Ratner and Ray:� Bay and Rule by Executive Fiat

January 31, 2005
Please Distribute Widely

Dear Colleague:

Today we publish "Guantanamo Bay and Rule by Executive Fiat," the first chapter of "Guantánamo Bay: What the World Should Know," a book-long interview of Michael Ratner by Ellen Ray that we are publishing serially on Narco News. The chapter starts of with human rights lawyer Michael Ratner giving a brief history of the U.S. naval base-turned-interrogation-camp on the shores of the Republic of Cuba, perhaps the most potent and symbolic remnant of U.S. turn-of-the-century military imperialism.

Authentic Journalist Ellen Ray soon jumps into the heart of the legal questions surrounding Guantánamo and its use for holding suspected "terrorists" for unlimited amounts of time without any rights to trial and other elements of due process.

"Ray: Why should American citizens be concerned about Guantánamo and what is taking place there? "Ratner: A ...reason we should care is what this all means for the future of the rule of law, and for the building of societies that are based upon the rule of law and not on the dictates of kings or presidents. For nearly eight hundred years, since the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, our laws have insisted that every single human being is entitled to some kind of judicial process before he or she can be thrown in jail. The United States is trying to overturn one of the most fundamental principles of Anglo-American jurisprudence and international law. This is a principle that is found in the Declaration of the Rights of Man, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Read the full chapter, with many more insights and concrete examples of these abuses, at:

http://www.narconews.com

No Soup For You!

** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches **
** http://dahrjamailiraq.com **

January 31, 2005

Some Just Voted for Food

Inter Press Service
Dahr Jamail

*BAGHDAD, Jan 31 (IPS) - Voting in Baghdad was linked with receipt of food rations, several voters said after the Sunday poll.*

Many Iraqis said Monday that their names were marked on a list provided by the government agency that provides monthly food rations before they were allowed to vote.

”I went to the voting center and gave my name and district where I lived to a man,” said Wassif Hamsa, a 32-year-old journalist who lives in the predominantly Shia area Janila in Baghdad. ”This man then sent me to the person who distributed my monthly food ration.”

Mohammed Ra'ad, an engineering student who lives in the Baya'a district of the capital city reported a similar experience.

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Eavesdropping on terror talk in Germany

Eavesdropping on terror talk in Germany
Authorities learned how the suspects, who were arrested a week ago, tried to operate without attracting attention.
By Faye Bowers | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor


WASHINGTON – The surveillance scheme was working perfectly: German intelligence operatives were watching and listening to two terror suspects living in their country for more than two years.

The eavesdropping was yielding a plethora of detail on the cells' desires, plans, and unusual source of funding. The hope was the spying would go on for a long time - long enough to grab others involved in the network.

Instead, according to a European official knowledgeable about the operation, the two terror suspects suddenly made plans to move to the Netherlands. The German agents - unsure if they would lose contact - moved in and had them arrested this past weekend. "The arrests weren't planned," says the European source. "This story from the intelligence and law-enforcement sides now, sadly, is over."

In the end, the surveillance operation offers an inside look at some of the problems and progress of those on the frontlines of the war on terror.

For one thing, it shows that successes are occurring: In addition to the two suspects arrested in Germany - and the information gleaned during the surveillance operation - two other high-level terrorists were apprehended this week in Iraq. Second, it illustrates how difficult it is to tap into terrorist cells and gather enough information to stop a specific attack or round up all those involved. Third, it highlights how contentious the relationship can be between intelligence agencies and local police, which often have different mandates and goals.

"My former service was in the business of letting people run in order to scoop in as many as possible," says Stella Rimington, the former head of MI5, Britain's domestic intelligence service. "But we have to work with the police, and they are of course anxious to bring things to a conclusion without taking too many risks."

Still, the agents learned a lot about how Al Qaeda is evolving and its relationship with sleeper cells in Europe. Significantly, the agents listened to the alleged terrorists discuss ways to obtain uranium to make a dirty bomb in order to kill as many Americans as possible, according to the European official. They heard them recruit suicide bombers from Germany's well-established Muslim community to send to Iraq. They overheard plots to cheat companies out of life-insurance benefits to pay for their illicit activities.

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And that's how the "War On Terror" should be conducted. There is no earthly reason for the suspension of Constitutional rights, the wars on Iraq, civil rights, drugs, the pending war on Iran, ect. No other reason *other than* to further the neocon agenda, which appears to be the world domination by a few, powerful elite......*fascism* in other words

Halliburton may ditch Iraq deal

"Halliburton may not submit new bids to provide US troops with logistical support in Iraq if the US army decides to break up its current contract.

The US Army confirmed reports it is considering the break-up of the deal, thought to be worth $13bn (�7.3bn).

It added the firm would be allowed to rebid if the contract is cancelled.

But Halliburton chief executive Dave Lesar said that a fresh bid would depend on how many separate pieces emerged from the contract break-up.

The US Army is now considering which parts of the multibillion-dollar logistics contract awarded to Halliburton to feed, house, and operate services for troops could go to competitive bid.

Charges concerns

The company has been accused of overcharging since it was handed the no-bid contract last year.

US Vice-President Dick Cheney headed the firm until he took office in 2001.

He has, however, denied that this has led to preferential treatment for the firm."

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FBI 'studying Halliburton deals'

Last Updated: Friday, 15 October, 2004, 13:27 GMT 14:27 UK

US agrees to Halliburton inquiry


The US government will set up an inquiry into the no-bid Iraq contracts given to Halliburton, the company once run by Vice President Dick Cheney.
The move is the latest embarrassment for the firm, which faces losing its Iraq contracts with the US Army.
Halliburton's Iraq deals had been criticised by the International Advisory Monitoring Board, a UN group monitoring the use of Iraq's resources.

Meanwhile, a Halliburton affiliate faces a probe by Nigeria's parliament.
Portugal-registered TSKJ comprising Technip of France and Snamprogetti Netherlands faces allegations of bribery.
Halliburton acquired the firm in 1998.

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