From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia Reserch Senter(*) OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS #155 =============================== 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). Visit Our Home Page At: http://www.chickenhead.com/loserscopes/0103.asp http://www.evil-doers.org/evidence Kindly Archived At: http://www.kymhorsell.com/BOZO/archives/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Selecting latest news stories and other data for you... ------------------------------------------------------------ It's not anti-Americanism; it's saying what we really think! -- anon, 12 Feb 2003 ---------------------------------------- THE PORTENTS, OH, THE PORTENTS! Morocco (New Scientist). A peasant woman awoke to find, to her horror, a newborn foal lying wet at the feet of a tethered 14 yo female mule. Local superstition links a mule giving birth with THE END OF THE WORLD. So the owner was understandably concerned. Not knowing what else to do, the woman contacted the London-based SPANA, that monitors mule welfare world-wide. They suggested blood tests. The tests were done in Rabat. In the Jan issue of The Veterinary Record, SPANA reports the foal was the offspring of a mule and a DONKEY. It's the 4th reported mule birth. Others were seen in Nebraska in 1986 and 2 others in China in 1988. ---------------------------------------- 10 Feb 2003 Palo Alto. PAY UP! Bad news for shoppers. The biggest question about online buying -- collecting the sales tax -- got underway in the US last wk. The web units of major US retailers began collecting sales tax as part of an agreement that means higher prices for online consumers and increased revenues for state coffers. The deal involves 8 major retailers including Toys R Us, Target and Wal-Mart. Under the deal participants will be given amnesty for any un-collected tax up until now. Tax would be based on the location of customers, not the location of stores, as for other retail operations. The move comes after 3 m of delicate negotiations. Last y net retailers rang up an estimated $73 bn. Amazon said it was not collecting taxes in states where it wasn't legally required to, but it had started collecting them in all 50 on behalf of partners Target and Toys R Us. Mouthpiece Bill Curry said the new deal was not a fix-all for the multitude of woes the US's complicated sales tax system inflicted on businesses. Brussels. TRIPLE-CROSS! Belgium and France have moved to stop NATO joining the war on Iraq. Divisions are deepening over the war, with one diplomat saying "things are getting personal". In a TV broadcast from Brussels today tensions spilled over with Belgian officials saying they would not be dictated to by US Def Sec Don Rumsfeld. It was "not a servant and master relationship", they said. Belgium also objected to the US Admin's term "Old Europe", used these days when the EU opposed American strategic or economic interests somewhere in the world. Belgium said it would join France to veto any NATO move to boost the defences of Turkey ahead of the US strike on Iraq. Germany also indicated it would kill the plan, saying it "sends the wrong message". The US Admin had asked NATO to support the defence of Turkey, in case Iraq should attempt to strike back across its N. border during the planned US attack. Observers say it's the deepest crisis NATO has faced in its 54 y history. Following the veto, NATO called an emergency meeting to thrash out a solution. The Bush Admin is reportedly "furious" at the development. Sec of State Colin Powell said it was time for NATO to rally and stand behind their colleague, Turkey. He said the veto was "inexcusable" and would "undermine efforts to prevent the conflict". Eh? US observers are also not complimentary about recent moves from Old Europe. And they smell a hidden conspiracy! "The tactic of divide and conquer has paid off for Iraq", said one. In other reports, it's been revealed snr US officials in EU were not aware of the "secret" peace plan announced by France and Germany yesterday. And THEY are not happy. The EU partners announced they would press the UN to increase weapons inspections, supported by peace-keepers, and also extend the no-fly zone to cover 100% of Iraq. Around the world opp'n to the war continues to grow. In Turkey anti-war protesters have saddled up for Baghdad, to become human shields. And there were more anti-US demos in Indonesia. Washington. AFTER IT'S NOT WAR! The Whitehouse says the US agenda for a post-war Iraq include a new govt, democratic reforms, and food and health care for its population. But it has no timetable for the massive undertaking. Nat'l Sec Adv Conny Rice denied the program will rival the cost of post-war reconstruction in Europe and Japan. Rice also told CBS the US had no interest in replacing Saddam with another dictator. London. NO, NOT THE OIL! The Sunday Express has reported a US-led attack on Iraq is set for Feb 21. Although the paper gave no source for its information a media release from AP said the date had been announced by Pres George Bush Jr in a telephone call to Ariel Sharon in Dec. British For Sec Jack Straw has also admitted for the first time the security of energy resources are a priority for Brit foreign policy, during a meeting with 150 ambassadors. An article in The Guardian said a number of Brit ministers had said privately that oil was more important in war planning than the presence of WMD in Iraq. They are "required to bolster the security of British and global energy supplies in an open and expanding global economy". The US govt has previously announced plans to secure Iraqi oilfields during early stages of the proposed strike against Baghdad, and when the war ends will use oil revenue from Iraqi fields to pay US costs and also Iraqi re-structuring. In other reports, Baghdad has started stockpiling explosives to take out oil derricks and other infrastructure in case of attack. Washington. TIMETABLES. PM John Howard said it was a "peace mission". But since arriving in Washington Mr Howard is talking "timetables". Timetables for troop