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CIA's Overthrow Plans for Iran Agency musters Swiftboat vets, pumps funding into destabilization program aimed at Teheran. Trish Schuh reveals how White House approves race-baiting smears of Islam. Remember how Leadbelly got ripped off by Lomax, how Louis Armstrong's agent got richer than his most famous client? The rip-offs never die. Fred Wilhelms narrates how artists and musicians are being shafted in the age of the internet. Meet the real Judge John Roberts, serf for big business. Cockburn and St Clair dissect the Court's new nominee. Tailhook vet and self-proclaimed Tom Cruise model bites dust in Pentagon scandal: a defense industry parable. St. Clair on Duke Cunningham's Crash Landing. Get the answers you're looking for in the latest subscriber-only edition of CounterPunch ... CounterPunch Online is read by millions of viewers each month! But remember, we are funded solely by the subscribers to the print edition of CounterPunch. Please support this website by buying a subscription to our newsletter, which contains fresh material you won't find anywhere else, or by making a donation for the online edition. Remember contributions are tax-deductible. Click here to make a donation. If you find our site useful please: Subscribe Now! or write CounterPunch, PO BOX 228, Petrolia, CA 95558 |
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Other Lands Have Dreams: From Baghdad to Pekin Prison by Kathy Kelly  Today's Stories August 13 / 14, 2005 Cockburn
/ St. Clair August 12, 2005 Christopher
Brauchli Greg
Moses Ramzy
Baroud Norman
Solomon Chris
Genovali Chris
Floyd Tariq
Ali
August 11, 2005 Saul
Landau Dave
Lindorff Ralph
Nader Talli
Nauman Gary
Leupp Sharon
Smith Paul
Craig Roberts
August 10, 2005 Tim
Wise Ron
Jacobs Joshua
Frank Cynthia
McKinney Rick
Wilhelm Stan
Goff
August 9, 2005 Mike
Ferner Monica
Benderman Mike
Marqusee Rep.
Cynthia McKinney Paul
Craig Roberts
August 6-8, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Jason
Leopold Ray
McGovern David
Krieger Sharon
K. Weiner / Robert Jensen Fred
Gardner
August 5, 2005 Bill
Christison Paul
Craig Roberts Alexander
Cockburn
August 4, 2005 Tom
Barry Lila
Rajiva Greg
Moses Alexander
Cockburn August 3, 2005
August 3, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Paul
Craig Roberts William
A. Cook Dave
Zirin Dave
Lindorff José
Pertierra
August 2, 2005 Ramzi
Kysia William
A. Cook Paul
Craig Roberts Mike
Whitney Ron
Jacobs Norman
Madarsz Tim
Wise
August 1, 2005 Virginia
Rodino Diana
Barahona Joshua
Frank Mike
Whitney Norm
Dixon Norman
Solomon James
Petras
July 30 / 31, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn JoAnn
Wypijewski Sheldon
Rampton Jack
Z. Bratich Greg
Moses Jordan
Green Patrick
Cockburn Brian
Cloughley Justin
Taylor Saul
Landau John
Walsh Joshua
Frank Ron
Jacobs Fred
Gardner John
Chuckman Liaquat
Ali Khan Remi
Kanazi Naveen
Jaganathan Richard
Heinberg Max
Watts Ben
Tripp Poets'
Basement
July 29, 2005 Cockburn
/ St. Clair P.
Sainath Niranjan
Ramakrishnan Dave
Lindorff J.L.
Chestnut, Jr. Pat
Williams Norman
Solomon Sen.
Russ Feingold
July 28, 2005 Paul
Craig Roberts William
S. Lind Gilad
Atzmon Joshua
Frank Lila
Rajiva Amina
Mire Website
of the Day
July 27, 2005 Roger
Morris Gary
Leupp Paul
Craig Roberts Jackie
Corr Mike
Whitney Dave
Zirin Christopher
Bradley Norman
Solomon Website
of the Day
July 26, 2005 Suren
Pillay JoAnn
Wypijewski Patrick
Cockburn David
Anderson Joshua
Frank Lenni
Brenner David
Swanson
July 25, 2005 Paul
Craig Roberts M.
Shahid Alam Uri
Avnery Stan
Cox Norman
Solomon Ramzy
Baroud Mickey
Z. Website
of the Day
July 23 / 24, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Tariq
Ali Robert
Fisk Dave
Lindorff Ricardo
Alarcón Col.
