Graham alleges a coverup of pre-9/11 failure --Sen. Bob Graham accused the Bush dictatorship Sunday of covering up its failure to possibly prevent the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by refusing to release the findings of a Graham-led congressional investigation last year. Petition to Senate to Investigate Oddities of 9/11 surpasses 19,900 signatures --please add yours!

Conspiracy crusader doubts official 9/11 version (interview of Barrie Zwicker by Michele Landsberg "Why did the United States Air Force fail to scramble interceptor jets — in defiance of all long-standing rules and well-established practice — for almost two hours after it was known that an unprecedented four planes had been hijacked? ...Why did George Bush sit for half an hour in a Florida classroom, listening to a girl talk about her pet goat, after his chief of staff told him about the second plane? [*See: "The obscure goat story of 9-11"] For that matter, why did he pretend that he first learned of the attacks in that classroom, when he had actually been briefed as he left his hotel that morning? Why has there been no public investigation into the billions of dollars 'earned' by insider trading of United and American Airlines stock before 9/11?"

Mickey Moore: Disney to Finance New Bush-Bashing Documentary --The Walt Disney Co. is set to finance a new explosive Bush-bashing documentary from Michael Moore --a documentary which claims bin Laden was greatly enriched by the Bush family. Disney, via subsidiary Miramax, has agreed to cover the production costs, said to be in the millions, of Moore's planned FAHRENHEIT 911.

U.S. Testing Readiness for Bioterrorism --A five-day drill, combining the Seattle disaster with the fake threat of a biological agent in Chicago, is aimed at testing the ability of local, state and federal authorities to handle terrorist attacks. It is the first large-scale counterterrorism exercise since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. The idea, said Mayor Greg Nickels, is for regional and national agencies to see where strengths and weaknesses lie. [Yeah, for Karl Rove to exploit them. --Lori Price]

Drill to test nation's nuclear, bioterror responses --Governments take on $16 million scenarios this week --This week, officials across the nation will have their hands full with an imaginary "dirty bomb" in Seattle and the fake threat of a biological agent in Chicago -- both part of the most extensive bioterrorism drill in the nation's history [to prepare for the Bush dictatorship's next act(s) of lunacy].

Hussein Backers Regain Role in Government --The U.S. Army has allowed several once-forceful supporters of Saddam Hussein's regime back into power here, including a religious leader who just weeks ago ordered Muslims to fight American troops to the death.

Short Attacks 'Obsessed' Blair --Clare Short quit the Cabinet today with a blistering attack on Poodle Tony Blair. She accused him of running the Labour Party in a "control freak style" and being "increasingly obsessed" by securing his place in history.

Clare Short quits post over Iraq --International Development Secretary Clare Short has quit her cabinet job, accusing Poodle Tony Blair of breaking promises over Iraq's future.

Clare Short's letter to Tony Blair resigning as international development secretary --"I am afraid that the assurances you gave me about the need for a UN mandate to establish a legitimate Iraqi government have been breached."

U.S. Sending New Team to Iraq for Weapons Search --With evidence of weapons of mass destruction elusive [uh, that would be 'not there'], the United States and its war allies are replacing arms inspectors in Iraq with a new, larger team [LOL!] that will try to piece together "a deception program" by Saddam Hussein, a top White House official said on Monday.

US tables a transparent plan for plundering Iraqi oil --The US, with the support of Britain, has brazenly presented the UN Security Council with a draft resolution on Iraq that legitimises its illegal invasion of the country, sanctions an indefinite US-led military occupation and gives Washington unfettered power over Iraq’s huge oil reserves.

Fury rises in Baghdad as drugs return to the alleys --Anger is growing among Iraqis at the Allies' failure to restore order in a city awash with weapons and gangs. Heroin – banned under Saddam Hussein's dictatorship upon pain of hanging - is now being traded in back streets.

Self-Declared Baghdad Mayor Freed by U.S --An Iraqi exile who was arrested by the U.S. military for declaring himself the mayor of Baghdad was freed Sunday and admitted the error of his ways [?!?], U.S. Central Command said.

