8:03 pm CST
Today, the Iraq torture/GI sex orgy/Berg snuff film saga became more bizarre with these "coincidences":

Berg Questioned by FBI about Computer Password Shared by 9-11 Suspect Moussaoui

Berg Worked at the Abu Ghraib Prison

Same Chair Appears in Abu Ghraib Photos and Berg Video

Meanwhile, the list of anomalies in the Berg video grows longer with these discoveries:

Executioner wore gold ring - forbidden by Islam

MP3 File: Western Voice Heard on Nick Berg Tape

So, what does it all mean? It means that there is a 98% Chance That This is a Military-Industrial Complex Psyop or, as an NBC reporter put it, "the CIA [killed Berg]to take the heat off the Pentagon." And yet, the anomalies in the video are so many and the US government's lies so transparent that one cannot help but wonder if Berg's killing was intentionally performed in a sloppy manner. If so, it would appear to serve the purpose of further demonizing the US and national sovereignty in the eyes of the world; also, at the same time, the Berg story can be spun in such a way that a certain segment of the American public will view torture as good and support an expansion of the War on Terror (read this this New York Post editorial , as well asHannity's comments).

Also, as this blogger points out, there is something about those GI sex orgies in Abu Ghraib that sounds disturbingly like Eyes Wide Shut: mattresses surrounded by candles and chairs?!?

6:39 pm CST
It ain't passing the smell test:

Beheading of Nicholas Berg: Unanswered Questions

Berg's Father and Firm Were On A Right-Wing Enemies List

Diplomat's Email Shows Berg was in US Custody

Bloggers doubt execution video

7:41 pm CST
A READER WRITES: Well, this shit in Iraq just keeps getting deeper. You know, when I first read the story about the beheading of Nick Berg my initial thought was "well, I'm sorry for the man, but something like this was bound to happen, given the climate over there." But after giving the matter more thought I began to see something more sinister; and sure enough, I wasn't alone. As I read Alex Jones' Infowars.com I see expressed some of the same thoughts I've been having. Once again we have a poor quality, grainy, chop-edited tape, just like all of the recent fake Bin laden messages. Once again, poor audio quality, probably dubbed screams.

Why is it that these terrorist Saudi billionaires can never seem to get their hands on a good quality camcorder? Now for the kicker: I then thought, now the media reports that the chief executioner in this video supposedly was Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi (of course with "links to Al-queda" as we always hear). If this man Zarqawi is really such a hardcore terrorist ,taking credit for this murder, unafraid of U.S reprisal and certainly not afraid at this point that we know his identity, why then do these men wear hoods to disguise themselves?  Could it be that the State Dept. must have photos of Zarqawi which could be used to verify (or refute) his alleged involvement ? Of course as news of this execution spread, so did the expected indignation of America... just the booster shot in the arm this administration needed to get the public's eyes off of the torture scandal and the ever growing daily US casualties. ( in other words, to create another "helpful wave of indignation" )  Now we see the neo-cons spouting off again that this is why we are at war, justifying torture etc...   I hate to be seen as the kind of person that always looks for a potential conspiracy in everything, but we simply can not ignore the possibility that this horrible execution might possibly have been the work of hooded white boys from the CIA , or at least some of their foreign assets. What do you think?

I agree. As indicated by the blog entry below, in which I posted a link to Alex’s article about the problems with the Berg scenario, I am strongly of the opinion that the men under those hoods may have been, as you say, white boys from the CIA. Also, I fear that this may be have been contrived as justification for an expansion of the war and more torture and other atrocities.

7:11 pm CST
There is no doubt that the Iraq torture scandal is a sophisticated psy-op. As has been widely reported, the torture was not dreamt up by the handful of morons currently scheduled for court martial, but rather, was ordered by military intelligence and the CIA.

Now, we learn that the American who was beheaded in Iraq yesterday had been in the custody of the U.S. military shortly before his capture by Al Qaeda.  (The military is denying it, of course.) Given the fact that Al Qaeda is a creation of the CIA, we may safely lay this murder at the feet of the CIA. Read this article: Fishy Circumstances and Flawed Timelines Surround American's Beheading

So where is this psy-op leading us? World War III?

9:59 pm CST
If only they would listen to reason and understand that it was nothing more than a lot of friendly joshing, harmless tomfoolery—no worse than your average college fraternity hijinks. But, alas:

Al Qaeda Leader Beheads U.S. Civilian in Retaliation for Iraq Torture (How thoughtful of Al Qaeda to take everyone’s minds off those awful torture photos by staging something even more horrific and photographing it. I’m sure the Bush administration is grateful.)

