Too Late for Empire
By Jonathan Schell at TomDispatch (26.07.2006).
Bringing It All Back Home: The Bush War on Liberty Intensifies
By Chris Floyd at Empire Burlesque (27.06.2006).
What's in it for them to return us to 'prewar values'?
By Roger Pulvers at The Japan Times (25.06.2006). A must read.
Also see "Japan's Conservatives Push Prewar 'Virtues' in Schools" by Norimitsu O'nishi at The NY Times (11.06.2006).
Interview with Gore Vidal
"An American Icon: Gore Vidal on Italy, Iraq - and Why He Hates George Bush" by Peter Popham at Independent/CommonDreams (23.06.2006).
Interview with Ségolène Royal
"Il faut renforcer l'Etat pour que la France n'ait plus peur de la mondialisation," propos recueillis par Arnaud Leparmentier et Isabelle Mandraud, at Le Monde (22.06.2006).
A disappointing Diet session
At The Japan Times Editorial (22.06.2006) :
The 164th regular Diet session -- the last Diet session for Mr. Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister -- has ended without fanfare. The session was tasked with making an overall review of his reforms, achieved or unachieved, since he took the reins of power in April 2001. But lawmakers have failed to fulfill that duty despite a prevailing sentiment among the people that Mr. Koizumi's reform policies have not necessarily enhanced the quality of their lives. Such a feeling is epitomized by the expression kakusa shakai (society of gaps), which refers to a widening gap between the haves and have-nots.
L'administration Bush s'identifie à la Justice divine
By Thierry Meyssan at Voltaire Net (21.06.2006). A lead :
George W. Bush à titre privé et la secrétaire d’État Condoleezza Rice à titre officiel ont participé à la Convention annuelle des baptistes du Sud. Ils ont expliqué à 18 000 « messagers de Dieu » comment ils gouvernent pour propager la Justice divine sur Terre dans l’imminence de la fin des Temps.
Kill a Peacekeeper for Christ? Or Kill a Christian for Satan? ... You decide ....
By Michael Standaert at The Huffington Post (07.06.2006). Via Euro Correstpondent. On the Left Behind novels, a new video game based on them, and the Unification Church.
Shinzo "Moonie" Abe
Posted by 外野 at ★阿修羅♪ (17.06.2006).
Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary and spokesman, sent congratulatory telegrams to the Unification Church meetings in Fukuoka (May 13) and in Hiroshima (May 14). Videos uploaded : Fukuoka version and Hiroshima version. 
A banner is prepared at 雑談日記（徒然なるままに、。） (18.06.2006).
Lawyer Masaki Kito traces the Unification Church fraud at his own weblog.
Update::22.06.2006
"Abe gets flak for 'helping' Moonies" at Asahi.com (21.06.2006).
"Moon's Japanese Profits Bolster Efforts in U.S." by John Burgess & Michael Isikoff at Washington Post (16.09.1984).
Au forum de Shanghaï, Russes, Chinois et Iraniens font contre-feu à Washington
By Marie Jégo et Bruno Philip at Le Monde (16.06.2006).
Fahrenheit 451 : Avatar of the New Man
By Pedro Blas Gonzales at California Literary Review (13.06.2006).
Just what are "Incomplete Jews?"
By Michael Standaert at NthPosition (06.06.2006). Via Euro Correspondent. Worth a read.
Secretive Bilderberg over but was world domination discussed?
By Tom Spears at Canada.com (12.06.2006).
Can art be judged apart from its creator?
By Roger Pulvers on Peter Handke at The Japan Times (11.06.2006). Worth a read.
Les ambitions militaires du Japon passent par les Etats-Unis
By Emilie Guyonnet at Le Monde Diplomatique (Avril 2006) :
Pas de trêve dans la course aux armements en Asie. La Chine a prévu d’augmenter ses dépenses militaires de 14,7 %, les portant à 35 milliards de dollars en 2006. Le premier ministre japonais s’en est inquiété, oubliant de préciser que son propre budget de la défense atteint déjà… 40 milliards de dollars. Et le nouvel accord stratégique avec les Etats-Unis va renforcer l’alliance politique et militaire entre Tokyo et Washington.
Secretive, powerful Bilderberg group meets near Ottawa
By Alexander Panetta at The Globe & Mail (08.06.2006).
"Secretive society's big names include Kissinger, Rockefeller and a queen" at Toronto Star (09.06.2006).
In 'House of War' James Carroll Finds the U.S. Dominant and Isn't Happy About It
William Grimes reviews James Carroll, House of War (Houghton Mifflin), at The NY Times (07.06.2006).
I Don't Hold Onto Ideological Distortions
Interview with Günter Grass at Deutsche Welle (30.05.2006). Via Nipposkiss (07.06.2006).
A New "Perle Harbor": Neocon Foreign Policy Architect Richard Perle reveals US War Plans in the Iranian Theater
By Dr. Michael Carmichael at Global Research (07.06.2006).
The War They Wanted, The Lies They Needed
By Craig Unger at Vanity Fair (06.06.2006 Issue) | Transcript at TruthOut.