deployment. Timetables for war. Mr Howard has continued his enthusiastic support of Mr Bush, indicating it's unlikely war can be averted now. Unless there was a "change of direction" from Iraq, the PM said, US military action would go ahead. But "it won't go on for months", Mr Howard added. But he also held out hope for all those Aussies that don't like war. "To turn this thing around Iraq must co-operate", the PM said. But Mr Howard was dismissive of the French & German proposal to boost UN weapons inspections. "How do you get peace-keepers in?", the PM asked, "Do you think Iraq will allow them in?" Mr Howard went on to say he wasn't taking sides in the growing US/EU spat. Tonight the PM is scheduled to see Dep Sec of State Armitage and VP Cheney. Observers say the US will move tomorrow to get a UN Resolution to attack Iraq. Canberra. PEACENIK? Opp'n leader Simon Crean said he was "more open to the possibilities" regarding the EU peace plan than the Aussie govt. Mr Crean said he was "encouraged" but was yet to see the full details of the plan. "All options have to be considered", he said. In Parliament, the govt maintained the hard line. Govt MP's set no store in Iraq co-operating with Hans Blix. But maybe there was hope. For all those Aussies that didn't like the idea of war. For Min Alex Downer said Iraq must cease its evasion tactics to hold out hope of a peaceful settlement. But elsewhere his Dept called on all Aussies to get out of Iraq ASAP, and for others not to visit the country. Observers say it looks like for the first time since Vietnam Australia will wage a war without public support. Bogota. PEACENIK VIRUS! About 10,000 people have rallied to protest violence and last wk's bombings that killed 32 people. Rich, poor and unemployed Colombians marched alongside politicians to protest the nightclub blast. Wearing white T-shirts and chanting "life is sacred", 1000s of Bogota residents say they are tired of escalating violence and have called on the govt and rebel groups to start talking. In other reports, the Colombian govt has called in the US ATF to investigate the bombing. Singapore. CHEM ATTACK! Singapore doctors have been asked to look for signs of ricin poisoning, a bio weapon that can kill within 48 hrs. The Singapore Health Ministry sent a notice to 6,000 doctors telling them how to recognise when someone may be a victim of a ricin attack. Police in London discovered signs of ricin during a raid on a suspected terrorist cell on Jan 5. 7 N African men were arrested, and 1 was charged with terrorist offences. Baghdad. COOPERATION? The UN chief weapons inspectors left Iraq tonight with "a quiet optimism". Citing a "new sprit of co-operation" in the regime, they also called for more time to do their work. Observers say there's a "readiness" by Iraq to "tackle the issues". UN inspectors say Iraq is showing a "more serious attitude". They said they would be able to deliver a "full and positive" report to the Sec Council by Fri. They said they've shown inspections do work and are making progress. The process "is and can provide an alterative to war", said Hans Blix. But inspectors stopped short of using the word "breakthrough". During the day Iraq handed over more docs and has even promised to drill into ground at some sites to prove they have nothing to hide. Iraq says it destroyed its chemical weapons in the early 90s, by pouring them into earthen pits. Inspectors were also given access to an agriculture airstrip where aircraft had been converted to spray chemical weapons in the 90s. At a press conf Gen Saadi signalled Iraq will also drop its opposition to a plan to use U2 spy plans to inspect weapons sites from the air. But there has been less progress on interviews with Iraq's key weapons scientists. The UN is especially eager to talk with "Dr Germ". But the good Doctor told reporters this week she didn't want to talk to the UN, and didn't trust inspectors. She said under human rights conventions she could not be forced to talk. Elsewhere, an anonymous Iraqi defector says key scientists are being held in a secure location in Baghdad and are afraid for the lives. In other reports, Hans Blix yesterday down-played a proposed EU plan to end the threat of war. He told NBC that more weapons inspectors weren't the issue. What was needed, he said, was more Iraqi co-operation. Maybe Saddam was listening. Meanwhile, the US is still making significant prep to launch a strike on Baghdad. The carrier Abraham Lincoln is now within hitting distance, and was on exercises today. Caracas. Pres Hugo Chavez has threatened to start sending the "foes" that have tried to oust him by organising a 2 m general strike, to prison. And he's also threatened to close down TV channels that backed the stoppage. Since the opp'n strike fizzled out 1 wk ago, the Pres has been calling for harsh punishment for those who organised and participated in the shutdown, which plunged the world's number 5 oil exporter into an economic crisis. Remember: it's not about oil; it's about GETTING EVEN WITH THE FROGS! Rangoon. Amnesty Int'l has urged Burma's ruling military junta to release more than 1,000 political prisoners. The call came after the human rights group's first fact-finding visit to the country since 1988, the same y as a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. A 2-person delegation visited the country this m and met opp'n leader & Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Damn! Why do these hippies keep getting peace prizes while good ol boys like Donny Rumsfeld and Bubba Cheney are allays passed ova? Perth. WA is the centre of the biggest US Navy deployment since Gulf War I. A state and fed govt plan has created a default USN base in Cockburn Sound. The "Seaswap" program began in Jan when the Abraham Lincoln, the world's largest warship, and the USS Fletcher arrived in WA waters. The plan called for a deep water channel to be dredged in Cockburn Sound so nuclear-powered ships can come closer to the coast. Vice Adml Tim LaFleur praised WA for its support in the "long, long war" and said "WA had a strategic role in