Right Here

College student voters The Institute of Politics at Harvard University reported a national survey of college students that indicated that 66 per cent supported the war in Iraq; that 59 per cent indicated they will definitely vote in 2004; and that 34 percent would support Bush with 32 per cent saying they would vote for a Democratic candidate.

I'm a terrorist; you're a terrorist: The Attorney General told Congress that he wants more power so that anyone "supporting or working" with suspected terrorist groups can be prosecuted, that suspects can be held indefinitely and that all terrorist acts will be dealt with by execution or life imprisonment.

Don't whine, organize! In his continuing attack on unions, the Secretary of Defense told the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee that he wants to have more control over the 700,000 civilian employees in the department by changing current civil service and union protection. (Associated Press, June 3)

From the big lie department The FCC voted, as expected, to make it easier for media mergers that would let TV and newspaper conglomerates become even larger. Despite the obvious consequences, FCC Chairman Michael Powell (following in his father's footsteps) insisted that the new rules support "diversity, localism, and competition."

Business as usual: Halliburton is the oil services company that became known because it had been headed by Dick Cheney from 1995 to 2000, and still pays him a deferred salary. Last week, it paid out $6 million dollars to settle a series of shareholders lawsuits. The organization was accused of questionable accounting practices under Cheney's direction. It is now under investigation by the Securities & Exchange Commission and some Congressmen have questioned how Halliburton came to receive an army contract worth up to $7 billion.

Over There

Who's a terrorist? Reporting on their own research and the studies of other scholars, Professors Alan B.  Krueger (Princeton) and Jitka Maleckova (Charles University, Prague) conclude -- contrary to the prevailing stereotypes -- that terrorism is a response to political conditions, engaged upon by better educated persons with  relatively affluent backgrounds. (Chronicle of Higher Education, June 6)

Why don't they like us? A worldwide survey by the Pew Research Center found that across 20 countries across most of the Arab and Muslim world that people had more confidence in Osama bin Laden than they did in George Bush.  (Washington Post, June 4)

Doublethink or ...? While the US is beginning to move troops back from the DMZ (the demiltarized zone), it was received as an aggressive act by North Korea, who viewed the move as an attempt to get Americans out of missile range, thus preparing for war.

This week in history: Chinese soldiers murder hundreds in Tiananmen Square, Beijing (1989); Robert Kennedy assassinated (1968); Polish workers revolt in Poznan (1956); D-Day, the massive invasion of Europe (1944); US Supreme Court overturns child labor laws (1924); Vancouver, British Columbia general strike in sympathy with Winnipeg general strike, paralyzing city for one month (1904); Militia kill six striking miners in Colorado (1904); Anti-anarchist law passed in Washington State (1902); Lady Godiva rode naked through Coventry to save people from an exorbitant tax (1041).