SPACE DEBRIS
IRAQ WAR NOW A TV SERIES
DAVID RAY GRIFFIN WRITES

Yesterday morning I received a late-breaking letter warning that there might be problems on the Space Shuttle. I printed it as most of the networks were showcasing the launch.

OH NO, NOT AGAIN

BBC reports:

“NASA is investigating two cases of apparent debris seen falling from the space shuttle Discovery as it blasted off for Earth orbit. The events were captured in onboard video and the agency says it now needs to consider their significance.”

ARRESTS IN THE UK/HUMOR IN AMERICA

Four men taken into custody by anti-terror police in connection with second set of incidents… Yesterday Tony Blair denied there was any link between the Iraq war and terrorism in Britain…BBC reports:

“He acknowledged Iraq was being used to recruit terrorists, but insisted the roots of extremism were much deeper. He said 11 September 2001 was a wake up call for the international community, but argued some people “then turned over and went back to sleep again”.

The Bombings in Britain are now a subject for satire in the Onion:

“Bush To London Bombers: ‘Bring It On’
WASHINGTON, DC—President Bush officially responded to the latest round of London transit bombings Monday, challenging terrorists to “do their worst.” Said Bush, in a televised statement from the Oval Office: “The proud and resilient people of London can take anything the forces of evil and cowardice can throw at them. They will never live in fear of you. Bring it on.” Prime Minister Tony Blair thanked Bush for his comments, inviting him to visit London and ride the Underground in a show of solidarity.

SADDAM WANTS RAMSEY

Al Jazeera reports:

“Lawyers for former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein have said he has asked to meet a former US attorney general who is a member of his defence team, but he is yet to hear from the authorities.

“A statement on Monday issued by the team, which goes by the acronym ISNAD, said Saddam asked the special tribunal set up to try him, for a meeting with former US attorney general Ramsey Clark, but his request had not been answered yet.

BODY COUNT

AJ: “About 10 men fired automatic rifles into a bus carrying Iraqi workers in west Baghdad, killing at least 16 of them.”

HOW TO LOWER GAS PRICES, YEMENI STYLE

“The Yemeni cabinet has decided to cut fuel prices, less than a week after 22 people were killed in riots sparked by price rises for petrol, diesel and kerosene. A Yemeni official on Tuesday said the lower prices would come into effect on Wednesday. Analysts had expected the government to revise its decision to appease public anger.”

WHAT DOES JOHN ROBERTS BELIEVE?

AP: “WASHINGTON — Frustrated Senate Democrats struggled to unearth Supreme Court nominee John Roberts’ elusive views on abortion, civil rights and other controversial issues Tuesday, digging through newly released government documents while criticizing the White House for refusing access to thousands more.

“It’s more than what they need,” President Bush’s spokesman said of the material being turned over…”

BIG MEDIA TAKE

The Washington Post reports today that Roberts was a conservative advocate during his stint with the Reagan Administration. Less Critical, the Times reports: “As a young Justice Department lawyer in the early 1980’s, John G. Roberts advocated judicial restraint on the day’s issues.”

THE BIG DIG, DC STYLE

The Post today:

“The special prosecutor in the CIA leak probe has interviewed a wider range of administration officials than was previously known, part of an effort to determine whether anyone broke laws during a White House effort two years ago to discredit allegations that President Bush used faulty intelligence…”

THE “CURSE:” ISRAEL’S OTHER CONFLICT

The battle between some Israeli settlers and Ariel Sharon is assuming a new dimension of viciousness, An American organization has come out against MYSTICISM and a curse that opponents of Sharon are using and which seems to be having an effect”

” The American Jewish Congress today deplored the dangerous exploitation of Kabalistic mysticism by Jewish radicals who placed a “pulsa denura” a supposed curse of fire, on Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

“Marc D. Stern, AJCongress General Counsel, said, “Even if those who uttered this ‘curse’ do not intend to sanction murder, we have no way of judging their intentions. There are irresponsible people of no judgment who will read it literally and attempt to fulfill what they believe is the divine will. We saw this all too clearly in 1995 when a similar curse helped sanction a national tragedy in the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin.”

I didn’t know a curse was deployed against Rabin. He was shot to death by a fanatic. I do know that. This just goes to show that religious extremism is not the province of any one religion.

ON ISRAEL AND CONDI

A colleague shared this piece with me about hostile Israeli reaction to Condi Rice’s recent visit.(Not sure of the source)

“Leader Remodeling Inc. by Yoel Marcus

“Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Sycamore Ranch, with its sheep, cows and rolling green pastures, could have come straight out of a kitschy American sitcom set on a farm down South. The family sits around a dinner table piled high with wholesome food and showers one another with love. Only in this case, the honored guest ate little and talked a lot, and what she had to say was enough to put everyone off dessert, even though finishing with halvah has become a tradition.

“In public, Condi was all smiles. But in private, she showed herself to be one tough cookie, full of demands on Israel. “She ticked us all off,” said an insider. “The chutzpah of that woman. The way she totally ignored Sharon’s critical problems at home. The way she twisted our arm and said we had to make all kinds of concessions and gestures to strengthen Abu Mazen.”

“This time, Rice’s demands did not go through the Weissglas filtering system. There was no sugar to sweeten the pill or make it easier to swallow. There was no beating around the bush. Israel, she said, must supply the Palestinian Authority with weapons and ammunition. It must speed up the lines at checkpoints. It must be nice to Abu Mazen’s buddies and allow them to operate…..”

ITALY SEEKS CIA ARRESTS

CNN International reports:

“An Italian court issued six new arrest warrants Monday for suspected CIA agents alleged to have kidnapped an Egyptian-born radical Muslim cleric in Milan.Italian prosecutors allege the cleric was spirited to Egypt for interrogation and torture.

CASTRO DENOUNCES BUSH ADMIN IN JULY 26 SPEECH

Prensa Latina:

“Havana, Jul 26 Cuban President Fidel Castro accused the USadministration of promoting subversion and destabilization in the Island through the leading role of its Interests Sections in Havana.

Fidel Castro said the administration of US President George W Bush has used over a hundred million USD for that purpose, pursuing multiple aggressions
against Cuba, including interference with radio and television transmissions.”

DOWNING STREET ALERT: ACTION NEEDED ON REP. LEE’S RESOLUTION

“Congresswoman Barbara Lee and 29 co-sponsors are backing a Resolution of Inquiry which, if passed, will require the White House and the State Department to “transmit all information relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom between January 1, 2002, and October 16, 2002, relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq.”

If the Downing Street Documents are not accurate, this is the White House’s opportunity to prove it.

If your Representative is not a co-sponsor (http://tinyurl.com/8mzrn), we need you to ask him or her to become a co-sponsor of H.Res. 375. Many, even possibly some Republicans, will co-sponsor this, but they have to be asked.

Please do all three of the following:

Email your congress member:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/50

Phone your congress member:
http://www.usalone.com/get_instantcongress.htm

Fax your congress member:
http://www.usalone.com/get_instantcongress.htm

Find more information and flyers about the Resolution:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/902