Hey Kirsten, just got back--didn't see ya . . . but if the estimate of one hundred thousand on the streets of Seattle today protesting war on Iraq is correct (and I think it is--it looked like at least double the numbers of the '99 WTO protests, which was estimated to involve 50,000), then that explains it . . . I also liked the sign, "Bush couldn't run a laundromat," and countless more. I also enjoyed the short speech by Sherman Alexie, who recounted an incident that happened to him here in downtown Seattle a few days after 9-11: he had just come out of his health club and was standing on the corner of an intersection when a large truck flying a huge American flag stopped in front of him and the driver yelled, "Go back to where you came from!" He said the driver was halfway down the street before he recovered enough to yell: "You first!"

In case you're not lucky enough to know about Sherman Alexie, he is inarguably the most famous Native American author alive, if not ever. His eloquence today was as apparent as ever, and although I can't unfortunately recall all of his lines, I do distinctly remember him suggesting that instead of present war plans we should be sending bookmobiles to both Baghdad and the White House. The Americans all across the country who marched today in solidarity with like-minded beautiful people all over the world against Bush's plans for mass murder are the best of America.

The best of America hates and despises George Dubya Bush.

And don't you forget it!

In depth analysis of the French/US standoff at the UN. (Too long to post)

TOP SIGNS SEEN AT THE SEATTLE PROTEST

1. What would Jesus bomb?
2. Stop Mad-Cowboy Disease
3. Let's Bomb Texas- They Have Oil Too!
4. In Sauron We Trust
and finally...
4. All Your Base Are Belong To Us
thank you and goodnight....

finally we get on tv

The staff at Skippy cannot believe their eyes. CNN has actually been reporting on the world wide anti-war protests all day long, as a top, major story. Pictures of millions of demonstrators from cities all over the globe, and interviews with individual protesters.

Here's a CNN pop-up with coverage from several world-wide cities.

Here's another covering individual protesters, here in the US.

And of course, Larry King has Priscilla Presley.

Fox News is of course, harping on Tom Ridge's oranges, and Msnbc is talking about the Columbia disaster.

But CNN, we salute you. Actually reporting the news today. Thanks.

And there were (and still are) protests all over the world.

One million in London: More than one million people have staged an anti-war protest in London, making it the UK's largest ever peace demonstration, organisers claimed.

At least an estimated million also gathered in Rome to march.

400,000 in Paris.

They must have gotten the permit, because thousands of people are stretched 8 blocks long near the U.N. in New York.

80,000 people protested in Dublin.

More than a thousand marchers in Auckland, New Zealand.

An estimated 20,000 were expected to gather in Beirut.

Up to 40,000 in Bern, Switzerland.

othEr crowd estimations: in Syria, a nation on the front line if war comes, some 200,000 protesters marched through Damascus. In Bulgaria, Athens, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand, demonstrations attracted thousands, while the crowds were in the hundreds or less in Bosnia, Hong Kong, Indian-controlled Kashmir and Moscow. Police estimated that 60,000 turned out in Oslo, Norway, 50,000 in bitter cold in Brussels, while about 35,000 gathered peacefully in frigid Stockholm. Crowds were estimated at 10,000 in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, 5,000 in Capetown and 4,000 in Johannesburg in South Africa, and 2,000 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

And don't forget, Thousands in Thessaloniki!

At last, the media is beginning to realize that the U.S. anti-war movement is based in the mainstream.

for example: in Palm Beach, people took off their clothes for peace (or is that, "for a piece"?)

in Berkeley, law students raised $18,000 to take out an anti-war ad in the new york times: "There was a total disconnect between what we were learning in the classroom and what was coming out of Attorney General John Ashcroft's office and other Washington, D.C. agencies," says Abby Reyes, a second-year Boalt hall student. "We were quite alarmed, and we started thinking about how many other law students across the nation might be feeling this way."

Skippy is giving his staff the afternoon off to go participate in the Los Angeles march at Hollywood and vine at 1:00 real time. We expect to be back with a personal report later today.

