August 7, 2002

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Dear BuzzFlash,

With all the blatant selling-out to corporate interests, sheer government mismanagement, and constitutionally dubious actions of the current administration, perhaps the most troubling thing in the nation's present situation is the reluctance of Congress and the media to voice any serious doubts or opposition to the Bush Administration's actions with regard to war with Iraq. Where are the voices of reason and protest? Yet, the whole enterprise is fraught with such peril for the nation and the world.

Despite what anyone may think about the misdeeds of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, the current talk of invasion of that country in a so-called "anticipatory self-defense" is morally indefensible, and politically, moreover, the wrong answer at the wrong time.

Had any evidence materialized regarding Iraqi complicity in the September 11 attack at the World Trade Center, there might have been a rationale. But, as evidenced in the current Senate inquiry, there is none of any substance to offer in justification. Instead, we see blatant election-year grandstanding of breathtaking self-serving cynicism by the Administration as well as Congress, and a form of imperialism not seen since the Spanish American War.

The media and political world have seen fit to give the current administration a total free pass on so many of its dubious actions. And now, on the question of a totally unprovoked attack on Iraq! Why? Is our free press so biased and beholden to Mr. Bush? Are our representatives in Congress such fawning cowards and self-serving opportunists? Why do they not question how Iraq amassed weapons of biological warfare and/or mass destruction in the first place? We know that the fingerprints of the first Bush Administration are all over it. Why does it take a Brent Scowcroft to raise legitimate questions about going to war over a matter that can be negotiated through the United Nations?

Perhaps more pertinent now is why the Democrats in Congress should be anxious to hand Mr. Bush a second term on the proverbial silver platter? Are there no voices in the Senate to demand a true debate on the issues, not of "when," but "why" we should invade a nation against the wishes of all our allies and against all principles of international law, and with such dire consequences for the entire world. I'm afraid, as it is now, Senator Biden's committee appears to be an advance rubber-stamp for the Bush Administration's most objectionable plans to date, which ought to be dubbed "anticipatory self-destruction."

Frank Ventrola

Dear Buzz:

Here's a great editorial taking the President to task for suppressing free speech during his trip to North Carolina last week (when he got his rhetorical clock cleaned by John Edwards).

http://www.news-record.com/news/opinions/ed1tues06.htm

This "First Amendment Zone" crap must stop. If the people supporting the President may line the motorcade route with as many flyers and flags as they want, and those who oppose his policies have their signs confiscated and are forced a mile away, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that speech is being regulated on the basis of content.

This is simply not allowable under the First Amendment.

It's got to stop.

John D. Burns
Raleigh, NC

Subj: Ashcroft's incompetent drug-warriors burning down the west

Dear BuzzFlash,

Still no Bin Laden. Still no anthrax terrorist. The Chickenshit Regime instead bides its time destroying homes and trying to kill firefighters.

Sean Klinge

Published: Tuesday, August 06, 2002

Week-old blaze near San Diego continues to bedevil firefighters

Associated Press (AP)

JULIAN, Calif. -- The mountain wildfire that has raged out of control for more than a week in dry brush and trees east of San Diego broke through a fire line Monday night and has now consumed more than 41,000 acres. Containment of the fire, which had been at 80 percent at one point Monday, had fallen to 45 percent by Monday night.

It has destroyed 16 homes and caused minor injuries to 18 firefighters since it began July 29.

(snip)

The fire started July 29 when a National Guard helicopter looking for marijuana plants in the rugged, isolated area clipped a power line.

The complete article is here:

http://www.dailynews.com/socalincludes/fire/articles/0802/06/fire01.asp

Subj: Gold Course Diplomacy

Dear BuzzFlash,

How utterly callous, arrogant and despicable is the picture of so-called President Bush commenting on the slaughter of human beings while holding a golf club in his hand. And in the next split second he is showing off his golf swing like a five year old...'watch me! watch me swing at the ball!' He is a disgrace to the human race, let alone as "leader" of our country. My brother-in-law is Palestinian; the agony of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict goes back many many years and is a devastating, ever-present force in their day to day lives. This pResident has no sense of common decency towards his fellow human beings, and I am ashamed and humiliated before the world that he represents my country.

elaine in Petaluma

Dear BuzzFlash,

The Hamdi, Padilla, and Ujaama cases are all steps towards the detention of any US Citizen without charge and without judicial review.