Disorder deepens in 'liberated' Baghdad --The US administrator for central Iraq left the post Sunday after just three weeks in office. Fearful of going out after dark, waiting up to 10 hours to fill their cars with gas, spreading rumors in the absence of reliable media, watching landmark buildings set on fire and wondering who is in charge, the residents of this capital are growing increasingly impatient with the deepening disorder that is plaguing their lives more than a month after US troops took over the city.

A minister quits, buildings burn, rubbish rots. So much for the 'reconstruction' --by Donald Macintyre "It was just another day in the process of 'getting Baghdad back to normal'. Well, on this most normal of days when news was supposed to be slow, the US-appointed Health Minister finally resigned at the time of a steadily mounting public health crisis after a week of relentless pressure from doctors disgusted at his prominent past in the Saddam Hussein regime..."

U.S. to stay engaged in Afghanistan --Observers say that the Afghan government needs more than mere assurance to expand its control over the country. They say that the remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaida fighters, ousted from Kabul in December 2001 by U.S. forces, have increased their activities since the United States launched its military offensive in Iraq.

Mexican President Rejects U.S. Oil Action --President Vicente Fox on Sunday joined a wave of other Mexican officials in rejecting a U.S. congressional committee's call to link an agreement on immigration to U.S. investment in Mexico's state-run oil company.

Mexicans upset by move linking immigration to oil --Committee advises to ease immigration laws only if investment rules are relaxed --A move in the U.S. Congress to link immigration with opening up Mexico's state oil company to U.S. investment has outraged Mexicans, and newspapers Saturday accused American lawmakers of arrogance and blackmail.

Brazil Launches Inquiry Into U.S. Population Activities --The charge: millions sterilised to meet U.S. political objectives --A U.S.-sponsored program that resulted in the sterilisation of nearly half of Brazil's women has prompted a formal congressional inquiry, sponsored by more than 165 legislators from every political party that is represented in the Brazilian legislature. The investigation was initiated after information about a secret U.S. National Security Council memorandum on American population control objectives in developing countries was published in the Jornal de Brasilia, Hova do Povo (Rio de Janeiro), Jornal do Brasil, and other major newspapers in early May.

Detention under terror law to be doubled (UK) Civil liberties groups reacted angrily last night to the Government's plans to double to 14 days the period that terrorist suspects can be detained without charge.

French town under siege before G8 summit --France has gone into security overdrive to prepare the town of Evian-les-Bains for a Group of Eight (G8) summit on June 1-3. Around 18,000 police, gendarmes, riot units and Army troops, supported by barricades of barbed wire, armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft missiles, helicopters, special forces frogmen and patrol boats have been mustered...

Court will decide if police need warrant for GPS 'tracking' --The Washington Supreme Court will decide soon whether police agencies throughout the state may use a satellite tracking device freely -- without a warrant. Said Doug Klunder of the American Civil Liberties Union: "Really, we get to the possibility of a police state." [Uh, we've crossed the 'possibility' line eight eons ago. --Lori Price]

Feds Doing More Secret Searches --A record number of searches and wiretap orders granted by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2002 underscores a growing trend of reliance on the secret court in government investigations, privacy advocates say.

1940s-present, International: "Mockingbird," Buying the Media --by Steve Kangas "In the late 1940s, the CIA began a mission called Operation Mockingbird to recruit American journalists. ..A Few CIA Media Recruits:"

City of Chicago Guilty of Covering Up Criminal Police Violence --$1 Million Verdict in Federal Court --On Friday, a ten-person jury found the City of Chicago guilty of systematically covering up criminal violence by its police officers, to the point where officers felt they could commit crimes without fear of arrest or discipline by the department.

Top British spy in IRA flees as papers blow cover --The British army's top intelligence agent inside the IRA, a suspect in up to 40 murders, was reported to be in hiding after several Sunday newspapers in Ireland and Britain blew his cover.

Religious Wrong God's role in the Republican assault on the environment --by Glenn Scherer "Americans need to pay attention to the winds of change blowing in from the Arctic, then decide just how much Republican environmental policies contradict clear messages relayed by our planet. Our leaders could be viewing the world through a distorted lens, with their corporate worldview and sometimes their fundamentalist Christian faith guiding them to an interpretation of reality, based not on scientific fact, but on dogma."

Penn can sue for loss of film role --A California judge has ruled that actor Sean Penn can pursue a legal claim that he was fired from a film because of his piquant political views and a brief visit he made to Iraq last December.

