INSANE GLOBAL BRINKMANSHIP

by Jeremy Lee
Well, the iron fist is out of the decidedly ragged velvet glove. Troops are flowing into the Middle East from Britain, Australia and the US. Neither Bush nor Howard are pretending any longer that they are prepared to give the UN weapons inspectors a chance. When "Desert Storm" started in 1991 the first President Bush (Dubya's father) managed to stitch together a coalition comprising 34 countries, including Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Spain. Today there are only three – the US, Britain and Australia. This is, according to Bush, "the coalition of the willing". But how willing? Every poll in Britain and Australia now shows a big majority of the population opposed to the commitment of troops to Iraq. Neither John Howard nor Tony Bush has put the final decision before Parliament and asked for a vote in favour of war. Public opinion behind Bush is dropping day by day. And the first shot has yet to be fired.

Tony Walker, writing from Amman (Australian Financial Review, 23/1/03) made the obvious point:
"This much should be clear: Australia has now taken a step on a slide over which it does not have a great deal of control. Decisions will be made in Washington, and possibly in London – certainly not in Canberra – which may draw Australian forces into a conflict outside a UN mandate. ..... such a situation also invites temptation: absolute power risks corrupt thinking, at least. .... To be credible, UN resolutions require the sanctions of force.
"But there are plenty of UN resolutions that are honoured in the breach, or not honoured at all, without military action being threatened or applied. "Does the New World Order of the 'coalition of the willing' pick and choose which resolutions might require force and those that do not? What, indeed, are the criteria for action against one state in flagrant breach of UN resolutions, and not against another?..."

Peter Hartcher, writing from Washington (AFR, Weekend, 22-23/1/03) pointed out that President Bush has four potential crises to deal with – firstly, obviously, Iraq; not only an immediate invasion, but the aftermath, which will destabilize the whole Middle East; secondly, the deteriorating economic crisis within the US; thirdly the position in the Far East, with North Korea not only the possessor of nuclear weapons but also the means of delivering them; and, finally, the probability of further terrorist attacks such as S-11 within the US itself.

It is clear, also, that Prime Minister Howard is exercising enormous and risky brinkmanship. So far a strong war policy has served him well. It appears he is prepared to continue his aggression as a means of keeping himself well ahead of a cautious and divided Labor in the polls. But there is strong evidence that the Australian population is not with Howard on his Iraqi policy The peace movement is no longer a fringe left, environmentalist element. Mainstream Australia is deeply troubled by Howard's current policy. We can be sure that if and when war commences, we will be hit with a barrage of publicity – how quick and mercifully the invasion is proceeding; how bravely our boys are performing their duty; how caches of hidden arms are being discovered in Iraq; how many Iraqis are welcoming the 'liberators' with open arms; how successful and how necessary the whole project has been; how lucky we are that the threat has been eliminated; and how thankful we should be that "the coalition of the willing" delayed no longer.

A certain euphoria will emerge for a short time, spurred by relief that it wasn't so bad after all. In such a situation, my suspicions are that Howard and his Coalition will go to the polls, with every chance that a polarized Australia will hail the Caesar of the moment. It is only later that a more realistic picture will begin to emerge, as a minority of independent journalists start reporting on the devastation and the environmental damage. The mopping up will take years. The 'bushfires' from a host of new enemies will require even more resources and 'emergency measures'. The question above all that must finally be answered is whether a few leaders in a cabinet can take their nations into wars of annihilation? Or whether a world, exhausted by destruction and misery can finally emerge through the psychology of "war-as-a-solution" into a new era of peace; where "swords are turned into ploughshares and spears into pruning-hooks".

THE FINANCIAL CRISIS DOGGING BUSH

Writing under the headline GREENBACK'S WOES ONLY JUST BEGINNING, Corrine Lim (Australian Financial Review, 21/1/03) gave a stark picture: She dealt with only one aspect – the US Current Account Deficit:
"The current account deficit is at 5 per cent of gross domestic product, and US Treasury borrowing is at a seven-year high. The US needs an estimated $US2 billion a day in global capital inflow to fund its trade gap ..."

But capital is beginning to flow out as the US dollar slides. Put this in context of other figures. Total United States debt – household, business and the three levels of government, local, state and federal – has climbed from $US4 trillion in 1980 to $31 trillion in 2002. The total has now passed the previous level of 264% of GDP, which occurred at the start of the Great Depression. United States foreign debt is now $2.8 trillion in 2002, 27% of GDP. With profits falling, bankruptcies rising, millions unemployed and the American dollar sliding, the picture is not bright. And the war will NOT help.