Dan Smith Brian
Cloughley Kevin
Zeese Bill
Quigley Fred
Gardner Rep.
Ron Paul Joshua
Frank Shivali
Tukdeo Gilad
Atzmon James
Petras Ben
Tripp Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
July 22, 2005 Heather
Gray David
Domke Lance
Selfa JoAnn
Wypijewski
July 21, 2005 Rose
Ann DeMoro William
Blum J.L.
Chestnut, Jr. Christopher
Brauchli Joshua
Frank Brian
Concannon, Jr. Patrick
Cockburn Website
of the Day
July 20, 2005 Cockburn
/ St. Clair Roxanne
Dunbar-Ortiz Ray
McGovern Chris
Floyd Uri
Avnery Dave
Lindorff Norman
Solomon Bill
Quigley
July 19, 2005 Tariq
Ali John
Ross Davey
D. Greg
Weiher Brian
McKinlay Norman
Solomon Dave
Lindorff Bill
Christison Joshua
Frank
July 18, 2005 Joshua
Frank M.
Shahid Alam Jude
Wanniski Ron
Jacobs Mike
Whitney William
MacDougall Seth
Sandronsky Richard
Lichtman Paul
Craig Roberts Website
of the Weekend
July 15 / 17, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Jeffrey
St. Clair Paul
Craig Roberts Harry
Browne Uri
Davis, Ilan Pappe and Tamar Yaron Andrew
Rubin Patrick
Cockburn J.L.
Chestnut, Jr. Fred
Gardner Christopher
Brauchli Chris
Floyd Ben
Tripp Col.
Dan Smith Jason
Leopold Jack
Random Norman
Solomon George
Ochenski Website
of the Weekend
July 14, 2005 Jeffrey
St. Clair Subcomandante
Marcos Dave
Lindorff Joshua
Frank Jude
Wanniski Dave
Zirin Kevin
Zeese Robert
Jensen Reza
Fiyouzat Carol
Norris Website
of the Day
July 13, 2005 Brian
Cloughley George
Galloway Carlos
Fierro Sarah
Knopp Norman
Solomon Mickey
Z. Jim
Minick Pat
Williams Andrew
N. Rubin Website
of the Day
July 12, 2005 Laith
al-Saud Kara
N. Tina William
A. Cook Jack
Bratich Amina
Mire Dick
J. Reavis Kevin
Zeese Paul
Craig Roberts Website
of the Day
July 9 / 11, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Uri
Avnery Sheldon
Rampton Bill
Christison Robert
Fisk Stephen
Winspear Saul
Landau Behrooz
Ghamari Karl
Beitel Brian
Concannon, Jr. Fred
Gardner John
Whitlow Niranjan
Ramakrishnan Lila
Rajiva Laura
Carlsen Jackie
Corr Dave
Lindorff N.
D. Jayaprakash Seth
Sandronsky Norman
Madarasz Ben
Tripp Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
July 8, 2005 Paul
Craig Roberts Tariq
Ali Monica
Benderman Rick
Jahnkow Christopher
Brauchli Kim
Peterson Joshua
Frank Norman
Solomon Website
of the Day
July 7, 2005 Cockburn
/ St. Clair John
Walsh Mike
Marqusee Gilad
Atzmon Nicole
Colson Jack
Random Norman
Solomon Len
Colodny Cockburn
/ St. Clair
Hot Stories Alexander Cockburn Subcomandante
Marcos Norman Finkelstein Steve Niva Dardagan,
Slobodo and Williams Steve
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August 13 / 14, 2005 Is Condi Crazy?Ridiculous RiceBy BRIAN CLOUGHLEY US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has recently been declared the most important person in the universe, or something like that, and is no doubt pleased to be so honored. But it is doubtful that any country in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) would endorse that status because she has insulted all ten of them, which is no mean feat. She refused to attend their annual meeting that was held in Laos in July. Many countries prefer Rice's space to her presence, but when she chose to send Deputy Secretary Zoellick to represent her in Laos she sent a curt imperial signal to the effect that 'You ASEAN countries aren't important enough for me to attend your two-bit gathering.' There has been no public explanation of why Rice refused to go to the meeting (because Empires don't explain their insolence and arrogance), but the usual anonymous US officials briefed selected reporters that she didn't go because it would be wrong to sit down alongside people from Burma (Myanmar) which has a lousy human rights record. And they said that anyway she had a busy schedule. For a decade it has been customary for the US Secretary of State to attend the last two days of ASEAN gatherings, which in this case was from July 24 to 29. Deputy Zoellick left Washington July 26 and got back four days later. But before he arrived in Laos the ASEANs had solved the Burma problem through quiet diplomacy and had persuaded the Burmese that they should not chair next year's meeting, although it would be their turn to do so. It was all arranged without fuss and without vulgar threats. This sort of solution is not understood by Cheney-Bush Washington which prefers confrontation and bullying, especially when dealing with those regarded as inferior. Now, sure, Burma's human rights record is grim. The nutty generals who try to run the country have gone berserk and the place is in ruins. Last year, according to Ms Rice's State Department, the Burmese government "continued to restrict severely freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and movement. [It] restricted freedom of religion, coercively promoted Buddhism over other religions, and imposed restrictions on religious minorities . . . Security forces continued to monitor systematically