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___.COMPOSITION______In This Issue_______________________________
BOMBSHELL: US Promised 'Carpet of Gold' to Taliban in Exchange for Oil Pipeline, and
Blocked Terror Investigations
So Was That $43 Million Bush Gave The Taliban A Little Sample Of The 'Carpet Of Gold'
Repost: Bush v. Credibility: Before 911, What Did the US Know, and When Did They Know
It?
Urge Congress to Protect the Constitution!
Bush v. America: US Use of Military Tribunals Will Encourage Other Countries to
Execute Americans
Theft of the Presidency Day 374(1): Economist Retracts Bush Victory Call
Bugliosi Says It's Still Time to Impeach the Supreme Court Five
House Democrats Urge Election Reform
Why Is The Electoral College Still There?
Former TV News Exec Urges End to Electoral College
Needed: Aggressive Progressives
Mullah Omar Predicts 'Destruction of America'
Sen. Evan Bayh Will Investigate Treasury Dept. Inaction on Al Barakaat
Intelligence Intercepts Show Saudi Royals Supported The Heinous Bin Laden
Bush Sr, the Carlyle Group and the Saudi Royals
Robert McFarlane and the Death of Abdul Haq
Democrats Win Baggage Screening by Federal Employees - But Only For 3 Years
Bush to New York: Drop Dead
Conason: Republican 'Stimulus Plan' Amounts to Looting the Treasury
Daniel Ortega Loses Nicaragua Election; More Electioneering By BushDaddy's CIA?
___.commercial___________________________________________________
What Really Happened in Florida? Read Jews for Buchanan
"Read this book, and turn your outrage into democratic action. You cannot fully
understand the Supreme Court's 2000 velvet legal coup until you understand the whole
history of democracy's denial in Florida. John Nichols's terrific book illuminates
that history with a brilliant analysis." So writes U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.,
Illinois, author of the Right to Vote Amendment.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565847172/democratscom/104-3509745-2762329
_________________________________________________________________
__BOMBSHELL: US Promised 'Carpet of Gold' to Taliban in Exchange for Oil Pipeline, and
Blocked Terror Investigations
According to French investigative reporters Jean-Charles Brisard and Guillaume
Dasquie, Bush representatives met with the Taliban "several times in Washington,
Berlin and Islamabad" to get a deal to build an oil pipeline through Afghanistan. Bush
promised a "carpet of gold," but the Taliban had to accept a "national unity"
government including the Northern Alliance. If they refused, Bush vowed to "bury you
under a carpet of bombs." While this "negotiations" took place, Bush "blocked U.S.
secret service investigations on terrorism," prompting FBI Investigation's deputy
director John O'Neill to resign in July in protest over the obstruction. O'Neill said
"the main obstacles to investigate Islamic terrorism were U.S. oil corporate interests
and the role played by Saudi Arabia in it." We demand an investigation!
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/oneworld/20011115/wl/u_s_policy_towards_taliban_influenced_by_oil_-_say_authors_1.html
__So Was That $43 Million Bush Gave The Taliban A Little Sample Of The 'Carpet Of Gold'
In September, we ran an item that asked, "Why Did Bush Give $43 Million to Afghanistan
in May?" Here is an excerpt: "On May 22, LA Times columnist Robert Scheer denounced
'the recent gift of $43 million to the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan, the most
virulent anti-American violators of human rights in the world today. The gift,
announced last Thursday by Secretary of State Colin Powell...makes the U.S. the main
sponsor of the Taliban and rewards that 'rogue regime' for declaring that opium
growing is against the will of God. '" So was this about Opium -- or Oil? Was this $43
million a tasty sample of the gold feast the Taliban would enjoy for getting with the
BushCheney Oil Program? (For an article by Wayne Madsen about Bush/Taliban dealings,
enter 'madsen' in our .Compass search engine. To read about Taliban spokesperson Lalai
Helms [former CIA Director Richard Helms' niece] enter 'helms'. Helms got the Taliban
access to the State Dept].
http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/01_columns/052201.htm
__Repost: Bush v. Credibility: Before 911, What Did the US Know, and When Did They
Know It?
