Look at me...I'm Macho, and a Very Practiced Vacationer. Oh, and I LOVE torture. No, wait...not like that. I mean on other people...

CRAWFORD, Tex., Dec. 30 -- On most of the 365 days!! [see below] he has enjoyed at his secluded ranch here, President Bush's idea of paradise is to hop in his white Ford pickup truck in jeans and work boots, drive to a stand of cedars, and whack the trees to the ground. [Does he consider this practice for what he's done and is doing to YOUR rights and the lives of countless people across President Bush, shown clearing cedar at his Crawford, Tex., ranch in 2002, has not lost his enthusiasm for the task during recent trips to what aides call the the globe?]

If the soil is moist enough, he will light a match and burn the wood. If it is parched, as it is across Texas now, the wood will sit in piles scattered over the 1,600-acre spread until it is safe for a ranch hand to torch -- or until the president can come home and do the honors himself.

Sometimes this activity is the only official news to come out of what aides call the Western White House.

Presidential historian Robert Dallek said: "This is part of his macho image. Obviously this is nothing Bush has to do. He's the son of a rich man who doesn't have to spend his time cutting underbrush."

But some of Bush's neighbors in the Crawford area said they understand his pleasure -- even if he doesn't have to do it. "We do it because we have to," said Zach Arias, who with his wife raises cows on 400 acres about 20 miles from town. "But afterwards, you kind of go, 'Wow. I feel good about what I did today.' " White House counselor Dan Bartlett explained it this way: "It's therapeutic for him, I guess. There's very few things he gets to do hands on." (What, like effectively lead this country down a progressive path, not a regressive one? Wow, I feel good about boiling prisoners to death. Man, I need a beer.) [The Independent article on UK torture memo from former ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, and another from The Register, AND Craig Murray's Offical blog on the topic. Note: Murray's entire website was temporarily shut down under suspicious circumstances. Cryptome's archive of Murray's article in case his site goes down again. PDF of the memos.]

(WTF: Out of 1826 days he's been in office he's taken 365 days of vacation. That's 20-effing-percent of his presidency! Even if you took a month of vacation, plus two weeks of sick leave per year you'd still only be at 12%...Not only is he the greatest single threat to the national security of the United States, and prefer to 'clear brush' than truly engage in statescraft, but he's the lazy son of a rich man who can't face the fact that the world, save his mother, hates him.)

Man Trained by Peruvian Army, Contracted by the US to go to Iraq Dies, Depleted Uranium Suspected in Man's Death

The death of a Peruvian security guard who had worked in Iraq may have been caused by exposure to depleted uranium.

Wilder Gutierrez Rubio, 38, died a few hours after arriving in Lima, Peru, on Dec. 6. Days before, he had been diagnosed with severe leukemia at Ibn Sina Hospital in Baghdad and immediately flown back to his home country, World Socialist Web Site.Org reported Wednesday.

WSWS.org said Gutierrez was part of a 200-man Peruvian contingent sent to Iraq in early October to provide security for Baghdad's Green Zone. It is widely suspected in Peru that Gutierrez's leukemia was the result of exposure to high levels of uranium in Iraq, the site said.

GAO Report on the Federal Air Marshal Service

The report ("AVIATION SECURITY: Federal Air Marshal Service Could Benefit from Improved Planning and Controls") was released by the GAO in draft form to DHS on November 7, 2005.

DHS replied that it agreed with the findings and recommendations in the report.

Rigoberto Alpizar was shot dead by the FAMS in Miami, Florida, on December 7, 2005.

DHS stated in an internal report that "...although witness statements contain conflicting information, none of those interrogated following the incident collaborate any utterance by the suspect that he either possessed, or intended to detonate, an explosive device."

Way to go, boys...he was coming home from a friggin' mission trip.

Robot Demonstrates Self Awareness

This is just the beginning...

Ohio Gestapo: "Papers, please."

Gov. Bob Taft has a very important decision to make. The Ohio Patriot Act (SB 9 [PDF]) currently sits on his desk awaiting a signature or veto. It is lauded as the most potent piece of legislation ever to come out of any state's congress. It provides for police to arrest any person for failing to give their name, address and date of birth when requested even if they have done nothing illegal (see Sec. 2921.29. (A)).

It would also pave the way for everyone entering critical transportation sites such as, train stations, airports and bus stations to show ID (see Sec. 2909.31. (A)).