All we are saying, is giving Blotopia (yes! we coined that phrase!) a chance.

Here lie: 3 remixes of Saul William's not in our name mp3 plus the original spoken word version. I'm partial to the DJ Spooky remix myself. (all 3 mixes added to the rotating randomized playlist at dr menlo radio, in addition to some spoken word by Judi Barri, Steven Jesse Bernstein, an interview with Greg Palast on the financial ties between the Bush family and the Bin Ladens and other Saudis, new music by Amon Tobin, 3 Ennio Morricone remixes, 3 jazz classics remixed and much more!--last plug for the station, I promise . . . )

Teacher suspended for presenting anti-war ideology
Ian Harvey, who teaches English and mass media, stepped into the spotlight after he organized an anti-war rally that involved a couple of his students.
One of the student demonstrators said Harvey regularly talks about his opposition to the war in Afghanistan during class.

Harvey denied any wrongdoing, saying he only points out different sides of an issue and lets his students come to their own conclusions.

Still, Christopher Avros urged the School Board at their Thursday night meeting to look into Harvey's "background and the people he's affiliated with."

Fact Sheet: New Terrorist Threat Integration Center Will Open May 1

President Bush announced plans on February 14 to launch a new
Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC) on May 1 to "better protect
America by strengthening counterterrorism intelligence."

TTIC will play a lead role in overseeing a national counterterrorism tasking and requirements system and in maintaining an up-to-date database of known and suspected terrorists accessible to appropriate officials at all levels of government.

TTIC will be headed by a senior U.S. government official, who will report to the Director of Central Intelligence.

As an important next step in this effort, the President today announced that the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, the Director of Central Intelligence's Counterterrorist Center, and TTIC will relocate, as soon as possible, to a single new facility in order to improve collaboration and enhance the government's ability to thwart terrorist attacks and bring terrorists to justice. | Following is the text of the fact sheet

Also see:

U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy Will Enhance National Security

Bush Says Winning War On Terror Requires Perseverance, Coordination:The goal is to develop a comprehensive picture of terrorist activity. When the center is fully operational, it will fully house a database of known and suspected terrorists that officials across the country will be able to access and act upon.

Bush realigns FBI, CIA counterterrorism operations

Chemical warfare broadcasts in Israel ain't just duct tape.

"Oh man that brings back a lot of memories,"
says the Israeli guy.

"Check out this recording of Israeli radio from one of the many nights of missiles attack in 1991 Gulf War. (Link via a l - x . n e t)"

You can listen to an .mp3 of a real chemical attack warning broadcast on his site.

"The voices after the initial code it’s the radio broadcasters saying that this is a genuine alarm indicating a missile attack over Israel and then are instructing people to get into the sealed rooms and wear their gas masks.

"Pretty freaky, don’t you think? That alarm sound really gave me the shivers for a second when I heard it today. Hope we won’t have to hear that again.

"Here is a full transcript of this audio for the curious ones:

(Pink Floyd playing and then suddenly interrupted)

“Viper, Viper, Viper”

(The alarm activated)

Man: “this is an IDF spokesman announcement, we all know this signal that was heard, this is a genuine alarm following a missile attack over Israel. All residents of Israel need to wear their gas masks immediately and get into the sealed room. After the family has entered the threshold need to be sealed with a wet cloth and masking tape. The drill is well known: turn off the air conditioner, sea that the kids wore their gas masks in the correct way and continue listening to us. As aforesaid this is a genuine alarm following a missiles attack ..."

Rep. Ron Paul, R-TX, speaks out against war on Iraq -
C-SPAN interview
(RealPlayer video)

Reckless Administration May Reap Disastrous Consequences
by US Senator Robert Byrd
Senate Floor Speech - Wednesday, February 12, 2003

To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war.

Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent -- ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing.

We stand passively mute in the United States Senate, paralyzed by our own uncertainty, seemingly stunned by the sheer turmoil of events. Only on the editorial pages of our newspapers is there much substantive discussion of the prudence or imprudence of engaging in this particular war.