In light of the news of Bush/Taliban dealings alleged by Brisard and Dasquie, we are
re-running this fascinating timeline compiled by Michael Ruppett at his CopvCIA.com
site. "The terrorist attack on 911 came as a bolt out of the blue to the American
people. But the US government was up to its eyeballs in war planning. The government
received warnings from various foreign leaders and intelligence services, and a CIA
official is reported to have met with Bin Laden himself in July. Around that time, US
officials sent a warning to the Taliban that we would attack them, and early in
September British and US forces were deployed in the Persian Gulf. What did the US
know, and when did they know it? Here is a useful list of events leading up to 911."
http://www.copvcia.com/stories/nov_2001/lucy.html
__Urge Congress to Protect the Constitution!
"Earlier this week, President Bush issued an executive order that would allow special
military tribunals to try non-citizens charged with terrorism. This action followed
another Administration-issued regulation that gives the government the power to listen
in on any conversation between a suspect and his attorney. Both these measures
threaten to essentially eviscerate key constitutional protections. Military tribunals
would authorize secret trials without a jury and without the requirement of a
unanimous verdict, even in situations where the defendant could face the death
penalty. Furthermore, allowing the government to eavesdrop on any conversation would
severely damage the right of defendants to receive adequate counsel." Send a free fax
to Congress courtesy of the ACLU. http://www.aclu.org/action/dueprocess107.html
__Bush v. America: US Use of Military Tribunals Will Encourage Other Countries to
Execute Americans
Senate Judiciary Chair Pat "Leahy expressed particular concerns about setting up a
military tribunal to try suspected terrorists, suggesting that it could send 'a
message to the world that it is acceptable to hold secret trials and summary
executions without the possibility of judicial review, at least when the defendant is
a foreign national.'" That means Americans living or traveling abroad could be
arrested for "terrorism," tried secretly, and executed - and if the US protested, the
foreign government would simply point to the Bush Administration's policies. Under
these policies, American Lori Berenson, who is being held in prison in Peru, would
have been executed by the dictatorial government of Alberto
Fujimori.(http://www.freelori.org/)
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/15/national/15CIVI.html
__Theft of the Presidency Day 374(1): Economist Retracts Bush Victory Call
In a story entitled "An election correction," the Economist issued the following
correction:
"In the issues of December 16th 2000 to November 10th 2001, we may have given the
impression that George Bush had been legally and duly elected president of the United
States. We now understand that this may have been incorrect, and that the election
result is still too close to call. The Economist apologises for any inconvenience." We
call upon EVERY media outlet to do the same!
http://www.economist.com/World/na/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=865704
__Bugliosi Says It's Still Time to Impeach the Supreme Court Five
"Obviously September 11 dealt a solar plexus blow to this whole movement.... But I
think that in the dispassionate light of the future, history is going to be harsh on
us. We already know the moral bankruptcy and the destitution of character of these
five Justices. They have proven that. But if we Americans meekly allow what the Court
did to stand, without demonstrating our absolute outrage, what does that say about our
character? I think history is going to be harsh not just on the Supreme Court but on
the American people for allowing this to happen without marching in the streets.
History will say we should have been in the streets." So declares Vincent Bugliosi in
an interview with The Nation's John Nichols. You go, Vince!
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20011203&s=editors2
__House Democrats Urge Election Reform
"In the wake of the 2000 election, it is important to affirm the principle that
ensuring each vote cast is counted is the bedrock of our democracy. A little over one
year has passed since the unprecedented breakdown in our election process and Congress
has yet to pass much-needed legislation to reform the way we count and cast votes.
Based on the testimony of hundreds of voters across America, Democrats propose a plan
to fix our election system. Our plan ensures that the civil rights of all Americans
will be safeguarded. In addition to providing adequate federal resources for oversight
of federal elections, our plan addresses issues such as voter education, training of
election officials and voting access for the disabled and language minorities.
Reforming our election system is a national priority because it keeps our democracy
strong and vibrant." So writes House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt.
http://democraticleader.house.gov/issues/policy_updates/readPolicyUpdate.asp?ID=121
__Why Is The Electoral College Still There?
Slate's Timothy Noah writes, "For Chatterbox, the bitterest disappointment of the year
following the Bush-Gore Long Count is the absence of serious discussion about
abolishing the Electoral College. After 1976, the mere (and unrealized) possibility
that Gerald Ford might have won re-election based solely on an Electoral College
majority spooked the country into a serious national discussion about getting rid of
the Electoral College... In 2000, by contrast, George W. Bush really did win the
presidency based solely on an Electoral College majority. The collective will of the
voters was ignored. Yet this time, not even Democrats, who would have won had there
been no Electoral College, showed much interest in abolishing it. Journalists and
political scientists have tended to give the issue ridiculously short shrift as well.
