The Buddha averts a war.

Wandering through my ebook collection in the library here, I stumbled onto this passage from the Life of Buddha, as told by Ananda Coomarswamy. Which I thought was rather amusing. I was hoping to read something different from the Christian, Jewish and Islamic fundamentalism; and I did - until I saw the little twist at the end.


So sad. No matter what happens, even if peace prevails, the women end up wailing and gnashing their teeth. What a weird world.

And if you were thinking that Buddhism is any easier on women than the other religions, a reading of the next chapter, The admission of women, should dissuade you.






The Children of Iraq.

Heartbreaking collection of photos of Iraqi children here. Warning: the ones toward the bottom are rather graphic. Really a must-see, if you don't mind having your heart broken.

Via Zona Europa, a portal for various European media. I'd never been there before, but they sure have a lot of links. Including the most amazing list of European newspapers I've ever seen.

They also have a sister site, Zona Latina for Latin American sites. Their list of newspapers is also quite impressive.






The Geneva Convention.

Here's a link to the complete text of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. From the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Adopted on 12 August 1949 by the Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of International Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War, held in Geneva from 21 April to 12 August, 1949. Entry into force 21 October 1950.






Afghans claim US bombing kills 11 civilians.

The NY Times also reports that an American bombing in Afghanistan killed 11 people, including four children.


It's now been over two years since the US invaded Afghanistan. And Osama bin Laden remains at large, while the Taliban appears to be reconsolidating its power, at least in its traditional strongholds. A constitution has been adopted, but without the input of Afgani women.

And the American Democratic candidates speak frequently about the war in Iraq, but virtually never mention Afghanistan. Not to mention Columbia, or the other approximately 100 nations where the US has troops.






War is a racket.

General Smedley Butler won two Congressional Medals of Honor. Somewhere along the line though, he developed serious doubts about what he had done. After retiring in 1933 he summarized his experiences and thoughts in this extraordinary article, War is a racket, which everyone should read and then send on to their friends.


It goes on, it's a a very long article, ending with the words "TO HELL WITH WAR!". It's an amazing and specific account by somebody who'd been through it all, and saw lots of people killed and lots of blood shed. Like I say, a must-read for all in these times. Remember, this was written in 1933. But it could have been written yesterday. In the section entitled, How To Smash This Racket, he offers some specific suggestions for fighting it, very radical suggestions that still make a lot of sense. A lot of sense.


Amazing. Especially note his reference at the beginning to the international banking house of Brown Brothers. This was the financial firm that later because Brown Brothers Harriman., and is the corporate ancestor of firms such as Elihu, Brown and Root, the Carlyle Group, and many other major war contractors, all of which are currently active in Iraq and elsewhere. The Bush family has had long and extensive relationships with these firms, especially George W. Bush's great-grandfather George Herbert Walker, and his grandfather, Prescott Bush. He refers to their involvement in establishing dictatorships in Latin America at the beginnng of the century. They helped finance the Remington Arms Company, responsible for the lion's share of arm sales to all sides during World War I, helped finance both Hitler and Stalin, helped sell steel to the Japanese until after Pearl Harbor (one of George W's other great-grandfathers, Sam Bush, owned a steel company based in Ohio, and provided a lot of the materials used in arms construction during the early 20th century), profited enormously from financing both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and on and on and on and on. They also, as he mentioned, had connections with the oil industries, as well as the various media which helped promote their wars. (The original incorporation and IPO of CBS, Inc. in 1933 was handled by them, in fact by Prescott Bush personally.) Please don't do business with these people. :)

For more on the early history of the Bush family and the war rackets see this excellent summary by Alfred Mendes. A sample.


Or just search the web. It's a horrible story.



UN web page on terrorism.

Turns out that the United Nations has a special web page devoted to the war against terrorism, which is at www.un.org/terrorism/. And there you'll find a special report on it, Report of the Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism, also available in PDF and Word formats.

Here's the introduction of that report, stating its goals in broad terms.


I didn't realize that the UN officially links its anti-terrorism efforts with its anti-drug efforts. That's very interesting. Not to mention that "drug control" itself is still primarily seen as "crime prevention." That's very, very interesting.



Most countries not enforcing terrorist sanctions.

The Scotsman reports that most UN countries have not yet begun enforcing UN sanctions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.


I wonder if the list includes Switzerland, which remains the money-laundering capital of the world. I don't know why this country has been able to continue to avoid attention and to evade sanctions. Well, I guess I do know. It's European, it's white, and its secret, anonymous numbered accounts remain the most useful way for rich folks around the world to avoid taxes and responsibility for their involvement in various nefarious activities. But as long as they continue to make it so easy to hide the trail of money all of the other efforts in that area aren't going to amount to much.

