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IRAQ BLOWS UP ABOUT 2,500 OIL FIELDS TEHRAN, March 7, 2003. By Nikolai Terekhov Iraq has dropped bombs hitting 2,500 oil fields that cover a vast area. According to the IRNA agency, the bombing near Sharjeh resulted in the explosion of an oil refinery near Kirkuk. Some oil-bearing wells were mined with antitank mines. The Iraqi Army units are ditching around near Baghdad and Kirkuk round the clock to resist the US Army. en.rian.ru

Gasoline Pump Price to Set Record High March 7, 2003 By Tom Doggett American motorists should prepare to pay an average $1.76 per gallon for gasoline in April -- a record high -- before possibly seeing some relief at the pump, the government warned on Thursday. Gasoline prices are up because of high crude oil costs -- the result of the oil market's fears of a possible war with Iraq, a disruption in Venezuelan oil exports from a workers strike, colder weather on the U.S. East Coast and strong petroleum demand. reuters.com

Oops journalism Or how they learned to take the handouts and never apologize for the lies March 7, 2003 By Bev Conover Online Journal Editor & Publisher The corporate-controlled media's employees—who falsely call themselves journalists breathlessly feed the American people a daily diet of lies, distortions and disinformation packaged as news. The weekend fare was the alleged capture of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, billed by White House Press Propagandist Ari Fleischer as "one of Osama bin Laden's most senior and significant lieutenants, a key al Qaeda planner and the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks." Asia Times reported last Oct. 30 that Mohammed was shot and killed in a police raid on his Karachi apartment last Sept. 11. So that leads to two possibilities: Asia Times is wrong or the Bushies are telling another whopper. And they have been telling a pile of whoppers—an elephant dung heap of them as high as the World Trade Center. Since the dung heap has grown quite ripe, we'll spare you the litany of lies that run from George W dodging whether he used drugs, the stolen elections of 2000 and 2002, the official lines (lies) about 9/11 and the "evil" Saddam Hussein, to Colin Powell's "Miss Cleo" performance before the UN Security Council—when he told the members Al-Jazeera would soon play an alleged Osama audio tape which it hadn't yet received. Day after day, night after night, the "newsies" ran with this crap without raising an eyebrow, much less a question. The slobbering pack runs with every PR handout or pronouncement from the White House and no questions asked, with the exception of Helen Thomas, who now is a bad girl for asking hard questions and calling George W. "the worst president in all of American history," and a few others who muster up enough courage now and then to get under Ari Fleischer's skin. onlinejournal.com

Voice of the dark corners March 6, 2003 Fidel Castro These are hard times we are living in. In recent months, we have more than once heard chilling words and statements. In his speech to West Point graduating cadets on June 1, 2002, the United States president declared: "Our security will require transforming the military you will lead, a military that must be ready to strike at a moment's notice in any dark corner of the world." That same day, he proclaimed the doctrine of the pre-emptive strike, something no one had ever done in the political history of the world. A few months later, referring to the unnecessary and almost certain military action against Iraq, he said: "And if war is forced upon us, we will fight with the full force and might of the United States army." That statement was not made by the government of a small and weak nation, but by the leader of the richest and mightiest military power that has ever existed, which possesses thousands of nuclear weapons, enough to obliterate the world's population several times over - and other terrifying conventional military systems and weapons of mass destruction. guardian.co.uk

Advisors warn Bush he faces "humiliating" defeat on UN resolution March 6, 2003 "You will lose, Mr. President," Powell told Bush. "You will lose badly and the United States will be humiliated on the world stage." Powell told Bush he has only four of the nine votes needed for approval of a second resolution. As a result, some White House advisors are now urging the President to back off his tough stance on war with Iraq and give UN weapons inspectors more time. "We have no other choice," admits one Bush advisor. "We don't have the votes. We don't have the support." capitolhillblue.com