What possible arguments could there be for denying the presidency to the guy who gets
the most votes?" We certainly can't think of any. http://slate.msn.com/?id=2058570
__Former TV News Exec Urges End to Electoral College
"Electing our leaders every four years ought not to be a parlor game in which campaign
commanders (and network know-it-alls) block out red states for one side and blue
states for the other and then put all their chips on the 'battleground states' in
gray. Whether you're a Democrat in Utah or Texas, or a Republican in Rhode Island or
New York, your vote ought to count as much as anyone's in Florida, Pennsylvania or
Wisconsin. There's been enough talk about fixing the voting machines. It's time to fix
the Electoral College." So writes Martin Plissner, former executive political director
of CBS News. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/16/opinion/16PLIS.html
__Needed: Aggressive Progressives
In the face of Bush's high poll ratings, "too many labor, environmental and civil
liberties groups since the Sept. 11 attacks have chosen the path of least resistance."
But activists like Jim Hightower are urging progressives to stand up and fight." 'The
American people do not confuse patriotism with conformity. Yet that's what a lot of
our groups are doing,' Hightower argued, referring to reports that mainstream
environmental advocacy groups and other organizations had tempered their criticism of
Bush administration initiatives in order to avoid appearing to threaten national
unity. 'Too many of our groups have said, 'sit down, shut up.' If the meek ever
inherit the earth, these guys are going to be land barons,' Hightower said. 'For us to
be quiet now, when our voices are most needed, is to reject not just our heritage but
our responsibility in a democracy... We have been progressive for a long time. Now
we've got to be aggressive.'" So writes John Nichols.
http://tompaine.com/features/2001/11/13/index.html
__Mullah Omar Predicts 'Destruction of America'
In a satellite interview with BBC via satellite phone, Omar said "the current
situation in Afghanistan is related to a bigger cause - that is the destruction of
America... The plan is going ahead and, God willing, it is being implemented. But it
is a huge task, which is beyond the will and comprehension of human beings. If God's
help is with us, this will happen within a short period of time; keep in mind this
prediction." Asked about Bin Laden's threats of nuclear, chemical or biological
weapons, Omar said This is not a matter of weapons. We are hopeful for God's help. The
real matter is the extinction of America. And, God willing, it [America] will fall to
the ground."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1657000/1657368.stm
__Sen. Evan Bayh Will Investigate Treasury Dept. Inaction on Al Barakaat
"The Treasury Department was warned more than a year ago about a Somali money-transfer
business that the government shut last week for allegedly financing terrorism, a
senator said. Sen. Evan Bayh (D., Ind.) said he will question Treasury officials at a
hearing Wednesday regarding so-called suspicious-activity reports the Treasury
Department received from the banking industry on activities of the Al Barakaat
organization. The Treasury Department unit that investigates money laundering is the
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as Fincen. 'It's my intention to follow up
and have a line of inquiry into why the Fincen folks have been investigating Al
Barakaat for quite some time and had relayed concerns about suspicious activity to
law-enforcement officials but nothing was done until last week,' said Mr. Bayh, who is
chairman of the Senate Banking Committee's panel on international trade and finance."
http://interactive.wsj.com/fr/emailthis/retrieve.cgi?id=SB1005707765142243680.djm
__Intelligence Intercepts Show Saudi Royals Supported The Heinous Bin Laden
"The Fahd regime was a major financial backer of the Reagan Administration's [$32
million for Iran-Contra] and of its successful proxy war in Afghanistan against the
Soviet Union�Working through [Iran-Contra player] Prince Bandar, they have contributed
hundreds of millions of dollars to charities and educational programs here...At the
end of last year, Halliburton, the Texas-based oil-supply business formerly headed by
Vice-President Dick Cheney, was operating a number of subsidiaries in Saudi
Arabia...When the Saudis were confronted by press reports that some of the substantial
funds�may actually have gone to Al Qaeda and other terrorist networks, they denied any
knowledge of such transfers. The intercepts, however, have led many in the
intelligence community to conclude otherwise. The Bush Administration has chosen not
to confront the Saudi leadership over its financial support of terror organizations
and its refusal to help in the investigation." See next item.
http://www.newyorker.com/FACT/?011022fa_FACT
__Bush Sr, the Carlyle Group and the Saudi Royals
>From the archives of the Nation: "Carlyle has extensive interests in Saudi Arabia,
>and it has been pursuing a deal in partnership with SBC, the telecommunications giant
>(which owns Southwestern Bell, Ameritech, Pacific Telesis and Cellular One), to
>acquire about 25 percent of the Saudi phone system. Accompanied by several Carlyle
>execs, Bush and Major--the leaders of the alliance that pushed Saddam Hussein out of
>Kuwait in 1991--were out to win friends and influence Saudis on behalf of Carlyle.