And this is no small conflagration we contemplate. This is no simple attempt to defang a villain. No. This coming battle, if it materializes, represents a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and possibly a turning point in the recent history of the world.

This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of preemption -- the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future -- is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our -- or some other nation's -- hit list. High level Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq. What could be more destabilizing and unwise than this type of uncertainty, particularly in a world where globalism has tied the vital economic and security interests of many nations so closely together? There are huge cracks emerging in our time-honored alliances, and U.S. intentions are suddenly subject to damaging worldwide speculation. Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation, suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from U.S. leaders is fracturing the once solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11. [MORE]

Bush and Sharon Nearly Identical On Mideast Policy
"The Likudniks are really in charge now," said a senior government official, using a Yiddish term for supporters of Sharon's political party. Neumann agreed that Abrams's appointment was symbolically important, not least because Abrams's views were shared by his boss, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, by Vice President Cheney and by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. "It's a strong lineup," he said.

One of Abrams's mentors, Richard Perle, chairman of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board, led a study group that proposed to Binyamin Netanyahu, a Likud prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999, that he abandon the Oslo peace accords negotiated in 1993 and reject the basis for them -- the idea of trading "land for peace." Israel should insist on Arab recognition of its claim to the biblical land of Israel, the 1996 report suggested, and should "focus on removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq."

Skimble says: "The United States is a country, not a country club. But Roger Kimball is just a caddie on the manicured fairway of Laura Bush's stunted cultural imagination."

I just love a well-turned phrase!

Colombia: 15 killed by bomb 'meant for President'
the suspected rebels detonated the bomb when police raided the house. An investigator with the prosecutor's office and nine police officers, including Neiva's chief of investigations, were among those killed. The blast wounded 30 people, destroyed five houses and severely damaged 30 others.

Hospitals on cyanide alert
Told to stock up on antidotes, be ready for crisis
Feb.13, 2003

New York City hospitals were placed on high alert yesterday after the government warned of a potential cyanide gas attack by terrorists.
The city Health Department has urged hospitals to increase levels of sodium thiosulfate, the antidote to cyanide, and other pharmaceutical agents in emergency rooms to deal with chemical warfare - or a nuclear attack.

"The hospitals have some stocks," said Susan Waltman, senior vice president with the Greater New York Hospital Association, the group that distributed the seven-page department alert to area emergency rooms. "But over time, we have enhanced our supplies of a lot of antibiotics and these types of antidotes, as well as different kinds of items we may need in a nuclear/radiological event." [Full Story]

Also see:

Rumor of War?

Clearchannel: Preparing for war?

FEMA want's to know: Are you ready?

Why Do I March?
Texting
Urban Depressive Signals

I march because this war will make hypocrites of us.

I march because I'm tired of being lied to.

I march because it's very hard to work, to write, to make good art, to breathe in fear.... (more)

Are You Ready?
National Security Emergencies

FEMA want's to know: Are you ready?
In addition to the natural and technological hazards described in this publication, Americans face threats posed by hostile governments or extremist groups. These threats to national security include acts of terrorism and acts of war. The following is general information about national security emergencies. [MORE]

To read the other chapters in this online book, please visit: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

Note: Uh, yeah. FEMA, that's who I'm gonna turn to for help...

Eric Alterman: "The most hostile words you can utter on right-wing talk-radio are 'I don’t know.' They all — and I mean all — think it’s a trick."

"private eyes, theyre watching you. they see your every move."

PASSIVELY MUTE
"To engage in war is always to pick a wild card. And war must always be a last resort, not a first choice. I truly must question the judgment of any President who can say that a massive unprovoked military attack on a nation which is over 50% children is "in the highest moral traditions of our country". This war is not necessary at this time. Pressure appears to be having a good result in Iraq. Our mistake was to put ourselves in a corner so quickly. Our challenge is to now find a graceful way out of a box of our own making. Perhaps there is still a way if we allow more time. "
More of Sen Robert Byrd's statement here

Misleading the Public
If bin Laden is effectively calling on Muslim Iraqis to overthrow Saddam and that Saddam is irrelevant in the coming war and Iraqis should not fight for him, how then can the U.S. administration use this message to prove Saddam and al-Qaeda are linked?