US military operations -- by allowing the US to keep battle-ready ships in the region". The USN will now use WA as a swap-over point for the 7th fleet, with crews coming in and out of theatres of war heading straight to WA rather than bases in San Diego or Hawaii. The program also allows the USN to keep ammunition and other stores in WA. The WA govt has underscored the gains to the local economy by visiting US seamen. But critics say the plan makes WA a bigger nuclear target. It also makes Perth nightclubs and other R&R venues more attractive targets for terrorist attack. They say tourism gains from the USN may be offset by other tourists staying away. Sydney. The AUD closed weaker today. The All Ords was also down 1/2 percent. ---------------------------------------- 11 Feb 2003 Beijing. FOOD! The top UN food agency says it's halting food aid to 100,000s of North Koreans because of an "unprecedented slump in donations". The shortfall, coinciding with a political stand-off between Washington and Pyongyang, has forced the World Food Program to cut supplies to people in the E of the isolated country. The cutbacks will effect more than 300,000 primary school children, around 200,000 elderly and 75,000 care givers. NY. WORLD COURT! Afghanistan has become the 89th nation to put its population under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. It's ratified the court's founding statute at a ceremony in NYC. The ICC is the first permanent court set up to try individuals accused of war crimes, genocide, and other crimes against humanity. The court is expected to start work soon after its 18 newly-elected judges are sworn in next m. The US has so far declined to sign up to the treaty, saying it would allow political enemies to bring numerous trivial but embarrassing charges of war crimes against it. Brussels. IRAQ WINS! NATO is facing one of its worst crises in hits history after France, Germany and Belgium blocked military planning for steps to defend Turkey in the event of an Iraq war. Turkey immediately requested emergency consultations under NATO's mutual defence treaty, the first time a nation has done so since NATO was founded. NATO Sec Gen George Robertson says the situation is "serious" and the atmosphere at a meeting of alliance ambassadors was "heated". NY. SPY FLIGHTS! Iraq has sent a letter to UN weapons inspectors approving the use of U2 spy planes. But reports say Iraqi officials say they will continue to defend their country, shooting down any warplanes that might try to use the UN-protected spy flights as cover. Iraq as also pledged to pass laws outlawing the use of WMD. Iraq's Amb to the UN says inspectors are now free to use the American U2's as well as French and Russian planes to scout weapons development sites. Saddam had blocked inspectors from using the planes which the UN said were needed in their search for banned weapons. NY. BIG TICKS FOR SPY PLANES! News that Iraq has given the go-ahead for U2 spy flight to check out its weapon's sites has boosted US markets. After 4 wks of declines things are looking good, with stocks battling back. With a couple of hrs to trade the DJIA is threatening the 7900 level, about 50 pts up on the day. The Nasdaq is also up 12 pts. Oil is trading at $US34.52, gold has fallen to $US372/oz. The USD is stronger. Calcutta. At least 10 people have been killed and 10 more are missing after a ferry carrying 70 passengers capsized in the E Indian state of West Bengal. Officials say the motorised ferry sank on the Haldi R., 130 km W of Calcutta, after being caught in strong currents. 10 bodies have been recovered and 50 people have been rescued, and the remaining 10 are thought to be trapped under the sunken ferry. NY. Wall St closed up 0.75%. Auckland. THE PEACEMAKER! The low-level civil war in the Solomons is continuing. A leading negotiator trying to end continued unrest in the troubled Solomon Is had been assassinated. National Peace Council chair Paul Tovua says the dead man, Frederick Soaki, was an NPC councillor and a former commissioner of police. He says 66 yo Soaki was shot dead last night in Auki, the provincial capital of Malaita, where he was a member of a delegation trying to de-mobilise special constables. Washington. LEFT WINGERS! NASA investigators have recovered part of Columbia's left wing, considered crucial to the probe into why the space craft came apart on landing. A piece of debris with a small part of the wing structure attached was recovered E of Ft Worth, TX. NASA's Michael Kostelnik says the wing piece includes some of the reinforced carbon material that formed the heat shield on the shuttle's wing. It also includes some of the ceramic tiles that protected the underside of the craft from the searing heat of re-entry. Washington. OLD RUMSFELD! US Def Sec Don Rumsfeld has given another stirring speech to rouse any red-blooded Cuban. Apparently it had something to do with damn Europeans trying to block his plans for world domination. He said if NATO fell down the US would take over, possibly using a new strategy of "multi-bilateralism". I think this has something to do with divide and conquer. Mr Rumsfeld was later seen doing a puppet act with Aussie PM John Howard at a "joint" Pentagon press conf. Mr Howard's visit to Washington has been given a relatively high profile in the US, being described even on NBC as one of America's "staunchest allies" and proving to the world the Bush Admin has more than the one. Mr Rumsfeld ordered reporters at the briefing, who just wanted to quiz him about EU support for Turkey, to direct questions to Mr Howard. Ch 9 said the US Def Sec had spotted an ignored John Howard shuffling his feet and looking like "a shag on a rock". Just out of meetings with Mr Rumsfeld, the Aussie PM said it was the military build-up in the Gulf that has forced Iraq to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors. But the PM wanted to show the folks back home he wasn't just a good poodle. He insisted Australia would make an independent assessment whether to attack Iraq with the US. But with 2,000 Aussie troops already