Mifuné Forced off Stage at Tri-C Jazz Fest for Anti-Bush T-Shirts

The Cleveland-based Afro-beat band, Mifuné, was forced off stage at Saturday's Tri-C Jazz Fest event in Tower City. Tower City officials said the band's anti-Bush t-shirts, which simply had a picture of George W. Bush with a line through it, were inappropriate for the musical event. Tri-C Jazz Fest officials backed the decision, showing both their cowardice and lack of historical understanding of jazz's roots and political connections. You can check out an interview with Mifuné this Monday on "Off Blue," 8:00-9:30pm on WRUW-FM 91.1.

Afterword: Failed States by Noam Chomsky

The afterword to Chomsky's recent book, Failed States, goes through four major crisises confronting the world today: Nuclear war, environmental devastation, disastrous U.S. foreign policy, and a growing lack of truely democratic institutions. Chomsky places these crisises in the context of the war in Iraq, the increasing economic and political clout of nations such as China and India in Asia, and the exapnding connections between Latin American nations outside of the U.S. sphere of influence. Click here to read the article. Chomsky's conclusion is rather hopeful and useful for those of us who grasping for a breath of fresh air in the currently stale American climate.

"Though it is natural for doctrinal systems to seek to induce pessimism, hopelessness and despair, reality is different. There has been substantial progress in the unending question for justice and freedom in recent years, leaving a legacy that can easily be carried forward from a higher plane than before. Opportunities for education and organizing abound. As in the past, rights are not likely to be granted by benevolent authorities, or won by intermittent actions attending a few demonstrations or pushing a lever in the personalized quadrennial extravaganzas that are depicted as "democratic politics." As always in the past, the tasks require dedicated day-by-day engagement to create -- in part re-create -- the basis for a functioning democratic culture in which the public plays some role in determining policies, not only in the political arena from which it is largely excluded, but also in the crucial economic arena, from which it is excluded in principle. There are many ways to promote democracy at home, carrying it to new dimensions. Opportunities are ample, and failure to grasp them is likely to have ominous repercussions: for the country, for the world, and for future generations."

Overseer of Abu Ghraib in Cleveland Monday

With the recent announcement of Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan being charged for the crimes committed at Abu Ghraib, the scandal of American torture in Iraq has made its way back into the headlines. Jordan is the highest ranking officer to be charged in the incident. Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski oversaw the 800th MP Brigade which ran several detention facilities in Iraq, including Abu Ghraib. She was relieved of duty and eventually reprimanded but was not court martialed. Karpinski has spoken out against how she was treated, saying she has been scapegoated to take the fall for something that goes all the way back to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. On Monday, Karpinski and Captain James Yee, the former military Chaplain at Guantanamo Bay who was falsely charged with aiding Al Qaida and Taliban prisoners, will be speaking at Case Western University. You can catch Karpinski being interviewed on Blackout News Monday at 1:00pm on 91.1 fm. If you miss it then, be sure to check out Tuesday's Guerrilla Radio at 1:00pm. If you have any suggestions for questions for the interview please send them our way.

"Oil?? Who Said Anything About Oil? Somebody Cooking Something?"

U.S. Ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, told Americans to suck it up and accept the U.S. presence in Iraq in an interview with the LA Times. "This is our destiny, given our preponderance in the world, our role in the world and because of our successes," he stated. Success stories abounded in other news media today as Haliburton was shown to waste over $75 million on an oil pipleline project. Plans are in the works to waste more, as well. And while U.S. backed Jawad al-Maliki is scrambling to put together a governing coalition, not suprisingly the issue of who will control Iraq's oil reserves and production continues to plague the occupied nation.

U.S. Concerns About Trade Deficit Shine at IMF Meeting

Metting in Washington, representatives of the International Monetary Fund met over the weekend to discuss control of the global economy. U.S. representatives were pleased to see that surplus nations such as Germany, Japan, and "oil producers" understood the potential for the U.S. trade deficit and a lack of savings to destabilize the world. Some dissension flared over a proposed plan to restructure voting power within the IMF. The G-24 group of developing nations, led by India, called for more power within the IMF to better reflect their growing economies.

If you have insight on the issues of the IMF and its current meeting, Guerrilla Radio is all ears: gradio(a)riseup.net

Pro-parliament Protests in Nepal Attacked

In the 15th day of coalition efforts to force King Gyanendra to restore parliament, 293 protestors have been injured and 3 killed. Even the U.S. ambassador to Nepal stated it was only a matter of time before the Nepali monarchy fell. This article, from last year, gives us a glimpse into the student movement driving much of the current protests.

Israel Looking to Retake Gaza?

