News – More FBI Power and Nuke Research (1/2)

The latest in suck from the Bush Administration. And people ask why we don’t like him.

US

Congress snuck a provision into a passed intelligence spending bill that allows the FBI to expand the power of the FBI to subpoena business documents and transactions from a broader range of businesses — everything from libraries to travel agencies to eBay — without first seeking approval from a judge. This done by expanding the meaning of “financial institution” and “financial transaction.”

THe FBI is gathering data on anti-war protest groups in the US. The claim is that they are only doing it to seek out dangerous anarchists and possible terrorists, not to keep an eye on regular Americans, exercising their right to dissent. Obviously some don’t believe this.

Added to the 2004 defense budget is the permission for Bush’s administration to restart testing of nuclear weapons and related devices. Is the Bush administration so blind as to not see how this will result in further proliferation?

The commuter train station under the World Trade Center location has reopened, the first reconstruction project to be finished. Good progress. Now lets get some use out of the land.

Arnold’s term as governor starts out tough. But it has to be expected with the state it was left in for him.

Democrats are charging Bush with breaking a promise to Nevada as plans continue to use Yucca Mountain as the nation’s sole nuclear waste repository. Apparently he made a promise in the 2000 campaign “that he would let science guide the administration’s decision-making”.

Senior U.S. Commerce official Grant Aldonas says the Bush administration isn’t being protectionist on the lead in to the 2004 election. The EU and WTO differ and gradually imposed sanctions have been threatened by the EU.

Scientists are beginning a controversial study to test the effects of Ecstasy in therapy for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. They want to see if the ‘closeness’ described by those who take it can be used in a controlled environment to help sufferers of rape or sexual abuse talk to their therapists. For now they’re waiting on a permit from the DEA to handle the drug.

A GOP ad campaign, which has the line “people are attacking the president for attacking the terrorists” is getting heavy criticism from democrats. Rightly so as it is a deeply misleading ad.

Dell is moving tech support jobs back to the US, from India. Business customers complained, so Dell read the writing on the walla nd moved them back to US tech support.

Iraq

A war that can never be won: Commentary on the nature of terrorism. A realization that war against it is un-winnable.

A civilian airplane is hit as it takes off from Baghdad International Airport.

Two US solders are assassinated in Mosul, claimed shot and attacked with knives by different parties. They were then pulled out of their car and their bodies beaten with concrete blocks, equipment stolen. I’m getting flashbacks of Somalia. Another is killed by a roadside bomb in Falluja.

Dozens of British solders who fought in Iraq are set to sue the government over a new Gulf War Syndrome. Multiple vaccinations they received are being blamed for chronic pains, stomach problems, rashes, swelling, fever, depression and anxiety.

Sen. Joseph Biden, top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, think we need more troops in Iraq. Mostly along the special forces lines.

Israel/Palestine

Amid violence on both sides, Sharon has noted the uprooting of some settlements in Gaza. There is skepticism, some considering it a PR move until they see results. Personally, I feel the same way. Lets see some results, Sharon.

Letter: Israel’s contempt for Tom – I don’t remember this name, I’ll have to look it up to remember just what happened with this before.

Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif returns to the West Bank, three years after his last visit. Things have not improved and don’t appear ready to anytime soon.

Korea

With the drop in food aid to Korea since Clinton’s administration, North Korean officials believe that food is being used as a weapon against them. Perhaps not true in an intended sense, but the perception is enough, even if there is minimal truth to it.

Iran

The US has left off asking for Iran to be reported to the security council, looking to motivate a strong trigger mechanism instead. Two drafts have already been rejected as too weak, the trigger too general.

Afghanistan

Mullah Mohammad Omar urges Afghans to rise against the US forces in the country, citing the two years of occupation and it’s lack of change.

One protester killed as Afghan solders fired on a group of protesters at Kabul’s defense ministry. The protesters were former mujahideen groups that helped oust the Taliban and were later sacked from the defense ministry. They’re pretty hot on getting three months of unpaid salary.

The US is planning to make a major offensive against the opium crops in Afghanistan, the next predicted to be the biggest ever. It is admitted that current tactics have had pretty much no effect on the country’s drug industry.