29 April 2004

OOPS! There It Is!



Damn! Sometimes it sure SUCKS to be right...
Here's a little something to think about:

Published on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 by the Mehr News Agency (Tehran, Iran)

New Reports on U.S. Planting WMDs in Iraq


 
BASRA -– Fifty days after the first reports that the U.S. forces were unloading weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in southern Iraq, new reports about the movement of these weapons have been disclosed.

Sources in Iraq speculate that occupation forces are using the recent unrest in Iraq to divert attention from their surreptitious shipments of WMD into the country.

An Iraqi source close to the Basra Governor’s Office told the MNA that new information shows that a large part of the WMD, which was secretly brought to southern and western Iraq over the past month, are in containers falsely labeled as containers of the Maeresk shipping company and some consignments bearing the labels of organizations such as the Red Cross or the USAID in order to disguise them as relief shipments.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that Iraqi officials including forces loyal to the Iraqi Governing Council stationed in southern Iraq have been forbidden from inspecting or supervising the transportation of these consignments. He went on to say that the occupation forces have ordered Iraqi officials to forward any questions on the issue to the coalition forces. Even the officials of the international relief organizations have informed the Iraqi officials that they would only accept responsibility for relief shipments which have been registered and managed by their organizations.

The Iraqi source also confirmed the report about suspicious trucks with fake Saudi and Jordanian license plates entering Iraq at night last week, stressing that the Saudi and Jordanian border guards did not attempt to inspect the trucks but simply delivered them to the U.S. and British forces stationed on Iraq’s borders.

However, the source expressed ignorance whether the governments of Saudi Arabia and Jordan were aware of such movements.

A professor of physics at Baghdad University also told the MNA correspondent that a group of his colleagues who are highly specialized in military, chemical and biological fields have been either bribed or threatened during the last weeks to provide written information on what they know about various programs and research centers and the possible storage of WMD equipment.

The professor also said these people have been openly asked to confirm or deny the existence of research or related WMD equipment. A large number of these scientists, who are believed to be under the surveillance of U.S. intelligence operatives, have claimed that if they refuse to comply with this request, they may be killed or arrested on charges of concealing the truth if these weapons are found by the Bush administration in the future.

He said that the Iraqi scientists believe their lives would be in danger if they decline to cooperate with the occupation forces, especially when they recall that senior U.S. officer Michael Peterson once said, “Iraqi scientists are at any case a threat to the U.S. administration, whether they talk or not.”

A source close to the Iraqi Governing Council said, “In the meantime, many suspect containers disguised as fuel supplies have been moved about by some units of the U.S. special forces. The move has been carried out under heavy security measures. Also, there are unofficial reports that the containers held biological and bacteriological toxins in liquid form. It is possible that the news about the discovery of the WMDs would be announced later.”

He also said that such mixtures had been used by the Saddam regime in the 1990s.

The source added that some provocative actions such as the closure of Al-Hawza periodical by U.S. administrator Paul Bremer, the secret meetings between his envoys with some extremist groups who have no relations with the Iraqi Governing Council, the sudden upsurge in violence in central and southern Iraq, a number of activities which have stoked up the wrath of the prominent Shia clerics, and finally, the spate of kidnappings and the baseless charges against the Iranian charge d’affaires in Baghdad are providing the necessary smokescreen for the transportation of the WMD to their intended locations.

He said they are quite aware that the White House in cooperation with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has directly tasked the Defense Department to hide these weapons. Given the recent scandals to the effect that the U.S. president was privy to the 9/11 plot, they might try to immediately announce the discovery of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in order to overshadow the scandals and prevent a further decline of Bush’s public opinion rating as the election approaches.

© Copyright 2004 Mehr News Agency

###

Remember this, next time you're in a voting booth!
--ryan


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28 April 2004

WARNING: Your Diet Send You To Jail!



