From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia
Reserch Senter(*)
		OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS   #17
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In the Run-Up to World War III, Reliably Reporting the News Relevant
to Extreme Right-Wing Democratic Socialists Everywhere
(validated for RiteThink(tm) by the Office of Our Man in Can-berra).

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Selecting latest news stories and other data for you...
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How do you know this isn't the mother of all distractions?
	-- Whitehouse mouth Ari Fleischer, talking about US objections
	   to Iraq's WMD, 03 Mar 2003.

----------------------------------------
YOU DIN AST.
Latest guesses on the start of the war on Iraq:
BEFORE NEXT WEEKEND!
On Wed, 5 Mar AUS Foreign Affairs Minister Downer called for Aussie aid
workers to quit Iraq immediately. This puts the bombardment of Baghdad
>>>as early as Mon 10 Mar, AEST<<<. But AUS officials may just be
extra-cautious, calling 7 days early instead of the "US standard" 72 hrs.
On Thu, 6 Mar UK "sources" say Brit officers have been told to be
ready to start the ground war on Mon, Mar 17 (Mar 18 AEST).  The
sources say the air blitz will start Thu, Mar 13 >>>(Fri, Mar 14 AEST)<<<.
On Fri, 7 Mar Aussie journos said a giant US-built media centre in
Qatar would be ready for operation by the Sun, 9 Mar at the latest.
If the US calls on its aid workers to quit by Mon, Mar 10 (Mar 11
AEST), we have confirmation for next Thu, Mar 13.
The US plans to drop about 3,000 guided munitions, incl about 500
cruise missiles, during the first 48 hrs of the air phase of the
attack, in an attempt to overwhelm Iraqi defences. Just the munitions
will cost $US1 bn. Our taxes at work!

----------------------------------------
Wed, 05 Mar 2003.

Canberra. STILL WAITING ON THE "GO" FROM WASHINGTON!  PM John Howard
says he will get the decision to go to war with Iraq as soon as the
end of next wk.  He says the decision will appear to come from
the Fed Cabinet.  US Pres Bush has already flagged the end of next wk
as the deadline for the UN to clear the way for a US-led attack, or
else.  PM Howard told radio 2UE that if need be, Cabinet will meet to
pretend to make a final decision on AUS's involvement in the war.

Canberra. "GO"!  For Min Alex Downer says all Aussies in Iraq should
immediately leave. Mr Downer says there are few aid workers left in
Iraq, but there are some human shields.  He says all Aussies there
have received consular advice to leave, at least in theory they have.
Mr Downer says the Shields have made their political statement, but
for their own safety they should immediately leave the country.
Observers have been expecting a 3-day warning of imminent US
attack. This "final warning" may therefore put an initial bombardment
of Baghdad on Mon the 10th.

Did it start without us?
London (Telegraph).  Allied special forces, including Brit SAS
personnel, are already operating inside Iraq. This suggests that,
despite efforts to secure a UN res backing force, the war has begun.
Brit def sources said 2 SAS squadrons -- about 240 men -- plus
more than 100 support troops were engaged in various parts of
Iraq. They are part of joint special ops that include more than 4,000
US and AUS special forces with HQ in Qatar and bases in Jordan, Kuwait
and Turkey.  Their insertion into Iraq coincides with intensified air
attacks.
Iraq said on Mon that US and Brit aircraft had killed 6 civilians
and wounded 15 others in raids on Basra. The US military denied
hitting civilian targets, saying the attack was on an air def
facility.  Brit Def Sec Geoff Hoon told MP's that patrols in the
flight-exclusion zones now involved "a broader range of aircraft" but
there had been "no substantial change" in activity.
On Mon, 8 US B-52 bombers arrived at a Brit air base in
Gloucestershire, from where they could bomb Iraq.  Last Sep Brit
and US air patrols of the flight-exclusion zones were turned into a de
facto air war when a raid by 106 aircraft on an air base in W Iraq
signalled the start of an intensification of attacks aimed at
destroying air defs.
Allied special forces are now moving in and out of Iraq virtually at
will, monitoring oilfields W of Baghdad and in the N amid concern that
Saddam Hussein will set fire to them in the event of an invasion. The
Brit SAS's priority has been to confirm Iraqi troop positions and
that targets chosen from satellite photographs for the 1st attacks in
any air war are not decoys.  Troops have also been looking for
suitable holding areas in SW Iraq for the many Iraqi troops who are
expected to give themselves up.  Other roles have included monitoring
troop movements in the vast desert W of Baghdad and in the N around
Pres Saddam's home town of Tikrit, where senior commanders expect the
Iraqis to put up stiff resistance.

General to US: Be prepared for casualties
Washington (AFP).  The top US general warned Americans today to be
prepared for casualties if the US goes to war with Iraq, saying it
will not be like earlier conflicts in the Gulf in which few US service
members were killed.  "I think though that the American public needs
to understand that if the military is ordered to go into Iraq, that
this will be war, that war is a very dangerous and ugly thing, and
there will be casualties," said Gen Richard Myers, the chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a radio interview.  Myers said the
number of casualties US forces could expect to take was "unknowable,"
but one of the biggest factors would be whether Iraq used chemical or
biological weapons and whether its army had a will to fight.  "I don't
think that's a promise that anyone in uniform can make, that this is
going to be a casualty-free war. That's almost an oxymoron," Myers
said.  "I don't think anyone should have the opinion that this is
going to be antiseptic, that it will be be just like Desert Storm was
or the Kosovo air campaign. It can be different from that, and we've
got to make ourselves ready," he said.

Davao. BOMB TOLL CLIMBS!  The death toll from a bomb blast at a S
Philippines airport has risen to 21.  Authorities have tightened
security at key installations across the country in the wake of the
blast, which also left more than 150 injured.  Davao Mayor Rodrigo
Duterte says several suspects have been arrested and interrogated over
the explosion.

Philippines. ANOTHER BOMB ATTACK!  Tonight there's been another bomb
attack in the S Philippines.  Cotabato was rocked by a home made bomb,
but no one has been injured.  Yesterday a powerful bomb was set off in
an airline passenger terminal.  Moments later another bomb exploded in
a bus shelter outside the airport.  Then, 1 hr later, a 3rd bomb
exploded at a health centre in a nearby town. Contrary to earlier
reports, it's now believed 1 person was killed and several others
injured in the 3rd attack.  The MILF has denied involvement in any of
the attacks.  And the ASG has claimed resp, at least for the airport
bombs.  The Phil military says it could be a ploy by the 2 groups, for
the Abu Sayyef to keep the MILF "respectable".  They have already
arrested 5 people from the 15,000-strong separatist MILF. In AUS, PM
John Howard said the series of bombings showed the need to "maintain
momentum" on the war against terror.  In Washington, professional
mouth Ari Fleisher condemned the bombings and called for the culprits
or nearest equivalent to be brought to justice.  Phil Pres Gloria
Arroyo said the latest attacks will not lead to an expanded role for
the US in combating the S rebels.  But Washington has loudly
considered sending in more troops to battle the ASG -- which it links
to Al Qaeda.

Jakarta. ATTACK!  Dozens of un-ID'ed men have attacked a district
police stn in the Indon capital.  Reports say they killed 1 policeman
and injured several others. The Detikcom online news service says the
men attacked the Makassar post in E Jakarta close to midnight last
night, beating up officers and vandalising the premises.  One
policeman was stabbed and hit on the head. He died later in hosp.  An
officer at E Jakarta police stn confirmed only that Makassar stn came
under attack.

Kabul (SBS). KHALID IN AFGHANISTAN!  Al Qaeda #3, Khalid Shaikh
Mohammad, is tonight reported to be under lock and key at the US
Bagram air base, under the control of the CIA.  The terror network's
"top killer", as Pres Bush Jr called him, is reportedly now talking
about more than the Koran.  US officials are loath to say he's been
tortured.  But the Pakistan Int Min said Pakistani interviewers "did
what was necessary" to get him talking.  "We didn't go to him with a
bowl of soup", he said.  Amnesty Int fears Khalid will see torture at
hands of US allies, as has happened in the past.

US won't torture terror planner
Washington (CNN).  The US promised yesterday it would not [personally]
use torture to extract info from Al Qaeda's key planner, Khalid Shaikh
Mohammed, even as officials admitted they were racing the clock to
head off attacks that may already be scheduled.
The FBI was hunting for possible Al Qaeda operatives in the US,
including in Washington, after retrieving names from a "treasure
trove" of electronic and documentary material seized with Khalid in
Pakistan at the weekend, CNN reported.
Unnamed US intel officials also told US media that Khalid had been
plotting attacks against "commercial sites" in the US and targets on
the Arabian peninsula.  US Homeland Security Sec Tom Ridge said
intel agencies believed before the capture that Khalid knew of a
"significant terrorist plot" in the US, but Mr Ridge declined to give
any details.  But he said the links to Khalid -- the man the US says
plotted the Sep 11, 2001, attacks that killed 3,000 people -- had been
part of the reason that the US national threat alert had been
increased to high risk last m.
Whitehouse mouth Ari Fleischer wouldn't say whether Khalid would face
an American court or military tribunal for the Sep 11 attacks. But he
did appear to rule out torture to extract info.
Khalid was last night flown from Pakistan to a US detention centre at
Bagram air base in Afghanistan, 3 days after his arrest in an
early-morning raid in Rawalpindi at the weekend, when 2 other men and
bags of computers, documents and mobile phones were also captured.
Officials have named Ahmed Abdul Qudoos as one of the arrested men.
The 3rd was Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi, who investigators have said
provided cash to Mohammed Atta for the Sep 11 attacks, The NY Times reported.
During his interrogations in Pakistan, Khalid gave conflicting
statements on OBL. At one point he said OBL was alive, but later said
he was dead because he hadn't heard from him in 6 m. He claimed he
contacted OBL via email and a string of messengers and never knew his
where-abouts. Some reports say Khalid had 2 hand-written notes from
OBL when he was arrested, that suggested OBL is hiding somewhere in Pakistan.