citizens' movements and continued to restrict freedom of movement, in particular, foreign travel by young female citizens." Obviously Ms Rice is shocked -- shocked -- about this. While Mr Zoellick was away, Rice had a meeting on July 27 with Mr Tang Jiaxuan, State Councilor of the People's Republic of China. The State Department Human Rights Report 2005 notes that the government of Mr Tang, among other things, "continued to commit numerous and serious abuses. Citizens did not have the right to change their government, and many who openly expressed dissenting political views were harassed, detained, or imprisoned . . . Abuses included instances of extrajudicial killings; torture and mistreatment of prisoners, leading to numerous deaths in custody; coerced confessions; arbitrary arrest and detention; and incommunicado detention . . . The Government regulated the establishment and management of publications, controlled broadcast and other electronic media . . . [There was] violence against women, including imposition of a coercive birth limitation policy that resulted in instances of forced abortion and forced sterilization . . ." and so on. Does this remind you just a tiny bit of something rather similar that the State Department of Ms Condoleezza Rice had to say about Burma? (Mind you, the phrases "deaths in custody", "incommunicado detention", and "torture and mistreatment of prisoners" are painful reminders of the hellholes at Guantánamo Bay, Bagram in Afghanistan, Abu Ghraib, and heaven knows how many others, where the behavior of US citizens has been quite as illegal, brutal and murderous as that of their soul-mates in China.) It would have been interesting to have been a fly on the wall when Mr Tang Jiaxuan called on Rice on July 27. You can imagine it : "Well Hey, Mr Tang! Great to see you! Just squat right there! I'm glad you could come by, and I've got to tell you I'm happy to be here rather than Laos at that trivial ASEAN meeting, just like your foreign minister must be. And the reason I didn't go is because Burma has one lousy human rights record, and - - - Uh? . . . Oh; I see : so your foreign minister DID attend the ASEAN gathering but is leaving Laos this afternoon to visit Burma. - - - And he's going to meet tomorrow with Burma's dictator, Senior General Than Shwe and Prime Minister General Soe Win, is that so? Well, Mr Tang, that's very interesting, and would you please avoid the media when you leave the building?" Burma's human rights violations are terrible. China's are worse. The State Department says so. And China is a major supporter of Burma. Where does that leave Rice? Up a ideological gum tree, that's where ; along with her Israeli policy. Condoleezza Rice is attempting to mediate between Israel and Palestine, but the chances of her being regarded as an honest broker or impartial referee in the Arab-Israeli dispute are zero. They could hardly be otherwise, given her effusively admiring comments about Israel :
And some people wonder why the Islamic world feels, oh, ever so slightly, that the closest associate of the President of the United States of America is just a little partial to Israel, at the expense of the Palestinians whose land has been stolen and who have been denied dignity and a decent life for half a century. Arabs from Morocco to the Gulf know that Washington will not lift a hand -- a finger -- to help the Palestinians if this would mean offending Israel. Israel is the country that has citizens under investigation for alleged spying on the United States, as are some members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington. One of the most effective and damaging spies in American espionage history was Jonathan Pollard. He was jailed for life in 1987 because he sold Israel over a thousand highly classified documents about US operations while he was a US intelligence analyst. Some of those on submarine detection were of staggering importance, and putting things right took years and cost billions. And last month Pollard appealed against his sentence. (You didn't hear much about that from the US media, did you? But it was on the BBC which tells us foreigners much more about America than American citizens are allowed to know by their own media -- especially about Israel.) The appeal was rejected, but Pollard, the US intelligence analyst jailed for being a traitor to America, was with fanfare made an Israeli citizen by a grateful Israeli government in 1995. Here is the message to Washington from Israel's parliament about the spy Pollard : "The Knesset sends blessings of strength and courage to Israeli citizen Jonathan Pollard who has been incarcerated in an American prison . . . The Knesset calls upon the American President to grant clemency to Jonathan Pollard at once and to release him from prison." And the US Secretary of State declares that "I have a deep affinity with Israel" whose