"The Direct Marketing sector regards the telephone as one of its most successful tools. Consumers experience telemarketing from a completely different point of view: more than 92% perceive commercial telephone calls as a violation of privacy. Telemarketers make use of a telescript - a guideline for a telephone conversation. This script creates an imbalance in the conversation between the marketer and the consumer. It is this imbalance, most of all, that makes telemarketing successful. The EGBG Counterscript attempts to redress that balance."

Excellent! A script to fight back with. Not that I'm pestered by calls. But next time, it'll be a laff.

791 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 11:28:38 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Anti-telemarketing EGBG counterscript

"One important aspect of using this type of weapon, sources say, will be psychological impact on enemy troops. It is intended to terrorize Iraqi troops, drastically reducing their desire to continue the fight."

The daisy cutters in Afganistan were big, but these...

790 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 9:30:28 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Military.com: Massive ordnance air burst bomb

"In the weeks before the war, a coalition of Arab states - including Egypt, Syria, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Iraq, Algeria and Kuwait - united against Israel. As Egyptian President Nasser said on 30 May 1967, "The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel...to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation.... the critical hour has arrived." War frenzy was sweeping through the Arab world."

For sure it has a "what me, I didn't do nuffin" feel of Israeli propaganda, but useful for background.

789 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 11:44:08 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Israeli Gov: Disputed territories: Forgotten Facts About the West Bank and Gaza Strip

"Bush's week of heavy diplomacy includes a meeting Wednesday in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General George Robertson. On Saturday, at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., he will consult with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, and the two will hold a joint news conference."

Bush also met the Latvian President today. Jeez, this geezer is clutching at straws. I know Spain's a pal of Blair's, but who cares what they think? Well, guess I'm looking from a UK perspective.

788 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 11:28:30 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Washington Post: 2-Week Window Frames Bush's Decision on War

"Maximum temperatures range from 104 F/40 C to 122 F/50 C during the hottest season in July and August."

Fighting in such heat? Would this be like the Russian Nazi, or Napoleonic winter defeats? If I remember my history, it was the failure of the Nazis to supply themselves, and food I believe was Napoleon's downfall.

Still. Such heat will have its complications for non-natives.

787 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 11:20:13 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Kuwait Geography

"In addition to serving as a diplomatic gesture, a second U.N. resolution would buy time for U.S. and British military forces to get into place. The Times reports troops en route now won't be in position to fight until the end of February or the beginning of March."

The rumours are getting shorter. For nearly a year, now, I've been hearing the "it'll happen x months." It was 4 months, then three, now one and a half.

786 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 11:01:46 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: WorldNetDaily: U.S. weighs new deadline for Saddam

"His list includes a "concern about Saddam Hussein using weapons of mass destruction against his own people and blaming it on us, which would fit a pattern," Mr. Rumsfeld said. He said the document also noted "that he could do what he did to the Kuwaiti oil fields and explode them, detonate, in a way that lost that important revenue for the Iraqi people.""

It goes on... It could be an absolutely horrible war.

785 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 10:46:28 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: NYTimes: War Planners Speak of the Risks

"The first, a high power microwave (HPM) burst delivered via a cruise missile or other guided munition, would act like an electronic lighting bolt to disrupt computerized command facilities as well as guidance systems aboard enemy missiles. The second knockout punch would be what the military calls an agent defeat weapon (ADW) that uses an incendiary explosive to first burn any harmful chemicals and biological toxins and then further inactivate them with chlorine and acid cleansers. The U.S. military won't comment on these weapons, but defense analysts note that high-powered microwave and agent defeat weapons have been in development for some years and it is probable that their development has been accelerated in recent months as the crisis with Iraq has intensified. Experts point to the rapid development of the bunker-busting thermobaric bombs used in Afghanistan as a precedent for using weapons still in the development stage."