Washington. TO RES OR NOT TO RES!  Sec of State Colin Powell says he's
optimistic the US will get a new Sec Council Res authorising war on
Iraq. But, elsewhere, anonymous sources say the US may not chance the
embarrassment of having their Res vetoed, and will just announce a
"unilateral" war timetable by the start of next wk.  Meanwhile,
Pentagon officials say 60,000 troops ordered to the Gulf yesterday
will be used to "maintain the stability of Iraq" after a US-led war.
Not that the war is actually ON for next wk! Def officials say more
than 230,000 US troops are now in the Gulf region, with 120,000 massed
on the Kuwait border.

London. RUSSIA STILL SIGNALS VETO!  The Russian For Min, Igor Ivanov,
was visiting Number 10 today.  But he had time to tell the press
Russia wanted a "political solution" to the Iraq problem, and
abstaining in the Sec Council was "not an option".
In NY, the Russian amb to the UN also indicated any proposed 2nd
Resolution that implied military action would be voted down by Russia.
But it's no increasingly uncertain the Sec Council will even get to
vote on any new Resolution.
The US is widely seen as having lost the battle for UN support for
war, and is likely to withdraw the draft res rather than have it put
to the test next wk.  US Sec of State Colin Powell on German TV
sounded unsure about the prospects of putting the Res up, saying it
was "not an easy vote".
Reports that the US govt is tapping the phones of UN delegates to
gather intel on their voting strategies didn't go down well.  "Do you
think that surprises me?", asked one UN amb.
Meanwhile, other US voices of doubt are starting to pipe up.  Ted
Kennedy argued before a friendly crowd that the US hadn't been able to
get it right in Afghan, "so how can we go it alone in Iraq"?
On Fri Hans Blix will deliver his next weapons report on Iraq, and
it's now expected it will mostly be positive.
Elsewhere, Pres Bush Jr still indicates peace-meal disarmament and
indications Iraq destroyed chem and bio weapons in the 1990s is not
enough.  Observers expect the Pres to give Saddam a final ultimatum
within days and then declare war.
In AUS, PM Howard is still refusing to say under what conditions
Aussie troops would be committed to war.  Most indep observers think
they already are.  The PM himself hinted a "decision" could come in as
little as 2 wks.  Perhaps he's heard something from his boss?
The impending US attack, that's liable to fall heavily on Baghdad in
the early stages, hasn't scared off all the peaceniks.  Aussie shields
are just arriving in Baghdad.  The PM was confronted by one of them on
radio today.  He was not amused.
In Parliament, For Min Alex Downer was trying to call them back, and
stop embarrassing the govt.  "You should reconsider", the For Min told
the Shields.  Again, words to live by. He has that knack.

UN Polarised on Iraq, Annan Wants Compromise
NY (Reuters).  Despite US confidence it would get enough votes for a
UN res authorising war with Iraq, positions hardened on Tue with UN
Sec Gen Kofi Annan pleading for a compromise.  "I am
increasingly optimistic that if it comes to a vote, we will be able to
make a case that will persuade most of the members of the Sec Council
to vote for the resolution," Sec of State Colin Powell told the
French television station France 2 in an interview.
While the US is given a good chance to get the minimum 9 votes needed
for adoption in the 15-member council, diplomats believe that point
has not been reached. There is also a strong chance France and Russia
would use their veto power to kill the measure.  No date for a vote is
set but US and Brit officials have said they want to push for one
next week.
Russian For Min Igor Ivanov, at a news conference in London on Tue,
said flatly that Moscow would not abstain on the res and warned it
could use its veto power.  In NY, Moscow's UN ambassador, Sergei
Lavrov, told a news conference he thought there was still a chance to
avoid war, adding: "I do not think the council is going to approve the
use of force."
France and Germany, fighting to head off the res, told Sec Council
members their foreign ministers, Dominique de Villepin and Joschka
Fischer, would attend a crucial council session on Fri when UN weapons
inspectors are due to deliver their latest report on Iraqi
disarmament.
Annan, at his monthly lunch with UN Sec Council members, appealed for
unity and compromise among the major powers -- the US and Brit pushing
a res to authorise war and France, Russia and China opposing it,
diplomats said.  He also asked Canadian Ambassador Paul Heinbecker to
brief him on a proposal that would set benchmarks or tests for Iraqi
disarmament by Mar 28. If Iraq failed to adhere to them the council
would face the possibility of war.

Ankara. TURKEY TO REVIEW DECISION 3RD TIME!  Following a significant
dive on local share markets and the thought of losing up to $US30 bn
in aid, the Turkish govt is reportedly again reviewing a decision to
host US troops in its bases, in preparation for war against Iraq.
Today PM Gul held meetings with the US Amb, Robert Pearson.  Gul told
reporters the govt might submit a new proposition to Parl within days.
Meanwhile, small numbers of US troops have started arriving.  And
Patriots missile batteries are being installed nr the border with Iraq
by Dutch troops working for NATO.  Further S, the de facto Kurdish
govt has again warned the US and Turkey they might start their own 2nd
front if Turkish troops are deployed on Kurd territory.

We'll fight with or without UN backing: US
Washington (AP).  With opp'n hardening, the White House left open the
possibility today that it would not seek a UN vote on its war-making
res if the measure was headed for defeat.  Pres George W Bush and his
advisers are reported looking beyond the diplomatic showdown and
making plans for a public relations buildup to potential war.
One option under serious consideration was Bush giving Iraqi Pres
Saddam Hussein a final ultimatum, perhaps with a short-term deadline,
in a major address next week, 2 senior White House officials said.
Once the UN vote is resolved one way or another, Bush will intensify
his case for war, officials said, barring unforeseen events such as
Saddam suddenly disarming or going into exile.  In addition to a
possible address, they have discussed a presidential news conference
and a Cabinet meeting as ways for Bush to communicate his plans to the
nation next week.
At the Whitehouse, mouth Ari Fleischer indicated Turkey was in danger
of losing a massive aid package unless it allowed US troops to land.
Until today, the rep had suggested part of the package would be
available to Turkey regardless of whether 62,000 American troops are
allowed in the country. White House officials said they were turning
up pressure on Turkey in hopes that the parliament would grant the US
request on a 2nd vote.
At the UN, Sec Gen Kofi Annan called Baghdad's missile destruction "a
positive development," putting him at odds with Bush's assessment.
US Ambassador John Negroponte was asked whether the US would withdraw
the res if it didn't have the votes to pass it.  "We haven't crossed
that bridge," he said. "We believe that support should be there. We
are not facing that kind of situation but we will cross the bridge
when we come to it."  Afterward, he and other White House officials
said the remarks did not signal a lack of confidence in the res's
prospects.

Al Salmi. ARABS TO THE FRONT!  Several 1000s Saudi troops have crossed
into Kuwait -- the last but probably largest contingent of troops from
nearby Gulf states deployed to protect Kuwait during a "possible" war
with Iraq.  The convoy represents SAR's contribution to the Gulf
Cooperation Council's 8,000-man Shield Force, which is expected to
play a defensive role in Kuwait if hostilities break out.  Other
members of the Council include Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.

Skopje. PEACEKEEPERS KILLED!  2 soldiers serving with NATO forces in
Macedonia have been killed when an explosive device went off
unexpectedly. 3 civilians were also injured in the blast.  The
solders' nationalities have not been revealed, but a private TV stn
reported they were Polish.  A rep for troops serving with the military
alliance in Macedonia confirmed that the deaths occurred as a result of
injuries received during the explosion.

NY. UN, DON'T GO!  UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan has suggested slowing the
phased withdrawal of UN troops from E Timor because of an upsurge in
violence by pro-Indonesian militias.  In a report to the Sec Council,
Annan recommends keeping the military component of the peacekeeping
force at current levels until the end of the y -- 6 m longer than
originally planned. Doesn't it always go like that?  The UN Mission of
Support in E Timor comprises more than 3,800 troops and 730 police
officers, supported by 2,300 internat'l and local staff.

Washington.  RAMPING UP THE PRESSURE!  A Pentagon rep says the US has
ordered additional forces into the W Pac to bolster US defs nr
North Korea.  The order comes amid heightened tensions with the
Stalinist state, incl the interception of a US surveillance plane over
the Sea of Japan by armed NK Mig's on Sun.

US sends 24 bombers as deterrent against N Korea
Washington.  The US is sending 2-dozen long-range bombers to the W
Pacific as a further deterrent against N Korea, US def officials
say.  The force will consist of a dozen B-52s bombers and a dozen B-1
bombers, says a US def official.  The order came amid heightened
tensions with N Korea, including the interception of a US RC-135
surveillance plane over the Sea of Japan by N Korean fighter jets on Sun.
N Korea has caused mounting international concern with its attempts to
restart its nuclear weapons program.  "As part of our efforts to meet
our global requirements, we are deploying additional forces to the W
Pacific as US forces are preparing for possible military action
elsewhere," Lt Cmdr Jeff Davis said.  "These moves are not aggressive
in nature," insisted the rep.  Cmdr Davis would not say what forces
are being deployed, but spokesmen at US bases confirmed they had
received deployment orders for B-52s and B-1 bombers.
The deployment order was issued before Sun's incident in which 4 N
Korean fighters tailed an RC-135 for 22 minutes, at one point coming
within 15 metres of the lower US aircraft, he said.  The fighters,
which illuminated the US aircraft with their radars, were armed with
heat-seeking missiles, a def official said.  The RC-135S is
designed to monitor missile launches.
N Korea last wk launched an experimental cruise missile over the Sea
of Japan, and US intel has been closely watching for any signs of
preparations for a test launch of its long-range Taepo-dong missile.