It's time for Powell to resign March 6, 2003 By William O. Beeman Forced to do the bidding of Caligula-quoting hawks, Secretary of State Colin Powell should salvage his honor and like his predecessor Cyrus Vance make a principled exit. Ever the good soldier, Colin Powell was compelled to squander his reputation for honesty and forthright dealing in a presentation before the United Nations fraught with questionable information and half-formulated conclusions. His credibility was used to serve Bush administration hawks with whom he has a basic disagreement. The joy with which his speech was greeted by militants in the White House and right-wing Republicans had as much to do with his perceived "conversion" to their side as it did with the content of the speech. salon.com

Pentagon, media agree on Iraq war censorship Reporters to be “embedded” in military March 6, 2003 By Henry Michaels During the 1991 Gulf War, the White House and the Pentagon imposed unprecedented censorship on media coverage. With the willing agreement of the corporate-owned media, American military activities in the region were mostly off-limits to journalists. Defense Department censors cleared photos, video footage and battlefield dispatches. Reporters were allowed to travel only in “pools,” accompanied by US military escorts. With the help of this cozy relationship, the war crimes committed by the United States and allied forces were systematically covered up, while the Iraqi forces were demonized. Every mainstream media outlet reported ad nauseam that US “smart bombs” had inflicted devastating damage on Iraqi military targets, yet spared civilian lives. Only later was it revealed that the vast majority of the bombs were unguided missiles and that thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children were killed. wsws.org

Vatican to Bush: Iraq war would be 'disaster' March 6, 2003 A Vatican envoy who met with President Bush Wednesday said he "clearly and forcefully" conveyed a message from Pope John Paul II that a war against Iraq would be a "disaster." "You might start, and you don't know how to end it," said Cardinal Pio Laghi said after his half-hour meeting at the White House. "It will be a war that will destroy human life. Those people that are suffering already in Iraq, they will be in a really bad situation." Laghi, a former Vatican ambassador to the United States and a friend of the Bush family, said the president -- "a man of great belief" -- expressed his own views on the Iraq crisis during the meeting. But the Vatican envoy said Bush, a Methodist, did not try to present a religious case in support of military action. "He did not try to be a pastor or shepherd or preach the Gospel. I tried to preach the Gospel," Laghi said. Laghi also said he gave Bush the Vatican's view that the United States should not act against Iraq without the sanction of the United Nations. cnn.com

Congressional Leaders, Veterans to Bush: Troops 'Not Prepared' for Bio-Chem Attacks March 6, 2003 U.S. Newswire Former military leaders, Members of Congress, Gulf War Veterans, military families and others will demand that President Bush guarantees the safety and protection of U.S. troops in the event of biological or chemical attacks in Iraq. In his February 8, 2003 radio address, the President stated the administration has intelligence "that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons." Army investigations show between 60 and 90 percent of its chemical-biological warfare protective gear malfunctions and as many as 250,000 defective protective suits are missing. Isratex, the company that manufactured the gear, was prosecuted by the Federal Government for selling defective merchandise to the Pentagon and is now out of business. usnewswire.com

Mall Wants to Drop Peace T - Shirt Charges March 6, 2003 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (AP) They told a mall manager they would stop only when charges against the shopper were dropped and when the mall outlined its policy. ``We just want to know what the policy is and why it's being randomly enforced,'' said Erin O'Brien, organizer of the 100 anti-war demonstrators who marched through the mall to protest the arrest. ``It's only the people in the recent months who have anti-war or peace T-shirts that are being asked to leave the mall.'' Stephen Downs, 61, and his son were stopped Monday by mall security guards and asked to remove their shirts that read ``Peace on Earth'' and ``Give Peace a Chance,'' or leave. Roger Downs, 31, took off his shirt. But his father, a lawyer with the state Commission on Judicial Conduct and a former Peace Corps volunteer, refused. The guards called police, and he was charged with trespassing and pleaded innocent. Tim Kelley, director of Operations for Pyramid Mall management, the mall's owner, said in a statement that Downs' behavior and clothing was disruptive to other shoppers. The men had had the T-shirts made at a mall store and wore them while they shopped. nytimes.com

