A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Danny Schechter, Mediachannel.org

New York, New York, August 1: Here is a lesson learned in a lifetime of watching wars on TV and reading about them in the press:

You can't trust the media -- and you can't necessarily even trust yourself.

A BUZZFLASH EDITORIAL

Okay, we are back to our primary theory about the Bushevik Neo-Con one-party government: if you pile failure on failure, they believe it will add up to success.

It's kind of (as we implied yesterday) like sweeping up the dung of an elephant (how appropriate) and hoping that if you get the pile high enough, it will turn into mouth-watering fudge.

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. More reader opinion is at "Contributors." You can write to Mailbag at http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contact/mail.html. Guidelines for submissions are at BuzzFlash FAQ #18.

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

This is Part 2 of the July 31, 2006 BuzzFlash Mailbag. Click here for Part 1.

Subject: Tempest in a Teaspoon

Dear BuzzFlash:

Noticed this story on the Drudge Report. One thing to remember is that several years ago the National Hurricane Center calibrated the data on numerous Pacific typhoons from the 1930's and 40's. Seems there was some kind of problem with the measuring devices and/or data collecting methods. In virtually every case I saw, the storm winds were determined to be far less powerful than originally recorded. These types of changes in weather records are not made without a great deal of research and peer review. The article Drudge is pushing doesn't ask if the scientists are using the pre-calibrated data. It appears they are. Besides, it's still the storm surge that takes the most lives and causes the most damage. Some scientists are talking about the creation of a Category Six for hurricanes, but the rapidly rising sea levels will soon necessitate a new rating system for storms with Cat. One winds and Cat. Two or Three storm surge.

Global Warming's Effect on Hurricane Strength Disputed in New report (AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Bye,
Dean Glaze
Austin, TX

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT 

Last week, leading Democrats began to address a growing problem caused by Bush's war in Iraq: deterioration in the Army's equipment and readiness. General Schoomaker, the Army Chief of Staff, testified an additional $17 billion is needed to address the situation, along with $60-70 billion more over the next five years. That is in addition to the $50 billion already approved in the current annual Defense Appropriations Bill for Iraq and Afghanistan.

NEWS RELEASE

News from the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition:

Based on information obtained by National Security Whistleblowers Coalition, Mr. Russell Tice's appearance before the federal grand jury originally scheduled for Wednesday, August 2, has been cancelled.

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. More reader opinion is at "Contributors." You can write to Mailbag at http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contact/mail.html. Guidelines for submissions are at BuzzFlash FAQ #18.

by Steven Jonas, MD, MPH

Numerous websites are reporting that Israel has the "permission" of the U.S. to do what it is presently doing to and in Lebanon and Gaza. (In terms of the Middle East I have for some time wondered who is the dog and which is the tail, or if both parties are tails of different colors being wagged by a big dog in a big cave somewhere, but that is the subject for another Comment.) Whether or not that is so, certainly the US, as of this writing on Friday, July 28, has refused to sign on to the call for a cease-fire that has been issued by just about every other major power, and most of the minor ones too. Condi Rice has put the U.S. position thus: that any cease fire should be in the context of an over-all long-term solution to the "Middle East problem." Many observers view such a long-range solution as, at the least, beginning with a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the resultant end of the Israeli occupation of much Palestinian territory, on the basis of a fair, rational, and viable two-state solution.

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Sibel Edmonds and William Weaver

Two days ago we made available to the public news that one of our members, Russell Tice, a former NSA Senior Analyst, had been served with a subpoena asking him to appear before a federal grand jury regarding the criminal investigation of recent disclosures which involved NSA warrantless eavesdropping. Our announcement was followed up in both the main and alternative media, and started heated discussions among online activists. We have received e-mails and letters from people who expressed their support and solidarity with Mr. Tice and other patriotic public servants who have chosen to place our nation, its Constitution, its liberty, thus its public's right to know, above their future security, careers and livelihood.

BARBARA'S DAILY BUZZFLASH MINUTE

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“Making Enemies”---“Hamas and Hizbullah should not be confused with Al Qaeda.  Bush’s insistence on doing so shows his failure to understand his foes.”  Now who exactly on God’s green earth even thought Bush might be interested in understanding his foes?  His only interest is in annihilating his foes and everything and everyone that gets between him and them!  So much for advancing into the 21st Century, for every step ahead, Bush has taken thousands of steps back!!! 

During DUI Arrest, Gibson Bashed Jews

His dad will surely be asked about this
(Even though Mel won't want it allowed)
I bet Mr. Gibson will then admit,
"As a father, I am just ... so proud."