Flyby News
"News Fit to Transmit in the Post Cassini Flyby Era"
Bush Deception * DU dis-ease US * FBI 9-11 * FCC
22 July 2003
1) Uranium Deception May Be Tip of the Iceberg- - The Crime and the Cover-Up
- - Former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson and Bush Attacks
- - Tell Congress Member to Co-Sponsor Push for Investigations
- - Newsweek Poll: Bush/Uranium True or False?
2) Mysterious Diseases Haunt U.S. Troops In Iraq- - Unexploded ordnance continues to kill Iraqi children - UNICEF
3) Death of Iraq weapons expert in UK prompting hard questions
4) Canadian reporter 'smeared' over Iraq coverage
5) Newsweek Exclusive—The 9-11 Report: Slamming the FBI
6) Updated ALERT on Military Exemptions 7/21/03
7) Restore FCC Media Regulations
Editor's Notes:Uranium Deception is just the tip of the iceberg of a neoconservative agenda and the Bush administration's lies. Item 1 begins with another superb article by William Rivers Pitt, "The Crime and the Cover-Up." Also included in this item is a link to a Time Magazine article on the apparent Bush administration's attacks on former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, "who poured cold water on the Iraq-uranium connection." Also in this item is an action you can take to demand investigations in Congress on Bush-WMD full disclosure. Item 2 describes mysterious diseases affecting US Troops stationed near Baghdad's airport where bunker buster bombs were exploded. ‘NATO experts attribute the mysterious symptoms suffered by U.S. soldiers to the use of depleted uranium.' Also in this item is a report from UNICEF about children still dying and being maimed by US weapons. Many in Iraq and around the world would claim this as a consequence of US weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, in all unfairness, those same US corporations that worked with the Saddam regime making money is now garnishing millions in the current occupation of Iraq. In the looking glass of a chaotic world of death and suffering one can see that this is partly attributed from the aid of US taxpayer dollars.
Item 3 provides more scary information about an UK weapons inspector's sudden death, murder or suicide, who was a vocal critic of the war for regime change from fears of (non-appearing) Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. The next item is obviously a neo-conservative-style attempt for intimidation, leaking information that a reporter who wrote about the low morale in US troops in Iraq, was openly gay and a Canadian citizen. And item 5, in this stranger than fiction account of current events, is a report by Newsweek on 9-11 investigations, ‘Slamming the FBI.' This report is really another tip of the iceberg. This article did not cite information reported by Flyby News on 17 January 2002 in an article by William Rivers Pitt, "Hell To Pay:"
"..The cozy relationship between Bush and the Taliban frustrated the investigative efforts of former Deputy Director of the FBI John O'Neill. O'Neill was the FBI's chief bin Laden hunter, in charge of the investigations into the bin Laden-connected bombings of the World Trade Center in 1993, the destruction of an American troop barracks in Saudi Arabia in 1996, the African embassy bombings in 1998, and the attack upon the U.S.S. Cole in 2000.
O'Neill quit the FBI in protest two weeks before the destruction of the World Trade Center towers. He did so because his investigation was hindered by the Bush administration's connections to the Taliban, and by the interests of American petroleum companies. O'Neill was quoted as stating, "The main obstacles to investigating Islamic terrorism were U.S. oil corporate interests, and the role played by Saudi Arabia in it." After leaving the FBI, O'Neill took a position as head of security for the World Trade Center. He died on September 11th, 2001, trying to save people trapped by the attack, when the towers came down on top of him. The irony in this is simply horrifying.."
Item 6 is a 7/21/03 update from Mark Palmer on the role of Congress and military exemptions over environmental protections. Palmer writes: "The public must stand up to the military and DEMAND that Congress maintain environmental laws that apply to the Dept. of Defense to protect endangered species, marine mammals, and human health!" Item 7 is an update and actions to take to restore FCC media regulations, before diversity in media and the interests of the public go more into the hands of corporate special interests.
Please try not to be overwhelmed by all this news. On the whole it is good, since truth is coming out.. Bush could become a scape goat, and the next wave of media and corporate shenanigans will seem more tolerant, but don't be fooled. The next issue of Flyby News will have more on a potential solution to rid the US government of corporate-corrupt-intelligence control. Dennis Kucinich is a trustworthy leader. His actions, not just words, make this true.
"Let the beauty we love be what we do."
Rumi
1) Uranium Deception May Be Tip of the Iceberg- - The Crime and the Cover-Up
- - Former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson and Bush Attacks
- - Tell Congress Member to Co-Sponsor Push for Investigations
- - Newsweek Poll: Bush/Uranium True or False?