Hollywood actors raise McCarthyism spectre on Iraq
LA (Reuters).  Hollywood actors, facing a vitriolic backlash for their
opp'n to a war against Iraq, have raised the spectre of Cold War
McCarthyism in an appeal to avoid returning to one of the movie
industry's darkest hours.
The Screen Actors Guild said a slew of hate-mail directed at actors
who have taken a public personal stand against war, along with calls
for boycotts of movies and albums on the nation's talk radio airwaves
and Internet message boards, "suggests that the lessons of history
have, for some, fallen on deaf ears."  SAG said suggestions that
"well-known individuals who express 'unacceptable' views should be
punished by losing their right to work" was a "shocking development"
which recalled the 1950s House Committee on Un-American Activities
under Sen Joseph McCarthy.  More than 320 people, including Arthur
Miller, Orson Welles, Dashiell Hammett, Paul Robeson and Charlie
Chaplin were placed on a blacklist that stopped them working for the
entertainment industry because of views considered left-wing or unpatriotic.
The SAG statement was issued in response to a growing tide of abuse
toward American celebrities who have spoken out against a "rush to
war" on nationally televised award shows, through interviews, anti-war
TV ads or by taking part in mass protests.
Martin Sheen, who plays TV's popular fictional Pres Josiah Bartlet on
NBC's "The West Wing," has been under fire since emerging as a chief
rep in the anti-war coal'n.  Sheen, along with actor Sean Penn (who
visited Baghdad in Jan), singer Sheryl Crow (who performed at last m's
Grammy awards wearing a "No War" guitar strap), and scores of other
celebrities have been slammed for being unpatriotic.  Sheen said in a
LA Times interview this wk that his hate-mail critics have demanded
that NBC fire him from the Emmy-award winning series, adding that NBC
executives had privately expressed fears that ratings would suffer
because of the furor.  Sheen said the show's staff has been "100%
supportive" but that top network executives have "let it be known that
they're very uncomfortable with where I'm at."
NBC said on Tue that Sheen's personal views had nothing to do with the show.
McCarthyism expert Ellen Schrecker, professor of history at Yeshiva
University in NY, said the level of rhetoric against anti-war
campaigners could presage a return to the era of witch-hunts and
blacklists.

NY mosque linked to Al Qaeda funding
NY. A Yemeni cleric detained in Germany bragged to an FBI informant
that he supplied $20 million, recruits and weapons to Osama bin Laden
in the y leading up to the Sep 11 attacks, US officials said Tue.
Much of the money came from contributors in the US, including
worshippers at the Al Farouq mosque in NY, A-G John Ashcroft said in
announcing charges against Sheik Mohammed Al Hasan Al-Moayad.
Amid an undercover op, Al-Moayad "boasted that jihad was his field,
and trumpeted his involvement in providing money, recruits and
supplies to Al Qaida, Hamas and other terrorist groups," Ashcroft told
the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington.
Al-Moayad, 54, ID-ed at least 5 individuals in NY as sources of secret
funding, including Brooklyn business owners, according to a complaint
unsealed in fed court here Tue. An informant met with those people
late last y and secretly recorded conversations about money smuggling.
The mosque has previously been linked to terrorism. Its former imam,
Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, is serving a life prison term for his
involvement in a failed plot to blow up the UN and several NY bridges
and tunnels.
Al-Moayad, known in Yemen for his charity work and political
connections, was arrested Jan 10 along with his assistant, Mohammed
Mohsen Yahya Zayed, at a hotel nr the Frankfurt, Germany, airport.
The complaint charges Al-Moayad with providing material support to a
terrorist network. US authorities, who had previously refused to
discuss the case, consider his arrest a blow to Muslim charities used
as fronts to finance terrorism.
If convicted in the US, Al-Moayad would face up to 60 y in
prison. Zayed, 29, would face 30 y.

Software company offers 'Arab Language Analyzer'
Seattle (Reuters).  A US s/w company is becoming a sought-after
language expert by US intel agencies after authorities began
collecting and analysing more info written in Arabic after the Sep 11,
2001 attacks on US landmarks.  Basis Technology Corp, a privately held
company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that has been working with
US intel agencies, said on Tue that it was launching an Arabic
Language Analyzer, which allows users to create programs that can
search, analyse and decode Arabic text.  Since virtually all US govt
systems are designed to work with Latin and English-language
characters, users who want to work with Arabic had few options, the
company said.  The US govt, which blames the radical Muslim group Al
Qaeda for the hijacking of 4 jetliners, has been pursuing those it
believes are responsible for the attacks, increasing the need for
being able to work with Arabic.

Boy arrested for threat to blow up Columbine school
Eden Prairie (AP).  A 14-yo Minnesota boy was taken into custody for
allegedly making Internet threats to blow up Columbine High School,
where 2 students killed a dozen classmates and a teacher 3 y ago.
Police in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, have not decided whether to file
charges, rep Stephanie Grant said today.  The teen was detained today
and his home was searched and a computer seized.  The Jefferson County
Sheriff's Dept in Colorado said it was notified of the threats Fri by
the Sprint Relay Online service and the FBI helped find the boy.
Sheriff's rep Jacki Tallman said he could be charged with making
terrorist threats, a felony.  The high school in nearby Littleton was
notified but not evacuated.  The school has received dozens of threats
since 2 students killed 12 classmates and a teacher before committing
suicide on Apr 19, 2000.

Hot gases destroyed shuttle
Washington (AP).  Molten aluminium was found on Columbia's thermal
tiles and inside the leading edge of the left wing, bolstering the
theory that the shuttle was destroyed by hot gases that penetrated a
damaged spot on the wing, the accident investigation board said today.
Roger Tetrault, a board member, said he suspects the melting occurred
because of the penetrating gases and also because of the intense heat
of falling through the atmosphere.  "My best guess would be that
eventually we'll probably find both," he said. The melted aluminium,
or slag, looks like black soot, and is present on both the right and
left sides of the spacecraft, he said.  "Many of the tiles on the left
side have a thin, black deposit on them, and that deposit has never
been seen on any previous flight," Tetrault said.  He said both tires
from the left main landing gear also show evidence of unusual and
extreme heat: They are flat with torn fabric, possibly from a rupture
in the final seconds of the spaceship's flight, Tetrault said.
However, he said the damage to the tires could have been caused by
heat penetrating the wing. That heat, in turn, may have set off the
small explosives that are used to free the landing gear if it gets
stuck right before touchdown.  "I would not speculate that it blew out
the door or blew down the landing gear and that caused the
accident. It is the result, not the initiating event," said Tetrault,
a retired corporate executive with experience in nuclear submarines.

Scientists lose turtle experiment
Singapore.  Scientists have lost track of 2 turtles they had mounted
with satellite tracking devices to monitor whether they would return
to their birthplace in Japan after 5 y in Singapore.  Under the
$70,000 experiment, transmitters were fixed on the Japan-born turtles'
backs and were released in the waters off Singapore late last y.  The
scientists involved in the project were trying to prove that turtles
use the Earth's magnetic field and their sense of smell to return to
the land where they were born to lay eggs, the Straits Times said.
6 satellites would pickup the signals from the transmitters to enable
scientists from the Sentosa Underwaterworld attraction in Singapore
and the Nayoya Public aquarium in Japan to track their movements.
The scientists had expected the turtles to spend the winter m in the
warmer waters of the S China Sea on their way to Japan.  But on their
release, the turtles were monitored to be swimming W towards the
Malacca Straits -- a route they should not have taken if they are
bound for Japan -- before the monitors lost track of them.
Scientists believe the transmitters could have been dislodged when
they were hit by ships in the Malacca Straits, but discounted the
possibility the turtles could have been caught and killed.  The
scientists are considering a repeat of the experiment, this time
modifying the transmitters, the report said.

New-style German brothel
Berlin.  A German artist has applied for a licence to open a brothel
in Berlin for sexually-frustrated dogs.  Karl-Friedrich Lenze says his
brothel will be the 1st of its kind anywhere.  The 54-yo says he plans
to charge dog owners about $45 per half hour of happiness.  Mr Lenze
says if dogs cannot get what they want, they get cranky, just like
people.  He says his establishment would offer patrons a variety of
carefully vetted employees of both sexes; rooms for private
encounters; and even a bar where customers could sniff out their
preferred partners.

Compo for UK coal miners extends to AUS
London.  Sick and dying Brit coal miners living in AUS are now
eligible for compensation for work-related respiratory diseases.  In
1998, the UK's High Court awarded compensation to Brit Coal Corp
workers exposed to dangerous dust from the 1950s.  An agreement has
now been signed to cover former miners living in AUS and NZ suffering
from chronic bronchitis, small airways disease, asthma and heart
conditions.  Lawyer Simon Garnett from Ryan Carlisle Thomas, says
there are about 3,000 sick and dying miners in Vic, who desperately
need assistance.  "In AUS, we estimate there are about 5,000 ex-miners
and their families, and in the UK to date, there's been about 200,000
claims lodged," he said.  "It's the biggest compensation fund ever set
up in the world to compensate work related conditions and injuries."

Doggie in the window deceives woman
Brisbane.  Gold Coast police rushed to the aid of a terrified woman
who told them a masked bandit was looking through the window of her
home this morning.  Police kept the woman on the phone trying to
reassure her as she described how the man, wearing a balaclava, was
peering into her home.  When the police arrived they discovered a
doberman standing on his back legs, looking through the woman's
window.

