October 17, 2005
1. The coming police state
2. Not an optimistic view of Iraq's future vis-a-vis democracy
3. Every time I think nothing they do could surprise me, the Bush admin comes through with yet another unbelievable idea
4. Bush's rationale for continuing the war
5. The machine coming unravelled?
 
***********
1. It's not so far away, the American police state. Like with the boiling frog, they heat it up slowly so no one really notices. What a joke, that so many Bush supporters yap about how the soldiers are defending our freedoms, while our own government takes them away.
 http://www.antiwar.com/roberts/?articleid=7556
 
2. Apparently some analysts in high places are beginning to think that "democracy" in Iraq will do little to end the insurgency.
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1009-02.htm
 
3. Don't you want to divert some of your charitable giving to Iraq's reconstruction?
 http://www.jimhightower.com/air/read.asp?id=11774
 
4. I know his supporters deny that he is a liar, but based on the information we have it is clear that he knows not of what he speaks. I guess if you're ignorant of the facts then you can't technically be a liar.
 http://www.consortiumnews.com/2005/101505.html
 
5. The White House is bracing itself for indictments, and things are getting a little ragged.
 http://news.ft.com/cms/s/2285dbae-3e7c-11da-a2cb-00000e2511c8.html
 

October 8, 2005
1. As if there's not enough fear, here's something else to worry about

2. Is Bush a Racist?
3. Maybe we should be handing out copies of the Constitution at Peace Plaza
4. More bad poll news for Bush
5. Conservatives split on Miers nomination
 
***************
1. Yes, the flu pandemic might be something to worry about, but even worse is Bush's plan to use the military to control us - any excuse to militarize the country.
 http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/12817031.htm
 
2. Robert Jensen has an interesting answer to this question, and it has more to do with a system that enables mediocre white men to rise into positions of power than it does racism.
 http://www.counterpunch.com/jensen10052005.html
 
3. Good story from the rally in DC.
 http://www.counterpunch.com/foley10012005.html
 
4. Could the tide really be turning, and if it does, will it matter?
 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1193633
 
5. Kind of interesting perspective on the three groups and their reactions to the nomination. Most disheartening is the one sentence that says the Dems are going to give Miers a pass. Why don't they all just join the Republican party and be done with it?
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/07/AR2005100702311.html

 

October 3, 2005
1. Conference about War on Terror
2. More up-close and personal accounts of relief efforts in LA
3. FEMA still stumbling
4. Help in responding to those who say we can't just leave Iraq
5. VFW organizing positive reports from the front in Iraq
6. Karen Hughes should have done her homework first.
 
*************
 1. Interesting line-up of characters here, and even more interesting is what they say.
 http://www.antiwar.com/utley/?articleid=7229
 
2. This account is from a group of college students who are members of the Campus Anti-war Network.
 http://www.counterpunch.com/can09172005.html
 
3. Again, this is a relatively small disaster comparing to an attack on a major city such as NY, Los Angeles, Wash DC. What exactly has FEMA been doing since 9-11?
 http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/091705C.shtml
 
4. This is a good article to refer people to, when they bring up all the reasons why we can't just "cut and run".
 http://www.antiwar.com/orig/odom.php?articleid=7487
 
5. So far there is only one letter and not much detail in it about how his 50 combat missions really helped the Iraqi people, but maybe he'll write more later...on another note, it is really sad that the VFW, all of whose members swore to uphold the Constitution when they joined up, is so anti-free speech.
 http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Largest_U.S._veterans_group_starts_positive_0930.html
 
6. The women Karen Hughes met with apparently refused to play "nice-nice". Hughes should have done her homework before she went over there. The incompentence is amazing.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1001-05.htm

 

September 12, 2005
1. FEMA detention camp -  A must read.

2. Comparing 9-11 and Katrina
3. Support of Christians for Bush is eroding
4. Another thing to cover up vis-a-vis New Orleans
5. Unwagging the Dog
********************
 
1. It's a little tricky to find this article on the website, but you can probably search with these numbers
1664014 (post id: 1685907)  
and get it.
 http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/fema.html
 
2. Here's a more truthful comparison of 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina as far as emergency response goes
 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050908/ts_nm/commissioners_dc_2&printer=1;_ylt=Au7FfjmmM6mSs7j8EYhJlM1g.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE
 
3. One can only say what took them so long?
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0912-05.htm
 
4. This guy seems to have good credentials, and he claims it will take up to 10 years to make all of New Orleans safe for human habitation, from a toxic waste perspective.
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0911-03.htm
 