It goes on:

"The HTI-J-1000, as it is called, would be the fill inside the penetrating warhead used on the massive 2,000-pound GBU-24 laser-guided bomb and BLU-109 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) used to attack underground bunkers. The titanium boron lithium perchlorate intermetallic fill would ignite to become a high temperature incendiary (HTI) that relies on a series of chemical reactions to increase the temperature inside the targeted bunker to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, causing storage tanks to explode. The intense heat destroys biological and chemical agents inside the tanks. In addition, the HTI-J-1000 chemical reactions produce byproducts like chlorine, fluorine and a variety of acids that neutralize chem/bio agents much as disinfectants would. All these reactions occur at very low pressure to prevent the chem/bio agents from dispersing into the surrounding area before they can be eliminated."

[via IraqWar.info]

784 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 10:34:55 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Extinguishing the Threat: U.S. special weapons may target Iraqi chemical and biological threats

"Last night I sat on the roof while wearing my winter headphones (the warm and beautiful Sony MDR-CD780s) and tuning down a long list of faraway radio signals."

Without the crackle and whine of bouncing radio off the curve of the earth. Not really radio. More internet broadcast. The choice is good, and I've found a load of new dance stations with my mac's iTunes, but just wait till there's video on demand being streamed down those broadband pipes.

So I could start a radio station? Amazing. [from Doc Searls]

783 Also posted to: Cashpoints . At: 11:57:28 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Doc Searls: Run Streaming

Check this out for detailed spy background from one of the most loved of sites:

"Google deserves your nomination for Big Brother of the Year

1. Google's immortal cookie:

2. Google records everything they can:

3. Google retains all data indefinitely:

4. Google won't say why they need this data:

5. Google hires spooks:

6. Google's toolbar is spyware:

7. Google's cache copy is illegal:

8. Google is not your friend:

9. Google is a privacy time bomb:"

Well, well... I'm dismayed. I too thought the sun shone out of their arse. [from Doc Searls]

782 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 11:49:11 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Google as Big Brother

Peace demos: millions around the world.

Thankfully, we have a conscience. That's what these people are. It's necessary that we think very, very hard before declaring a war on a country.

Even, if it is ruled by a few hundred despotics, terrorising its population. Even, if it my leak WMD to those that would die while releasing chaos, death and destruction on a scale of millions.

We must examine everything.

We must look and look again into the reasons.

We must think hard.

I wish Blair would be stronger. He knows that there's going to be an attack on Western soil, possibly UK.

London's Mayor Ken Livingstone and now, this morning, the London Chief Commissioner of Police have said an attack on London is inevitable. Blair said it years ago: Monday October 8, 2001 Ah! But this is al Qaeda," I here you say, "nothing to do with attack Iraq." If it got out of Russia, out of Pakistan, out of North Korea, India, Israel, Egypt and into binLadens suicide squads - exploding in London. Would you attack those countries? There is every likelyhood that terrorists have WMD already in their possesion. From where ever. We need to cut these weapons off at source. Iraq, right now is the most porous, in that the West has no idea where/what/if. But motive is there, as in my enemy's foe is my friend. Al Qaeda is coming to city near you.

Bush lacks the credibility that Blair has. We need a strong leader now, to turn the public tide before there is an attack.

After an attack it'll be too late. At least as far as I'm concerned. Peace demos may think differently. And I think it's going to be their way - an attack on UK/US soil, then ousting Saddam.

Blair isn't coming across well. He seems to be laying low. He's trying to persuade. He's looking patient. Weak.

He should be more steamed, more impassioned, more clear in his convictions. He has the credibility to pull it off. At least in my mind [disclosure: I've always admired Blair, and been a good Socialist all my life]. Next he'll need to drag out good celebs and intellectuals to concur.

Bush too has been hidden. Thankfully.

781 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 11:18:26 PM  . .
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"International oil sources fear al Qaeda is planning a radioactive strike for the big Saudi oil terminal at Ras Tanura - or against US troops stationed in the Saudi Kingdom and Gulf emirates - that will further push up world oil prices."

Maybe, bin Laden is getting strategic. Hitting the US economy is much more dangerous than a terror attack. If the US economy nose dives, and it is on its own paying for the Iraq/War on Terror wars, that could be a mortal blow. If it would not be, say Bush borrows more, then the whole geo-economic status quo would be upset, turned around completely.

Our weak underbelly.

And what would a cornered Bush resort to?

780 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 2:56:14 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: DEBKA: Al Qaeda Talks Back

"The company has already run technical trials of the technology in the small Scottish towns of Campbeltown and Crief.

