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By

Pin o Lo Por to

Th e or igin a l t it le: “L’a lt ra fa ccia dell’Am erica ” “Un a s tor ia vera ” ISBN 88-87936-57-9 Tra n s la ted by: J oh n Addock

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Pa rt on e

Sta tem en t I wou ld like to s ta r t th is book with a s ta tem en t . My life h a s been in flu en ced a n d con d it ion ed in a m ore or les s d irect

m a n n er by on e rea lity: th e Am erica n on e. My s t ron g t ies , both pers on a l a s well bu s in es s , for a lm os t fifty yea rs

with th e Am erica n s , a llow m e to s pea k of th em with kn owledge, with ou t th e fea r of bein g a ccu s ed of s u perficia lity.

I h a ve con dem n ed in th e pa s t a n d I s t ill do toda y m a n y of th eir beh a viou rs a n d h a b its , with ou t com prom is e, bu t I do n ot believe th a t a ll th a t is Am erica n s h ou ld be rejected im m edia tely. I h a ve lea rn ed a lot from th em a n d I a m very gra tefu l. Th rou gh m y work in g exper ien ce a n d m y pers on a l rela t ion s h ip with th e Am erica n peop le a s well th eir in s t itu t ion s , I h a ve a lwa ys n ot iced th e in coh eren ce a n d s om et im e th e h ypocr is y of th eir foreign policy, wh ich is s om et im es th e m a in ca u s e of n ega t ive even ts in th e res t of th e wor ld . Th eir depen den ce from oil h a s a m a jor n ega t ive im pa ct on th eir a pproa ch to dem ocra cy.

Th e s ea rch for s a fe h ea ven s in oth er cou n tr ies for th e Am erica n in du s tr ies is on e of th e m a jor ca u s es of th eir viola t ion s of th e m os t elem en ta ry h u m a n r igh ts . Th eir qu es t for low cos t la bou r h a s a m a jor n ega t ive im pa ct on th e h a b its a n d cu s tom of th e loca l peop le.

Th e h u m ilia t ion s u ffered by th es e peop le cou ld s om et im es ca u s e a n ger , wh ich in tu rn s is exp loited by loca l cr im in a l orga n iza t ion s . Th a t is th e begin n in g of a loop th a t en ds u p in ter ror a t ta cks . Th e pers on a l d ign ity a n d freedom , for m a n y peop le, is fa r m ore im por ta n t th a n life it s elf. “Rea l s t ren gth is n ot ph ys ica l bu t com es from a s t ron g determ in a t ion ” a s Ga n dh i s a id .

Th e s a d pa r t is th a t if a ll th es e viola t ion s h a d n ot been b rou gh t to th e ligh t by va r iou s NGO (Non Govern m en ta l Orga n iza t ion s ), m a n y workers wou ld s t ill be u s ed a n d a bu s ed in th eir n a tu ra l r igh ts . On th e oth er h a n d h ow m a n y Am erica n peop le (m os t of th em b la cks ) s t ill a re n ot en t it led to th e s a m e r igh ts , es pecia lly wh en it con cern s th e lega l r igh ts ?

In th is book I will wr ite a bou t rea l fa cts a n d even ts , a n d n ot m y in terp reta t ion of th em . You will be th e fin a l ju dge.

Ha vin g lived in th e Un ited Sta tes for over th ir teen yea rs , I wa s a b le to get a fir s t h a n d look of everyda y life’s even ts th a t don ’t get th e m ed ia a t ten t ion , bu t a re very im por ta n t to u n ders ta n d th e p rob lem s wh ich t rou b le m a n y Am erica n s , with repercu s s ion s in oth er pa r ts of th e wor ld .

To s ee old peop le bu y dog or ca t food , s im ply beca u s e th ey ca n ’t a fford a n yth in g els e, ca n n ot n ot lea ve m e in d ifferen t .

To s ee m a n y ch ild ren u s ed a s m ea n s to ob ta in a dva n ta geou s d ivorces , ca n n ot lea ve m e in d ifferen t .

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To s ee peop le en d u p in ja il s im p ly beca u s e th ey were born with th e wron g color of s k in , it on ly ca u s es in d ign a t ion .

An d yet I ca n n ot rem a in in d ifferen t to th e fa ct th a t over th ree th ou s a n d s even h u n dred h u m a n bein gs a re “ gu es ts ” of th e govern m en t s la u gh ter -h ou s es , wa it in g to be “ s la u gh tered ”.

Min e is n ot a vin d ict ive a pproa ch a ga in s t USA, bu t I on ly wis h to let oth er peop le s ee th e oth er s ide of th e officia l “ coin ” dep icted by th e m ed ia or des cr ibed by th e s o-ca lled “ exper ts ” . Th e “ exper ts ” a re n oth in g bu t ch a r la ta n s or qu a ck a t th e com plete s ervice of th e “ power”, a n d th eir job is to por t ra y fa cts a n d even ts a s cred ib le, even th ou gh h a ve lit t le or n oth in g t ru s twor th in es s .

I a m n ot a n t i Am erica n , I a m s im ply a well in form ed pers on . You a re a lwa ys a ccu s ed of bein g “ a n t i” s om eon e or s om eth in g wh en

you tell th e t ru th , or wh en you h a ve gu ts en ou gh to r is e a ga in s t th e “ im pos ed th ou gh t” .

Th e televis ion does n ot s h ow th e rea l p ictu re, bu t m a kes rea l wh a tever it s h ows .

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Th a n ks to m y h u m ble or igin s a n d to th e tea ch in gs of m y pa ren ts I h a ve been a b le to overcom e m a n y d ifficu lt ies in m y

life. Wh en I los t everyth in g I h a ve d is covered th e rea l va lu e of life.

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Tripoli: 1933 -1942

My fa th er , a t th e a ge of n in e, h a d to qu it s ch ool, wh ile a t ten d in g th e th ird gra de, to s ta r t work in g. After h is fa th er ’s dea th h e h a d to s u ppor t h is m oth er a n d two you n ger b roth ers . He s ta r ted work in g in th e con s tru ct ion field by p ilin g u p b r icks , a n d a s h e wa s growin g older , h e wa s a s s ign ed m u ch h ea vier jobs . At th a t t im e, in fa ct , in 1912 , it wa s n ot illega l to h ire m in ors . My fa th er a ls o worked in a s u lfu r m in e.

In 1926 , a t th e a ge of twen ty-th ree, h e wen t to work in Libya a s b r ick -la yer .

In 1932 wen t ba ck to Sicily for a s h or t per iod , a n d th ere h e m et m y m oth er .

It wa s love a t fir s t s igh t a n d , a fter on ly for ty da ys of en ga gem en t , th ey decided to get m a rr ied , a n d m oved to Libya : a t th a t t im e Libya wa s s t ill ou r Colon y.

Th eir m a rr ia ge, bes ides th e in it ia l d ifficu lt ies for bein g in a com pletely n ew a n d d ifferen t en viron m en t , h a s been h a ppy. I don ’t rem em ber of h a vin g a s s is ted a t a n y d is cu s s ion or a rgu m en t between m y pa ren ts .

After few yea rs of h a rd work , m y fa th er s ta r ted h is own con s tru ct ion com pa n y.

I wa s born a yea r a fter m y pa ren ts ’ m a rr ia ge, in Libya . We lived in a s m a ll town , a bou t s ixty m iles from Tr ipoli, on e of th e

ca p ita l of Libya . Th e lit t le town ’s n a m e is Ga r ia n , a n a m e th a t s t ill b r in gs m e h a ppy a n d

wa rm m em ories . I even n ow rem em ber , with a lit t le n os ta lgia , th e colou r of th e s ky, a very in ten s e b lu e. It a lm os t felt like you cou ld tou ch it . If I clos e m y eyes a n d th in k a bou t m y ea r ly ch ildh ood , I s t ill h a ve th a t wa rm feelin g of bein g s u rrou n ded by celes t ia l s cen e.

My m em ories a re filled with th e colou rs a n d fla vou rs of th a t la n d , fu ll of con tra s t .

Th e du n es of th e des er t form ed s p len d id s cen er ies with th e im m en s e exten t of s a n d gen t ly ca res s ed by a ligh t win d . Th e reflect ion s va r ied con t in u ou s ly . Th e wa rm b reeze of th e des er t felt like a gen t le ca res s .

Th e gh os t ly s ilen ce en cou ra ged you to da y d rea m in g…… I felt like a lit t le gra in of th a t s a n d com pa red to th e u n ivers e. An a n cien t p roverb s a ys : “Th e oa s is is m a de for th e body, th e des er t for

th e s ou l” . An oth er s p len d id n a tu ra l s cen ery were th e s u n s ets a m on g th e pa lm

t rees fu ll of da tes . It wa s like a n in vita t ion to ta s te th e s weetn es s of th a t lit t le fru it .

Th e Tu a reg, th e peop le of th e Sa h a ra des er t , s a y th a t th e s u n s et is a win dow on you r s ou l.

Th e on ly th in g th a t wa s a rem in der of m en ’s p res en ce were s om e of th e con ta in ers , h a n gin g fro th e pa lm t rees , to collect a liqu eu r ca lled legh b i. It h a s a s weet fla vou r a n d it is wh ite like ou r a lm on d m ilk , bu t h a s a low a lcoh ol con ten t .

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I h a ve n ever exper ien ced th e in ten s e fla vou r of th e pea ch es I a te in Libya . You d idn ’t n eed a kn ife, with a lit t le p res s u re of th e th u m bs it open ed in to tow h a lves . Th e s eed wa s d ry a n d th e m ea t h a d a very lit t le wa ter in it . It wa s like b it in g a s lice of s u n s h in e, beca u s e it left a wa rm a n d s weet ta s te in you r m ou th .

Th e wa ter m elon s h a d a n in ten s e red colou r , were s weet a n d h a d very p lea s a n t fla vou r . Th e fru it h a d a n a tu ra l ta s te, a n d n ot like th e on e we ea t in th os e da ys . Toda y’s fru it h a ve a ll th e s a m e ta s te.

Ga r ia n wa s a lit t le a lit t le town s u rrou n ded by m a n y h ills , a n d th e a ir du r in g th e s p r in g m on th s wa s clea n a n d in eb r ia t in g.

Du r in g th e s u m m er m on th s th e a ir wa s very wa rm a n d d ry. Every t im e th e gh ib li wa s b lowin g, th e win d from th e des er t wh ich la s ted th ree da ys , it crea ted a lu n a r la n ds ca pe with a ll th a t th in s a n d wh ich pen etra ted everywh ere. We h a d to cover ou r n os e a n d m ou th with a s ca r f, to a void th a t th e s a n d en tered ou r lu n gs , a n d wea r s u n gla s s es .

I a lm os t felt like th e des er t wa n ted to rega in its la n d , ta ken a wa y from m a n k in d , with th e h ou s es a n d roa ds bu ilt on it .

Th e gh ib li wa s m y m oth er ’s wors t n igh tm a re, beca u s e th e s a n d in filt ra ted everywh ere in s ide ou r h om e, in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t s h e pu t wet towels u n der ea ch win dow a n d door .

Th e tem pera tu re exceeded for ty, for ty-five degrees Cels iu s , in th e s h a de. It wa s a rea l p rob lem to en ter th e ca r , beca u s e to a void th a t th e s a n d m a de its wa y in , I h a d to s h u t a ll th e win dows . Th e tem pera tu re in s ide exceeded s ixty degrees Cels iu s . In th a t per iod a ll ca rs were n ot a ir -con d it ion ed a n d it wa s r is ky en ter a n d s it down , before it cooled off a lit t le.

I a t ten ded th e elem en ta ry Ita lia n s ch ools u p to eigh th gra de in Libya , beca u s e in 1942 we h a d to lea ve for Ita ly du e to th e wa r (WW2). My p regn a n t m oth er , m y fou r yea r old s is ter a n d I (n in e-yea r-old ), left for Sicily, wh ile m y fa th er h a d to rem a in in Libya .

In 1936 m y you n ger b roth er d ied wh en h e wa s s ix m on th s old du e to dys en tery.

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Sicily: 1942 -1947

We wen t to live in th e town wh ere both m y pa ren ts ca m e from , n ea r Agr igen to, wh ere a ll ou r rela t ives res ided .

Sicily, du r in g th a t per iod , wa s h os ta ge of b r iga n ds s pecia lized in k idn a pp in g r ich peop le for ra n s om . Du r in g th is per iod Giu lia n o a n d h is crooks , rea ch ed th e h eigh t of th eir cr im in a l a ct ivit ies .

Everyda y, in a dd it ion to th e n ews a bou t th e on goin g wa r , we lea rn ed th e n a m es of th e peop le k illed or k idn a pped by th e b r iga n ds . We lived u n der a con s ta n t fea r .

My ch ildh ood , in few words , h a s n ot been very h a ppy, du e to th e wa r a n d a ls o beca u s e of m y fa th er ’s a bs en ce, wh ich la s ted five lon g yea rs .

We d idn ’t h a ve electr icity, or ru n n in g wa ter . I u s ed to go togeth er with on e of m y u n cles a n d a don key, to get th e wa ter from a pu b lic fou n ta in , th ree t im es a week .

Th e on ly s ou rce of h ea t in g for ou r p la ce, a room of a bou t twen ty s qu a re m eters , in clu d in g a s m a ll ba th room a n d k itch en , wa s th e b ra ciere (is a rou n d m eta l con ta in er) wh ere we bu rn ed th e a lm on d s h ells , pa s s ed to u s by s om e of ou r rela t ives .

To h ea th ou r bed we pu t a b r ick , p reviou s ly h ea ted a rou n d th e m eta l con ta in er , wra pped in a towel. A petrol la m p wa s ou r s ou rce of ligh t a n d obviou s ly th e a ir in ou r room wa s u n h ea lth y.

I h a d very lit t le free t im e, beca u s e a fter h om ework , I h a d to go to th e s tore to bu y fru it , vegeta b les a n d s a rd in es (th e ch ea pes t fis h a va ila b le). Twice a week I wen t to bu y b rea d to th e “ b la ck m a rket ” . It wa s th e ba ck door of loca l ba kery, beca u s e th e good flou r wa s a va ila b le in s m a ll qu a n t it ies for ea ch fa m ily.

Im m edia tely a fter th e Am erica n in va s ion , th ey d is t r ibu ted th eir flou r , wh ich wa s qu ite d ifferen t from ou rs . Th e b rea d m a de with s u ch flou r wa s fu ll of a ir , m a ybe beca u s e of th e ch em ica l a dd it ives to keep it fres h , a n d h a d lit t le n u tr it ion a l va lu e.

Th in k in g a bou t it toda y I cou ld a s s er t th a t b red s ym bolized th e Am erica n s ociety: a lot of fa ca de bu t lit t le s u bs ta n ce.

We a te m ea t on ly du r in g th e m a jor h olida ys . As th e a ftern oon s n a ck I a te old b rea d d ipped in to cru s h ed ice, with a lit t le s u ga r a n d lem on ju ice. Every n ow a n d th en we m a de a s liced lem on s a la d , a dd in g s om e wa ter in th e p la te, s a lt a n d few d rops of olive oil.

After h om ework , s in ce I cou ldn ’t go fa r for fea r of bein g k idn a pped , I wen t to s ee m y gra n dfa th er wh o h a d a win e ca n teen or vis it m y ca rpen ter fr ien d , wh o wa s very bu s y bu ild in g ca s kets .

In m y gra n dfa th er ’s ca n teen th ey film ed s om e s cen es of a bea u t ifu l m ovie, “ Il ca m m in o della s pera n za ” (Th e h ope wa lk ).

Som etim e I wen t to on e of m y rela t ives ’ m ill to gr in d th e wh ea t for ou r h om em a de b red .

Mos t of th e roa ds were n ot pa ved a n d a s a con s equ en ce I h a d to h a ve m y s h oes repa ired frequ en t ly. In a dd it ion I h a d a lot of boils a n d b lis ters in m y feet , a n d I s ta yed h om e for few da ys , beca u s e I cou ldn ’t wa lk .

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On e of m y u n cles d rove m e to s ch ool to a t ten d th e en d of th e yea r exa m s .

Ou r da ys wen t by s lowly, a lwa ys h op in g to receive s om e n ew from m y fa th er , from Libya . For a lm os t two yea rs we lived in a n gu is h , t ill on e da y we received a m es s a ge from m y fa th er , th rou gh th e Ita lia n Red Cros s . I s t ill clea r ly rem em ber th e joy wh ich filled ou r h ea r ts wh en h is fir s t let ter a r r ived , followed by oth er , on ce a m on th .

My fa th er ’s let ter h a d a gen era l ton e beca u s e a ll th e corres pon den ce wa s open ed by th e a u th or it ies ; bu t for u s rep res en ted a s t ron g ps ych ologica l ba ck in g.

Th e p la gu e of th e cr im in a l a ct ivit ies s eem ed to in crea s e beca u s e of th e gen era l d is order ca u s ed by th e wa r .

Th e ba n d it Giu lia n o wa s con s idered by th e loca l peop le like a m odern Rob in Hood , a n d for u s ch ild ren h e beca m e a lm os t like a legen d . Wh en h e wa s k illed by th e Ita lia n police, m a n y Sicilia n wom en wore b la ck d res s es a s a s ign of gr ief.

S in ce th os e yea rs I h a ve a cqu ired a s or t of id ios yn cra s y for th e b la ck colou r . Th e k illin gs , du r in g th a t per iod , were s o frequ en t th a t I don ’t rem em ber of h a vin g ever s een th e wom en of m y exten ded fa m ily d res s ed in colou rs , oth er th a n b la ck .

I h a d to a ccom pa n y m y m oth er to pa y a vis it th e fa m ily in m ou rn in g, a n d in th os e occa s ion s I wa s s o bored , n ot beca u s e of bein g in s en s ib le to th e gr ief of th e fa m ily, bu t in view of th e fa ct th a t I a lrea dy kn ew wh a t wa s goin g to h a ppen .

Th e wife of th e decea s ed , a ll in b la ck from h ea d to toes , every t im e s om ebody wa lked in , s h e s ta r ted cryin g h er s or row, followed by a lis t of h er decea s ed h u s ba n d ’s vir tu es , even th ou gh h e wa s rea l S .O.B.

In th e n ext room , oth er wom en were p repa r in g d r in ks , a n d were ch itch a t t in g.

Th e da y of th e fu n era l fr ien ds a n d rela t ives b rou gh t in food a n d d r in ks , for th e fa m ily of th e “ dea r decea s ed ”: it looked m ore like a pa r ty th a n a ga th er in g for a fu n era l. Believe you m e th ere wa s a lot of food a n d everybody between a tea r a n d a word of s or row a te a bu n ch .

Th e m os t deva s ta t in g effects of th e wa r for m e h a ve been m y fa th er ’s a bs en ce for five lon g yea rs a n d th e fa ct th a t on e of m y u n cles wa s deta in ed in a Germ a n con cen tra t ion ca m p .

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Retu rn to Tr ipoli: 1947 -1954

Fin a lly th e da y of ou r retu rn a r r ived . It wa s th e m on th of Au gu s t 1947 wh en we boa rded a s cla n des t in e, a fis h in g boa t lea vin g from Sira cu s a (Sicily), to join m y fa th er in Libya . I rem em ber m y m oth er bein g bu s y p repa r in g ou r lu gga ge for th e t r ip : n ew cloth es for m e, fou r teen -yea r-old , a n d m y two s is ters , a ge n in e a n d five.

