An anonymous coward writes:

"The New Model of Imperialism:

Saddam on Parade

Tariq Ali

My first reaction to the capture of Saddam Hussein was both anger and
disgust. Anger with the old dictator who could not even die honourably. He
preferred to be captured by his old friends than to go down fighting, the
one decent thing he could have done for his country.

An anonymous coward writes:

"Invasion of the Entryists"

George Monbiot, Guardian (London), December 9, 2003

How did a cultish political network become the public face of the
scientific establishment?

One of strangest aspects of modern politics is the dominance of
former left-wingers who have swung to the right. The "neo-cons"
pretty well run the White House and the Pentagon, the Labour party
and key departments of the British government.

But there is a group
which has travelled even further, from the most distant fringes of
the left to the extremities of the pro-corporate libertarian right.
While its politics have swung around 180 degrees, its tactics --
entering organisations and taking them over -- appear unchanged.
Research published for the first time today suggests that the members
of this group have colonised a crucial section of the British
establishment.

David Martinez writes:

"500 Miles to Babylon"

David Martinez

We leave Amman at 3 AM, with a half-dead moon hanging over the cold city. As per custom, we have hired a white GMC SUV, and a driver, who keeps up a steady 100 mph from the word go. When the sun finally rises we see the desolate desert of eastern Jordan, which makes West Texas look like Guatemala, stretching out all around. Miles of flat, rocky sand, as far as the eye can see, with cargo trucks speeding empty back from Iraq, and others broken down by the side of the road, their drivers in red-checked khaffiyas, peering under the hoods.

Of Walls and Land Theft
Juliana Fredman

They offered the family a blank check to leave their home to the bulldozers. Muneera and Hani refused and now all they can see is concrete. They tell us the story in a lovely living room, insisting on serving us sweet tea despite their own Ramadan fast. The children, just back from the school day smile shyly and stroke their mothers head. All are gracious, welcoming and friendly if weary from futile repetition of their tale.

"Dominance and Its Dilemmas"

Noam Chomsky

Transcript of the speech given by Noam
Chomsky in Havana, Cuba on November 3, 2003

The past year has been a momentous one in world
affairs. In the normal rhythm, the pattern was set in
September, a month marked by several important and
closely related events.

The most powerful state in history announced a new
National Security Strategy asserting that it will
maintain global hegemony permanently: any challenge
will be blocked by force, the dimension in which the
US reigns supreme. At the same time, the war drums
began to beat to mobilize the population for an
invasion of Iraq, which would be "the first test [of
the doctrine], not the last," the New York Times
observed after the invasion, "the petri dish in which
this experiment in pre-emptive policy grew." And the
campaign opened for the mid-term congressional
elections, which would determine whether the
administration would be able to carry forward its
radical international and domestic agenda.

"The Life of Mobile Data:

Technology, Mobility and Data Subjectivity"

April 15-16, 2004, University of Surrey, England

Revised Deadline for Submission of abstracts: 30th November 2003

Keynote Speakers include:

David Lyon, Queens University, Ontario

Charles Raab, University of Edinburgh

Simon Davies, LSE and Privacy International

The rapid adoption and diffusion of mobile devices over the past decade has
transformed the way information is generated, organized and communicated
about individuals and their lives. The construction of new mobile data
profiles and of mobile, informatic selves, hold the potential to transform
what is organizationally and interpersonally meant by privacy,
individuality, community, risk, trust, and reciprocity in a mobilizing, and
globalizing world.

"Bush To Face Massive Philippine Protests"

Alexander Martin Remollino, www.Bulatlat.com

U.S. President W. Bush will arrive for a state visit in Manila Oct. 18 but multilateral organizations, anti-war activists and other militant groups promise to greet him with nationwide mass protests including in Metro Manila. The protest actions are part of an Asia-wide campaign against the Bush visit which includes Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia.

La Paz, Bolivia - Embattled President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada resigned Friday, a presidential aide said, hours after losing the support of his last key ally following weeks of deadly street protests over an unpopular plan to export natural gas.

Under Bolivia's constitution, Vice President Carlos Mesa would replace him, but is doubtful whether Mesa will be accepted by the masses in revolt. A former television reporter, Mesa is a political independent and a respected historian, but has no political base of his own.

Anonymous Comrade writes:

My hugest thanks go out to the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, senior Aboriginal women of Coober Pedy, for their amazing generosity, spirit, strength and warmth in inviting us all here to their country and sharing their stories with us. My respect also to the Irati Wanti team and the Melbourne Kungkas for their incredible work on the campaign and for the camp.

Anonymous Comrade writes

"American Psycho"

John Chuckman

No, I did not read the book, but what words more perfectly describe George Bush making one of the oddest speeches ever made at the UN? There he was -- with his designer suit, costly watch, and constantly-manicured haircut -- stone-faced and unrepentant for the violent destruction he caused, for his obvious lying, and for his rage against the thoughtful objections of others. Actually, unrepentant seems an inadequate description, unaware or uninterested being closer to the mark.