Maj. Gen. Moav Galant, head of Israeli southern security forces, responded to recent Hamas support for a a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv by suggesting anything from a partial to a full reoccupation of the Gaza Strip was in order. Retired Israeli Colonel, Shaul Arieli, said bombing was a result of "the greed of the Israeli government when it comes to Palestinian land" but said the solution was hastened construction of the apartheid/so-called security wall. Hamas maintained that a peaceful settlement with Israel would only come if pre-1967 borders were recognized, the right of return accepted, settlements were ended, the wall was dismantled, and Palestinian detainees were released. The U.S. banned all citizens from any "financial dealings" with the Palestinian Authority this week, following last week's removal of $92 million in infrastructure support. OMB Watch, a corporate watchdog in Washington, criticized what it called "unequal enforcement of anti-terrorist financing laws."

Video of Bill White being Confronted in Lansing

During a television interview with TV8 in Michigan, neo-nazi and spokesmen for the National Socialist Movement Bill White was briefly confronted by local anti-racists. The NSM is planning to march on Michigan's capital this Saturday while members of the Lansing Coalition Against Nazis are planning "a visible and vocal counter-demonstration." The NSM attempted to march in Toledo, Ohio last fall but were quickly shut down by anti-racists and folks from the community pissed that the police were allowing them to march through their neighborhood.

Worries of a Iranian Nuclear Noogie Keep Options Open for Bush

Saying Iran is prepared to "cut the hand of any aggressor and place the sign of disgrace on their forehead," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continued to claim enriched uranium would be used for peaceful purposes only. While Iran talked tough, Bush refused to rule out any options, especially the more insane one of nuclear strikes against a nation far from being capable of producing enough enriched uranium for destructive purposes. As if anyone should be surprised, the saber rattling by Iran is gaining an audience throughout the Middle East as a response to the U.S. occupation of Iraq and the rapid plummet of aspirations for peace in Palestine/Israel. (and yes, we know the pic has nothing to do with Iran. How could we have passed it up though?)

Chocolate Bars and Partitioning Iraq: Don't Say They Didn't Warn You!

The New York Times brought comparisons with Bosnia into the debate around Iraq yesterday, publishing an article that hints at what many feared (and perhaps others wanted) all along: the U.S. occupation of Iraq will lead to violent division of the country along mostly ethnic lines. Some have argued that this partitioning of Iraq was part and parcel of the neo-con agenda and Bush is just attempting to follow the script, with either little or tremendous success depending on who you ask. The Times article hints at what could be even more dissension within the military in Iraq, something the Pentagon has attempted to quell after criticism of Rumsfeld has been mounting. One thing seems to be clear, the U.S. role in Iraq is a heavy contributor to both ethnic/sectarian violence and ethnic unity under a broad anti-occupation banner.

Calls for Rumsfeld's Resignation and 2006 Elections Both Loom Over Washington

In a Tuesday Pentagon briefing, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated, "There are hundreds and hundreds of retired generals, and they have opinions, and that'’s fine."” Taking cue from their civilian commander, more retired generals called for Rumsfeld's resignation today, opining that Rumsfeld's Department of Defense had too many opinions on how to run the war and occupation of Iraq. The mainstream liberal wing of the Democrats has been calling on Rummy to call it quits since 2003 and Lt. Gen. Greg Newbold's editorial piece for this Friday's TIME displays even more clearly the splits emerging within ruling circles over Iraq. Is it a coincidence that Newbold concludes, "We need fresh ideas and fresh faces" when elections are looming and Democrats hope to capitalize on growing distrust of the Bush administration? Although you have to take it with a grain of salt, whack-job right-wingers occasionally make good points.

Reprisals Hit Some After Walk-Outs and Protests Against Anti-Immigrant Legislation Last Week

Last week's surge in street protests against anti-immigrant legislation pending in Congress is seeing a backlash as workers have been fired for calling off and students punished for walking out. In Toledo, OH hundreds marched yesterday and a march in Los Angeles set for Sunday plans to honor a 14 year old who apparently killed himself after being harassed for participating in a similar march there.

"Wild Speculation" Continues about Iran

As Iran announced it had successfully enriched uranium Tuesday, comparisons between water falls and nuclear develop garnered criticism from Europe, Russia, and the United States. While Bush has been downplaying recent claims the U.S. is considering using military strikes against Iran, the wild speculation continued throughout the world. "Sources" told "your favourtie no. 1 newspaper" that regime change was most definitely on the Bush agenda for November while the Aussies had the nerve to interview Dr. Michael Nacht from the University of California. Nacht is apparently one of "your favourtie no. 1 newspaper's" sources, claiming "The language that he's using and the language that Condoleezza Rice is using about the Iranian threat suggests to me that they are gearing up and developing the options for military action."