On e of m y u n cles m a de a ll th e a r ra n gem en ts with th e fis h in g boa t own er , con cern in g th e cos t a n d th e boa rd in g loca t ion .

Th e m eet in g poin t wa s in a rem ote bea ch , n ot to be s een by th e Ita lia n police. It wa s rea l da rk wh en we em ba rked a rowin g boa t wh ich took u s th e fis h in g boa t , a n ch ored few m iles a wa y, with n o ligh ts on .

Th e rea l s h ock for a ll of u s wa s wh en we ca m e on boa rd : th ere were a lot of oth er peop le for th e s a m e des t in a t ion . We were a ll grou ped like s a rd in es on th e deck , wh ile th e lu gga ge wa s pu t u n der cover . It wa s h ot du r in g th e da y t im e, bu t very cold a n d h u m id a t n igh t . Occa s ion a lly a b ig wa ve d ren ch ed u s . My m oth er ’s s h oes , m a de of ch ea p m a ter ia l, were com pletely u s eles s .

Du r in g th e jou rn ey a b ig figh t exp loded on boa rd , beca u s e on e of th e pa s s en gers , s in ce th e toilet wa s occu p ied , h e u s ed a n oth er p la ce wh ere a ll th e lu gga ge wa s s tored . He wa s a lm os t th rown in to th e s ea , bu t on e of s a ilors s a ved h im .

Wh ile we were n a viga t in g a rou n d th e is la n d of Ma lta , we h ea rd s om e b ig b la s ts , like gu n s h ots . Everybody froze, in clu d in g th e s a ilors . We a ll th ou gh t th a t ou r t r ip wa s com in g to a n en d . Im m edia tely everybody s ta r ted p ra yin g ou t lou d , a n d I don ’t rem em ber of h a vin g ever h ea rd before, s o m a n y n a m es of Sa in ts . It wa s in teres t in g to h ea r th e va r iou s p rom is es th a t everybody m a de if we s u rvived th e jou rn ey. Wom en a n d u s ch ild ren were cryin g h a rd , wh ile th e s a ilors told u s to be qu ite n ot to h ea rd , beca u s e th e crew tu rn ed a ll th e ligh ts off. I don ’t th in k th a t th e fis h in g boa t we were on h a d a n y ra da r . Ou r pa n ic la s ted s evera l lon g m in u tes , t ill wh en th e “ ca p ta in ” a s s u red u s th a t th e b la s ts we h ea rd were th e fireworks for th e “Ferra gos to” (it is a religiou s h olida y on Au gu s t 15 ).

We were a ll h a ppy th a t th e n igh tm a re en ded , a n d a s a res u lt , th e toilet beca m e th e bu s ies t p la ce on boa rd .

We d idn ’t rea lize th a t we were in for a b igger d is a ppoin tm en t . Th e wors t s u rp r is e ca m e wh en , a fter five da ys , we a r r ived on wh a t looked like a des er ted s h ore of Libya . Bu t a fter few m in u tes s om e Libya n s with th eir ca m els volu n teered to ca r ry ou r lu gga ge, for a fee. My m oth er a s ked m e to s ta y with ou r lu gga ge, wh ile s h e, with m y two you n g s is ters , wou ld follow th e grou p lea der . After th e la s t p iece of lu gga ge wa s ca r r ied , I fin a lly wa lked with s om e of th e oth er pa s s en gers to th e fin a l m eet in g poin t .

Un for tu n a tely ou r s u itca s es n ever a r r ived a n d we were m et in s tea d by s om e Br it is h police officers . Du r in g th a t per iod Libya wa s in fa ct a Un ited Na t ion s Protectora te a s s ign ed to Br ita in t ill th e decla ra t ion of In depen den ce in 1951 .

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All ou r s u itca s es h a ve been s tolen a n d we h a d on ly ou r s m a ll h a n d ca rr ied lu gga ge. We h a ve im m edia tely been t ra n s fer red to a “ refu gee ca m p”, wh ere th ey took ou r n a m es , a n d fed .

In th e m ea n t im e th e Br it is h a u th or it ies in form ed m y fa th er of ou r a r r iva l. We s pen t th ree lon g da ys in th a t ca m p , dem ora lized for th e los s of ou r s u itca s es a n d for th e u n cer ta in ty of ou r des t in y. Th ere were good ch a n ces th a t we wou ld be s en t ba ck to Ita ly.

We h a ve n ot yet m et m y fa th er . At th e en d of th ree da ys , we h a ve fin a lly been in form ed th a t we wou ld be relea s ed u pon pa ym en t of a very cos t ly ch a rge for ou r illega l en try in to Libya .

Th e joy of reu n it in g with m y fa th er a t la s t , a fter five lon g yea rs , m a de u s overcom e th e los s of a ll ou r lu gga ge. We on ly h a d wh a t we wore du r in g ou r lon g a n d r is ky t r ip .

On ly a fter h a vin g exper im en ted pers on a lly th e pa in , on e ca n s in cerely be s ym pa th et ic with oth er peop le’s s u ffer in gs . Every t im e I s ee on TV th e a r r iva l of boa ts , on th e s h ores of Sicily, filled with poor peop le, m y m em ory goes ba ck to th os e da ys , a n d I u n ders ta n d th eir a n gu is h .

It fin a lly bega n a s eren e per iod in m y life, filled with m ora l a n d m a ter ia l s a t is fa ct ion s . Th e fa ct th a t I wa s a b le to p la y with ch ild ren of m y s a m e a ge, to be a b le to go to s ch ool with ou t th e fea r of bein g k idn a pped , it wa s a grea t con qu er for m e.

It wa s a ls o won derfu l to s ee ou r h om e to expa n d from on e room , with a ll th e n eces s a ry s ervices , to m ore room s . We h a d n ext to ou r h ou s e a p la ce wh ere we kep t a h ors e, goa ts , ra bb its a n d a dog.

My fa th er , du r in g th e Br it is h a dm in is t ra t ion in Libya , beca m e a x exper t in bu ild in g firep la ces , h a b itu a lly requ es ted by th e va r iou s Br it is h execu t ives for th eir h om es . Th e rea l con s tru ct ion work s ta r ted im m edia tely a fter th e decla ra t ion of in depen den ce of Libya , wh ich beca m e a m on a rch y, with Kin g Id r is s .

I h a ve a t ten ded th e Ita lia n m idd le s ch ool in Tr ipoli. My fa m ily wa s livin g in th e lit t le town Ga r ia n , wh ere I wa s born . Du r in g th e s ch ool yea r , I lived in a n in s t itu t ion ru n by ca th olic p r ies ts .

I h a ve m ixed feelin gs of th a t per iod . On on e h a n d it wa s fu n to be with boys of s a m e a ge, on th e oth er h a n d I h a ve exper ien ced th e m a n y a m bigu it ies of ou r eccles ia s t ic s ys tem . Sex s eem s to be s t ill th e m os t im por ta n t top ic of th e ca th olic religion . I ca n s im ply s a y th a t , in m y op in ion , th e “ ch a s t ity” of m a n y religiou s m en , ca n be com pa red to th e s in cer ity of th e polit icia n s , or th e h on es ty of m on ey len ders .

Occa s ion a lly, a fter ou r gym n a s t ic les s on in th e a ftern oon , we u s ed to pa y a vis it to on e of th e “wh oreh ou s es ”, ju s t for th e fu n of it a n d n ot for a n y s exu a l in tercou rs e. Th e p ros t itu tes ’ a vera ge a ge, a ll Ita lia n s , wa s a rou n d fifty yea rs old . On m ore th a n on e occa s ion , we h a ve s een on e of th e p r ies ts of th e in s t itu t ion wh ere I s ta yed ; a n d im m edia tely told u s th a t h e wa s th ere to s u pervis e u s !

Th e Ita lia n s ch ool in Tr ipoli h a d th e s a m e cu rr icu lu m of th e s ch ools in Ita ly, with th e excep t ion for th e foreign la n gu a ges . In a dd it ion to La t in , we h a d to s tu dy, s ta r t in g from th e m idd le s ch ool, Fren ch , En glis h a n d Ara b ic.

11

Th e on ly tea ch er of th e m oth er la n gu a ge wa s th e on e for Ara b ic, a Libya n p rofes s or . Ma n y Libya n s tu den ts a t ten ded ou r s ch ool, a n d s om e of th em , beca m e im por ta n t polit icia n s . On e of m y cla s s m a tes beca m e Foreign Min is ter of th e govern m en t du r in g Kin g Id r is s m on a rch y.

Th e h u s ba n d of on e of m y fem a le cla s s m a te, of Tu rk is h des cen t , beca m e th e Min is ter of oil. Ou r fa m ily doctor wa s from Tu rkey.

Th ere wa s a very in tegra ted in tern a t ion a l a tm os ph ere in Libya , p lea s a n t , in teres t in g, a n d a bove a ll excep t ion a lly pea cefu l. Ou r rela t ion s h ip with th e Libya n popu la t ion wa s excellen t . Mos t of th em s poke th e Ita lia n la n gu a ge.

I h a ve a bea u t ifu l recollect ion of th e vis it to Tr ipoli, of th e Ita lia n Na vy s ch ool-s h ip : th e em otion I exper ien ced wh en I s a w th e Ita lia n fla g.

Th e Na vy ca dets a n d th e officers were gu es ts of ou r com m u n ity.

12

Am erica n Air ba s e in Tr ipoli: 1954 -1957

Wh en I fin is h ed h igh s ch ool, I h a d s om e im por ta n t decis ion s to m a ke, wh ich wou ld even tu a lly h a ve a la s t in g effect on m y fu tu re. My fa th er ’s wis h wa s for m e to join h im in h is work , bu t h e wou ld res pect a n y ch oice I m a de. Hon es t ly I d idn ’t feel like it , a lth ou gh I a pprecia ted th e poten t ia l fin a n cia l it offered . At th e s a m e t im e, ba ck in m y m in d I wa s fu lly a wa re th a t in s p ite of th e good rela t ion s h ip with th e Libya n popu la t ion , we were gu es ts in a foreign Cou n try.

My pa ren ts en cou ra ge m e to com plete m y edu ca t ion by goin g to th e college of m y ch oice, in Ita ly. I fin a lly followed m y in s t in ct a n d decided to look for a job a n d a t th e s a m e t im e to s ign u p a t th e Polit ica l Scien ce fa cu lty of th e Un ivers ity of Ca ta n ia (Sicily). As a m a t ter of fa cts I d idn ’t h a ve to a t ten d a s lon g a s I took a t lea s t few exa m s du r in g th e s ch ool yea r . I wa s n ot in a h u rry to get a d ip lom a , a lth ou gh th e d ip lom a t ic p rofes s ion wa s m y d rea m . Never th eles s I wa s a ls o a wa re of th e fa ct th a t in Ita ly, to becom e a d ip lom a t , you h a ve to com e from a n ob le fa m ily or h a ve s t ron g polit ica l lin ks . I d idn ’t eith er on e.

My h u m ble or igin wou ld h a ve p reclu ded m e th e rea liza t ion of m y d rea m .

In order to im prove m y kn owledge of th e En glis h la n gu a ge I wen t to work for a n Am erica n ba n k , Am erica n Expres s , loca ted in s ide th e U.S. ba s e in Tr ipoli, wh ich a t th a t t im e, 1954 , wa s th e la rges t ba s e ou ts ide th e U.S.A.

My ch oice wou ld even tu a lly be of pa ra m ou n t im por ta n ce a ls o for th e fu tu re of m y en t ire fa m ily.

I s ta r ted in th e a ccou n t in g depa r tm en t , a lth ou gh I s poke very lim ited En glis h . Du r in g th e cou rs e of m y em ploym en t I per form ed oth er du t ies , from th e t ra vel depa r tm en t to teller . In th is pos it ion I wa s th e on ly on e to go on boa rd of th e U.S. Na vy s h ips , in th e por t of Tr ipoli, to exch a n ge dolla rs in to Libya n pou n ds . I wa s obviou s ly es cor ted by th ree fu lly a rm ed U.S. Ma r in es , n ot for m y p rotect ion , bu t to p rotect th e ca s h I wa s ca r ryin g.

I h a ve to a dm it th a t it m a de m e feel im por ta n t to be es cor ted : it wa s m y firs t em ploym en t a n d I wa s on ly twen ty-on e-yea r-old .

I a m s u re th a t th e FBI a n d th e va r iou s U.S. a gen cies d id a th orou gh s creen in g of m in e a n d m y fa m ily’s h is tory, oth erwis e th ey wou ld h a ve n ot a llowed m e to go on boa rd of th eir m ilita ry s h ip , a n d m u ch les s to work in a ba n k loca ted in a ir ba s e.

Th e ca s h ier ’s work wa s qu ite a n in teres t in g exper ien ce for m e. My work s ta t ion wa s a win dow on a n ever ch a n gin g wor ld . Th e gla s s th a t s epa ra ted m e from th e clien ts wa s like a p rotect ion from th eir va r iou s em otion a l rea ct ion s . It wa s a da ily s es s ion of p s ych ology.

I m a de a m en ta l cla s s ifica t ion of th e clien ts ’ rea ct ion s a ccord in g to th e a ge, gen der , a n d s ocia l s ta tu s .

Th e m os t a r roga n t were th e h igh er ra n k officers . I wa s in s t ru cted , by th e ba n k m a n a ger , th a t for every t ra n s a ct ion I h a d to a s k for a n iden t ifica t ion docu m en t . Every t im e I a s ked th e ID to a h igh er ra n k officer ,

13

I a lrea dy kn ew th eir rea ct ion : th ey a re s o u s ed to give orders , th a t th ey expected m e to ju s t be im pres s ed by h is ra n k . Th e m ore a r roga n t th ey a cted th e m ore I in s is ted in m y requ es t . Th ey im m edia tely wen t to s ee th e m a n a ger , th in k in g of s ca r in g m e: bu t I kn ew I wa s r igh t .

It wa s in teres t in g to s ee th e rea ct ion s of th e peop le s ta n d in g in lin e, es pecia lly wom en or s im ply a irm en . Th ey a ll s eem ed to a pprove m y beh a vior .

After work I wa s often in vited to th e officers ’ clu b , by s om e p ilots , to s pen d s om etim e with th em . I im m edia tely rea lized th a t th eir m a in fu n wa s to get d ru n k a n d a fter th a t go to th eir qu a r ters . My rea l in teres t wa s towa rds th e bea u t ifu l wom en in th e clu b .

Mos t Am erica n wom en h a ve a s ta n da rd ized k in dn es s , p rogra m m ed , m a de of h a b itu a l ph ra s es , occa s ion a lly in s ign ifica n t du e th e in flu en ce of a lcoh ol. I h a ve h a d va r iou s en cou n ters , m os t ly s exu a l, du e to th eir open -m in dedn es s towa rd s ex exper ien ces . Th is perm is s iven es s is n ot du e to la ck of m ora ls , bu t to a s t ron g des ire for a ffect ion . Mos t Am erica n wom en a re look in g for a m om en t of a t ten t ion a ll for th em s elves , a s a recom pen s e for th eir u n filled fa m ily bon d ; by a n d la rge du e to th e h igh n u m ber of d ivorces .

Th e Am erica n s a re la ck in g s olid fa m ily fou n da t ion s , on wh ich to bu ild th eir lives .

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15

Am erica n Em ba s s y in Tr ipoli: 1957 -1962

Th e th ree yea rs work exper ien ce a t th e Am erica n a irba s e h a ve been very u s efu l in im provin g n ot on ly m y En glis h , bu t to lea rn th e Am erica n s la n g.

I im m edia tely s ized th e oppor tu n ity of a n open in g a t th e Am erica n Em ba s s y, in th e s ect ion in ch a rge of a u d it in g h ow th e Ma rs h a ll Pla n fu n ds were em ployed by th e Libya n Govern m en t .

My job wa s to ver ify th a t th e fu n ds p rovided by th e U.S. Govern m en t , were in effect u t ilized for th e des ign a ted p rojects . It wa s a very in teres t in g exper ien ce, wh ich a llowed m e to a cqu ire a cer ta in “ d ip lom a t ic” s k ill.

Pa r t of m y job wa s to t ra in th e Libya n pers on n el in th e m a n a ger ia l field , a s requ ired by th e p rotocol s ign ed by th e Libya n a n d U.S. Govern m en ts .

To p reven t a n y res en tm en t from th e Libya n pers on n el h os t ile to m y role, I begu n to th in k like th ey wou ld if I were in th eir pos it ion s . Som e of th em in fa ct s a w m e a s a n im ped im en t to th eir p rofes s ion a l a dva n cem en t . Bu t wh en I m a de it clea r th a t m y job wa s to t ra in th em , a n d n ot to ta ke over th eir pos it ion s , th ey im m edia tely s ta r ted to s ee m e a s a fr ien d a n d n ot a s a com pet itor .

Th is a pproa ch of m in e d idn ’t bode well with m y Am erica n s u pervis ors , beca u s e I d idn ’t a pp ly litera r ily th e beh a viou ra l con d it ion s a s des cr ibed by th e p rotocol, th e s o-ca lled “Wa s h in gton Ma n u a l” . Th e ru les of th is p rotocol a re in ten ded to be u s ed in every recip ien t Cou n try of th e Am erica n fin a n cia l a id , ign or in g en t irely th e d ifferen ces in cu ltu re a n d loca l t ra d it ion s exis t in g in ea ch Cou n try.

I r igh t a wa y rea lized th a t Am erica n s res pect a n d fea r oth er peop le’s res olve, m ore th a n a n yth in g els e.

I h a ve gon e in to s u ch a deta iled des cr ip t ion to bet ter exp la in th e rea s on wh y th e Am erica n s a re n ot well liked in th e wor ld in gen era l, a n d in th e Midd le Ea s t a n d Afr ica n wor ld in pa r t icu la r .

Th e Un ited Sta tes u s e a very cu t a n d d ry a pproa ch for th e s olu t ion of a n y p rob lem ; th ey h a ve th e s o-ca lled “ tu n n el vis ion ”, p r in cipa lly du e to th eir s ch oolin g: p ra ct ica l a n d n ot h u m a n is t ic like ou rs . Th ey a re very good , bu t on ly in th e field th ey s pecia lize in ; a n d th is th e rea s on of th eir s u cces s es in th e h igh tech n ology, or in oth er s pecific in du s tr ia l a rea s .

Th e Am erica n s focu s on a pa r t icu la r a s pect of th e p rob lem , with ou t ta k in g in to con s idera t ion th e gen era l p ictu re.

Wh ile m os t Ru s s ia n s s pea k th e la n gu a ge of th e Cou n try th ey a re a s s ign ed to, very few Am erica n s s pea k oth er la n gu a ges th a n th eir own . Bu t th e la ck of fa m ilia r ity of oth er la n gu a ges is m os t da m a gin g in th e s ecret s ervices s ector . Th erefore th e va r iou s a gen ts u s e loca l in terp reters wh o s pea k En glis h a n d you ca n im a gin e th e con s equ en ces : th e r is k th a t s om e of th em p la y a dou b le role.

Th is is a m is ta ke th a t h a s often expos ed th e Am erica n s to s om e very em ba rra s s in g s itu a t ion s .

16

Th e Am erica n Em ba s s y work exper ien ce h a s been very va lu a b le for m y pers on a l a n d work fu tu re.

