The Friends of California Libre...

16 May 2004

He Beat Me Black and Blue and I Loved It

Greetings, friends,
Anyone remember that punk rock lyric?

TODAY'S LESSON IN MILITARY TACTICS:
Here's the first thing that you don't do when invading another country: Don't allow three holes, even if it's your enemy firing them, to be blasted into the holiest shrine to 60% of the country you're occupying. UH OH! Yeah, somebody shot into the tomb of Ali in Najaf...what would the Italians do if somebody shot up Saint Peter's? What would the Israelis do if they blew up the Wailing Wall? Well, well, we'll find out, won't we?

Here's the full scoop, in boring black and white and excruciating detail:
Red Cross Report Describes Abuse in Iraq (Full Report)
By Alexander G. Higgins
The Associated Press
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051104B.shtml

Of course, it's just an isolated incident, a few "bad apples" in Iraq...
Guantanamo Abuse Same as Abu Ghraib, say Britons
By Suzanne Goldenberg, Tania Branigan and Vikram Dodd
The Guardian U.K.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051604G.shtml

And they learned from the best:
Israeli lessons for the US in Iraq

Why is anyone surprised? They've incarcerated these people without any rights whatsoever. American citizens are rotting in jail, one for almost two years, just because George Bush says he's a terrorist. Torture is just part of the plan, why even bother to deny it?
Who ordered \'shock and awe\'?
William Pfaff TMSI
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
The moral debauchery witnessed in Abu Ghraib came down the chain of command from Washington.
http://www.iht.com/articles/519400.html
Militarism Leads to Torture
By Scott Galindez
t r u t h o u t Perspective
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051504A.shtml

But good Christians don't "do" torture, right?
General Who Made Anti-Islam Remark Tied to POW Case
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
Reuters
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army general under investigation for anti-Islamic remarks has been linked by U.S. officials to the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal, which experts warned could touch off new outrage overseas.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051304D.shtml

Let's skip the droll reality of soldiers beating prisoners and loosing their dogs, which is so old hat...I've gather some rather off-beat conspiracy for your sensitive palates:
F.A.A. Official Scrapped Tape of 9/11 Controllers' Statements
By Matthew L. Wald
The New York Times
WASHINGTON - At least six air traffic controllers who dealt with two of the hijacked airliners on Sept. 11, 2001, made a tape recording that day describing the events, but the tape was destroyed by a supervisor without anyone making a transcript or even listening to it, the Transportation Department said today.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/050704A.shtml

More conspiracy, about Nicholas Berg, the poor sucker who was beheaded by the Al Queda in Iraq (thanks, Mom):
http://www.chronwatch.com/content/contentDisplay.asp?aid=7391

The headline for this article is a bit understated:
Pennsylvania Man's Beheading in Iraq Upsets Family
By Jason Straziuso
Associated Press
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051204B.shtml

Like this one...it's a violent world we live in.
Drunken Priest Shoots Mexican Mayor Dead
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040513/od_nm/life_mexico_priest_dc

Even Ronald McDonald is getting nailed (thanks, Jacques):
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/040511/481/auk10205110311&e=5

And as always, our extraterrestrial friends are never far from the scenes of our greatest follies...
Significance Of Iranian Flying Saucer Reports For The US Military Occupation Of Iraq
By Michael E. Salla, PhD
exopolitics@yahoo.com
http://www.rense.com/general52/occu.htm
In this exopolitics commentary I take the opportunity to reflect on the recent flying saucer reports in Iran and what they signify as far as the US military presence in Iraq is concerned (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/28/iran.ufos.reut).

Maybe the Iranians are just adjusting to Western culture...as a people, they're probably the best friends the Americans have in the world.
Those Friendly Iranians
May 5, 2004
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Left to its own devices, the Islamic revolution in Iran is headed for collapse, and there is a better chance of a strongly pro-American democratic government in Tehran in a decade than in Baghdad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/opinion/05KRIS.html?ex=1084794596&ei=1&en=b827d7bb42491ca2

Certainly not in Europe...here's the former President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, encouraging his fellow citizens to not even compete with America economically, but to form their own unique way in the world.
Try this EUobserver link: http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=15587&sid=18

The French are more than happy to lead the way:
All Non-Americans?
By Jean-Marie Colombani
Le Monde
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051504H.shtml

The Germans will get there faster:
Porsche owners more driven to be unfaithful: German poll
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040512/od_afp/afplifestyle_germany_040512170938

With the Italians right behind them:
Italian Cops Add Lamborghini to Fleet
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040514/ap_on_fe_st/italy_speedy_cops
The Cops Are Chasing Me in a WHAT?
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040514/od_nm/odd_italy_police_dc

Even our best allies in Britain say they must take an independent course now:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1213874,00.html
Playing Bin Laden's game
The west is losing the war on terror on a global scale. Only if Britain takes an independent line can we protect our security
Michael Meacher
Tuesday May 11 2004
The Guardian

All of our friends are drifting away and leaving us to fend for ourselves...
Europa: Growing ever deeper: the trans-Atlantic divide
Richard Bernstein IHT
Friday, May 14, 2004
With their behavior in Abu Ghraib prison a few soldiers have shaken the moral solidarity that was the core of the trans-Atlantic alliance.
http://www.iht.com/articles/519848.html

Our oldest friends are creating a future of economic and political cooperation, while we make war and create an economic vacuum:
For \'New America,\' a fresh Atlantic alliance
Felix Rohatyn IHT
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
http://www.iht.com/articles/519211.html

And what does our idiot President do? Hold up the most anti-European, anti-UN, anti-multilateral man on his cabinet...
Headline: The President's man?
Date: May 11, 2004
"HERE'S THE question of the day: What President Bush's definition of "superb" is. By telling Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon yesterday, "You are doing a superb job," Bush stuck a thumb in the eye of everyone -- including many Republicans in Congress -- who is trying to make an honest appraisal of what went so terribly wrong at..."
http://www.boston.com:80/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/
articles/2004/05/11/the_presidents_man


But like they tried to waste Hitler in 1944, the generals may revolt against the destruction of their forces to no end or purpose:
America's Military Coup
By Sidney Blumenthal
The Guardian U.K.
Donald Rumsfeld has a new war on his hands - the U.S. officer corps has turned on the government
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051404A.shtml

The State Department is almost ready to collapse from lack of work:
Powell Aides Go Public on Rift With Bush
By Gary Younge
The Guardian U.K.
Chief of staff says secretary of state is fed up with apologising for the administration and is disdainful of 'ideological' hawks.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/050704B.shtml

Here's the full text of a letter to George Bush from over 50 career diplomats:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1209301,00.html

And it doesn't get any more blunt than this:
The War is Lost
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t Perspective
We have traveled a long, dark, strange road since the attacks of September 11. We have all suffered, we have all known fear and anger, and sometimes hatred. Many of us have felt - probably more than we are willing to admit it - at one time or another a desire for revenge, so deep was the wound inflicted upon us during that wretched, unforgettable Tuesday morning in September of 2001.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/051004A.shtml

For a comprehensive list of new sources regarding our occupation of Iraq, I refer you to this excellent site:
Alternative Resources on the U.S. War Against Iraq
There is also this resource, a blog from a slightly catty (as opposed to full-on) woman in Iraq (thank you, Dr. Brad):
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

Around here, though, some people are still living in the 1970s...or the 1950s.
Orange County City Declares 'No Communist' Zone
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040513/od_nm/life_vietnamese_dc

And finally...a place where you can get stoned (in fact, you have to) and then pour out your anguish (thanks, Geri):
http://www.headharvest.com/

Vive le Screed!

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