Switzerland, by the way, just finally joined the UN last year. And they're still not part of the European Union. If anyone can come up with any reason that an honest person would need a secret Swiss account, I'd like to hear it. I think it's an archaic, obsolete practice whose time has long since gone. The idea that they're exempt from commonly accepted international practices is absurd.






Almanacs and the internet.

The FBI recently warned people to be on guard against people carrying almanacs, claiming that these handy reference works could be used to research potential targets and such.


Many sarcastic comments have been made about this, many pointing out that maybe the finest American who ever lived, Benjamin Franklin, himself published an almanac. But what just occurred to me, is that the internet has effectively made almanacs obsolete. All of the information in them, and infinitely more besides, is easily available over the web. Train and plane schedules, abbreviations (???), weather reports, you name it.

So is the next step to shut down the web, and/or to arrest anyone carrying a PDA or portable computer as a potential terrorist? Are they going to start searching and questioning anyone seen in an airport terminal using a computer? Or writing something in a notebook? And aren't there still internet terminals available to the public in airports?

It's pretty funny actually. But in a way it's also rather frightening, since it seems to imply that the FBI is unaware of the amount of info available on the net, and that they really believe that they can actually prevent people from accessing it. Almost pathetic.

And what about chat rooms, discussion forums and so on? Not to mention good old fashioned telephones and faxes. All of which could easily be used to organize a terrorist plot. And what is a "suspicious way" of annotating an almanac? Using a yellow hilighter? Underlining words? Unbelievable.

Another rather strange policy is that of fingerprinting people arriving at airports and cruise ship terminals. I understand the value of this, which actually could be used to trace people. But they are exempting people from Europe, Canada, Australia and other mostly-white nations. Which is absurd. If they're going to take these measures, then take them and make them effective. But to take them while leaving such glaring and obvious loopholes in them indicates an extraordinary degree of incompetence, and an incredibly unrealistic view of the modern world. There are, for example, millions of Islamic people in Europe.






Osama calls for continuing jihad.

The Guardian reprints edited selections of Osama bin Laden's latest call for continuing jihad against the west, entitled Resist the New Rome. I think this guy is crazy, but I link to it and reprint part of it, because I think it's important for people to know who and what they're dealing with.


He goes on to say that he think Riyadh will be next after Baghdad, so I guess that means we can expect more violence in Saudi Arabia. The rantings of a madman as far as I can see, but one with apparently a lot of supporters, so he has to be taken seriously.

The Guardian also has a special section, The Bin Laden tapes in full, which lists all of the various tapes and announcements he's made during the last few years.

Addendum: See the editorial/comment by Guardian's readers' editor, Ian Mayes, on the discussion of whether or not it was appropriate for them to print this, especially to print it on the comments pages rather than as a news item. Also please note that they printed an edited transcript of his pronouncement. Not the entire thing.


Personally I think they should definitely have printed it, and I'm disappointed that no American paper choose to follow suit. If we're going to plunge the world into global war in order to fight this man and his followers we really should know all we can about what they think.






Increased probability of attacks on the US and UK.

Both British and American authorities have been issuing many warnings over the last month about the possibility of further attacks on their countries by Islamic warriors. The Americans have begun requiring fingerprinting of all visitors to the US (except Europeans and Canadians, who are exempted I guess because they're mostly white people), and requiring armed marshalls on all foreign flights, among other measures. The British have stated that they plan to continue their armed presence in Iraq until at least 2006 and probably for years after that (not surprising since they've been there one way or another for over a century), and also that people can expect years of further delays and problems when travelling.

I hope no one is surprised by this, or deluded themselves into thinking that by attacking Afghanistan and Iraq, or capturing Saddam, would end these troubles, or that the so-called "terrorists" would simply give up and fade away. "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction," and any objective observer would already know that these attacks, however well intentioned or "noble" in purpose, would inevitably result in counter-attacks. It's just life, not anything "evil." But Blair and Bush have opened up a very ugly can of worms, and the repercussions of this will continue for many years, long after they're both out of office. And it won't be them who suffer.

So get ready for more attacks folks, and expect them to continue until the British and Americans withdraw their troops from the rest of the world, and stop pretending that they have some sort of God-given duty or right to be the world's policemen. The rest of the world simply won't go along with this, and anyone who thinks they will is seriously deluded.






New weapon can fire around corners.

BBC News reports that a new weapon has been developed that can fire around corners. It seems to have been around for a little while though, since it's already been sold to 15 different countries. Developed by an Israeli-American company it's sad to say.


It can be used on any gun and only costs $3,000-5,000. Goodness, that's both amazing technology and absolutely frightening. Someone could shoot you without you even being able to see them.

