Re Josh' s scoop on the extraordinary and well-timed Spanish release of the tape of Bush and Condi and Aznar discussing how sausage is made @ the UN Security Council on the way to war. (The recipe is heavy on sticks). This has potential to really shake some things up and shift things around. And just who were the AV guys who made the tape?

Lousy translation of:

“The moment Arrived for undoing of Sadam”

26/09/2007

President Bush. We are in favor of obtaining one second resolution in the Security Council and would want to do it quickly. We would want to announce it Monday or Tuesday [24 or 25 of February of 2003].

President Aznar. Better Tuesday, after the meeting of the Council of General Subjects of the European Union. [Is important to maintain the momentum impulse] obtained by the resolution of the summit of the European Union [in Brussels, Monday 17 of February]. We would prefer to hope until Tuesday.

PB. It could in the evening be Monday, considering the hour difference. In any case the next week. We see the written up resolution so that it does not contain obligatory elements, that it does not mention the use of the force, and that it states that Sadam Hussein has been incapable to fulfill its obligations. That type of resolution can be voted by much people. He would be something similar to which was obtained when the one of Kosovo [the 10 of June of 1999].

PA. Would appear before the Security Council before and independently of a parallel declaration?

Condoleezza Rice. In fact there would not be parallel declaration. We are thinking about a as simple resolution as it is possible without many details of fulfillment that could serve so that Sadam Hussein used them like stages and consequently to fail to fulfill them. We are speaking with Blix [head of the inspectors of the UN] and others of its equipment to obtain ideas that can serve to introduce the resolution.

PB. Sadam Husein will not change and will continue playing. The moment has arrived for undoing of him. It is thus. I, as for me, will from now on try to use the possible subtlest rhetoric, while we looked for the approval of the resolution. If somebody vein [Russia, China and France has next to the U.S.A. and United Kingdom right to I veto in the Security Council in its quality of permanent members], we will go. Sadam Hussein is not being disarmed. We must take to him right now. We have shown an incredible degree of patience until now. They are left two weeks. In two weeks we will be militarily ready. I believe that we will obtain the second resolution. In the African the three Security Council we have to [Cameroun, Angola and Guinea], to the Chileans, the Mexicans. I will speak with all of them, also with Putin, naturally. We will be in Bagdad at the end of March. A 15% of possibilities that exist then Sadam Hussein is dead or has gone away. But those possibilities do not exist before we have shown our resolution. The Egyptians are speaking with Sadam Hussein. It seems that it has indicated that it would be arranged to exiliar itself if to 1,000 million dollars and all the information let take to him that it wanted on arms of massive destruction. [Muammar] Gaddafi has said to him to Berlusconi who Sadam Hussein wants to go away. Mubarak says to us that in those circumstances many possibilities that exist it is assassinated.

We would like to act with the mandate of the United Nations. If we acted militarily we will do it with high accuracy and focusing much our objectives. We will decimate the loyal troops and the regular army quickly will know which it is. We have made arrive a very clear message at generals of Sadam Hussein: we will treat them like criminals military. We know that there are accumulated an enormous amount of dynamite to make fly the bridges and other infrastructures and make jump by airs petroliferous wells. We have predicted to occupy those wells in a moment. Also the saudíes would help us to put in the market the petroleum that was necessary. We are developing a package of humanitarian aid very hard. We can win without destruction. We are raising Iraq already post Sadam, and I believe that there are good bases for a future better. Iraq relatively hard has a good bureaucracy and a civil society. It would be possible to be organized in a federation. Meanwhile we are doing all the possible one to take care of the necessities political of our friends and allies.

PA. It is very important to count on a resolution. It is not the same to act with her who without her. He would be very advisable to count in the Security Council with a majority that supported that resolution. In fact, it is more important to count with majority that that somebody emits I veto. Let us think that the content of the resolution would have among other things to state that Sadam Hussein is lost its opportunity.

PB. Yes, by all means. He would be better that than to make a reference to “necessary means” [talks about to the resolution type of the UN that it authorizes to use “all necessary means”].

PA. Sadam Husein has not cooperated, has not been disarmed, we would have to make a summary of its breaches and to send an elaborated message more. That would allow for example that Mexico moved [in reference to change its opposite position to the second resolution, that Aznar could know lips of president Vicente Fox Friday 21 of February in a scale made in City of Mexico].

PB. The resolution will be done custom-made of which ayudarte can. It gives a little the content the same me.

PA.We will make you arrive texts.

PB. We do not have any text. Only a criterion: that Sadam Hussein disarmament. We cannot allow that Sadam Hussein extends the time until the summer. After all already it has been four days old in this last stage and that is time than more sufficient to disarm itself.

PA. That text would help us to be able to sponsor it and to be its coauthors and to obtain that much people sponsor it.

PB. Perfect.

PA. The next Wednesday [16 of February] I see myself with Chirac. The resolution already will have begun to circulate.