PM flags possible war decision next week
Canberra.  PM John Howard says a decision on whether there will be a
war in Iraq could be taken by the end of next week.  Mr Howard has
denied a Brit newspaper report suggesting AUS special forces are
among troops already on the ground in Iraq.  "I can assure the AUS
public of that I know that very directly from the discussions I've had
with our military," he said.  "The understanding is that those forces
are there, ready to take part in military action if they receive the
authorisation of the AUS Govt."  He says AUS troops in Iraq will not
happen without a decision of Cabinet and that decision will not be
taken until the UN resolves its position.  But he is expecting that to
happen soon.  "They're certainly approaching the end of the process
and there has to be a resolution on the resolution pretty soon and
maybe the end of next wk is a possible date, I can't be certain of
that," he said.

Water crisis to deepen as supplies dry out -- UN
Paris (Reuters).  World water reserves are drying up fast and booming
populations, pollution and global warming will combine to cut the
average person's water supply by a 3rd in the next 20 y, a UN report
said on Wed.
The report, published ahead of the Third World Water Forum due to take
place in Kyoto, Japan, from Mar 16 to 23, criticised political leaders
for failing to take action and in some cases, disputing the very
existence of a water crisis.  The report also ranked 122 countries on
the quality of their water provision. Belgium was bottom of the
league, below developing countries including India and Rwanda.
Water supplies per capita have fallen dramatically since 1970 and are
set to continue declining, the report found.  More than 2.2 mn people
die each y from diseases related to contaminated drinking water and
poor sanitation, the report said, but evidence of the problem was
being ignored.  By 2050, water scarcity will affect between 2 bn and 7
bn people out of a projected total of 9.3 billion, depending in part
on what measures political leaders take to tackle the crisis, the
report said.
The survey showcased the vast disparities in global water
availability, which ranged from a low of 10 cubic meters per person
per y in Kuwait to a high of 812,121 cubic meters per person per y in
French Guiana.  AUS was ranked 40th for water availability.
It also highlighted regional inequalities, pointing out that Asian
rivers are the most polluted in the world.  The poor remained the
worst affected, with half the population in developing countries
exposed to water sources polluted by sewage or ind'l waste.

Washington. US SLAMS MASS ARRESTS!  Never shy about hypocrisy, the US
has slammed mass arrests of opp'n supporters and civil security
leaders in Zimbabwe. US State Dept rep Richard Boucher says the US
condemns the arrests. He called the detention and alleged torture of
more than 100 opp'n activists part of a "systematic campaign of
repression" by Pres Robert Mugabe's govt.

Canberra. NOT A PROBLEM!  With fingers firmly in ears and singing
"ting-a-ling-a-lu", AUS For Af Min Alexander Downer says he's not
expecting any diplomatic fallout from the latest confrontation on the
Korean peninsula.  Tension increased after NK send a flight of Mig's to
intercept a USAF spy flight in internat'l airspace.  The US plane
returned to base with no problems.  Mr Downer says the latest incident
is just the latest incident in a series of incidents from North Korea
aimed at pressuring the US and the international community.  Always
one with the words, Our Alex!

Canberra. PUSH FOR RESIDENCY!  Labor will move tomorrow to have 1,600
E Timor refugees, some of them born in AUS during the past 10 y, to be
granted permanent residency in AUS.  The opp'n will intro an amendment
to the migration bill in the Senate to create a special visa category
for the E Timorese. About bloody time!  Former Labour federal govts
had tried to force the Timorese refugees to go to Portugal and refused
to process their refugee claims here. The Timorese govt has also
formally requested the refugees NOT be returned at this time.  And
there's also talk of "disquiet" on the Lib back-benches.  The
spectacle of a few Libs crossing the floor wouldn't upset the ALP,
either. The govt began last y considering the refugee status of the
Timorese, and has so far rejected all applications for residency.  Imm
Min Ruddock says allowing the refugees to stay would undermine AUS's
immigration procedure. He tried to claim last Nov the Timorese has
"secreted themselves away in the community", hoping to escape notice.
Most of the 1,600 fled from strife-torn E Timor in the 1970s (!)  when
it was under control of Indonesia.

London. OPINION POLLS!  A new opinion poll shows Brits would support a
US-led attack on Iraq provided it is sanctioned by the UN and there is
definite proof Iraq still possesses chem and bio weapons. The Mori
poll shows 75% of Brits are in favour of joining the US, provided the
UN finds proof of WMD, and there's a specific resolution authorising
military action. Without those 2 conditions, only 24% of Brits want
involvement in a war against Iraq, while 67% oppose oppose it.

Sydney. STUDENT PROTEST!  1000s of NSW school students marched through
SYD's CBD to protest against AUS's involvement in a looming war in
Iraq. The students from at least 70 high schools walked out of class
at lunchtime to meet at Town Hall where that started the march at 1
pm.  They walked down George St toward the Quay, through Martin Place
and down Castlereagh St to Hyde Pk.  Many say they have the support of
parents and teachers to wag the day from school.

Melbourne (SBS). STUDENT PROTESTS!  1000s of high school students
around AUS took the afternoon off school to protest against a possible
war with Iraq.  The largest crowd turned out in SYD, where 10,000
tested the resolve of police.  The students set a cracking pace in a
free-wheeling run around the city.  Observers say it was more like a
schoolies event than a protest, with most students ignoring the
designated march route.  There were 3 arrests.  1 man streaked through
the crowd, and police took some time to bring him under control.  In
MEL, 4,000 uni and high school students marched in the CBD.  1,000
students protested in Perth. There were other rallies in other cap
cities and regional centres.  For many it was their 1st act of
political defiance.

Canberra. CHURCHMEN PUT THEIR OARS IN!  Jesus! In the lead-up to Easter
Anglican and Catholic leaders think it's about time we heard from
them!  The 2 big churches have issued separate pleas for a peaceful
solution in Iraq.  In a statement to mark Ash Wed, the AUS Catholic
Bishops' Conf urged Xtians to pray for peace.  The bishops say in a
statement that war is always a defeat for humanity. Esp the humanity
at the sharp end of a bayonet!  They say that's why they support
the Pope's call for leaders to say "No to War" and to search
exhaustively for peaceful solutions through the UN.

Perth. SETI GATEWAY!  WA has developed a use for the E states after
the ESA opened its first deep space ground stn near New Norcia, 150 km
N of Perth.  Best-known for its indifferent wines and weird
bread-making Benedictine monks, the New Norcia area now hosts
something INTERESTING -- a bloody great antenna that will play a role
in the European Mars Express project, to be launched from Kazakhstan
in Jun.  The $47 mn facility was opened today, 8 km out of New Norcia.

Canberra. 20 YA TONIGHT!  The Laborites are festivaling tonight,
remembering "13 years of Labor" that began on this night in 1983, when
Pres Bob Hawke took the reigns of power from PM Mal (pants) Fraser.
Tonight 150 snr ALP figures and guests are remembering the sweet,
sweet victories and the bitter, bitter, bitter defeats.  20 y on and
the issues are still the same, the assembled former Mins say.
Architects of Medicare, Hawke Health Min Neal Blewett and Dep PM Brian
Howe, took a couple of swipes at Treas Costello and PM Howard trying
to re-write their 1983 mission statement.  And they weren't
complementary about the current govt's attempts to "rescue" their
health system.  Mr Hawke, now 73, is proud to recall he was never
defeated in an election himself, losing the ALP leadership to Paul
Keating in 1991 in an internal Party battle.  Bob says he's quite
civil to Paul when they meet these days.  But he has this habit of
grinding his teeth when he says things like that, did you notice?

Sydney. MARKETS!  Helped by the o'night fall on Wall St, local
pessimists say AUS GDP growth this FY will be in 2-2.5% range.  They
say the drought doesn't account for the whole down-turn from 4.5% in
FY 2001 to 3.0% in 2002.  The Dow dived 133 pts to 7,705 -- a 5
m low.  The All Ords closed down 37.3 pts to 2,750.  The AUD is
stronger, trading around 61.66 US cents.  Gold was up $US2, and oil
was also up $US1 on yesterday, but it's still under $US37/bbl.

----------------------------------------
Thu, 06 Mar 2003.

London. MARCH 13!  Brit's Daily Express says British troops in the
Gulf have been told to prepare for an invasion of Iraq on Mar 17.
The newspaper, quoting un-named Westminster sources, says Brit
officers based in Kuwait have been told to expect an invasion order on
that date.  The sources say the ground invasion will be preceded by a
massive air blitz from Mar 13.  The Ministry of Def has no comment on
the story.

NY (6 am). MARKETS!  With 2 hrs to trade the Dow is up 15 pts, and the
Nasdaq is up 1.  US markets have bounced back from 5 y lows yesterday.
Oil and gold are marginally down.  But the USD took a battering during
the day after Treas Sec John Snow "clarified" USD policy.  Initially
the Sec said he didn't care that the dollar had fallen 18% against
most other currencies.  That sparked a USD sell-off, falling to new 4
y lows against the Euro.  Snow later backtracked, saying he backs a
strong USD.  The big caps led the US market higher.  J&J was up 2%.
Intel was up nearly 2% ahead of a profit forecast that's expected to
be positive.  Gold is $US353/oz, down 10 c.  Oil is down 2 c to
$US36.37/bbl.  The AUD is presently 61.60 US c, but it touched
$US0.6180 o'night, a 2.5 y high, as the USD dived following Snow's
first statement.

Bogota. BOMBING!  A bomb blast has killed 7 and left around 50
injured.  The attack took place in a shopping centre in N Columbia,
near the border with Venezuela.  Officials are blaming leftist rebels
in reprisal for a govt campaign to destroy cocoa fields.

