"Porter Goss On His Resignation: '[It is] Just One of Those Mysteries'" (Democracy Now!):
Questions still remain over why Porter Goss resigned from the CIA. Neither Goss nor President Bush have publicly given any reason for the resignation. On Saturday Goss told CNN his departure is "just one of those mysteries."
Porter Goss as that sock that keeps disappearing in the dryer? Porter Goss as the secret sauce?
Is anyone else bothered by that nonsense response? He's left a public post suddenly. He doesn't even feel the need to trot out a phony excuse to cover for the real reason.
"Tens of Thousands Protest in Greece Against U.S. Wars" (Democracy Now!):
In Greece, tens of thousands of protesters marched in Athens on Saturday to condemn the Iraq invasion and a possible U.S. attack on Iran. According to press account, one small group of protesters fired petrol bombs and stones at police outside the U.S. embassy. Riot police responded with tear gas.
Bully Boy's woken the world. Not in support of him, but he's woken the world. This does have an effect, both abroad and at home. It calls attention to reality and is one more piece in the puzzle that, with a little luck, when it's finally put together reads: "Impeach Bully Boy Now!"
"Bush: Catching 7.5 Pound Perch as Highlight Of Presidency" (Democracy Now!):
Meanwhile in another interview with the German press, President Bush was questioned about the high point of his presidency. Bush said "I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound perch in my lake."
Mike has a funny remark on this so check out Mikey Likes It! for his comments. It is funny. (You'll wish you'd thought of it. I wish I had.)
Jim just called and asked if I could do something? (I'd suggested something similar to Mike when we were on the phone earlier.) He was hoping I could note the content of the latest edition of The Third Estate Sunday Review. So here it is:
A Note to Our Readers *** this is where Jim writes something about what the edition was like to write and what's in it.
Editorial: Bully Boy Thinking? *** this is an editorial pulling together several strands to note the importance of perspective.
TV: The Urine Stains of David Mamet *** Ava and C.I. tackle CBS' The Unit (winner? Ava and C.I.). Read it for their strong feminist critique, read it to laugh, read for any number of reasons.
Darfur *** we addressed the issue of Darfur with an idea that no one's tossing around.
Head on Home (a musical in four scenes) *** here we address Darfur and other issues musically. See if you don't recognize the Senator.
Where do you get your information? *** this is about the importance of indymedia with a review of a morning show you should listen to and see if it's for you. What show? Use the link.
Radio highlights for Sunday (and one for Monday) *** These programs have already aired but all have archived broadcast.
Why He Took On Rumsfeld: Ray McGovern Talks to Democracy Now! *** importance of indymedia gain. Ray McGovern appeared on many programs last week. Why did the left note corporate media as opposed to Democracy Now!
TV commentary takes a back seat this week to Colbert *** the piece Ava and C.I. didn't want to write for a variety of reason. One reason? They were afraid it would overshadow the rest of the edition. It has thus far. The e-mails they are getting are 5 to 1 about this piece.
Book: Anthony Arnove's IRAQ: The Logic of Withdrawal *** great book.
Shame of the Week (Musical) *** when someone writes an anthem for a movement and goes on for years about how much that means, should they sell the song to a corporation that uses it to mock the movement?
Reality check below.
"Democracy Now: Part II of the Stephen Kinzer interview, Robert McChesney, Larry Johnson" (The Common Ills):
Iraq snapshot.
Chaos and violence continue.
Sunday, Australia's ABC reports, car bombs took the lives of at least 21 and wounded at least 52 in Kerbala while two went off in Baghdad killing at least nine and wounding at least 20. CNN notes the death of one police officer and two others wounded in Baquba on Sunday evening as well as ten Iraqis wounded from a bomb blast in Muqdadiya. CBS & the AP note the names of the five British soldiers who died when their helicopter crashed (shot down with a rocket) this weekend: Sarah Mulvihill, John Coxen, Darren Chapman, David Dobson and Paul Collins. Sarah Mulvihill was "[t]he first British servicewomen to die in action in Iraq." Today?
As noted this morning by Sandra Lupien during the news breaks of KPFA's The Morning Show, a car bomb outside a courthouse in Baghdad claimed the lives of at least five and wounded at least ten, while 2 Iraqi journalists kidnapped Sunday have been found (dead, bullets to the head).
The bombing at the courthouse wasn't the only one in Baghdad. Reuters reports a second one (in the al-Tayaran Square) took the lives of at least five and wounded at least eight. Another bombing in Baghdad, "eastern Baghdad," resulted in at least 17 wounded (four of which were police officers). While southeast of Baghdad, the Associated Press notes (as did Lupien) the death of an American soldier from a roadside bomb.
In Sunday's New York Times, Sabrina Tavernise noted the kidnapping (on Saturday) of three with the Interrior Ministry. Today in Baghdad, Reuters reports that a bus with employess of the Ministry of Higher Education was fired upon (the driver was killed, at least three others on the bus were wounded). (BBC notes only one wounded "policeman who was guarding the bus.") Taverinse also noted that on Saturday, 43 corpses had been found in Iraq ("All of the victims were handcuffed and shot in the head."). In Baghdad today, Reuters notes, six more corpses have been discovered ("signs of torture . . . gun wounds to their heads"). Three corpses were found in Khan al-Mahawil, CNN reports. The three had been "police commandos" and were kidnapped Friday ("single bullet to the head").
BBC notes the attack on a pipeline that's shut down "Mussayab power station." MSNBC notes Iraqi "police Col. Ahmed Mijwayl" as explaining that the pipeline carried "oil from Dora refinery in Baghdad to Musayyib power station."
Finally, on today's The Morning Show, Andrea Lewis interviewed Dr. Dahlia Wasfi, an Iraqi-American who reported on her recent visit to Iraq (Dec. 2005 to March 2006). Wasfi found limited electricity, no potable water (none "through tap water, people have to buy water") and no security. From 2 hours of blackouts two years ago, they now have rolling blackouts which means those with electricity are buying generators (and buying gas to fuel them). The American bases and the British bases have electricity and running water, Wasfi noted. Which says, "We could not care less about the suffering of the Iraqi people. . . . The Iraqis have had about all the help they can take from the American people." She repeatedly found that things were worse now "than before 2004 . . . before we invaded and life wasn't great then." Healthcare is a "disaster." She cited several examples but this one may be the one underscores the point the most: Hospitals "in Basra . . . couldn't do operations for a week because they had no gauze." She summarized the current state with this: "There is chaos, there is anarchy in Iraq and it will continue after we leave . . . because we destroyed the civilian infrastructure . . . We don't belong there."
By the way Dahlia Wasfi, Christian Peacemaker Team Beth Pyles, Pablo Paredes and Yussef El Guindi will be at an event ("Building Resistance" A Not in Our Name Benefit of Theatre and Conscience") in Oakland, CA (The Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Avenue) and Andrea Lewis will be the moderator of the event. ** Thursday, May 11th; 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.**