PB. It seems to me very well. Chirac knows the reality perfectly. Their intelligence services have explained it. The Arabs are transmitting him to Chirac a very clear message: Sadam Hussein must go away. The problem is that Chirac is created Mister Arab

and in fact the life is making them impossible. But I do not want to have no rivalry with Chirac. We have different points of view, but I wanted that that everything outside. Dale the best memories of my part. Really! At least rivalry feels he who exists between us will be better for all.

PA. How is combined the resolution and the report of the inspectors?

Condoleezza Rice. In fact the 1 of March will not have informs the 28 into February but that inspectors will present/display a written report, and its appearance before the Security Council will not take place until 6 or 7 of March of 2003. We did not wait for great thing of that report. Like in the previous ones, they will put one of lime and another one of sand. I have the impression that Blix will be now more negative than what before it was on the will of the Iraqians. After the appearance of the inspectors in the Council we must later anticipate the vote on the resolution one week. The Iraqians, meanwhile, will try to explain that they are fulfilling his obligations. Neither it is certain nor it will be sufficient, although they announce the destruction of some missiles.

PB. This is as the Chinese torture of the water. We must end it.

PA. I agree, but it would be good for counting on the maximum number of possible people. Ten a little patience.

PB. My patience is exhausted. I do not think to go beyond half of March.

PA. I do not request to you that you have an infinite patience. Simply that you do the possible so that everything cuadre.

PB. Countries like Mexico, Chile, Angola and Cameroun must know that what are in game is the security of the U.S.A. and act with a friendship sense towards us.

[President Ricardo] Lakes must know that the Agreement of Free Commerce with Chile is pending of confirmation in the Senate and that a negative attitude in this subject could put in danger that ratification. Angola is receiving bottoms of the Millenium Account and also they could be it jeopardize if are not positives. And Putin must know that with his attitude it is putting in danger the relations of Russia with the United States.

PA. Tony would want to arrive until the 14 from March.

PB. I prefer the 10. This is like the game of bad police and good police. To me it does not matter to me to be the bad police and that Blair is the good one.

PA. Is certain that some possibility that Sadam exists Hussein exilie?

PB. Yes, that possibility exists. Even of which it is assassinated.

PA. Exile with some guarantee?

PB. No guarantee. He is a thief, a terrorist, a criminal military. Compared with Sadam, Milosevic would be a Mother Teresa. When we enter we are going to discover many more crimes and we will take to the Court the International to him of Justice of Is It. Sadam Hussein thinks that already it has escaped. Think that France and Germany have stopped the process of their responsibilities. Also create that the manifestations of the last week

[Saturday 15 of February] protects to him. And it thinks that I very am debilitated. But the people of her surroundings know that the things are of another way. They know that its future is in exile or a coffin. For that reason it is so important to maintain the pressure on him. Gaddafi says indirectly to us that that is the unique thing that can end him. The only strategy of Sadam Hussein is the one to delay, to delay and to delay.

PA. In fact the greater success would be to gain the game without shooting a single shot and entering Bagdad.

PB. For me it would be the perfect solution. I do not want the war. I know what they are the wars. I know the destruction and the death that bring with himself. I am the one that she has to console to the mothers and the widows of deads. By all means, for us that would be the best solution. In addition, it would save 50,000 million to us dollars.

PA. We needed that you help us with our public opinion.

PB.We will do everything what we pruned. Wednesday I am going to speak on the situation in the Middle East, proposing a new scheme of peace that you know and on the arms of massive destruction, of the benefits of a free society, and will locate the history of Iraq in a ampler context. Perhaps it serves to you.

PA. What we are doing is a very deep change for Spain and the Spaniards. We are changing the policy that the country had followed 200 years in the last.

PB. Me it guides an historical sense to me of the responsibility just as to you. When within years History judges us I do not want that people ask themselves so that Bush, or Aznar, or Blair did not face their responsibilities. In the end, which people wants is to enjoy freedom. Recently, in Rumania they remembered the example to me of Ceausescu: she was enough whereupon a woman called mentiroso to him so that all the repressive building came down. It is the uncontrollable power of the freedom. I am convinced that I will obtain the resolution.

PA. Better than better.

PB. I made the decision to go to the Security Council. In spite of the divergences in my Administration, I said to them to my people that we had to work with our friends. It will be wonderful to count on one second resolution.

PA. The only thing which it worries to me about you is your optimism.

PB. I am optimistic because I believe that I am in the certain thing. I am peacefully with me same. It has corresponded to us to face a serious threat against La Paz. It irritates very many to contemplate me the insensibilidad of the European on the sufferings that Sadam Hussein inflicts the Iraqians. Perhaps because he is brown, distant and Muslim, many European think that everything is well with him. I will not forget what once Solana said to me: that so that the Americans we thought that the European are anti-semitic and incapable to face their responsibilities. That defensive attitude is terrible. I must recognize that with Kofi Annan I have magnificent relations.

PA. It shares your ethical preoccupations.