10 Reasons to Oppose SB9 from the ACLU of Ohio

Big Brother Bashes British Civil Liberties

We all know that Britain is a very "progressive" country when it comes to monitoring her citizens, but a new milestone has been achieved with the development of a national monitoring system by the Association of Chief Police Officers that has the full backing of ministers who have sanctioned the spending of £24m this year on equipment.

Britain is to become the first country in the world where the movements of all vehicles on the roads are recorded. A new national surveillance system will hold the records for at least two years.

Using a network of cameras that can automatically read every passing number plate, the plan is to build a huge database of vehicle movements so that the police and security services can analyse any journey a driver has made over several years.

The network will incorporate thousands of existing CCTV cameras which are being converted to read number plates automatically night and day to provide 24/7 coverage of all motorways and main roads, as well as towns, cities, ports and petrol-station forecourts.

By next March a central database installed alongside the Police National Computer in Hendon, north London, will store the details of 35 million number-plate "reads" per day. These will include time, date and precise location, with camera sites monitored by global positioning satellites.

Already there are plans to extend the database by increasing the storage period to five years and by linking thousands of additional cameras so that details of up to 100 million number plates can be fed each day into the central databank.

Read the whole story here.

Fallujah Today

An account by the first unembedded reporter to sneak back into Fallujah.

Note to Bush: Read the portion about Abu Seif who had supported the US until he was wrongly accused of being the man who killed Kenneth Bigley, violently interrogated and victimized by the US military. He is now a supporter of the insurgents. George, you are making enemies.

Robin Hood in Reverse: A 3-Part Series

Bush administration policies, grand and obscure, have financially benefited companies or lobbying clients tied to at least 200 of the president's largest campaign fund-raisers, a Toledo Blade investigation has found. Dozens more stand to gain from Bush-backed initiatives that recently passed or await congressional approval.

The investigation included targeted tax breaks, regulatory changes, pro-business legislation, high-profile salaried appointments, and federal contracts. Mr. Bush's policies often followed specific requests from his 548 "Pioneers" and "Rangers," who each raised at least $100,000 or $200,000 for his 2004 re-election. The help to business fund-raisers sometimes came at the expense of consumers or public health concerns.

The political financiers made an investment in the Bush family, an investment that paid off.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

CIA's Porter Goss tells Turkey that Iran HAS Nukes and that the US will Probably use Airstrikes Against Iran & Syria

From a recent Turkish Press article:

Goss is said to have asked for Turkey’s support for Washington’s policy against Iran’s nuclear activities, charging that Tehran had supported terrorism and taken part in activities against Turkey.

Goss also asked Ankara to be ready for a possible US air operation against Iran and Syria.

Goss, who came to Ankara just after FBI Director Robert Mueller’s visit, brought up Iran’s alleged attempts to develop nuclear weapons. It was said that Goss first told Ankara that Iran has nuclear weapons [which is in complete contrast to what the IAEA and recent National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) state] and this situation was creating a huge threat for both Turkey and other states in the region.

Congressional Service Report: Iran’s Nuclear Program:
Recent Developments Updated 11/23/05

Impeachment?! Take Him Down, Boys...

John Conyers, House Judiciary Dems Release Massive New Pre-War Intel Report, File Several Resolutions Calling for Censure of Bush, Cheney and Creation of 'Select Committee' to Investigate Impeachable Offenses

From this morning's press release:

"In brief, we have found that there is substantial evidence the President, the Vice-President and other high ranking members of the Bush Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq; misstated and manipulated intelligence information regarding the justification for such war; countenanced torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Iraq; and permitted inappropriate retaliation against critics of their Administration. There is at least a prima facie case that these actions that federal laws have been violated - from false statements to Congress to retaliating against Administration critics."..."The Report rejects the frequent contention by the Bush Administration that there pre-war conduct has been reviewed and they have been exonerated. No entity has ever considered whether the Administration misled Americans about the decision to go to War, and the Senate Intelligence Committee has not yet conducted a review of pre-war intelligence information, while the Silberman-Robb report specifically cautioned, that intelligence manipulation "was not part of our inquiry." There has also not been any independent inquiry concerning torture and other legal violations in Iraq; nor has there been an independent review of the pattern of cover-ups and political retribution by the Bush Administration against its critics, other than the very narrow and still ongoing inquiry of Special Counsel Fitzgerald."

