Neve Gordon: Strategic Motives of the Yassin Assassination: An attempt to analyse Sharon's motive in ordering the murder of Yassin. Why now and what effect is it calculated to have? One possible motive is the desire to block the growth of the Palestinian non-violent movement: "Commentators have ignored that the Israeli attack will likely deal a harsh blow to the recent emergence of a Palestinian non-violent resistance movement. The three-and-a-half year-old Palestinian uprising, known as the Intifada, began changing its character about two months ago: from a struggle based on violent resistance led by relatively small groups of militants to a massive non-violent grassroots movement.

"The impetus for this mobilization is the rapid erection of the separation wall. The protesters use the same techniques developed by Ghandi and Martin Luther King, with hundreds of demonstrators standing or lying in front of bulldozers, chanting songs and waving flags... Yassin's assassination will probably weaken the non-violent resistance and empower those who favor violent retaliation against Israel. Thus, ironically, Israel's operation has actually strengthened the legitimacy of Hamas's military wing."

Neve Gordon: Strategic Motives of the Yassin Assassination: An attempt to analyse Sharon's motive in ordering the murder of Yassin. Why now and what effect is it calculated to have? One possible motive is the desire to block the growth of the Palestinian non-violent movement: "Commentators have ignored that the Israeli attack will likely deal a harsh blow to the recent emergence of a Palestinian non-violent resistance movement. The three-and-a-half year-old Palestinian uprising, known as the Intifada, began changing its character about two months ago: from a struggle based on violent resistance led by relatively small groups of militants to a massive non-violent grassroots movement.

"The impetus for this mobilization is the rapid erection of the separation wall. The protesters use the same techniques developed by Ghandi and Martin Luther King, with hundreds of demonstrators standing or lying in front of bulldozers, chanting songs and waving flags... Yassin's assassination will probably weaken the non-violent resistance and empower those who favor violent retaliation against Israel. Thus, ironically, Israel's operation has actually strengthened the legitimacy of Hamas's military wing."

US now looking to install a PM in Iraq: "The United States wants to transfer power in Iraq to a hand-picked prime minister [Chalabi?], abandoning plans for an expansion of the current 25-member governing council, coalition officials in Baghdad say... It is not clear if Iraqi agreement on this issue has been sought."

The plan to install this puppet, the latest in a string of US proposals and reversals, is described as a 'return of sovereignty' and the 'democratisation' of Iraq; or in Howard-speak, 'getting the job done.' What is not mentioned in this article but underlies everything of course is the fact that the US will establish large military bases in the country and have 10s of thousands of troops occupying it for years to come, as well as the biggest 'embassy' (proconsulate?) in the world.

US now looking to install a PM in Iraq: "The United States wants to transfer power in Iraq to a hand-picked prime minister [Chalabi?], abandoning plans for an expansion of the current 25-member governing council, coalition officials in Baghdad say... It is not clear if Iraqi agreement on this issue has been sought."

The plan to install this puppet, the latest in a string of US proposals and reversals, is described as a 'return of sovereignty' and the 'democratisation' of Iraq; or in Howard-speak, 'getting the job done.' What is not mentioned in this article but underlies everything of course is the fact that the US will establish large military bases in the country and have 10s of thousands of troops occupying it for years to come, as well as the biggest 'embassy' (proconsulate?) in the world.

Latham dream run trips on Iraq: "Strong public support for Australian troops to remain in Iraq 'until the job is done' has been revealed by the latest Herald poll amid the first signs that Mark Latham's honeymoon with voters could be ending."

"In the poll, conducted by ACNielsen, only 35 per cent thought that Australia's 850 troops in and around Iraq should be brought home immediately - a more rapid withdrawal than proposed by Mr Latham last week. It also reveals that two-thirds of voters believe a terrorist attack in Australia is likely within two years."

"Labor's decision to withdraw the troops could also run counter to the wishes of the United Nations. Diplomatic sources say it is highly likely that a new UN resolution will sanction the transition to democracy in Iraq after the handover from military control on June 30."

This issue will be something of a test for Latham, to find whether he has some courage and principle, or whether he is weak and poll-driven. As the newly elected Spanish Prime Minister has said, the war was a disaster, the occupation is a disaster, the troops have to come home.