12:59 pm CST
A READER WRITES: Hi Mack,  in your latest posting you mentioned the FEMA camps. (you know, those camps that exist only in the minds of the gullible, paranoid "conspiracy buffs") Did you happen to watch any of NBC's big blockbuster miniseries on Sunday and Monday nights  called "10.5 "? It was a fictional story about the big California earthquake that destroys much of the west coast in the future. Noticeably present and playing a central role was FEMA ,of course in the role of savior of the nation.  Once the bureaucrats finally accepted the reality of the danger, all authority was turned over to the FEMA director who answered ONLY to the President of the United States.  Evacuation of the populace from the danger  zones necessitated removal to FEMA "relocation camps". At that point I turned the thing off. I didn't   wait around to see LA go into the Pacific; I don't even know if there was a classic happy ending.  I just couldn't help but think that although this was only a TV movie, it symbolizes what FEMA and company will do in the future. Let's say, for example, fake biological attack. The immediate solution:  FEMA takeover with removal of the populace to relocation camps, "for our safety". It's the classic Hegelian problem/reaction/solution.  Or, as you pointed out, the draft issue could  indeed get very ugly. I know for a fact that I will NEVER allow my son or daughter to be taken from me and pressed into service. Is FEMA in my future, or is this just another "grassy knoll delusion?"

I didn’t see “10.5.” Obviously, it’s propaganda designed to promote a positive image for FEMA and its relocation centers. Everything is to keep us safe—safe from natural disasters, safe from biological attack, safe from anti-war movements, safe from ourselves. And yet I feel less and less safe. I’d rather take my chances with smallpox than spend another moment being kept safe by the government.

As for the reinstatement of the draft, it’s hard to imagine it being popular, especially in the context of a war that is becoming increasingly unpopular. The recently published photos of soldiers’ coffins and soldiers torturing Iraqis do not exactly make good recruitment posters. The situation could change, however, if another terrorist attack is staged; an event worse than September 11 would bring the herd under control. Everyone would be waving American flags again and tearfully waving goodbye as their sons and daughters march off to some Hell Hole to get killed or turned into the kind of creatures who were guarding the Abu Ghraib prison. And, in the wake of another terrorist attack, we would be under martial law, therefore there would be no anti-war movement and anyone daring to entertain an “anti-government” thought would be sent straight to the camps, where conditions would be comparable to Abu Ghraib.

But I’m probably just indulging in paranoid delusions. I should take the little blue pill (or is it the red?) and go back to sleep.

7:05 pm CST
 
From the upcoming book, The Bush Junta
Image copyright Scott Marshall
The Iraq torture scandal continues to worsen. Today, we learn that US soldiers stripped and beat a 12-year-old girl; we also learn that US soldiers simulated sex acts with each other and played with the severed heads of a cow and a cat.

And, to top it all off, "neo-con" talk show host and human shit-ball Rush Limbaugh is actually defending this horror show as nothing more than harmless tomfoolery!

Meanwhile, Donald Rumsfeld said today that there are more photos and videos depicting cruel, sadistic treatment of Iraqis. Also, in response to calls for his resignation over this matter, Rumsfeld says it is "possible" he will resign.

Speaking of Rumsfeld, he will be profiled in a comic strip by artist Scott Marshall (see above excerpt) in the upcoming Fantagraphics book The Bush Junta. Scott has completed his 10-page piece, but is waiting to see what happens to Rumsfeld between now and deadline time, just in case it is necessary to update his piece.

By the way, several persons have emailed asking where and how copies of this book can be purchased. Right now I am in the thick of working on the book, thus do not have the answers. However, I will post the information on this site when I do have the answers. Also, if you will email me and put “Bush Junta Info” in the subject line, I’ll put you on the list of people to receive information the moment it is available.

9:58 pm CST
The story below will throw more fuel on the fire, as well as confuse the issue. No doubt that is the intent. The whole thing is a Hegelian good cop-bad cop routine designed to demonize the US and national sovereignty and empower the United Nations to institute world government.

Bogus GI rape photos used as Arab propaganda:
Pictures purporting to be U.S. troops actually taken from porn sites

9:26 pm CST

Makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it? This sick thug probably can't wait to get back to the States where she can find new work as an out-of-control power-crazed police officer (quote from Infowars.com)

9:10 pm CST
Somehow this does not surprise me: Tape of 9/11 Controllers Was Destroyed

The Iraq abuse scandal continues to get worse, as evidenced by THIS and THIS. Meanwhile, Bush fails to apologize and Rush Limbaugh says Iraq homo-torture is like a Skull and Bones initiation, it’s no big deal(?!)

“Like” a police state? Lawyers say post-9/11 U.S. is like police state