In ligh t of th e type of field I wa s work in g in , th e FBI a n d CIA h a ve a lwa ys kep t a n eye on m e. I rem em ber th a t every t im e I s et foot a t th e Ca s in o, I im m edia tely felt th e p iercin g look of th e “ a gen ts ” on du ty th ere. It wa s ea s y to s pot th em beca u s e of th eir typ ica l a t t ire: th e pa in ts u p to th eir a n k les a n d th e s h oes two s izes b igger th a n th eir feet .

Som etim es I wen t by th em a n d told th em to rela x beca u s e I wa s n ot s pen d in g U.S. Govern m en t fu n ds . Th ey a cted s u rp r is ed a n d th eir rea ct ion s wa s like th e on e k ids h a ve you fin d th em with th eir h a n ds in cook ies ’ ja r .

Th e s ocia l life wa s by fa r th e m os t p lea s a n t pa r t of m y rela t ion s h ip with th e Am erica n en viron m en t . I wa s th e on ly n on Am erica n to a t ten d th e officia l a s well th e p r iva te pa r t ies a t th e Em ba s s y. To m a ke m e feel com for ta b le th ey even Am erica n ized m y firs t n a m e.

At th eir pa r t ies th ere wa s a lot of food , a ll s or t of d r in ks a n d p len ty of bea u t ifu l s in gle wom en . Th e on ly s ecret to h a ve rea l fu n wa s th a t of n ot d r in k in g too m u ch . To a void to bein g a s ked a ll th e t im e by th e h os t if I wa n ted a refill, I wra pped m y gla s s , fu ll of a s oft d r in k , with a pa per n a pk in , p reten d in g I wa s d r in k in g gin with ice.

I wa s m a in ly in teres ted in th e bea u t ifu l lon ely s in gle wom en . Bu t I h a d to ch oos e in a h u rry th e on e I liked th e m os t , before th e effect of th e a lcoh ol took over . I ca n a s s u re you th a t before th e pa r ty wa s over , even th e m os t a t t ra ct ive wom a n d idn ’t look th e s a m e, beca u s e m os t of th e peop le a t ten d in g th e pa r ty were d ru n k .

Th e Sa tu rda y n igh t d ru n ken n es s s eem s to be th e fa vou r ite Am erica n pa s t im e, a n d Su n da y is n ickn a m ed th e “ a s p ir in da y”, to overcom e th e exces s es of d r in k in g.

Du r in g th a t per iod of t im e I u s ed to be a m em ber of a n in tern a t ion a l bea ch clu b , loca ted in on e th e m os t exclu s ive bea ch es of Tr ipoli. I a lwa ys rem em ber , with a lot of n os ta lgia , th e a tm os ph ere of th a t Clu b . It res em bled a lit t le Un ited Na t ion s , beca u s e th e m em bers ca m e from d ifferen t Na t ion s . We a ll got a lon g bea u t ifu lly.

We orga n ized s pecia l s ocia l even ts on th e bea ch a n d cou s cou s d in n ers . We were s u n ta n n ed a lm os t a ll yea r-a rou n d . I d is t in ct ly rem em ber th a t every t im e I flew from Tr ipoli to Ita ly, th e s tewa rdes s p ra is ed m e for h ow well I s poke Ita lia n , a s s u m in g I wa s Libya n .

It h a s been , u n qu es t ion a b ly, th e h a pp ies t per iod of m y life. In m y job I wa s en t it led to two weeks lea ve, a n d a fter two yea rs I

decided to ta ke a lon g va ca t ion . I tou red Eu rope by t ra in . I wen t to Fra n ce, Switzer la n d , Holla n d ,

Belgiu m a n d En gla n d . It wa s a fa n ta s t ic t r ip : I d idn ’t m a ke s pecific p la n s . I ch os e th e cit ies to vis it a s I t ra velled . After th e Ita lia n Riviera , I wen t to Mon teca r lo, Niece, Ca n n es . I a r r ived in Pa r is , th rou gh Ma rs eille, Lyon a n d Digion e.

My va ca t ion in Pa r is wa s m em ora b le. I s pen t th e da y t im e to en h a n ce m y cu ltu re, by vis it in g m u s eu m s a n d oth er im por ta n t s ites . Th e even in gs were for fu n .

17

Th rou gh ou t m y t r ip I m et s om e p ret ty wom en a n d I wa s a b le to en joy fu lly m y s en t im en ta l a n d ph ys ica l en cou n ters with ou t th e worry of a n y d is ea s e like AIDS, beca u s e du r in g th a t per iod of t im e, 1958 , lu ck ily d idn ’t exis t . Th e on ly “ d ru g” a t th a t t im e wa s s ex, in clu d in g orgies .

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18

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On e da y, wh ile I wa s a t th e pos t office to s en d a telegra m , I s a w a bea u t ifu l b lon d gir l wh o wa s t ryin g to bu y s om e s ta m ps , bu t n obody s poke En glis h . I h elped h er a n d a fter s h e offered m e a coffee to th a n k m e.

Du r in g ou r con vers a t ion s h e told th a t s h e ca m e to Pa r is for a s h or t va ca t ion , before get t in g m a rr ied in Lon don . Stra n gely en ou gh we d is covered th a t we s ta yed in th e s a m e Hotel.

I in vited h er for lu n ch a n d du r in g ou r m ea l s h e s u gges ted to s h a re th e s a m e room , to s a ve m on ey, n ot to be m is u n ders tood a s a com e-on . I a ccep ted h er p ropos a l, bu t I in form ed h er th a t m y room h a d ju s t on e k in g s ize bed . No rea ct ion wh a ts oever from h er .

In th e even in g we wen t to s ee a bea u t ifu l s h ow a t th e Mou lin Rou ge. After th e s h ow we wen t for a p lea s a n t wa lk a n d th en retu rn ed ba ck to Hotel. Th ere wa s a n em ba rra s s in g m om en t wh en we were get t in g rea dy to go to bed , bu t we both a cted in th e m os t n a tu ra l wa y.

Wh ile we were in bed s h e s ta r ted a s k in g a lot of qu es t ion s a bou t th e Ita lia n t ra d it ion s , h a b its a n d s o for th , to get to th e qu es t ion s h e h a d in m in d from th e begin n in g: “ is it t ru e th a t Ita lia n m en a re h ot b looded ”?

I ga ve h er th e on ly pos s ib le a n s wer : “Try it to fin d ou t” . Th e res erved a n d s weet b lon d gir l tu rn ed ou t to be a volca n o u n der th e s h eets ! I ca n a s s u re you th a t m a n y yea rs h a ve gon e by s in ce th a t en cou n ter , bu t I s t ill rem em ber it with s om e n os ta lgia .

19

On m y retu rn h om e I received a lit t le pa cka ge from Lon don . Sh e s en t m e a p iece of h er wedd in g ca ke a n d a n ice let ter , s ign ed a ls o by h er h u s ba n d!

After Pa r is I vis ited Bru s s els , Am s terda m a n d Lon don wh ere I s ta yed for a bou t a week . I retu rn ed ba ck to Ita ly via Zu r ich a n d Gen eva .

At th e en d of m y lon g t r ip I res ign ed from th e Am erica n Em ba s s y a n d decided to m ove to Ita ly.

20

Pa rt two

Rom e: 1962 -1985

Du r in g m y va ca t ion in Ita ly I decided to a n s wer to a n u m ber of job

offers by s en d in g m y C.V. I wa ited t ill I tu rn ed twen ty-n in e-yea r-old to be exon era ted from a n y m ilita ry du ty. In th a t per iod of t im e th e con s cr ip t ion wa s for two yea rs a n d I took a dva n ta ge of th e la w wh ich exon era ted a ll Ita lia n s livin g overs ea s .

At th e en d of m y va ca t ion , in 1962 , I fou n d s om e job offers . I ch os e to a ccep t th e p ropos a l of a p r iva te com pa n y. My decis ion to m ove to Rom e, Ita ly, ca u s ed s om e d is com for t to m y fa m ily. I exp la in ed to m y pa ren ts th a t ou r fu tu re in Libya , in s p ite of th e good rela t ion s h ip with th e loca l peop le, wa s a t r is k . I u s ed th e exa m ple of th e Ita lia n s bein g forced to lea ve Tu n is ia , a n d I wa s a bs olu tely con vin ced th a t on e da y th e s a m e th in g wou ld h a ppen in Libya .

Th e fir s t wa rn in g s ign s were th e n ew la ws wh ich s pecifica lly requ ired th a t th e m a jor ity of th e ca p ita l a ll com pa n ies opera t in g in Libya s h ou ld be own ed by Libya n cit izen s .

My p red ict ion s m a ter ia lized wh en Colon el Gh edda fi ca m e to power in 1967 .

My t ra n s fer to Ita ly beca m e va lu a b le a ls o for m y fa m ily. Th ey in fa ct s ta r ted to pu rch a s e p roper t ies in Rom e, in view of th eir defin it ive retu rn wh ich took p la ce in 1966 .

My fa th er p ra is ed m e for m y s u gges t ion s . Ma n y Ita lia n s wh o s ta yed in s p ite of th e wa rn in g s ign s , were forced to lea ve on ly with pers on a l effects a n d left beh in d a ll th eir p roper t ies a n d oth er belon gin gs .

My pa ren ts were a b le to s ell a ll th eir p roper t ies a n d t ra n s fer lega lly th e p roceeds to Ita ly.

My reloca t ion to Rom e forced m e to be dea l with n ew da ily p ra ct ica lit ies I wa s n ’t u s ed to. Bu t m y s t ron g des ire to bu ild a bet ter fu tu re for m ys elf, ra th er th a n bein g tem pted by th e com for ta b le life a n d ea s y p rofits in Libya , h elped m e to overcom e th e n ew da ily p rob lem s .

Th e m os t t ra u m a tic im pa ct wa s th e t ra ffic in Rom e. Th e work en viron m en t , a lth ou gh d ifferen t from th e on e I wa s u s ed to, wa s p lea s a n t .

I s ta r ted work in g in th e pu rch a s e depa r tm en t of a la rge com pa n y, wh ich bu ilt m ilita ry com m u n ica t ion s ys tem s , u n der U.S. licen s e. I wa s h ired m a in ly for m y En glis h kn owledge, a lth ou gh I d idn ’t h a ve a n y p r ior exper ien ce in th e electron ic field .

Here I a m a ga in in volved with th e Am erica n rea lity. After a lm os t two yea rs , I decided to s ta r t m y own bu s in es s , in it ia lly a s

a n a gen t , a n d la ter a s im por ter . At th e t im e I s ta r ted m y n ew bu s in es s , 1964 , it cou ld ta ke from a

m in im u m of s ix m on th s to two yea rs to h a ve a ph on e in s ta lled in m y a pa r tm en t . In th e bu ild in g wh ere I lived th ere wa s on e coin opera ted

21

teleph on e in s ta lled down s ta irs , n ext to th e doorm a n pos t . Th ere were twen ty a pa r tm en ts in ou r bu ild in g a n d you ca n im a gin e h ow d ifficu lt it wa s to m a ke or receive a ca ll. Th e doorm a n a cted a s a ph on e opera tor for a ll of u s . Som e of m y clien ts com pla in ed h ow d ifficu lt wa s to rea ch m e, beca u s e th e ph on e wa s bu s y, bu t I m a n a ged to con vin ce th em to be pa t ien t beca u s e I h a ve a lrea dy a s ked for a s econ d ph on e lin e!

Th e ch a n ce to s ta r t m y own bu s in es s ca m e du r in g m y vis it to a n electron ic s h ow in Pa r is . I im m edia tely rea lized th a t m os t of th e foreign m a n u fa ctu res from wh om we bou gh t th e pa r ts , wh ile work in g a t th e pu rch a s e depa r tm en t , d idn ’t h a ve a n a gen t in Ita ly.

I beca m e th e exclu s ive a gen t for Ita ly of a U.S. m a n u fa ctu rer , wh os e pa r ts were u s ed in th e p rodu ct ion of m ilita ry equ ipm en t s u ch a s com m u n ica t ion s ys tem s , ra da r , m is s iles , torpedoes , etc.

Th e begin n in g of m y a ct ivity wa s ra th er tu rbu len t a n d a t on e poin t I ra n ou t of fu n ds , du e to th e dela y in receivin g th e pa ym en ts from m y clien ts . For a bou t ten da ys I a te p la in boiled pa s ta , beca u s e I cou ldn ’t a fford a n yth in g els e. Fin a lly I received a n order , from on e of m y cu s tom ers , of a bou t n in ety th ou s a n d dolla rs for th e pa r ts I wa s th e exclu s ive a gen t , a n d m y com m is s ion wa s a bou t eigh t percen t .

After a n in it ia l per iod a s a n a gen t , I ch os e to im por t th e pa r ts on m y own a n d res ell it to th e va r iou s Ita lia n cu s tom ers . In doin g s o I rea ch ed a two-p ron g a dva n ta ge: in crea s e m y p rofit a n d p rotect m ys elf in ca s e th e m a n u fa ctu res I rep res en ted decided to s ell d irect ly to m y cu s tom ers , a n d cu t m e off.

My decis ion d idn ’t bode well with th e U.S. m a n u fa ctu rer , wh o m a de every effor t to con vin ce m e to a bs ta in from im por t in g d irect ly. Notwith s ta n d in g th eir oppos it ion , I wen t on with m y decis ion , th a n ks a ls o to th e en cou ra gem en t of m y clien ts , wh o fou n d it u s efu l n ot to h a ve to dea l with im por t du t ies , etc.

Th e volu m e of m y bu s in es s in crea s ed every yea r , bu t th is s u cces s , in s tea d of p lea s in g m y s u pp lier , beca m e m otive of res en tm en t on th eir pa r t . Th e m ore I expa n ded th e bu s in es s , m ore relen t les s ly th ey p res s u red m e to give th em th e n a m es of m y clien ts . For you r in form a t ion th e com pa n y I wa s bu yin g th e com pon en ts from , wa s pa r t of a s even b illion dolla r U.S. con glom era te.

Th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer t r ied a ll s or ts of th rea ts , on e of wh ich wa s to s top s h ipp in g th eir pa r ts to m e. To p rove m y des ire to in crea s e th e bu s in es s for th eir p rodu ct ion , I s u gges ted on m a n y occa s ion s , to s u b -a s s em bly th eir p rodu cts in Ita ly, a n d con s equ en t ly expa n d th e s a les in th e Eu ropea n m a rket .

Th eir rea ct ion to m y p ropos a l, a t th e begin n in g, wa s very d ip lom a t ic, bu t in th e en d , a fter m y con t in u ou s pers evera n ce, th ey clea r ly s ta ted th a t m y in it ia t ive wa s of th e qu es t ion , beca u s e of th e p res en ce in Ita ly of th e s t ron ges t Com m u n is t Pa r ty ou ts ide th e Soviet Un ion !

Even th ou gh I felt in s u lted a s Ita lia n cit izen by th eir s ta tem en t , I d idn ’t give m u ch im por ta n ce to it , kn owin g very well th eir p roverb ia l “ ign ora n ce” rega rd in g foreign a ffa irs .

22

Th e con trovers y beca m e viciou s , t ill on e da y I received a s t ra n ge vis it to m y office in Rom e of two Ru s s ia n “ en gin eers ” , wh o were en qu ir in g a bou t th e p rodu cts I s old . Th ey were m os t ly in teres ted in th e p rodu cts of th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer of wh ich I wa s th eir exclu s ive a gen t in Ita ly. Th ey a s ked to h a ve a ca ta log, bu t I told th em th a t it wa s th e la s t on e a n d I n eeded for m y work .

Im m edia tely a fter th e two Ru s s ia n “ en gin eers ” left m y office, I ca lled th e Am erica n Em ba s s y in Rom e. Two FBI/ CIA a gen ts ca m e to s ee m e a n d I in form ed th em a bou t th e s t ra n ge vis it . Th e two officers a s s u red m e th a t th ere wa s n oth in g illega l to give th e Ru s s ia n s th e ca ta log, a n d to ca ll th em in ca s e th ey retu rn ed . Bu t wh en a s ked th em to pu t in wr it in g th eir a u th or iza t ion , th ey told m e “ it wa s n ot n eces s a ry”.

Wh en th e Ru s s ia n “ en gin eers ” ca m e ba ck I s u gges ted th a t th ey cou ld ea s ily ob ta in th e ca ta log of th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer th rou gh th eir Em ba s s y in Wa s h in gton !

Th e m a in rea s on I a cted ca u t iou s wa s beca u s e th eir vis it a ppea red a lit t le fis h y, a n d I h a d a s t ron g s u s p icion wh o wa s beh in d it .

At th e rea r pa ge of th e ca ta log, I h a d s ta m ped th e n a m e a n d a ddres s of m y bu s in es s , a n d a n ybody cou ld h a ve fou n d wh ere th a t ca ta log ca m e from . Let u s n ot forget th a t everyth in g wa s h a ppen in g du r in g th e s o-ca lled “Cold wa r” era a n d a n ybody doin g bu s in es s with a n y Cou n try pa r t of th e “ Iron Cu r ta in ”, wou ld a u tom a t ica lly en d u p in a “ b la ck lis t ” .

On ce on th a t lis t it wa s n ext to im pos s ib le to ca r ry on a n y type of bu s in es s . How m a n y lives h a ve been des t royed by s en a tor McCa r th y witch -h u n t a ga in s t peop le wh o were “ com m u n is t s ym pa th izers ”! Th e m ovie in du s try a n d a n y in tellectu a l were con s idered “ libera l” a n d th erefore wor th of pu n is h m en ts .

I wa s fu lly a wa re th a t , in th e en d , m y in depen den t con du ct wou ld cos t m e dea r ly a n d , s oon or la ter , th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer wou ld fin d a wa y to d is m is s m e.

Wh ile wen t to s ee m y s is ter a n d b roth er in la w in Ca n a da , I s et u p a n im por t-expor t com pa n y. In a s h or t per iod of t im e it beca m e a ct ive. Th e rea l pu rpos e of th is com pa n y wa s to a ct a s a filter between th e Am erica n s u pp lier a n d th e Ita lia n cu s tom ers : it im proved t rem en dou s ly m y ca s h flow. Th e cu s tom a ry pa ym en t term s in Ita ly were between n in ety a n d on e h u n dred -twen ty da ys , bu t th e “ foreign s u pp liers ” were pa id in m a xim u m th ir ty da ys , if n ot by let ter of cred it .

Upon m y retu rn to Ita ly, I in form ed a ll m y cu s tom ers th a t I beca m e th e exclu s ive a gen t of a Ca n a d ia n com pa n y wh o s old a ll s or ts of U.S. elect ron ic com pon en ts a n d a ppa ra tu s . Th e a dva n ta ge for m y clien ts wa s to h a ve on e s ou rce for th eir va r iou s n eeds , a n d th erefore s a ve a lot of m on ey for th e s h ipp in g ch a rges . An oth er im por ta n t ben efit wa s th e la n gu a ge: a ll th eir requ es ts were s en t to m y office in Ita lia n .

It tu rn ed ou t to be a n idea l s olu t ion , a ls o in view of th e fa ct th a t m y term in a t ion , a s th e exclu s ive a gen t of th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer , wa s a bou t to h a ppen . All th e pu rch a s es of th e pa r ts ordered by m y Ita lia n

23

clien ts , were m a de by m y Ca n a d ia n com pa n y, a n d a ll th e U.S. s u pp liers th ou gh t th a t th e pa r ts were for th e Ca n a d ia n m a rket .

