Cheney: Terrorists are Sophisticated Internet Users!

As the number of U.S. troops killed by anti-occupation forces in Iraq passed the 100 marker for the month of October, Vice President Dick Cheney railed against the insurgency for using the internet in strategically increasing resistance right before November elections. The "former" Hailburton CEO admitted the end of the holy month of Ramadan might have played a role, as well. And while Republican cheerleaders have been forced into admitting the occupation is failing due to many Iraqis' refusal to go along, one of the main solutions being considered is simply sending in more troops. No doubt, the over 150,000 U.S. troops there already are not capable of accomplishing the mission. The most conservative estimate of the number of dead Iraqi civilians is now at 44, 803. Other studies have indicated the number is over 650,000 total dead Iraqis since the war began in 2003.

"We're not afraid. We were born to die."

Striking teachers of Oaxaca, Mexico are slated to return to work Monday after 5 months of refusing to work and demanding the resignation of Governor Ulises Ruiz. Local and federal police continue to threaten those holding steadfast to their goal of forcing Ruiz out of office over charges of corruption. On Friday, 3 people were killed in clashes with police, including a NYC Indymedia journalist.

Pat Tillman, the War on Terrorism, and the Future

In a powerful and to the point letter, Kevin Tillman points out simple yet biting contradictions of the entire so-called "War on Terrorism." Kevin is the brother of former NFL player and deceased soldier Pat Tillman. The two fought alongside one another in 2002 in Afghanistan. Kevin, like many friends and family of American soldiers, are beginning to ask what all this was really for and about. Only time will tell if enough GI's start asking these tough questions and, more importantly, start acting on them. Without a doubt the weakest link in the military chain is the soldier who refuses to fight.

New Study Indicates Over 600,000 Killed in Iraq

John Hopkins University completed a recent study which concludes that over 600,000 Iraqis have been killed since the start of the U.S. war and occupation in 2003. The results are to be published in a British medical journal. It's not surprising that a recent poll by the Washington Post displayed widespread support for anti-U.S. occupation attacks. Although the number is likely much higher, the Wall Street Journal article on this same report stated that almost 300,000 were killed under Saddam Hussein. You do the math.

Resistance and Occupation Continue in Iraq

While over 234 cities in the U.S. saw coordinated protests on the October 5 Day of Mass Resistance to Drive Out the Bush Regime, military battles continued to be waged in places like Diwaniya in Iraq. Shiite leader Moktada al-Sadr seems to play an interesting role, however. While militia forces engage U.S. occupation forces in Diwaniya, the linked New York Times article indicates the continued need for his cooperation by Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki.

Michael Lerner and the Inconvenience of Guilt

Steven Salaita's piece, "What is Michael Lerner Really Talking About?", condemns the attempt by some liberals and progressives to place the blame for the current situation in Palestine/Israel equally in the lap of both Zionist and Palestinian. He stretches the argument to be part of a larger critique of white liberals who have greased the wheels of colonialism along the way. Salaita uses white liberal academics somewhat as a punching bag to prove his larger point, but it's one worth considering. Is the Israeli-Palestinian debate excluding critical Arab voices in favor of those who only claim to speak for them? Or is Salaita being stubborn in demanding that Lerner and company be abandoned by those in favor of Palestinian self-determination?

Robert Dreyfuss on Guerrilla Radio

Click here to listen to the 10/6/06 edition of Guerrilla Radio as we spoke with author Robert Dreyfuss about the National Intelligence Estimate controversy and U.S. support for fundamentalist Islamic forces in the Middle East. You can read Dreyfuss' article, "Beware the NIE," here.