The Crime and the Cover-UpBy William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective
Monday 21 July 2003
The scandal axiom in Washington states that it is not the crime that destroys you, but the cover-up. Today in Washington you can hear terms like 'Iraqgate' and 'Weaponsgate' bandied about, but such obtuse labels do not provide an explanation for the profound movements that are taking place.
Clearly, there is a scandal brewing over the Iraq war and the Bush administration claims of Iraqi weapons arsenals that led to the shooting. Clearly, there is a cover-up taking place. Yet this instance, the crimes that have led to the cover-up are worse by orders of magnitude than the cover-up itself.
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For the complete article, see:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/072103A.shtmlAuthor's Note: The data surrounding this developing story is voluminous, and seems to change every time an administration representative opens his or her mouth. I have collected below the last few stories I have written on this subject in chronological order. Please utilize this data to further your understanding of this matter.
We Used To Impeach Liars (6/3/03)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/060303A.shtmlThe Dog Ate My WMDs (6/13/03)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/061303A.shtmlSlaughtergate (6/23/03)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/062303A.shtmlInterview with 27-Year CIA Veteran Ray McGovern (6/26/03)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/062603B.shtmlThe Insiders Are Coming Out (7/8/03)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/070803A.shtmlMr. Bush, You Are A Liar (7/11/03)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/071103A.shtmlThe Dubious Suicide of George Tenet (7/14/03)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/071403A.shtml- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
William Rivers Pitt is the Managing Editor of truthout.org. He is a New York Times best-selling author of two books - "War On Iraq" available now from Context Books, and "The Greatest Sedition is Silence," now available from Pluto Press here.
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- - Former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson and Bush AttacksFrom Time Magazine
Thursday, Jul. 17, 2003
A War on Wilson?
Inside the Bush Administration's feud with the diplomat who poured cold water on the Iraq-uranium connection
By MATTHEW COOPER, MASSIMO CALABRESI AND JOHN F. DICKERSON
Has the Bush Administration declared war on a former ambassador who conducted a fact-finding mission to probe possible Iraqi interest in African uranium? Perhaps.
For the complete article, see:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,465270,00.html= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
- - Tell Congress Member to Co-Sponsor Push for InvestigationsUranium Deception May Be Tip of the Iceberg
Tell Congress Member to Co-Sponsor Push for Investigations
With each passing day new revelations are surfacing about the justifications cited by President Bush to launch an American attack on Iraq. Bush's allegation that Saddam tried to buy uranium is the first claim getting the scrutiny it deserves. Here are a few more from the same State of the Union Address:
"Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard, and VX nerve agent." ...None has been found.
"U.S. intelligence indicates that Saddam Hussein had upwards of 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents." ...No trace of such weapons has been found.
"Our intelligence sources tell us that he (Saddam) has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production." ...Yet months before the war the International Atomic Energy Agency and other leading scientists determined that these tubes were unsuitable for producing nuclear weapons.
War is the gravest act a country can commit. America and indeed the whole world need to know if the justifications for starting this last war were truthful. Congress in the past has unearthed important truths about the conduct of our nation's government. It's time again, and there are two bills in Congress that would open meaningful investigations into what happened. To send a free fax* to your Congress Member (text below) urging your Representative to co-sponsor HR-307 and HR-2625 just click here.
http://www.truemajority.org/ctt.asp?u=48259&l=82Yours in truth seeking,
Ben Cohen
President, TrueMajority.org
Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream+
+ I am writing this email on my own and not on behalf of Ben & Jerry's, which is not associated with the TrueMajority campaign.
* note: A few of our strongest allies in Congress have asked us to send emails to them instead of faxes. This makes it easier for them to contact you about their position on the issue. We agree that we should help our friends in this way, and therefore we send emails instead of faxes to these special members of Congress.
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- - Newsweek Poll: Bush/Uranium True or False?Did President Bush know the uranium claim in the State of the Union was false?
Posted 22 July 2003
No. The President was a victim of bad intelligence..............18%
Yes. He bent the truth to build his case for war...................76%
I don't know.......................................................................6%
* 12373 responses
[Survey results were tallied every 60 seconds. Live Votes reflect respondents' views and are not scientifically valid surveys.]
http://www.msnbc.com/news/nw-front_front.asp?0cl=c1
2) Mysterious Diseases Haunt U.S. Troops In Iraq- - Unexploded ordnance continues to kill Iraqi children
MYSTERIOUS DISEASES HAUNT U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ
NATO experts attribute the mysterious symptoms suffered by U.S. soldiers to the use of DEPLETED URANIUM
BAGHDAD, July 17 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) –
Several mysterious diseases were reported among a number of American troops within the vicinity of Baghdad airport, a military source closely close to NATO unveiled.