The United States and its allies invaded Iraq not because of WMDs and terror links but because it wants to control the oil of the country and the region, and in order to set up long term military bases. They did this knowing that it would increase the risk of radical Islamist terrorist attacks against themselves while at the same time claiming that they were fighting a 'war on terror'. It is actively denied that the terrorist attacks against Western and especially US targets is a response to decades of Western and US colonialism, imperialism, occupation and intervention in Middle Eastern countries. Instead the attacks are explained away on the basis that the terrorists 'hate us and hate Western values.'

The US cannot withdraw from the country (otherwise what would have been the point of invading?) unless it is politically and militarily defeated. The so-called 'transition to sovereignty' and 'democratisation' of Iraq is a charade. For a national leader such as Latham may become, some sort of acceptable statement must be made but the fundamental question is whether or not the troops are withdrawn and before Christmas is more than long enough. Australia must cut all links with this criminal misadventure.

Latham dream run trips on Iraq: "Strong public support for Australian troops to remain in Iraq 'until the job is done' has been revealed by the latest Herald poll amid the first signs that Mark Latham's honeymoon with voters could be ending."

"In the poll, conducted by ACNielsen, only 35 per cent thought that Australia's 850 troops in and around Iraq should be brought home immediately - a more rapid withdrawal than proposed by Mr Latham last week. It also reveals that two-thirds of voters believe a terrorist attack in Australia is likely within two years."

"Labor's decision to withdraw the troops could also run counter to the wishes of the United Nations. Diplomatic sources say it is highly likely that a new UN resolution will sanction the transition to democracy in Iraq after the handover from military control on June 30."

This issue will be something of a test for Latham, to find whether he has some courage and principle, or whether he is weak and poll-driven. As the newly elected Spanish Prime Minister has said, the war was a disaster, the occupation is a disaster, the troops have to come home.

The United States and its allies invaded Iraq not because of WMDs and terror links but because it wants to control the oil of the country and the region, and in order to set up long term military bases. They did this knowing that it would increase the risk of radical Islamist terrorist attacks against themselves while at the same time claiming that they were fighting a 'war on terror'. It is actively denied that the terrorist attacks against Western and especially US targets is a response to decades of Western and US colonialism, imperialism, occupation and intervention in Middle Eastern countries. Instead the attacks are explained away on the basis that the terrorists 'hate us and hate Western values.'

The US cannot withdraw from the country (otherwise what would have been the point of invading?) unless it is politically and militarily defeated. The so-called 'transition to sovereignty' and 'democratisation' of Iraq is a charade. For a national leader such as Latham may become, some sort of acceptable statement must be made but the fundamental question is whether or not the troops are withdrawn and before Christmas is more than long enough. Australia must cut all links with this criminal misadventure.

Bravo, Amigos!: "After the terrorist onslaught, the Spanish asked themselves: why did they do it? What caused this murderous attack on us? The logical answer was: the Prime Minister's policy has brought this on us. The conclusion: Let's find another one. In Israel, such a question cannot arise. What brought the terrorist attacks on us? What sort of a question is that? The reason for terrorism is the inborn murderous character of the Arabs. It has, of course, nothing at all to do with the policy of our Prime Minister. When a terrorist outrage happens here, logic flies out of the window. Instead of thinking and asking questions, people shout 'Death to the Arabs', demand bloody revenge and gather around the Prime Minister.

"Another difference: the Spaniards got angry. The Prime Minister lied to them. He exploited the outrage for his election campaign. When he already knew that all the signs pointed to Islamic fanatics, he pretended in public that the attack was perpetrated by the Basque ETA organization. He hoped to garner the votes of those Spaniards who oppose an independent Basque homeland. But the voters understood that this was a lie and did not like it. The Prime Minister is lying to us? To hell with him. In Israel, when the Prime Minister lies, the public remains apathetic. The Prime Minister has lied to us again? So what? Isn't he always lying? Nothing to get upset about."

"[The Israeli Labor party] is headed by a pathetic person [Peres] who would make a deal with the devil for a place in Sharon's government. Its other old leaders, all of them certified failures, are already quarrelling about the chairs that Sharon may allot them, should he be so kind as to invite them into his cabinet. The Israeli situation is surreal: according to all opinion polls, a large part of the public is fed up with the war, the bloody cycle of suicide bombings and targeted assassinations, the settlements and the settlers.

