Positive Universe Abstracts

Electronic Iraq Ed Kinane, Electronic Iraq

It’s frightening that, at this time and in this nation, torture must be discussed as if it were a legitimate issue. What’s next — the pros and cons of child molestation?

Even hawkish old warriors like Sen. John McCain and retired General Colin Powell say torture is counterproductive.

Numerous are the reasons — [...]

Guardian Unlimited, UK Saturday October 14, 2006 (m)

By HOLLY RAMERAssociated Press Writer

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Sen. John Kerry, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, likened the congressional page scandal to the war in Iraq and the handling of North Korea, saying that Republicans have lied repeatedly.

“A lie, a lie, a lie, a lie. What we have [...]

AlterNet, CA By Robert Parry, Consortium News.

In 2002, Bush put North Korea on a list of potential targets for U.S. nuclear weapons. It’s no surprise, then, that Kim Jong Il has responded by creating a threat of his own.

Months before 9/11 and the “global war on terror” — and two years before the Iraq War — [...]

New Scientist

Around 655,000 people have died in Iraq as a result of the US-led coalition invasion, according to the largest scientific analysis yet. That is 2.5% of the country’s entire population.

The study was conducted by US and Iraqi scientists to determine how many Iraqis have died since the invasion in March 2003.

Various estimates have been [...]

Los Angeles Times

By Julian E. Barnes, Times Staff Writer October 11, 2006

WASHINGTON — More than 600,000 Iraqis have died violently since the U.S.-led invasion, according to a new estimate that is far higher than any other to date.

The report, by a team of researchers criticized for its death estimates two years ago, says that 601,027 Iraqis [...]

Yahoo! News

by Ted Rall

The End of the U.S. as a Civilized Nation

SEATTLE–Students of historical hysteria immediately saw 9/11 as America’s version of the Reichstag Fire. Both incidents were organic acts of terrorism (contrary to popular misconception, the Nazis didn’t set the 1933 fire) seized upon by power-hungry government officials to justify the crushing of political [...]

Truthdig

October 9, 2006 (h)

By Chris Hedges

Editor’s Note: The former Middle East bureau chief for The New York Times and author of the bestseller “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning” reports on Bush’s plan for Iran, and how a callous war, conceived by zealots, will lead to a disaster of biblical proportions.

The aircraft carrier [...]