Volume 5 Issue 23…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race…June 14, 2002

Wake up!

Morning comes.

Darkness gives way to light.

Nightly prayers wash away sins

as dew cleanses petals.

Life begins again

with new pleasures and pain.

With each tick of the clock,

opportunity's knock

fades into procrastination's limbo.

Frozen, yet still moving farther away

Caught somewhere between

intention and indecision

Life was not meant to be spent planning.

Action sustains the soul; variety improves it.

Love soothes it.

Experience teaches it.

And, God completes it.

Willing hearts do run free.

So, cast thy sail and set adrift

on the sea of life.

Feel the magic of being.

For in a blink, all the wishing,

hoping and praying,

cannot reverse the fortune

hesitation has spent.

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro received an important letter the other day announcing he had passed to the fourth grade. Wasting no time to secure his reward for success, the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro inquired, "What do I get?"

On June 6, 2002, U.S. government debt stood at $6,019,291,726,873.34 or $6.019 trillion. Established by Congress on August 5, 1997, the current statutory debt ceiling is $5.95 trillion. In February 2002, the national debt exceeded this amount. Prior to his African road show with Bono, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill requested an increase of $750 billion in the debt limit and outlined measures to pay federal benefits and meet bondholder obligations, if the debt ceiling is not raised.

O'Neill told Congress he planned to suspend investments in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) and the Government Securities Investment Fund (G-Fund). The Treasury will use cash resources held at the Federal Reserve and commercial banks. Using these balances will require Treasury to make larger future deposits to compensate the banks.

O'Neill warned, "In the second half of June, uncertainty with respect to taxes to be received increases the chances that additional measures will be necessary to manage debt. These measures are the suspension of U.S. dollar investments in the Exchange Stabilization Fund, and a swap of non-Treasury securities held by the Federal Financing Bank for an equivalent value of Treasury securities held by CSRDF. The Treasury is not authorized to restore the funds with interest once the debt ceiling is raised; these funds can only be fully restored through congressional action."

If the debt ceiling is not raised, the Treasury will not be able to make interest payments to Social Security and other federal trust funds. Failure to raise the ceiling means the Treasury will not make timely Social Security and other benefits payments. Inability of the U.S. Treasury to meet its financial obligations effectively shuts down the federal government. (Sources: www.publicdebt.treas.gov and www.theprivateer.com)

Director Robert Mueller said, "I welcome comments from within and without," regarding the reorganization of the FBI. However, most Americans view the systemic problem as "cultural inertia," rather than ineffectiveness. Simply adapting the FBI to fight the so-called "war on terrorism" does not address the historic "circle the wagon" mind set so prevalent in the Bush Administration. Such reactionary behavior breeds contempt for change by fostering "Hooverism." Mueller's plans ignore who, what, when, how and why the FBI is held in such low esteem.

J. Edgar Hoover conducted personal and political vendettas against communists and black militants. He believed, as Chief Justice Roger B. Taney believed about slave descendants, "A black man has no rights, a white man is bound to respect." Hoover's total contempt for First Amendment rights was demonstrated clearest during the "red scare" and civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 60s. Devoutly anticommunist and a bigoted racist, Hoover persecuted blacks, Jews and homosexuals. Perceived as enemies, Hoover created the Counter Intelligence Program (Co-InTel-Pro). It relied on shadowy informants and unnamed sources, recruited by agents exercising the power of life and death.

Last week, following 17 years of denials and an appeal to the Supreme Court, the FBI settled a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by the San Francisco Chronicle (6-9-02). The lawsuit sought documents about how the FBI, under Hoover, worked covertly to aid Ronald Reagan, then-Governor of California, to quash student dissent and fire faculty and administrators deemed subversive at the University of California (UC). The FBI's terror campaign became public when Congress held hearings in the 1970s. In over 200,000 pages extending from the 1940s through the 1970s, the FBI and CIA's Gestapo activities are exposed. During this time, Hoover ordered agents to investigate all 6,000 UC faculty members and administrators. Agents listed such items as their political activities, sexual perversion, homosexuality, drinking to excess, and illicit love affairs. Like the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, FBI agents disrupted and destroyed the lives of law-abiding citizens and organizations engaging in legitimate dissent.

Former Deputy Director, John P. O'Neill, a true FBI whistle-blower, resigned to become Director of Security at the World Trade Center (WTC), where he died on 9-11. According to O'Neill, "the State Department and the oil lobby that makes up Bush's entourage were the main obstacles to investigating terrorism and the role Saudi Arabia played." As point man on Al Qaeda for the FBI going back to the first WTC bombing in 1993, the US base bombing in Saudi Arabia in 1996, US embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar-Es-Salaam in 1998 and the USS Cole, O'Neill was convinced the Bush Administration slowed down FBI investigations of Al Qaeda and terrorism in Afghanistan in order to do a deal with the Taliban to build a pipeline across Afghanistan to bring oil from Russia to the Persian Gulf.