"They want a solution and are ready to pay the necessary price - the end of the occupation, a Palestinian state, the dismantling of the settlements, a reasonable compromise about Jerusalem, withdrawal to the vicinity of the Green Line. They want to shift our national resources from occupation and war to economic growth, education and social welfare. So how does this translate into political realities? It doesn't. There is no serious political force able to offer an alternative leadership."

Israeli politics and the Israeli people are paying the price for failing to understand and to repudiate the lies, the contradictions, and the inhumanity at the core of the Zionist enterprise.

Bravo, Amigos!: "After the terrorist onslaught, the Spanish asked themselves: why did they do it? What caused this murderous attack on us? The logical answer was: the Prime Minister's policy has brought this on us. The conclusion: Let's find another one. In Israel, such a question cannot arise. What brought the terrorist attacks on us? What sort of a question is that? The reason for terrorism is the inborn murderous character of the Arabs. It has, of course, nothing at all to do with the policy of our Prime Minister. When a terrorist outrage happens here, logic flies out of the window. Instead of thinking and asking questions, people shout 'Death to the Arabs', demand bloody revenge and gather around the Prime Minister.

"Another difference: the Spaniards got angry. The Prime Minister lied to them. He exploited the outrage for his election campaign. When he already knew that all the signs pointed to Islamic fanatics, he pretended in public that the attack was perpetrated by the Basque ETA organization. He hoped to garner the votes of those Spaniards who oppose an independent Basque homeland. But the voters understood that this was a lie and did not like it. The Prime Minister is lying to us? To hell with him. In Israel, when the Prime Minister lies, the public remains apathetic. The Prime Minister has lied to us again? So what? Isn't he always lying? Nothing to get upset about."

"[The Israeli Labor party] is headed by a pathetic person [Peres] who would make a deal with the devil for a place in Sharon's government. Its other old leaders, all of them certified failures, are already quarrelling about the chairs that Sharon may allot them, should he be so kind as to invite them into his cabinet. The Israeli situation is surreal: according to all opinion polls, a large part of the public is fed up with the war, the bloody cycle of suicide bombings and targeted assassinations, the settlements and the settlers.

"They want a solution and are ready to pay the necessary price - the end of the occupation, a Palestinian state, the dismantling of the settlements, a reasonable compromise about Jerusalem, withdrawal to the vicinity of the Green Line. They want to shift our national resources from occupation and war to economic growth, education and social welfare. So how does this translate into political realities? It doesn't. There is no serious political force able to offer an alternative leadership."

Israeli politics and the Israeli people are paying the price for failing to understand and to repudiate the lies, the contradictions, and the inhumanity at the core of the Zionist enterprise.

Thorpe eliminated from favourite event by Australian swimming: "Earlier yesterday, Thorpe's coach, Tracey Menzies, said he had closed the door on any chance of defending his Olympic 400m crown. A jury had dismissed a protest and Menzies said there would be no more appeals."

Thorpe, described as Australia's or even the world's greatest ever swimmer, the world record holder in the 400m event, the defending Olympic champion, undefeated in 6 years and red hot favourite to win Gold at the Athens Olympics this year, has been eliminated from his favourite event by Australian Swimming on a technicality. It must surely be one of the most absurd decisions since Dawn Fraser was chucked out.

Aust. swimming could have had a rule on the books that the final avenue of appeal on any matter be the Patron, eg a Governor or Governor-General. Such a figure would ordinarily never get involved in administration and decision making, but if there were a problem such as this an appeal could be made and granted, provided that the case was overwhlemingly strong and public support was overwhelmingly present. In the current case they are stuck with a decision which would make us a laughing stock to other countries.

Thorpe eliminated from favourite event by Australian swimming: "Earlier yesterday, Thorpe's coach, Tracey Menzies, said he had closed the door on any chance of defending his Olympic 400m crown. A jury had dismissed a protest and Menzies said there would be no more appeals."

Thorpe, described as Australia's or even the world's greatest ever swimmer, the world record holder in the 400m event, the defending Olympic champion, undefeated in 6 years and red hot favourite to win Gold at the Athens Olympics this year, has been eliminated from his favourite event by Australian Swimming on a technicality. It must surely be one of the most absurd decisions since Dawn Fraser was chucked out.