The Noriega Gambit March 6, 2003 By RB Ham Former CIA supported Mujahadeen money man gets "Noriega-ed" just as EVERYTHING is going wrong for Der Fuhrer George W Bush. His plans for his Slaughter in Iraq is on ice, domestically the economy is tanking and his poll numbers are plummeting. Voila! HEY! We bagged ourselves the #3 man in Al Qaeda! Or did they? members.shaw.ca

50 years' jail for video thefts upheld March 6, 2003 Duncan Campbell The United States supreme court has ruled that a 50-year sentence being served by a man who shoplifted videos as gifts for his children is not a "cruel and unusual" punishment. The ruling was described as "barbarous" by campaigners against California's "three strikes law", which imposes mandatory penalties for third-time offenders. By a majority of five to four, the supreme court decided that Leandro Andrade should continue to serve the 50 years imposed in 1995 for shoplifting videos worth £95 on two separate occasions. Andrade, who had a drug habit, had no record of violence and had stolen videos including Cinderella and Free Willy for his children. "This is simply barbarous," said Geri Silva, executive director of Families to Amend California's Three Strikes (Facts), an LA-based organisation campaigning to exclude non-violent offenders from the effects of the law. "It shows the absolute inhumanity of the highest court of the land. If that is not a cruel and unusual punishment, I don't know what is." guardian.co.uk

Superbug's new strain thrives outside hospitals March 6, 2003 By Mark Henderson A NEW strain of the drug- resistant superbug MRSA has escaped from hospitals to infect thousands of healthy adults across the United States. The bacterium is striking fit Americans with no links to the hospitals in which it thrives, raising fears of an epidemic that could spread to Britain. The germs, which can withstand many common antibiotics, are transmitted by skin contact, with no need for an open wound. Outbreaks have been reported in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston and Miami. Athletes and schoolchildren involved in contact sports have fallen ill. Precise figures for the number of infections are not available, because MRSA is not a notifiable disease in the United States, but public health officials believe cases already run into the thousands, with several deaths. The disease normally manifests itself as a skin condition, beginning with sores that resemble insect bites, and progressing to cause painful abscesses and boils. In rarer cases, when it reaches the lungs or the bloodstream, it can cause life-threatening pneumonia or septicaemia. timesonline.co.uk

Bush Pushes the Big Lie Toward the Brink Even some in government can no longer be silent in the face of falsehood. March 5, 2003 Robert Scheer So the truth is out: George W. Bush lied when he claimed to be worried about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. Otherwise, Iraq's stepped-up cooperation with the U.N. on disarmament would be stunningly good news, obviating the need to rush to war. Instead, the U.N. weapons inspectors' verification of Iraq's destruction of missiles, private meetings with Iraqi weapons scientists, visits to locations where biological and chemical weapons were destroyed in 1991 and a series of unfettered flights by U2 spy plans have been met with a shrug and sneer in Washington. The White House line is that even if the Iraqis destroy all their slingshots, Goliath is still bringing his tanks and instituting "regime change." The arrogance is breathtaking. We have demanded that a country disarm -- and even as it is doing so, we say it doesn't matter: it's too late; we're coming in. Put down your guns and await the slaughter. latimes.com

ACLU Opposes Ashcroft Government Surveillance Bill; Says Proposal Threatens Freedom Without Ensuring Safety March 5, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON - Responding to Attorney General John Ashcroft’s appearance at a Senate hearing this morning, the American Civil Liberties Union today reiterated its call on Congress to resist passage of the proposed government surveillance bill known as PATRIOT II. "Our nation is poised on the brink of a dangerous new anti-civil liberties era, and these escalating bids for expanded government power demand close scrutiny," said Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU, who traveled from the group’s headquarters in New York to sit in on today’s hearing. "As the people’s representative, Congress must ask Mr. Ashcroft the tough questions about his actions and policies that undermine the fundamental values of our democracy." aclu.org

