The news that the federal authorities fear that people who use almanacs may be terrorists raises a variety of questions. (story.news.yahoo.com) Two of them would have to be: Almanacs!?!?!? ALMANACS???? Is someone in the Bush Administration, which demonized libraries in the so-called Patriot Act, just now learning about all the possible sources of reference information in the world, and becoming more frightened as a result??

Almanacs!?!

The upcoming January 19th issue of In These Times features a good summary by weblog author and editor Bleifuss of the United States' past involvement with Iraq. An earlier article called Missing U.S.-Iraq History by investigative reporter Robert Perry covered the cozy arrangements past U.S. Administrations, especially that of Ronald Reagan, had with Saddam Hussein.

While the topic has been well-covered elsewhere (the best being Georgetown University's National Security Archive (gwu.edu)), this article discusses encouragement from foreign governments, including the US, for Iraq's 'aggressive' attacks on other nations (which U.S. leaders now pretend to object to), and it may be the only place I've read the following:

Last September, for example, Newsweek reported that the Reagan administration in the 1980s had allowed sales to Iraq of computer databases that Saddam could use to track political opponents and shipments of "bacteria/fungi/protozoa" that could help produce anthrax and other biological weapons. [Newsweek issue dated Sept. 23, 2002]

Despite the release of numerous government documents on the subject, Donald Rumsfeld himself, pictured with Saddam Hussein during various meetings he had with the despot, has claimed in Senate hearings to have no recollection of the US providing any such assistance.

I don't know if anyone asked him what he's doing in the photos. That could be entertaining.

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Speaking of missing history, the aforementioned National Security Archive has a new section called Saddam Hussein: More Secret History with additional documents received through Freedom of Information Act requests, including some with bearing on Rumsfeld's friendly visits to Hussein's government. My favorite is the section devoted to Document 11, in which "Bechtel representatives said that if economic sanctions contained in Senate [Prevention of Genocide Act of 1988] are signed into law, Bechtel will turn to non-U.S. suppliers of technology and continue to do business in Iraq." Because genocide is no reason to stop doing business with an evil and despotic ruler!

I’ve been out of town for a brief vacation, and have just begun to catch up on world events. My heart goes out to the people of Iran who lost loved ones in their devastating earthquake of the past week.

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“How our hearts burned with indignation against the atrocities of the Spaniards!… But when the smoke was over, the dead buried, and the cost of the war came back to the people in an increase in the price of commodities and rent – that is, when we sobered up from our patriotic spree – it suddenly dawned on us that the cause of the Spanish-American war was the price of sugar… that the lives, blood, and money of the American people were used to protect the interests of the American capitalists.”
-Emma Goldman, as quoted in A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn.

This quote made my partner reflect on the many financial motivations that lead to war, especially war against those with resources that the more developed and armed nations desire. It would be so great to think that the U.S. would really care about people of other nations enough to be concerned about their governments. But with a track record of favoring any despot that will trade with us or do the U.S.’ bidding, including favoritism toward Saddam Hussein, it’s just too much of a stretch.

At least, too much of a stretch when there’s oil involved.

Have you heard that British declassified documents suggest the US considered seizing oil fields in the Middle East during the 1973 oil crisis? (BBC) Not much of a surprise, it is?

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I had a break from world events, but it appears the people of Iraq, and those who are occupying their nation, received no rest at all. There has been an increase in violent attacks since Xmas (BBC), with many individual reports of violence, death, and mayhem piling up each day.

It appears that overwhelming military force is still not enough to bring peace and tranquility to a nation traumatized by a tyrant and more then a decade of punitive sanctions. Who knew?

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The best item I’ve read today dates back to October: this FAIR report on the Bush Administration’s demand for Good Iraq news, and the press’ inability to satisfy that demand due to new restrictions upon their movements and, well, bad news. (fair.org) Reporters could be much more excited about hospitals being open if those hospitals had the electricity and medical supplies they would need to function, for example.

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It would be bigger news that a general has been named to oversee US military tribunals for its ‘enemy combatants’, though that announcement was somewhat overshadowed by the fact that some crank on the Moscow Metro has ‘confessed’ to being Osama bin Laden, and is now under psychiatric evaluation. (Both BBC)