The answer is because it doesn't take much to mislead the public. Current polls show that a solid 40% of Americans believe that Saddam has ties to Bin Laden, despite overwhelming evidence that no such ties exist. All Powell (the most trusted member of the administration) really has to do is say the two are related and no major media outlet is going to challenge him, even though a child could ascertain that "Bin Laden's" statement was specifically against Saddam's socialist regime.

Perhaps the worst part of the affair is that Bin Laden has gone from a serious threat to a stage prop to justify war with Iraq. Instead of fighting a legitimate war against the real enemy, the Administration choses to simply use that war as a propaganda device to convince Americans that the other, unjust war is necessary.

Clearchannel: Preparing for war?
The following is a purported internal memo smuggled out of Clearchannel Radio, the nations largest conglomerate of news/talk radio

WAR PLANS
KFBK and KSTE

NEWS

Make certain that we are monitoring CNN and ABC's Sat Que. Sat Que must be turned up loud. We can not just rely on someone occasionally checking the wires. Do NOT turn down the volume on ABC Sat Que. Ross, please consider setting the volume high and removing the volume knob, otherwise someone will turn it down and you'll miss an important bulletin.

Board ops: The second you get a notification that war has begun make sure you are prepared to hit news bulletin sounder and get the information on IMMEDIATELY. As soon as it is offered, cut to network updates or long-form coverage immediately. Then call and page Ken and Cristi.

If War breaks out after 10AM M-F please make sure that we call Joe and Jack to come in and take KSTE into long-form as well.

Our Coverage will be called America's War with Iraq In writing copy please call our coverage, 'LIVE In-Depth Team Coverage of America's War with Iraq.'

After a major terror attack or after the war begins take all presidential addresses and public appearances. [MORE]

Guiding Principals for US Post-Conflict Policy in Iraq

Post War Plan A 40 page .pdf Report of an Independent Working Group Cosponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and the James Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University

One million people may march in London anti war demo on Saturday!

From The Guardian

-"Our best recruiting agents have been Bush and
Blair," says Andrew Murray, chair of the national
coalition. "The only people who we are not attracting
are high Tories and new Labour cheerleaders."
-"It's a new movement, out of anyone's control. It's
like a tidal wave. The people organising it are not in
control. It has its own momentum."
-[T]he talk is that there could be a million people or
more descending on Hyde Park.

[...]

More than 450 organisations, including such disparate
groups as Greenpeace, Americans Against the War and
Britons versus Bush - a group of Bedford cabdrivers -
have joined 11 political parties including the SNP,
the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens, and
affiliated themselves to the Stop the War Coalition.

[...]

For weeks organisers have been confidently predicting
that attendance at the rally on Saturday will top
500,000, easily outstripping the autumn's Countryside
Alliance march. But now they are daring to believe
that the turnout may even outstrip their own original
estimate, and the talk is that there could be a
million people or more descending on Hyde Park.

National organisers sense that support may have
doubled in the past six weeks and has not yet peaked,
a feeling confirmed by local groups. "We had two
people in our group before our first meeting and 100
after," says Jane Mayes of the Carlisle coalition. "We
have now booked four coaches and will probably book
another two. We have more than 3,000 signatories and
last week the local art college students had a sit-in.
It's really snowballed.

"I've been involved in protest stuff since I first
went on the Aldermaston march as a child and I've
never known such strong public opposition to any
government policy, such anger and such determination
from people to have their views heard. People are not
at all equivocal about it - they don't care much about
UN resolutions and "proof" - they just seem to think
it's a crazy and dangerous idea and can't really
believe that Blair could be serious about it."

[...]