Oskar Castro and Military Recruitment on Guerrilla Radio

You can listen to Oskar talk about about important issues regarding the recruitment of young people into the United States military on today's radio show. His talk at CSU covered connections between consumerism and military recruitment. While some reports have pointed to a lull in military recruiting, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield said today numbers are "exceeding expectations." The Pittsburgh Organizing Group held an counter recruitment conference this weekend as part of the growing movement Oskar discussed on the show, as well. You can also check out Cleveland Indymedia for an update on two protesters recently arrested at the Lakewood military recruitment center.

Oskar Castro on Tuesday's Guerrilla Radio

Head of the National Youth & Militarism Program of the American Friends Service Committee, Oskar Castro will be on the show Tuesday discussing military recruitment and the growing movement against it. If you can't tune on live at 1pm on 91.1fm you can always catch the stream or archive at www.wruw.org. You can also catch him at several events happening in Cleveland this week as part of "Peace Week" at Cleveland State. Oskar will be conducting two workshops while in town as well as speaking about countering military recruitment Tuesday night in the University Center, room 1, at 7pm.

“I think Iran has a secret nuclear-weapons program—I believe it, but I don’t know it.”

The New Yorker has published an article exploring the possibility of military action being taken by the Bush administration in Iran. Hersh relies on a number of unnamed diplomats, intelligence officers, and other unnamed sources but presents the possibility as being real convincingly. The debate over the attainment of nuclear weapons by Iran is being framed by diplomacy versus air strikes. The impression the article gives is that the latter is being built in a similar way to the argument made to invade Iraq and has little basis. Further, the real goal would not even be elimination of Iran's nuclear weapon capabilities. It could be complete regime change and an even further shaking up of the Middle East for American interests.

Civil War in Iraq "Hinted At" While It Continues

While the continous stream of news coming out of Iraq is full of "sectarian violence," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad "warned" the world of possible civil war consuming the nation. Meanwhile, Israel continued its pursuit of peace in the region, Delphi is hopeful for "its future," and funding for teapot museums comes under intense scrutiny.

Supreme Court Backs Paranoia Shown in "Punishment Park"

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Bush Administration's caputre and indefinite imprisionment of Jose Padilla Monday. The right for the President to label Padilla an "enemy combatant" and treat him the same as "detainees" in camps such as Guantanamo Bay was upheld in the face of Padilla's U.S. citizenship status. Wednesday, the Cleveland Museum of Art showed the movie Punishment Park on the Case campus, a film set in 1970s America after Nixon has used the McCarran Act to declare a state of emergency, round up leftists of the day, and try them in bogus tribunals. In the end defendants are allowed to choose between prison and being chased down by police and National Guardsmen in pursuit of an American flag some 50 miles away in the California desert. The film is a controversial one with a lot of possible interpretations. Send any our way.

Good News, Bad News, or.... No News???

In a recent Reuters sponsored media panel panelists discussed how "polarized" reporting on Iraq has gotten. Complaining about how journalists get stuffed into a pro or anti-war camp within the first couple lines of an article, the panel ranged from the understandable to the ridiculous. Several international journalists, a pro-blogger, and a Lt. Col. from the U.S. military felt suited to comment on how news was being reported from Iraq. Take a look into the second half of the article to see what the real journalists in Iraq think about the situation.

Telethon Show

Listen to Guerrilla Radio's special telethon edition show with Joe Mueller and Michael McMurray. Both are Clevelanders who have recently visited Iraq. You can also hear AKT Aktion's Hide It Fuck Mr Bush track. AKT Aktion is an Iraqi War vet who's putting his experiences to beats, plus he's an old friend from k-12 days. You can also still donate on-line at www.wruw.org

WRUW Telethon Show This Tuesday

This Tuesday's edition of Guerrilla Radio will be part of WRUW's annual telethon drive. On the show we will be joined by Joe Mueller and Michael McMurray. Joe was recently arrested for protesting the the military recruitment center in Lakewood and has been on Guerrilla Radio in the past to discuss his trip to Iraq last fall. Michael is a long time peace activist and opera singer who also travelled to Iraq as part of a Christian Peace Team delegation. As the situation in Iraq continues to worsen, listen in and consider donating as these two discuss their experiences in Iraq and how it has shaped their work to end the war.

Cleveland Isn't Even Mentioned....

It should come as no surprise that the supposed debate opened by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita around issues of poverty and racism in America has created little concrete change. According to the Census Bureau, the poverty rate has climbed for the fourth straight year with 37 million folks living at or below the federal poverty level. Be sure to check out the comments from Rev. Randall Mitchell at the beginning and end of the AP article.