Pope Sends Peace Appeal to Bush March 5, 2003 NewsMax Wires A senior Vatican cardinal was scheduled to meet President George W. Bush Wednesday to deliver a message on the Iraq crisis from Pope John Paul II. Vatican sources have not revealed details of the pope's message brought by Cardinal Pio Laghi. But they point out that John Paul has been an outspoken opponent of military action against Saddam Hussein. He has made repeated public statements calling for a peaceful resolution to disarming Baghdad. Vatican sources have told United Press International that the pope has been even more emphatic in private meetings with visiting world leaders. When British Prime Minister Tony Blair tried to defend Bush's hard line on Iraq to the pope during his recent audience, one authoritative British Catholic publication reported that he got a papal dressing down. John Paul told Blair the Iraq crisis should be resolved in concert with the international community, and having recourse to international law. Later, the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, said the Vatican regarded a preventive war as "aggression" and unjust. newsmax.com

Bush Plan a Boon to Drug Companies Medicare Prescription Proposal Would Also Benefit Insurers, Analysts Say March 5, 2003 By Mike Allen Health care economists said the drug benefit President Bush proposed for Medicare yesterday would be a bonanza for the pharmaceutical and managed-care industries, both of which are huge donors to Republicans. Bush went before the friendly audience of the American Medical Association at the Washington Hilton to ask Congress to pass incentives for millions of senior citizens to switch from Medicare, the federally funded health insurance program for the elderly, to private health insurance in return for drug coverage. Those who stayed in Medicare would receive more modest benefits, including a discount of 10 percent to 25 percent at the drugstore checkout. Marilyn Moon, a health economist at the Urban Institute, said Bush's plan would hand tremendous negotiating power to health insurance companies. "By making the private plans such a central part of the future of Medicare, the government is going to have to meet their demands for greater contributions to the cost of care, over and above the subsidy for prescription drugs," Moon said. Bush's proposal is vague on many points, including the terms for insurers. But Tricia Neuman, a vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, said the plan would have to provide a windfall for the companies, "or too few would participate for the plan to work." washingtonpost.com

Europeans think America does more harm than good March 5, 2003 Andrew Osborn in Brussels Anxiety about America and the way it projects its global power was exposed yesterday when an European commission opinion poll showed that half the union's citizens see Washington as a danger to world peace rather than a force for good. Citizens in all 15 member states believe it does more harm than good when it comes to promoting world peace, fighting poverty in the developing world and protecting the environment. The responses in all other key areas were decidedly critical of US foreign policy, and will give President Bush's policy advisers pause for thought. On the crucial question of whether America is a force for good when it comes to promoting world peace just 32% concurred; 46% disagreed. guardian.co.uk

BUSH 'DESPOT OF CENTURY' March 5, 2003 BAGHDAD President Saddam Hussein yesterday branded US President George W Bush "the despot of the century" and said Iraq would defeat the US if it invaded. "You, the Iraqi people, will be victorious, armed with faith, and the despots will be defeated and arrogance will not benefit them," Saddam said in a message to mark the Islamic New Year, read on Iraqi television. His statement was laced with Quranic verses and religious sayings, referring to conflict with the US as righteousness versus evil."What does the despot of this century want? What is the right path to defeat him?" Saddam asked, in an apparent reference to Bush. gulf-daily-news.com

'Serves rude America right' March 5, 2003 By Suna Erdem NESRIN ALOGLU, a bank clerk, is delighted that Turkey’s parliament has thrown Washington’s plans for an attack on Iraq into disarray by blocking the deployment of US troops. “Serves them right. Now they can apologise.” Apologise, she said, for the way in which the United States so rudely took Turkey for granted and issued threats, insults and ultimatums when it did not get what it wanted. In rejecting Washington’s demands, the recession-hit country is turning its back on US aid worth more than $20 billion (£13 billion). But Turks still support the parliament’s decision. “At least it’s cleared Turkey’s name and dispelled the image abroad that Turkey can be bought,” Zafer Dorttas, a 27-year-old customs official, said. timesonline.co.uk

