articles-july 01

The Oldest Americans May Prove Even Older (as if we didn't already know this)
June 29, 2004
By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD

ARNWELL, S.C., June 24 - On a hillside by the Savannah River, under tall oaks bearded with Spanish moss, an archaeologist and a graduate student crouched in the humid depths of a trench. They had reason to think they were in the presence of a breathtaking discovery.

Or at the least, they were on to something more than 20,000 years old that would throw American archaeology into further turmoil over its most contentious issue: when did people first reach America, and who were they?

The sandy soil of the trench walls was flecked with pieces of chert, the source of flint coveted by ancient toolmakers. Some of the stone flakes appeared to be unfinished discards. Others had the sharp-edged look of more fully realized blades, chisels and scrapers. Long ago, it seemed, Stone Age hunter-gatherers had frequently stopped here and, perhaps, these toolmakers were among the first Americans.full article

Out of Africa move almost completed

Laura Dobbins
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 1, 2004 12:00 AM

FORT MCDOWELL - With the exception of 14 large animals that require extra care, critters from Out of Africa Wildlife Park have been moved in time to a new home in the Verde Valley.

The wildlife park had until Wednesday to relocate most of the more than 300 animals, but the Fort McDowell Tribal Council is allowing park operators until July 30 to moved the rest: a pair of giraffes, five zebras, four wildebeests and three sables. Those animals require special handling and transportation.full article

Green Party Supports Clemency for Leonard Peltier
Via email notification

The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee has just received a phone call
from the office of David Cobb informing us that Cobb and his running
mate, Pat LaMarche fully support clemency for Leonard Peltier. We were
also informed that the phone call was in response to the several emails
that Cobb has been receiving regarding Leonard. Leonard's supporters
have spoken and the voices have been heard. Good job everyone!

David Cobb, a California lawyer originally from Texas, has been
nominated to be the Green Party's Presidential candidate. Pat LaMarche,
who has formerly run for Governor of Maine will be Mr. Cobb's running
mate for vice-president. A statement regarding Leonard will be made
during their major speeches and a formal statement will be issued
shortly.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee

Monteau: Coyote Valley, The legacy of the Supreme Court’s Inyo County decision builds

Posted: July 01, 2004
Harold A. Monteau / Partner / Monteau & Peebles, LLP

In my last article (Vol. 23, Iss. 49), I asked the question, "Who’s next?" to receive overly aggressive police state tactics in the name of law enforcement. Well, we now know the answer; it is the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians Rancheria in California.

The Inyo County atrocity has happened again, right before the national holiday dedicated to remembering the soldiers who have fallen while fighting to retain the freedom of this country and when our people honor the Indian men and women now serving in combat zones around the world in disproportionate numbers in comparison to our representation in the overall population. We honor these gallant men and women because we, as Indian people, believe in the cause of freedom and the promises made to us. Promises guaranteed not only in Indian treaties, but also in the United States Constitution. Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure is one of the fundamental rights granted citizens in the Bill of Rights. Yet the current attitude of federal, state and local governments of this country, emboldened by the recent decisions of the Supreme Court, seems to be that Indians have no rights with regard to the protections found in the U.S. Constitution.full article

A cut-and-run transition
Tom Dispatch

When the "transition" moment occurred in Baghdad -- so tightly was the secret held that not even comrade-in-arms Tony Blair knew the schedule -- George Bush, in Turkey for the NATO summit, is reported to have turned to the British Prime Minister. "Stealing a glance at his watch to make sure the transfer [of sovereignty] had occurred, Bush put his hand over his mouth to guard his remarks, leaned toward Blair and then put out his hand for a shake."

That was in keeping with the moment. And momentary it was. An unannounced five-minute, "furtive" ceremony, two days early, on half an hour's notice, in a "nondescript room" in the new Iraqi prime minister's office, under a blanket of security, with snipers on adjoining rooftops in the heavily fortified Green Zone, "before only a handful of Iraqi and U.S. officials and journalists." A few quick, polite lies (L. Paul Bremer III: "I have confidence that the Iraqi government is ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead"), a few seconds of polite clapping by the attendees. That was it. Sovereignty transferred. The end. full article

CIA Felt Pressure to Alter Iraq Data, Author Says
Agency analysts were repeatedly ordered to redo their studies of Al Qaeda ties to Hussein regime, a terrorism expert charges.
By Greg Miller

July 1, 2004

WASHINGTON — In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, CIA analysts were ordered repeatedly to redo intelligence assessments concluded that Al Qaeda had no operational ties to Iraq, according to a veteran CIA counter-terrorism official who has written a book that is sharply critical of the decision to go to war with Iraq.

Agency analysts never altered their conclusions, but saw the pressure to revisit their work as a clear indication that Bush administration officials were seeking a different answer regarding Iraq and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the CIA officer said in an interview with The Times.full article