UK Paper: Botched U.S. Raid in Iraq Led to Hostage Crisis
Democracy Now
The Independent of London has revealed that the recent stand-off between Iran and Britain over the captured British sailors may have its roots in a botched U.S. military raid in Iraq. According to the paper, the U.S. military attempted to abduct two senior Iranian security officials in northern Iraq on January 11th. The officials have been identified as Mohammed Jafari, the powerful deputy head of the Iranian National Security Council, and General Minojahar Frouzanda, the chief of intelligence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The men were in Iraq on official business to meet with the Iraqi president. The U.S. failed to seize the two officials but they did capture five relatively junior Iranian officials. The U.S. has been holding the five Iranians since Jan. 11 at an undisclosed location.

How to Live a Low-Energy Lifestyle
Kelpie Wilson, TruthOut
Americans can cut consumption and keep their affluence, but it will take a change in priorities.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/50075/

Excerpts of Dennis Kucinich Speaking in Oregon over Past Weekend
http://www.gazettetimes.com/gt-to-go/podcasts/mp3/kucinich1.mp3

Nixon, Kissinger Admitted Vietnam Unwinnable: Book
Richard Sisk, Daily News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger admitted to each other privately that it was "impossible" to win the Vietnam War, yet called Democrats the "party of surrender" for wanting to pull out, according to a new book. "Using language that has a painfully contemporary echo," Nixon and Kissinger talked tough on Vietnam in public while secretly preparing to withdraw, according to historian Robert Dallek. "In Saigon the tendency is to fight the war to victory," Nixon told Kissinger as early as 1969, Dallek writes, "but you and I know it won't happen - it is impossible." Nevertheless, the two agreed they should label the Democrats "the party of surrender" even as they maneuvered for a withdrawal, Dallek writes in "Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power." Excerpts from the book appear in the May issue of Vanity Fair. Other revelations in the book, based on diaries, tapes and transcripts, include:

1] Kissinger ranted in 1971 that former President George H.W. Bush, then Nixon's UN ambassador, was "an idiot." In response, Nixon later suggested to another aide that Kissinger might need "psychiatric help."

2] Kissinger often kept Nixon out of the loop on major foreign policy decisions, fearing that he might be drunk. Told that the British prime minister was on the phone, Kissinger said, "Can we tell them no? When I talked to the President, he was loaded."

[Duchess Note - Well, at least Kissinger was right about one thing, GHWB is an idiot and his son (current dictator wannabe) is even more of an idiot. The latter is also a spoiled rich bully. Also, many thanks to Linda Z & Judith in sharing the above articles.]

LIVE FROM NYC – IT’S THE NEWS

'No More Iraq War,' Kids Cry - Youngsters Lead Peace Parade Through Brooklyn
A member of Iraq War Veterans Against the War, Bouthillette said he was studying at the naval academy when war broke out and was later stationed on a destroyer in the Arabian Gulf where three of his shipmates were killed by suicide bombers. “I’m sick of seeing yellow ribbons and ‘support our troops’ bumper stickers,” he said. “They mean nothing. This idea that anti-war is anti-troops is completely backwards. Bush has been more detrimental to our Constitution that anything else.” The Iraq war veteran blasted the billions of U.S. dollars already poured into the conflict - 10 percent of which he charged could have been used to restore hurricane ravaged New Orleans. Reps. Yvette Clarke and Nydia Velazquez, however, faced a rough time addressing a crowd unhappy about their support of the latest supplemental spending bill that allocates more money for the war. But the representatives maintained that the vote was necessary to avoid giving President Bush a “blank check” and empowering Republicans in Congress. http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/03/288/

[Duchess Note: I am so disgusted that Congresswoman Velazquez (my district 12) voted in support of the Supplemental Spending Bill. Very little of that “supplemental” will go to our soldiers; instead a majority of it will go to Halliburton and Blackwater. Those two congresswomen should be ashamed of themselves in supporting money that will go into the rich, greedy wallets of America’s top 1%. Those bastards don’t need another dime. Americans all over the US need that money for schools, healthcare, jobs, recovery efforts in New Orleans etc. Instead, it’ll mostly go to making more weapons to kill innocent people and lining the pockets of rich buggers. Enough! We need to create and support peace. Support the Dept of Peace legislation (HR808) and get your congressional representative to co-sponsor it. I’ve been trying since February to get Congresswoman Velazquez to co-sponsor the bill again. She’s becoming more of an embarrassment and disappointment to me and others in District 12. We’ve had enough & we want peace now.]

Will Vermont Secede From The Union?
Ian Baldwin & Frank Bryan, Washington Post
http://www.alternet.org/stories/50056/

Baghdad Merchants Astounded at McCain's Claims of Security
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/03/279/

Supreme Court Rules Against Bush in Global Warming Case
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/02/270/

'US Ready to Strike Iran on Good Friday'
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/02/262/

Iran: A Policy of All Stick and No Carrots Will Not Work – Message from Friends Committee on National Legislation
The Iranian government's detention of 15 British sailors and the announcement that Iran may stop cooperating with international nuclear non-proliferation inspectors has led some in Congress to conclude that the U.S. must escalate its campaigns to pressure Tehran into compliance with international community demands. But the fact that a small border dispute has turned into a major diplomatic incident that could lead to war is more evidence of the need for face-to-face diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Read why Executive Secretary Joe Volk believes a policy of all sticks and no carrots will not work: http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=2517&issue_id=123