Th e s h ipm en ts a r r ivin g from th e Sta tes wen t to a free t ra de a rea , in th e wa reh ou s e of ou r s h ipp in g a gen t . A pa r t t im e em ployee p repa red ou r s ellin g in voices a n d wen t to th e wa reh ou s e to ta ke off a ll th e la bels a n d s h ipp in g docu m en ts of th e s u pp lier a n d s u bs t itu te with ou r docu m en ts . Th e n ext da y th e s h ipm en t left for Ita ly. We d idn ’t pa y a n y Ca n a d ia n cu s tom s du ty beca u s e th e m erch a n d is e wa s in t ra n s it . We d idn ’t h a ve a n y in ven tory, beca u s e we u s u a lly bou gh t th e pa r ts a lrea dy s old to ou r cu s tom ers .

My p la n m et a ll m y cu s tom ers a pprova l. I in ves ted m os t of th e p rofit of m y in it ia t ive in develop in g, a n d la ter

m a n u fa ctu r in g, th e p rodu cts I u s ed to bu y from th e Am erica n com pa n y. Th es e pa r ts a re h igh p recis ion m icro-m otors u t ilized by th e h igh tech in du s tr ies s u ch a s : telecom m u n ica t ion s , a vion ics , a n d a ll s or ts of m ilita ry equ ipm en ts .

I in ves ted qu ite a lot of m on ey in 1978 , in m y n ew bu s in es s en terp r is e. I in ves t iga ted th orou gh ly to fin d ou t if I wou ld in cu r in a n y pa ten t

in fr in gem en t , bu t I d is covered th a t a ll h a d exp ired . Th e developm en t of th es e p rodu cts requ ired a lot of res ea rch work to fin d , in th e Ita lia n or Eu ropea n m a rket , th e va r iou s com pon en ts a n d th e p roper equ ipm en t .

After two yea rs of h a rd work , with th e h elp of a ret ired en gin eer , a fa n ta s t ic d ra fts m a n , a n d two tech n icia n s , we were fin a lly a b le to m a n u fa ctu re th e fir s t p rototypes . It wa s a m om en t of grea t s a t is fa ct ion for a ll of u s . I rem em ber d is t in ct ly wh en th e p rototypes s ta r ted ru n n in g: it wa s like a s s is t in g to th e b ir th of you r fir s t ch ild !

In th e m ea n t im e a ll m y p red ict ion s a bou t m y term in a t ion beca m e rea l. Th e Am erica n com pa n y s en t m e a m en a cin g let ter : I d idn ’t s en d th em th e lis t of m y cu s tom ers , th ey wou ld be forced to ca n cel m y con tra ct .

Th eir let ter d idn ’t both er m e a t a ll, beca u s e I wa s a lrea dy a t a good poin t with m y n ew p rodu ct ion , a n d in th e m ea n t im e I h a d en ou gh of th eir pa r ts in in ven tory to s a t is fy th e im m edia te n eeds of m y cu s tom ers .

I th erefore m a de a decis ion to s en d th em a lis t of n a m es to ver ify if m y s u s p icion s were correct . Th e n a m es I s en t th em were of com pa n ies in com pletely d ifferen t fields of a ct ivit ies : s u ch a s th e loca l m ilk com pa n y, th e loca l t ra n s por ta t ion com pa n y, etc.

Im m edia tely a fter receivin g m y let ter , th e Am erica n s u pp lier s en t m e a term in a t ion let ter , s ta t in g th a t du e to a reorga n iza t ion of th eir s a les forces , th ey d idn ’t n eed m y coopera t ion a n ym ore! Bin go!

I r igh t a wa y s en t a telex to th e m a n a ger a s well to th e h ea dqu a r ters of th e corpora t ion th e com pa n y wa s pa r t of, in form in g th em th a t I h a ve s ta r ted to m a n u fa ctu re in Ita ly th e pa r ts p reviou s ly pu rch a s ed from th em . I decided to s en d th e a bove telex, n ot a s a ch a llen ge, bu t a s a p roper bu s in es s decis ion . Som e of th eir em ployees in form ed m e th a t th e m a n a gem en t ’s fir s t rea ct ion wa s of s u rp r is e, bu t r igh t a wa y th ey con s u lted th eir la wyers to s u e m e. Th e la wyers ’ a n s wer wa s n ega t ive beca u s e I d idn ’t

24

viola te a n y pa ten t , a n d th e on ly wa y to pu t m e ou t of bu s in es s wa s to offer bet ter p rodu cts a t a ch ea per p r ice th a n m in e!

Du r in g m y yea rs a s a n a gen t , I h a ve com e a cros s a n d collected a good n u m ber of n a m es of th eir m a jor cu s tom ers , a ll a rou n d th e wor ld . I th erefore s en t a ll of th em a p rom otion telex a dver t is in g m y p rodu cts . I wa s s u rp r is ed a n d t rou b led by th eir res pon s e.

Am a zed beca u s e I received m ore requ es ts th a n I a n t icipa ted , a n d t rou b led by th e rea lity of m y lim ited p rodu ct ion ca pa city.

Ou r p rototypes h a ve been tes ted a n d a pproved by th e m os t im por ta n t n a t ion a l a n d in tern a t ion a l com pa n ies in th e m ilita ry field : Un ited Sta tes , Is ra el, En gla n d , a n d Ita ly.

My s m a ll p rodu ct ion s fa cility wou ld n ot h a ve been a b le to s a t is fy, a ll th e n ew cu s tom ers ’ requ es ts . I h a d a lm os t dep leted m y s a vin gs du e th e expen s es in cu rred to get s ta r ted , a n d I th erefore a s ked for a ba n k loa n . Bu t Ita lia n ba n ks a re very s kep t ica l a bou t in ves t in g in s m a ll s ize com pa n ies . Th e on ly wa y ou t wa s to in volve s om e Ita lia n govern m en t a gen cies .

I wa s in a n a wkwa rd s itu a t ion : I h a d a poten t ia l m a rket for m y p rodu cts of s evera l th ou s a n ds of dolla rs , bu t I d idn ’t h a ve th e p rodu ct ion ca pa city to s a t is fy it . I h a d n ot a n t icipa ted s u ch a n im m edia te dem a n d , n ot even in m y wildes t d rea m s . Th e rea s on beh in d s u ch a n im m edia te dem a n d wa s du e to th e lon g delivery term s requ ired by th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer : th ey a lm os t opera ted in a s or t of m a rket m on opoly.

In Ita ly, u n les s you h a ve a polit ica l con n ect ion , it is a lm os t im pos s ib le to get th e p roper a t ten t ion from a n y govern m en t in s t itu t ion . Bu t in th e en d I fou n d th e m is s in g lin k a n d m y p roject wa s p res en ted to th e equ iva len t of Sm a ll Bu s in es s Adm in is t ra t ion : th ey rea lized th e poten t ia l growth a n d th e retu rn on th eir in ves tm en t .

I wa s s o exited to fin a lly be a b le to fu lfill th e m a rket requ irem en ts , th a t m a de m e over look th e en viron m en t I wa s in , wh ere peop le th in k n ot in in du s tr ia l p rodu ct ion term s , bu t in polit ica l ben efits .

We rea ch ed a n a greem en t , a ccord in g to wh ich , th e p rodu ct ion of m y pa r ts , wou ld be ca r r ied on by on e of th eir in du s tr ia l com pa n y, fin a n cia lly s pon s ored by th e govern m en t , few k ilom eters s ou th of Rom e.

Th is in du s tr ia l p la n t wa s or igin a lly s et u p to m a n u fa ctu re h igh p recis ion m ech a n ica l devices , a n d h a d th e m os t s ta te of th e a r t m a ch in er ies a n d tes t equ ipm en ts n eces s a ry to p rodu ce m y pa r ts . It wa s th e idea l p la n t , I cou ldn ’t h a ve fou n d a bet ter p la ce. It wa s love a t fir s t s igh t!

Th es e a re th e deta ils of th e a greem en t : • th ey p la n t wou ld m a n u fa ctu re m y h igh p recis ion m in ia tu re

m otors • I wou ld t ra n s fer a ll th e equ ipm en t I h a d in m y fa cility to th eir

p la n t • I wou ld let th em u s e m y kn ow h ow a n d m a n u fa ctu r in g d ra win gs

25

• I wou ld h a n d le a ll th e s a les a n d I wou ld h a ve been en t it led to s h a re th e p rofits .

• In exch a n ge of a ll th e a bove, th e p la n t wou ld pa y m e th e equ iva len t of fou r-h u n dred th ou s a n ds dolla rs , in in s ta llm en ts of twen ty th ou s a n ds dolla rs per m on th .

On pa per it looked like a fa n ta s t ic a greem en t for th e pa r t ies in volved . Bu t I d is rega rded th e polit ica l in teres ts im p lica ted beh in d th e s cen es . To m a ke a lon g s tory s h or t , a fter m a n y in it ia l p rodu ct ion t rou b les a n d

dela ys , th e pa r ts delivered by th e p la n t , were of rea l pou r qu a lity. I cou ldn ’t pos s ib ly s h ip it to m y cu s tom ers , with ou t jeopa rd izin g m y repu ta t ion .

Th e fin a n cia l pa r t wa s a ls o a s ou rce of a ggra va t ion s . Th ey on ly pa id th e fir s t two in s ta llm en ts , a n d s a id th a t th ey d idn ’t h a ve s u fficien t fu n ds to pa y th e res t . My n u m erou s com pla in ts wen t u n h ea rd . I d idn ’t even ta ke in to con s idera t ion a n y lega l a ct ion , beca u s e it wou ld h a ve ta ken m e cen tu r ies , a n d n ot yea rs , to get m y m on ey ba ck . Ita ly in fa ct h a s been rep r im a n ded m a n y t im es by th e Eu ropea n In tern a t ion a l Cou r t , for th e len gth in es s of th e ju d icia l s ys tem .

My equ ipm en t beca m e pa r t of th e p la n t ’s ba n kru p tcy a n d I wa s on ly a b le to get m y m a n u fa ctu r in g d ra win gs ba ck .

Th e bea u t ifu l p la n t is s t ill th ere like a ca th ed ra l in th e des er t . It wa s cu s tom a ry in Ita ly to s et u p in du s tr ia l fa cilit ies wh os e s ole pu rpos e wa s to ob ta in fin a n cia l a id from th e govern m en t , pa r t of wh ich wa s u s ed by th e polit ica l pa r ty wh o en dors ed th e p roject!

Th e a dva n ta ge of in depen den t work h a s a llowed m e to t ra vel a lot . In th e cou rs e of m y bu s in es s t r ip s I h a ve th e oppor tu n ity to d is cover n ew p la ces . My En glis h a n d Fren ch la n gu a ge kn owledge h a s h elped m e im m en s ely to a pprecia te th e d ivers e loca l rea lit ies , by ta lk in g d irect ly with th e peop le, in s tea d th rou gh th e filter of a n in terp reter . I t r ied th e food a n d delica tes s en of a ll th e p la ces I vis ited , in s tea d of ea t in g a t th e Hotel res ta u ra n ts wh ere I s ta yed . From m y exten s ive t ra velin g I h a ve lea rn ed th a t peop le wh o ca n n ot a fford th e s o-ca lled expen s ive n u tr it ion a re very s eldom violen t .

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It wa s qu ite a n em otion a l exper ien ce to fly over th e Nor th Pole, on th e occa s ion of m y voya ge to J a pa n from Lon don , with a s topover in Ala s ka .

I h a ve a ls o been to In d ia , Th a ila n d , Mexico, Sou th Afr ica , Ven ezu ela , Cos ta Rica , St . Th om a s , a n d Berm u da .

My firs t vis it to th e Un ited Sta tes , in 1966 , is a s s ocia ted to Fra n k Sin a tra ’s s on g “Stra n ger in th e n igh t” . I wa s in a n Hotel room , in Da yton , Oh io, wa it in g to go to d in n er with s om e work collea gu es , wh en a ll of a s u dden , I h ea rd m y n a m e bein g a n n ou n ced by th e loca l ra d io s ta t ion , to wh is h m e h a ppy b ir th da y a n d s u bs equ en t ly p la yed th a t s on g. It wa s a n ice s u rp r is e by m y collea gu es .

Th e m os t en joya b le a n d deligh tfu l t r ip to U.S. tu rn ed ou t to be th e on e in 1968 , togeth er with a des ign er for a fa s h ion s h ow, in Da yton , Oh io. It wa s a n u n believa b le a n d u n forget ta b le exper ien ce.

It wa s n ot ea s y to com bin e th e dem a n ds of th e s tylis t , wh o rega rded ea ch on e of h er d res s es , like th e on ly ch ild , a n d th e requ es ts of th e s h ipp in g a gen t to exped ite th e red -ta pe p rocedu res a t ou r a r r iva l in New York , in t ra n s it to Da yton , with th ree ca s es fu ll of h igh fa s h ion cloth es .

To en h a n ce th e Ita lia n s tyle, I in vited to ta ke ca re of pu b lic rela t ion s , a bea u t ifu l a n d a t t ra ct ive good fr ien d of m in e, very well-kn own in th e a dver t is in g m a rket (th e m os t im por ta n t s ites in Mila n o were covered with b illboa rd with h er p ictu re p rom otin g a well kn own wh is ky).

Allow m e to ded ica te h er a s weet th ou gh t , beca u s e s a d ly s h e is n o lon ger with u s .

Th e da y a fter ou r a r r iva l in Da yton , s ta r ted th e s elect ion of th e m a n n equ in s . I got in volved to s m ooth th e s tylis t ’s exu bera n t requ es ts to h a ve p rofes s ion a l gir ls , bu t we cou ldn ’t fin d a n ybody a va ila b le. It wa s n ext to im pos s ib le to a ct im per tu rba b le in fron t of s o m a n y bea u t ifu l you n g la d ies , a n d n ot to in flu en ce th e s elect ion .

Th e pu rpos e of th e s h ow wa s to collect fu n ds for th e ph ilh a rm on ic orch es tra of Da yton .

Th e n igh t of th e s h ow, th e ba llroom of th e Hotel wa s com pletely filled . All th e loca l a n d Sta te m ed ia were th ere, a n d th e va r iou s a u th or it ies . I a s s u m ed th a t on e of th e orga n izers wou ld in t rodu ce th e s h ow, bu t I wa s wron g. Five m in u tes before th e s ta r t , th e pers on in ch a rge of th e com m it tee, a s ked to join h im on th e s ta ge. After th e in it ia l th a n ks to a ll don ors , h e h a n ded m e th e m icroph on e to con du ct th e s h ow.

After th e in it ia l pa n ic I h a n d led th e res t of th e even in g, ra th er s u cces s fu lly, beca u s e m y a ccen t a dded a n in tern a t ion a l fla vor to th e

28

even in g. Th e com m it tee collected m ore fu n ds th a n expected a n d th e s tylis t wa s very h a ppy.

Th e n ext da y we h a ve been in terviewed by th e va r iou s m ed ia a n d h a ve been in vited to a live TV s h ow for a n h ou r . It wa s ra th er a m u s in g to res pon d to th e ca llers qu es t ion s . Th e TV h os t wa s Ph il Don a h u e, wh o la ter beca m e fa m ou s n a t ion wide.

29

Pa rt th ree

Th e yea rs 1985 -1989

I m et Govern or Wa lla ce of Ala ba m a in Rom e in 1983 du r in g h is officia l vis it to Ita ly to p rom ote h is Sta te.

Th e Com m ercia l At ta ch é of th e Am erica n Em ba s s y in Rom e, a s ked m e to h elp h im orga n ize a lu n ch eon m eet in g with a grou p of Ita lia n in du s tr ia l execu t ives , to wh om th e Govern or wa n ted to ta lk a bou t th e a dva n ta ges th e Sta te of Ala ba m a offered to foreign in ves tors .

After th e lu n ch , I h a d a p r iva te m eet in g with Govern or Wa lla ce, wh o officia lly in vited m e to vis it h is Sta te.

Govern or Wa lla ce is th e on e wh o t r ied to b lock th e b la ck s tu den ts from en ter in g th e s ch ools . Th e federa l t roops h a d to in terven e, to en force th e la w wh ich pu t a n en d to th e ra cia l d is cr im in a t ion .

In 1972 , du r in g a ca m pa ign for th e p res iden t ia l elect ion , Govern or Wa lla ce wa s s h ot a n d beca m e pa ra lyzed .

I h a ve been goin g to th e Un ited Sta tes , for bu s in es s , s in ce 1966 , a t lea s t twice a yea r , bu t I n ever vis ited Ala ba m a . Ma ybe I wa s n ega t ively in flu en ced by s eein g th e m ovie “Gon e with th e win d ” s evera l t im es . I fin a lly wen t to Ala ba m a in Ma y 1985 .

I m u s t a dm it th a t a fter livin g in Ala ba m a for th ir teen yea rs , m y or igin a l im pres s ion wa s n ot fa r from rea lity. Th e ra cia l d is cr im in a t ion , n ot yet com pletely defea ted in m os t Sta tes , in Ala ba m a is s t ill a live.

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�� ������Du rin g m y vis it I wa s in vited , a lwa ys a s a gu es t of th e s ta te of Ala ba m a ,

to a d in n er pa r ty for th e lea gu e of m u n icipa lit ies , a t ten ded by over fou r-h u n dred peop le. �In few m in u tes I ru n ou t of m y bu s in es s ca rds , beca u s e I wa s officia lly in t rodu ced a s s om eon e in teres ted in lea rn in g th e a dva n ta ges for a n in du s tr ia l ven tu re in Ala ba m a .

Mos t m a yors t r ied to lu re m e to vis it th eir city, by in vit in g m e to th eir ta b le. Th e m eet in g wa s ta k in g p la ce in Mon tgom ery, th e ca p itol of th e s ta te. Ala ba m a is lit t le s ta te, h a lf th e s ize of Ita ly, bu t with a popu la t ion of on ly fou r m illion peop le. Th e n or th ern pa r t is con n ected to Ten n es s ee, ea s t with Georgia , wes t with Mis s is s ipp i, a n d s ou th -ea s t with Flor ida . Th e s ou th ern pa r t fa ces th e gu lf of Mexico.

I wa s in vited by th e m a jor of Fa irh ope to h a ve d in n er , a t th eir ta b le, with h is cou n cil m em bers : m y n ow ex wife wa s on e of th em . Sh e wa s th e on ly wom a n .

Th a t h ow it s ta r ted m y Am erica n s oa p opera ! In th e cou rs e of ou r fir s t m eet in g s h e told th a t s h e wa s d ivorced a n d

h a d th ree ch ild ren : two boys , eleven a n d s even -yea r-old , a n d a gir l of th ree yea rs of a ge. I h a ve la ter fou n d ou t th a t s h e wa s s t ill m a rr ied , bu t s h e d ivorced a fter ou r “ h on eym oon ” t r ip .

Ou r fir s t rom a n t ic en cou n ter h a ppen ed th e even in g a fter ou r officia l d in n er , a n d wa s fa cilita ted by th e fa ct th a t we both s ta yed a t th e s a m e h otel. We decided to go to d in n er , bu t wh en we a r r ived a t th e res ta u ra n t I rea lized th a t d in n er wa s ju s t a p retext to ju s t ify h er rea l des ire to m a ke love. Sh e h a d to a ppea r relu cta n t to m y p ropos a l: th e on ly requ is ite wa s th a t I wou ld s pen d th e n igh t in h er room ! I a ccep ted h er p ropos a l im m edia tely, beca u s e I felt s t ron gly a t t ra cted to h er . We s pen t a fa n ta s t ic n igh t togeth er .