Dé jà vu "The Long Kiss Goodnight," did O'Neill connect the dots and the FBI refused to investigate? Was O'Neill undercover when he died on 9-11? If so, who did he believe were the real terrorists? John 2002

Disgruntled feels: Wagged! On the first day of congressional investigations into the biggest intelligence failure in U.S. history, Bush announced the creation of a new cabinet post, the one he opposed when Congress clamored for Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to testify before Congress. Indeed, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer repeatedly stated Bush opposition to the creation of such a position. To Ari, "creating a new Cabinet post doesn't solve anything." This about face looks and sounds like a diversion. When Clinton did it, the media screamed "wagging the dog!"

Disgruntled says: The Bush Doctrine is a throwback to the Wild West days of cowboys killing Indians. "You are either with or against us." Since Bush identified the axis of evil -- Iran, Iraq and North Korea -- there has been a clamor to "get rid of him," i.e., kill Saddam Hussein of Iraq. As though ordering fat-free yogurt in ice cream parlors, the warmongers are poised to attack. The objective is to seize Iraq's oil fields; thousands will die. Worth more than dollars, the nation that controls oil controls the world economy. You can bet your last cent, none of those sent to die will be sons from rich families.

Disgruntled wants to know: In the wake of the Enron scandal, there is a lack of confidence on Wall Street. The dollar has lost its luster, while gold shines brightly. Are accountants, CEOs or analysts to blame?

Born in Missouri May 8, 1884, Harry S. Truman served with the 129th Field Artillery in France during WWI. Unsuccessful in business, Truman entered politics, with the sponsorship of Thomas Pendergast, Democratic boss of the notoriously corrupt Missouri political machine. Elected to the Senate in 1934 and reelected in 1940, Truman headed a Senate committee investigating defense contracts. Exposing waste and fraud, he became known as an honest public servant.

At the July 1944 Democratic Party Convention, Truman was nominated as vice president for the fourth term of Franklin D. Roosevelt. After 83 days in office, Roosevelt died April 1945; Truman became president. His top priority was the war. On May 8, Germany surrendered. Truman authorized the military to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima (Aug. 6) and Nagasaki (Aug. 9). On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered.

According to Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, "It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender... The lethal possibilities of atomic warfare in the future are frightening....Being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was not taught to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children."

In 1946, Congress passed the Atomic Energy Act to create a civilian Atomic Energy Commission, linked to a Military Liaison Committee. Turf battles between the armed forces led to passage of the National Security Act (July 1947); it provided for a secretary of defense to preside over the Army, Navy and Air Force, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff serving as advisers to the secretary and President. To coordinate diplomacy and military planning, the act created the National Security Council, as well as a National Security Resources Board and the Central Intelligence Agency to serve the council.

Exhausted by the continued rivalries, Secretary of Defense James V. Forrestal resigned (1949) and committed suicide. The crisis led to an amendment of the National Security Act that forced greater unification with the establishment of a Department of Defense.

The Truman Doctrine is credited with containing the spread of Communism and the Marshall Plan with aiding European economic recovery. Truman's 1948 campaign victory over heavily favored Thomas E. Dewey made history. The Chicago Daily Tribune headline proclaimed, "Dewey Defeats Truman." In March 1952, Truman announced that he would not seek another term. He returned to Independence, Missouri to write his memoirs. Truman died December 26, 1972. (Sources: Current, Williams & Freidel, American History: A Survey; www.doug-long.com/quotes.htm )

Frank Scott (frank@marin.cc.ca.us) in an essay (www.coastalpost.com/01/8/17.htm) quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Mikako Tanaka, who succinctly described George Bush by saying, "He is totally an asshole." A sentiment echoed from Japan to the Balkans, Bush is booed and beset by massive public demonstrations. A mountebank to most foreigners, he is seen as a broken English speaking fraud, lacking in gravitas. Selected not elected, his talking point speeches on peace, freedom and democracy fall on deaf ears.

The political right, who saw him as a womanizer and draft dodger, harshly criticized former President Bill Clinton. Unlike Bush, Clinton was elected, articulate, and well received everywhere he went. Some members of the military opposed his policy on gays in the armed services, but no one questioned his intelligence, ability and right to be the commander-in chief. Another draft dodger, Bush’s reception has been just the opposite.

On May 29, 2002, Lt. Col. Steve Butler was suspended from his position as vice-chancellor for student affairs at the Defense Language Institute pending an investigation for his letter critical of Bush published three days earlier in the Herald. With unabashed candor, Butler is quoted as writing, "He (Bush) did nothing to warn the American people because he needed this war on terrorism. His daddy had Saddam and he needed Osama. His presidency was going nowhere. This guy is a joke."

Like General Douglas MacArthur, such "contemptuous" criticism of the president and other political leaders can get you sacked; Butler is to be commended for his bravery. He is a real whistle-blower! Kudos to Butler for telling the truth about Bush's war on terrorism, which is a diversionary tactic to save his fraudulent presidency and control the world's oil production. More brave men must come forward!

Portrayed by the media as a buffoon for making Nostradamus-like predictions and the brunt of countless jokes for taking pictures to record his history-making daughters, Richard Williams' prophecy came true on Thursday, June 6, 2002 at Roland-Garros. Personifying Bastille Day, Venus and Serena captured the top ranks of women's professional tennis and the heart of France.

Days before Serena's French Open semifinal match against Jennifer Capriati, Richard's prediction loomed large in the land of Napoleon. Venus returned to Number One when she advanced past the first round. Kept in the dark about the rankings, fans did not know a win over Capriati would make Serena Number Two. With the defiance of Parisians at the barricades in Les Miserable, Serena beat Capriati. Overthrowing the old order, Venus won in straight sets over Clarissa Fernandez of Argentina, making Richard's prediction reality by setting up a final between the two sisters.

Predictably, sour grapes abound. However Richard, like most fans, probably saw the final as anti-climatic. Torn between the power and quickness of one daughter against the grace and athleticism of the other, fans felt heartstrings plucked with each point. Knowing a Williams' victory would result no matter the winner, Richard could enjoy the outcome, savoring the historic moment. Snapping pictures of a smiling Serena, Venus recorded the historic event for the family photo album.

DISHing It Up Hot!

Like most Republicans, George Bush ran on a platform of small government and market capitalism. He advocated tax cuts to reduce the size of government, because "If you leave the money in Washington, politicians will spend it." At the same time, like Ronald Reagan, Bush wanted to expand the military; he discovered an ill-defined arena to warrant increased defense expenditures fighting the "war on terrorism."

The combination of tax cuts and defense spending, given slow economic growth, spelled deficits, i.e., a bigger debt. Republicans used to advocate paying down the debt. Under Clinton, the Republican-controlled Congress passed a balanced budget amendment to prevent deficit spending. They talked about reducing the debt and putting Social Security in a lockbox. In a real flip-flop, Republicans have dropped the lockbox rhetoric and embraced deficit spending.

The debt ceiling of $5.95 trillion, established in 1997, has exploded. According to Bush estimates of conflict for yeas to come, the war on terrorism has just begun. War leads to debt. In the current economic climate, financing it may be more difficult than the war.

Before the Asian contagion, Japan and other Central Banks bought up almost all U.S. debt. Until 1997, Japan purchased a million dollars a day in U.S. securities, reducing pressure on U.S. interest rates and freeing up domestic capital to feed the stock market. Back then, everything was rosy like flowers in May.

With Japan's economy in the dust, like most of the world economy, rather than buying U.S. securities stenciled "In God We Trust," Japan's leaders are considering making an investment in the new currency of international relations, nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Suspicious and needing a competitive edge, like the rest of the West, an oil-poor Japan is primed to reject pacifism for war, a real flip-flop in its policy.

Email: agrablesr@aol.com FBI agent John Connally covered up his informants' criminal activities. He falsified reports to say that those who complained of being used for human experiments were insane. With written reports designating them as insane, no other agent followed up on reports from such people. Just as people refused to believe Bulger and Flemmi were FBI informants, there are at least as many who refused to believe that government agents, police and psychologists conduct abusive experiments on non-consenting humans.

Philip Berrigan's foreword in Francis A. Boyles' The Criminality of Nuclear Deterrence: "The Bush family is steeped in oil; there is no disguising that. Nor can one ignore the fact that the bin Laden family was in "business" with the elder Bush. Bush's Administration is all oil, excepting Powell, who is military and weathervane, quick to adjust to the White Man's wind. After the Taliban chased the Russians out, its leaders were wined and dined in Houston by UNOCAL, a Texas oil company. The deal was to make Afghanistan an American oil colony, where Afghans would protect and profit from pipelines run through Afghanistan from the Caspian Basin, the largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world. The Afghans turned down the deal." In turning down that deal, Afghans became terrorists.

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