How do you categorize something like that? War? Science? Election 2004? Economics even, since this is a product to sell. Hey, maybe they'll come out with an inexpensive consumer version. Fits on any gun at all.

It's good to know American industry is coming up with creative products to help keep the stock market up there. I guess the weapons industry is absolutely booming these days.






PeaceBlogs.org.

Via the just-referenced weblog wannabe, is this site devoted to Peace Blogs from all over the world. You may not agree with most of what they say, I certainly don't, but it's nice to know some people aren't afraid to speak out against the madness.

I put this under the "wars" category. :) I guess I should have a "peace" category, but would there be enough entries to make it worthwhile?






Interview with a GI blogger.

Via warincontext.org, is an interview with Sergeant Sean, the soldier whose blog ...turningtables... I've been quoting from recently. An interesting read.


The final entries in ...turningtables... are well worth reading. The thoughts of a GI who has served in Sarajevo, Afghanistan and Iraq. And some nice photos as well.

I can't say though how much this final thought frightens me.


To claim that something was good just because they meant well is absolutely horrible. Really the very essence of evil. People will continue to die in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Columbia, all over the world, until the people behind the US military admit that they are wrong, and that just because they mean well doesn't mean that they are doing well. No, he wasn't part of anything good. He was part of something that made people suffer, and for no reason that I can see.

I'm glad he got out alive though. Hopefully he'll continue to speak up when he comes back to the US. I remember how the protests against Vietnam began when vets coming back began to talk about what was going on over there. It's curious that so many people think the protests were AGAINST the vets, when they were the ones who started them.






Fun at the arms fair.

The world's largest arms fair is being held in London this week, a sort of strange tribute to 9/11. In All the fun of the Fair, John O'Farrell of the Guardian points out some of the many incongruities involved in holding such an event, most especially how absurd it is to suggest that any nation which would have such a large arms industry and host such an event can possibly claim to be concerned with peace.


Those who continue to spread the lie that the US and the UK support Israel should take note that these countries are the leading suppliers of arms to the Arab nations, whose violence is fueled primarily by American and British petro-dollars, and financed by people in New York and London. Not that the facts will convince anyone, but there you are.






Have You Forgotten?

The woman at Baghdad Burning reflected a few days ago on the meaning of 9/11. I don't have much to say on the subject, but she is quite eloquent.


We will continually hear today that 3,000 Americans died on 9/11. That is not true. There were people from dozens of different countries that died that day. Somehow they don't seem to matter.

To me it's not the day America was attacked; that was a single incident, probably the most overrated one in human history. To me, it was the day America began attacking the rest of the world, not just once or twice, but over and over and over again. And for what?

What's been done in the last two years in the name of freedom and democracy will go down as one of the great horrors and crimes of history. Tens of thousands of innocents killed as a direct result of American hatred. There's no excuse for it, and no way to justify it.

The NY Times has an article on the change in foreign views of the US since 9/11. But it's not just foreigners whose view of the US has changed; plenty of Americans have also had their eyes opened.






Iraq's worst nightmare.

The woman behind Baghdad Burning did not like Bush's speech Sunday. Not at all. The intensity of the anger is frightening. Here's her post on the subject, the entire thing in the hope that some Americans are listening.


That's just one perspective of course, albeit one from Bagdhad itself. But the GI over at ...turningtables... seems to agree with her. Luckily he gets to leave. (The spelling and grammer here are presented as it is. Note the contrast between that of the American GI and the Iraqi woman.)


It's quite encouraging to hear an American soldier speak out like this. (And absolutely amazing that he could do it while doing active duty. Amazing that the technology exists to make it possible, that the military doesn't interfere with him, amazing on so many levels). His account is well worth reading.

I'm also amazed that the lady in Baghdad, despite the lack of power and everything else she talks about, actually has a TV upon which she can watch George Bush pontificate, and a computer with a working connection to the internet upon which she can write. (Which would seem to bely at least a certain amount of what she's saying. I mean, they have power for TV and computers, right?)

And they both can post to their blogs for FREE.






Pirates attack ships in Malacca Strait.

The NY Times reports that the latest in the global oil wars extends to the sea.


I don't remember hearing about Al Qaeda using speedboats to attack tankers. You'd think the novelty of that alone would attract some attention. Article goes on to say attacks in those straits aren't uncommon at all. Some worse than ever.








Buying peace and tolerance.

Two articles in the Guardian struck my fancy. Entirely different problems and parts of the world, but the same approach: giving money.

This one, by Cesar Garcia, reports on the Columbian governments new plan to buy peace by paying soldiers on both sides to stop fighting.


An expensive approach though, and one that doesn't address the roots causes of the wars. Although in Columbia it would appear that the fighting has taken on a life of its own, and that it's no longer about anything but survival and profit.