Aust. swimming could have had a rule on the books that the final avenue of appeal on any matter be the Patron, eg a Governor or Governor-General. Such a figure would ordinarily never get involved in administration and decision making, but if there were a problem such as this an appeal could be made and granted, provided that the case was overwhlemingly strong and public support was overwhelmingly present. In the current case they are stuck with a decision which would make us a laughing stock to other countries.

Running Scared: The Bush Administration Fears Voters Will Believe Richard Clarke's Allegations: "The Bush White House has banked on all who were privy to these details keeping the code of silence. But too many people outside the White House sphere of influence are too well informed, be they commandos on the ground or career civil servants at the state department and CIA. Some have come forward, risking the ire of the Bushies. Many more are considering it, weighing their conscience alongside their sense of self-preservation. Several who are talking are doing so on the condition of anonymity.

"But, as this campaign heats up, some will rethink and go on the record. It is becoming clear their silence might ensure that the Bush White House gets away with the central lie of its tenure - the blanket denial that it abandoned the war on terror to pursue an unrelated, pre-selected Iraq agenda. The louder the Bush administration proclaims that it is the only qualified protector of national security, the more offensively that rings in the ears of those who know the truth. Sooner or later - and certainly before November - that truth will out."

Running Scared: The Bush Administration Fears Voters Will Believe Richard Clarke's Allegations: "The Bush White House has banked on all who were privy to these details keeping the code of silence. But too many people outside the White House sphere of influence are too well informed, be they commandos on the ground or career civil servants at the state department and CIA. Some have come forward, risking the ire of the Bushies. Many more are considering it, weighing their conscience alongside their sense of self-preservation. Several who are talking are doing so on the condition of anonymity.

"But, as this campaign heats up, some will rethink and go on the record. It is becoming clear their silence might ensure that the Bush White House gets away with the central lie of its tenure - the blanket denial that it abandoned the war on terror to pursue an unrelated, pre-selected Iraq agenda. The louder the Bush administration proclaims that it is the only qualified protector of national security, the more offensively that rings in the ears of those who know the truth. Sooner or later - and certainly before November - that truth will out."

Chomsky favours holding your nose and voting for Kerry: "It's a matter of judgment, of course, but mine is that those who favor electing Bush are making a very serious error. The people around him are likely to cause very serious, perhaps irreparable, harm if given another mandate."

Chomsky favours holding your nose and voting for Kerry: "It's a matter of judgment, of course, but mine is that those who favor electing Bush are making a very serious error. The people around him are likely to cause very serious, perhaps irreparable, harm if given another mandate."

Sharon's New Plan: "The American historian Howard Zinn formulated a simple rule: Governments lie. It appears that this generalization is one of the most difficult for people to internalize and digest in a democratic society. Until this changes, the majority is doomed to believe again and again the same lie. "

Sharon's New Plan: "The American historian Howard Zinn formulated a simple rule: Governments lie. It appears that this generalization is one of the most difficult for people to internalize and digest in a democratic society. Until this changes, the majority is doomed to believe again and again the same lie. "

Palestine is now part of an arc of Muslim resistance: "The chances of a lasting settlement should in reality be higher than ever before. For the first time, every significant political and armed Palestinian group - including Hamas and Islamic Jihad - is now prepared to accept a de facto end to conflict in return for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza - just 22% of historic Palestine.

"The sharp-tongued Rantissi is widely regarded as more hardline than Yassin. But, as he told me in Gaza a couple of months back, Hamas is ready to call a ceasefire that 'should be seen in terms of years' in exchange for full Israeli withdrawal from the territories it has illegally occupied for the past 37 years. On another occasion, referring to the Hamas dream of Islamist rule throughout Palestine, he has said: 'We can accept a truce ... live side by side and refer all the issues to the coming generations.' And the organisation's new number two in Gaza, Mahmoud Zahar, confirmed its commitment to a West Bank/Gaza state in yesterday's interview with the Guardian.

"But instead of seizing the opportunity for peace offered by such political signals, the Sharon government is deliberately undermining the basis for a two-state solution by carving up the occupied territories with its electrified fences, closed zones and ever-expanding settlements. At the same time, it is planning a partial withdrawal from the most heavily populated areas, while effectively annexing other areas of the West Bank and confining Palestinians to walled bantustans that can never form the basis of a viable state."