March to Hyde Park: times and routes
The Don't Attack Iraq demonstration will begin at
12.30pm on Saturday
There are two assembly points, one in Gower Street
for those travelling from the north, and Embankment
for London and everywhere else
The marches will unite at Piccadilly and continue to
Hyde Park, where speakers will include Jesse Jackson,
Bianca Jagger, Tony Benn and Charles Kennedy
The rally is due to end at 5.30pm
For information about coaches, drop-off points,
tubes and trains go to the Stop the War Coalition
website at stopwar.org.uk

Wow.

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall Which of our alliances and security organizations are going to be left when these guys are through?

I was doing research for another Better Humans piece and I found a site called the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology.

And I found these interesting commandments for globalisation. They certainly explained what I've seen lately:

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF GLOBALISATION AND CORPORATE RULE

For Citizens

Thou shalt have no rights to livelihoods, to work, to food, to water, to a safe environment.
Thou shalt have no rights to work and livelihoods and to economic security.
Thou shalt have no other identity or morality except that of being consumers on the global market place.
Thou shalt elect governments but the governments’ role shall not be to protect you. They will protect corporations.

For Governments

Thou shalt give up all functions to protect your citizens and all duties and obligations required of you by your national constitutions.
Thou shalt consider your first duty and obligation to promote the freedom of transnational corporations and take away the freedoms of your people.
Thou shalt take the environmental wealth of your country and citizens and hand it over for free to the transnational corporations.

For Corporations and Business

If you are small and local, thou shalt disappear and make way for transnational monopolies.
If you are global, thou shalt demand absolute rights in every country to walk in and walk out as you find profitable.
Thou shalt destroy the environment and jobs everywhere to maximise your profits and returns on investments which will be the ends towards which all governments and citizens must assist you as their highest moral duty.

MY BLATANT JASON LUBYK POST OF SELF PROMOTION

(You can read Jason's short fiction here by the way...)

First, here's some art.



And now you can buy some of this art here, although not that piece for some reason. And yes: I'm ready for my closeup Sensual Liberation Army...

Two, I've started writing for Better Humans. I do a column called Red Hour Orgy. Think of it as a left version of Tech Central Station, which is objectively Pro Global Warming. Indeed.

Merely Stupid

Dubya has been bad mouthing the Germans lately. Well it seems the German Heinrich Heine anticipated the insults over 100 years ago when he said speaking of George "Ordinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid"—Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) Heinrich spent the last years of his life in France so I suppose he may have been speaking for them as well. Of course that's just my opinion, but I'm standing by it.

The 50 Most Ridiculous Things About the Upcoming War in Iraq!
Funny and accurate article with tons of info all in one place. Checkit.

Pentagon Moves to Revive Funding for Data Mining Program

Responding to a Senate effort to block all funding for its controversial Total Information Awareness Program (TIA), the Pentagon now says it will establish two oversight boards to ensure that the program doesn't violate the privacy rights of Americans. The TIA program is a project of the Information Awareness Office (IAO), which is under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and is headed by former Reagan administration national security advisor John Poindexter.

The program aims to capture the "information signature" of people in order to track potential terrorists and has been sharply criticized by privacy and civil liberties groups. Last month, Sen. Ron Wyden (D.-Ore.), attached an amendment to a spending bill that would kill the Bush administration's $20 million funding request for the program.

According to a Pentagon statement, the two boards, one internal and one external advisory committee, will oversee TIA in order to make sure the program is developed in in accordance with "U.S. constitutional law, U.S. statutory law and American values related to privacy."

The internal board will consist of senior Department of Defense (DOD) officials and will set the policies and procedures for internal use of TIA-developed data mining tools. The external board will deal with policy and legal issues raised by the program.

Wyden claims the TIA is seeking to develop a way to integrate databases into a virtual centralized grand database. [MORE]

The real real reason

The Real Reasons for the Upcoming War With Iraq: A Macroeconomic and Geostrategic Analysis of the Unspoken Truth

"The Federal Reserve's greatest nightmare is that OPEC will switch its international transactions from a dollar standard to a euro standard. Iraq actually made this switch in Nov. 2000 (when the euro was worth around 80 cents), and has actually made off like a bandit considering the dollar's steady depreciation against the euro. (Note: the dollar declined 17% against the euro in 2002.)