Did you know that buying and eating Middle Eastern foods can invite a Federal investigation? Using the Patriot Act (and your tax dollars) the government has been systematically checking out those who buy hummus and tabouli. Check out the link and tell me what you think:

Las Vegas Review Journal

--ryan

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21 April 2004

Guess Whose Knows Where the Real WMD Is?



An open memo to G.W. Bush:

"Mr. President,
I know where you can find a scary WMD program that represents a clear and present danger to global safety and security. For details, please call Ariel Sharon..."


This morning on BBC News, I saw the story of Mordechai Vanunu who was released from an Israeli prison today. Mr. Vanunu spent nearly 18 years in prison, 11 of those in solitary confinement, for espionage and treason. His crime? He dared to tell the world about Israel's highly secretive (and potentially illegal) nuclear weapons program.

Although he has been released from jail, Mordechai Vanunu remains a prisoner, the Israeli government has forbidden him to travel outside of the country. He is also forbidden to have contact or correspondence with foreigners. Their official position is that Vanunu continues to be a danger to the safety and security of Israel.

Reading this. you're probably wondering which of Israel's blood-thirsty, Islamic extremist, Jihadist enemies did Vanunu sell the information to: Hamas? Al-Qaeda? Would you believe it was London's Sunday Times newspaper?

He gave an interview to the Sunday Times in 1986 about his work at Israel's Dimona nuclear plant. Based on information in the resulting story, analysts concluded that Israel most likely possessed a considerable nuclear arsenal.

Israel has steadfastly maintained a front of "strategic ambiguity" regarding its WMD stores. They have also refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, as that would them to present Dlmona (and any similar facilities) for international inspection and scrutiny. Israel famously assured the world: "we will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East". How misleading.

The really interesting thing about the whole Vanunu-Dimona affair is the fact that by United States law, our government is prohibited from supporting states which engage in proliferation. Calculations based on Vanunu's information revealed that by 1985 Israel was capable of producing up to 12 nuclear warheads a year. Regardless of law, Israel continues to be the number one recipient of US foreign aid- over $91 billon to date, while they continue to accumulate warheads.

Isn't it interesting that "G.W. & Co." have placed over 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq to hunt for alleged WMD, when we've had hard proof of Israel's stockpile for 16 years? Anyone remember 1981, when the Israeli Air Force flew a "preemptive" strike against Iraq's breeder reactor at Osirak? Most interesting indeed.

Israel is right to fear Vanunu. The U.S. should fear him as well. Why? Because he speaks the truth...

--ryan

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Quote of the Week



"Only by assassinating the reasons for terrorism can we assassinate terrorism."
~~Shimon Peres


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20 April 2004

Luring the Young to the "Dark Side"



I've been bad...sort of.

Last year I (actually my wife and I) gave the 8 year old son of our best friends his very first fountain pen. It was just an entry-level Shaeffer calligraphy set, but the by the look in his eyes would have thought we'd laid a Jorg Hysek on him!

He listened with rapt attention and keen ears as we explained the arcane details of proper care and feeding of a fountain pen, almost as if we were demonstrating the latest X-Box game to him. His fingers had that familiar tremble as he loaded the first ink cartridge into his new prize, hungrily licking his lips in concentration.

Then came the magic moment of truth when he applied (with surprising delicacy) his first nib to paper. Just like a surgeon executing his opening incision, he confidently traced his name on the sheet, then looked up. Our eyes met.

At that moment I knew he had surely and irrevocably been immersed the Dark and Inky depths of Plumophilia...

...I must remember to buy his mother a bottle of Amodex. Soon!

Keep Your Nibs Inked and Your Fingers Clean --ryan


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19 April 2004

In Memoriam: 19.April 1995



"Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it."
~~George Santayana




The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Government complex located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and the target of the Oklahoma City bombing.

The federal building was constructed in 1977 at a cost of $14.5 million, and was named for federal judge Alfred P. Murrah, an Oklahoma native. By the 1990s the building contained regional offices for the Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency (D.E.A.), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and other agencies.