Th e n ext da y s h e s h ou ld h a ve gon e ba ck h om e with th e res t of cou n cil m em bers , bu t s h e decided to s ta y over s a yin g th a t s h e h a d to vis it s om e s ch ools in th e a rea . Sh e wa s th e a gen t of a com pa n y s ellin g in s t ru ct ion a l m a ter ia ls to s ch ools .

Du r in g th e t im e we s pen t togeth er s h e a cted like a ch ild wh o fin d a n ew toy a n d wa n ted to p la y with it a ll th e t im e. I a m n ot s u gges t in g th a t it wa s th e res u lt of m y lover ’s s k ills , bu t ju s t im a gin e th e ps ych ologica l s ta tu s of a wom a n from th e deep s ou th , a t t ra cted by a n Ita lia n . Sh e a s ked m e a zillion qu es t ion s a bou t ou r life s tyle, ea t in g h a b its , a n d cu ltu re, wh ich s h e b r iefly s tu d ied a t s ch ool. As a good ca th olic s h e wa n ted to kn ow a ll a bou t St . Peter ’s Ca th edra l. We wen t for d in n er to a loca l Ita lia n res ta u ra n t , beca u s e s h e fa n cied to live th e rom a n t ic a tm os ph ere s h e s a w in s om e m ovies .

We s a w ea ch oth er a ga in a fter a lm os t two m on th s from wh en we fir s t m et . I rem em ber it wa s a rou n d th e en d of J u n e 1985 : I a r r ived from Ita ly a n d s h e ca m e to p ick m e u p in At la n ta , Georgia , a n d a fter on e n igh t th ere, we wen t for ou r “ h on eym oon ” to Wes t Pa lm Bea ch , in Flor ida .

Du r in g th e ten da ys we s pen t togeth er , s h e fin a lly told th e t ru th a bou t h er d ivorce. Sh e s a id th a t I m is u n ders tood h er , beca u s e s h e wa s s t ill

33

m a rr ied , bu t in ten ded to d ivorce a s s oon a s s h e retu rn ed ba ck h om e. Sh e wa s a b le to s ta y a wa y from h om e, beca u s e s h e told h er h u s ba n d th a t s h e n eeded to be a lon e to th in k a bou t th eir fa m ily s itu a t ion !

Sh e told h er ch ild ren , a ll of th em a doles cen t , th a t s h e wa s goin g to be a wa y for h er work . To be a ccep ta b ly in pea ce with h ers elf, s h e ca lled th em every n igh t to wis h th em goodn igh t a n d to tell th em th e m os t u s ed , a bu s ed , a n d m ea n in gles s word th a t a ll Am erica n s lea rn s in ce ch ildh ood : I LOVE YOU.

E.g.: “ I love m y ca r , I love to get d ru n k , I love m y dog, I love m y wife, I love to ea t ” , etc.

Ou r “ h on eym oon ” wa s com in g to a n en d , a n d s h e ca lled h er h u s ba n d from ou r h otel room , to order h im to ta ke a ll h is belon gin gs a n d d is a ppea r before s h e retu rn ed h om e. I rem em ber I cou ld h ea r ted s h e wa s wh en s h e wa s ta lk in g to h im : th ey h a ve been m a rr ied for fou r teen yea rs a n d h a d th ree ch ild ren togeth er .

Sh e ca m e to s ee m e in Rom e, in Sep tem ber 1985 , to ch eck m y s ocia l s ta tu s , a n d I fin a lly m oved to Ala ba m a in October of th e s a m e yea r .

I ren ted a fu rn is h ed a pa r tm en t in a s m a ll town n ot fa r a wa y from wh ere s h e lived , to a void a n y gos s ip . Sh e u s ed to com e to m y p la ce, s oon a fter th e two boys wen t to s ch ool, a n d took h er da u gh ter to a k in derga r ten .

My firs t m eet in g with th e ch ild ren wa s , to s a y th e lea s t , ra th er u n u s u a l. It wa s a Su n da y a n d s h e h a d to go to a wa ke of h er fr ien d ’s m oth er a n d th erefore decided to lea ve th e ch ild ren with m e.

After a n in it ia l in t rodu ct ion s h e left for th e res t of th e a ftern oon . Th e ch ild ren looked like th ree lit t le b irds ta ken from th eir n es t to a tota l s t ra n ge en viron m en t . Th ey h a d p roper a t t ires , bu t h a d a s a d look in th eir eyes , like lit t le pu pp ies ; th ey a ll were s ta rvin g for a t ten t ion , es pecia lly th e lit t le gir l, th ree-yea r-old .

I m a n a ged to es ta b lis h a m ore fr ien d ly a tm os ph ere by givin g th em th e p res en ts I b rou gh t from Ita ly.

We got m a rr ied before a ju dge on Febru a ry 9 , 1986 , a n d on J a n u a ry 3 ,1987 in th e ca th olic ch u rch , a fter s h e ob ta in ed a ra th er s peedy a n n u lm en t of h er p reviou s m a rr ia ge. I wa s s u rp r is ed a n d s h ocked a ls o by th e a m ou n t s h e pa id for th e a n n u lm en t : $ 157 .00 on ly! In Ita ly it u s u a lly ta kes s evera l yea rs a n d a lot of m on ey. I la ter d is covered th e rea s on s beh in d th e wh ole m a t ter : s h e h a d s t ron g ch u rch a n d polit ica l t ies .

Let m e open a pa ren th es is to exp la in h ow fa ith ca n be m a n ipu la ted for polit ica l ga in , in th e Un ited Sta tes . Fa ith gets a lwa ys th e m os t a t ten t ion from th e Am erica n peop le.

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�´I wa s born in Ka n da h a r twen ty-two yea rs a go, bu t I h a ve lived in Ita ly for a lm os t a ll m y a doles cen t ’s yea rs . Su bs equ en t ly I retu rn ed to Afgh a n is ta n a n d n ow I wa n t to tell m y s tory to th e Ita lia n peop le I loved s o m u ch . In Ita ly th e m a fia is com pa ra b le to a ca n cer , bu t I a m h a ppy th a t n obody h a s decided to bom ba rd you r cou n try. I wa s in Ka n da h a r wh en th e “wes tern ” bom ba rdm en ts s ta r ted . I wa s th ere with m y ba by a n d m y h u s ba n d . He left to figh t . Not volu n ta r ily, h e is n ot a ter ror is t . He h a s left beca u s e m en a re forced to en roll by th e a rm ed forces everywh ere in th e wor ld , wh en th ere is a wa r . He wa s twen ty-yea r-old a n d left with ou t look in g a t ou r ba by wh o wa s cryin g. Ma ybe h e wa s th in k in g th a t h e wou ld n ever s ee h im a ga in , a n d d idn ’t wa n t to rem em ber h im cryin g. Bom bs were fa llin g la s t t im e I s a w h im a live, th e b la s ts were very lou d , peop le were s h ou t in g a n d ru n n in g in s ea rch of a refu ge. Beca u s e of a ll th is I don ’t th in k h e h ea rd m y goodbye. I followed h im for few m eters a lon g th e roa d a n d for th e fir s t t im e I wa s h a ppy to wea r th e bou rqa : h e d idn ’t s ee m y tea rs . At n igh t I h eld m y ba by rea l t igh t clos e to m e beca u s e h e cou ldn ’t s leep a n y lon ger . On e n igh t th e h ou s e exp loded on top of u s . My ch ild d idn ’t s crea m , th is I rem em ber . Bu t I d id s crea m a n d it wa s a n in h u m a n s crea m . I felt b lood d r ipp in g on m y legs a n d I wa s h op in g it wa s m in e. It wa s n ’t . I a s ked God to s en d a n oth er bom b to k ill m e, I felt like I cou ldn ’t go on a n y lon ger . In s tea d I fou n d m ys elf ru n n in g, look in g for h elp , in th e m ids t of bom bs a n d fla m es , n ext to oth er m oth ers with lit t le b leed in g pa rcels in th eir a rm s . My ch ild will live with ou t h is legs , cr ies a ll da y lon g, a n d wh in es every n igh t . I h a ve given th is let ter to a fr ien d wh o h a s fled to Eu rope. It is for you Ita lia n s . I th in k th a t n on e of th e won derfu l peop le I m et th ere wou ld h a ve liked to u s e th eir ta x m on ey to pa y for th e bom b wh ich h a s ta ken m y ch ild ’s legs a n d h ope a wa y. Un for tu n a tely th e bom b h a s been pa id by you . Sign ed An n a from Ka n da h a r ” . HQG�RI�WKH�OHWWHU

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My wife wa s well con n ected with th e ca th olic ch u rch , beca u s e a s a m em ber of th e fin a n cia l com m it tee of ou r pa r is h , s h e h a d frequ en t m eet in gs with th e b is h op . I rea lized th e im por ta n ce of h er con n ect ion s , wh en , du r in g on e of ou r t r ip s to Ita ly, we h a ve been in vited to a t ten d th e Wedn es da y’s pu b lic a ppoin tm en t with th e Pope. Th e b is h op ga ve a let ter of in t rodu ct ion to th e Ca rd in a l in ch a rge of th e Va t ica n ’s com m u n ica t ion depa r tm en t . I s t ill h a ve h is bu s in es s ca rd .

Sh e wa s a ls o p ret ty well con n ected with th e polit ica l en viron m en t . In h er du ty a s cou n cil m em ber of h er town , s h e wa s elected m em ber of th e Na t ion a l Cou n cil of Mu n icipa lit ies , wh ich h eld th eir m eet in gs in Wa s h in gton .

Sh e wa s a ls o very a ct ive in th e electora l com m it tee of on e of th e two federa l s en a tors of Ala ba m a , dem ocra t . All th es e con n ect ion s tu rn ed ou t to

37

be u s efu l wh en I a pp lied for m y “green ca rd ” (perm a n en t res iden ce in th e U.S.A.), wh ich took lon ger th a n u s u a l beca u s e of m y p la ce of b ir th : Tr ipoli, Libya . All th is wa s h a ppen in g du r in g th e per iod in wh ich Rea ga n a u th or ized th e bom ba rdm en t of Libya .

Th a n ks to h er con n ect ion s we vis ited th e Con gres s a n d th e Sen a te in Wa s h in gton . We even a t ten ded on e of th e h ea r in gs in th e Sen a te, for th e Wh ite Wa ter s ca n da l: th e repu b lica n s were t ryin g to d is cred it p res iden t Clin ton . Sca n da ls in Wa s h in gton a re like th e da ily b red of a n orm a l pers on .

Wh en th e repu b lica n s took con trol of th e Con gres s a n d th e Sen a te, in 1994 , m y ex wife decided to becom e a ct ive in th e Repu b lica n pa r ty! In J a n u a ry 1996 we took pa r t to a Repu b lica n pa r ty reu n ion in Wa s h in gton , wh ere we m et th e m os t im por ta n t polit ica l figu res of th a t per iod : Newt Gin gr ich , th e s pea ker of th e Hou s e, Tren ton Lot t , p res iden t of th e Sen a te, a n d a m on g oth ers Gen era l Colin Powell, p res en t ly s ervin g a s Secreta ry of Sta te of p res iden t George W. Bu s h . Gen era l Powell is a very exqu is ite pers on , with wh om I h a d a lon g con vers a t ion , con s ider in g th e en viron m en t we were in : everybody wa s t ryin g to h a ve a p ictu re ta ken with h im . I wa s im pres s ed by h is m em ory: s oon a fter I told h im m y la s t n a m e, h e rem em bered th a t a s ergea n t with m y s a m e la s t n a m e, wa s with h im in Vietn a m .

He wa s cu r iou s to fin d ou t h ow en ded u p in Ala ba m a from Ita ly, a n d a fter we took a p ictu re togeth er , we pa r ted .

A s er ies of s peech es by th e va r iou s Repu b lica n lea ders were followed by a d in n er a n d a s h ow. Severa l h ou rs h a ve pa s s ed s in ce m y firs t en cou n ter with Gen era l Powell, wh en I s a w h im a ga in a t th e en d of th e reu n ion : h e im m edia tely ca lled m e by m y la s t n a m e a n d a s ked m y ph on e n u m ber in ca s e h e wa s a b le to get in tou ch with th e s ergea n t .

Du r in g m y firs t vis it in Ala ba m a , I in corpora ted a com pa n y, in Hu n ts ville, a n d a fter m y m a rr ia ge I ga ve fifty percen t of th e s h a res to m y wife, a s a gift . Th is a ct of gen eros ity wou ld en d u p h a vin g a lot of n ega t ive con s equ en ces la ter on .

Th e n a m e I ch os e for m y com pa n y s ou n ded on th e ph on e like th e on e of a fa m ou s telecom m u n ica t ion com pa n y. It tu rn ed ou t to be a win n in g tool in th e cou rs e of m y a ct ivity. In fa ct wh en we ca lled ou r s u pp liers a n d ga ve th em th e n a m e of m y com pa n y, we got th eir im m edia te a t ten t ion . Th e in it ia l a pp roa ch is very im por ta n t : bu t la ter wh en we s pelled ou t th e n a m e of th e com pa n y, th ey rea lized th e m is u n ders ta n d in g, bu t on th e oth er h a n d we h a d th eir a t ten t ion .

Im m edia tely a fter m y t ra n s fer to th e Un ited Sta tes , I in form ed a ll m y Ita lia n cu s tom ers of m y n ew com pa n y a n d offered a bet ter a s s is ta n ce, s in ce I wa s clos er to th e Am erica n s u pp liers I u s ed to bu y from . Th e m a jor ity of m y Ita lia n cu s tom ers bu ilt m ilita ry equ ipm en ts u n der U.S. licen s e, a n d th erefore m os t of th e com pon en ts were of U.S. or igin .

I d idn ’t h a ve to wa it too lon g before th e fir s t order a r r ived for over on e-h u n dred th ou s a n d dolla rs a n d it wa s for th e pa r ts I u s ed to be th e exclu s ive a gen t in Ita ly. I wa s rea lly excited , both th e p rofit I wou ld h a ve

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m a de, a bou t for ty th ou s a n d dolla rs , a s well a s for th e n ice begin n in g of m y n ew com pa n y.

Nin e yea rs h a ve gon e by s in ce I wa s term in a ted by th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer a s th eir exclu s ive a gen t , bu t n ever th eles s I kep t bu yin g s om e of th eir pa r ts th rou gh th e a u th or ized d is t r ibu tors . Th ey d idn ’t ca re m u ch a bou t m y pa s t p rob lem s with th e m a n u fa ctu rer , a s lon g a s th ey m a de a s a le.

I p la ced th e order with th e d is t r ibu tor , a n d I wa s wa it in g for th e delivery da tes , in order to in form m y cu s tom er . After few da ys in s tea d I received a ca ll from th e s a les en gin eer in form in g m e th a t th ey h a ve received s t r ict orders from th e m a n u fa ctu rer n ot to s ell th e pa r ts to m y com pa n y.

All th is wa s h a ppen in g in 1986 a n d in Apr il of th e s a m e yea r p res iden t Rea ga n ordered to bom b Libya , wh o wa s a ccu s ed of h a vin g a t ta cked Am erica n m ilita ry s h ips in th e golf of Sir te, a ccord in g to th e Libya n repor ts , bu t in th e in tern a t ion a l wa ters , a ccord in g to th e Am erica n vers ion .

Th e Am erica n m ilita ry exercis es in th a t a rea were n oth in g bu t a p rovoca t ion to get r id of Gh edda fi. In fa ct th e Am erica n res pon s e wa s s o d is p ropor t ion a te th a t m a n y Eu ropea n cou n tr ies were rea lly perp lexed . Over s even ty a irp la n es took pa r t to th e opera t ion , bom ba rd in g th e por t of Tr ipoli a n d th e a irpor ts of Tr ipoli a s well of Ben gh a zi.

Th ey bom bed th e a rea wh ere Gh edda fi wa s livin g, k illin g on e of h is da u gh ters a n d m a n y oth er peop le. Th ey d idn ’t s u cceed in k illin g Gh edda fi, wh ich p roves on e m ore t im e th a t , in s p ite of th e m a s s ive u s e of th eir m ilita ry power , th e Am erica n s ra rely rea ch th eir in it ia l goa l, m os t ly du e to th e la ck of p roper du e d iligen ce work .

Du r in g th is s a m e per iod I wa s wa it in g for th e s o-ca lled “Green Ca rd ”, for th e perm a n en t res iden t s ta tu s , to wh ich I wa s en t it led beca u s e I m a rr ied a n Am erica n cit izen . My wife h a d to in volve on e of th e Federa l Sen a tors beca u s e m y a pp lica t ion took lon ger th en u s u a l: m y p la ce of b ir th , Libya , ra is ed a red fla g. Sh e h a d to exp la in in a let ter th a t wh en I wa s born Libya wa s on e of ou r colon y. Th e a bs u rd ity of m y pos it ion wa s th a t wh en I wa s livin g in Libya I u s ed to a t a n Am erica n a ir force ba s e, a n d s u bs equ en t ly worked for five yea rs a t th e Am erica n em ba s s y in Tr ipoli. Th e va r iou s U.S. “ a gen cies ” h a d don e a n exten s ive ba ckgrou n d ch eck on m e.

Th e Am erica n m a n u fa ctu rer d idn ’t give a n y exp la n a t ion for th eir refu s a l to s ell th e pa r ts to m y com pa n y, bu t th rou gh a n in tern a l s ou rce I d is covered th a t th ey h a d s en t a m em o a llegin g th a t I p la n n ed to s h ip it to Libya . It wa s a b ig decep t ion , beca u s e th ey kn ew by th e pa r t n u m bers a s s ign ed to th eir p rodu ct , th a t th ey were for a n Ita lia n com pa n y m a n u fa ctu r in g torpedoes u n der U.S. licen s e!

Th e in tern a l m em o s en t to a ll th eir d is t r ibu tors crea ted a bu s in es s va cu u m a rou n d m y com pa n y, beca u s e th e m ilita ry electron ic bu s in es s en viron m en t is ra th er s m a ll a n d a n y ru m or goes a rou n d fa s t . Th e en d res u lt wa s th a t n obody wa n ted to do bu s in es s with u s , a n d p ra ct ica lly we were in a p reca r iou s fin a n cia l con d it ion .

I im m edia tely in form ed m y clien t th a t I wa s u n a b le to s u pp ly th e pa r ts .

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It wa s th e begin n in g of a very d ifficu lt per iod for m e a n d for m y n ewly a cqu ired fa m ily: wife a n d th ree ch ild ren . Th e reven u e of m y bu s in es s wa s th e on ly in com e we h a d , beca u s e m y wife’s in com e a s a rep ba rely covered h er t ra n s por ta t ion a n d lodgin g expen s es . Sh e u s ed to s ell in s t ru ct ion a l m a ter ia ls to s ch ools a n d h er ter r itory wa s qu ite la rge.

In a dd it ion s h e in h er ited a bu n ch of b ills from h er d ivorce: th ey h a d a lot of cred it ca rds b ills , p lu s th ey owed m on ey to s om e loca l bu s in es s es , a ll a ccu m u la ted du r in g th eir fou r teen yea rs of m a rr ia ge.