The trials were a big success, offering up to 2MB per second - much faster than most broadband services on offer in the UK - for the price of £25."

Cool. Soon (read 5 years?) BBi in remote corners of the UK

779 Also posted to: Broadband Britain . At: 2:34:53 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: BBC: Broadband goes electric

"Professor Dulac believes that talk of a sixth sense is nonsense but that pheromones may play an as yet unappreciated role in human behaviour."

I reckon there is such I sense. Witness those who say they have warm fuzzies or cold pricklies when they met someone for the first time.

And I know I smell, and I usually hate the smell of other men, and women, well...

Amanda's armpits when she was feeding our first child. She commented that she could smell a really, really strong smell of milk. All I could smell were her arm pits.

I think we have it, but we don't know what it means, some of the time. Other times it means love or conflict.

I'm wondering if our man in Iraq is old Tariq here. ?The Government seems hell bent on this war - they must have some information that is so high level they need to be careful in divulging the source. To the extent that it's making the idea of a war risible and themselves posturing.

They need to protect the source so much?

777 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 2:24:06 AM  . .
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""The chief duty of international politics is to prevent war. That is our orientation," Mr SchrSchrÖderder told the German parliament. "No politics of expediency and no security doctrine must lead us to become accustomed to war as a normal political means.""

Excellent statesman this geezer SchrÖder. Perfect statement. Keep saying it sir, lest we forget.

776 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 2:02:56 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Guardian: Schr&   214;der defends anti-war stance  

"Nearly 72% of people gave their religion as Christian (37 million) and the second largest faith was Islam with 1,547,000 followers or 3% of the population.

There were 552,000 Hindus, 329,000 Sikhs, 260,000 Jews and 144,000 Buddhists, while 7.7 million said they had no religion.

The number of Star Wars fans who gave their religion as "Jedi" - because of an internet campaign running at the time of the census - was 390,000, or 0.7% of the population."

775 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:57:02 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Guardian: Census shows large rise in UK ethnic population

"The most likely is thought to be a lightweight missile strike on a US or Israeli passenger aircraft. Other possibilities are a poison gas attack on London's crowded rail network, a huge car bomb or attempted assassination."

Everything, but the kitchen sink then. They left out one man wandering about with small pox.

774 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:48:31 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Daily Mirror: fears as Britain is put on high state of alert

"Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Western military troops will leave the kingdom later this year.

Saudi officials said U.S., British and French forces would leave the kingdom after the conclusion of a war against Iraq. They said Saudi Arabia would relay a formal request to NATO countries to end their military presence once the regime of President Saddam Hussein is toppled and order is restored in Iraq."

As I read about Bush being confident, Rumsfield being manipulative, and Tennet being 'truthful' now I read about (again) the coalition falling apart. But, I bet pulling out of Saudi suits the US. They'll need their resources in Iraq. And there's the oil. The unstable religious debate in Saudi. The lack of support... I'm sure the US is 'well happy.'

773 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:38:03 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: IMRA: Saudis confirm plans to end U.S. military presence

"On the eve of a showdown over Iraq, President Bush said Thursday the United Nations must help him confront Saddam Hussein or "fade into history as an ineffective, irrelevant, debating society.""

772 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:12:07 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Washington Post: Bush Urges Allies at U.N. To Show 'Backbone' .com)

"Lee Hamilton, the former chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, added pointedly: 'It's an overwhelming temptation to manipulate intelligence to serve policy and, to some extent, I think that's what's happening here with Iraq.'

Tenet did, however, leave the Bush conspiracists something to cling to. In his letter to Graham, he played up the alleged links between al-Qaeda and Iraq, saying: 'We have solid reporting of senior level contacts between Iraq and al-Qaeda going back a decade.

Credible information indicates that Iraq and al-Qaeda have discussed safe haven and reciprocal non-aggression ... we have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of al-Qaeda members ... we have credible reporting that al-Qaeda leaders sought contacts in Iraq, who could help them acquire WMD capabilities ... Iraq has provided training to al-Qaeda members in areas of poisons and gases and making conventional bombs.'