DAVOS ON AGAIN

By coincidence, of course, the high pooh-bahs of the global world are gathering for their annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The Australian (24/1/03) said: "...More than 2,000 of the planet's wealthiest and most influential figures from business moguls to titans of government, have started to converge on this tiny, hard-to-reach Swiss ski resort for the yearly World Economic Forum. "From Bill Clinton to Bill Gates, via Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, movers and shakers from every sphere are flying in to rub shoulders and press the flesh at this six-day talkfest.... "

And this year the conventional wisdom is that terror, security and war are the dominant issues. "Delegates will hear from John Ashcroft, the hardline US Attorney-General, 'how the fight against terrorism will change the world'. NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson will be there, as will – war permitting – US Secretary of State Colin Powell .... For many, it remains the ultimate networking event." How comforting to know that the global elite have our interests so much at heart!

WHY PAY TO GET OUR OWN MONEY?

MUGABE TO RETIRE HURT?

An intriguing possibility has been raised over the future of Zimbabwe, now in free-fall towards starvation and chaos. The Australian (14/1/03) said: "Two of the most senior figures in Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party have offered to deliver President Robert Mugabe's resignation to secure a negotiated settlement of the country's deepening crisis." The secret deal put to Morgan Tavangirai, head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would also give Mr. Mugabe, 78, immunity from prosecution and allow him to go into exile. A government of national unity would then be established to run Zimbabwe until new elections were held in two year's time ...."

Apparently, negotiations are reasonably advanced, with the suggestion that Mugabe is receptive to the proposal. Never let it be said there's no cause for hope! Peace in Zimbabwe? Mugabe in genteel retirement, along with Idi Amin and Saddam Hussein? And of course, Tony and Cherie Blair!

NEW ZEALAND LEADS THE WAY

ONCE UPON A TIME, I TOO BELIEVED

by Betty Luks
Adelaide identity Dr. Geoffrey Partington berates the "wretched appeasers in such countries as Australia who believe that if they are nice" to Saddam Hussein "they will be among the last on the terrorist hit list". ("We should be grateful for George Bush", Adelaide Advertiser, 24/01/03.) He writes:
"I will never forget the scenes of joy displayed by crowds in many Islamic cities when the news came through of the bombing of the twin towers in New York." Nor will he ever forget "the adulation bestowed by Palestinians on 'martyrs' who die on suicide missions that kill Israeli civilians". He finishes with, "If I were a believer, I would fall on my knees each night in gratitude that the interests of the free world are being defended by George W. Bush."

When it comes to 'world affairs' Dr. Partington, many a 'believer' has shed his cocoon and grown into one of the "awakened proletariat" whose attention is now riveted on the "springs of action, other than those publicly admitted" to which Douglas refers (Thought for the Week). Certainly Saddam Hussein is a tyrant to his own people and we now face the threat of a Muslim versus Western World War, which includes acts of terrorism. But how were we manoeuvred into such a position? And who will benefit from such a war?

It is reported Saddam Hussein and his henchmen, in an attempt to derail or delay Bush's war plans, listed in the 12,000 page report presented to the UN, each and every government, private and public firm and/or institution that helped Iraq in its 30-year weapons programme. The United States' ruling elite censored the report down to 3,000 pages (see story below). In the 1970s the Australian League of Rights published the Australian edition of Dr. Antony Sutton's summary – National Suicide – of his three volume series Western Technology and Soviet Economic Development which exposes why 100,000 Americans soldiers were killed in Korea and Vietnam by technology supplied by 'America and her Allies'. Antony Sutton, Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution from 1968-73 provided proof of the military and industrial aid to the Soviet Union by way of United States "governments, private and public firms and/or institutions" thereby building up the Soviet Military/Industrial Complex. This Soviet Complex supplied the "weapons of mass destruction" to communist regimes in Korea and Vietnam, whereupon these "weapons of mass destruction" were used against their very own American (and our) soldiers.

Can you imagine such betrayal of one's own kith and kin Doctor Partington? Sutton listed, from authentic Soviet sources, the technical specifications of the ninety-six ships used by the Soviet Union to transport weapons and supplies to Haiphong for use in South Vietnam against the United States and its allies. He compares the figures of American soldiers killed in Vietnam with the amount of US-Soviet 'trade'. As the amount of trade went up so did the numbers of young American casualties! It was not the interests of 'the free world' these young men were defending, although they probably thought so.

George W. Bush defending the "interests of the free world" Geoffrey? Not bloomin' likely!

PARDON?

"If terrorism is a form of warfare, and war terrorizes, then what exactly is the War on Terror?" – Yellowtimes.org January, 2003

HAVE YOU HEARD?