My wife’s fir s t rea ct ion to th e refu s a l of th e m a n u fa ctu rer , wa s to force m e to con s u lt a la wyer to s u e th e com pa n y. I wa s s h ocked , to s a y th e lea s t , beca u s e th e com pa n y wa s pa r t of a s even b illion dolla rs con glom era te. Bu t s h e im m edia tely ca lled s om e of h er polit ica l “ con n ect ion s ” t ill we fou n d a n im por ta n t la w firm wh o took ou r ca s e on a “ con t in gen cy fee” ba s is : we d idn ’t h a ve to pa y a n yth in g a n d in exch a n ge th ey wou ld receive on e th ird of a n y a m ou n t a wa rded to u s by th e ju ry.

In th e m ea n t im e we d idn ’t h a ve a n y in com e, a n d a t th e en d of th e two yea rs of th e la ws u it we h a d a ccru ed deb ts for over on e-h u n dred -th ir ty th ou s a n ds dolla rs , from 1987 to 1989 .

In order to s u rvive we open ed u p a delica tes s en , s ellin g Ita lia n food p rodu cts , a n d s ervin g lu n ch . We bou gh t th e p rodu cts from s om e b ig d is t r ibu tors in New York city. I u s ed to cook in th e a ftern oon th e m ea ls we wou ld s erve th e n ext da y: we h a d a m icrowa ve to h ea t th e lu n ch es .

My lowes t a n d m os t h u m ilia t in g poin t wa s wh en a loca l doctor ga ve a t ip of twen ty-five cen ts !

I d id a ls o cook in g cla s s es , th ree t im es a week ; we h a d a rea s on a b le n u m ber of peop le a t ten d in g th e cla s s es . Bu t th e reven u e of m y cook in g cla s s a s well of th e s tore, wa s n ot en ou gh to cover th e ba s ic expen s es : ren t , elect r icity, etc. We th erefore en ded u p ea t in g pa r t of ou r in ven tory, a n d in s o doin g we in crea s ed ou r deb t with th e s u pp liers .

Ou r fin a n cia l s ta te wa s get t in g wors t da y a fter da y: a ll th ree ch ild ren wen t to p r iva te s ch ool, ru n by th e ca th olic n u n s , a n d th e tu it ion wa s p ret ty expen s ive, even th ou gh th e b iologica l fa th er wa s res pon s ib le for fifty percen t of it . Th e logica l a ltern a t ive wou ld h a ve been to s en d th e ch ild ren to th e pu b lic s ch ool, bu t m y wife’s p r ide, wh o wa s kn own for bein g a s ocia l clim ber , d idn ’t even con s ider it .

I con ta cted a cou s in of m in e, wh o lived in New York a n d wa s fin a n cia lly well off, to a s k h im for a tem pora ry fin a n cia l h elp . He s en t m e a five-h u n dred dolla r ch eck : I n ever ca s h ed it a n d retu rn ed to h im with m y th a n ks ! In th e m ea n t im e s u pp liers were ca llin g to exped ite pa ym en t on ou r pa s t du e a ccou n ts : we were la te with th e m or tga ge, with cred it ca rds , with th e food s u pp liers , etc.

We beca m e th en ta rget of th e s o-ca lled collect ion a gen cies , wh o ca lled u s m a n y t im es a da y a n d a d ifferen t h ou rs . Th e collect ion a gen cies a re en t it led to a percen ta ge of th e a m ou n t th ey collect . Th ey u s e s ca re ta ct ics s u ch a s th rea ten in g lega l a ct ion s , repos s es s a n y fu rn itu re or fixtu re th ey ca n get h old of it , etc. Th ey a re fa m ou s for bein g rea l ja cka ls .

40

I rea lized th a t th eir th rea ts in crea s ed wh en I a n s wered th e ph on e, beca u s e of m y a ccen t : th ey t rea ted m e like th e wors t cr im in a l! Th is is a n exa m ple of h ow m u ch p reju d ice exis ts in th e Un ited Sta tes in gen era l a n d in th e s ou th in pa r t icu la r . Th is is in s p ite of th e fa ke pu b lic os ten ta t ion of bein g a tolera t in g a n d a ccep t in g cou n try.

I d is covered a t r ick wh ich worked bea u t ifu lly: a t th e en d of th eir ph on e ca ll I told th em th a t I ta ped th eir con vers a t ion a n d wou ld h a n ded it over to m y la wyer! From th a t poin t on th ey ch a n ged th eir a t t itu de.

I u s ed th e I m on ey I b rou gh t from Ita ly, to bu y h er ex h u s ba n d ’s in teres t in th e h ou s e th ey lived in .

We h a d to s ell th e h ou s e, a t a lower m a rket p r ice, to a void th e ba n k ’s foreclos u re.

Ou r a ltern a t ive wa s to file for pers on a l ba n kru p tcy to a void pa yin g ou r b ills , a s s u gges ted by a lm os t everybody. Bu t th e oth er s ide of th e coin wa s th a t , for s even yea rs , we cou ldn ’t a pp ly for a n y ba n k loa n , m u ch les s for a m or tga ge to bu y a n oth er h ou s e.

It wa s a lot ea s ier to rea ch a repa ym en t a greem en t with th e orga n iza t ion s we owed b igger a m ou n ts th a n for th e s m a ller a m ou n ts .

We ren ted a s m a ller h ou s e, on e th os e s u m m er ren ta l h ou s es , qu ite a d is ta n ce from th e cen ter of town , on Mobile ba y. We s old m y ca r I bou gh t too. Th e m ove wa s qu ite a n a dven tu re . We h ired a t ru ck a n d with th e h elp of two b la ck boys , we m oved a ll ou r belon gin gs . All th is wa s h a ppen in g wh ile a torn a do wa s h over in g over th e a rea .

Th e on ly a dva n ta ge th e ren ta l h ou s e offered wa s th a t of bein g on th e ba y. It tu rn ed to be a n im por ta n t fa ctor for a ll of u s . Th e ch ild ren loved to s wim a n d du r in g th e week-en ds we pu t th e n et ou t a n d we u s ed to ca tch qu ite en ou gh fis h to ea t . Th e a rea h a s a lot of d ifferen t k in d of fis h a n d a lm os t every th ree da ys ou r cra b -t ra p wa s fu ll of cra bs .

Du r in g th e m on th of Au gu s t a n u n u s u a l ph en om en on ta kes p la ce, wh ich n obody h a s yet been a b le to exp la in : it is like a m a s s s u icida l, beca u s e a ll th e fis h es com e to th e bea ch . Th is even t is ca lled by th e loca l peop le th e “ ju b ilee”. Th e bea ch es a re fu ll of fis h es a n d it u s u a lly occu rs du r in g th e fir s t m orn in g h ou rs : a lot of peop le com e to collect a s m a n y fis h es a s th ey ca n a n d pu t it in th e freezers .

It is a bea u t ifu l a s well s a d even t : th e on ly p la u s ib le exp la n a t ion is th a t beca u s e of th e h igh tem pera tu re, th e s ea wa ter la cks oxygen .

Th e d is ta n ce from town tu rn ed ou t to be a p rob lem for ou r fa m ily, du e to th e m a n y a fter s ch ool a ct ivit ies th e ch ild ren were in volved in . An oth er in con ven ien ce wa s th e s ize of th e h ou s e, com pa red to th e on e we u s ed to live in .

Th e s ize of m y office s h ra n k qu ite a lot , from on e room in th e oth er h ou s e, to a s m a ll s pa ce, two s qu a re m eters , between th e ba th room win dow a n d th e fron t win dow of th e corr idor con n ect in g th e d in in g room a n d ou r bed room . Bu t th e s m a ller s pa ce wa s rewa rded by th e view of th e ba y, a n d its a ct ivit ies : s ea gu lls , pelica n s , du cks , bea u t ifu l s u n s ets , a n d on ce in a wh ile, th e pa s s a ge of grou ps of dolph in s , wh en th e ba y wa s rea l ca lm .

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Th e bu s in es s rebou n d : 1989 -1992

We a re a t s p r in g of 1989 . Ou r la ws u it a ga in s t th e U.S. m a n u fa ctu rer ca m e to a n en d : th e ju ry

a wa rded u s n in eteen th ou s a n ds dolla rs , a n d th e corpora t ion h a d to pa y on e-h u n dred -s ixty-five th ou s a n ds dolla rs in lega l fees to ou r la wyers !

Th e m u lt in a t ion a l filed a n im m edia te a ppea l, bu t th e a ppella te cou r t con firm ed th e verd ict in ou r fa vor . Ou r la wyers were m u ch h a pp ier th a n u s , bu t th is is h ow it goes .

In s p ite of th e s m a ll d im en s ion of m y office, I wa s a b le to tu rn th e bu s in es s a rou n d , m os t ly th a n ks to m y good repu ta t ion I en joyed with th e Ita lia n cu s tom ers . I u s ed to work a n a vera ge of fou r teen h ou rs a da y, s in ce I cou ldn ’t a fford a s ecreta ry, a n d a ls o beca u s e a ll th e corres pon den ce wa s in Ita lia n . My n ow ex wife d idn ’t s pea k Ita lia n , bu t s h e u s ed to corres pon d with ou r Am erica n s u pp liers .

After two yea rs of h a rd work , ou r bu s in es s s ta r ted to p ick u p . Th e rea l tu rn a rou n d took p la ce in 1990 , th e yea r Ita ly h os ted th e s occer wor ld ch a m pion s h ip . Ou r bu s in es s h a d n o con n ect ion with s occer , bu t du r in g th a t yea r th e Ita lia n govern m en t in ves ted a lot of m on ey to im prove th e n a t ion a l telecom m u n ica t ion s ys tem . Th e m os t im por ta n t m a n u fa ctu rer in th is s ector wa s on e of ou r m a jor cu s tom er , a n d in recogn it ion of m y pa s t repu ta t ion with th em , th ey ga ve u s a lot of bu s in es s .

In 1990 I beca m e U.S. cit izen , bu t u n for tu n a tely I h a d to give u p m y Ita lia n cit izen s h ip , beca u s e du r in g th a t per iod Ita ly d idn ’t a llow th e du a l cit izen s h ip . I cou ld h a ve a voided s en d in g th e n ot ifica t ion to Ita lia n con s u la te in New Orlea n s , like m os t Ita lia n s do, bu t m y h on es ty p reva iled .

Th is h on es ty wou ld cos t m e dea r ly in th e fu tu re, a n d fu ll of u n p lea s a n t con s equ en ces !

It wa s th e begin n in g of m y bu s in es s s u cces s , wh ich in th e en d beca m e a th orn .

I rea ch ed th e pea k of econ om ic a ch ievem en t in 1995 , th e yea r we h a d s a les of over th ree a n d h a lf m illion dolla rs , with on ly five em ployees , bes ides m e a n d m y wife.

I wa s a b le to a ch ieve s u ch bu s in es s s u cces s , s im p ly beca u s e I ga ve m y em ployees extra ben efits th a t a re n ot com m on ly gra n ted even by b igger s ize em ployers in th e Un ited Sa tes .

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�Ba ck to m y bu s in es s . We s ign ed a n a greem en t with a p r iva te in s u ra n ce

com pa n y to offer m ed ica l covera ge for m y em ployees , wh ich m os t com pa n ies don ’t gra n t to th eir workers . We a ls o s et u p a “Profit s h a r in g p la n ”: every em ployee wa s en t it led to pa r t icipa te to th is p la n a fter two yea rs , bu t th e ben efits s ta r ted a ccru in g from th e da te of em ploym en t .

Th e two s a les peop le, a Germ a n la dy for th e Germ a n m a rket , a n d a n Ita lia n m a n , form er Ita lia n n a vy p ilot , for th e Ita lia n m a rket , were h ired with a m in im u m s a la ry of five dolla rs a n h ou r , p lu s a com m is s ion on th eir s a les . Th e com m is s ion va r ied between th ree a n d five percen t , a ll p rom otion a l expen s es , in clu d in g lon g d is ta n ce ca lls a n d t ra vel expen s es to vis it ou r m a jor cu s tom ers , a t lea s t on ce a yea r , were pa id by ou r com pa n y.

Ou r em ployees were a ls o en t it led to two weeks pa id lea ve every yea r , wh ile m os t com pa n ies on ly offer on e week .

Every Ch r is tm a s we in vited a ll ou r em ployees a n d th eir fa m ilies to a res ta u ra n t for a d in n er pa r ty.

Wh en you t rea t peop le like pa r tn ers in s tea d of like em ployees on ly, th ey ta ke rea l in teres t in th e com pa n y’s s u cces s .

Every yea r we in vited to th e Un ited Sta tes , for a ten da ys vis it , a ll expen s es pa id by ou r com pa n y, th e pu rch a s in g m a n a ger of th e com pa n y wh o ga ve u s th e m os t bu s in es s , du r in g th e p reviou s ca len da r yea r . It wa s a n officia l in vita t ion , n oth in g illega l.

43

Wh en th e book Forres t Gu m p wa s pu b lis h ed , we pu rch a s ed a n u m ber of cop ies of th e Ita lia n vers ion , a n d h a d th em a u togra ph ed by th e a u th or wh o lived ju s t a m ile from ou r office. Th e a u th or wa s th r illed by th e idea . We th en s h ipped a copy to th e key peop le of th e com pa n ies we d id bu s in es s with . Ou r in it ia t ive wa s grea t ly a pprecia ted , es pecia lly in view of th e fa ct th a t a m ovie wa s m a de ou t of th e book .

To give a n idea of th e rebou n d of ou r bu s in es s , I lis t h ere below ou r s a la r ies from 1991 to 1995 :

1991 : fifty-fou r th ou s a n ds dolla rs ; 1992 : on e-h u n dred -eleven th ou s a n d dolla rs ; 1993 : on e-h u n dred -n in ety th ou s a n d dolla rs ; 1994 : on e-h u n dred -eigh ty th ou s a n d dolla rs ; 1995 : fou r-h u n dred -eigh ty th ou s a n d dolla rs . For a tota l of over on e

m illion dolla rs !

44

Th e a dop tion : 1992 -1996

An old In d ia n p roverb recites : “No good deed goes u n pu n is h ed ”. In coin ciden ce with th e rebou n d of ou r bu s in es s , m y wife decided to

s ta r t a lega l a ct ion a ga in s t h er fir s t h u s ba n d , wh o a ccord in g to h er , wa s n ot pa yin g th e p roper a m ou n t in ch ild s u ppor t for th e th ree ch ild ren . I wa s s u rp r is ed by h er decis ion , a fter s even yea rs h a ve gon e by s in ce th eir d ivorce, even th ou gh s h e kep t h im u n der p res s u re a ll th e t im e.

In 1992 s h e s ta r ted ta k in g h er da u gh ter to s ee a p s ych ologis t , beca u s e, a ccord in g to h er , s h e wa s a fra id of h er fa th er du r in g th e b iweek ly vis its to h is h ou s e, with h er two b roth ers , a s per th e d ivorce decree. I h a ve a copy of th e let ter th e ps ych ologis t wrote a bou t th e gir l’s worr ies .

Th e let ter da ted J u ly 13 , 1992 , s ta tes : “Mrs . L. h a s been b r in gin g h er da u gh ter , K.N. (WKH� GDXJKWHU·V� ILUVW� DQG� ODVW� QDPH) to s ee m e followin g a refer ra l from K.’s s ch ool cou n s elor wh o wa s con cern ed a bou t h er level of a n xiety in rela t ion s h ip to h er vis its with h er fa th er . Wh ile K.’s fa th er h a s n ever a n yth in g to h a rm h er ph ys ica lly, s h e is very a fra id wh en h e loos es h is tem per . He h a s s om et im es left h er with a n a u n t or with h is p res en t wife overn igh t or for lon g per iods . At th es e t im es s h e feels a ba n don ed a n d is a fra id to tell h im les t h e loos es h is tem per . I recom m en d th a t th e vis ita t ion a greem en t rem a in a s it is a s lon g Mr. N. (WKH�IDWKHU) is free to be with K. overn igh t a n d th e m a jor pa r t of th e week-en d da ys . Wh en h e h a s oth er p la n s or ob liga t ion s h e s h ou ld in form K. in a dva n ce a n d th ey ca n work ou t a m u tu a lly a ccep ta b le p la n . Sin cerely you rs . D.R (WKH�SV\FKRORJLVW�VLJQDWXUH). En d of th e let ter .

In 1992 h er da u gh ter wa s ten -yea r-old , a n d s h e h a s been goin g to h er fa th er ’s h ou s e, every oth er week-en d , s in ce s h e wa s th ree-yea r-old , wh en h er pa ren ts d ivorced . Sh e n ever wen t a lon e, bu t a lwa ys with h er two older b roth ers .

Wh a t or wh o p rovoked h er fea rs a fter s even yea rs ? Th e a n s wer is : m y wife’s fer t ile im a gin a t ion , wh o s a w th e a dva n ta ge of

h a vin g a da u gh ter a n d wh o cou ld be ea s ily in flu en ced , ign or in g th e rea l feelin gs of a da u gh ter for h er b iologica l fa th er .

If th e lit t le gir l wa s rea lly a fra id of h er fa th er , wh y it took h er s o m a n y yea rs to b r in g it ou t?

Wh a t t r iggered m y wife’s res olve to s u e h er ex h u s ba n d , wa s m y decis ion to m a ke a tes ta m en t in fa vor of m y two n ieces a s th e lega l ben eficia r ies of th e m y pa r t of th e a s s ets , in ca s e of m y dea th , s in ce I d idn ’t a n y ch ild ren of m y own .

My wife’s a ct ion wa s a ls o m a de pos s ib le by m y s t ron g bon d I es ta b lis h ed with a ll th ree ch ild ren , wh om I took ta ke from th e begin n in g. Ou r rela t ion s h ip wa s n a tu ra l beca u s e I h a ve n ever con s idered th em s tepch ild ren , a n d th ey looked u p to m e like if I were th eir b iologica l fa th er . I h a ve t r ied to p rotect th em from th eir b iologica l pa ren ts ’ u s e of th em a s wea pon s to get ba ck a t ea ch oth er . Th ey were ca u gh t in th e m idd le of th e typ ica l cros s fire wh ich goes on in a n y d ivorce.

45

After th e in it ia l exch a n ges of lega l pa pers between th e la wyers , a prelim in a ry m eet in g wa s h eld a t h is (ex h u s ba n d) a t torn ey’s office, to wh ich I took pa r t a s a m ora l s u ppor t for m y wife.

Th e a tm os ph ere wa s ra th er ten s e a n d it wa s s h ock in g to s ee h ow two pers on s wh o h a ve lived togeth er for over fou r teen yea rs a n d s h a red th ree won derfu l ch ild ren , cou ld look a t ea ch oth er with s o m u ch des p is e in th eir eyes . It wa s m os t ly on th e pa r t of m y wife.

At th e en d of a lot of lega l ja rgon , it wa s decided th a t th e ex h u s ba n d owed fifteen th ou s a n d dolla rs in ch ild s u ppor t , on top of th e a m ou n t h e pa id regu la r ly every m on th . Th e ex h u s ba n d s a id th a t h e wa s n ot a b le to pa y th e a m ou n t in a lu m p s u m .

It wa s th en th a t I s poke u p a n d s a id th a t in exch a n ge of th e fifteen th ou s a n d dolla rs I wa s willin g to a dop t a ll th ree of h is ch ild ren . Everybody in th e room looked a t m e a s if, a ll of a s u dden , I beca m e cra zy. Bu t I kn ew deep in m y h ea r t th a t th e ex h u s ba n d wa n ted to cu t off a ll of h is t ies with h is ex wife.