Just a sample from the table of contents of the report titled THE CONSTITUTION IN CRISIS: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Toture, Retribution, and Coverups in the Iraq War :

Chapter 3. Detailed Factual Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
A. Determination to go to War Before Congressional Authorization . . . . . . 17
1. Avenging the Father and Working With the Neo-Cons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2. September 11 and its Aftermath: Beating the Drums for War . . . . . . . . . 20
3. The Downing Street Minutes and Documentary Evidence of an
Agreement to go to War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
a. Description and Analysis of Various Downing Street Minutes
Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
b. Confirmation and Corroboration of Downing Street Minutes Materials . . 34
4. Manipulating Public Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
5. Using the United Nations as a Pretext for War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
B. Misstating and Manipulating the Intelligence to Justify Pre-emptive
War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Link to the PDF

Link to the report by chapters (with all the goodies)

There were three resolutions filed Sunday in conjuntion with this report. They are as follows:

1. H.R. 635 [PDF], Resolution calling for creation of a "Select Committee" :
Creating a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics, and thwarting congressional oversight, and to make recommendations regarding grouns for impeachment.

2. H.R. 636 [PDF], Resolution calling for Censure of George W. Bush :
Censuring President George W. Bush for failing to respond to requests for information concerning allegations that he and others in his Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq, misstated and manipulated intelligence information regarding the justification for the war, counteananced torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of persons in Iraq, and permitted inappropriate retaliation against critics of his Administration, for failing to adequately account for specific misstatements he made regarding the war, and for failing to comply with Executive Order 12958.

3. H.R. 637 [PDF], Resolution calling for Censure of Richard B. Cheney :
Censuring Vice President Richard B. Cheney for failing to respond to requests for information concerning allegations that he and others in the Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq, misstated and manipulated intelligence information regarding the justification for the war, countenanced torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of persons in Iraq, and permitted inappropriate retaliation against critics of the Administration and for failing to adequately account for specific misstatements he made regarding the war.

Many, Many thanks to Brad Friedman @ bradblog.com

Montreal Court Case Nabs CIA for Illegal Mind-Control Experimentation

Thanks to Greg Szymanski

More than 250 unsuspecting patients eligible for compensation, according to Canadian ruling. Critics of CIA-funded mind control programs call attention to the fact they are still going on today, as referenced in declassified documents calling attention to sinister operations called Bluebird/Artichoke and MKULTRA.

Brief History of mind control operations in the US.

Project BLUEBIRD on Wikipedia

Project ARTICHOKE on Wikipedia

MKULTRA on Wikipedia
Declassified MKULTRA documents

MKDELTA on Wikipedia

MKNAOMI on Wikipedia

Front page of the June 11, 1975, Washington Post

Sunday Times (Scotland) Article

Frank Olson
Interestingly, George H.W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld were involved with "smoothing over" the death of Frank Olson who plunged 13 stories to his death in New York while awaiting treatment for negative side effects from an undisclosed dosing of LSD given him by the CIA. The Olson family was to be awarded $1.25 million by a private law that was enacted by Senate Bill S.3035 of the 94th Congress (1975-1976) which cannot be found on the Thomas search of the Library of Congress. I did find a reference to it in Gerald Ford's Library. In 1979, Rep. Byron (I believe this refers to Beverly Byron) filed H.R. 5160. This was to amend the Act entitled "An Act for the relief of Alice W. Olson, Lisa Olson Hayward, Eric Olson, and Nils Olson". During the same year in the Senate Sen. Mathias (I believe Charles Mathias) filed S. 1948 with an identical title to H.R. 5160. Neither resulted in any action as far as I've been able to tell. I've sent a request to the National Archives for copies of the text of the above mentioned legislation...I will post them if/when I get them.

Diebold to Go Down

O'Dell just resigned. Stull, Stull & Brody have filed a class action lawsuit in Ohio against Diebold. Numerous "hack tests" have proven that the company is lying about the accuracy and security of their machines. Diebold has sent a flurry of letters to election officials in state after state trying to downplay the issues. The company spokesperson blatantly lies to the public stating, "Touch-screen voting is safe, secure, and accurate"...and...Diebold's (recently former) CEO promised to "deliver" the 2000 presidental election to George W. Bush. This is a corrupt company that should be brought down in a similar manner that the Bush administration should be dismantled.

