bush's election campaign. Indeed, to reverse a popular saying, Osama bin Laden is George Bush's no.1 recruiting sergeant.

Matthew B Stannard, "Bin Laden lecures U.S. in new video ...", San Francisco Chronicle, 30 October 04

British Lord Chief Justice Woolf is to resign four years early. He is at odds with the "Labour" governement over his liberal views.