This was not a smoking gun, but it kept suspicions alive that Iraq might just pass terrorists WMDs any day now. Tenet's tentative connection between Iraq and al-Qaeda is a far cry from the findings of his counterparts in Europe..."

771 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:08:50 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Sunday Herald: Why the CIA thinks Bush is wrong

"'The League failed because it could not create action from its words ... At each stage good men said wait; the evil is not big enough to challenge: then before their eyes, the evil became too big to challenge,' Straw said ominously after Powell's multimedia extravaganza.

The US appears to expect no less than the UN should become a supine adjunct to the world's superpower, rubber-stamping its every foreign policy whim, while allowing it to opt out of inconvenient little treaties such as the International Criminal Court.

This is the new world order and it seems that the UN and its security council is powerless to stop it, mostly because ultimately the countries that make up the Security Council are, like the US, more concerned with their own self-interest than safeguarding the principles of international law.

Down at the UN there seems to be little doubt but that Bush will get his war.

'It's like Gulliver and the Lilliputans,' said one UN diplomat, who represents a security council member state.

'We can try to tie him down all we want but at the end of the day we know he can get up and walk all over us.'"

770 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:05:46 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Sunday Herald: George W Bush is carrying a big stick -- and a large chequebook

"Following the September 11 attacks, the Pentagon established an Office of Strategic Influence, which would provide news items, true or false, as part of an operation to influence public sentiment in friendly and unfriendly countries. Following concern that it could damage the US and put lives at risk, the office was closed down but, in an interview late last year, Donald Rumsfeld conceded that its aims were still being pursued.

'And then there was the Office of Strategic Influence,' he told a press briefing on November 16, 2002. 'You may recall that. And 'oh my goodness gracious isn't that terrible, Henny Penny the sky is going to fall'. I went down that next day and said fine, if you want to savage this thing, fine I'll give you the corpse. There's the name. You can have the name, but I'm gonna keep doing every single thing that needs to be done and I have.'"

769 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 12:57:29 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Sunday Herald: Behind Colin Powell's dossier on Iraq

We take a trip to drop Tony off at Shrewsbury train station. We've already fed the ducks, seen skaters practising jumps and routines. Played monkey climbing at Madley Court leisure centre, had Kentucky chicken and chips.

These are some shots of the station and castle.

We are supposed to go swimming, but when we arrive, a lack of cars warns me they may be closed. I hear bells ringing from the church and lead two disappointed children to the sound. We enter a little, very old wooden door, up worn, narrow, spiral steps to another door. I hesitate, but open, to see 9 campanologists pulling the ropes. We look for a minute, then close the door and are making our escape, whenm the bells stop, I hear group laughter and some one atop the stairs, saying, come back.

We do, and are invited in and sat down. And one peel is dedicated to Esme. Sweets are handed out, and I am give the chance the pull one bell. Wicked :-) And I forgot to take a pix.

768 Also posted to: personal . At: 12:25:07 AM  . .
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"Messianic groups among many Jews and among some sects of Christianity are calling for the destruction of Masjid al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and replacing them with a modern-day replica of the First and b>Second Temples... Old Testament accounts of the future coming of the Messiah allude to the presence of the Temple. And, in fact, the Temple was in place at the time of the arrival of Jesus. However, not accepting him as the Messiah, Jews still believe that the Messiah has yet to come. With this erroneous belief, there are many among them calling for the reconstruction of the Temple in an effort to welcome the Messiah.

Jesus is accepted by Muslims and Christians as the true Messiah. And it is accepted by both that he will come again in the End of Time. When he arrives he will fight an AntiChrist, al-Masih ad-Dajjal. In Arabic this indivdual is often referred to as the Imposter Messiah - imposter because people will accept him as the Messiah. Christians believe that the establishment of the Third Temple will welcome this False Messiah."

This is the fundamental conflict. Where the full hatred of religious irrational ravings clash, and fanatics draw hordes.

The Third Temple, will the Messiah built it?: The re-building and long-awaited presence will usher in the Messianic Era.