deployed, Mr Rumsfeld seemed to take it for granted Australia would stay with the US. The Sec said he couldn't understand why newspapers were calling the US action "unilateral" when "a large number of countries around the world", like Mr Australia here, were going to war too. Pointing to an olive branch, Mr Howard went on to say the only possibility for peace was "the whole world saying the same thing and saying it very loudly" to Iraq. You can't fault the guy for staying on-message! The PM particularly called on "Arab states" to start shouting. Mr Rumsfeld withdrew his hand from behind the Aussie PM's back to tell reporters Mr Howard had just made an "enormously important" point. In case they'd missed the highlight of the briefing. Mr Rumsfeld then ordered reporters to henceforth refer to the UN resolution he was seeking today, authorising force against Iraq, as "Resolution 18". "If we get it", added the Def Sec. Mr Howard is set to meet Pres Bush Jr this morning to receive further post-hypnotic suggestion. Sydney. Wild storms overnight have left 1000s of homes across Sydney without power. Canberra. WITCH-HUNT! The Dept of Foreign Affairs has ordered an investigation into a leak. And we all know about leak investigations! Alex Downer is said to be displeased that his words were used against the govt in a recent tussle in the House, and wants to properly attribute the blame. Each staffer known to have had access to a certain memo is set for a grilling and will be asked to sign a stat dec they weren't the one that FAX-ed it to those Labor mongrels! Canberra. MORE LEAKS! For Min Alex Downer says leaks from his dept are embarrassing to Australia and could damage its diplomatic relationships. Apparently he was talking about some 3 month old memo that had nothing to do with current circumstances. The Dept of For Affairs has vowed to track down the source of a leaked memo recording details of a conversation between Mr Downer and NZ High Commissioner Kate Lackey on Australia's role in the Gulf. Ironically, another memo has already appeared in a newspaper detailing dept sec Ashton Calvert's plan to track down the source of the first leak. NY. NBC reports gas prices across the US have risen 11 c on war fears, to an avg $US1.60 per gal. Equivalent to $A0.71 per litre, about 25% less than current Aussie retail prices. And more than 10% less than Aussie wholesale prices. Remember: it's not about oil; it's about AVOIDING CIVILIAN CASUALTIES! Sydney. MY MONEY! The lucrative financial planning industry has dismissed a study by consumer groups that found they were mostly a shiftless, lazy bunch. According to the study by ASIC and the Consumer Assoc, only 2% of financial planners could be classified "very good", while more than 50% were found to be "bad" to "borderline". It found 14% didn't meet minimum legal requirements. The study was based on 500 investors seeking comprehensive advice from 3 planners. It found most planners ignored their customers' needs and pushed particular products, driven by commissions rather than getting a good return. Expense was also not a guide to results. The industry's peak group, FPA, said the new study showed that standards were "much higher" than previous research. 5 mn Aussies have $800 bn with Australia's 17,000 financial planners. Sydney. Telstra's share price has hit a 5 y low. Experts say Telstra stock is only held these days for its yield. The 5% level is used to trigger profit-taking. Sydney. A measure of Australia's business conditions has fallen to its lowest level in 12 m as the domestic non-farm economy continues to slow. The NAB monthly business survey found business conditions fell 3 points in Jan, consistent with ongoing non-farm GDP growth of below 4%. The Jan survey found that construction activity has fallen further on the m and that there were declines in transport, financial, property and business service sectors. NZ. Air NZ has announced it will cut its direct Syd to LA flights as part of a company restructure. Damn Kiwis, cutting us off from our annual holidays! Sydney. FESTIVAL! 1000s of Australians have begun 4 days of celebration of the Eid Al Ad-Ha festival of sacrifice in Syd's W. Worshippers began arriving at Lakemba's Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque from about 5 am. A crowd of more than 15,000 filled the mosque and nearby streets, which were closed to traffic. Celebrations began with the festival prayer and sermon before a series of speeches by dignitaries and religious leaders. Canberra. SLEEPERS! The AFP says intelligence agencies are monitoring possible Jemaah Islamiah sleeper cells operating in Aus. Commissioner Mick Keelty says it's "clear" that sleeper cells are operating in the region, and monitoring them is Aus is best left to agencies like ASIO. Mr Keelty says more is known about JI than ever before through the investigations into the Oct 12 Bali bombing which killed nearly 200 people. Adelaide. NAPPERS! An Adel researcher has found that 10 min power naps are more effective than sleeps longer or shorter. Flinders Uni school of psych researcher Amber Teitzel says 10 min naps reduce fatigue and significantly improve alertness and vigour. Ms Teitzel oversaw a study of 24 people who were assessed before and after taking naps of 5, 10, 20 and 30 mins. Jerusalem. Israel has declared a total closure of the West Bank and Gaza, banning Palestinians from entering Israel during the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice this wk. Def Min Shaul Mofaz cancelled measures aimed at easing restrictions because of fears of renewed attacks. Quoting un-named military sources Army Radio says there are reports about intended terrorist action during the holiday period. Canberra. A Senate estimates committee has been told GG Peter Hollingworth is costing Aussie taxpayers almost twice his predecessor, Sir Wm Deane. Mr Hollingworth was spending $900,000 pa on travel. He also reportedly remodelled his official appt to the tune of $300,000. Washington. Pres George Bush Jr says PM John Howard is his personal friend and numbers Australia among the "coalition