U.S. soldiers deployed around Baghdad airport started showing symptoms of mysterious fever, itching, scars and dark brown spots on the skin, the source, who refused to be named, said in statements published Thursday, July 17, by the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper...
For the full story, click on:
http://tinyurl.com/hfk9For more information on this serious develop, check with
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org..or
http://www.traprockpeace.orgor
http://www.flybynews.com/cgi-local/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid991363232,2156,= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
- - Unexploded ordnance continues to kill Iraqi childrenUNICEF - 17 July – The conflict in Iraq may be over but children continue to be killed and maimed at a steady pace by the remnants of war - coalition cluster bombs looking like toys, thousands of tons of Iraqi munitions abandoned in residential areas and leaking missiles lying around Baghdad - the United Nations children's agency said today.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=7758&Cr=iraq&Cr1=relief
3) Death of Iraq weapons expert in UK prompting hard questions It was impossible for Tony Blair to do anything but concede an independent judicial inquiry into the apparent death of David Kelly. The prime minister knows that if, as feared, the body found at Harrowdown Hill is Dr Kelly's, he has no other option. The issue of how Dr Kelly came to be at the center of the post-war storm over Iraq, intelligence and weapons of mass destruction has suddenly, tragically, become too grave to do anything else. Now the row has turned to personal tragedy, hard questions are being asked of the Ministry of Defense, Downing Street and government spin doctors.
for the complete article, see:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3077309.stm
4) Canadian reporter 'smeared' over Iraq coverageCBC Report On Kofman
Canadian reporter 'smeared' over Iraq coverage
Last Updated Fri, 18 Jul 2003 21:44:21
WASHINGTON - A Canadian journalist allegedly attacked by the White House for reports on the plunging morale of American troops in Iraq says he's not surprised his original story touched a nerve.
ABC News correspondent Jeffrey Kofman says many soldiers he interviewed in Baghdad question why they're still there. Some openly criticized Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for delaying their return home.
Jeffrey Kofman
Courtesy ABC News
According to the Washington Post, an operative from the White House decided to respond to Kofman's coverage by sending some personal details about him to well known U.S. Internet journalist Matt Drudge.
Two facts were played up: first, he's openly gay, and second, he's Canadian. Critics slammed the attempt to use nationalism and homophobia to try to discredit an unflattering news report.
"I think it's not surprising in certain ways that a provocative story provokes," Kofman said in a telephone interview from Iraq. But he's not sure why anyone would want to "out" him as a Canadian, or how any of the details of his life could be seen as a "smear."
"It's all a little perplexing and kind of a sideshow," he added, noting that the real story is what's going on in Iraq.
"I think you just have to kind of look at this and roll your eyes and move on."
ABC TV stood by its reporter Friday, and said any attempts to discredit him based on his sexual orientation or place of birth would be outrageous.
The White House would not comment on allegations that one of its employees tried to get back at Kofman by sending personal information about him to an Internet gossip site. But officials made it clear such action would not be condoned.
U.S. military officials, meanwhile, said the soldiers who openly criticized their superiors could face internal discipline. An investigation is expected.
Written by CBC News Online staff
5) Newsweek Exclusive—The 9-11 Report: Slamming the FBINewsweek - July 28 issue —
The FBI blew repeated chances to uncover the 9-11 plot because it failed to aggressively investigate evidence of Al Qaeda's presence in the United States, especially in the San Diego area, where two of the hijackers were living with one of the bureau's own informants, according to the congressional report set for release this week.
THE LONG-DELAYED 900-page report also contains potentially explosive new evidence suggesting that Omar al-Bayoumi, a key associate of two of the hijackers, may have been a Saudi-government agent, sources tell NEWSWEEK. The report documents extensive ties between al-Bayoumi and the hijackers. But the bureau never kept tabs on al-Bayoumi—despite receiving prior information he was a secret Saudi agent, the report says. In January 2000, al-Bayoumi had a meeting at the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles—and then went directly to a restaurant where he met future hijackers Khalid Almihdhar and Nawaf Alhazmi, whom he took back with him to San Diego. (Al-Bayoumi later arranged for the men to get an apartment next to his and fronted them their first two months rent.) The report is sure to reignite questions about whether some Saudi officials were secretly monitoring the hijackers—or even facilitating their conduct. Questions about the Saudi role arose repeatedly during last year's joint House-Senate intelligence-committees inquiry. But the Bush administration has refused to declassify many key passages of the committees' findings. A 28-page section of the report dealing with the Saudis and other foreign governments will be deleted. "They are protecting a foreign government," charged Sen. Bob Graham, who oversaw the inquiry.