5. The part about the firefighters is just beyond belief, but then again with this bunch nothing is really beyond belief...
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0912-31.htm

 

September 8, 2005
1. Bullshit Protectors
2. The peace movement was/is right
3. Democracy Now report from New Orleans
4. Bush to investigate himself
5. Three NY Times editorials from Thomas Friedman and Maureen Dowd
 
*************
1. Apparently Bush was not pleased by the Bullshit detectors worn by veterans in Salt Lake City.
 http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7262.shtml
 
2. Why we are right to call for troops home now.
 http://www.antiwar.com/orig/breyman.php?articleid=7095
 
3. Volunteer rescuers view of the situation.
 http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/06/149240
 
4. Rest assured, he will get to the bottom of the failure to adequately respond to the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Be sure to read to the end, to see what Mom Bush had to say after touring a relief shelter in TX.
 http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=250210&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/
 
5. One might think these pieces were straight off the pages of Common Dreams.
 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/opinion/03dowd.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fMaureen%20Dowd
 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/opinion/07dowd.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fMaureen%20Dowd
 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/opinion/07friedman.html?incamp=article_popular

 

 
August 29, 2005
1. Smear and Dodge
2. Soccer Moms and Harley riders
3. Interview with Iraq Veteran
4. How America Lost Iraq - new book
5. More about Peak Oil
6. Bush's vacations
7. Can the mess get any messier?
 
**********
 1. Whatever anyone thinks of Cindy Sheehan, her questions are legitimate and we should demand answers. What we get is the usual smear and dodge.
 http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/18449
 
2. One woman's experience in Crawford at Camp Casey. I find these blog writers' perspective more interesting than anything the media has to offer.
 http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/24392/
 
3. Kelly Dougherty has a typical story - joined the Guard for college money and medic training, never thought she'd be going overseas, and had a real awakening as a result. She is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
 http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/24076/
 
4. Sounds like this book might be just the antidote to all the people who tell us how wonderful things are in Iraq now, and how our troops are doing such great things for the people. Of course, there are people who won't believe anything this guy says, because by definition if you don't say good things about Iraq then you are part of the liberal media that doesn't give us the "true" picture.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0828-20.htm
 
5. Peak oil may be coming sooner than we think - the rising gas prices are just one harbinger of what is coming.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0827-26.htm
 
6. The statistics on Bush's vacations are unbelievable. Enough said.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0827-20.htm
 
7. Bush is out of touch with reality, the Democrats are too chicken to speak out, there is no plan for Iraq but the public can't seem to find any alternative besides continuing the same failed strategy, and the Sunnis oppose the draft constitution. Why are people so committed to continuing down the same old path?
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/08/29/BL2005082900733.html
 
***************

August 27, 2005
 

1. A Republican Bush supporter tells why we must leave Iraq
2. Tolling the bells
3. Monica Benderman writes about her husband, as he begins his 15 month sentence
4. You didn't really expect Western democracy in Iraq, did you?
5. More sobering commentary on Iraq's future
 
**********
1. This guy has credentials that would suggest he is to be taken seriously. As he so clearly points out, sometimes there is no good option in a situation.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0825-29.htm
 
2. One more strategy to try and wake up the slumbering masses, and make the war more real. It's not Nader's idea but he is promoting it.
 http://www.counterpunch.org/nader08252005.html
 
3. Kevin Benderman decided he could not participate in war, and has been sentenced to 15 months for Missing Movement. These words are from his wife, written just after he was sentenced and taken away.
 http://www.counterpunch.org/benderman08182005.html
 
4. Women's rights go backwards 30 years and Islamic law seems to be prevailing, though the constitution is far from settled. Iraq's ambassador to Egypt is apparently the same woman used by the Bush Admin during his State of the Union address - remember the touching hugs with the mom of the fallen soldier?
 http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-24T144832Z_01_SCH449958_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-SECULARISTS-C-COL.XML
 
5. Either Bush is truly uninformed, or he just thinks he can whitewash things to the public and that will take care of all his problems. The truth about Iraq's political situation is grim at best.
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/26/AR2005082601537.html

 

August 25, 2005
1. Mixed messages from Pentagon and Bush

2. Perhaps the tipping point on this war is closer than we imagine
3. Silencing the critics permanently
4. A deserter tells his story
5. Who are the suicide bombers?
6. Gotta love Chavez
 
