THE FLASHLIGHT, June 21-27, 2008

THE FLASHLIGHT
No Peace without Justice, No Justice without the Facts
June 21-27, 2008
Mary K. Matossian, Editor

World Communication

[This story was broken by a new non-profit world news organization, propublica.org. It was picked up by CBS 60 Minutes on 6-22 and the Washington Post and PBS on 6-23]. The US government supports a television channel called Al-Hurra (The Free One, in Arabic), headquartered in Springfield, Virginia, for broadcasting in Arabic to the Middle East. Supposedly Al-Hurra is an independent news source; but actually it is intended to defend US Mideast policy and improve US approval ratings there. There has been no English translation of its broadcasts available for circulation. Its Jewish critics have complained that al-Hurra published the full text of a speech by Hezbollah leader Nasrollah, as well as giving publicity to a Holocaust denial conference in Teheran. The channel once showed a speaker who called Israel a “racist state.”
After an expenditure of half a billion US taxpayer dollars on Al Hurra, hostility to US policy remains high in the Middle East: 80% oppose it. According to Prof. Shelby Telhami of the Univ. of Maryland, Al-Jazeera continues to dominate the air. Only 2% of Mideast TV viewers put Al-Hurra at the head of their list of 10 most favored news channels.

World Business

The New Yorker, 6-30, Connie Black, “The Brass Ring.” Pp. 43-57. This is a portrait of a little known American of great wealth, Sheldon Adelman. According to Forbes, Adelman, with 26 billion dollars, is the third richest American, after Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. Adelman claims to be “the richest Jew in the world.”
Adelman’s father was an immigrant from Lithuania who was a cab driver in Boston. Adelman completed three and half years of high school, and then studied shorthand in trade school to become a court reporter. He has been married twice, and has two sons by his second wife, Miriam.
The source of Adelman’s great wealth is his hugely profitable gambling concession in Macao, China (the “brass ring”). Having reached this position he “relentlessly” pursues global political influence. He also supports philanthropic foundations, notably in medical research. Since 2000 he has suffered from peripheral neuropathy, which makes it hard for him to walk.
Adelman is a major supporter of Israel and the Israel Lobby in the US. He is an extreme right wing Zionist, opposing a two-state solution involving the creation of a Palestinian State. He supports Bibi Netanyahu of the Likud Party. In the US, where he has major gambling holdings in Las Vegas, he finances Freedom Watch, which supported the surge in Iraq last summer, and attacks Democratic political candidates. It has tried to raise doubts about the firmness of Obama’s support of Israel. Adelman supports McCain for President.

US Politics

CNN 6-19. In the past, the Republicans attracted more votes from men than from women. But they tend to lose ground among men when the US economy is doing poorly.
CNN 6-20. Obama announced that contrary to his previous position, he will not limit his funding to public funds. Although he has raised so far three times as much money as McCain, the Democratic Party has far less money than the Republican Party. Obama also faces the threat of “swift boating” dirty tricks from 527 organizations.
PBS 6-24. According to the Bloomberg and Newsweek polls, Obama now leads McCain by 15 percentage points.
CNN 6-25. Republican chances of retaining the Presidency are hurt by the 28% approval rating of Pres. Bush. Historically, a low approval rating of the incumbent president, and an economic downturn, are unfavorable for such retention.

US Justice

CNN 6-19. The FBI has arrested three executives of Bear Stearn and over 400 real estate agents nationally for mortgage fraud. It is also investing a number of corporations. More people will be charged.
PBS 6-24. The Supreme Court voted 5-4 against extending the death penalty to child rapists. Only murder is an allowable ground for death.
PBS 6-26. The Supreme Court voted 5-4 that it is constitutional for an individual to own a gun under certain conditions. New legislation is expected to clarify the conditions.

US Economy

CNN 6-20. The farm losses in the Mississippi Valley are over three billion dollars. So far in 2008 food prices are up 6%.
CNN, PBS and Bloomberg 6-26 – 6-27. On Thursday oil prices rose to $141 a barrel and the Dow Jones fell 358 points to 11,453, the lowest in over 50 years. A commentator called it a day of capitulation and panic. Goldman Sachs downgraded General Motors and Citigroup to “sell.”
An OPEC official predicted that the price of oil would rise to $170 and that gasoline would rise to $5.00 a gallon by the end of the summer. An American commentator predicted that the economy would not recover in the second half of 2008. Obama promised to spend $150 billion in alternate energy research.