Three structures have borne the name Mikdash, or Holy Temple. The first was the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, built by Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai as atonement for the sin of the golden calf. It was portable and stood for an aggregate of 440 years. The second structure bearing the name Mikdash, was King Solomon's Temple. It was built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, upon foundations laid by Solomon's father, King David. This is known as the First Temple. It stood for 410 years and was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, as prelude to the Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people. 70 years later, King Cyrus of Persia gave permission to the Jews to rebuild the Holy Temple, which was accomplished through the leadership of Ezra, the Scribe. This, the Second Temple, was later beautified by King Herod, and stood for a total of 420 years. Titus and the armies of the Rome destroyed Herod's Temple in the year 70 of the Common Era. Since then, the Holy Temple has stood in ruins. The Torah teaches that the Temple will again be rebuilt in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, and this Third Temple will stand forever.

This is an issue that few people are willing to address because of obvious political implications. But, like it or not, the Third Temple is going to be built one day. So we may as well look at the question now.

"...if the redemption comes immediately if not sooner, it will be replete with manifold miracles, incomparably greater than during the Exodus from Egypt some 3309 years ago, and the Holy Temple will suddenly appear out of the fire of Heaven atop Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. The hope and dream and yearning of the Jewish people."

As we say in our daily prayers, "May it be Your will, Lord our God, and God of our fathers, that the Holy Temple be speedily rebuilt in our days."

Aww man! I hate this religious absurdity. Nightmarish end of world stuff. But it's important to know the background. The history. The spin put on religious beliefs that persuade people into killing each other for the good of some god. Some mad messiah. For that's who'll grab the spotlight.

767 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 11:32:13 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: They are Planning for the Third Temple

Cosford Airbase Bradley and I spend a few hours here this afternoon. Haven't been out with Bradley on his own for ages. Months and months.

We see some small planes taking off as we drive in, they're so far away that they look like toys, but Bradley's attention is grabbed. We look for more, wait some... Drive on and we pass some of the planes that are on the satellite picture. "Big, big, big, big ones," says Bradley, stretching out his arms. He is suitably impressed.

I see some bombs. If fact there's a lot of bombs in this place. I explain to Bradley that they're fireworks, they go whoosh and bang. Bradley doesn't like fireworks, he cringes at the merest mention of the word, let alone the real thing.

I wonder about these bombs, rockets, cruise missiles, bombers, should I bring him to such a place, even if it is only a few miles down the road, and free to get in. Amazing to grow up with these things, but will it turn him into a military man?

We end up in the cafe. Bradley finally takes a bite out of my doughnut. I'd been asking him for ages, though he'd eaten well today. He starts licking out the jam. I sigh. Look around the room. Then, I spot him sticking in the straw to get at the bottom bits. Reminded me of the chimps with the grasses and ants.

766 Also posted to: personal . At: 11:56:22 PM  . .
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For the first time ever, I'm at the top of the board. Two big hitters are currently replacing a senior FSM. They, I guess, are spending less time knocking doors. Thus they are out of the picture, but still not very far away [Bal's at 5th with 71 and Stu 11th with 54pts.

Stu did the presentation of the board. And then I realised that all the attention was to be on me as he called out from the bottom.

Nice, I get loud claps and bangs on tables. As look around the room [I only see half the reps, and I ain't going to look around - gotta look nonchalant] and I see genuine, congratulatory smiles. This is nice, I think, as I smile to myself.

765 Also posted to: Telewest backgrounder . At: 10:49:53 PM  . .
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I think Francis was a little bit surprised by Esme and Bradley's behaviour, though she soon realised the fun that was to be had.

764 Also posted to: personal . At: 10:43:16 PM  . .
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Another wild screaming time in the park. Everybody had fun.

763 Also posted to: personal . At: 10:41:54 PM  . .
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Bradley likes being a pig. I guess all kids do. Here, he was licking, sucking and sticking his tongue out to the world. I told him not to do it the first time, "it's disgusting." This made him do it several more times [predictably] to which I made no comment.

762 Also posted to: personal . At: 10:41:31 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story:

A lawless visit to MacDonalds

Francis, Esme and Bradley. We go to feed the ducks, wander around the toy shops, ending up in the fast food hell. But, they crawl across the windows, scream rowdily. In MacDonalds I can let them get away with it.

I think she was saying something along the lines of, "this ice cream is very sticky."