>(Bush, Major and the Carlyle officers also made a stop in Kuwait.) A day or two after
>the short session with the Prince [Abdullah], Bush and Major were whisked by the
>Carlyle team, headed by Carlyle founder David Rubenstein, a former Carter White House
>aide, to the city of Jeddah. They spent four hours on a yacht cruising the Red Sea
>with Saudi business officials and then attended a swank party at a private residence,
>again hobnobbing with prominent Saudis."
>http://past.thenation.com/issue/000327/0327corn.shtml
__Robert McFarlane and the Death of Abdul Haq
"Haq, the courageous American ally...makes a dangerous foray into Taliban territory.
He is surrounded. He makes two desperate phone calls. One to a nephew in Pakistan.
Another to an American supporter in Pakistan (James Ritchie, a wealthy supporter of an
anti-Taliban coalition). An American warplane is dispatched to the area to assist Haq,
but it is too late. Haq is tortured and hanged...Ritchie had placed a phone call to
Robert 'Bud' McFarlane�national security adviser to president Ronald Reagan, Oliver
North's Iran-Contra supervisor, and the man indicted on criminal charges of
withholding information from Congress about secret aid to the Nicaraguan contras�is
best known for his secret diplomatic mission to Iran in which he delivered a Bible and
a cake, and offered US weapons in exchange for the release of US hostages. Allegedly,
it was McFarlane who contacted the CIA, which in turn dispatched the US 'warplane' to
Haq's 'coordinates.'"
http://www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/Chin110701/chin110701.html
__Democrats Win Baggage Screening by Federal Employees - But Only For 3 Years
Democrats mostly won the battle over using federal employees to screen airport
baggage. In a year, all of the nation's screeners will be federal workers. But within
3 years, airports can return to private contractors like Argenbreit, because
Republicans insisted on it. Still, Argenbreit is threatening a lawsuit over its lost
contracts. Republicans also insisted that federal baggage handlers NOT receive the
protections of other federal workers, giving Bush power to hire and fire at will. In
other words, Republicans have just created a 28,000 member PATRONAGE machine for
Republican hacks. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/16/national/16AVIA.html
__Bush to New York: Drop Dead
"Immediately after the terrorist destruction of the World Trade Center, President Bush
made a promise to New York. Washington, he vowed, would provide $20 billion in
emergency aid. That was a contract with the people of this stricken city and state.
Now, incredibly and disgracefully, the White House is going back on its word. Despite
administration requests for a little trust, the message it's sending is clear. Bush to
New York: Drop dead. In the first days after Sept. 11, Congress dutifully appropriated
$20 billion for New York and $20 billion to fight terrorism, with most of the money to
be formally allocated later. The allocation has now been announced, and it amounts to
outright betrayal. The emergency funding, which was supposed to be just a down
payment, is being cut, diverted and delayed. The administration and House GOP leaders
are now willing to hand over only $9.8 billion. And it won't even all come here."
http://www.nydailynews.com/today/News_and_Views/Opinion/a-132209.asp
__Conason: Republican 'Stimulus Plan' Amounts to Looting the Treasury
With greed now masquerading as patriotism, our country's ruling elite resembles the
larcenous oligarchies that comprise the core of America's allies worldwide, writes Joe
Conason. http://www.salon.com/news/col/cona/2001/11/15/bagmen/index_np.html
__Daniel Ortega Loses Nicaragua Election; More Electioneering By BushDaddy's CIA?
"The United States' first post-September 11 foray into Latin American politics�in
Nicaragua's election�provides a glimpse of how Washington's new 'counter-terrorism'
policy may play out in this region. Conservative candidate Enrique Bolanos defeated
the Sandinistas' Daniel Ortega, in an election that had been cast as too close to
call. US officials publicly warned against a Sandinista victory, accusing them of
"links to terrorism," and openly supported Bolanos. But to understand the meaning of
these events, we need a bit more history than most press accounts are providing." In
recent years, "the Sandinistas took the United States to the World Court for its
terrorist actions [in supporting the Contras] � the same Court where the US had won a
judgment against Iran just a few years earlier, for the taking of American hostages.
The Court ruled in favor of Nicaragua, ordering reparations estimated at $17 billion.
The US refused to recognize the Court's decision."
http://www.commondreams.org/views01/1107-04.htm
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