of the willing" in the US war on Saddam. Previously the Admin used the term to indicate US allies that would fight in Iraq with or without UN approval. But the President said it was "up to John" what it meant. There was no indication why Mr Howard had been summoned to Washington. But the US Pres indicated Mr Howard was free to define Australia's role in the coalition that's amassed around Iraq. Mr Bush said he valued the opinion of the Aussie PM. He said John Howard understood how the modern world operated. Australia has committed about 2,000 troops to the military buildup in the Gulf. The Aussie PM had a message for Saddam. "Mate, the game is up", said Mr Howard. The PM still maintains no final decision has been made to commit troops to a strike against Iraq, believed to be scheduled for late Feb or early Mar. London. A new poll shows most Brits don't think Iraq is the Number 1 threat to world peace. And 1 in 3 say the US is more dangerous than Iraq. However, the poll found the majority would support military action against Iraq, even without a mandate from the UN. 70% of Brits also believe Saddam Hussein has a dangerous arsenal of weapons. Melbourne. The protracted process of containing Vic's mn ha bushfire continues today. Back-burning and the consolidation of containment lines is continuing in cool conditions ahead of expected hot weather later in the wk. Dept of Sust and Env rep Stuart Ord says conditions have been mild and fire growth generally slow in the E sector of the fire front. Perth. Overnight drizzle has dampened bushfires blazing in forests near scenic Walpole in the S of WA. Bushfires have been burning through karri and jarrah forest since they were sparked by lightning 3 days ago. A rep for the Dept of Conservation and Land Mgt says boggy conditions due to tea tree swaps are hampering access for crews and machinery. Despite the light showers, there are still concerns for the blaze at Northumberland. Washington. Allied aircraft have bombed an Iraqi SAM system after Iraqi forces moved it into the S no-fly zone. It's the 14th day this y US/UK coalition forces have conducted bombing attacks to keep the zone clear of defensive positions. Iraqi forces regularly shoot at coalition aircraft in the S. zone which the US says is designed to protect Shiites. Sydney. Although Xmas spending was down, Aussies put most of it on plastic. The RBA says $11 bn was racked up on credit cards in Dec, $1.5 bn more than the figure for Nov. Debit cards or EFTPOS also rose nearly $900 mn over Nov to $5 bn in Dec. Canberra. The ATO is warning small businesses of schemes claiming to minimise tax by shifting profits into superannuation schemes. Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody says promoters of the schemes claim small business can use fixed trusts to distribute profits into self-managed super funds, which are taxed at concessional rates of 15%. The aim is to escape paying the superannuation surcharge, which adds 15% to contributions, and escape deduction limits seeking to preserve funds until retirement. Canberra (7.30 Report). A seaman from HMAS Kanimbla says he was threatened with punitive action for refusing to take an anthrax inoculation after his ship was dispatched to the Gulf. Able Seaman Bond said his main problem was signing a consent form before the injection. He said no previous inoculation had required a signed form. Other members of the crew were also concerned. Bond said no-one could give a reason for the form apart from anthrax "being a bad word". Experts say the inoculation is "safe" and provides very good protection against weaponised anthrax. They say while some people suffer immediate and unpleasant side-effects, serious reactions are "rare". But it's also know that of around 2,000 members of the Israeli military inoculated last y, at least 1 suffered an "acute" reaction to the vaccine. Seaman Bond and several others who refused to sign the consent forms have been air-lifted off the ship and will be assigned other duties. He said the RAN would not be pleased with his going public. [Late tonight, Ch 7 said it understood several members of the crew had fallen ill from side-effects]. NY. UN UNDER PRESSURE! Relations between the 5 permanent members of the UN Sec Council were under immense strain last night with the US saying it would still ask the UN for a resolution backing war against the Evil Regime, even as a group of other nations planned to send in UN peace-keepers. Sec Colin Powell said the US was waiting for the weapons inspectors to report back from Baghdad. If Hans Blix told the UN on Sat that Iraq was hiding secret weapons programs, the US would immediately move to ask the UN for "action". The US would ask the Sec Council to "sit in session immediately and determine what should happen next", he said. Earlier he had dismissed a Franco-German plan to send peacekeepers in the Iraq to bolster a bigger, better inspection regime. Aussie battler John Howard stood by his American allies yesterday, saying only a dramatic and very unlikely shift by Iraq could avert war. London. King Chuck has come to the rescue of an Aussie hero. Or heroine. The rite royal hair has stepped into the breech to pay the 80,000 nicker-a-year hotel bill of Nancy Wake, AKA to the wartime Gestapo, the White Mouse. Ms Wake, 90, saved 100s of British airmen from the Nazis when working with the French Resistance during WW2. She'd left Australia after another battle, this time with the Fed Govt, that ended with her selling her war medals for 75,000 pounds to cover living expenses. But the money ran out months ago, the Mirror said yesterday. Chuck stepped in after meeting Ms Wake. Adelaide. Local magistrate Brian Deegan, father of Josh who died in the Sari nightclub last y, said yesterday he might launch a civil action in Australia over the Bali bombing. Mr Deegan said he was considering briefing lawyers in Adel to launch an action in the Fed Court alleging the negligence of Australian Fed authorities in connection with the tragedy. He confirmed he was a signatory of the US class action to run parallel to another suit