"The real reason the Bush administration wants a puppet government in Iraq -- or more importantly, the reason why the corporate-military-industrial network conglomerate wants a puppet government in Iraq -- is so that it will revert back to a dollar standard and stay that way." (While also hoping to veto any wider OPEC momentum towards the euro, especially from Iran -- the 2nd largest OPEC producer who is actively discussing a switch to euros for its oil exports)."

New York Sun suggests treason prosecution for free speech

In an editorial Thursday, the editors of the New York Sun call on New York City to obstruct a protest against a potential war in Iraq for as long as possible and to monitor the protestors for "an eventual treason prosecution." This breathtaking article is a direct attack on the free speech rights of every American.
Added : Saturday's anti-war protest in NYC , planned by United for Peace & Justice and to be held along First Avenue in the area of the UN, has been denied a parade permit by the city, who offered a permit for a stationery demonstration instead, to take place several blocks away from the UN. This decision has been backed by US District Court Judge Barbara Jones, citing concern for "Homeland Security" and the importance of defending the UN against possible terror attacks.

BUSH: "HUSSEIN CHEATS AT MONOPOLY"

Washington, D.C. - Feb. 11 2003

AS PART of an escalating war of rhetoric against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, today President Bush accused the Iraqi leader of cheating at a popular board game, Monopoly.

Bush spoke at a local military base today to a standing army only audience: "Recent evidence has come to our attention that only adds to the fact that Saddam Hussein is an evil-doer. Not only does he gas his own people, not only does he snub his nose at the United Nations and the United States on a regular basis, kicking out weapons inspectors whenever he chooses, but the man also cheats at monopoly!

"You show me a man who cheats at monopoly, and I'll show you a man hoarding weapons of mass destruction."

Bush then proceeded to pull out a tape recorder. "Here, let me show you some proof, or let you listen to it, rather. This is an intercept tape our intelligence forces have uh, intercepted recently . . . " He presses play. Garbled Iraqi voices are to be heard.

Bush translates: "Ok here, General Atuwa says, 'You sunk my battleship!'

"Hussein: 'We're not playing that game, idiot! We're playing Monopoly!'

"Atuwa: 'Why we play stupid capitalist-pig game like Monopoly anyway? Battleship is more for generals.'

"Hussein: 'Shut up and roll the dice, Atuwa, before I make you play hopscotch. Playing capitalistic-pig games helps us get inside their heads. This is a useful psychological device.'"

Here Bush shuts off the tape recorder, motions off-stage.

"Next piece of evidence is a satellite photo. At this point in the game, Saddam takes out a hidden card which was concealed in his sleeve."

We see an enlarged photo on a large white screen behind Bush. On it are 3 red blocks and 2 grey ones.

"The first red block here is Saddam. Now, we can't show you the whole evidence, but if you look closely at the bottom of this block here, you can clearly see a hidden stash of monopoly money, barely concealed under his sleeve."

Bush faces audience again. "I'm sick and tired of this man, America. What kind of a man cheats at Monopoly? The kind that I'm gonna get--dead or alive. God Bless America!"

Hey hey, I'm extremely proud to announce that as I post this we are in the very first fifteen minutes of drmenlo radio: music for the revolution.

generate the age of chill / beat on the brat

Big thanks and credit to Jason Lubyk of New World Disorder for the idea--who, by the way, will be announcing this very week the online launch of his New World Disorder magazine. You would be wise to be looking forward to it.

Heh. Put this in your pipe and smoke it.

Bush accuses Iraq of using civilians as shields
Saddam Hussein is positioning military forces within civilian populations in order to shield his military and blame coalition forces for civilian casualties that he has caused," Bush told religious broadcasters in a speech.

"Saddam Hussein regards the Iraqi people as human shields, entirely expendable, when their suffering serves his purposes," Bush said.