"Justice for the Palestinians should self-evidently be pursued on its own merits. But given the extent to which Palestine has become a focus of global Muslim grievance, it has also become a necessity for international security. And the failure of western leaders to confront the crisis in a remotely even-handed way is now a threat to their own people.

"The most dangerous delusion of our time must surely be the notion - trotted out by all manner of public figures, from George Bush to Clive James - that Islamist terror is motivated by hostility to freedom and the western way of life. As anyone who is familiar with the Arab and Muslim world, or even bothered to read successive statements by al-Qaida leaders, it is in fact overwhelmingly driven by hostility to foreign, and especially western, domination and occupation of Arab and Muslim countries."

"To address the swelling and legitimate grievances that underlie [terrorism and insurgency] is now a global imperative. Unless and until the occupying powers - notably the US, Britain and Israel [and Australia] - do that, they will be fuelling, not fighting, terror."

Palestine is now part of an arc of Muslim resistance: "The chances of a lasting settlement should in reality be higher than ever before. For the first time, every significant political and armed Palestinian group - including Hamas and Islamic Jihad - is now prepared to accept a de facto end to conflict in return for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza - just 22% of historic Palestine.

"The sharp-tongued Rantissi is widely regarded as more hardline than Yassin. But, as he told me in Gaza a couple of months back, Hamas is ready to call a ceasefire that 'should be seen in terms of years' in exchange for full Israeli withdrawal from the territories it has illegally occupied for the past 37 years. On another occasion, referring to the Hamas dream of Islamist rule throughout Palestine, he has said: 'We can accept a truce ... live side by side and refer all the issues to the coming generations.' And the organisation's new number two in Gaza, Mahmoud Zahar, confirmed its commitment to a West Bank/Gaza state in yesterday's interview with the Guardian.

"But instead of seizing the opportunity for peace offered by such political signals, the Sharon government is deliberately undermining the basis for a two-state solution by carving up the occupied territories with its electrified fences, closed zones and ever-expanding settlements. At the same time, it is planning a partial withdrawal from the most heavily populated areas, while effectively annexing other areas of the West Bank and confining Palestinians to walled bantustans that can never form the basis of a viable state."

"Justice for the Palestinians should self-evidently be pursued on its own merits. But given the extent to which Palestine has become a focus of global Muslim grievance, it has also become a necessity for international security. And the failure of western leaders to confront the crisis in a remotely even-handed way is now a threat to their own people.

"The most dangerous delusion of our time must surely be the notion - trotted out by all manner of public figures, from George Bush to Clive James - that Islamist terror is motivated by hostility to freedom and the western way of life. As anyone who is familiar with the Arab and Muslim world, or even bothered to read successive statements by al-Qaida leaders, it is in fact overwhelmingly driven by hostility to foreign, and especially western, domination and occupation of Arab and Muslim countries."

"To address the swelling and legitimate grievances that underlie [terrorism and insurgency] is now a global imperative. Unless and until the occupying powers - notably the US, Britain and Israel [and Australia] - do that, they will be fuelling, not fighting, terror."

Chomsky starts own blog: but permalinks dont seem to work!!

Chomsky starts own blog: but permalinks dont seem to work!!

Full transcript of Clarke interview: More inside information on the central core of the Bush Administration's foreign policy - that it was determined to take out Saddam and that 9/11 merely provided the opportunity to execute this pre-determined policy. Naturally the unprovoked aggression and occupation of a Muslim country would evoke widespread opposition, resentment and animosity, but the Bush gang dared the big lie that they were going after terrorrists and WMDs. Unfortunately for them (but fortunately for the rest of the world) this big lie appears to be coming unstuck.

Full transcript of Clarke interview: More inside information on the central core of the Bush Administration's foreign policy - that it was determined to take out Saddam and that 9/11 merely provided the opportunity to execute this pre-determined policy. Naturally the unprovoked aggression and occupation of a Muslim country would evoke widespread opposition, resentment and animosity, but the Bush gang dared the big lie that they were going after terrorrists and WMDs. Unfortunately for them (but fortunately for the rest of the world) this big lie appears to be coming unstuck.

Mark Latham goes for it on Iraq: Effective parliamentary speech by Latham on a censure motion against Howard over Keelty and Iraq. The type of speech that would actually be worth watching, but all that was shown on nightly TV was some heated remarks ('lousy rotten disgrace') directed against Downer.