Paris. CAR BOMB!  A car bomb has exploded in a Paris suburb, killing 1
and injuring 5.  Police say it's not a terror attack, but a "criminal
act".  The victim was killed when he turned on the car's ignition.  He
ran a security firm, and had a criminal record, say police.  The say
it was a "revenge killing".

Haifa. SUICIDE BOMB!  The first suicide bombing in [exactly] 2 m has
torn apart a packed Israeli bus in the port city of Haifa, killing at
least 15 and wounding about 40.  The explosion ripped the roof off the
Haifa uni-bound bus at the entrance of the Carmeliya neighbourhood in
Israel's 3rd-largest city. Police say the assailant had a large bomb
packed with nails strapped to his body.  He blew himself up at a busy
time when students at the uni had just finished their studies.  Later
reports say the attacker was a 21-yo student.

Haifa (Ch 7). SUICIDE ATTACK!  A large bomb blast in Haifa has
destroyed a bus, killing at least 15 and leaving another 40 injured.
The #37 to Haifa Uni was packed, mostly with school students.  What
police say was a suicide bombing is the first successful attack since
Jan.  But there have been over 20 attempts.
Ch 7 reports Hamas has claimed resp for the attack.  Hamas reps
"welcomed" the news, saying the bombing was in revenge for daily
Israeli military action in the occupied territories.  One rep said
Israeli govt policy would see an upsurge in attacks in Israel, Brit
and the US.
The Israeli govt signalled it will now crack down further on the
territories.  Govt reps blamed the Palestinian Authority for allowing
the attack.
But the Authority has condemned the bombing and complained of the
continued finger pointing by the Sharon govt.  Other Palestinian reps
said the bombing, while regrettable, was the consequence of the daily
actions of the Israeli army that has seen more than 70 Palestinians
killed since Jan.
Other reports say 40 people were later arrested in Nablus, as the army
demolished several houses.  Israeli tanks are now reported headed
toward the N of the W Bank to the area the attack is believed to have
been planned.
It's the worst possible time for US, taking attn away from Iraq.

Gaza City. REVENGE!  Witnesses say Israeli choppers have fired 3
missiles at a target in Jabaliya, next to Gaza City, and about 20
tanks have moved into the town.  The Israeli move came hrs after a
suicide bomber blew up a bus in Haifa, killing 15 passengers, mostly
teen-agers.  Witnesses say gunmen went into the streets to confront
the tanks, and there was an "exchange of fire".  No casualties have
been reported yet.  
Later reports say 11 were killed and around 140 were injured, at least
40 critically, in the Israeli reprisals.  Journalists were amongst the
victims.  Israel initially called it a "measured response", meant to
prevent disruption of US plans for war with Iraq. But the scale of the
retaliation obvious tonight is likely to fuel more bomb attacks.
Observers on the BBC say Palestinians fear Israel is softening up the
territories for re-occupation, a move they predict will happen when
the US launches its attack on Iraq.

Davao. BOMB SUSPECTS! Philippines police have made more arrests in
connection with a bomb blast at Davao airport that left 21 dead and
more than 150 injured. Media outlet report 2 more people were detained
o'night, making a total of 11 taken in for questioning following Tue's
attack.  A Davao police rep says 9 people are in custody, but refused
to comment on reports of more arrests.  Meanwhile, observers say it's
becoming less likely groups associated with Al Qaeda are involved in
the airport attack.  It's believed the arrests are simply "the usual
suspects" associated with one of the major separatist groups in the S
Philippines.

Washington. BOMBERS DEPLOY TO W PAC!  Def officials say 24 long-range
USAF bombers have begun deploying to the W Pac to deter any aggression
by North Korea in case of a war with Iraq.  Officials say the first 12
8-engine B-52's departed Barksdale AFB in LA yesterday.  12 B-1's are
also scheduled to go to Guam from Dyess AFB in TX.  The def officials
stressed Pres Bush Jr wants to settle the crisis on the peninsula
using a series of empty military gestures, rather than direct talks.
Meanwhile, North Korea has repeated its call for the US to sign a
non-aggression pact. Aw come ON you guys! If the US won't even talk
with you, how d'ya think asking them to SIGN something will go over?

Nigeria. ASSASSINATION!  An Opp'n politician has been shot dead in the
run-up to elections.

NY. IRAQIS ACCUSED OF SPYING!  Following revelations the US is
phone-tapping UN diplomats, Iraq's UN ambassador says 2 Iraqi
diplomats have been ordered to leave the USA.  Amb Mohammed al-Douri
says the 2 diplomats have been ordered out of the US because their
behaviour "was in contradiction to their diplomatic status".  This is
the usual diplomatic language that refers to spying.  Al-Douri says
the 2 men were informed of the expulsion order yesterday evening, and
have been given 72 hrs to leave the country.

Ankara. ALL THE WAY WITH USA!  Turkish military leaders have called on
the Parliament to allow US troops to operate on Turkish soil.  The
powerful head of Turkish forces called on the Parl to overturn their
decision to block the US using local bases.  He said opening a N front
on Iraq would shorten the war and reduce the number of casualties. He
also pointed out it would give Turkey an edge in a bid to control N
Iraq, esp the oilfields presently under Kurd control.  That ought to
do the trick!

Washington. US NOT WORKING WITH UN!  US Sec of State Colin Powell says
Iraq is continuing to deceive UN weapons inspectors by producing new
missiles.  Powell says new US intel data shows Iraqi leaders have
ordered the continued production of Al-Samoud 2 missiles it has
started to destroy elsewhere.  Sec Powell says Iraq was moving to
convert other rocket engines to power the Al-Samoud 2.  How unfair!
The US have received info from multiple student web sites that Iraq is
deceiving UN inspectors, he said.  But he refused to name the
students. Mr Powell also said Saddam was hiding chemical weapons in
poor neighbourhoods of Baghdad, but didn't name exactly which
neighbourhoods the UN should search to find them.  [On PBS Powell
actually said "weapons of mass destruction materials"].  He said they
were moved in late Jan to avoid discovery by weapons inspectors.  In
other news, 9 more banned missiles were destroyed under UN supervision
o'night, bringing the total to almost 30.  Earlier reports indicated
50 Al-Samoud 2 missiles had been manufactured and handed over to the
Iraqi military, with another 50 being assembled at the factory.

Qatar. YOU LYING TRAITOROUS MONKEY MINION!  A 3rd emergency meeting of
Islamic states trying to head off the Iraq crises has broken up in
disarray.  Technical terms like "traitor", "monkey", "minion", "agent
of the USA" and "liar" were thrown around between Iraq and Kuwait
during the amiable part of the discussions.  The shit really hit the
fan when someone's moustache was criticised.  The TV again went black
about this point in the live telecast.  The meeting was again
considering calls from the UAE and its supporters that Saddam step
down and go into exile.  No dice!

London. US/BRIT "OPTIMISTIC" ABOUT WAR PROSPECTS!  It was an
uncomfortable day for Tony Blair.  Parl Sq and Whitehall were brought
to a standstill by noisy student protesters, who even held up another
protest by poets.  At Labour HQ there was a stink.
In Parl, Tony Blair argued the US and Brit haven't decided whether to
attack Iraq or not, and any complaints he was Hell-bent on war were
wrong and unfair.  But following talks with Russian For Min Igor
Ivanov Blair told reporters he was confident a 2nd UN res would OK
military action against Iraq.
However, within hrs of talking with Blair, Ivanov went to Paris and
joined other For Min's from France and Germany, where all 3 called for
more time for UN inspectors.  Ivanov said Russia would reject any 2nd
res that made way for war.
Meanwhile, US Sec of State Colin Powell claims he is "increasingly
optimistic" over the Sec Council vote next wk.  He also indicated the
US would not bow to int'l pressure and give UN inspectors more time.
He called on Iraq to bow to int'l pressure and disarm immediately.
Blowing a hole in arguments from the US and Brit, Dr Hans Blix told
reporters Iraq has a much, much smaller military capacity now than in
1991.  He said the destruction of Iraqi missiles was a sign of "real
disarmament".  "Weapons that can be used for war are [being] destroyed
in fairly large quantities", said Dr Blix.
9 more Al-Samoud 2 missiles were destroyed o'night.  And the UN has
been interviewing more Iraqi scientists without supervision from Baghdad.
In NY, UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan rejected suggestions the UN has drawn up
plans for governing a post-war Iraq. But he did say some preliminary
ideas had been discussed.
The London Times said the UN had drawn up a plan to administer
Iraq after the US-led war. But such a plan would breach the UN Charter,
while it was still attempting to negotiate before any military
action had been authorised.
Annan defined the report, saying that only contingency plans for
the expected refugee crisis had been laid out.
The Times says the 60-page study had been done in the UN, by an associate 
of the Sec-Gen.

Paris (Ch 7). NO, NO AND NO!  Set to shake the reported "growing
confidence" of the US and Brit for a UN Res authorising an attack on
Iraq, France, Germany and Russia have vowed to block it.  The Foreign
Mins of the "coalition of the unwilling" said "nyet", "non" and
"nine" today.  But Brit PM Tony Blair was having problems with his
hearing aid.  Or perhaps it was the noise from school children
protesting outside Number 10 with "No War" signs.  In Parl and later
to reporters, Mr Blair claimed the Coal'n could yet win UN
authorisation for war.
Later reports say the Brits have a "B" res ready to put up, one that
will call for more time for UN inspectors.  Such a measure is likely
to be far more palatable to the Brit Parl and public.