Leon County, FL, conducted a test on Tuesday proving that the Diebold machines' vote tallies are easily "fixed".

Don't forget that the GAO released a report stating explicitly that voting machines are of questionable reliability.

Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio? from the House.

Ohio Poll Discrepancies.

You have lost your voting rights. This is not your government. They are not your friends.

As Shakespeare wrote:

I do believe,
Induced by potent circumstances,
That thou art mine enemy.

Further Evidence for Cayce's Pole Shift Prediction?

In 1936, Edgar Cayce predicted that the magnetic poles of planet Earth would begin a shift towards reversal in 2000-2001. There is mounting evidence that this is, in fact, occurring.

NASA comments.

See item #3 in this link.

Israel at G-level Readiness, Poised to Strike Iran by March 06

ISRAEL’S armed forces have been ordered by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to be ready by the end of March for possible strikes on secret uranium enrichment sites in Iran, military sources have revealed.

Defense sources in Israel believe the end of March to be the “point of no return” after which Iran will have the technical expertise to enrich uranium in sufficient quantities to build a nuclear warhead in two to four years.

If a military operation is approved, Israel will use air and ground forces against several nuclear targets in the hope of stalling Tehran’s nuclear programme for years, according to Israeli military sources.

Maureen Farrell's Modern History You Can't Afford to Ignore

Original post 11/22

Part 1 of 3
Part 2 of 3 UPDATED 11/28
Part 3 of 3 UPDATED 12/12

The disgraceful history you probably don't know.

Bush's Distaste for The Constitution

“Mr. President,” one aide in a recent Oval Office meeting said. “There is a valid case that the provisions in this law [the Patriot Act] undermine the Constitution.”

“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,” Bush screamed back. “It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!”

Doug Thompson talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution “a goddamned piece of paper.”

Bush should be tried for treason on a number of counts. He is a shameless fraud who stole the presidency, floated his cronies, and unnecessarily placed our service men and women in harm's way. His police state is spreading across this land. There are a number of innocent people researching the corruption who claim to have been harassed by the BushState. Here are just a few:

Read about Dan Nelson.
Read about Frank Tremmel.
Read about Paul Young.
Read about Emilia DiSanto.

Don't be surprised when he moves to change the term limits law to extend his rule. Say goodnight, America.

UPDATE 12/12: Follow up story by Doug Thompson.

Over 75% of Japanese Unwilling to eat US beef

The Japanese ban on US and Canadian beef imposed shortly after the discovery of mad cow disease in North America is set to end next week. A survey in Japan showed that 75.2% of the country's citizens will not consume US beef. Women intending to shun U.S. beef accounted for 82.9%.

The ban has cost US about $2 billion. The reopening of the trade ties on beef won't help US ranchers if the above survey hold true.

Modified foods post.

Vladimir Arutyunian on Trial

This is the guy who threw a grenade at George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in May. His views are a bit extreme, but they should spare his life...he is probably just "insane".

Wikipedia entry.

Nobel literature laureate Harold Pinter Blasts Bush and Blair

"How many people do you have to kill before you qualify to be described as a mass murderer and a war criminal? One hundred thousand?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

"We have brought torture, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, innumerable acts of random murder, misery, degradation and death to the Iraqi people and call it 'bringing freedom and democracy to the Middle East,'" Pinter said.

"The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them," he said. "It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good. It's a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis."

Pinter said the U.S. "also has its own bleating little lamb tagging behind it on a lead, the pathetic and supine Great Britain."

He said both Bush and Blair deserve to be arraigned by the Hague, Netherlands-based International Criminal Court.

Offical Pinter website.

Wikipedia entry on Harold Pinter.

Iraqi Oil: Where is it now?

Two-and-a-half years after the US invasion of Iraq, the country's oil industry is still in disarray. An official of the Oil Ministry in Baghdad told ISN Security Watch, on condition of anonymity: “We do not know the exact quantity of oil we are exporting, we do not exactly know the prices we are selling it for, and we do not know where the oil revenue is going to.”

This is what reasonable people call stealing.

Related post.

US Air Marshals Shoot and Kill a Manic-Depressive in Miami

No attempt to tackle, no attempt to wound, no attempt to taser, just shoot to kill. This is sad, and the dead man's wife should file suit.