launched by families of the victims of the 9/11 WTC attack. The actions can be joined because the same people and organisations were responsible for both attacks. Mr Deegan said he was "angry" at the reaction of Fed officials to the Bali attack, including bodies being "lost", and alternating messages saying his son was dead and then that he was missing. Kabul. AFGHAN WAR! Pres Hamid Karzai is worried Afghanistan's neighbours are up to their old tricks, meddling in the country, threatening the stability of the govt, and endangering the War Against Terrorism. Despite pledge of help for the Afghan govt, Russia is arming one war-lord and Iran is favouring another. India and Pakistan are continuing a long rivalry and secretly backing different claimants to power, while C. Asian republics are each backing their ethnic allies. The rivalries of Afghanistan's neighbours in the 90s and their arming of various factions prolonged the country's civil war after the Russians were forced out, and eventually brought the Taliban to power. "We are not going to be a political football as we were in the 1990s", said Mr Karzai. Western diplomats say the renewed struggle is based on common assumptions. That the Karzai govt is weak. That the US will wind down its presence while it battles Iraq. And that the internal strife will divide up along ethnic lines. Brussels. WEST VS WEST. The widening rift between America and its supposed NATO allies of Old Europe reflect genuine anti-war sentiment in the latter, but also a growing resentment of what it perceives as renewed American imperialism. The revelation of a Franco-German plan to avert war in Iraq should come as no surprise to the US Admin. Both countries had made their objections crystal clear for weeks. And their 1-minute-to-midnight move to derail the US and UK follows established patterns. But the way the Americans found out, through the EU press, speaks volumes at the levels of respect and confidence that now exist between the 2 sides. What happens in the UN this wk may poison trans-Atlantic relations for years to come. The split is not just US vs EU. As the gang-of-8 declaration showed, EU itself is divided over Iraq. What German and French officials are articulating is a strongly-held belief in Europe that the international community should be bound by the rule of law and consensus, not by the gun. Last year's spat over the International Criminal Court was a preview. Should a sovereign nation using its military forces to "win the peace" be subject to international law? The Americans said no; the Europeans yes. Whether the Franco-German axis should use Iraq to threaten EU/US relations again is open to question. Cotabato. The Philippines military says its forces have killed 7 Muslim rebels in operations in Mindanao today. Officials say aircraft and artillery were used in an assault of a rebel-held area on the S island. The military says it was forced to attack Moro Islamic Liberation Front positions after some of the 1,000 rebels massed in the area fired back at troops surrounding them. Five soldiers were wounded in the clashes. Brussels. RECALCITRANTS! Pres Bush says that France, Germany and Belgium are threatening the NATO alliance with their plan to block plans to send Patriot missile batteries and other equipment to help defend the country from an Iraqi counter-attack during a US strike. Mr Bush also said he didn't understand what the 3 countries were "up to". Elsewhere Don Rumsfeld pointed out the recalcitrants were only 3 of the 19 NATO members. They were therefore going against the majority. Mr Rumsfeld called on NATO to support Turkey in the up-coming Iraqi war. He also indicated the "naughty 3" may find themselves "out in the cold" unless they come around to the US position. Russian PM Putin was in Paris today. He was among friends. French Pres Chirac told a press conf he had not been convinced to go to war. Observers say the move by the 3 may signal a new Franco-German-Russian alliance in the world. And there are signs China could also join. Following the NATO vote that saw the US plan shot down, Turkey moved defences to its border with Iraq. Elsewhere, US Pres George Bush was talking for the first time about the possibility of civilian casualties in any Iraqi war. Mr Bush said the US would "try in every way" to preserve human life. The people of Iraq were not the enemies of the US, he said. In the US media France, Germany and Russia have been labelled "cowards". And US public opinion remains divided over the need for a UN sanction. Elsewhere, 1000s attended anti-war demonstrations in Manila. And in Seoul, anti-American protesters called on their govt to do more to stop a US attack on the N. Bali. Bombing suspect Ali Imron was paraded before the media at C. Police HQ today. In what observers say was a "bizarre" appearance, Imron demonstrated his part in the attack. He is accused of assembling the bomb. Imron said his group was acting independently when it attacked the Sari nightclub. Surrounded by police, he said his group had acted to attack the US and its allies in the world, who he said were "international terrorists". Imron said he didn't know at the time whether Australia was a US ally or not. He said he was proud of his group's capabilities and begged forgiveness from victims and their families. Phnom Penh. High security was in evidence as Thai diplomats returned to Cambodia today. They had either left or been pushed last m, according to different versions of official explanations. Also reversing tit-for-tat diplomacy, the Indian Amb to Pakistan also returned after being accused of spying last wk. Pakistan's diplomats were also returning to India. The latest round of mutual expulsions was the nuclear neighbour's 2nd so far this y. Melbourne. 