London. STUDENTS HECKLE BLAIR!  School children have staged a rowdy
sit-in outside Tony Blair's official residence, warning the Brit PM
that one day soon they would be voters.  Extra police were brought in
to control the demonstrators -- who were mostly aged 13 to 16 -- after
some attempted to scale the gates.  1000s of children walked out of
schools to take part in the protest, organised by students largely by
email and leaflet distribution.

Hartford (PBS). THE COST OF WAR!  Students of Yale's course on US
world domination -- called "Grand Strategy" -- have been treated to a
debate on the pros and cons of an Iraqi war by famous Yalie economists
and historians this wk.  
With the historians anguished about the cost of the invasion and
Iraq's upkeep afterward, the political scientists were pushing the
"not to worry" line, saying the up-side was all that counted.  War
with Iraq would be over fast and it wouldn't hurt the Iraqi population much.  
But as to concrete dollars and cents, something close to any Yalie
heart, we have to turn to a study by economist William Nordhouse, a
former adv to the Carter Admin.  OK, no-one's perfect.  
Nordhouse is famous for pricing activities.  His study considered best
and worst-case scenarios, and divides the sums into 3 main areas.
First , there's the incremental cost.  These are the moneys paid out
for things that will eventually need to be replaced or renewed by the
US.  Things such as the cost fuel, calling up reserves, military pay,
the cost of expended missiles and munitions, etc.  Nordhouse puts the
range on that at $US50 bn to $US150 bn.  
Then there's the "maintenance" phase of the operation, after the war
is "won".  Nordhouse says his calculations assume a best-case invasion
will only take Coal'n forces a matter of a few days, while worst-case
scenarios involve Iraqi oil fields being destroyed, and/or a long &
protracted guerrilla war for m, etc.  He says the cost of internal
refugees, peacekeeping operations, and post-war reconstruction -- big
ticket items all -- will range from $US100 bn up to $US500-600 bn over
a period of 10 y.  
The third area is the impact on the domestic US economy.  Nordhouse
says the main factor here is the resulting price of oil, after the
invasion is over.  He says the biggest risk is the destruction of
oil wells, although sympathy boycotts by other oil producers could have
the same economic effects on the US.  
Nordhouse says in the best case, the price of oil could go down 25 US
cents a bbl.  This would free up $1/2 bn in the US economy each year.
But that is only about $US5 tax refund per US household.  
In the worst case, Nordhouse says, oil could go up to $US75/bbl,
compared with a nominal $US20/bbl, for an extended period --
equivalent to a price of $US3/gal at the pumps.  [NBC noted today some
gas stations in Cal were already seeing $3/gal prices, although the
nat'l avg is still less than $2/gal].  Nordhouse says that would be "like
a big tax increase", equivalent to $US100 bn pa -- an extra tax bill
of around $US950 per US household.  It would trigger a recession, says
Nordhouse.  In the long term, such a disaster would add $US1.2
trillion to the cost of the invasion, he says.
The bottom line costs therefore run from $100 bn in the best case,
through $2 trillion in the worst case.  [Oil experts say the total
income from Iraqi known oil reserves is valued at $3 trillion].  
Other economists say both Nordhouse's estimates are too pessimistic.
Yale historians point out the "tremendous benefits" to US prestige and
credibility if it regime-changes Iraq and brings economic stability
and democracy to the Middle E.  They point to the history of Greece
and Rome for examples of "good wars". At least, as documented by the
victors of the successful ones.  
Nordhouse says he deliberately avoided pricing the lives lost in an
Iraqi war.  He also points out his study was a cost study, not a
cost/benefit analysis.  
The historians and others criticise Nordhouse for not considering the
huge up-side of an Iraqi invasion.  They say an economist is someone
that knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing.
Nordhouse counters with: an economist is a scoundrel that tells you how
things are, not how you'd like them to be.

NY. US AIRPORTS CHECKED!  The WSJ reports today US officials have been
visiting US airports this wk to make preparations to prevent attacks
on aircraft from terrorist-fired missiles.  The paper says about 80
airports will be checked under the program.

NY (ABC). LESS CHANCE OF RES!  The US/Brit push for a UN res
authorising an Iraqi war have even less chance of success today.
Following a meeting in Paris between the "coalition of the unwilling"
the 3 said they were unswayed by arguments from Brit and US they
should back military action.
Their meeting followed attempts by Tony Blair to persuade Russian For
Min Ivanov to change his mind.  After 50 mins with Tony Blair in
Number 10 neither seemed to have given ground.
But Ivanov's next meeting was with people of like mind.
In Parliament PM Blair said war could still be averted.  He said
Saddam could EITHER disarm OR leave Iraq.  But that argument has only
fuelled criticism the war is not really about Iraqi WMD, as the US
Admin and Tony Blair have previously maintained.
Meanwhile, the USA is refusing to accept their res could be shot down
in the Sec Council.  US diplomats have tried to force the hand of
Council members by setting a deadline for Europe to decide, but it's
back-fired.  And not only has US bugging Sec Council members failed to
coerce the major powers, it's even failed with the minor powers
on the Council.
US observers can't gauge the damage to medium- and long-term
American interests.  But they say it isn't trivial.
But the Bush Admin, esp an oft-quoted article by Nat'l Sec Advisor
Connie Rice, indicate they don't care whether their goals are seen as
legitimate by the int'l community, despite their apparent desperation
to get UN imprimatur for their actions.  Observers say the Admin will
be putting on a brave face if their efforts in the UN fail.
Meanwhile, Colin Powell is heading an 11th hr bid to get UN
authorisation up.  But he may have the psychology wrong, in playing up
the "Saddam will win" angle.  "[The] divisions among us... if they
continue will only convince Saddam Hussein he is right", said Powell
in one UN speech yesterday.
Elsewhere, Whitehouse mouth Ari F said no-one should assume the UN
vote will shoot down the authorisation for military action.
Other US officials say the same "grim" sit'n obtained in 1991, when it
seemed a Sec Council vote would not allow an international coal'n to
oust Saddam from Kuwait.  But that vote passed unanimously.  Observers
say said officials are drawing a long bow in comparing Gulf War I and
Gulf War II.
In Baghdad, Iraqis are showing a mixture of defiance and fear as
potential war appears a matter of days away.  There was a military
parade in Baghdad yesterday, with one group of fighters in white,
claiming to be suicide bombers who will attack Americans when they
arrive.  They should be easy to spot!  Elite Republican Guard units
have formed 2 circles around the city.  Around the city firearms are
now ever-present.  Even the firemen have assault weapons.  Military
officials have also called on the city's women to take up arms.

Baghdad (Ch 7). AUSSIE SHIELDS!  Aussie human shields say they're
staying put, despite calls from the AUS govt to stop embarrassing Mr
Howard and return immediately to AUS.  A rep for the group rejected
claims they were pawns of the Iraqi regime, saying they checked out
any sites beforehand.  He said some locations suggested by the Iraqi
govt had been found to be "too close to realistic targets" and had
been rejected by the group.  They have positioned themselves at sites
were they feel they can protect the civilian population or civilian
infrastructure.  They have also been given free transport around the
city, at least before any attack begins.  Yesterday Alex Downer called
on human shields as well as Aussie aid workers to quit Iraq
immediately.  Some observers had predicted such calls would be made by
the Coal'n about 3 days before the first attacks were to be
launched. Mr Downer said in 1991 Saddam had forced 800 foreign human
shields to protect military targets, rather than civilian facilities.

Canberra (Ch 7). NOTHING LIKE CONFIDENCE!  While one-time Howard Def
Dept head Paul Barratt prepares to make an anti-war ad for TV, John
Howard is calling for a 15 nil vote from the Security Council.  Paul
Barratt said today AUS and the Coal'n was about to fight the wrong
war. The real enemy, he said, was OBL.  He said war was always the
last option, and many countries are still suggesting alternatives.  
Mr Howard says the US/Brit Res will and should get unanimous support
to send a strong message to Baghdad.  But elsewhere, critics say Mr
Howard's position is showing increasing signs of stress.  It's been
pointed out Mr Howard continually says he's not necessarily committed
Aussie troops to a war.  But when he was asked about a referendum to
withdraw Aussie troops from the Middle East until a UN Res was passed,
the PM suddenly claimed sending troops to war (sic) was always the
govt's perogative!

Washington. DISSENTING VOICES ON NK!  Former Def Sec William Perry and
other Democrats have tried to wake the US Admin to a problem with
North Korea.  Perry told a press conf yesterday that N Korea was
already a crisis situation and the peninsula was the "most dangerous
spot on earth".  Critics have complained the Bush Whitehouse has
developed a case of "Iraqi blindness" in refusing to acknowledge the
seriousness of the North Korea nuclear standoff.  Former Sec of State
Maddy Albright said the Bush Admin was sending the wrong signals in
deploying more bombers to Guam.  Ms Albright is the most snr US
diplomat to meet with the NK Beloved Leader. She told the press that
relations with NK were particularly delicate, given its paranoia with
respect to American motives.  Observers warn P'yongyang could launch
an attack on the South that could kill 1000s or 100s of 1000s, while
Iraq is "relatively" harmless.  But elsewhere, Def Sec Don Rumsfeld
was still down-playing the NK threat, saying Pres Bush Jr knew what he
was doing, despite on-going appearances.  Observers are now loudly
wondering what N Korea would have to do that would trigger the Admin
into admitting there is a problem.  One diplomat says the Whitehouse
has blundered.  "There is an absence of diplomacy", he said, "leaving
N Korea to set the agenda".  Taking a page out of Colin Powell's Big
Book of Psychology, he may have the "Korean is winning" angle right!