The other article reports, by Gary Younge, on a pastor in Louisiana that is attempting to address the segregation in southern religion by simply paying white people to come to its services.


And I guess I could also mention the American government's decision to pay $30 million reward money to those who helped capture Hussein's sons. Money is an awfully strong incentive sometimes, that's for sure. For most people anyway. But not true believers. True believers are willing to even pay to die for their cause.

"For fifteen hundred dollars, you can have anybody killed." -- Bob Dylan, I forget the song.



TruthOut Report to Those in the Battle Zone.

Via Follow Me Here is this "truthout" report to those serving in Iraq.


Interesting. Reminds me of the 60s "teach-ins", where responsible Americans tried to get the facts about Vietnam out to the public. Although really at that time it was the returning vets themselves who led the way, who were the first to speak out about what was really going on. I imagine when those serving there begin to return that we'll start to hear all sorts of stuff.






Iraq war 'began last year'

The Guardian reports that, as many have suspected, the substantial increase last summer in American and British bombing of the so-called "no-fly zones" over southern Iraq, was in fact the beginning of the war against Saddam.


This isn't that surprising, but it does contribute to the increasing feeling around the world that the Americans and British have not been entirely frank about what they have been doing over there. And that the attempts to get UN approval for the war were entirely bogus; they had already started the war and were already committed.






Cover your hair.

Writing in the NY Times, and from Iraq, Nicholas Kristof reports on the growing strength of Shiite Muslims, and their efforts to force Islamic law on the populace.


Unfortunately democracy means that the majority rules, even if the majority doesn't respect minority rights and views.


Shooting people who own liquor stores. Almost reminds me of Americans killing folks who sell recreational drugs. Oh, I'm sorry, that's something entirely different. After all, this is the land of the free, isn't it?


Or maybe the NY Times wants to get us used to the idea. Maybe that was the plan all along. Religious fundamentalists in one country helping those in another. Bush's ideas about women aren't all that much more enlightened. It's not that far a stretch. Same with his support of Jewish fundamentalists in Israel. Seen one, seen them all.






US may be in Iraq for ten years.

USA Today story, via Yahoo, via This Modern World.


I imagine I'll have much more to say about this over the next ten years. Stay posted. :) God Bless America.



US troops admit shooting Iraqi civilians.

There is an extraordinary interview by Bob Graham with some American soldiers in Iraq, in the London Evening Standard, which is here, via Common Dreams. It's very sad and frightening. A must read.


Boy, they're already exhausted and it's only been a couple of months. I don't think they'll be going home soon. The standard tour of duty in Vietnam was at least a year, maybe two, I'm not sure. And of course in WWII it was four years or more. And the US military is apparently automatically extending all enlistments, they can't afford to lose anybody.






Europe moves to support force against "rogue" nations.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports on a new decision by the EU to support military force against "rogue" (that is, non-white) nations that have WMDs.


Whether this decision by the leaders is supported by the peoples of Europe is another matter. There's no mention on addressing the enormous arms sales by European and American countries throughout the world, probably the greatest single source of international instability. And certainly none of any efforts to get the US and EU to destroy it's own WMDs, of which there are too many to count.

They say "states .. with such arms", but there sure are a lot of exceptions, aren't there? My view is that they couldn't care less about the WMDs. They just want to maintain Euro-American (ie, white) power. Consider if you will this article from Common Dreams on "America's Shameful Legacy of Radioactive Weaponry."

Just one man's opinion, that of an American more concerned about American WMDs than anybody elses.






70 die in US attack on terror training camp.

The Scotsman reports on the latest outbreaks in Iraq, and particularly an attack on a supposed "terrorist training camp" there.








Passion for Peace.

In a NY Times editorial, Thomas Friedman wonders about the Bush administration's genuine desire for peace.








Most of world off limits to Australians now.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that two-thirds of the world is now off limits to Australians, due to their support for illegal invasion of Iraq.


I've never been able to define what these "Westerners" are. I think maybe they're talking about white people. In any case, what goes around comes around. If these people stopped attacking and interfering with other countries, maybe other people would stop attacking them.






The restructuring of Al-Qaeda.

Also from the Asia Times is an article on the restructuring and reemergence of Al-Qaeda since the war in Iraq.


They go on to report that attacks in Europe and America appear very likely. But I guess that's not news now.



Exactly what did happen on 9/11?

Via The Memory Hole, Documents From Congress' Joint Inquiry into 9/11.








Chechen attacks represent new level of violence.

Also from the Moscow Times is an article pointing out that the two large Chechen suicide bombings this week represent the emergence of a new side of the war there.

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End of entries.