FCC to propose easing US television caps --Michael Powell, chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission, is expected to propose an increase in the US television cap to 45 per cent when he presents a draft of new media ownership rules to his fellow commissioners on Monday.

RNC Seeks to Uphold 'Soft Money' Ruling --The Republican National Committee asked a federal court Monday to keep in effect a decision on the new campaign finance law that lets the national party get involved in state and local elections this year.

US Fed acknowledges deflation threat --Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of March 18, released last week, highlight the growing concern among Fed members over lower price levels. They were also pessimistic about the possibility of increased business investment, which is regarded as crucial for any sustained upturn in the US economy.

Deficit to Be Largest Ever, CBO Predicts --This year's federal deficit should exceed $300 billion -- the largest ever -- as the government's fiscal outlook grew grimmer thanks to surging defense spending and declining revenue, the Congressional Budget Office said.

Bush Urges Americans to Call for Tax Cuts --Convinced that persistent persuasion is the way to sway the Senate, Dictator Bush renewed his call for hefty tax cuts Monday, exhorting citizens to tell their lawmakers to support his plan.

Dems Call Bush Tax Plan 'Hogwash' --Treasury Secretary John Snowjob, promoting the regime's tax plan ahead of Monday's Senate debate, called it the right fix for "a soggy economy." "Hogwash," countered Senate Democrats, who say any benefits from the tax cuts will not help most people.

Walkout by angry Democrats halts work at Texas --House Outnumbered by House Republicans determined to pass a congressional redistricting bill, 52 Democrats went into hiding today to keep the House from meeting.

Leaders threaten boycott on FCAT --Dozens of South Florida's community activists and politicians on Sunday threatened a boycott of several major industries if Gov. Jeb Bush doesn't rectify recent FCAT results that could keep thousands of high school seniors, mostly blacks and Hispanics, from graduating.

Jenna, Survivor's Amazon Queen --Jenna Morasca outwitted, outplayed and outlasted her rivals to become the newest "Survivor" millionaire. [Too bad the only person we cannot seem to vote *off* the Island is the person who has lied and cheated his way to permanent immunity: the Idiot Usurping Lying Weasel. --Lori Price]

SARS Battle Strains U.S. Health System --Keeping SARS from spreading in the United States is straining the already besieged public health system, and it's partly a matter of luck that this newest killer so far has been contained here.

[May 11 lead stories:] Rumsfeld link to sale of reactors to North Korea --The US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, sat on the board of a company that three years ago sold two light water nuclear reactors to North Korea - a country he now regards as part of the "axis of evil" and which has been targeted for regime change by Washington because of its efforts of build nuclear weapons. Mr Rumsfeld was a non-executive director of ABB, a European engineering giant based in Zurich, when it won a $US200 million contract to provide the design and key components for the reactors.

Bush ally set to profit from the war on terror --James Woolsey, former CIA boss and influential adviser to Dictator George Bush, is a director of a US firm aiming to make millions of dollars from the 'war on terror', The Observer can reveal. Woolsey, one of the most high-profile hawks in the war against Iraq and a key member of the Pentagon's Defence Policy Board, is a director of the Washington-based private equity firm Paladin Capital. The company was set up three months after the terrorist attacks on New York and sees the events and aftermath of September 11 as a business opportunity which 'offer[s] substantial promise for homeland security investment'.

Move to bring Bush, Blair to trial taking on int'l scale --Thousands of people in Arab and other Islamic countries have signed a petition demanding that US Dictator George W Bush and British Prime Minister Poodle Tony Blair be brought to trial for the actions committed by US and British forces on Iraqi territory. Initiators of the move accuse Bush and Blair of invading and occupying Iraq, destroying its infrastructures, contaminating the territory, plundering natural resources, and devastating Iraq's immense historical and humanitarian values.

U.S. Offers Rewards in Iraq Weapons Hunt [LOL! If it wasn't so pathetic...] --U.S. Authorities in Baghdad Use Radio Announcement to Offer Rewards for Help in Banned Weapons Hunt --American authorities have promised rewards to Iraqis for information leading to discovery of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons programs, the U.S.-run Information [Propaganda] Radio said Saturday.