100s of Melb residents have been ordered out of the country by the Fed Dept of Imm. It's part of a Fed Govt plan to expel 1,600 Timorese back to E Timor. They came to Aus to escape the aftermath of the Dili massacre. The group includes many children born in Aus. Critics say some of families given their marching orders have been in Australia for more than 12 y. Mayors of 5 Melb councils are asking the Fed Govt to reconsider the idea. Mr Ruddock says the Timorese could still appeal their deportation. But some had used the system for years, he said. The Imm Minister said Timorese had been "playing games" with Aussie taxpayers for years. What a guy! Sydney. There was a sharp fall in the AUD this morning, and it was weak all day. The decline came on news Aussie int rates are likely to fall soon. The All Ords was down 10 pts at the close. It was the lowest level in 3 y. The decline was based on "war jitters", said experts. There was also doubt about the Aussie business sector from a new report. The market also saw 5 of Australia's top 100 companies reporting profits today. 4 were lower. The worst-affected company, Wesfarmers, fell 14%. ---------------------------------------- 12 Feb 2003 Washington. KA-BOOM! The Pentagon says US warplanes have attacked a missile system in S Iraq. It's the first recent attack on surface-to-surface missiles that might threaten ships at sea. The US Central Command says American pilots attacked the missile system near the S city of Basra overnight. It says Bagdad had moved the battery into the S no-fly zone. US warplanes attacked a mobile SAM system near Basra earlier. Washington. NO CRUNCH! The MAP space probe has measured the age of the universe, 13.7 bn years. NASA said previous estimates had been close for decades but the spacecraft, now 1.6 mn km from Earth, was able to look at the afterglow from the Big Bang and find the final answer. Data from the probe showed the first stars began to shine about 200 mn y after the universe began. But most importantly, for cosmologists, the data shows the universe will expand forever because of a special kind of long-range antigravity, so-called "dark energy". Experts say MAP has put another nail in the coffin of the idea the Big Bang might sometime in the distant future end in a Big Crunch. London. BE HAPPY, DONT PANIC! Britain has called in tanks and 400 troops to guard Heathrow airport from an expected terrorist attack. In moves not seen for a decade since the height of IRA threats to British targets, police sources say they are taking precautions against a possible rocket attack from Al Qaeda. Police say the measures are "precautionary" and coincide with the end of the Muslim Hajj, being celebrated in England and across the world this wk. Eid al-Adha, the 3-day celebration of the end of the annual pilgrimage, starts today. Mena. 14 pilgrims have been killed and several injured in Saudi Arabia when they fell to the ground in heavy crowds marking the Festival of Sacrifice during the pilgrimage. The festival, in which people throw stones at a pillar representing Mr Bush, is often the most troublesome part of the Hajj. In 2001 at least 35 died in a stampede during the stoning ritual. The faithful, who made the pilgrimage to Mecca, trek to Mena from Muzdalifah on the outskirts of the holy city, where they spend the night after a day of prayer. Brussels. DOUBLE OFFENSIVE! The US is defending its war plans for Iraq in both the UN and at NATO. However it's been dealt another blow by China, which has announced its backing for expanded UN weapons inspections. Chinese Pres Jiang Zemin has been quoted as saying that warfare is good for no-one, and it's our responsibility to take various measures to avoid it. A German govt sources says 11 of the 15 UN Sec Council members now support French-German-Russian moves to continue inspections. Seoul. The US Amb to Korea is calling for "firm international pressure" on the N to abandon its nuclear program. China has dismissed a request from Washington that it become more involved in the standoff between the US and the Communist state. The new rift highlights potential difficulties facing US Pres George Bush as he tries to forge a multilateral response to the NK crisis. At the same time the Admin is also struggling to win support from NATO and the UN for the use of military force against Bagdad. NY. TAPES! Colin Powell has announced new tapes received by an Arabic network prove links between Saddam Hussein and terrorism. In the audio tapes a person who Mr Powell said was Osama bin Laden says he supports the people of Iraq. The voice refers to the "relationship" between Iraq and the Al Qaeda network. This is proof, Mr Powell said, that Baghdad is an Evil Regime. The tape was reportedly broadcast today by Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV. The message labels the US and allies as "crusaders" intent on installing a puppet govt in Iraq. The tape calls on Muslims to arise and fight the invading US, who aimed to take the wealth of Muslims and support the creation of a Greater Israel. Remember: the part of the tape linking OBL and Saddam is true; the rest is a lie! A previous tape attributed to OBL has left experts divided. Washington-based experts classified the voice as "almost definitely" coming from the Al Qaeda leader, while European experts said it was "almost definitely not" Ossama. [In this case, from my brief hearing of the tape on TV, it doesn't sound even remotely like the voice in interviews with the real OBL]. NY. Following 1 hr of talks with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix and UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan PM John Howard says "No, no" his position has not changed on Iraq. Mr Howard received a briefing on the Iraqi weapons inspection process in which Mr Blix outlined the latest developments in Baghdad. But Mr Howard told reporters afterward that Saddam was not co-operating and it was unlikely the situation could be resolved without resorting to force. He again called on the UN to speak with one voice to Baghdad. Canberra. BOR-ING! Labor is set to ramp up attacks on the govt's handling of the war on Iraq. While PM Howard continues talks with UN officials in NYC, the ALP continues to target govt claims that Aussie troops are not committed to the US war plan. Simon Crean says the continued denials from Mr Howard and other govt MP's that troops will fight, no matter what the stance