Our News Capsule today focuses on Iraq, Iran, and the USA:

A SOLUTION TO THE STRIFE IN IRAQ

CNN has found one: a version of American Idol, Baghdad style:

A charismatic and talented 26-year-old singer is doing for Iraq what weary politicians in the strife-torn country have so far failed to do: unite the fractious nation. Shada Hassoon is a contestant representing Iraq on “Star Academy” — following the “American Idol” format. “We voted for Shada without asking if she were a Shiite or a Sunni,” said one entry on the Al-Arabiya Web site. “We voted for her just because she is an Iraqi.”

Meawhile, Iranian TV was showing another drama, reports BBC:

Iran TV shows seized UK navy crew. 15 Royal Navy personnel are shown on Iranian TV, with a female sailor saying “we trespassed” in Iran’s waters.

Pepe Escobar: British Pawns in an Iranian Game

Even the Arab world - which is not so fond of Persians - sees the US-orchestrated UN sanctions on Iran for what they are: the West, once again, trying to smash an independent nation daring to have its shot at more influence in the Middle East.

Tony Blair is steaming and the US Navy is holding maneuevers off the coast of Iran with Russian Generals warning that the US may go to war soon. But there are other dangers here:

DANGERS TO THE OIL SUPPLY

The Oil & Energy Investment Report offered this backgrounder:

Iran also has three strategic advantages that make it a formidable
threat to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Advanced antiship missiles. The newest of these skims the surface of the waves (too low to be reliably tracked on radar) at twice the speed of sound (so there’s very little time for defenders to react), and blows a hole in the target vessel right at the water line.

The only effective defense the US Navy has against these ship-killers is simply to keep enemy craft from approaching close enough to launch them.

But this is possible only on the open ocean, where AWACS radar surveillance aircraft orbiting high above the fleet can track everything in motion for hundreds of miles in every direction, and direct US fighter planes to intercept.

By contrast, the Persian Gulf is almost a narrow lake. More than 70% of its surface area lies within easy missile range of the Iranian shoreline—along which every sand dune or hillock could conceivably hide a landbased missile launcher.

In the history of naval warfare, there has never been a sea battle fought with large numbers of sea skimming antiship missiles….In addition to the hitech threat to Persian Gulf shipping, Iran also has a credible lowtech threat: antiship mines.

These are inexpensive, and can be tossed over the side of a speedboat or out the window of lowflying aircraft. After the first ship got blown up, traffic would slow to a crawl—which is almost as good as closing the Strait entirely.

…. Bottom line: Once Iran closes the Strait, and takes 20 million barrels of oil a day off the market, no one knows howlong it might take to get all that oil flowing again

SAUDIS DENOUNCE WAR AS ILLEGITIMATE

One of America’s closest Arab allies has attacked the war in Iraq as an “illegitimate foreign occupation.” Speaking at the start of a summit of the Arab League in Riyadh, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia hit out at the Bush administration. He accused it of putting Iraq at risk of a civil war and trying to unilaterally write the future of the Middle-East.

It is set to be a very politically charged two day meeting. King Abdullah also demanded the immediate lifting of the international embargo against the Palestinian authority. And Arab leaders have voted unanimously to revive their 2002 peace offer to Israel.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon described the situation in the Middle East as “dangerous”. He said he had exhorted Israel to take a new look at the Arab peace offer which it rejected five years ago. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said this could be a last chance for peace with Israel. The Arab peace plan demands, among other things, an Israeli withdrawal from all land occupied since the 1967 war.

SID BLUMENTHAL ON US ATTORNEY SCANDAL

Counter Puch.org: The Price of Almost Everything We Need to Survive Has Jumped by 100 Per Cent Jane Stillwater reports:

In 1975, there was this cute little two-bedroom house for sale on Grant Street in Berkeley. I loved that house! I wanted to buy that house! But I dithered around and missed my chance because I couldn’t come up with a down payment for its outrageously expensive asking price — $25,000.

I’d be extremely lucky today, even in the middle of the current housing slump, to be able to purchase that same house for less than $600,000.

I hate math but here goes. $25,000 goes into $600,000 how many times? 24 times? That’s a hecka lot of inflation!
…

DEBT IN SOUTH KOREA

MEDIA: ISRAELI GROUPS TIED TO FILM ON ISLAM

ANTI-CHRIST BANNED

The following press release about the suspension of the username, “Anti-Christ” has sparked an objection and fight for first amendment

“ANTI-CHRIST” SUSPENDED FROM NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER

PALM SPRINGS, CA - March 28, 2007 - Charles Merrill, whose cousin, Charles Merrill, founded Merrill Lynch, has had his blogging account suspended by a publication owned by New York Times Corporation because his blog name was, “Anti-Christ”.

Merrill states, “I have been a very frequent blogger to the online Hendersonville Times News, , which is owned by the New York Times. Suddenly, out of nowhere, because they found my username offensive, the paper removed me from the site.”

Merrill, 72, a Palm Springs resident, is an artist and self made millionaire. His late wife, Evangeline, was the only daughter of Johnson Johnson founder, Robert Wood Johnson. He is a life time member and financial contributor to the Freedom From Religion Foundation, www.ffrf.org an organization currently arguing a case before the Supreme Court on whether the FFRF can mount First Amendment challenge to Bush administration’s ‘faith based’ initiatives.

“Ironically, the New York Times, in a February 28th editorial this year argued on behalf of the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s position and against the Bush Administration stand on mixing up religion with the government.”, Merrill said. “Yet, on the other hand, the Times controlled newspaper, says I can’t have a username such as “Anti-Christ”. Frankly, I am very surprised at the Times bigoted position and being suspended because of my username. It is taking away my 1st Amendment rights as a U.S. Citizen to express myself as an atheist.”

Microsoft’s Gates Urges Congress to Pass Privacy Law

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2007 Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates
called on Congress Wednesday to pass sweeping privacy legislation that would better protect consumers’ personal information online.

LETTER: DAUD’ X MOHAMMED ON TOSSING OLD MAGAZINES

The story behind the magazines is that me dear wife took it upon herself to get rid of some old magazines that have been in storage. At my age, I don’t care so much about them as I once did. Besides, I still have the 1979-80 (Islamic Revolution era) Newsweek and Time edition sets. The two random copies sent along somehow slipped out of the box and didn’t get tossed. In 20+ years, not much has changed. I mean, why publish (new) weekly editions when re-prints can serve just as well? Maybe even better if irony counts for anything..

OK, I will call it on that note. Share your comments with me. I will be blogging tomorrow but then am off to the Al Jazeera Forum in Qatar and hope to be writing from there.

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