Budapest. PAY UP!  Hungary is to pay compensation to relatives of
600,000 people killed in the Holocaust. A govt rep says the Hungarian
govt is to pay about $A3,000 to the widows, children and parents of
Hungarian Jews who were killed by the Nazis.  Gusztav Zoltai, the
head of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Parishes, says many of the
relatives of Holocaust victims are aged in the 70s or 80s and they
finally now have a chance to be compensated.

Canberra. STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL!  PM John Howard says students
should shut the Hell up and stop embarrassing the federal govt. The PM
says students protesting in anti-war rallies across AUS should have
been in school learning i-before-e and times-tables rather than
running amok in the streets.  1000s of AUS primary, high school and
uni students ditched classes yesterday and took to the streets of
capital cities and regional centres. In SYD and Perth the protests
verged on wild, with 3 arrests in SYD. Mr Howard says he's not
ignoring the will of the public by sending troops to the Persian Gulf
to "possibly" prepare for war. But if they think they will get a
referendum to call them back then they have another thing coming! War
is a decision for govt's only!

Canberra. BACKFLIP ON MEDICARE!  Following a public outcry and a quick
scan of the latest opinion polls, PM John Howard says the federal govt
will "never, never, never" introduce any proposals to undermine
Medicare.  Remember, each word in the denial is key! If any don't
obtain then the guarantee is void! The PM also re-iterated that
bulk-billing will not be means tested, as long as it exists. Mr Howard
says every Aussie, no matter how much money they earn [or don't
earn?], have the same basic entitlements under Medicare.  However the
PM says it's a matter for patients and their doctors to decide whether
to use bulk-billing.  Contradicting his earlier statements that it was
strictly a matter of govt agenda and what it could afford at the moment.

Canberra (Ch 7). BULK-BILLING FURORE!  PM Howard appears to have
backed away from means testing bulk-billing after saying yesterday it
was "only ever meant" to apply to low-income Aussies and pensioners.
And the Opp'n has hit back against claims by Mr Howard and Treas Peter
Costello that it would raise the Medicare levy by 50% to pay for its
own proposal, to increase payments to doctors.  The Opp'n says the
"free $1 bn" the govt announced yesterday it would plough into
supporting low-paid Aussies could instead be paid to doctors.  The AMA
has complained that bulk-billing rates are falling because the fee
paid by Medicare for doctors' consulations no longer covers basic
costs.  But today the govt says no money is available for increasing
the common fee.

LA. US MEDICAL SYSTEM!  A major plastic surgery group says nearly 7 mn
Americans went under the knife last y for cosmetic surgery.  The
American Soc for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (yes, there's a group for
non-medical surgery!) says 6.9 mn people in the US underwent some sort
of cosmetic medical procedure in 2002, with tummy tucks and breast
enlargements growing in popularity.  Tummy tucks shot up 17%, with
breast enhancement procedures up 15%, and face-lifts up 6%.

Canberra.  AUS TROOPS CLOSE ON TIMOR GANG!  Aussie troops in E Timor
have closed the net on an organised crime gang terrorising villages
in the W of the country.  AUS Def Force rep Brig Mike Hannan says the
troops began searching for the group after it killed 2 local people in
an armed hold-up of a public bus on Feb 24.  Brig Hannan says after
the hold-up the AUS battalion began a search op in the area involving
about 300 troops.

Canberra (Ch 7). AUS CHARGES TIMOR GST!  For Min Alex Downer is off to
Dili to sign a $50 bn natural gas contract with E Timor.  The E Timor
Sea Treaty, to be ratified this wk, will divide the spoils of the gas
reserves in the Timor Sea, with AUS getting about 10% of the direct
revenue of one S oil field. But the deal also involves AUS reserving an
80% share of a larger field in the N Timor Sea.
Some officials in E Timor claim AUS is being greedy, since it will
also get 100% of the refining revenue from E Timor's only natural
resource.  But Mr Downer says he's working for AUS, not the E
Timorese.  He told reporters today's contract will help the nation
rebuild after its terrible struggle for indep from Indon.  It would be
a "challenge" for the young country to manage the "revenues which will
be so substantial", he said.  Mr Downer would have made a good
colonial administrator!
Opp'n rep Kevin Rudd said Mr Downer had "lost his temper" with E
Timor's PM Mari Alkitiri during the contract negotiations. There are
also other reports of temper-tantrums and hard words that resulted in
the E Timor PM refusing to take Mr Downer's calls since last Nov. Mr
Downer admitted he sometimes loses his temper.
Elsewhere, the AUS Greens say 90% of one field is not enough for
Timor, one of the poorest countries on planet earth.  It was "an
outrage, robbing E Timor of its only resource", said Bob Brown.  It
was a plot by AUS and the oil companies, he said.  Sen Brown went on
to say PM Howard had "delivered blackmail in the middle of the night",
when trying to "persuade" Timorese officials to accept the contract.
He said holding out for 80% of a larger project in return for the
badly-needed income from this present, smaller, contract amounted to
blackmail.  He refused to withdraw his remarks and was removed from
the Chamber.
PM Howard "in the other place" said all Sen Brown's claims were
wrong. Talk of blackmail was also rejected by Mr Downer who diverted
saying Timor had an income they otherwise wouldn't have, but for
Aussie generosity.  But Sen Brown was later backed up by statements
from the E Timor PM and Timor's negotiator.
The handling of the legislation for the treaty at home is also under
fire.  The Democrats are not impressed with the govt, complaining
about the "last minute lawmaking process".  They say they were given
only 24 hrs to assess and pass the leg'n backing the treaty with E
Timor.  They will support it, they say, because it's what the E Timor
govt wants.
A negotiator for E Timor says it's "no secret" AUS put the screws to E
Timor this wk about the agreement.  He said the "pressure tactics"
used by AUS were "unhelpful and never needed".  He said the final
agreement was a fair deal for Timor, but only as an interim measure.
A permanent treaty would need to specify the permanent maritime
boundary between the 2 countries.  Such a permanent agreement needs to
be signed "as quickly as possible", he said.  The rep said PM Howard
had been dodging the boundary issue since May 2002, and called on him
to start talks ASAP.

Canberra. INQUIRY IS A STUNT!  For Min Alex Downer says the public
inquiry into the Bali Bombing will be a political stunt that will
achieve nothing.  The Opp'n and the minor parties have agreed to terms
of reference for an inquiry into AUS's intel assessment and travel
warnings in the lead-up to the Oct 12 attack last y. Many observers
say there was known specific and credible evidence of an attack prior
to the bombing, yet there were no travel advisories to Aussies. Some
point to warnings given to US citizens during the period.  It's
expected the opp'n parties will move in the Senate today to set up the
inquiry.  Mr Downer told reporters it won't uncover anything new
because the evidence has already been shredded by his dept.

Canberra. A TALE OF 2 STORIES!  Treas Peter Costello says the latest
Nat'l Accounts show the AUS economy continues to grow, despite the
impact of a record drought. He spoilt the point by then down-playing
the relevance of the farm economy, emphasising the non-farm sector was
"much larger". Mr Costello says AUS's in the worst drought probably in
a century [what record?], and yet the economy continues to grow.
Nat'l Accounts data out yesterday showed the economy grew up 0.4% in
the Dec Q for an annual growth of 3%.  Mr Costello says the figures
demonstrate "2 stories of the Australian economy". His, and reality?
Growth for 2001 was 4.5%.

Canberra. ANTHRAX JAB AFTERMATH!  The RAN is reportedly investigating
a story that one seaman who refused anthrax jabs on the way to the
Gulf was harassed by snr officers on HMAS Kanimbla.  Ch 7 says the
Navy has received at least one formal complaint about harassment,
despite assurances from military chiefs the inoculations were purely
voluntary and no careers would be affected for those refusing them.

Sydney. POISON GRASS!  About 60 head of cattle on the NSW mid-N coast
have died after eating poison grass that grew too fast following
recent heavy rain in the area.  NSW Ag has warned cattle owners to be
on the look-out for signs of poisoning after the rains brought about a
growth spurt in kikuyu grass pastures.  It's believed [!] the grass
turns toxic when it grows too rapidly at the end of prolonged dry
periods and where the supply of roughage is limited.

Melbourne. VRROOOOOM!  Enough money to power a small 3rd world country
will be burned in MEL this wk. Something to do with the usual F1
suspects running cars around and around and around and around a
lakeside circuit. Sold by the prev Kennett govt on the dodgy basis of
being good for local traders, they say it's still good for the state
as a whole.

Melbourne. TALKING ABOUT RACING CARS...  A new study shows that Aussie
men are more likely that women to be at fault in car crashes.  It also
found the average male-caused accident cost more to fix than those
caused by women.  Men were found to be more than 4 times as likely as
a woman to die in a car crash.  The RACV also says the average cost of
a crash caused by a Vic male was $4,762 -- the most expensive in the
country.  The study across most of AUS by Vic's peak motoring body
took into account the fact men drove more often and further than
women. If found in 72% of car crashes in Vic and 73% of car crashes in
NSW and SA men were at fault. Observers say it supports the stereotype
that women are more cautious.

Sydney. MARKETS.  Wall St closed up 71 pts to 7,776, off 5 y lows the
day before.  The US market was focused on the blue chips.  New data
showed US services sector grew in Feb for the 3rd straight m.  In AUS,
the All Ords closed down 3 pts to 2747.  Telstra shares were down
another 1%.  The biggest effect on the market was due to NAB which was up
$1/2.  New retail trade numbers showed volume up 0.2% for Jan, below
market expectations. They were hoping for a jump that would offset the
relatively poor Xmas performance of 2002.  Analysts say the buy-crazy
Aussie consumer is finally seeing the credit card bill and the thought
of war and a global slow down is starting to hit home.  The ABS also
said avg Aussie house prices increased 4.8% in the Dec Q, up 18.4%
over 2002.  This compared with a fall of 11% in the share markets over
the same period.  At the end of the day the AUD had slipped a bit to
61.14 US cents.