Two weeks a fter th e m eet in g m y wife’s la wyer ca lled a n d s a id th a t th e ex h u s ba n d a ccep ted m y p ropos a l.

After th e in it ia l com m otion , I rea lized th a t m y p ropos a l wa s fu n da m en ta l for m y wife’s or igin a l p la n , th a t of n u llifyin g m y lega l docu m en t in fa vor of m y n ieces in Ita ly.

In th e m ea n t im e m y m a rr ia ge wa s goin g th rou gh rou gh per iods , m a in ly du e to h er jea lou s y, wh ich in crea s ed ten folds a fter s h e en tered th e m en opa u s e tu n n el. We h a d ou r da ily dos es of a rgu m en ts , du r in g wh ich s h e beca m e occa s ion a lly ph ys ica lly violen t , bu t defin itely verba lly offen s ive. On m a n y occa s ion s I th ou gh t of d ivorcin g h er , bu t I d idn ’t wa n t to pu t th e ch ild ren th rou gh th e t ra u m a of a n oth er d ivorce.

Ou r rela t ion s h ip tu rn ed in to a n igh tm a re a fter h er fa th er ’s dea th . Sh e h a d a very d ifficu lt rela t ion s h ip with h er fa th er , wh ile h e wa s a live. He in fa ct h a d a bu s ed h er a n d h er two s is ters , wh en th ey were you n g.

I ca m e to d is cover s u ch a bu s es a fter ou r m a rr ia ge, from on e of h er two s is ter , wh o, a fter a s h or t m a tr im on y, beca m e a les b ia n .

A ps ych ia t r is t , a n a cqu a in ta n ce of m in e, told m e th a t a fter h er fa th er ’s dea th , m y wife t ra n s fer red h er h a tred for h im to m en in gen era l a n d to m e in pa r t icu la r .

Th e ps ych ia t r is t ’s a s s er t ion s beca m e rea l on J u n e 20 , 1996 , a Th u rs da y.

Th e da y h a d s ta r ted a s u s u a l: I wen t to p ick u p m y da u gh ter a t th e th e s ch ool bu s s top , in th e a ftern oon , a n d we wen t to bu y s om e grocer ies for ou r bea ch h ou s e, for th e com in g week-en d . Wh ile we were u n loa d in g a ll th e grocer ies , th e ph on e ra n g: it wa s m y wife. Sh e wa s a t th e office ch eck in g a ll th e cellu la r ph on e records a n d on e pa r t icu la r ph on e n u m ber d rew h er a t ten t ion . My da u gh ter , wh o h ea rd m y wife’s s crea m in g on th e ph on e, th ou gh t th a t s om eth in g h orr ib le h a ppen ed to h er ; bu t wh en I exp la in ed to h er th e rea s on s , s h e cou ldn ’t believe it .

I left h er a t th e bea ch h ou s e a n d wen t h om e to ta lk to m y wife to t ry to s olve th e “ b ig” p rob lem . Sh e s ta r ted pu n ch in g with h er s cra wn y h a n ds a n d

46

in s u lt in g m e, a n d m y exp la n a t ion s d idn ’t h elp a t a ll. I cou ld h a ve h it h er , bu t I ch os e to rem a in ca lm , a s s u m in g s h e wou ld fin a lly com e to h er s en s es .

In s tea d s h e decided to m ove to ou r bea ch h ou s e with th e da u gh ter a n d th e m idd le s on . I wa s s u rp r is ed by h er decis ion , bu t I wa s h a ppy a t th e s a m e t im e, h op in g th a t pu t t in g s om e d is ta n ce between u s , wou ld h elp .

Th e ch ild ren were petr ified by th e th ou gh t of a s econ d d ivorce, bu t I told th em th a t we wou ld s or t ou r d ifferen ces ou t in few da ys .

Bu t a s I h a ve exper ien ced in th e cou rs e of m y m a rr ia ge, beh in d a n y of m y wife’s decis ion th ere wa s a lwa ys a h idden p la n , m os t ly fin a n cia lly rela ted .

I u s ed to go to th e office, a fter ten o’clock a .m . to be a b le to a n s wer a ll m y Ita lia n cu s tom ers ’ ca lls , s ta r t in g from s even a .m . Th e m a in bu s in es s ph on e lin e ra n g a ls o a t h om e, wh ich a llowed m e to give m y cu s tom ers th e im pres s ion th a t I wen t ea r ly to th e office.

Th e m a jor ity of th e ca lls a r r ived between s even a n d ten o’clock du e to th e d ifferen t t im e zon e: Ita ly wa s s even h ou rs a h ea d of u s .

J u ly 2 , 1996 wa s a Tu es da y. Th a t m orn in g I wen t to bu y a p iece of rope to t ie on e of ou r goa ts , in th e ba ck ya rd wh ere we h a d oth er a n im a ls : ch icken s , s h eep , h ors es , etc.

I retu rn ed h om e a n d pa rked th e ca r in fron t of th e h ou s e. As I wa s open in g th e door I s a w a yellow ca r com e to ou r d r ivewa y. Two m en , wea r in g s t reet cloth es , ca m e ou t a n d told m e th a t I wa s u n der a r res t . At th e begin n in g I th ou gh t it wa s a s tu p id joke, beca u s e th ey d idn ’t iden t ify th em s elves .

Wh en th ey s a w m y rea ct ion th ey told th a t I wa s a ccu s ed of m oles t in g m y a dop ted da u gh ter . I felt like th e wh ole wor ld fell on m e. It wa s a s if s om ebody took m y s k in off. I felt con fu s ed , fr igh ten ed , a n d I cou ldn ’t believe a ll th is wa s h a ppen in g to m e.

I s h owed th em th e rope a n d told th em th a t I n eeded to go to th e ba rn to t ie th e goa t . Th ey, in s tea d , s ized th e rope a n d a llowed m e to go in s ide m y h ou s e a n d m a ke cou p le of ph on e ca lls .

I ca lled th e vice p res iden t of th e Rota ry Clu b of wh ich I wa s th e p res iden t , a n d a s ked h im to h elp m e fin d a cr im in a l la wyer . He a s s u red m e th a t h e wou ld a ct im m edia tely, bu t it wou ld h a ve been a b it d ifficu lt beca u s e of th e J u ly 4 h olida y, th e in depen den ce da y, wh ich is by fa r th e m os t im por ta n t h olida y in th e Un ited Sta tes . Mos t peop le ta ke th eir s u m m er va ca t ion s in coin ciden ce of th is h olida y.

I th en ca lled m y p r ies t wh o wa s rea lly s h ocked by m y ca ll. I wa s h a n dcu ffed a n d ta ken to th e cou n ty ja il, a fter h a lf a n h ou r d r ive. Du r in g th e d r ive I kep t a s k in g m ys elf a lot of qu es t ion s , bu t I cou ldn ’t

com e u p with a n y a n s wer . As s oon we a r r ived , th e two m en took m e, a lwa ys h a n dcu ffed , to a room

to wr ite a repor t , wh ile I wa s feelin g n u m b. Th ey h a n ded m e th e repor t to s ign it a n d I wa s a s ton is h ed wh en I rea d th a t th ey “ s ized th e rope” beca u s e I “ in ten ded to u s e it to h a n g m ys elf in th e ba rn ”!

47

I told th em th a t I wou ldn ’t s ign it u n les s th e took off th e s en ten ce a bou t th e rope. Th eir a n s wer wa s th a t th ey cou ld m a ke m a t ters wors t for m e, by a dd in g th a t I res is ted th e a r res t , wh ich of cou rs e wa s n ’t t ru e.

Th is is h ow th e s o-ca lled lega l a u th or it ies bu ild th eir ca s es : th e “ rope” wa s th e p roof th a t I wa s gu ilty. Th ey bu ild a s a n d ca s t le ou t of n oth in g. I d idn ’t of cou rs e h a ve a n y oth er ch oice bu t s ign in g th e repor t .

Th ey took m e to a cell wh ere th ere were oth er peop le, a ll of th em b la ck . Th ey we s u rp r is ed to s ee m e a n d wh en th ey h ea rd m y a ccen t th ey s a id : “No won der you a re h ere, you a ren ’t on e of th em ”, by th em th ey m ea n t th a t I d idn ’t belon g to th e “JRRG� RO·� ER\Vµ� clu b , a s th ey ca ll th e wh ite loca l peop le.

After two h ou rs a gu a rd ca m e to ta ke m e to th e t r ibu n a l. I wa s h a n dcu ffed a n d s h a ck led (ch a in a rou n d m y a n k les ) a n d wa lked to th e t r ibu n a l, a bou t five h u n dred m eters a wa y. Th e gu a rd in s t ru cted m e to wa lk fa s ter a n d wh en I s a id th a t I wa s n ot u s ed to wa lk with ch a in a t m y a n k les h is a n s wer wa s : “ th a t is n ot m y p rob lem ”. My a ccen t d idn ’t h elp m e a t a ll: for h im I rep res en ted a n oth er “ fu ck in g foreign er ”. I beca m e con s ciou s th a t on ce you en ter th e “ s ys tem ” you loos e a ll you r r igh ts a n d res pect . Th e m a n in u n iform h a s a lrea dy s en ten ced you , s h or t of a n y t r ia l.

Th e word ju s t ice, p res u m ption of in n ocen ce, h u m a n d ign ity loos e th eir fu n da m en ta l m ea n in g. You a n ow lon ger a cit izen , you becom e a n u m ber .

I wa s s ixty-th ree-yea r-old , du r in g m y th ir teen yea rs of res id in g in Ala ba m a n ever h a d a n y p rob lem with th e la w, n ot even a t ra ffic t icket , a n d th ere wa s n o m a ter ia l eviden ce a ga in s t m e.

Up to th e m om en t of m y a r res t I wa s p ra is ed by th e loca l p res s a n d a u th or it ies a s a s u cces s fu l bu s in es s m a n , a m ora l exa m ple for h a vin g a dop ted m y th ree s tepch ild ren , a n d for m y s ocia l a ct ivit ies a s m em ber a n d p res iden t of th e Rota ry clu b . I wa s a wa rded th e m os t p res t igiou s Rota r ia n recogn it ion , th e Pa u l Ha rr is fellows h ip .

I wa s ta ken before a ju dge, with ou t a n y lega l a s s is ta n ce, to be a r ra ign ed a n d th e d is t r ict a t torn ey rea d th e ch a rges b rou gh t a ga in s t m e.

My bon d wa s s et a t two-h u n dred -fifty th ou s a n d dolla rs , I h a d to s u rren der m y pa s s por t , a n d I wa s forb idden to lea ve th e s ta te of Ala ba m a , to h a ve a n y con ta cts with a n y m em ber of m y fa m ily, to s ta y a t a d is ta n ce of on e-h u n dred feet from th em in a n y pu b lic p la ce, etc.

All th e a bove p roves th e im por ta n t role m y wife’s s t ron g polit ica l con n ect ion s p la yed , in a dd it ion to th e Am erica n b ia s a ga in s t foreign ers , es pecia lly in th e deep s ou th .

Th e d is t r ict a t torn ey, a s well a s th y ju dge, were m em bers of th e Repu b lica n pa r ty, th e s a m e a s m y wife’s , a n d in th e com in g m on th of Novem ber th ere wou ld be th e elect ion s for th e ren ewa l of a ll office h olders . I wou ld h a ve th erefore been a n in teres t in g t roph y to pa ra de du r in g th e elect ion ca m pa ign .

I la ter lea rn ed th a t th e m a xim u m bon d requ ired for ca s es like m in e wa s twen ty-five-th ou s a n d dolla rs .

I wa s ta ken ba ck to th e cell, wh ere it wa s rea l cold , before th e a ir -con d it ion . Th e b la ck m en t r ied to ch eer m e u p by tellin g m e th eir s tor ies .

48

Arou n d s ix p .m . d in n er wa s s erved , bu t I d idn ’t a n y a ppet ite a t a ll, m a k in g th e oth er m em bers of th e cell h a ppy by givin g th em m y d in n er .

At on e poin t I felt a s t ron g pa in in m y left a rm , a s s u m in g it wa s du e to th e low tem pera tu re in th e cell. All of a s u dden I fell on th e floor , a n d I h ea rd th e b la ck m en s crea m in g for h elp .

I woke u p in a bed of th e em ergen cy room of th e loca l h os p ita l, with ch a in a rou n d m y a n k les wa tch ed over by a fu lly a rm ed gu a rd n ext to m e!

Th e doctor on du ty took m y b lood p res s u re on ly, with ou t ch eck in g a n yth in g els e, in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t I s t ill h a d a s t ron g pa in in m y left a rm . I wa s th en ta ken ba ck to th e cell, wh ere for we were given a p iece p la s t ic two cen t im eters th ick a n d 150 cen t im eters lon g, to s leep on . I fin a lly wa s a b le to get a s m a ll b la n ket beca u s e I wa s cold .

In th e m ea n t im e th e d in n er s ta r ted to develop its effects of th e oth er in m a tes ’ s tom a ch , with th e en d res u lt of a n h orr ib le odor com in g from th e toilet wh ich wa s pa r t ia lly h idden by a s m a ll wa ll, a bou t h a lf a m eter h igh .

Th e n igh t h ou rs wen t by s lowly, a n d I wa s n ’t a b le to s leep a t a ll, wh ile a ll th e oth ers were s ou n d a s leep . At a bou t th ree o’clock a .m . th e gu a rds a s ked to com e ou t a n d ta ke a ll m y cloth es off, in clu d in g th e ch a in with th e Cru cifix, m y wedd in g r in g, a n d I s tood n a ked in fron t of th em for a wh ile, t ill wh en th ey ga ve th e in fa m ou s “ ora n ge s u it ” , a cou n ty ja il-is s u ed ju m ps u it .

Th ey took m y p ictu re wea r in g a ta g a rou n d m y n eck with a n u m ber on it , a n d th ey a s ked a lot of qu es t ion s , rea d in g it from a form in fron t of th em : d id I h a ve a n y s pecia l m a rks in m y body, etc.

It wa s th e lon ges t a n d m os t d rea d fu l n igh t of m y life.

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At a rou n d s even o’clock a .m ., th e la wyer s u gges ted by m y fr ien d , wh o wa s a ls o m y b roker , ca m e to s ee m e. Firs t of a ll h e m a de m e s ign th e a u th or iza t ion to t ra n s fer s even ty-five th ou s a n d dolla rs to h is a ccou n t , from m y a ccou n t I h a d a t th e s tock b roker . Stra n ge a m ou n t s in ce I h a d on e h u n dred th ou s a n d dolla rs in th e a ccou n t!

Th e la wyer s a id th a t fifty th ou s a n d dolla rs were a n a dva n ce for h is fees , a n d twen ty-five th ou s a n d for th e bon d (ten percen t of th e two-h u n dred -fifty th ou s a n d bon d).

He ca m e ba ck la ter th e s a m e m orn in g a n d I s ign ed a lot of a dd it ion a l pa pers , in clu d in g m y pet it ion for th e d ivorce. Th e la wyer a s s u red m e th a t I wou ld be relea s ed in th e a ftern oon .

54

Th e s a m e m orn in g m y fr ien d p r ies t ca m e a n d h e wa s s h ocked wh en h e s a w m e: I m u s t h a ve h a d a ter r ib le look . I la ter d is covered th a t in on e 24 -h ou r per iod I h a d los t th ree k ilos . It is a weigh t los s d iet th a t I wou ldn ’t recom m en d to a n ybody!

Th e p r is on gu a rd , ea r ly in th e a ftern oon , told m e to go get m y cloth es a n d get rea dy beca u s e th e la wyer wa s wa it in g for m e.

Wh en I ca m e ou t of th e ja il I felt a s if I h a d been in s ide a cen tr ifu ga l m a ch in e for a wh ole da y a n d n igh t . I wa s con fu s ed , fr igh ten ed , betra yed , bu t m os t ly lon ely. All of a s u dden a ll m y cer ta in t ies a n d p roverb ia l s elf-con fiden ce va n is h ed .

Th e la wyer took m e to h is office, wh ere th e m a n in ch a rge of th e bon d in g com pa n y m a de m e s ign th e docu m en ts to pu t a m or tga ge on two of ou r bu ild in gs , for a n a m ou n t dou b le th a n m y bon d . I h a ve la ter on d is covered th a t s in ce I h a d pos ted a p roper ty bon d , I d idn ’t h a ve to pa y th e twen ty-five th ou s a n d dolla rs in ca s h !

My wife, th rou gh h er la wyer , filed th e pa pers for th e d ivorce. Th e you n g a s s is ta n t of th e la wyer wa s d r ivin g m e h om e, wh en h e

received a ca ll from th e office, a dvis in g h im th a t th ere wa s a ch a n ge in th e p rogra m a bou t m y retu rn h om e.

In it ia lly m y ex wife s a id to th e d ivorce ju dge th a t s h e wa n ted to s ta y in th e bea ch h ou s e wh ere s h e m oved in a fter ou r s epa ra t ion , n ot to “ expos e h er da u gh ter to ba d m em ories by retu rn in g to ou r h om e” (th es e a re h er exa ct words ).

Bu t I rea lized th a t m y im m edia te relea s e h a d u ps et h er or igin a l p la n , wh ich wa s to get h old of a ll ou r a s s ets by s en d in g m e to ja il. My ex wife m u s t h a ve qu ick ly con s idered th e con s equ en ces of h er fir s t decis ion , beca u s e a fter on ly twen ty m in u tes , s h e in form ed th e ju dge it wou ld bet ter for th em to retu rn ba ck to ou r h om e! All th e “ ba d m em ories ” h a ve d is a ppea red in a m a t ter of few m in u tes ! Let ’s n ot forget th a t everyth in g is “ in s ta n t ” in th e Un ited Sta tes , even th e cu re for “ ba d m em ories ”, n ever exis ted of cou rs e.

I wa s th erefore a llowed on ly h a lf a n h ou r to go to m y h om e, from wh ere I left a fter m y a r res t , to ta ke th e ba re m in im u m I n eeded .

My wife’s p rea r ra n ged p la n d idn ’t s u cceed com pletely beca u s e of fifteen m in u tes dela y. In fa ct s h e a r r ived a t m y s tock -b roker ’s office, wh ere we h a d a s tock a ccou n t with a rou n d on e h u n dred th ou s a n d dolla rs , a t 8 :15 a .m . on J u ly 3 ,1996 , th e m orn in g a fter m y a r res t , to with d ra w a ll th e m on ey. My la wyer ’s fa x, for th e t ra n s fer of s even ty-five th ou s a n d dolla rs , h a d a lrea dy a r r ived a n d ta ken ca re of. Sh e th rea ten ed to com e ba ck with th e police. In th e m ea n t im e s h e with d rew a ll th e m on ey from th e a ccou n ts a t a n oth er ba n k .

I th in k th a t a m oth er , t ru ly worr ied a n d con cern ed for h a vin g d is covered th a t h er da u gh ter h a d been m oles ted , wou ld h a ve fir s t ta ken ca re of h er da u gh ter , in s tea d of th e ba n k a ccou n ts . Obviou s ly s h e kn ew th a t s h e d idn ’t h a ve to worry a bou t h er da u gh ter , beca u s e th e a lleged a bu s es were pa r t of h er or igin a l a n d well th ou gh t p la n .