Mark Latham goes for it on Iraq: Effective parliamentary speech by Latham on a censure motion against Howard over Keelty and Iraq. The type of speech that would actually be worth watching, but all that was shown on nightly TV was some heated remarks ('lousy rotten disgrace') directed against Downer.

Juan Cole - Sharon's treason: "At a time when American soldiers and civilians throughout Iraq are already daily being targeted by Sunni Muslim guerrillas, for Ariel Sharon to order the murder of Yassin and seven others while they were leaving a mosque is an act of treason against his American ally. It doubles the danger for every American man and woman in Iraq." - as if Sharon would care about the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq, or indeed the deaths of his own citizens in Israel.

Juan Cole - Sharon's treason: "At a time when American soldiers and civilians throughout Iraq are already daily being targeted by Sunni Muslim guerrillas, for Ariel Sharon to order the murder of Yassin and seven others while they were leaving a mosque is an act of treason against his American ally. It doubles the danger for every American man and woman in Iraq." - as if Sharon would care about the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq, or indeed the deaths of his own citizens in Israel.

Latham: troops home by Christmas: "'We may go to a new sovereign Iraqi government [on June 30] so that's the point where Australia can say it's time to bring the troops back and it's time to put the defence of Australia as our first priority,' [Mr Latham] said."

Latham: troops home by Christmas: "'We may go to a new sovereign Iraqi government [on June 30] so that's the point where Australia can say it's time to bring the troops back and it's time to put the defence of Australia as our first priority,' [Mr Latham] said."

An angry - and dangerous - man takes aim at Bush: "Clarke's gloves-off account has rocked the White House... Clarke is no doubt haunted by the fact that the attacks took place on his watch. But he argues that he and Tenet repeatedly warned Bush's senior staff of their fears. He scathingly criticises Wolfowitz for believing conspiracy theories that the first World Trade Centre attacks were linked to Iraq and for being obsessed with Saddam Hussein.

"Clarke is still furious that the war on terrorism switched its focus from al-Qaeda to Iraq. 'Nothing America could have done would have provided al-Qaeda and its new generation of cloned groups a better recruitment device than our unprovoked invasion of an oil-rich Arab country,' he says. 'It was as if Osama bin Laden, in some high mountain redoubt, were engaging in long-range mind control of George Bush, chanting, 'invade Iraq, you must invade Iraq'.'"

An angry - and dangerous - man takes aim at Bush: "Clarke's gloves-off account has rocked the White House... Clarke is no doubt haunted by the fact that the attacks took place on his watch. But he argues that he and Tenet repeatedly warned Bush's senior staff of their fears. He scathingly criticises Wolfowitz for believing conspiracy theories that the first World Trade Centre attacks were linked to Iraq and for being obsessed with Saddam Hussein.

"Clarke is still furious that the war on terrorism switched its focus from al-Qaeda to Iraq. 'Nothing America could have done would have provided al-Qaeda and its new generation of cloned groups a better recruitment device than our unprovoked invasion of an oil-rich Arab country,' he says. 'It was as if Osama bin Laden, in some high mountain redoubt, were engaging in long-range mind control of George Bush, chanting, 'invade Iraq, you must invade Iraq'.'"

Yassin assassination spells five kinds of trouble for the West: "[Counter-terrorism Tsar] Clarke savages Bush for using al-Qaeda cynically as an opportunity to take the wholly unrelated action of invading Iraq. Clarke goes on to say that Bush 'launched an unnecessary and costly war in Iraq that strengthened the fundamentalist, radical Islamic terrorist movement worldwide'.

"In Australia, the Howard Government has been desperately resisting the common sense that by invading Iraq it made Australia a bigger target for terrorists. John Howard has lost that struggle. Newspoll found yesterday that 65 per cent of Australians believe that involvement in the Iraq war increased the chances of a terrorist attack. The proportion in Britain is 75 per cent."

Yassin assassination spells five kinds of trouble for the West: "[Counter-terrorism Tsar] Clarke savages Bush for using al-Qaeda cynically as an opportunity to take the wholly unrelated action of invading Iraq. Clarke goes on to say that Bush 'launched an unnecessary and costly war in Iraq that strengthened the fundamentalist, radical Islamic terrorist movement worldwide'.