On the morning of April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck with explosives in front of the complex and, at 9:02am, a massive explosion occurred which sheared the entire north side of the building, killing 168 people.

Following an investigation and recovery of victims' bodies, the surviving structure was demolished with explosives on May 23, 1995. The Water Resources Board and Athenian Building were heavily damaged and later destroyed. The site later became home to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.







"We come here to remember those who were killed,
those who survived and those changed forever.
May all who leave here know the impact of violence.
May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity."
~~Oklahoma City National Memorial


The Fallen:

Lucio Aleman Jr
Teresa Alexander
Richard Allen
Ted Allen
Baylee Almon
Diane E. Althouse
Rebecca Anderson
Pamela Cleveland Argo
Saundra G. Avery
Peter Avillanoza
Calvin Battle
Peola Battle
Danielle Bell
Oleta Biddy
Shelly Bland
Andrea Y. Blanton
Olen Bloomer
Lola Bolden
James E. Boles
Mark A. Bolte
Cassandra Kay Booker
Carol Bowers
Peachlyn Bradley
Woodrow Clifford Brady
Cynthia Brown
Paul Broxterman
Gabreon Bruce
Kimberly Ruth Burgess
David Neil Burkett
Donald Earl Burns, Sr.
Karen Gist Carr
Michael Carrillo
Rona Linn Kuehner-Chafey
Zackary Chavez
Robert N. Chipman
Kimberly Kay Clark
Dr. Margaret Louise "Peggy" Clark
Antonio Ansara Cooper Jr.
Dana Cooper
Anthony Christopher Cooper II
Harley Richard Cottingham
Kim R. Cousins
Aaron and Elijah Coverdale
Jaci Rae Coyne
Katherine Louise "Kathy" Cregan
Richard Leroy Cummins
Steven Douglas Curry
Brenda Faye Daniels
Benjamin L. Davis
Diana Lynn Day
Peter L DeMaster
Castine Brooks Hearn Deveroux
Sheila R. Gigger Driver and baby
Tylor Eaves
Ashley Meagan Eckles
Susan Jane Ferrell
Carrol June "Chip" Fields
Katherine Ann Finley
Judy Fisher
Linda Louise Florence
Donald Lee and Mary Anne Fritzler
Tevin Garrett
Laura Washington Garrison
Jamie Lee Genzer
Margaret Betterton Goodson
Kevin Lee Gottshall II
Ethel Griffin
Colleen Guiles
Randy Guzman
Cheryl Bradley Hammon
Ronald Vernon Harding, Sr.
Thomas Lynn Hawthorne, Sr.
Doris Adele Higginbottom
Anita Hightower
Gene Hodges, Jr.
Peggy Louise Holland
Linda Coleen Housley
George Michael Howard
Wanda Lee Howell
Robbin Ann Huff and baby
Dr. Charles and Anna Jean Hurlburt
Paul Douglas Ice
Christi Jenkins
Norma Jean Johnson
Raymond Johnson
Larry J. Jones
Alvin Justes
Blake Ryan Kennedy
Carole Khalil
Valerie Koelsch
Carolyn Ann Kreymborg
Teresa Lea Lauderdale
Catherine Mary "Kathy" Leinen
Carrie Ann Lenz and baby
Donald Ray Leonard
LaKesha R. Levy
Dominique London
Rheta Ione (Bender) Long
Michael Loudenslager
Aurelia Donna and Robert L. Luster Jr.
Mickey Maroney
James Martin
Rev. Gilbert Martinez
James A. McCarthy
Kenneth Glenn McCullough
Betsy Janice McGonnell
Linda Gail McKinney
Cartney Jean McRaven
Claude Medearis
Claudette Meek
Frankie Ann Merrell
Derwin Miller
Eula Leigh Mitchell
John C. Moss III
Ronota Ann Newberry-Woodbridge
Patricia Nix
Jerry Lee Parker
Jill Diane Randolph
Michelle Reeder
Terry S. Rees
Mary L. Rentie
Antonio "Tony" Reyes
Kathryn Elizabeth Ridley
Trudy Rigney
Claudine Ritter
Christine Nicole Rosas
Sonja Lynn Sanders
Lanny L. Scroggins
Kathy Lynn Seidl
Leora Lee Sells
Karan Shepherd
Colton Wade Smith and Chase Dalton Smith
Victoria Lee Sohn
John T. Stewart
Dolores M. Stratton
Emilio Rangel Tapia
Victoria J. Texter
Charlotte Andrea Lewis Thomas
Michael George Thompson
Virginia Thompson
Kayla Titsworth
Rick L. Tomlin
LaRue and Luther Treanor
Larry L. Turner
Jules Valdez
John K. Van Ess
Johnny Allen Wade
David Jack Walker
Robert Walker Jr.
Wanda Watkins
Michael Don Weaver
Julie Marie Welch
Robert Westberry
Alan G. Whicher
Jo Ann Whittenberg
Frances Williams
Scott Williams
William Stephen Williams
Clarence Eugene Wilson
Sharon Louis Wood-Chestnut
Tresia Worton
John A. Youngblood


