TRUFFULAUT #8

March 12, 2004

FOREIGN POLICY

SENATOR KENNEDY SPEAKS TO COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

"The most important decision any President makes is the decision on war or peace. No President who misleads the country on the need for war deserves to be reelected."

http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/04/03/2004305633.html

AFRICAN 'MERCENARY' MYSTERY DEEPENS

This is becoming a much more complicated story, beyond my current ability to analyze. More facts as they become available. What I have heard so far does not sit well with me.

"Zimbabwe put its army on full alert following the seizure Sunday of a U.S.-registered 727-100 cargo plane that government officials said was carrying 64 suspected mercenaries and a cargo of military materiel."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4478205/

SCIENTIST GAGGED BY NO. 10 AFTER WARNING OF GLOBAL WARMING THREAT

New American foreign policy guideline: "He who is not my sycophant is not my ally and can't ride around in my pickup truck."

"Downing Street tried to muzzle the Government's top scientific adviser after he warned that global warming was a more serious threat than international terrorism."

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=499013

SHARON, UNDER PRESSURE, HOLDS OFF ON GAZA PULLOUT

More evidence that American foreign policy is being conducted by the Committee to Re-elect the President.

"Bowing to White House pressure, Israel intends to wait until after the U.S. presidential election in November before uprooting Gaza settlements..."

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4506325

DOMESTIC POLITICS

JOHN KERRY

As we are all now going to be pinning our hopes on Senator John Kerry to retake Our White House, I will be covering him much more in the future. But because the Texas primary/caucus took place this week, for now I am only including the website for Kerry's campaign. I like him. The Republicans have already started attacking him with some preposterous claims. Read abt him. I think you will be pleased. And try to find ways to support him.

http://www.johnkerry.com/

WHAT HAPPENED TO DEAN?

Never before in history has the person leading in polls and in campaign funds not gone on to win the nomination.

From our friends at the Center For Public Integrity (what a concept!):

POLITICAL MUGGING IN AMERICA

Anatomy of an "independent" smear campaign.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/dtaweb/report.asp?ReportID=557&L1=10&L2=10&L3=0&L4=0&L5=0

...and in case you are still wondering why the person who led in the polls and in fund-raising was eliminated from running:

ON SECOND THOUGHT -- MAYBE THERE'S A REASON THE MEDIA DISTORTED THE 'I HAVE A SCREAM' SPEECH

"In response to more questions [in December on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews], Dean confirmed that, if elected, he would try to break up some of the concentration of ownership."

http://www.fwweekly.com/issues/2004-03-03/thought.html

DEAN AND THE CORPORATE MEDIA MACHINE

"Howard Dean is asking for media trouble."

http://www.counterpunch.org/solomon12052003.html

NOBLE VICTIMS RESPOND

SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH FAMILIES FOR PEACEFUL TOMORROWS

"9/11 Families & Firefighters Call on Bush Campaign To Withdraw Ads Using WTC Imagery"

Those most affected by the disaster deserve the thanks and support of everyone in this nation for refusing to surrender to the demagogues in the Republican Party. They have been horribly mistreated by this administration and its current majority leadership in Congress.

http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/

THE POLITICIZATION OF 9-11

"...the AFL-CIO calls for the Republican National Committee to cease and desist from airing these and similar ads and for George W. Bush to issue a formal apology to all of those who suffered and/or lost loved ones in our terrible national tragedy."

http://www.aflcio.org/aboutaflcio/ecouncil/ec03112004j.cfm

The heart-breaking plight of 9/11 survivors, and their response to it, shows that people can do the right thing. Turning a tragedy into an opportunity to bring abt much-needed improvement is a fine example of humans adapting, and adaptation is the key to survival. This is very reminiscent of the Community of the Cross of Nails, information abt which follows.

COMMUNITY OF THE CROSS OF NAILS (CCN)

During WW II, the Coventry Cathedral in England was bombed by the Nazis. A member of the clergy found two nails and formed them into a cross which came to give inspiration to "...a world-wide community of individuals and groups, who share a commitment to a practical vision of reconciliation..."

http://www.ccn-usa.org/

CROSS OF NAILS CENTRES

"The Cross of Nails has developed... ...into a powerful symbol of peace and reconciliation" Learn more from items in left frame.

http://www.coventrycathedral.org/international/ministry.htm

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER TEAM

This is not a hoax. Didn't one of those commandments on that granite monolith in Alabama say something abt taking the Lord's name in vain? I pray that the man who wins the election in November will be the one inaugurated in January 2005 and that it will not be the person currently taking up space in Our White House.

"There is no fee or obligation for joining. Members receive a handsome free window decal and prayer updates by email. Anyone choosing to remember the President in daily prayer is urged to sign up."

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/index.php

TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK

"A mainstream voice to counter the religious right."

http://tfn.org/

ROGER WILLIAMS - ELEMENTARY AMERICAN HISTORY

A vital part of what made the USA a special place was the notion of separation of church and state, which was developed long before Madison and Jefferson by Roger Williams, who broke with (was removed from) the Puritans in Salem, Massachusetts because he thought making people swear allegiance to the King and ending by saying, "So help me God," forced atheists to take the name of the Lord in vain and the phrase did not belong in a civil oath.

Among his many writings (which were ordered burned by British Parliament) he said, "Forced worship stinks in God's nostrils."

http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5373&abbr=cs_&security=1001&news_iv_ctrl=1085

PAX

TRUFFULAUT