761 Also posted to: personal . At: 10:22:59 PM  . .
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"London moves while others await war

The Bank of England unexpectedly cut interest rates Thursday to the lowest level in nearly half a century, raising concern in financial markets that the strongest major economy in Europe faces unpleasant surprises as war in Iraq looms. . Analysts said the Bank of England might have acted with inside knowledge of unusual stress to the financial system, perhaps stemming from a sharp decline in stock prices; since Jan. 1, the FTSE 100 index in London has fallen nearly 9 percent, nearly double the drop in the Dow Jones industrial average during the same period."

More interest :-) and intrigue.

760 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 10:18:52 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: IHT: Surprise in England: Interest rates are cut

"Analysts said the dollar would weaken further relative to the euro, particularly if the United States were not able to muster support for its Iraq campaign, and proceeded without a United Nations mandate."

Interesting, the twists and turns of war.

759 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 10:13:00 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: IHT: A muddle for Europe's Central Bank

"The five primary agencies that make up the Iraqi security apparatus are al-Amn al-Khas (Special Security), al-Amn al-'Amm (General Security), al-Istikhbarat (Military Intelligence), al-Mukhabarat (General Intelligence), and al-Amn al-'Askari (Military Security). Along with the Special Republican Guard, they form a vast, complex, and wide-ranging labyrinth of security organizations, with mutually independent intelligence and military units pervading all layers of Iraqi society, ensuring the protection of the president and his regime."

Right down to busy-bodies in the street. If this is Arab politics. If this is feudalism, and the Arab peoples want such an authoritarian regime, then OK, just no fucking weapons of utter horror. Hand them over, quickly, and no war.

758 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 9:50:46 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: CNS - Saddam's Security and Intelligence Network

"Iraq's security and intelligence network: a guide and analysis

By Ibrahim al-Marashi"

This is the document that the UK has been plagiarising. Imagine a grunter at the foreign office, some middle ranking civil servant, tasked with coming up with the goods, late at night, deadline in the morning. Hell, what a deadline, the Prime Minister of the UK will read it, and one of his oppos will present it to the world... Right where shall I get some facts from, something, that's going to paint a nasty picture, and be honest, maybe even public knowledge... Google search, bingo!

757 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 9:43:42 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: IRAQ SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE

""The White House is feeling more confident these days and the immunity idea appeared to have been a sop to deflect Arab and Islamic opposition to an invasion of Iraq," a diplomatic source said. "Now, the administration feels it has enough military and political support so it doesn't have to make any promises."

The source said the turning point was a U.S. assessment that both France and Russia were reducing or ending their opposition to a war against Iraq."

I saw Blair's BBC Two Newsnight programme, where he faced a panel of questioners who were against the proposed war, for various reasons. He put on a good show, good, considered arguments. He suggested that the audience should connect up the dots. Mega terrorism and rogue states with WMD developments. It is sure to happen if we leave it happen. If we bury our heads. I wish in his arguments, he said some more about the future, after all, that's what a government should do, more of the next 100 years. What sort of world will we live in? A world where access to vile nerve agents, horrible diseases, or catastrophic nuclear dirty bombs and cataclysmic explosions; all these being sold by the kind of Doctor Evil to people who believe they are doing god's good work. A hundred years of hell and fear.

He also said, "we [points to himself and the audience] have to do what's right." I wish he'd have asked, "I don't want Saddam to have WMD. Do you [points to members of audience, one by one] want Saddam to have WMD?" That is the simplest either/or yes-or-no questions. Pulling back means Saddam will continue, and having seen how vulnerable we are, he will attack, but not by his own hand. Even if Saddam doesn't, what's to stop a general, or captain, or one of his sons passing a suitcase to mad Muslims? Off their own back, either for money, glory, revenge, religion, ex torsion, whatever. There are no checks and balances there.

Over the next hundred years, my children's children will still be fighting this religious war. I don't want them to have to fight against such vile weapons. Even if that means we retaliate with vile weapons in Iraq, North Korea, Syria, where ever. Of course, we pressure them so that we don't have to. Or, as Blair would say, "negotiate with them."