New Iraq Report
Yes, Tony, There is a Conspiracy

Behind the Invasion of Iraq, the startling new book-length report authored by the Research Unit for Political Economy (RUPE), synthesizes the seemingly disparate threads of the US war drive in what amounts to a blistering indictment of American foreign policy. The report (available on the Web at www.rupe-india.org) is lavishly documented and jargon-free; the effect, especially for readers with limited understanding of global commerce and finance, is of puzzle pieces clicking decisively into place.

The RUPE report wholly confirms the widely-held view of the coming war as a massive oil grab, "on a scale not witnessed since the days of colonialism." Further, the current debate about arms inspections and alleged links to al-Qaeda is revealed as pure political theater, since the decision to invade Iraq was made months ago.
[more]

And here is the RUPE report:

Behind the Invasion of Iraq

“We are about to witness a major new development, with far-reaching consequences: the direct imperialist occupation of the whole of Iraq. Further, it is widely reported in the American press that the United States plans to use the invasion of Iraq as a launching pad for a drastic re-shaping of West Asia.”
[more]

I've not read anything that ties everything together like this report does. It's a long report but it is a must read. Read it in its entirety. Read it and weep. Everything is much worse than it appears.

Orion > Orion Magazine > March | April 2003 >Wendell Berry This "we" of the new strategy can refer only to the president. It is a royal "we". A head of state, preparing to act alone in starting a preemptive war, will need to justify his intention by secret information, and will need to plan in secret and execute his plan without forewarning. The idea of a government acting alone in preemptive war is inherently undemocratic, for it does not require or even permit the president to obtain the consent of the governed. As a policy, this new strategy depends on the acquiescence of a public kept fearful and ignorant, subject to manipulation by the executive power, and on the compliance of an intimidated and office dependent legislature. To the extent that a government is secret, it cannot be democratic or its people free. By this new doctrine, the president alone may start a war against any nation at any time, and with no more forewarning than preceded the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. [via Jeanne D'arc]

"We think it is dreadful that Donald Rumsfeld is out there pushing for a war against Iraq," Karin Cecere (nee Rumsfeld), 59, said from her two-up, two-down home last week. "We are embarrassed to be related to him," she told The Telegraph.

Margarete Rumsfeld, her 85-year-old mother, was equally dismissive: "We don't have much to do with him anymore. Nowadays he's just the American defence secretary to us, but for God's sake, he'd better not start a war," she added.

They used to feel differently. Twenty-five years ago, the German Rumsfelds were thrilled to welcome Mr Rumsfeld - then the United States ambassador to Nato stationed in Brussels - into their extended family.

Like many Americans keen to trace their European antecedents, Mr Rumsfeld had made contact with the Weyhe-Sudweyhe Rumsfelds, a branch of the family with whom his near relations had lost touch since his great-great-grandfather, Heinrich, emigrated to America during the 19th century.

Mr Rumsfeld paid three visits to Dietrich Rumsfeld, a bricklayer, and his wife Margarete in their small artisan's cottage. On the last occasion, they greeted him with chicken soup and roast pork for lunch "It was a really pleasant family gathering, almost like a wedding," said Mrs Cecere last week. "Mr Rumsfeld seemed a genuinely nice man. It is such a shame about his war ambitions."

So the Telegraph reports in a piece bearing the subtitle, "The American defence chief Donald Rumsfeld has been disowned by his anti-war relatives in north Germany."

LET'S CALL AN INVASION AN INVASION - Why it's time to can the "war" talk

How to Win an Argument about Iraq - a complete guide from Political Strategy.org

"The key points to focus on are:

~ The precedent set by the Bush Administration of a "first strike" sets a catastrophic example for the world to follow ... and the world will follow.
~ Such a policy is the antithesis of what America stands for. Use the term "un-American" liberally.
~ Other countries will follow.
~ Refer to the action of striking first as a "Bush Administration" phenomenon, not an "American" phenomenon. Even non-Americans understand the difference.
~ Refer to the Iraq situation as an "invasion" or a "preemptive strike", not as "war". It is not war. Psychologically, "war" is more acceptable to people than either an invasion or a preemptive strike.
~ Preemptive strikes do not make the world safer. They make it far, far more dangerous ... "