***************
1. Someone is not "on message" regarding how long troops will remain in Iraq. Will be interesting to see how this plays out as casualties continue to increase.
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0813-05.htm
 
2.  This editorial  is anything but subtle, in its claims that the war is over for the American people, and the Bush admin and their minions are in disarray, worrying about the midterm elections.
  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/opinion/14rich.html?th&emc=th 
 
3. A little blog piece on how critics of the war are silenced permanently - mostly journalists. Contains numerous links for more info on items reported.
 http://aliberaldose.blogspot.com/2005/08/bushco-primer-silencing-critics.html
 
4. How many more stories about being in Iraq are there like this that are waiting to be told, or being held in someone's mind like a cancer?
 http://aliberaldose.blogspot.com/2005/08/escaping-hell.html
 
5. A very interesting article, with data about who commits suicide terrorism and what motivates them. It's not necessarily religious fervor.
 http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/05/18/opinion/edpape.php
 
6. Imagine the audacity of Chavez, suggesting Venezuela sell gas directly to the poor people in the US. Even worse, offering free health care to poor US citizens, and offering to train doctors! They are treating us like a third world country! What great political theatre.
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0824-06.htm

 

August 06, 2005
1. Bush's latest poll numbers
2. Counter-terrorism efforts
3. The Twilight Era of Petroleum
4. The Myths of Hiroshima
5. Closer to home
 
*****************
 
1. When teflon is scratched enough, things start to stick. Bush the teflon man might be getting to that point. One wonders exactly how bad he needs to get before the masses turn solidly against him.
 http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/334939p-286050c.html
 
2. The police work leading to the arrest of the alleged subway bombers gives a great example of the alternative to war as a response to terrorist attacks. If anyone is thinking of writing a letter to the editor, highlighting this point, this article might be helpful in terms of pointing out how lacking the US govt is in this regard. I hope someone will write this letter, Tom and I have both been published recently.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0805-26.htm
 
3. Though Americans still act like the supply is unlimited, we are already seeing the reverberations of slowing production of petroleum products. Things are not going to get better in this regard, so it behooves all of us to start planning for it now rather than later.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0805-30.htm
 
4. Not surprisingly, what we learned in school about the atomic bomb and why it was dropped wasn't exactly the truth. This just scratches the surface, but is a place to start if you haven't read much about this.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0805-24.htm
 
5. This is about Vermont but just as easily could be about NH, especially the Lakes Region and Seacoast areas.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0804-24.htm

 

July 25, 2005
1. Comments on Aegis destroyer launching

2. Pakistani perspective on terrorist attacks and root causes
3. How we continue to win hearts and minds of the Iraqi people
4. Ex-CIA case officer's analysis of the full impact of the outing of Valerie Plame
5. Communal courage as an alternative to fear
 
**************
 1. Bruce Gagnon writes about protesting the latest Aegis destroyer as it was being launched at Bath Iron Works.
 http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2005/07/protest-at-aegis-christening.html
 
2. One perspective from a Pakistani, regarding terrorism and its root causes. Limited analysis, I think, but puts an alternative view out there to discuss and share.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0724-22.htm
 
3. The longer our troops remain in such a dangerous, unfriendly environment, the more frequent these civilian killings will become, and the worse it will get. 
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0725-01.htm
 
4. The outing of Valerie Plame as an undercover officer has serious ramifications for future operations. Given that informants are a critical component to information gathering that can help prevent attacks, one would think that the warriors in the War on Terrorism would be outraged by what happened.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0723-26.htm
 
5. A positive model for how people can and do react under duress, from the London subway bombings.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0722-28.htm

 

July 11, 2005

1. What exactly are they worshipping?
2. dontgoarmy.com
3. Stan Goff's blog
4. How to stop terrorism
5. Different opinions re: "Why do they hate us?" question
 
***********
1. Some churches go way beyond the flag in the chancel when it comes to patriotism.
 http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/10814697p-11590118c.html
 
2. If you want pure and unadulterated opinions about the army from those who are in it or just recently freed, check out this site.
 http://www.dontgoarmy.com/phorum/
 
3. Stan has great military credentials and is very out-spoken against the war. This is his response to Bush's speech last week, and some replies from readers. I am very heartened by the responses I see from military folks!
 http://stangoff.com/index.php?p=143
 
4. Well-articulated answer to the question of "what do you suggest other than war", from John Dear.
 http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0710-23.htm  
 
5. Some say ramp up the War on Terror, others analyze polls and data and say policy change vis-a-vis Middle East is the answer.
 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0709-02.htm