These weapons must be removed from the world. We cannot contain them within boundaries where there is a junta with no law - these weapons will leak out. First, we need to get rid of others (Syria, Libya, North Korea), and ensure that there is no need for these country to develop them again. Second we get rid of the West's and Russia's and China's. And Pakistan. And India. And Israel's. And stop Egypt, Libya and Saudi Arabia developing them.

756 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 11:09:40 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: U.S. Backs Off From Immunity For Saddam

"The transcript showed that, while some cautioned him against taking too many drugs, others egged him on, in a chatroom dedicated to stories of how to get hold of prescription drugs.

"I told u I was hardcore," were his last coherent words according to reports."

"I don't mean to say that there will soon be only one kind of weblog. There will be as many types of weblog, tones of voice, ways of speaking, as there are bloggers. Dogmatic, hysterical, narrow-minded weblogs will attract audiences, just like dogmatic, hysterical, narrow-minded newspapers. But they'll struggle to understand why the conversationalists are winning the big audiences and they might, in the end, have to learn a new way of talking."

Who's been reading the cluetrain.com? I recognise those hysterical dogmatic rageboy choruses.

754 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 2:55:05 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Guardian: The best blogs are written with conversation in mind, writes Steve Bowbrick

"A swarm of earthquakes that rattled homes and nerves in the East Bay beginning Sunday morning has scientists concerned that a bigger quake -- packing more punch than Loma Prieta -- could be on the horizon."

Imagine, who bin Laden would be saying to his followers, was responsible for an earthquake that took out California? If such occurred at a 'prophetic moment' too. In the battle of hearts and minds, American and Western civilisations would be heavily wounded in the morals.

753 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 2:41:46 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Swarm of East Bay quakes spurs concern about Big One

Transcript: Saddam Makes His Case on TV
Blix: It's Five Minutes to Midnight
Powell Retreating on Iraq-al Qaeda Claim
UK, Euro Intel Skeptical of Powell's Iraq Evidence
Powell Says He Has Tapes of Iraqis Fooling Inspectors
Bush's Record Budget Doesn't Include Iraq War Costs
France Talks Peace But Sends Warships East
Chirac Snubs Blair Over Support of Iraq War
US, UK at Odds Over New Resolution
Blair to 'Risk Political Future' Over Iraq
US Chooses Saddam's Successor
Pentagon Moves to Make Nukes 'Usable'
Could Shuttle Disaster Prompt a Rethink on Iraq?
US Claims Disruption of Major al Qaeda Plans
US Officials: Terror Threat Will Rise After Iraq War

I've never seen so many really, really interesting links on Antiwar.com before... War is near now.

751 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:56:22 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Antiwar.com

"

Nerve agents

Guidelines for action in the event of a deliberate release

The nerve agents are a group of particularly toxic chemical warfare agents. They are chemically related to organophosphorus insecticides. The principal agents in this group are tabun (GA), soman (GD), sarin (GB), GF and VX.

Sarin and VX I've heard of, but the others?

Severe symptoms: such as respiratory difficulty, convulsions and ventricular arrhythmias

Admit casualties to ITU or equivalent wards; administer antidotes; supplemental oxygen should be administered, excess secretions may require removal by suction; ventilate if necessary; monitor red blood cell cholinesterase daily until symptoms improve; it is vital to treat the symptoms and not be lead by the cholinesterase concentration"

Oh shit.

What an awful death! Your nerve endings kill-ya-ass!

750 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 1:46:49 AM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: UK Government, again: Emergency Planning Coordination Unit - Deliberate Release

"

Smallpox: Overt deliberate release

So, if there's one mad geezer with the disease, in it's most disgusting final stages, down London's Underground, perhaps, several suicide mad Muslims, on their way to the 17 virgins promised by Allah; and there isn't enough vaccination available, we're to fill in photocopied forms.

Interesting stuff in this site, I mean what the &*%@ is Tularaemia?

We're on version 2, updated way back in 12 August 2002. Version 1 was in 1998. 9/11 put a rocket up their arse. One thing bin Laden did wrong, he sent a powerful message that he was coming with 9/11. If he hadn't he could have devastated us, as it is we're at least a little prearranged, though judging by the state of these guidelines, there's no mention of procedures (or forms to fill in:-) for mass vaccination, just containment policies - madness!