Please remember them and their Families in your thoughts and Prayers...
Please Pray for those who survived the wrath...

14 April 2004

What's in a Name?



It occured to me the other day, that is quite interesting the way that entities of Corporate America are quite eager to pounce on anyone who dares to tread on the copyrighted sovereignty of the names and so-called intellictual property. God help the poor slob who uses Coca-Cola's name and image or Microsoft's logo or even the URL without asking (and paying). Most interesting is the way Corporate America thinks nothing of stealing names and what I call 'cultural property' from Native Americans and other indigenous peoples without even a thought.

Do you think the board of directors of Mohawk Furniture Inc. send quarterly payments to the Mohawk Nation (Kanien'kehaka) for the use of their name? How about Daimler-Chrysler's use of Cherokee for their luxury Jeep? Did they ask the Cherokee Nation (Tsalagi) for permission? Do they pay annual licensing fees? What about the Apache Software Foundation, promoters of the ubiquitous Apache Server that help make the Internet go, did they ask first before taking?

Companies like the Walt Disney Corporation employ platoons of lawyers to safeguard against the slightest violation of their copyrights. But did Disney think twice about stealing a traditional Cheyenne story to use as a foundation for their film " Brother Bear." The sad thing is that traditonal Native American stories are never sold, they are given freely for the cost of your listening time -- Does Disney give anything away freely...?

And then there's the United States Government, namely the Department of Defense (DOD). Did they ask the Apache Nation about affixing their name to the Mcdonald Douglas AH-64D? Almost every attack and scout helicopter in the U.S.Army's current inventory has the tribal name of a Native American Nation attached to it: Apache, Comanche, Iroquois and Kiowa. Then there is the so-called 'Crazy Horse Troop' of the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment and the 'Apache', 'Comanche' and 'Blackfoot Troops' of the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry. Has Secretary Rumsfeldt filed requests with the appropriate tribal officers for permission to license names, imagery and personages? I doubt it.

That brings us to sports, where we find the worst offenders. It confounds me to this day, why institutions sworn to enlighten and educate routinely commit some of the most ingnorant and narrow minded practices. Did Florida State University ask the Seminole Nation to use their name? Did the University of Utah ask the Ute Nation? I think not. And don't even get me started about the overtly racist uses of Native American names and imagery practiced by many collegate and professional sports teams.

Why am I complaining, you ask? To me, it's a matter of common decency and basic good ethics: If you make money from the use of someone else's name, don't you owe them at least a "thank you"? Why can't Mohawk Furniture Inc. of North Carolina do something to help the youth or the elderly of the Mohawk Nation? Why can't the high-minded Apache Software Foundation build a school, or set-up a scholarship program for the Apache Nation? I call that fair-play.