This raises larger questions about how law enforcement handles threats. No doubt that claiming you have a bomb-ba-bom-bom-bomb on in the vicinity of an airplane is ground for the use of force as a means to disable a threat, but when there is readily available evidence that the person in question is mentally challenged (i.e. a wife screaming that her husband is off his medication) consideration should be given that would prevent the unnecessary death of an American citizen.

Air Marshals knew Rigoberto Alpizar was mentally ill prior to shooting him.

Numerous eye witness accounts don't match official story.

Becky Akers article.


UPDATE 12/12: Internal DHS report admits Alpizar did not claim he had a bomb.

“Although witness statements contain conflicting information, none of those interrogated following the incident collaborate any utterance by the suspect that he either possessed, or intended to detonate, an explosive device,” the report says.

Libya Makes Its First Political Statement in Years

British and United States diplomats have protested to the Libyan government after two international satellites were illegally jammed, knocking off air dozens of TV and radio stations serving Britain and Europe and disrupting American diplomatic, military and FBI communications.

Among stations hit were digital broadcasts by Five, BBC World, CNN International, US sports channels, cable TV networks and 23 radio stations. According to an e-mail sent by one of the satellite owners, Loral Skynet, the US state department said it "would take it into their own hands" unless the interference stopped.

The jamming started on September 19 after the launch in London of a small British and Arab-owned commercial radio station broadcasting on human rights and freedom of speech issues to Libya.

Jesus Day

This may be old news to some of you, but I just found out about it. Apparently, George W. Bush, a member of a little known and sparsely populated group - Christianity, as governor proclaimed June 10, 2000, Jesus Day in Texas.

So much for the separation of church and state, or if you are sensitive, the establishment clause. In my humble opinion, the government should take no stand on issues of religion other than to prevent the persecution or illegal activities thereof.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

This statement reads as though the authors' intent was to prevent centralized control over religious beliefs, practices and support. God bless ya', George.

Copy of the original Texas proclimation can be found here.

National Jesus Day website.

1984 CIA Comic Book : GRENADA

Thanks to Ethan Persoff

Here is a link to an actual comic book produced and written by the CIA. How about a comic that was air-dropped during a US Invasion? "GRENADA" is just that thing. And we promise you it's the number one Real Deal. Acquired through amicable agreement with an actual recipient of the comic and former citizen of the island. This comic pulls no punches. Just look at the picture above of islanders getting their heads banged in by murderers designed to resemble Cubans. And that's just the front cover. Rape, Murder, Lies, Beatings. All tied up in a beautifully dishonest Pro-Reagan Anti-Castro message. George Bush Sr even takes time out his busy post-hurricane Humanitarian schedule to make an appearance. This comic was never meant to be read by anyone in the United States, or anyone outside the Carribean for that matter.

Autopsy reports reveal homicides of detainees in U.S. custody

List of detention deaths with .pdf government files from the ever-vigilant ACLU.



Is your name similar to someone on a "watchlist"? Watch out!

UPDATE 12/7/05: Khaled al-Masri, subject of above link and victim of a wrongful rendition, filed a lawsuit via his lawyers at the ACLU in Washington claiming he had been captured and tortured by the CIA.

Correlation between fear of death (reminders of 9/11) political preferences for Bush

Very interesting article. Please read the whole thing...it's well worth the time.

From the article:

"The fact that a subtle, brief manipulation of psychological conditions (asking people to think about their own death or the events of 9/11) produced such striking differences in political preferences (for charismatic leaders in general and President Bush in particular) suggests that close elections could be decided as a result of non-rational terror management concerns. We'd like to think that Americans across the political spectrum would agree that this is antithetical to the democratic ideal that voting behavior should be the result of rational choice based on an informed understanding of the relevant issues. National elections are no guarantee against totalitarian outcomes."

Jeb Bush - The fat little brother in Florida

Who knew Castro had a funny side?!

"Forgive me for using the term 'fat little brother' " Castro said. "It is not a criticism, rather a suggestion that he do some exercises and go on a diet, don't you think? I'm doing this for the gentleman's health."

Leauge of Women's Voters Lawsuit Against Ohio Election Officials Gets the Go Ahead

Slow down. Don't get your hopes up, this isn't the beginning of an investigation into Bush's "victory" in 2004, but it is a start that may end up uncovering evidence that could lead to such action. This case has been tied into the recount case and is scheduled to go to trial the week of August 22, 2006. Read the amended complaint here.