US Education

NYTimes 6-24. New York State and City show important gains in reading and math scores in grades three to eight in the past school year. In the state, the gain for achieving at least standard grade level in math increased from 73 to 81%; in reading, from 63 to 69%. In the city, math scores increased from 57 to 74.3%, reading (in the last two years) from 50.2 to 57.6%.

Zimbabwe

PBS 6-25. After a week of reports that Pres. Mugabe’s thugs were raping, beating, and killing members of the opposition to discourage them from voting in Friday’s election, the British government announced that it was stripping Mugabe of the knighthood which it had previously granted. They also barred Zimbabwe’s team from participating in the international cricket competition. Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu charged Mugabe with a “failure of leadership.”

North Korea
PBS 6-26. In response to North Korea’s revelation of its nuclear secrets, the US agreed to take it off the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

THE FLASHLIGHT, June 14-20, 2008

THE FLASHLIGHT
June 14-20, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Mary K. Matossian, Editor

World Economy
CNN 6-13. The Saudis, fearing that today’s high oil prices may reduce economic growth, may decide to increase oil production. In the US and other developing countries, high oil prices are reducing demand for oil, which may make alternatives fuels more viable.
In the US, oil prices in 2008 alone have risen 40%. The world oil price could reach $200 a barrel.

Iraq
The Economist 6-14. While the US was focused on the Democratic primaries, the Iraqi government of Nuri al-Maliki grew rich on rising oil profits. Moqtada as-Sadr decided not to resist the government’s occupation of Basra and Sadr City in Baghdad.
Sectarian violence has abated somewhat, simply because ethnic cleansing has been completed in many areas. But political leaders are still fractious and corrupt. There is a lack of jobs, clean water, and electricity. Compared with May of last year, both US military casualties and Iraqi civilian casualties are down. Al-Qaeda is weaker, but still strong in Mosul and Diyala.
NY Times 6-14. The US is negotiating with the Maliki government on the reauthorization for its troops to operate there. The US wants to maintain over 50 permanent military bases, immunity from Iraqi law for its private contractors (such as Blackwater). The Shia government calls these demands an infringement of Iraqi sovereignty.

Israel/Palestine

NYTimes. Ethan Bronner. 6-15. After a year in power, Hamas is firmly in control of the 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza. There is no cursing, kissing, or drinking in public. More women are covered, more men have beards. Non-Hamas public meetings are barred. The Internet is filtered. Taxes and fees are collected. Streets and hospitals are cleaner. Using tunnels under the Gulf of Aqaba, the Gazans import computers, cigarettes, gasoline, and clothing from Egypt.
The Hamas leaders are now saying that if Isael returns to its 1967 borders, grants a Palestinian state, and deals with the rights of refugees, then Hamas will declare a long-term truce.
NYTimes 6-18. Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, agree to a cease fire. 6-19 BBC. The cease-fire begins.

US Politics
CNN 6-16. Al Gore endorses Obama.
Obama will go both to Iraq and Afghanistan before the election.
He says if elected he will invest billions in energy production and send more students to college.
There is a morale gap between Democrats and Republicans. 87% of Democrats are fired up for the campaign, and only 34% of Republicans are.
NYTimes 6-16. In a large black church, Obama calls for black fathers to take more responsibility for their children. More than half of all black children are raised in a single parent home.
PBS 6-16. Congress prepares to curb international oil speculators.

Science
CBS 6-15. Scientists are exploring the many important functions of sleep. Sleep enhances memory: it’s best to get a good night’s sleep before an examination instead of cramming late.
Sleep-deprived people are more likely to suffer from mood swings and intense emotional responses, uncontrollable by reason.
They are also more prone to feelings of hunger, and hence get obese.

Humor
NYTimes 6-16. Do you remember the children’s book, “Goodnight Moon”? There is now a parody of it. Instead of a bedroom, the scene is the situation room. In bed, instead of a bunny is George W. Bush in a Mission Accomplished flight suit. The three little bears sitting on chairs are three war profiteers giving three cheers. The little old lady whispering “Hush” is Dick Cheney, sitting in a rocking chair promoting war in a rush, with a shotgun on his lap and bunny slippers on his feet.