Look around for yourself if you don't believe what I've said here...

--ryan

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11 April 2004

Desperately Seeking Leadership...



Just in case you thought we had a EFFECTIVE leadership in the Oval Office (instead of just some overgrown kid playing dress-up in Daddy's office):

"Curious George Runs a Country"

People it's time to ditch this miserable failure!

Just My Opinion --ryan

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01 April 2004

American Indians Secure Purchase of Washington State



From a United Native Americans (UNA) Press Release:

American Indians Secure Purchase of Washington State

Thursday 1 April 2004, 0945 PST


SEATTLE WA- The United Native Americans (UNA) is proud to announce that it has secured the purchase in full of the State of Washington from the whites and is throwing it open to American Indian settlement. UNA bought Washington from three winos found wandering in Seattle. The winos promptly signed the treaty, which was written in the Northern Cheyenne language, and sold Washington for three bottles of wine, one bottle of gin and four cases of beer.

The Honorable George E Little Bear, the new Commissioner of Caucasian Affairs, has announced the following new policies:
The Indians hereby generously give the whites four enourmously huge reservations of ten acres each at the following locations: in the middle of Makoshika Park, in the Bad Lands of South Dakota, in the Utah Salt Flats and in the Yukon.

These reservations shall belong to the whites for as long as the sun shines and the grass grows, or until such time as the Indians want them back.
All land on the reservations, of course, will be held in trust for the whites by the Bureau of Caucasian Affairs, and any white who wants to use his land in any way must secure the permission of Commissioner Little Bear.
Each reservation will be serviced by a depot selling Crystal-Meth, Oxycotin and of course cheap alcohol.

Of course, whites will be allowed to sell trades and handicrafts at stands by the highway.

Each white will be provided annually with one blanket and one pair of tennis shoes, a supply of Spam, and a copy of "My Life Amoung the White People." The latter was written as an expose~ by a former Indian student at an all white high school.

If an American Indian proves incompetent enough, he may qualify to be superintendent of any of the above mentioned Burea of Caucasian Affairs reservations that have been so generously set aside by the United Native Americans. Applicants for the superintendents' jobs must have less than a year of education, must not be able to understand the Caucasian languages or customs, must have an authoritarian personality, have proof of dishonesty and must have a certificate of incompetence. Of course, no whites need apply.

Commissioner Little Bear also announced the founding of four boarding schools to which white youngsters will be sent at the age of six. 'We want to take those white kids far away from the backward culture of their parents', the commissioner said. The schools will be located on Alcatraz Island, the Florida Everglades, point Barrow, Alaska, and nearby Hong Kong.

All of their courses will be taught in the Indian Languages, and there will be demerits for anyone caught speaking English. All students arriving at the school will immediately be given IQ tests to determine their understanding of Indian languages and hunting skills...

In honour of the whites, many cities, streets, cars and products will be given traditional Caucasian names. The Seattle Seahawks will be renamed the Fighting Whites.

One famous Indian movie director has even announced that in his upcoming movie 'Custer's Last Stand,' he will use many actual whites to play the parts of the soldiers, speaking real English; although of course, the part of Custer will be played by Tonto.

Certain barbaric white customs will not be allowed. Whites will not be permitted to practice their heathen religions, and will be required to attend Indian ceremonies. Missionaries will be sent from each tribe to convert the Caucasians of the reservations. White churches will either be made into amusement parks or museums, or will be torn down and the bricks and ornaments sold as souvenirs and curiosities.

The United Native Americans plan to pursue the further purchase of the States of Idaho, Oregon and California as soon as appropriately ignorant stooges can be located to represent Caucasian interests during the ensuing treaty negotiations.
Plans for this operation are in progress.








Adapted from an article which ran in the Colville Tribal Tribune, 20 Decemeber 1973


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