Bear Left!

Fact of the Week

**Fact of the Week**
The White House and Red Cross have together trumpeted the supposed success of their Fund for Afghan Children. (See our previous comments on the Fund, here.) The first shipment of goods included 1,658 jackets, 1,500 tents, and 10,000 gift parcels that included such vital foods as nuts, raisins, fig bars and Starburst candy. The Red Cross and the White House justified all the sweets by explaining that they are an important part of the daily breaking of the Ramadan fast. But the 9 December shipment comes with only one week left in Ramadan. And the Starburst candy that plays such a big role in the parcel is a gelatin candy made with beef by-products. No devout Muslim would eat it, because it is not halal. By contrast, UNICEF has concentrated on providing immunizations, nutritional supplements, medicine, and clean water to Afghan children. UNICEF collected $4 million in its annual Hallowe'en appeal in the United States: all of this money is going to these programs in Afghanistan. Already, UNICEF has coordinated 25 airlifts and 50 convoys of supplies into Afghanistan, all without the benefit of a Presidential press conference. Sources: White House press release, 8 December 2001; Red Cross press release, 3 December 2001; UNICEF website.

Burglars with Badges: The FBI now can perform secret, warrantless searches in any criminal case, rehardless of the Fourth Amendment (Nat Hentoff, Village Voice).
Back into the Inferno: Eight years after its inept and bloody debacle in Somalia, the US seems set on revenge (Richard Dowden, The Guardian).
Watchdogs on Short Leases: Most of the 50 United States have ethics laws that are ineffectual in practice (Kenneth Vogel and Meleah Rush, Center for Public Integrity).
Palestine: Israel's Last Best Hope: Israel will suffer badly if Ariel Sharon does destroy the Palestinian Authority. (Dominique Vidal, Le Monde-Diplomatique).
History Lessons: The Cold War has many lessons to teach about international relations, if George Bush cares to listen (Doug Ireland, In These Times).
Who's Watching the Watchers?: Heightened security in America has also meant official investigation of dissent (Adbusters.org).
America's Debt Crisis Starts in Corporate Suites: While the government has dealt with its debt problem, the private sector has not (Nicholas von Hoffman, New York Observer).

"Bear left!"/"Right, Frog!" (Kermit and Fozzie, The Muppet Movie)

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