The report criticizes the Pentagon for resisting military strikes against Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan prior to 9-11, and the CIA for failing to pass along crucial information about Almihdhar and Alhazmi at a terrorists' summit in Malaysia. But the FBI gets the toughest treatment. A few months after al-Bayoumi took them to San Diego, Almihdhar and Alhazmi moved into the house of a local professor who was a longtime FBI "asset." The prof also had earlier contact with another hijacker, Hani Hanjour. But even though the informant was in regular touch with his FBI handler, the bureau never pieced together that he was living with terrorists. The bureau also failed to pursue other leads, including a local imam who dealt with several key 9-11 figures. The report, one congressional investigator said, "is a scathing indictment of the FBI as an agency that doesn't have a clue about terrorism." Furious bureau officials say the report misstates the evidence. They say the bureau checked out al-Bayoumi—now back in Saudi Arabia—and concluded he had not given the hijackers "material support." As for Almihdhar and Alhazmi, "there was nothing there that gave us any suspicion about these guys," said one FBI official.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/941425.asp
6) Updated ALERT on Military Exemptions 7/21/03From Mark Palmer (sent to LFAS list serve)
[LFAS = low frequency active sonar]
Dear LFA Activists:
Since my last update, little has changed on the surface in Washington DC with the Congressional consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act. Both the House and the Senate passed different versions of this bill back in May; these two versions need to be reconciled into one bill, but that has not happened yet. Both the Senate and the House have now announced the members of the Senate/House conference committee on the Defense Authorization Bill.
We understand staff in the Senate and the House are working on deals behind the scenes, and that there is enormous pressure on the Republican-controlled House and Senate to gut environmental laws, using this conference committee for the Defense Authorization Bill. While actual votes in Congress on this issue are not expected until September, an internal decision on environmental exemptions may be made as soon as in the next two weeks. Senate and House Versions of Defense Authorization Bill: As noted previously, the Senate version of the Defense Authorization Bill includes weakened language for the Endangered Species Act (ESA), exempting military lands from Critical Habitat designations. Environmental groups succeeded in pushing an amendment putting some legal teeth into wildlife habitat plans on military lands that would replace the stronger Critical Habitat Designations under the ESA.
The House version is by far the worst bill. The "small take" permit process of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which is currently limited to small numbers of marine mammals in restricted geographic areas, would be broadened for anyone, so there would no longer be a numerical or geographic limits to the government issuing a "small take" permit. Also, the provision proposed by the Pentagon to allow Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and his successors to exempt the military from the MMPA for any reason was also left in the House version. The House version further exempts military lands from consideration as Critical Habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and exempts the Navy and other military agencies from provision of the MMPA in several important ways. Clearly, the Senate version is the better of the two. However, we are hearing rumors that the Republicans are leaning towards the House version, or at least including some MMPA exemptions in the final bill for Congress. Furthermore, environmental clean-up language that both houses of Congress left out of the bill is now being revived, reducing or eliminating the need for the Pentagon to clean up toxins and hazardous waste left on military lands, if approved by the conference committee. The public must stand up to the military and DEMAND that Congress maintain environmental laws that apply to the Dept. of Defense to protect endangered species, marine mammals, and human health!
To learn more and what you can do, contact:
Mark J. Palmer
Assistant Director
International Marine Mammal Project
Director
Wildlife Alive
Earth Island Institute
300 Broadway, Suite 28
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 788-3666 x139
(415) 788-7324 (fax)
mpalmer@cal.nethttp://www.earthisland.org
7) Restore FCC Media RegulationsCommon Cause
July 21, 2003
Media Clout Trumped!
Last week about 75 television network executives descended on Capitol Hill to tell Congress that the nearly two million Americans who have voiced their opinion on the new FCC media ownership rules are wrong – thanks to your help, the network power play didn't work.
The strong bipartisan movement in both chambers to restore the FCC rules made significant progress last week. The House Appropriations Committee basically voted to restore the ownership cap to its original 35% limit by refusing to fund the implementation of the regulation. In the Senate, the bipartisan Stevens-Hollings bill, picked up six additional co-sponsors, Senators Bob Graham (FL), Hillary Clinton (NY), Jack Reed (RI), Saxby Chambliss (GA), Joseph Biden (DE), and Norm Coleman (MN).
We must keep the pressure on because this legislation needs to move quickly through Congress. Why? The clock is ticking. Unless Congress acts, the FCC can put these new rules into effect, perhaps as early as September- if Congress does not overturn these rules before it officially comes time to begin to implement them, much will be lost!
Email your Representative and Senators now with a very simple message. "We want a media that is diverse, competitive, and engaged with the local concerns of the communities where we live. Please sponsor and support any effort to undo the FCC rules changes that benefit only big media. In the House, that means supporting H.2052, and S.1046 in the Senate."
==> ACT NOW:
http://causenet.commoncause.org/afr/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=2911686
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