The American (in)Justice System: "Lawyers Can Ask Bryant Accuser About Sexual Past, Judge Says". Will Bush "liberate" American women, having "liberated" women in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti?

This is the kind of solid evidence that the US govt has about Abu Mus`ab Zarqawi's responsibility for the attacks in Iraq (from today's New York Times): American officials said they had no hard evidence that he was behind the attacks on Tuesday, though General Abizaid said he suspected that he was.

It is amazing how much the US media fall for whatever line the US administration pushes on them. When the govt insisted that Saddam was behind the attacks, they went along; when the govt said that `Izzat ad-Duri was behind the attacks, they went along too, and now it is all about Zarqawi. This little-known gang leader will not be able to operate throughout Iraq. You wonder whether they believe their own propaganda, or they know that it is not true. When Zarqawi is killed or captured, watch how they will find somebody else to blame. But it is an election year, and they may blame John Kerry. Who knows?

The Bush administration appears to have succeeded in its long-time goal of toppling Aristide through years of blocking international aid to his impoverished nation.

"Girl soldiers have been members of fighting forces on a larger scale than previously thought - taking part in conflicts in 38 nations since 1990, said a study released Wednesday."

Bush Campaign Ads Brought to You by Special Interests; Industries That Give to Bush Get Their Money’s Worth

Unocal Off the Hook?

Local governments are refusing to comply with the Patriot Act

Paul Sweezy is dead.

Kudos for French Senate: It Approved Ban on Religious Attire

As the Iraq war and subsequent occupation went so smoothly and just according to plans, Bush is considering another splendid war against North Korea. Let us hope that Abu Mus`ab Az-Zarqawi, the source of all ills in Iraq, does not turn up in North Korea. US already is relying on Ahmad Chalabi's twin Asian brother, known as Kim Chalabi, to lead "liberated "North Korea.

The Ancient Greeks despised "flattery of the masses" (demagogy in Greek). In a new Bush ad, he says: "Americans are hard working, decent, generous people. I'm optimistic about America because I believe in the people of America."

Learning from the House of Saud? The Bush administration announced plans yesterday to relax restrictions on single-sex public schools and classrooms.

From the Washington Post: "The CIA has rushed to Iraq four times as many clandestine officers as it had planned on, but it has had little success penetrating the resistance and identifying foreign terrorists involved in the insurgency, according to senior intelligence officials and intelligence experts recently briefed on Iraq."

US Troops are often blamed for insurgents' mayhem. Resentment over the occupation is a factor.

In Karbala and Baghdad, they mourned the dead. Throughout Iraq, they blamed the US. By the way, the blame is justified under international law. The occupation authority is legally responsible for whatever happens under its rule.

You can all sleep better now. In Meeting, Kerry Emphasizes His Strong Support of Israel

Angry Arab's comment in The Washington Post. (Notice that I am now an expert on terrorism).

All This Talk of Civil War, Now This By ROBERT FISK

Full text: China's Human Rights Record of the US in 2003

The inspector's final report

Egypt: Crackdown on Homosexual Conduct Exposes Torture Crisis (thanks S. and Nadya).

I detect Wahhabi hands in the horrific attacks on Iraqi Shi`ites

N. Korean Women Find Life of Abuse Waiting in China: Many Refugees Sold Into Sex Trade. I just wish that the US press shows the same vigilance in covering sexism right here in the US.

Nobody dares to stop it: Israel has stepped up the pace of settlement building

Filipino islanders blame GM crop for mystery sickness

The Arab World's Scientific Desert

I love this headline from the 1st page of today's New York Times: Iraqis Receive U.S. Approval of Constitution. What democracy.

Transcript of my last Al-Jazeera appearance.

A former US national security adviser who served in the administration of the first president Bush, warned today that the war in Iraq threatens to grind on for years like the Vietnam conflict.

Department of Denial

Showing great political courage, UN steps in right on time to make sure that lives are saved: Iraq had no WMD after 1994 UN now says.

UN Spying and Evasions of American Journalism (thanks Norman)

Were We All Wrong About Pakistan, Too? Yes.

Profiles in Cowardice: Democratic presidential candidates answer a question: (notice that even Sharpton is changing his tune on this too): (thanks Michael and Kyle for transcript)
RATHER: Congressman, what I need to do is to point out that we need a two-minute drill here now. We're inside the two-minute mark. If we have a two-minute grill, please.

The fence or wall in the Middle East -- the Israelis say it's a fence, the Palestinians call it a wall.

Senator Kerry, what do you call it?

KERRY: A fence necessary to the security of Israel until they have a partner to be able to negotiate.

RATHER: Reverend Sharpton?

SHARPTON: I think it's a fence, but I think that we must keep Palestinian rights in mind.

And I think it will not work unless we have cooperation of all sides, and we not in any way, shape or form have an unbalanced Middle East policy that we've had so far.

RATHER: Fence or a wall?

EDWARDS: It is a fence, both symbolically and in reality. There are only a very few miles of it that are made of concrete.

And the Israelis have the right to protect themselves. And I agree that until we get to the place that they have a real partner, which America has to play an enormous role in, they're entitled to build the fence.

RATHER: Congressman?

KUCINICH: When Israel builds something on its territory, it's a fence. But when they build something on the Palestinians' territory, it's a wall.

And I think that we need to help bring the parties together, for peaceful coexistence and restart the peace talks.

As I am still on the road (returning tonight). May somebody out there find the transcript of Sunday's CBS Democratic Debate in New York? I want to post the answers to the question about the Israeli separation barrier. Thanks.

The Pride of Bush: A new study by a UK research company puts the occupied Iraqi capital last of 215 cities it profiled throughout the world.

Amnesty accuses Libya of serious human rights violations. But US govt now believes that Libyan govt is cute when it violates human rights.

Why they had to crush Aristide (He was hiding WMDs, and had links to Bin Laden).

PRESIDENT ARISTIDE SAYS 'I WAS KIDNAPPED'; 'TELL THE WORLD IT IS A COUP'

There are so many things I do not like about Hamas and Islamic Jihad. And it seems that every day I discover new reasons to dislike them. I cannot believe that Islamic Jihad has recruited Palestinians whose ages are 12, 13, and 15. This is quite despicable, and their families are rightly outraged. Che used to send back any potential revolutionary who is less than 18. But these people are no Che, for sure.

Kurdish demands may trigger a civil war in Iraq. (For the record, Angry Arab unconditionally supports Kurdish national aspirations although he is not a fan of the two major Kurdish parties, which have killed some 5000 Kurds in their mini-civil war in the 1990s).

HAITIAN democratically-elected leader, Jean Bertrand Aristide, was taken away from his home by US soldiers, it was claimed today.

760,000 JOBLESS DENIED AID

The Democratic governor of New Mexico is a very annoying man. He is one of the most ambitious politicians in the country. Every time there is a presidential election, he poses as a statesman, and start bradishing his ostensible foreign policy credentials. But his foreign policy adventures may prove to be a liability. He was chummy with Saddam and with the North Korean dictator. Hardly the stuff that you put on a resume. And to make himself a "moderate" Democrat (i.e. one who is aligned more with business than with labor, with the rich and not the poor, with the oppressors, and not the oppressed, with Ariel Sharon, etc), he cut taxes in his state. That is what John F Kennedy did also to win "the moderate" southern vote. He has no chances to be picked as vice-president.