A worldwide survey was conducted by the UN last month. Only one question asked: "Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the world ?" The survey was a huge failure: In Africa they didn't know what 'food' meant. In Eastern Europe they didn't know what 'honest' meant. In Western Europe they didn't know what 'shortage' meant. In China they didn't know what 'opinion' meant. In the Middle East they didn't know what 'solution' meant. In Australia they didn't know what 'please' meant. And in the USA they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' meant.

MEL GIBSON CLAIMS 'FORCES PLOTTING AGAINST HIM'

WHAT BUSH AND HIS CRONIES ARE HIDING

Canadian journalist Firas Al-Atraqchi, B.Sc (Physics), M.A., writing for YellowTimes.org, claims US authorities handed over to the United Nations a censored version of Iraq's documented report on weapons research and procurement – and he explains why.

"When Iraq handed UNMOVIC its 12,200-page report on weapons research and procurement, it knew fully well that the US would seize the document from the UN and proceed to censor it. Why the censorship? "Weapons proliferation," we are told. While that is partially true, Iraq hinted early on that its massive document would list each and every government, private and public firm and/or institution that helped Iraq in its 30-year weapons programme. The US had to remove the document from the hands of the international community because it contained vital information that could undermine the current administration. The other permanent members of the UN Security Council did not object much to this US move because they knew that their names and their firms also helped arm Iraq.

Iraq's desperate bid to ward off war
This was Iraq's last, desperate strategy to ward off war, or at least delay it as long as possible. It listed names of individuals and organizations that would come under intensive public scrutiny and embarrassment should the contents of the document be made public. Several prominent US firms and universities are complicit, and, in particular, so are several high-ranking US officials who were members of the Reagan administration and went on to become national leaders themselves. The point man? George Bush Sr., former head of the CIA, Vice President under Ronald Reagan, and President of the US during the Gulf War.

How does the current Bush administration know Iraq may or may not be lying? They have in their possession documents detailing all sales and support given to the Iraqis in the bio-chemical weapons domain. They have invoices and spreadsheets of everything that was shipped from various US departments and federal institutions to Iraq directly and indirectly (through US allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia). However, these documents also have the final approval of the CIA, who, under George Bush Sr., encouraged ties with Iraq. Does it not seem the least bit ironic that the US was funnelling bio-chemical information to Iraq up until 1990, the year Iraq invaded Kuwait?

The German daily newspaper Die Tageszeitung has claimed that it has obtained a copy of the Iraq document and will soon publish a list of these suppliers. The list purportedly includes Hewlett Packard, DuPont, Honeywell, Rockwell, Tectronics, Bechtel, International Computer Systems, Unisys, Sperry and TI Coating, the US Departments of Energy, Defense, Commerce, and Agriculture.
According to Democracynow.org (https://www.democracynow.org/Zumach.htm): "US government nuclear weapons laboratories, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and Sandia, trained travelling Iraqi nuclear scientists and gave non-fissile material for construction of a nuclear bomb."

The list of arms suppliers
If this list of arms suppliers (and supporters) to Iraq were released to the public, scandal would rock the White House. In a time-frame that has seen the Enron scandal, and may yet see Vice President Dick Cheney questioned by the SEC over Halliburton, President Bush would likely see his re-election hopes buried. By mid-January 2003, the US, and the UK for that matter, had not released vital information. Although technical information was passed on to UNMOVIC, more substantial data has not been forthcoming.
Several suspect sites, both the US and UK have indicated were areas of illicit weapons activity, turned up empty when UNMOVIC investigated them. Phil Donahue, Chris Matthews and Michael Coren have joined the chorus of US military personnel (MSNBC and TIME Magazine report that one in three top US generals do not favour current moves towards military conflict citing lack of visible evidence) in asking for evidence first, military action later. They will likely have a long wait; should the US possess such evidence, it is likely never to release it.

An examination of current US moves in the UN Security Council and the relationship between Iraq and the US during the 1980s will provide telling reasons."

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Peter Lewis has given South Australians a once in a lifetime opportunity to change governance for the better in South Australia. But we must play our part to ensure it comes about.

• A Parliamentary Steering Committee has been appointed to oversee the Constitutional Convention (CC).

• The Steering Committee has appointed a Panel of Experts, including specialists in constitutional law, to prepare a Discussion Paper on reform. This Paper, we understand, is now available for public comment.

• Visit the CC's website www.constitutionalconvention.sa.gov.au and download the Discussion Paper, or write requesting a copy.