spy Pollard continues to be supported unequivocally by the foreign power that employed him to spy on her country. Is she crazy? The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is the organization that declares "America must continue to stand by Israel's side politically, diplomatically and economically . . . AIPAC trains and educates pro-Israel students across America and develops their leadership skills so that they become effective citizen lobbyists today and pro-Israel leaders tomorrow." So who was honored as a guest speaker at the AIPAC celebrations on May 23? Why, the US Secretary of State, who restated enthusiastically that "Israel has no greater friend and no stronger supporter than the United States of America." (Applause.) Then she went on to say that ". . . . the Government of Iran . . . is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism. (Applause.) The United States has focused the world's attention on Iran's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. And along with our allies, we are working to gain full disclosure of Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. The world must not tolerate any Iranian attempt to develop a nuclear weapon. (Applause.) Nor can it tolerate Iran's efforts to subvert democratic governments through terrorism. (Applause.)" The Washington Post recorded that "during the pro-Israel lobby's annual conference yesterday, a fleet of police cars, sirens wailing, blocked intersections and formed a motorcade to escort buses carrying its conventioneers -- to lunch". It is obvious that AIPAC has massive influence in Washington, and lots of friends in the State Department and the Pentagon. It is interesting that a foreign political lobby group of which two (former) senior staff members have been charged with spying on America can order Washington officials to block off roads for their lunchtime convenience. Israel is the country for which the US Secretary of State declares she has a "deep affinity". Given this blatant partiality, it is impossible to believe for one instant that Palestinians will get a fair deal from Bush-Cheney-Rice. And the signal she sent to Israel and the world about Iran was stark and brutal. In her speech, Rice declared Iran to be "the world's leading sponsor of terrorism . . . ." and that "[it is developing] weapons of mass destruction . . ." (Where have we heard this before? The alarm bells are ringing around the world.) The writing is on the wall
for Iran, and Rice chose a meeting of 5000 cheering supporters
of Israel to announce the fact, as did the farcical and financially
intriguing Richard Perle who got "cheers from the crowd
when he favored a military raid on Iran, saying that 'if Iran
is on the verge of a nuclear weapon, I think we will have no
choice but to take decisive action'." Don't you love that
"We"? Perhaps it would help to understand
Ms Rice were she able to express herself coherently in her unrehearsed
public statements. Take the interview in Moscow when she was
asked if she would run for president of the US. She replied
"da, da", which means yes, yes. Then she realized
she had meant 'No' rather than 'Yes', so fired off seven 'nyets'.
You might think that someone who has been declared the most important
person in the universe (or something) by Forbes Magazine might
be able to differentiate between 'da' and 'nyet' even if they
weren't experts on Russia. But we shouldn't really be surprised,
because in Bush Heaven, in which Rice is an angelic exemplar
of unconditional loyalty, 'Yes' can mean 'No' whenever it is
convenient for that to apply. Rice : Well, we are going to stand for the principles that we're standing for around the world, and most especially in Iraq, where America has sacrificed and sacrificed lives and treasure. And so, of course, we're going to stand and stand strongly for the rights of women. We're making that very clear to the Iraqi Government. But again, if the Iraqis themselves, who want to live in a society in which there are -- in which citizens of both male and female and where they recognize that the trend in the world is not to move away from women's rights but to move in the other direction. [End.] This pathetic gibberish was
spouted by the Secretary of State of the United States of America
who chose to be interviewed on a news program rather than attend
Asia's most important gathering. (The Asians didn't miss much,
obviously.) She capped her grotesque performance by stating
on August 8 that "It's a lot easier to see the violence
and suicide bombing [in Iraq] than to see the rather quiet political
progress that's going on in parallel", which was a comment
of mind-boggling absurdity. They might employ Rice as a clerk, if she asked nicely. Brian Cloughley writes on military and political affairs.
He can be reached through his website www.briancloughley.com
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