Any change to Posse Comitatus will create a situation where citizens will be arrested and held without charge by the military. There are too many police departments in rebellion against some of the demands of Ashcroft and his henchmen. They need these changes in order to ensure that they will be able to impose a dictatorship.

If you can't see that, you are blind. Go back and review history, particularly the thirties. Or for that matter the history of any dictatorial regime.

re reynolds, orange park fl

U.S. Defies Judge on Enemy Combatant Justice Dept. Refuses To Provide Documents

By Tom Jackman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 7, 2002; Page A01

The Justice Department yesterday defied a federal judge's order to provide him with documents that would have supported the government's classification of a man captured in Afghanistan and being held in a Navy brig in Norfolk as an "enemy combatant."

(more)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50845-2002Aug6.html

BuzzFlash folks,

I would like to bring to your attention two programs of the ACLU regarding TIPS. The first item is a printed message to be sent with your utility, telephone, cable bill etc. asking these companies not to participate in the TIPS program. This item can be found at

http://www.aclu.org/graphics/acluletters.pdf

The second item is a door hanger that says "This home's privacy is protected by ACLU. This item can be found at:

http://www.aclu.org/graphics/acludoorhanger.pdf

I hope BuzzFlash readers download these items and let there friends know about them. Remember companies do listen.

Roberta
Lockport NY

Dear BuzzFlash,

The Democrats realize that America is at a very crucial stage. If they start responding to the Republicans in-kind, the US will be on the brink of Civil War. They are trying to use the old tried and true methods of diplomacy (something the Bush Clan knows nothing about) to avoid total meltdown on US soil. You have to thank the Dems for their sound reasoning, if nothing else. Consider for a moment the fact that Bush and the Republicans are writing executive orders to have the military fight/kill citizens in the event of national chaos. They did it to flight 93 and called it Let's Roll.

But you do sometimes wish Democrats would abandon diplomacy 'cause Republicans are due for a good ass kickin'.

PJOnes
Texas

Dear BuzzFlash,

"A sensational consensus is slowly jello-ing among those so-normally-protective and fiercely-competitive wizened old-time Washington observers with overgrown curly ear- and nostril-hair.

"They find themselves today in the decidedly uncomfortable position of being forced to reluctantly agree that a discernible recurring pattern is emerging among the current White House squatters."

The "Big Threats, Small Balls" Doctrine
http://www.americanpolitics.com/20020804Marsden.html

Chewgababy

BuzzFlash,

Why is the media not reporting more on the Saudi problem? The fact that they finance terrorists, hold telethons for suicide bombers, and generally hate the American people, should have some relevance in what's going on with the so-called war on terrorism. Instead, our higher powers embrace these people......The white house receives a report from some of the top minds in the country on the problem and it is ignored, and the Saudi's are given a public apology. The heart of the problem is Saudi Arabia, yet we continue to do nothing. Aren't you bothered by this?

Jon S Geletka

Subj: Is it just me?

Dear BuzzFlash,

This has been bothering me for a while. If you remember back to the last part of September, early October, the government issued several statements warning that is was 'about to seize offshore accounts related to terrorism.' Over the course of several weeks, the same warning was issued. At the time, I kept wondering, why the warning? Why don't they just seize the assets? Why are they giving terrorists time to move their money?

Finally, in October they announced that they had frozen these accounts.

And then Enron broke. Enron of the 900+ offshore subsidiaries, where any investigation of suspicious accounts must also dredge up the activities of American corporations using 'aggressive accounting' to prop up their stock values.

Were the repeated warnings and the delays, followed by the collapse of Enron, World Com, etc., a coincidence? Did they hold off the investigations and seizures to give friends (not terrorists) time to shift and hide their money? Are these two stories connected?

Jeff Crook