• A series of public meetings will be held in country centres and metropolitan Adelaide commencing on Kangaroo Island February 3rd and ending with a meeting at Morphett Vale, March 1st, 2003.

• All the issues already identified in the Discussion Paper will be discussed and debated – plus any others you should raise.

All stops must be pulled out for this campaign. League supporters, we urge you to please make every effort to participate. You are invited to make submissions about all the issues listed – and also those not listed but of concern to you. Hundreds of letters need to also be sent to the Steering Committee members (four Labor politicians, four Liberal politicians and Independent Peter Lewis) so as to reinforce your submission. Among the questions listed is the following most important one: "Should South Australia have a system of initiative and referendum (Citizens Initiated Referenda) and if so in what form and how should it operate?"

The schedule of events is as follows:
• The Constitutional Convention is calling for Submissions now from all South Australians. Send your submission to the Constitutional Convention, PO Box 464, Adelaide, SA, 5001. Submissions close February 28th. (Even a one-liner stating you want South Australians to have the right to participate in CIR is valuable.)
• The Steering Committee will be vetting all the submissions before submitting the proposals to the delegates at the Constitutional Convention.
• The Delegates to the Constitutional Convention will be picked at random. The Convention has been put back to June, this will allow more time for public discussion.
• The recommendations of the Delegates from the Constitutional Convention will then be put to Parliament.

It is a long and tortuous path from the forming of the Steering Committee to what South Australians finally get – and nothing is sure or can be taken for granted. While there are many sound proposals, CIR is the key one and we must pull out all stops to ensure South Australians really do have that mechanism in place. But it is only going to happen if you play your part.

What's to be done? Make your submission to the Constitutional Convention. Write to each member of the Steering Committee to reinforce what you have submitted to the Convention. Write to each member of Parliament to doubly reinforce your submission. (Ring Parliament House and ask for a list of members and their contact details if in doubt.) Attend the Constitutional Convention public meeting nearest to where you live to have your say. Do your level best to recruit others to the campaign. Write letters to newspapers and get onto talk-back programmes to stir up interest, participation and action.

SYDNEY CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS' CLUB

ADELAIDE CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS' CLUB

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

NOW AVAILABLE – NEW EDITION OF "HITLER'S WAR" BY DAVID IRVING
Please get in touch with your State League Book Service if you have had Irving's book on back order. Plenty of stock. Price is $100.00 for hardcover edition posted.

"Terrorism and War" by Howard Zinn. The author is one of America's most articulate historians. He explores the growth of the American Empire, as well as the long tradition of resistance to militarism within the United States – from the socialist party in WWI to the opponents of military intervention in Afghanistan (and possibly Iraq?) today. Zinn was a bombardier during WW2 and has spent decades contrasting the rhetoric governments use to justify military conflict with the harsh and horrible reality of the impact of war, especially on the civilians who are increasingly the victims.

"Germs: The Ultimate Weapon" by authors William Broad, S. Engelberg and J. Miller. Bio-terrorism is the subject of this book and the authors say bio-terrorism is a more effective weapon of mass destruction than the hydrogen bomb! Definitely not light reading, this book explains 'germ warfare' has its origins in a laboratory and the 'bio-bomb' capable of wiping out whole cities can be transported in a brief case! Readers will learn of the Soviet Union's biological weapons programme, with the rows and rows of silos filled with anthrax germs and the efforts of such states as Iran, Iraq to recruit the scientists who created these horrors. An alarming but an authoritative and timely book. $35..00 posted from all League Book Services.

"Pawns in the Game" by Commander William Guy Carr. He was a distinguished Canadian and author of seven books, "Pawns in the Game" being the best known. This book is a classic exposure of the international conspiracy. After his retirement from naval services, Carr toured Canada warning his fellow countrymen of the dangers of this unchecked push for world power. His book remains in the category of 'essential reading'. Price $18.00 posted from all League Book Services.

"Water's War: privatisation, pollution and profit" by Vandana Shiva. In Water's War the author uses her remarkable knowledge of science and society to analyse the historical erosion of communal water rights. Examining international water trade, damming, mining, and aqua-farming she exposes the destruction of the earth and the disenfranchisement of the world's poor as they are stripped of their right to a precious common good. She reveals many of the most important conflicts of our time, most often camouflaged as 'ethnic' wars or religious wars, such as the on-going Israel-Palestinian conflict, are in fact conflicts over scarce but vital natural resources. Water's War celebrates the spiritual and traditional role water has played in communities throughout history, and warns that water privatisation threatens cultures and livelihoods world-wide. Price $50.00 posted. Available only from the Australian Heritage Society, PO Box 163, Chidlow, WA, 6556.