THE FLASHLIGHT, June 7-13, 2008

THE SEARCHLIGHT
June 7-13, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Mary K. Matossian, Editor

US Economy

CNN 6-6. The world oil price peaked at $139 a barrel. Monthly unemployment report jumped from 5 to 5.5%. Dow Jones down by 394 points, = 3%.
CNN 6-8. The number of jobs lost so far in 2008 is 324,000.

US Military Affairs

Time, 6-16. The mental health of the army has declined as more soldiers suffer from lack of sleep and home leave. By the third deployment, 27% have mental health problems. Instead of reducing stress the Pentagon has authorized the widespread distribution of anti-depressant pills.

The Nation 6-23. Of the US intelligence budget, 70% is going to private companies such as Blackwater [the mercenary company].
Such companies are not accountable for their acts.
Many of their employees are former CIA operatives. According to Melvin Goodman, former CIA division chief, “The entire industry is essentially out of control.”

US Presidential Election

CNN 6-10. Hillary Clinton’s campaign debt has reached an unprecedented $20 million, of which 11.4 million is her own money.
CNN 6-11. In a poll of polls, Obama leads McCain, 48-43.

Supreme Court
CNN 6-12. The Court ruled 5-4 to extend the right of habeas corpus to suspected foreign terrorists at Guantanamo Bay prison. They now have the right to challenge their detention in US civilian courts, Obama has promised to close Gitmo prison.

THE FLASHLIGHT, May 31 - June 6, 2008

THE FLASHLIGHT
May 31 – June 6, 2008
No Peace without Justice, No Justice without the Facts
Mary K. Matossian, Editor

US Politics

NY Times and CNN 6-3. Obama secured 2118 delegates to win the Democratic nomination for President. Hilary Clinton won over 17 million votes, and although not asked, said she through surrogates she was “willing” to join the ticket as vice presidential candidate. She did not make a concession speech, remaining technically a candidate.
PBS 6-4. Brooks and Shield commentary. They said Obama should not accept Clinton on the ticket because she was pressuring him, and he must project an image of strength. CNN 6-4. Clinton
said she will make a concession speech on Saturday. Former President Jimmy Carter urged Obama not to accept Clinton as vice-presidential candidate. Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania said that “You do not bargain with the presidential candidate of the party.” Other commentators said, “Some people don’t play well with others unless they can be ‘it’. “ “Bill Clinton takes all the oxygen out of the air.” [The consensus: Hillary will get a good slot, but not VP.]
CNN 6-5. Obama said he supports an “undivided” Jerusalem, [meaning the Jews would continue to possess the whole of it.] He said Israel’s present settlement policy must change. He said that he is committed to setting a timetable for redeployment of US troops in Iraq. In the evening he visits Hillary Clinton at home in Washington. In accordance with Obama campaign policy, the Democratic National Committee announced that it will no longer accept money from lobbyists and special interest groups.

Polygamist Sect

WPost 6-3. After court rulings favorable to them, the fundamentalist polygamous sect in West Texas secured the return of their children. However, they had to consent to take parenting classes and not to abscond with the children. Group leaders agreed not to sanction the marriage of girls under the legal age of the State.

China Earthquake

Xinhua. The official quake toll reached 69,016.
NYTimes 6-5. For decades Chinese scientists gave the government clear warnings of a possible devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province. But the government did not curb urban growth in the area or even conduct basic safety drills. Building construction safety standards for Sichuan were less strict than those in Beijing and wealthy eastern provinces. The inadequate standards in Sichuan were not even enforced. The government wanted to save money in construction.
There is a Chinese proverb, “You learn the fence needs mending after the sheep have run away.” In this case, it is after the sheep have died.

Burma

NYTimes 5-31. Buddhist monks are succeeding in bringing relief where the government has failed. The estimates of dead and missing have reached 134,000 and the needy survivors, 2.4 million.

Health

NYTimes 6-4. On the basis of experiments with mice, there is new evidence that red wine increases longevity. It switches the body’s resources from promoting fertility to tissue maintenance. This research aims to reduce the incidence of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Science

SF Chronicle. NASA’s Mars probe appears to have landed atop ice, which is only inches below a layer of soil. The next question: is the ice, when melted, too salty to sustain life?