The American 'dream palace' March 5, 2003 By JEFFREY SIMPSON The Bush administration has wanted to get Saddam Hussein from day one. Until Sept. 11, however, no even remotely plausible pretext could be found. The attacks on New York and Washington changed all that. Ever since, "regime change" in Iraq has been the administration's abiding objective. Alliances were sundered in its pursuit. Countries such as Turkey were bribed -- thus far, unsuccessfully. Publics around the world seethe with anti-war and anti-American sentiment. Sympathy for the U.S. plunges everywhere. Even supportive governments such as Tony Blair's endure internal splits. It doesn't matter. Washington's "war party" wants Saddam Hussein, and nothing will stop them. globeandmail.ca

Peaceful Moabites want big bomb's name changed March 5, 2003 Oliver Burkeman The authorities in the small town of Moab, in southern Utah, have spent a huge amount of money in recent years on a simple tourism strategy: when you think Moab they want you to think of mountain-biking, horse-riding, rafting, and energetic outdoor pursuits. They do not want you to think about awesomely destructive bombs, each the size of a car and weighing 21,000lb, almost 10 tonnes. But that is what they fear will happen if they cannot dissuade the army from naming its powerful new creation the massive ordnance air burst: Moab for short. "We realise that it is an acronym, but we are still concerned about the effects it may have on our community," the county council wrote, begging President George Bush to order a rethink. guardian.co.uk

US hits roadblock in push to war March 5, 2003 By Rupert Cornwell America admitted yesterday that the war due to begin as early as next week might have to be put back by at least a month because of Turkey's refusal to allow US ground troops to deploy there. The surprise rejection by the parliament in Ankara made the planning "more complicated", Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, said. Some military analysts predicted that an attack of the speed and decisiveness President George Bush wants might have to be delayed until late March or even early April. independent.co.uk

The 2003 Spending Orgy March 5, 2003 Congressman Ron Paul Federal tax revenues have dropped dramatically since the stock market peaks of 2000.  Rising unemployment continues to reduce the number of taxpayers, while plummeting investor portfolios no longer produce the huge capital gains and dividend revenues that flooded federal coffers in the 1990s.  This drop in revenues was of course predictable, given the faltering economy and enormous market losses of the past two years. Yet has Congress responded to this new reality with spending freezes or other austerity measures?  Hardly.  Its response has been exactly opposite, passing a 2003 budget that is a whopping 22% higher than just two years ago!  Not only is spending way up in terms of total dollars, but the rate at which spending grows each year is accelerating rapidly.  In fact, a federal budget that once took a century to double in size will now do so in only about five years. gooff.com

Apocalypse is nigh, Buffett tells Berkshire faithful March 5, 2003 By Simon English Warren Buffett is poised to issue his most doom-laden forecast for the state of the world economy yet, including a damning verdict on the derivatives industry he fears could cause a global financial crisis. In the upcoming annual letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, Mr Buffett drops his usual folksy style to warn that banks do not understand the hidden risks lurking on their balance sheets. He labels derivatives "time bombs, both for the parties that deal in them and the economic system" and "financial weapons of mass destruction, carrying dangers that, while now latent, are potentially lethal". money.telegraph.co.uk

Pricetag for Bush dream: $100b and still counting March 5, 2003 Frankfurt Reuters Wars cost money as well as lives and estimates for an attack on Iraq are high and rising.  Conservative calculations, which assume a swift campaign that emulates the speed of the 1991 Gulf War, pitch in at around $100 billion, equivalent to one per cent of U.S. gross domestic product. If the war gets bogged down, however, in street-to-street fighting to take Baghdad, costs would rise. Throw in the nightmare of chemical or biological warfare, rebuilding the country and sticking around for the next ten years to encourage Middle East stability, and some see an astronomical bill of $1.6 trillion for U.S. taxpayers. gulf-news.com