of the UN, are now shown to be lies. Canberra. Opposition Leader Simon Crean says he was suckered by the American Ambassador, Tom Schieffer, in the row over the ALP's comments against American policy in the Middle East. Complaints by Mr Schieffer against the ALP and Mr Crean have now appeared in The Bulletin. The Ambassador told the magazine Mr Crean had not sought personal contacts in Washington, unlike PM John Howard. He also criticised the ALP for playing on the American-hating attitude of the Australian public by criticising Pres George Bush and American policy. Mr Crean had previously tried to down-play the rift with the Embassy, saying he had received no official complaint about his anti-American attitude. But today he told reporters Mr Schieffer's on-going campaign amounted to interference in the internal politics of another country. Canberra (New Scientist). Australia's Internet providers are likely to suffer in the first round of talks in the proposed free trade agreement with the US, due to begin in Aus next m. While such trade talks typically focus on improved prospects for Aussie producers to reach US markets, there is a side issue. Such agreements typically require laws regulating commerce to be "harmonised". There are no prizes for guessing which country is likely to be under pressure to change its laws. An official from For Af and Trade concede recently to the Press that "the US would like to influence our legislation". With the Aus govt unlikely to stand up to pressure from Washington, that is bad news for the Internet industry. It's expected Aus will need to adopt US-style copyright laws that will providers liable to prosecution for content. Under present Aussie laws ISP's are viewed as "conduits" and not liable for copyright infringement by customers. NY. PM John Howard says the US Admin remains "supportive" of a free trade agreement with Aus that could boost the domestic economy by $4 bn pa. The PM rejected any suggestion that Australia's support for the US's war on Iraq would result in an agreement being forged. Mr Howard has been visiting Washington and NY to discuss the Iraqi conflict. He says there's continued support at the highest levels in the US for a trade deal with Aus. Analysts in Aus have indicated the down side of trade agreements with the US is that partners are urged to "harmonise" legal arrangements, usually not to the advantage of the smaller partner. Melbourne. Hot on the heels of a study canning financial planners, a new survey says Aussie are unhappy about their ability to save. Australian Unity's latest Wellbeing Index shows only 59% of the 2,000 questioned are satisfied with their ability to save money. The report's co-author Prof Robert Cummins from Deakin Uni says the feeling is constant across high- and low-income earners. The survey also shows 70% of respondents feel financially secure. There's always the plastic! Canberra. Def Min Robert Hill says Aussie troops deployed to the Middle East have to be vaccinated against bio and chem threats for their own safety. The topic came to public attention yesterday when 3 members of the HMAS Kanimbla crew were flown home after they refused to sign consent forms for anthrax inoculation. Elec eng Simon Bond says he and 2 others had doubts over the safety of the shots and were uneasy about having to sign consent forms. Brisbane. A Qld judge has lashed out at calls for longer jail terms as a deterrent to crime, warning harsher sentences are not the answer to anti-social behaviour. Dist Court Judge John Robertson says it's easy to increase penalties, but it's much harder to address underlying causes. He says govts of all persuasions had promised crackdowns on crime by increasing penalties. However that was generally followed by public concern about the enormous cost of keeping people under lock and key. Sydney. The Stones made a low-key arrival last night ahead of a sold-out tour that kicks off next Tue. Front man Mick Jagger, Ron Wood and Keith Roberts arrived on a chartered Qantas flight carrying the entire crew for the Forty Licks show. The much-anticipated tour follows an L.A. concert that saw seats sell for up to $US5,000 to support Global Warming. Sydney. Security fences will go up at more NSW schools under a plan announced by the NSW govt. Some $20 mn will be spent over 4 y at 200 state schools, taking the number of schools keeping the little devils secure until home time (shudder!) to 450 by 2007. Prem Bobby Carr says schools with the fences have seen a 70% cut in vandalism and break-ins, with arson down 90%. Sydney. Bulk-billing rates are declining across NSW, with only 22% of the state's doctors likely to offer the full service by the end of the FY. The SMH says a survey funded by NSW Health found bulk-billing rates could drop to as little as 4% in some areas of rural NSW within the next 6 m. Of almost 2,000 doctors surveyed across 17 area health services, 81% said inadequate Medicare payments were the main reason they were giving up "free" medical services. Brisbane. WHY!? Qld business leaders have renewed calls for the state to adopt daylight saving. Commerce Qld says it's found in new research that 2/3 businesses in the state want clocks moved forward 1 hr in summer. CEO Joe Barnewall says 64% of 700 respondents to a survey carried out across the state over Dec/Jan wanted daylight saving. Almost 70% said they wanted it intro'd across the state, not just in certain areas. Melbourne. WHY IT IS SO! Local astrologers say Pres George Bush's Achilles heel is his birth sign. According to the experts, Mr Bush is a Pisces who tend to be emotional, and "all over the place". With a strong tendency to megalomania, Pisces can also be deeply melancholic. Sheet! Next they'll be saying drug abuse! They warn the sign enters a new 7-year cycle starting in March. It seems OBL and Tony Blair are both Taureans, who tend to think of themselves as saints. And they say this stuff isn't a science! ======================================== (*) 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 YOUR LEADER *** ========================================