The Russian president is providing a rallying point for European diplomatic efforts to counter the US-UK threat to peace. Vladimir Putin has pledged to work closely with France and Germany with the aim of achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict over Iraq.

“We are convinced that a one-sided use of force would lead to great suffering for the Iraqi population and increase tension in the whole region,” Mr Putin said after talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Sunday. “Efforts for a peaceful resolution of the situation should be persistently continued.”

Source: bbc

The anti-war rally planned for London will go ahead next Saturday (15th Feb), despite an attempt by Blair’s Culture Secretary to ban it.

Up to half a million people are expected to converge on Hyde Park, where speakers including failed US presidential hopeful Jesse Jackson and LibDem leader Charles Kennedy will address the crowd.

The London demonstration is part of the largest-ever protest on a single issue, involving over 300 cities worldwide.

Further info: stop the war coalition [London], unitedforpeace.org [worldwide]

From an recent speech by Arundhati Roy:

…the countries of the North harden their borders and stockpile weapons of mass destruction. After all they have to make sure that it’s only money, goods, patents and services that are globalized. Not the free movement of people. Not a respect for human rights. Not international treaties on racial discrimination or chemical and nuclear weapons or greenhouse gas emissions or climate change, or — god forbid — justice.

…When George Bush says “you’re either with us, or you are with the terrorists” we can say “No thank you.” We can let him know that the people of the world do not need to choose between a Malevolent Mickey Mouse and the Mad Mullahs.

Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness — and our ability to tell our own stories. Stories that are different from the ones we’re being brainwashed to believe.

I highly recommend reading the whole speech.

As the Pentagon continues a highly visible buildup of troops and weapons in the Persian Gulf, it is also quietly preparing for the possible use of nuclear weapons in the potential war against Iraq, according to a report by a defense analyst on the LA Times.

Although they consider such a strike unlikely, military planners have been actively studying lists of potential targets and considering options, including the possible use of so-called “bunker buster” nuclear weapons against deeply buried military targets.

Source: Houston Chronicle via mefi

In its rush to war regardless of the lack of UN and public support, not to mention the possible consequences, the Bush administration is making pointed reference to the infamous Cuban Missile Crisis which nearly took the US and Soviet Union into full-scale nuclear confilict in 1962.

An article in the Guardian predicts that Colin Powell will force the issue of military action by publicly presenting evidence of Saddam Hussein’s violations of UN resolutions immediately following the weapons inspectors’ report to the UN on Monday.

This is being referred to as the “Adlai Stevenson moment”, Washington shorthand for the dramatic presentation of its intelligence case. (Stevenson, the US ambassador to the UN at the time of the Cuban missile crisis, dramatically confronted the Soviet envoy with evidence of nuclear missiles being unloaded in Cuba.)

This begs the question: what if Saddam does indeed have actual “weapons of mass destruction”, which the inspectors have yet to find? Surely he will use them, most probably against Israel. What chance of Sharon then tempering his likely (nuclear) response?

We’ll have just what Al-Qaeda ordered: the War to End Civilisation.

Gore’s out, Dashcle declines… who will lead the Democrats in 2004? We need a strong progressive candidate who can inspire a broad range of the public.

Here’s a way to tell prospective leaders whether they should run for the presidency or step aside.

Source: workingforchange

…or just a curiously addictive Tetris variant? Still haven’t managed to win on the [axis of] evil level though.

To be sung to the tune of “She’ll be coming round the mountain”

If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq.
If the markets are a drama, bomb Iraq.
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq.

If we have no allies with us, bomb Iraq.
If we think someone has dissed us, bomb Iraq.
So to hell with the inspections,
Let’s look tough for the elections,
Close your mind and take directions,
Bomb Iraq.

It’s “pre-emptive non-aggression”, bomb Iraq.
Let’s prevent this mass destruction, bomb Iraq.
They’ve got weapons we can’t see,
And that’s good enough for me
‘Cos it’s all the proof I need
Bomb Iraq.

If you never were elected, bomb Iraq.
If your mood is quite dejected, bomb Iraq.
If you think Saddam’s gone mad,
With the weapons that he had,
(And he tried to kill your dad),
Bomb Iraq.

If your corporate fraud is growin’, bomb Iraq.
If your ties to it are showin’, bomb Iraq.
If your politics are sleazy,
And hiding that ain’t easy,
And your manhood’s getting queasy,
Bomb Iraq.

Fall in line and follow orders, bomb Iraq.
For our might knows not our borders, bomb Iraq.
Disagree? We’ll call it treason,
Let’s make war not love this season,
Even if we have no reason,
Bomb Iraq.

Source: Mish

Donald Rumsfeld provoked fury in Paris by dismissing France and Germany as part of an “old Europe”.

Source: epxNews, Independent, FT