Ségolène Royal est la seule capable de gagner face à Sarkozy
Arnaud Leparmentier interviews Daniel Cohn-Bendit at Le Monde (05.06.2006).
Des lettres critiques de Zhao Ziyang publiées à Hongkong, dix-sept ans après Tiananmen
By Brice Pedroletti at Le Monde (03.06.2006).
Normalizing the Unthinkable
By Sophie McNeill at Information Clearing House (03.06.2006). — "John Pilger, Robert Fisk, Charlie Glass, and Seymour Hersh on the failure of the world’s press."
Alleged Canadian terror plot has worldwide links
By Stewart Bell & Kelly Patrick at National Post (04.06.2006).
Japan may add patriotism to education requirements
By Bruce Wallace with Hisako Ueno at Chicago Tribune (04.06.2006).
Le Monténégro proclame son indépendance
At AP/Le Nouvel Observateur (04.06.2006).
モンテネグロが正式に独立を宣言。事実上、セルビアも独立。
Librarians Defy the FBI
By Larisa Alexandrovna at The Raw Story/AlterNet (02.06.2006).
日本の図書館員は、どうかな。
The trouble with Islam, the European Union - and Francis Fukuyama
By Roger Scruton at Open Democracy (01.06.2006).
Japan sleepwalks by design toward peace-renouncing poll
By Roger Pulvers at The Japan Times (28.05.2006). A must read.
L'Irak, un enjeu stratégique dans le duel entre Téhéran et Washington
By Hosham Dawod at Le Monde (30.05.2006).
Kissinger says he had no hostility toward Japan despite remarks in declassified documents
White House aide Henry Kissinger said Friday his tough words over Japan normalizing ties with China in 1972 revealed in recently declassified U.S. documents were not indicative of hostility toward the country.
"They certainly do not reflect a principled hostility to Japan, a country for which I have always entertained the most sincere respect," Kissinger said in a written response to Kyodo News' request for comment on the documents. "I have no recollection of the ancient personal remarks ascribed to me, of course," he said.
Work longer, pay more: the pensions revolution is here
By James Kirkup at Scotsman (26.05.2006) :
"The message is this: if you want anything more than the basic pension in retirement, the state isn't going to do that any more. You have to do it yourself." — 日本の官僚は、こういう記事に勇気づけられるにちがいない。
TBS Radio Poll
TBSラジオ、「スタンバイ」 (26.05.2006)、MP3 file at 雑談日記（徒然なるままに、。）
「今敢えて問う」ということで、小泉内閣を支持するかしないか改めて世論調査したところ、小泉支持が 23% 、不支持が 77% とでました。
この番組だから低い支持率がでたのか、メディアがようやく本当の支持率を公表し始めたのか。うちの近所や会社では、小泉内閣発足当時から、支持率は 0% だったけど、ね。
それにしても、このブログは賑やかですね。
Drifting Down the Path to Perdition
An interview with Andrew Bacevich (part 2) at TomDispatch (25.05.2006).
'We the Japanese people'
By Hikari Agakimi at Asia Times (25.05.2006) :
Japan is in the midst of a grand social transformation. Political manners, economic rules, patterns of everyday life and international relations are all in flux. The last time Japan saw change of great magnitude was after the defeat in World War II by US design. This time there is no blueprint, and the Japanese are groping for a vision. What do the Japanese want?
L'article sur le compte japonais de M. Chirac est introuvable
By Philippe Pons at Le Monde (23.05.2006).
シラク大統領の隠し口座について、９０年代初頭に報じていた「週刊ポスト」の記事が見当たらない、というレポート。こんなつまらない調査でフィリップ・ポンスを振り回すなんて、ル・モンドは性質が悪いよ。
Japan trade minister threatened over China ties
By Reuters at Yahoo! News (23.05.2006) :
Japan's trade minister known for his close ties with China received a razor blade along with a letter in the mail, threatening him not to flatter Beijing, Japanese media said on Tuesday.
Toshihiro Nikai is one of the few ministers in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's cabinet who has personal contacts with Chinese politicians, and met Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing in February in a bid to mend frayed ties between the two countries.
"Don't pander to China. You're handing over Japan's assets and riches," said the letter, according to the reports quoting Tokyo police.
"We urge you to commit suicide," it added.
Bin Laden says Moussaoui had nothing to do with Sept. 11
By Reuters at International Herald Tribune (24.05.2006) :
DUBAI Osama bin Laden said Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court for the Sept. 11 attacks, had nothing to do with the operations, according to a Web site audiotape released on Tuesday.
Bin Laden said he had personally assigned tasks to the 19 hijackers who staged the attacks on U.S. cities which killed about 3,000 people.
"The truth is that he has no connection whatsoever with the events of September 11. I am certain of what I say because I was responsible for entrusting the 19 brothers ... with the raids," said the speaker who sounded like the leader of Al Qaeda.
The authenticity of the tape could not be verified. It was posted on a Web site often used by Al Qaeda.
Three Moms
Three moms make a speech on March 20, 2004, in Portland, Oregon, at Peace Films (20.05.2006). Via Donkey o.d.