"In Australia, the Howard Government has been desperately resisting the common sense that by invading Iraq it made Australia a bigger target for terrorists. John Howard has lost that struggle. Newspoll found yesterday that 65 per cent of Australians believe that involvement in the Iraq war increased the chances of a terrorist attack. The proportion in Britain is 75 per cent."

Ex-Aide Says Bush Doing 'Terrible Job': "Richard A. Clarke, ... the former White House counterterrorism coordinator ... accuses Bush of doing 'a terrible job on the war against terrorism.... frankly I find it outrageous that the president is running for re-election on the grounds that he's done such great things about terrorism.'"

""Bin Laden had been saying for years, 'America wants to invade an Arab country and occupy it, an oil-rich Arab country.' This is part of his propaganda," Clarke said. "So what did we do after 9/11? We invade ... and occupy an oil-rich Arab country, which was doing nothing to threaten us.""

Ex-Aide Says Bush Doing 'Terrible Job': "Richard A. Clarke, ... the former White House counterterrorism coordinator ... accuses Bush of doing 'a terrible job on the war against terrorism.... frankly I find it outrageous that the president is running for re-election on the grounds that he's done such great things about terrorism.'"

""Bin Laden had been saying for years, 'America wants to invade an Arab country and occupy it, an oil-rich Arab country.' This is part of his propaganda," Clarke said. "So what did we do after 9/11? We invade ... and occupy an oil-rich Arab country, which was doing nothing to threaten us.""

Despite the Hype, Bottled Water is Neither Cleaner nor Greener than Tap Water: "In a trendy nightclub in New York City, the bartender tells guests they can only be served bottled water, which costs $5 for each tiny half-pint container. One outraged clubber is stopped by the restroom attendant as she tries to refill the bottle from the tap. 'You can't do that,' says the attendant. 'New York's tap water isn't safe.'"

Despite the Hype, Bottled Water is Neither Cleaner nor Greener than Tap Water: "In a trendy nightclub in New York City, the bartender tells guests they can only be served bottled water, which costs $5 for each tiny half-pint container. One outraged clubber is stopped by the restroom attendant as she tries to refill the bottle from the tap. 'You can't do that,' says the attendant. 'New York's tap water isn't safe.'"

Chalmers Johnson: Empire Falls: "The problem is that this president, or any president who replaces him, can’t stand up to the vested interests in the Pentagon, the secret intelligence agencies and the military industrial complex. I say this in part because of what happened in the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991, when Mikhail Gorbachev truly tried to reform the Soviet system... Most people in this military do not expect to be shot at. That is proving to be a major limitation of our Roman pretensions and ambitions. We will be finding out within a very short period of time—a matter of months—whether we can raise the armed forces that we have in the past through incentives and getting people to volunteer. In a very short period of time, 40 percent of the troops in Iraq will be Reserves and National Guardsmen. They didn’t expect that duty when they joined the National Guard."

Chalmers Johnson: Empire Falls: "The problem is that this president, or any president who replaces him, can’t stand up to the vested interests in the Pentagon, the secret intelligence agencies and the military industrial complex. I say this in part because of what happened in the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991, when Mikhail Gorbachev truly tried to reform the Soviet system... Most people in this military do not expect to be shot at. That is proving to be a major limitation of our Roman pretensions and ambitions. We will be finding out within a very short period of time—a matter of months—whether we can raise the armed forces that we have in the past through incentives and getting people to volunteer. In a very short period of time, 40 percent of the troops in Iraq will be Reserves and National Guardsmen. They didn’t expect that duty when they joined the National Guard."

Iraq reprisal: US envoy at odds with PM: "The Madrid train bombings were probably carried out in reprisal for Spain's support of the Iraq war, says the US ambassador to Australia, Tom Schieffer... The concession that the attack could have been a reprisal over Iraq puts the ambassador at odds with the Prime Minister, John Howard, by echoing comments a week ago by the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty."

Iraq reprisal: US envoy at odds with PM: "The Madrid train bombings were probably carried out in reprisal for Spain's support of the Iraq war, says the US ambassador to Australia, Tom Schieffer... The concession that the attack could have been a reprisal over Iraq puts the ambassador at odds with the Prime Minister, John Howard, by echoing comments a week ago by the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty."