Voice from the Commonwealth Commentary, World Views and Occasional Rants from a small 'l' libertarian in Massachussetts
"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest for freedom, go home and leave us in peace. We seek not your council nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams
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Praise for Voice
"A smart fellow...I do like, recommend and learn from Barbera's blog." -Roger L. Simon
"Your blog is bullshit"- anonymous angry French reader.
What is the Middle East upset about? Is it the 'occupation' of the West Bank and Gaza? Or is the fact that Israel exists at all? There were massive protests to mark the UN vote that created Israel. Again listen to what they, themselves, tell us. They are outraged just by the fact that Israel exists, they do not want peace with Israel, they want it gone.
Ha! Fisk is denouncing journalists covering the Middle East for distorting the facts. Now that is rich.
An award winning British journalist is criticising his colleagues in the Middle East for using government inspired language that distorts the reality on the ground. ''The language of Middle East journalism has become so cowardly, so slippery, so deferential, so lofty of the phrases used by the State Department, the president, the U.S. diplomats, Israeli officials,'' Robert Fisk told an overflowing audience in Toronto earlier this month while on a series of speaking engagements in Canada.
For example, U.S. and some Canadian journalists, he says, are falling in step with a directive originally issued by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell that American diplomats say ''disputed'' instead of ''occupied'' in referring to the armed Israeli presence on the West Bank and Gaza.
The result is the erasing from the journalists' lexicon of the reality of illegal Jewish colonies and Israeli army checkpoints crisscrossing the Palestinian territories, according to Fisk, a reporter with London's Independent newspaper.
'Disputed', you see, suggests an argument about land deeds or conflicting 'heritage claims' as CNN once memorably called them.''
So everyone should understand and look at the situation exactly as Robert Fisk. If not you are a lackey of the Jew...I mean Israeli/American conspiracy.
On Monday the Iranian Ayatollahs' desperation began to show. The 'reformist' President Muhammed Khatami banned further protests in support of . Whose death sentence is now all but finalized. The order was followed up by the arrests of five student leaders who have been active in the protests that have been going on for more than two weeks. If the Ayatollahs think that the 'ban' and arrests and threats of unleashing the militias will put an end to the student protests they are delusional. The students seem to be fully aware of the path they now tread and are willing topeacfully face what may come. When that happens the results can be electrifying, to say the least.
I sincerely hope that the students of Iran not only succeed in forcing the world to focus on the oppression that they face every day but, I hope that the Bush Administration offers every form of support he can for them when the time comes. It is America's, and should be every free nation's, shame that China was allowed do what they did in Tiananmen Square (not to mention Tibet and every other square inch of territory they rule over) and only face a few years worth of tut-tuts.
Breaking down a suspected terrorist trained to defy U.S. interrogators is an art form that requires patience and a keen understanding of how to work the psyche of the person in custody, according to those who have worked in the field.
Brad Garrett, an FBI agent in the Washington field office, said he was able to glean information from Ramzi Yousef, convicted of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, by slowly getting him to trust that Garrett's word was good.
For example, before Yousef was brought back from Pakistan to stand trial in the United States, he asked Garrett to make sure that he had decent clothes to wear in front of the media in America. Before they left Islamabad, Garrett had Yousef outfitted with a suit, tie and shoes, which he wore the next day for his first appearance before reporters and cameras.
"The biggest key to interrogating is being utterly honest with them," Garrett said. "You don't make promises to them that you can't follow through with. If they ask you to do things that are reasonable, you do them."
Garrett also was involved in interrogating Aimal Khan Kasi, a Pakistani who gunned down two people and wounded three others outside the CIA's headquarters in Virginia Jan. 25, 1993. After 4 1/2 years on the run, Kasi finally was captured in Pakistan. Garrett was part of a team that tracked him down and brought him back to the United States to stand trial.
For the first 48 hours that Kasi was in custody, Garrett did not try to talk to him about the shootings. Instead, he dressed his wounds and talked to him about his transportation back to America. By the time they got on a plane for the United States, a certain comfort level had been attained, which made it easier to question him about the crime.
Kasi was executed by injection earlier this month in Virginia for the killings, which he said were a protest of U.S. policies toward Muslims. One of the few people Kasi invited to attend the execution was Garrett.
"I think he invited me because he wanted someone there who had been involved in his life for so many years," Garrett said. "I think he did trust me."
Part of his success at getting terrorists and other criminals to talk is listening without judgment, Garrett said: "It isn't my job to judge people. We are not all bad; we are not all good."
Despite the strides made by U.S. forces in obtaining hard data, such as the terrorist computer and telephone records discovered in Afghanistan, such information is more useful as a cross-check than as original source material, Amidror said.
"At the end, in terrorism, there is no substitute to interrogation of suspects," said Amidror, who is a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute. "The most important part of the information -- if not from the quantity point of view but from the quality point of view -- is in the heads of the leaders or the terrorists themselves."
As Bearden, the former CIA official, put it, "Even Adolf Hitler's dog wagged his tail at him."
Bearden said, "We like to demonize our enemies, but when you interrogate someone you can't forget that they have a father and mother, that they are a human being."
Hans Blix has the opportunity to become a state hero in Iraq.
Chief UN inspector Hans Blix may go down in history, art history, if his much-awaited report confirms that Iraq has none of the weapons of mass destruction claimed by the United States.
"If the report is positive and brings good news to Iraq, then I will draw a portrait of Blix with our president Saddam Hussein," said Salam Abid, one of the main Saddam portrait artists in the country.
"Good news" for Iraq, and Saddam personally, means the United Nations declaring Iraq free of arms of mass destruction, as stipulated by UN Security Council Resolution 1441 which threatens Baghdad with "serious consequences" otherwise.
Saddam is a favorite model for portrait artists happy to hear that Blix is due to launch arms inspections in Iraq on Wednesday after a four-year break, and that Washington said it might consent to Saddam staying in power if he agrees to give up suspected banned weapons.
Some analysts believe the contest with China is the real reason the United States is so anxious to impose its military will on Iraq. To contain China, the US needs to take sole control of the strategic Gulf area, which contains more than 25% of the world’s oil reserves – a resource China desperately needs as it seeks to consolidate and expand its already formidable economic power.
Talk about playing the "Great Game". I could see this in Empires or single party dictatorships but, I can't see a deomcratic government that can shift radically being able to maintain this sort of constant semi-covert effort.
Okay, I didn't plan on actually addressing this but I have been told I should. I am a UMASS Amherst graduate. I spent a lot of time there so ended up with something of a mixed bag of majors, minors and certificates. My first love is and always has been Archaeloogy. At UMASS the archaeology major is under the umbrella of Anthropolgy. Therefore, my primary major was Anthropology with a with a concentration in Archaeology and in order to complete the major I had to take a number of Antropology classes. Now I'll admit while I was there I definitely saw a very Left Liberal bent in the department but today I came across the Spring 2003 Course Description and was shocked. To say the least.
Lets take a look at some of the offerings.
Course Number: 382 Day: TuTh Time: 11:15:00 AM Credits: 3
Course Title: Caribbean Cultures Gen Ed:
Professor: Enoch Page
Description: Lecture
In this class, we will examine the Caribbean from the perspective of enslaved Africans who found themselves captured and imported for labor, procreating with enslavers and indigenous people, laboring in the same fields as white, Asian and Indian indentured workers, and organizing on behalf of their own participation in the governance of their new states. Anyone who is not thoroughly and candidly willing to examine how you, yourself, and Americans, in general, are adversely implicated in the gender, race and class basis of widely shared black experience of Caribbean territories is advised not to take this class.
Does this sound familiar? More than a little reminiscent of the phrase that causes an upraor over the Poetry of the Intifada class earlier in the year. Is Dr. Page saying, if you dan't want to be called a racist or tool of racists don't take this class? Students are told from efore they even enroll in the course that any other viewpoint than that brought by the professor will not be tolerated.
Here is another one from Dr. Page:
Course Number: 697E Day: Tu Time: 2:30:00 PM Credits: 3
Course Title: ST: The Anthropology of Whiteness Gen Ed:
Professor: Enoch Page
Description: Lecture. Instructor Permission Required
Are literate and educated blacks, along with many other people of color, "infected" with whiteness? Is whiteness an antonym, synonym or metonym of multicultural disversity? Can we establish that whiteness is no longer exclusive to whites? If so, then what is the cultural basis of whiteness that allows it to "float" in a Hall-ian way, away from its reproduction? How can we take stock of this phenomenon beyond purely discursive accounts based most often on notions of identity? Aside from its foundations in identity, how did whiteness originate historically, what does whiteness look like when observed; how does one locate it's indicators; what must we analyze when searching for whiteness; and when looking for the m most incisive evidence of whiteness, don't we find its always embodied and enacted in cultural behavior? Most importantly, how must whiteness be dismantled and in whose best interests?
Note: Seminar enrollment will be closed after the first class meets. Please do not take this class unless for the explicit purpose of being thoroughly tutored in this form of analysis. Every student who hopes to enroll must be interviewed by the professor. Arrange an interview, sooner than later, by contacting Shelley Bellor Richotte, Dept. of Anthropology, 545-2221
"Most importantly, how must whiteness be dismantled and" in whose best interests?" Again, no other view than Dr. Page's, 'whiteness' (as defined by Dr. Page), will be accepted. Dr. Pages asks a list of questions but, this final line leaves no doubt as to the conclusion that will be reached. It is somewhat disconcerting to see that subjects so contentious and open to interpretation are not available for open discussion, Dr. Page has the answers and will show them to you.
Here is another one that caught my eye.
Course Number: 397A Day: TuTh Time: 9:30:00 AM Credits: 3
Course Title: ST: Gender and Post-Socialist Transformations Gen Ed:
Professor: Julie Hemment
Description: Lecture
In this course we will examine the transforming states of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union from the perspective of gender. The so-called "collapse of Communism" in the late 1980's paved the way for ambitious projects for social and political change. However, policies aimed at democratization and economic liberalization led to increased stratification and impoverishment. Women have borne the brunt of many of those changes. Bringing together ethnographic and theoretical accounts of the former East bloc, this course examines the gender realignments of the post-socialist period and women's responses to these changes. Themes to be discussed will include: Gender and socialism (the socialist "gender regime" and the meaning of work, home, family), women and THE market; "civil society" and violence against women; and women's activism (NGO's feminism and transnational social movements)
"The so-called "collapse of Communism" in the late 1980's paved the way for ambitious projects for social and political change. However, policies aimed at democratization and economic liberalization led to increased stratification and impoverishment. Women have borne the brunt of many of those changes." Is there any doubt as to where the class will lead? Democratization and liberalization are bad, it is a statement here, those ideas brought to the world by America have brought 'stratification and impovershment' for women, as opposed to such non-stratified and wealthy Communist and Socialist paradises as Cuba and Zimbabwe.
A number of the classes on this list offer the same homage to 'multiculturalis' and 'diversity' that effectively say diversity of thought and any pretensions of real debate in this class will not be acceptable. It makes me ashamed to say that this is the department from which I earned a BA. Although in my defense a number of the professors I learned under are gone or teach some of the drier classes offered.
Malaysia has arrested three people they claim were planning suicide bombing attacks and a fourth person who was to be the lookout.
The alleged bombers are among four members of an Islamic extremist militant group linked to al-Qaida who were arrested Nov. 16-20 in Johor, a southern state lying opposite the island of Singapore, an official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The fourth man arrested was apparently going to be a lookout.
The alleged suicide squad was part of a backup unit in a plot by the group, Jemaah Islamiyah, that centered on using truck bombs to level the U.S., British and Australian embassies, the official said.
The plot was smashed in December and January when Singaporean and Malaysian police arrested scores of suspects. The four men escaped to Indonesia, but returned to see their families, the official said.
Cairo is trying to ease traffic and parking woes by putting in parking meters. I got a good chuckle out of this. The times I have been in Cairo I have been struck by the seeming complete lack of any sort of laws regarding vehicles and traffic. Street signs, lights, lanes and anything else involved in orderly driving is just ignored. The most important part of any vehicle is the horn. I saw cars in all states of repair (or dis-repair as the case may be) but the horn worked on every single one of them. Somehow I think the meters will be put to some other use than what is expected and traffic and parking will still be as chaotic as ever.
From reader, Rich Cook, you know a Stalinist regime is bad when even Pravda is forced to call them murderous.
The administrative Secretary of the ruling ZANU-PF party in Zimbabwe, Didymus Mutasa, has declared that the country would be better off with six million of its citizens dead. Now the government is distributing food only to Shona speakers, condemning the populations who voted for the MDC to death by starvation. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF regime is a murderous, evil clique comparable only to the world’s worst tyrants, such as Pol Pot, Bokassa, Idi Amin and the CIA’s former protege, Suharto.
Mutasa declared to the press during the weekend that “We would be better off with only six million people, with our own (Shona) people who support the liberation struggle. We don’t want all these extra people”. By “extra people” Zimbabwe’s leading civil servant means the people who live in non-Shona-speaking areas, who in their majority supported the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change.
Major trade and aid talks between the European Union and 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific nations were abandoned in Brussels tonight in a stand-off over Zimbabwe’s right to attend the four-day meeting.
Hundreds of delegates from the so-called ACP states flew in at the weekend but were tonight left wandering the corridors of the European Parliament after a point-blank refusal by leading MEPs to do businesses with members of Robert Mugabe’s regime.
Zimbabwe had despatched two senior ministers to the talks – knowing that both are on an EU list barred from EU countries in protest at human rights violations. And although they were granted entry visas by the Belgian government, they were denied access to the European Parliament building where the talks were due to be held.
“Zimbabwe could have sent delegates who were not on the banned list but chose not to. We have refused to deal with these two and this is a major setback – but there is still goodwill between the EU and the ACP countries“.
Tory MEPs endorsed the blockade, and Geoffrey Van Orden, the Conservative spokesman on human rights in the European Parliament, said: “Mugabe’s henchmen have no place coming to Brussels and the European Parliament. As a body that should uphold democratic ideals and the rule of law, the European Parliament must not be playing host to people who use murder and intimidation to maintain their grip on power.
“The fact that the Zimbabwean ministers were not allowed into the talks is a victory for democracy and human rights. We do this to highlight the campaign for the people of Zimbabwe suffering under a despotic regime which has brought their country to ruin and sent millions to the brink of starvation.
Of course there will always be some willing to support murderous dictators.
But Green MEPs, including the UK’s Caroline Lucas, said the ban was “undemocratic” and “colonialist” and called for the talks to be resumed, using non-European Parliament premises.
Q - How can the Islamic world mobilize a military force for the holy Qods? A - Since the issue of Qods must be top on the agenda of the Islamic countries, it seems that the establishment of a military force is a necessity, for the Zionist regime does not understand any language other than force and violence. The Palestinian nation must therefore continue its Intifada until the final victory is achieved.
Q - How should the issue of Qods be settled? A - The final solution lies in a referendum in which all the inhabitants of the occupied territories are invited to participate. The Islamic world should prepare the political and diplomatic grounds for the materialization of the dream of the Palestinian people.
Anyone who is unclear as to the meaning of 'final victory' I suggest the Charters of Hamas, Hizbollah and the Palestinian Authority. ANy of the maps produced by these organizations or found in any Middle Eastern country would also serve to make the point.
An al Qaeda leader killed two months ago in the 'faltering' war against the terrorists, was identified today by Algerian forces.
Ahmed Alwan, a 37-year-old native of Yemen, was identified after a two-month investigation by government experts, the report said. He was a leader of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network for northern and western Africa, it said.
Ahmed Alwan had played a central role in setting up an organization in Yemen of Arab militants who had fought against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, the report said.
He had been active in northern Africa since June 2001, APS said, and traveled extensively throughout the region, visiting Algeria, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania and Mali.
According to the report, Ahmed Alwan acted as an adviser for militant groups in the region and a liaison with operatives in Yemen. He was especially active in Algeria, where Islamic insurgents have fought with the government for 10 years.
In Algeria, Ahmed Alwan worked with the 4-year-old Salafist Group for Call and Combat, a militant group suspected of links to bin Laden, APS said.
Iraq plans to send at least three suicide-bombers to attack civilian targets in the Philippines, according to a leader of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group. He also warned that Manila's ties with Washington made the country a prime target for terrorists.
Mainly that sounds like a threat from an organization that is in trouble. But, if we take them at their word and there are suicide attacks by Iraqi agents I would say that would be very provocative.
Hamsiraji Sali, one of five Abu Sayyaf leaders sought by the United States, made the claim in an interview with ANC television, but did not give details.
'The Philippines is a friend of the US government. It is helping the US government so the Arabs are always targeting our country,' he said.
'You know, terrorists like us and those outside the Philippines are difficult to fight with. Our government should think twice about supporting President George W. Bush.'
A suicide bomber was thought to have been involved in last month's Zamboanga blast that killed two Filipinos and a US soldier. That theory was subsequently discounted.
However, terrorist suspects in neighbouring Indonesia have now revealed that one of the Oct 12 explosions in Bali was triggered by a suicide bomber - a worrying sign for security authorities, who fear the practice may become more prevalent in South-east Asia.
The Islamists may want to rethink that. Were the tactic to become more common in higher profile regions than Sri Lanka it would quickly delegitimize similar attacks by the Palestinians.
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