Dangerous ambiguity
At Asahi.com Editorial (22.05.2006) :
What have appeared to be ordinary companies and organizations sometimes turn out to be criminal groups. Seemingly banal businesses, such as house-renovation firms and health-food sales companies, have been charged under the law against organized crime. It is up to investigators to make judgments to determine such cases.
Another concern is whether the new law would give rise to increased use of wiretapping and other questionable investigative methods. Once a suspicion arises, authorities would ask for an arrest warrant. It is questionable whether a judge can determine if a probe was illegal in terms of the original purposes of the law.
We cannot deny that distrust of police and the court system underlies the public's anxieties regarding the conspiracy bill. To prevent abuse of such a law, it is important to eliminate ambiguities when writing it.
共謀罪法案は、悪用されないためには、曖昧さを許してはいけない。という社説なのだけど、とりあえず書かれたにすぎないのではないか、と思わせる内容。新聞社としては、アリバイを残しておきたいところ。とはいえ、情けないけど、こうした社説は書かれないより、書かれただけ少しはましか。そう考えて、取り上げてみた。
Armitage Key Witness in Libby/CIA Leak Case?
At Editor & Publisher (21.05.2006) :
NEW YORK Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has emerged as a key witness in the CIA leak probe, Kenneth R. Baziet and James Gordon Meek of New York's Daily News report.
They write that he has been questioned several times, but is not expected to be indicted by the federal grand jury investigating who outed CIA officer Valerie Plame to journalists in 2003.
"Armitage's testimony could hurt Vice President Cheney's indicted former chief aide Lewis (Scooter) Libby, or President Bush's political guru, Karl Rove," they write.
"Two sources familiar with the case said Armitage, Rove and Libby all had contacts with the press about Plame. Unlike Rove and Libby, Armitage appears to have tried to dissuade reporters from writing about her.
Vexed to Nightmare: The Unholy Union Behind the War on Terror
By Chris Floyd at Empire Burlesque (19.05.2006).
Empire et Multitude
By Samir Amin at Bellaciao (19.05.2006). French translation from English by Numancia Martinez Poggi. Originally published by Monthly Review.
Coalition puts conspiracy bill on hold
Fearing a plot by opposition lawmakers to bring all Diet deliberations to a halt, the ruling coalition Friday postponed voting on the much-criticized conspiracy bill.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito, initially wanted to vote on the bill in a Diet panel as the first step toward amending a law on organized crime groups. The revision would make even discussing certain crimes illegal.
Amid criticism that the legislation could lead to an abuse of power, the ruling coalition had tweaked the bill. But main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) was not satisfied, and called for further deliberations.
共謀罪法案の採決が延期された。強引に可決すれば、自民党、公明党の大多数の代議士は、次期選挙で落選する恐れがある。というのが、延期した理由かな。
CIA prisons in Asia, Africa
Strasbourg - Since 2001, the United States central intelligence agency (CIA) has sent up to 50 suspects to countries where they could face torture.
A European Union investigator probing the CIA's actions in Europe, Claudio Fava, said members of his team were given the information by US intelligence officials during a visit to the country last week.
The sources had also said the agency ran secret prisons in Europe, Asia and Africa.
The return of 'thought crimes' in Japan
By Scott North at Asia Times (12.05.2006) :
In the postwar era, Japanese law has generally punished only crimes actually committed or attempted. In cases such as murder or arson, prison time is sometimes given to accomplices who knowingly provide weapons or gasoline. However, punishment for conspiracy alone has been limited to rare cases of sedition.
The statute promises co-conspirators who reveal plans to the police reduced sentences or immunity from prosecution. People fear the new law would encourage self-censorship or spying in non-profit organizations, churches, labor unions, and political groups. Constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and assembly, as well as protections against searches and seizures, could be rendered null. Various forms of cyber-communication could be mined for incriminating agreements.
Much would depend on enforcement. Japan's police have a well-documented tendency to assume the guilt of those detained and have been known to conduct lengthy interrogations aimed at extracting confessions, rather than exerting themselves in pursuit of corroborative evidence. New detention facilities currently under construction give domestic observers pause to consider the government's motives for bringing this law now. The ruling party's smug reluctance to acknowledge the amendment's shortcomings or extend debate on the matter is also cause for concern.
Opposition lawmakers lash out at conspiracy bill
At The Japan Times (18.05.2006) :
Lawmakers, lawyers and citizen groups voiced opposition Wednesday to a proposed bill that would make conspiracy to commit a crime punishable for more than 600 offenses even if no crime is actually carried out.
Six lawmakers, including Democratic Party of Japan member Satoshi Takayama and Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, joined a rally in Tokyo with about 50 people to protest the bill, which was recently revised by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito to narrow its target group.
"The bill is today's version of the Peace Preservation Law," said the Japan Communist Party's Sohei Nihi, comparing the bill to the 1925 law that forbade conspiracy or revolt against "the national essence" of Japan and effectively criminalized ideologies that would threaten the emperor-centered social order.
"We must work together to scrap the bill," he said.
この際、共謀罪を成立させて、小泉＝竹中もろとも、その共謀罪で投獄する、というのはどうかな。日本をアメリカに売り渡したかどで。
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