PB. The more they attack the European as much to me the more hard I am in the United States.

PA. We would have to make your strength with the esteem compatible of the European.

Bush: “Sadam Husein will not change and will continue playing. The moment has arrived for undoing of him. It is thus. I, as for me, will from now on try to use the possible subtlest rhetoric, while we looked for the approval of the resolution”.

Aznar: “It is very important to count on a resolution. It is not the same to act with her who without her. He would be very advisable to count in the Security Council with a majority that supported that resolution. In fact, it is more important to count with majority that to register I veto”.

Aznar: “We needed that you help us with our public opinion. What we are doing is a very deep change for Spain and the Spaniards. We are changing the policy that the country had followed 200 years in the last”.

Bush: “The resolution will be done custom-made of which ayudarte can. It gives a little the content the same me”.

Aznar: “We will make You arrive texts”.

Bush: “We do not have text. Only a criterion: that Sadam disarmament”.

“To me it does not matter to me to be the bad police and that Blair is the good one”

Bush: This is as the Chinese torture of the water. We must end it.

Aznar: I agree, but it would be good for counting on the maximum number of possible people. Ten a little patience.

Bush: Countries like Mexico, Angola, Chile and Cameroun must know that what are in game is the security of the U.S.A. and act with a friendship sense towards us. Lakes must know that the agreement of free commerce with Chile is pending of confirmation in the Senate and that a negative attitude in this subject could put in danger that ratification…

Bush: My patience is exhausted. I do not think to go beyond half of March.

Aznar: I do not request to you that you have an infinite patience. Simply that you do the possible thing so that everything cuadre (...)

Aznar: Tony Blair would want to arrive until the 14 from March.

Bush: I prefer the 10. This is like the game of bad police and good police. To me it does not matter to me to be the bad police and that Blair is the good one.

Aznar: Is certain that some possibility that Sadam Husein exists exilie?"

http://tinyurl.com/247gfz

The fortieth anniversary of Israel's definitive 1967 defeat of Arab armies is being commemorated in many ways, including an Israeli-French-Canadian made documentary aired on PBS. There are five different versions of the film, titled "Six Days In June", each edited for the different target audiences.

Only the PBS documentary was edited to reflect a different reality from the versions destined for other venues; Palestinian deaths are excluded:

"The different versions of the same film warrant a PhD dissertation," says Kalina. "Israel's status as an underdog is definitely enhanced in the American version."

Indeed, Six Days has been praised by some reviewers for not shying away from the deaths of 6,000 Palestinians during the war, something that's clearly described in every version except the one for PBS. The filmmakers describe the reasoning behind this difference as a mix of concern about American attitudes toward the continuing conflict and what PBS subscribers might make of such an inclusion."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070602.SIX02/TPStory/TPEntertainment/Television/

Indeed.

No, this message isn't addressed to Syria, it's addressed to the WH and Congress, including the Democrats. We're not talking about political interference, evidently it's the right of America to interfere with the internals of sovereign nations while warning other nations against doing the same. This is about the semi-secret plans to fund, train and arm faux al-Qaeda groups to perpetuate terrorist attacks on Hezbollah and presumably, Hamas.

Seymour Hersh wrote about this last month in the New Yorker, but the recent visits of American politicians to the ME have revealed more details according to this analysis/translation of an article penned by a former Lebanese Minister.

From the "Missing Links" blog:

"As a "substitute" for not being able to strike Iran, the Bush administration plans an escalation in Lebanon. And here he mentions two specific points: (1) Tom Lantos said they are convinced Hizbullah is weak and this is the time to step up efforts to disarm it. (2) An airport in northern Lebanon will be used as a base for pressuring Syria, and also as a place for training of groups opposed to Hizbullah and opposed to anti-Abbas elements in Palestine. Then there was this:

It was learned from influential members of the US delegations that the Washington special[-forces] apparatus has begun assembling, arming and training members of Islamic extremist groups to undertake assaults on Hizbullah, in the framework of the conflict that it [the Bush administration] plans between the Sunni and the Shiite population, in districts where the two groups are contiguous. And it will be arranged to camouflage the agents in this by attributing the attacks to AlQaeda.

The writer's conclusion is that these exchanges with the American visitors confirmed that the Bush administration will not allow there to be any compromise in the dispute between the Hizbullah-led opposition and the Hariri administration over poser-sharing, new elections and so on. Rather, the US administration will be working hard to promote confrontation, as part of its region-wide policy of fostering Sunni-Shiite conflict. In this context, the writer doesn't seem to regard the covert sponsorship of fake-AlQaeda US agents to be anything but one more ingredient in the overall plan."

http://arablinks.blogspot.com/

More dirty wars, this time in the OT and Lebanon. Democrats will have blood on their hands if they support these tactics and would give little hope that a future Democratic administration can repair America's reputation by backing terrorism in order to carve the Middle East into shapes more pleasing to Israeli hardliners and some of our so-called "moderate" Arab allies.