''There is no question that LWV (the League) has alleged actionable constitutional violations,'' Toledo-based U.S. District Judge James Carr wrote on Friday, rejecting the request for dismissal by Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell (aka: co-chair of the Bush-Cheney campaign while running the 2004 election) and Governor Bob Taft. (aka: cog in the wheel that helped "lose" $12 million of the state's Bureau of Workers' Compensation investment money with Tom Noe who has been charged with federal money laundering violations on behalf of the Bush-Cheney campaign) ''What remains is whether Secretary Blackwell and Governor Taft are legally responsible for those violations.''

If they are found to be legally responsible for the violations, then we might just get a chance to attack the horrific system in Ohio.

Best of luck ladies!

In related news, the state of Ohio has a bill in the works that would prevent the current practice of allowing the chief elections officer to both count votes and stump for candidates. Good job Ohio!

Related post regarding election fraud in Ohio in the 2004 election. (excellent graphic)

Pro-Bush poem finds its way into Pakistani textbooks

This is utterly dumbfounding. With the recent reports of planted US stories in the "free" Iraqi press, we shouldn't have to ponder long how this came to pass. Regardless of how this Pro-Bush poem made its way into the Pakistani English language course for 16 year olds (11th grade) it should be viewed as a disgrace. If anything, they should be supporting Musharaff - their leader.

The text of the poem is reprinted below. The simplistic rhyme with its off stanzas sounds as though George himself may have penned it. Enjoy.

THE LEADER by anonymous

Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to meet every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real.
Isn't afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn't conform to the usual mould,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won't do,
Never backs down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too.
Going forward and knowing he's right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear,
Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear.
Growing in strength he won't be unnerved,
Ever assuring he'll stand by his word.
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace,
Using his power so evil will cease,
So much a leader and worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do what he must.

Well, George, using subliminal messages about your grand ability to lead, and knowledge of right and wrong ought to keep those youngsters from jihad.

UPDATE 12/7/05: Pakistani authorities have withdrawn the textbook.

Drudge Report's Iran Nuke Claims False

Druge headline: "Iran 'Months Away' from a Nuke"

The Drudge Report is linking to a story from today's Jerusalem Post that says Iran is "only a few months away from creating an atomic bomb". This allegation is based on an interview the British paper The Independent conducted with the head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei.

Here is a section of The Independent's article:

"Although IAEA officials have said it would take at least two years for Natanz to become fully operational, Mr ElBaradei believes that once the facility is up and running, the Iranians could be "a few months" away from a nuclear weapon. "That's why there is the concern of the international community about Iran," he said, "because lots of people feel it could be a dual purpose programme".

Did he believe the Iranians were building a nuclear weapon? "The jury's out," he said. "It's difficult to read their intention. We're still going through the programme to make sure it's all for peaceful purposes." [emphasis added]

From the Jerusalem Post:

"IAEA chairman Muhammad ElBaradei on Monday confirmed Israel's assessment that Iran is only a few months away from creating an atomic bomb. "

El Baradei's comments have been spun to favor the Israeli push to prevent Iran from "going nuclear". But if the Iranians are, as they say they are, only developing nuclear power this should not be a concern of the international community. The drumbeat for war in Iran has been sounded, and both Netanyahu and Sharon have made clear that Israel will pre-emptively strike Iran with the least provocation such as the country struck the Iraqi Osirak power plant in 1981.

All of this should sound hauntingly familiar as it models the run-up to the war with Iraq, and a history of Israeli influence on American foreign policy.

Read Dore Gold's refutation here. (Note: This article was written on June 3, 2004, after the US had already toppled Hussein, thus allowing Gold to fluff the "importance of Iraq" in terms of Israeli security. An interesting section is The Real Long-Term Threat to Israel: Iran. Also, Gold wrote Only Buffer Zones Can Protect Israel in the February 27, 2002, edition of the New York Times where he identifies Iran merely as a supplier of weaponry to the Palestinians, but Iraq as an aggressor on the battlefield. Who's more of a threat? The guy who sells the gun, or the one who shoots it at you?)

Don't forget that the Israelis launched an unprovoked attack on the USS Liberty in 1967 while she was sailing in international waters.

12/3/05: Iran launches media campaign to inform Western public opinion on nuclear program.
12/5/05: Iran will not be diverted from its peaceful path.