----------------------------------------
Fri, 07 Mar 2003.

NY. MARKETS!  The DJIA dived 98 pts o'night, closing at 7,677.  The
markets reacted badly to the latest US jobs numbers.  Gold is $US2
higher, oil is up $US1/2 to over $US37/bbl.  The AUD is down slightly
to 61.40 US cents.

NY. NO, NOT THE OIL! World oil prices have spiked toward historic
highs today as the US hints Iraq has only days to decide to disarm or
face war. The US govt has previously indicated it will not accept
evidence Baghdad is disarming.  Futures traders fear an attack on the
world's 8th-largest oil exporter will trigger a supply shock at a time
when inventories are nearing record lows because of an extended period
of pre-war stockpiling and colder-than-expected N winters. US crude,
which hit a record $US40/bbl last wk -- was 31 c higher today at $US37.07.

London. GRILLED TONY!  Brit PM Tony Blair has been grilled about Iraq
and war by 2 dozen youngsters on the European version of MTV.  While
Mr Blair carefully re-iterated his position about WMD, terrorism and
Saddam Hussein, he shocked his audience when he revealed for the first
time that his govt would disregard the UN Sec Council if its plans
were vetoed.

NY. ON THE TRACK OF OBL!  Pakistan is reportedly on the track of Osama
bin Laden.  Although the Bush Whitehouse has said nothing publicly,
it's believed an upsurge of military action in Pakistan is related to
capturing the leader of the world's most infamous terrorist network.
The hunt comes after the capture of Al Qaeda #3, Khalid Shaikh
Mohammad, in Pakistan earlier this wk.  
On Fox TV today AUS PM John Howard indicated he supported putting the
Al Qaeda leader to death for the 9/11 attacks. "Anyone would", said Mr
Howard. The PM's office later released a statement that Mr Howard
didn't normally support the death penalty, but OBL was a "special
case". Mr Howard has previously indicate he supported the death
penalty in relation to several criminal trials, including some cases
not involving terrorism.

Algeria. CRASH!  Algerian state media has reported all but 1 of 103
people on board an Air Algeria 737 were killed when it crashed on
takeoff from the Sahara desert town of Tamanrasset in S
Algeria. Authorities have all but ruled out terrorism as the cause of
the crash. Algeria's APS news agency quoted airport officials saying
that 7 French citizens were among the dead.  A local radio corresp
says the sole survivor -- a young man believed to be one of the crew
of 6 -- was critically injured in the crash, which occurred 1,900 km S
of the coastal capital Algiers.

Jabalya. GUNBATTLES!  A night of gun-battles and an explosion during
an Israeli army raid into Gaza has claimed 11 lives and wounded more
than 140 people. Israeli troops and armour rumbled into the Jabalya
refugee camp early in the day, triggering fierce battles in the packed
dirt alleyways with local gunmen. The clash culminated at dawn, as
Palestinians crowed in a street to watch firefighters battle a
building fire.  An explosion rocked the street, killing another 8
people and wounding 100s more.  The Israeli army says it was a
home-made bomb going off.  Palestinians say it was a tank shell.  Ch 7
reporters say they've analysed film of firemen scattering at the sound
of the blast -- in which one fireman is seen to be killed -- and say
it shows an in-coming shell from off-camera.  Meanwhile, Israel has
warned it will continue the crack-down on "militants" following a
suicide bombing that killed 15 Israelis yesterday.

NY. "COMPROMISE" RES!  Resigned to its draft Res being voted down in
the Sec Council, a "plan B" is to be unveiled by Brit.  The new Res is
reported to involve wording about a 72 hr deadline [latest reports say
the deadline could be up to 2 wks] for Iraq to come into full
compliance with UN disarmament resolutions, but allow Saddam Hussein
to remain in power.  
Observers say it's just a "slight change" to the draft Res.  They say
the "compromise" will still authorise military action if Iraq fails to
comply.  But there are no guidelines as to what "full compliance"
might mean.  Some observers doubt anything Iraq could do would satisfy
the Whitehouse.  
In Europe, France and Russia still vow to block any Res that even
indirectly authorises war.  Officials from the 2 countries have
avoided using the word "veto".  China has also indicate it would block war.  
Meanwhile, non-stop diplomatic pressure has reportedly ensured at
least 3 of the "middle 6" countries in the Sec Council will vote in
favour of supporting the US.  Various "inducements" have been offered. 
There are still rumblings about attempts by the US to spy on the
official and personal lives of Sec Council members in order to apply
"special pressure". A Brit newspaper says it will reveal more about
NSA plans to tap telephones and email in support an order originating
from the US Admin, allegedly the office of Nat'l Sec Adv Connie Rice.

Kuwait. NO, NOT OUR OIL!  Another sign of impending war. Kuwaiti oil
companies have beefed up security at the country's oilfields.

Baghdad. RUSSIANS OUT! Russia has ordered all 600 of its citizens,
incl diplomats and aid workers, out of Iraq ASAP.  Observers say it
may mean the Kremlin expects an air assault within the next 72 hrs.

Baghdad. SHIELDS OUT!  Iraq has ordered 5 human shields out of the
country after a dispute over where the W peace activists should deploy
to deter possible US military strikes.  Snr Iraqi official
Abdul-Razzaq Al-Hashimi told a heated meeting of about 100 human
shields in Baghdad that the 5 should leave by tomorrow. He's accused
them of undermining the noble and courageous spirit of other
volunteers.  It's the latest setback to the high-profile mission to
Iraq by peace activists whose visit has been plagued by in-fighting,
illness and a broken bus.

Adelaide. AUSSIE SHIELDS!  Despite a directive to quit from the DFAT,
an Adel woman is continuing to help protect a food silo nr Baghdad.
55 yo Ruth Russell arrived in the Iraqi capital last wk with more than
20 other people who have since deployed to various locations. In
contact with friends in AUS, she says silos about 20 km out of Baghdad
in what she describes as lovely rural country.  Mrs Russell also says
she has enjoyed complete freedom of movement since her arrival in Iraq.

Ankara. OK!  The Turkish parliament has reportedly given permission
for "non-offensive forces" from the US to deploy in the country.
1000s of US troops that had been waiting off the Turkish coast are
said to now be landing and moving to positions near the Iraqi border.

Melbourne. AUSSIES UNDECIDED, SAYS PM!  PM John Howard says he's
convinced that most Aussies are still undecided about AUS's
unquestioned support of the US in its war with Iraq.  Speaking on the
Nine Network's "A Current Affair" last night, Mr Howard said he's well
aware many Aussies don't want the country embroiled in an armed
conflict on the other side of the planet.  He says that whatever
decision the govt makes, will be taken in the national interest.

Canberra. OPPN SLAMS US BOMBERS!  Labor says the US move of heavy
bombers into the W Pac to "deter" North Korea during the up-coming war
with Iraq proves tensions on the peninsula are reaching a crisis
point.  The US has started deploying 24 long-range B-52 and B-1
bombers to Guam. The move comes as the US Admin warns N Korea is
getting ready to test a mid-range Rodong ballistic missile.

Canberra. WE ARE NOT BULLIES!  The federal govt has denied it bullied
E Timor into signing a deal that's seen AUS claim 80% of a major oil
field in the Timor Sea.  The denial came after allegations from Sen
Brown, the Timor PM Mari Alkatiri, and an E Timor contract negotiator
yesterday.  The deal will see E Timor get 90% of revenue from a $30 bn
"Stage 1" field in the S of the Timor sea, in return for AUS's claim
to a $50 bn field in the N of the Timor sea.  Observers say Timor had
little choice on signing up to the deal yesterday because it needs a
source of cash ASAP.  The Timor Sea Treaty was rushed through the
Senate yesterday.  Timor PM Alkatiri and negotiators for the Timor
side said AUS had been "overly aggressive", with PM Howard personally
calling Alkatiri in the middle of the night before the Stage 1
contract was signed, offering a "take it or lose the money" deal.

Washington. BUSH PRESS CONF! Facing stiff opp'n to war with Iraq, Pres
Bush has been courting world leaders by telephone and has called a
rare press conf to make his case for disarming Baghdad.  Starting at 8
pm (midday AEST) Mr Bush will field questions in the Whitehouse's East
Room. It will mark his first formal press conf since Nov 7 last y.
Aides have quashed rumours that the Pres will announce the capture of
Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and have also denied Mr Bush would
formally declare war on Iraq.

Washington. BUSH DOES A NIXON!  Pres George Bush Jr has addressed the
American people to explain his position on war with Iraq. Observers
say such an address is unusual.  It came at midday, AEST.  
In a rambling speech, Mr Bush explained that Saddam Hussein
represented a threat to the US. He repeatedly linked Baghdad with
global terrorism, the training of terrorist groups, and the 9/11
attack on the WTC.  The Pres said Iraq had been ordered to disarm by
the UN, but was continuing to arm itself with WMD.
Observers say Mr Bush is softening up the US population for war, which
many expect to be launched next wk. 
In the US, support of war on Iraq without UN backing is said to be
around the 40% level, and falling. Pres Bush's personal popularity is
also falling, due to a faltering US economy, increasing unemployment
and the apparent fixation of the Whitehouse on Iraq, rather than the
well-being of American families.

========================================

(*) Who is responcible for W.A.R.S?  A small group of dedicated
sandgrubbers, bannana-lickers and 5th columnists on the run from
support payments and sundry legalese in their home countries. Mention
us at any Uncle Harry's Suburban Bunker and get a 10% discount on cop-killers!

All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek.

*** Please stand by for further orders from The Leader ***