55

With ou t th e fifteen m in u tes dela y h er p la n wou ld h a ve worked ou t perfect ly for h er , beca u s e with ou t th e fu n ds , I cou ldn ’t h a ve a fforded a la wyer , a n d I wou ld h a ve been a s s is ted by a la wyer a ppoin ted by th e cou r t !

At th a t poin t I a m s u re I wou ld h a ve d ied of h ea r t a t ta ck . Ma ybe th is is wh a t s h e h a d h oped for , du e to m y a ge. Sh e h a d everyth in g to ga in , beca u s e in a dd it ion to th e five p roper t ies in town , a n d th e flou r is h in g bu s in es s , I h a d a life in s u ra n ce policy of fou r h u n dred th ou s a n d dolla rs , with h er bein g th e on ly ben eficia ry.

My retu rn h om e, th e bea ch h ou s e, forced m e to dea l with th e n ew rea lity of m y life. I felt t ired , d is a ppoin ted a n d with a lot of a n s wered qu es t ion s in m y m in d . My life h a s been s h a t tered in a th ir ty-s ix h ou r per iod .

I ca lled s om e of m y rela t ives a n d fr ien ds in Ita ly, to in form th em of wh a t I wen t th rou gh . Th ey were s h ocked a n d s u rp r is ed , beca u s e s om e of th em h a ve been a t ou r h om e in Ala ba m a , a n d a dm ire m y rela t ion s h ip with m y a dop ted ch ild ren .

To overcom e th e feelin g of lon en es s I ta ped m y con vers a t ion with m y rela t ives a n d fr ien ds , to lis ten in a t n igh t , before fa llin g a s leep . My doctor , wh o h a d recen t ly gon e th rou gh a d ivorce, bu t n ot a s d ra m a t ic a s m in e, recom m en ded m e to wa lk every da y to overcom e th e s t res s .

Th e wors t per iod wa s a t n igh t : every lit t le n ois e m a de m e ju m p . Du r in g th e da y I wa s bu s y with th e work in th e m orn in g, a n d in th e a ftern oon I wa lked a n d p repa red a lot of deta iled repor ts for m y la wyer .

Th e in it ia l th ree m on th s h a ve been ps ych ologica lly d ifficu lt , beca u s e in a 24 -h ou r per iod I fell from gra ce to d is a s ter . Th e fir s t da ys a fter m y relea s e were extrem ely d ifficu lt for m e beca u s e s om e peop le I kn ew looked th e oth er wa y wh en th ey s a w m e. Bu t a fter a wh ile I got u s ed to it .

In s tea d of s ta yin g h om e a n d p it t in g m ys elf, I lea d a n orm a l life, ign or in g s om e peop le’s rea ct ion s , beca u s e I h a d don e n oth in g to be a s h a m ed of. I wen t to s a m e res ta u ra n ts I u s ed to go with m y fa m ily, a n d wa lked a lon g th e s ea -s ide, every da y.

My con du ct s u rp r is ed m a n y peop le a n d s lowly th ey s ta r ted to dou b t a bou t th e vera city of th e ch a rges a ga in s t m e.

Th e s exu a l a bu s e ch a rges a re very com m on in th e U.S.A.

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/HZLQVN\�� $� VSHFLDO� SURVHFXWRU� ZDV� DSSRLQWHG� E\� WKH� &RQJUHVV� DQG� WKH�6HQDWH�WR�LQYHVWLJDWH�WKH�QRZ�IDPRXV��“Sexga te”.

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“Un la wfu l Sex Acros s th e USA” THE TRAVELER’S J OURNAL: Febru a ry th ir teen , with a wa rn in g a bou t s om e of Am erica ’s s illier s ex la ws . Tou gh m a ybe a h a rb in ger of ba d lu ck , tom orrow Va len t in e’s Da y, is a celeb ra t ion of love, a n a ct a bou t wh ich Am erica n s h a ve developed s om e odd a t t itu des . In town a n d cit ies a cros s th e U.S., u n wit t in g t ra velers s tu n g by Cu p id ’s da r t r is k p ros ecu t ion u n der la ws s t ill on th e books . For exa m ple, a vis itor in Siou x Fa lls , Sou th Da kota will d is cover th a t h otels th ere with twin beds m u s t h a ve s et th em a t lea s t two feet a pa r t . Ma k in g love on th e floor between th e beds is a ls o a n o n o. Ha s t in gs , Nebra s ka h a s decreed it illega l for cou p les to s leep in th e n u de, a n d , to m a ke s u re, h otels th ere m u s t give gu es ts clea n pa ja m a s . A civic ord in a n ce in Newca s t le, Wyom in g ba n s cou p les from h a vin g s ex in s ide a wa lk -in m ea t freezer .

63

In Trem on ton , Uta h , a wom a n ca u gh t m a k in g love in a n a m bu la n ce m a y be p ros ecu ted a n d h a ve h er n a m e pu b lis h ed in th e loca l n ews pa per . Th e powers th a t be in Ob lon g, Illin ois h a ve decreed it illega l to m a ke love wh ile h u n t in g or fis h in g on you r wedd in g da y. In Alexa n dr ia , Min n es ota , m a y m a ke n o love with th e odor of ga r lic, on ion s or s a rd in es in h is b rea th . A h u s ba n d in Am es , Iowa ca n n ot ta ke m ore th a n th ree s ip s of beer wh ile lyin g in bed with h is wife. An d in Clevela n d , Oh io, wom en a re en join ed from wea r in g pa ten t-lea th er s h oes , for fea r a m a n m igh t s ee a reflect ion of s om eth in g h e ou gh tn ’t .” (QG�RI�TXRWH���

,Q�$ODEDPD�DQDO�VH[�EHWZHHQ�KXVEDQG�DQG�ZLIH�LV�IRUELGGHQ��HYHQ�ZLWK�KHU�FRQVHQW���

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�����Every t im e I th in k a bou t m y a r res t a n d th e ch a rges b rou gh t a ga in s t

m e, it is like relivin g a n igh tm a re. Th e h u m ilia t ion s I h a d to en du re, th e th ou gh ts th a t cros s ed m y m in d du r in g th e n igh t I s pen t in ja il, th e wa k in g u p in th e em ergen cy room s h a ck led , h ow I fir s t rea cted wh en I wa s told I wa s u n der a r res t , th e fa ces of m y (ex) fa m ily m em bers , etc.

Bu t a t th e s a m e t im e a th ou gh t of im m en s e gra t itu de to God com es to m y m in d , for h a vin g given m e th e s t ren gth to s u rvive th os e h orr ib le lon g h ou rs .

Th e in d ictm en t is in viola t ion of Du e Proces s a s gra n ted by th e Fou r teen th Am en dm en t of th e U.S. Con s t itu t ion .

In th e cou rs e of th e fir s t h ea r in g, on Au gu s t 21 ,1996 , wh ich I d idn ’t a t ten d , th e p res id in g ju dge ru led th a t th e ch a rges were to va gu e a n d in s t ru cted th e d is t r ict a t torn ey to be m ore s pecific a s to da tes a n d p la ces wh ere th e a lleged a bu s es took p la ce. Non eth eles s th e bon d wa s n ot revoked , n or wa s I given m y pa s s por t ba ck , a n d a ll oth er res t r ict ion s im pos ed on m e rem a in ed .

I wa s n ever a llowed to go ba ck to m y h om e a n d get h old of m y pers on a l belon gin gs , s u ch a s : d ia r ies , n otes , ba n k s ta tem en ts , old ch eck books , pers on a l corres pon den ce, a ll m y Ita lia n docu m en ts like d r iver ’s licen s e, perm it to bea r a rm s , th e void Ita lia n pa s s por t , a n d oth er ob jects of s en t im en ta l va lu e. In order to h a ve ba ck m y pa ren ts ’ wedd in g p ictu re I h a d to wa it over s ix m on th s .

I cou ldn ’t even get ba ck a ll th e let ters a n d n otes wh ich a ll th ree ch ild ren wrote to m e on s evera l occa s ion s , like b ir th da ys , h olida ys , etc. I h a d s a ved it in a s epa ra te folder beca u s e th es e n otes were fu ll of a ffect ion , a pprecia t ion s , a n d res pect for m e.

It wa s m y h a b it to keep a d ia ry, on m y com pu ter a t h om e, a ll th e bu s in es s a s well pers on a l m eet in gs a n d even ts , like t ra vel, m ed ica l records , vis it from fr ien ds , etc. Th es e records a lon e wou ld h a ve d is m a n t led

64

th e wh ole in d ictm en t , bu t I h a ve n ever been a u th or ized to get th a t com pu ter ba ck . In few words th e lega l s ys tem t ied m y h a n ds s o th a t I cou ld n ot p rove m y in n ocen ce.

Th is is wa s begin n in g of m y Ca lva ry. I im m edia tely rea lized th a t I h a d to clim b a m ou n ta in .

I th ou gh t I h a d to dea l with th e d ivorce m a t ters to ob ta in a n im pa r t ia l d ivis ion of ou r a s s ets , a n d to p rove m y in n ocen ce in th e cr im in a l m a t ter . Bu t a fter cou p le of weeks I beca m e con s ciou s th a t m y a ppoin ted la wyer , to wh om I a dva n ced fifty th ou s a n d dolla rs , d id th e ba re m in im u m to get by.

To requ es t th e m ed ica l exa m in a t ion of th e a lleged vict im , by a n in depen den t doctor , s h ou ld h a ve been h is fir s t p r ior ity, to ch a llen ge th e ch a rges a n d to pu t p res s u re on th e d is t r ict a t torn ey.

Th e gyn ecologica l exa m of m y a dop ted da u gh ter wa s perform ed by a gen era l p ra ct it ion er wh o worked for th e Sta te, a t th e loca l h os p ita l a n d n ot a n obs tet r icia n , on J u ly 23 , 1996 , exa ct ly twen ty-on e da ys a fter m y a r res t . Th is is th e m a xim u m lim it a llowed to th e d is t r ict a t torn ey to p rovide s om e “ eviden ce” to s u ppor t th e a r res t .

Th e rea l rea s on for th e dela y of th e m ed ica l exa m in a t ion wa s du e to th e gir l’s refu s a l to u n dergo s u ch a n h u m ilia t in g p rocedu re. Bu t h er m oth er ’s s tu bborn n es s , wh o fea red th a t h er or igin a l p la n wou ld fa il, p reva iled .

Th e res pon s e of th e exa m in a t ion wa s th a t th e on ly ir regu la r ity wa s th e a bs en ce of h ym en a l t is s u e between eigh t a n d n in e (clockwis e). Th e va gin a a n d th e rectu m were perfect .

In th e a bs en ce of a n y h a rd ph ys ica l eviden ce beca u s e th e gir l wa s in perfect con d it ion s , th e doctor wrote a repor t fu ll of con jectu res . He s ta ted th a t I h a d been m oles t in g th e gir l s in ce “ s h e five yea rs old ”. “ I h a d perform ed ora l s ex on h er , pu t m y fin ger in h er va gin a , a n d forced h er to do ora l s ex to m e! I h a d t r ied to in s er t m y pen is in h er va gin a , etc.” .

In view of th e fa ct th a t h e wa s work in g for th e Sta te, h e h a d to a s s er t a n yth in g th a t wou ld s a t is fy th e d is t r ict a t torn ey. On th e oth er h a n d wh o is s o s tu p id to con tra d ict th e wh is h es of th e Sta te? Th a t is wh y th es e s o-ca lled “ exper ts ” a re ca lled th e “wh ores of th e Cou r t ” , or “ a s s -k is s ers ” .

Every even in g before d in n er , th e ch ild ren ba th ed a n d th e lit t le gir l, th ree-yea r-old , a fter th a t , wra pped a rou n d in a b lu e towel, wa n ted m e to d ry h er h a ir . After d ryin g h er h a ir , I h elped h er pu t th e pa ja m a . Bu t before we p la yed th e “ s a lt a n d pepper ” ga m e. I wa s a ct in g a s if I wa s ea t in g h er u p a n d pu t s a lt a n d pepper to m a ke it ta s t ier . I fa ked lit t le b ites on h er s tom a ch : s h e en joyed it a n d la u gh ed lou d . Th e m oth er a n d th e b roth ers were of cou rs e in th e room . My ex wife th ou gh t h ow excellen t wa s m y bon d with th e ch ild ren . By th e wa y, in Ita ly m oth ers a n d fa th ers p la y th is ga m e with th eir lit t le ch ild ren , a n d n obody h a s been a ccu s ed of a bu s e.

Th e “ doctor ” la beled th is ga m e, in h is repor t , a s a s ym bol of pervers ion ! Wh o b rou gh t u p th is “ ga m e” in to th e p ictu re? In view of th e fa ct th a t th e “ doctor ” d idn ’t fin d a n yth in g wron g from th e

ph ys ica l exa m in a t ion , m y ex wife m en t ion ed th e ga m e to exp loit th e ps ych ologica l s ide of th e ca s e. Sh e wa s a fra id th a t h er “ p la n ” wou ld go in to s m oke!

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An ywa y th e “m ed ica l” repor t is a fu r th er p roof of h ow in s ta n ta n eou s ly everyth in g ch a n ges in th e USA: a gen era l p ra ct it ion er becom es gyn ecologis t , p s ych ologis t , d is t r ict a t torn ey, ju dge, etc. , a n d h ow a n in n ocen t ga m e is con s tru ed a s a s ym bol of a bu s e.

I forgot to m en t ion th a t I h a d to foot th e b ill of th e m ed ica l exa m in a t ion . In few words I pa id s om eon e to m a ke s u re h e a ccu s ed m e!

How on ea r th ca n a n yon e s h ield h im s elf from s u ch lu d icrou s ch a rges ? Sh ou ldn ’t th e doctor h a ve a s ked m y wife wh y d idn ’t s h e repor t th is

“ h orr ib le ga m e” before, s in ce we p la yed wh en th e gir l wa s th ree yea rs old , a n d a t th e da te of th e exa m in a t ion s h e wa s fou r teen yea rs of a ge?

Wh a t took h er (m y ex wife) s o lon g to com e forwa rd? Th e a n s wer is on e a n d on e on ly: ou r n et-wor th wa s n ot yet a s a llu r in g

ba ck th en a s it beca m e in 1996! Sin ce s h e s u cceed with h er fir s t h u s ba n d in h er p la n to force h im to give h is ch ild ren u p for a dop t ion , u s in g h er da u gh ter , s h e n ow tr ied th e b ig s t r ide with m e, u t ilizin g h er da u gh ter a ga in !

I s h owed th e repor t to s om e m ed ica l a cqu a in ta n ces of m in e, a n d a ll a ffirm ed th a t it wa s n ot rea lis t ic by th e wa y it wa s perform ed ; a n d th a t th e a bs en ce of th e h ym en a l t is s u e wa s typ ica l of gir ls wh o rode h ors es .

In a dd it ion I wa s a n d I a m a bs olu tely cer ta in of m y in n ocen ce, beca u s e I h a d es ta b lis h ed a bea u t ifu l fa th er-da u gh ter rela t ion s h ip with th e lit t le gir l. On n u m erou s occa s ion s s h e a n d I were a lon e wh ile th e m oth er wen t a rou n d Ala ba m a a n d Texa s to ch oos e th e r igh t Un ivers ity for th e older s on fir s t a n d th e m idd le on e la ter . My da u gh ter h a d th e ch oice to s ta y with h er gra n dm oth er if s h e wa n ted . An y a bu s ed ch ild wou ld h a ve ta ken th a t oppor tu n ity to b rea k free.

Sh e wa s very religiou s , in fa ct s h e a t ten ded th e p r im a ry a s well th e s econ da ry cla s s es a t th e s ch ool ru n by Ca th olic n u n s .

I a lwa ys th a n k God th a t a t fou r teen yea rs s h e d idn ’t en ter ta in a n y ph ys ica l rela t ion s h ip with a boy, oth erwis e I wou ld h a ve been in a m ore d ifficu lt s itu a t ion .

Fu r th erm ore m y da u gh ter s ta yed with h er gra n dm oth er for a lm os t th ree weeks , du r in g on e of ou r bu s in es s t r ip s to Eu rope, wh ile th e boys p refer red to s ta y with th eir fa th er .

Sh e th erefore h a d a ll th e t im e n eces s a ry to con fide to h er gra n dm oth er th e a lleged a bu s es s h e wa s s u ffer in g! My da u gh ter cou ld h a ve a ls o ta lked to th e s ch ool p s ych ologis t to wh om s h e h a d a lrea dy d is clos ed h er fea rs wh en s h e wen t to h er fa th er ’s h ou s e every oth er weeken d , a s I m en t ion ed in th e a dop t ion ch a p ter .

I h a ve of cou rs e b rou gh t u p to da te m y la wyer of th e a bove deta ils . I wa s th erefore h op in g th a t h e wou ld go on th e offen s ive by a s k in g th e cou r t to a llow u s to h a ve th e a lleged vict im exa m in ed by a n OB-GYN of ou r referen ce, a s well by a n in depen den t p s ych ologis t .

It wou ld h a ve been a n im por ta n t s tep in m y fa vor , beca u s e if th e gir l refu s ed to u n dergo a s econ d m ed ica l exa m in a t ion , I wou ld be a cqu it ted s h or t of a n y t r ia l.

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Th e la wyer in s tea d s a id it wa s n ot n eces s a ry, a n d th is wa s m y firs t a n d forem os t d is a ppoin tm en t .

As I m en t ion ed before th e ju dge, du r in g th e fir s t h ea r in g, m en t ion ed th a t th e ch a rges were too va gu e a n d in s t ru cted th e d is t r ict a t torn ey to p rovide m ore defin ite s ta tem en ts a n d deta ils . All th is took p la ce a t th e begin n in g of J u ly 1996 . I wa s th erefore, from a lega l poin t of view, free t ill th e d is t r ict a t torn ey ca m e u p with th e requ ired deta ils .

If I were gu ilty wh a t bet ter oppor tu n ity to es ca pe a n d lea ve a ll th e p rob lem s beh in d m e? I cou ld h a ve ta ken a ll th e fu n ds from th e bu s in es s a n d d is a ppea r!

My a t torn ey wa s offered yet , on a s ilver p la te, a n oth er oppor tu n ity to go on th e offen s e, by th e Sta te Su prem e Cou r t ru lin g wh ich s ta ted th a t “ th e Sta te in ra pe a n d s exu a l a bu s e ca s es wou ld h a ve to s elect a s pecific offen s e wh ich th e defen da n t , th e ch ild cou ld tes t ify to”.

It wa s a ca s e in th e s a m e town wh ere I lived , of a m a n con victed in 1994 on two cou n ts of s exu a lly a bu s in g a s even yea r-old gir l. Th e vict im h a d tes t ified gen era lly a bou t a s er ies of a bou t five in ciden ts in Decem ber 1993 a n d J a n u a ry 1994 . Th e Sta te Su prem e Cou r t revers ed th e s en ten ce.

Ba ck to m y ca s e. It took th e d is t r ict a t torn ey a lm os t s ix m on th s to pu t togeth er th e deta ils ordered by th e ju dge. Th es e a re s om e of th e s o-ca lled deta ils m a de a va ila b le on Decem ber 26 , 1996 , redu cin g th e or igin a l ch a rges from eleven to ten , with ou t givin g a n y exp la n a t ion :

• Du rin g th e m on th of J u n e or J u ly 1990 I s u ppos ed ly licked a n d tou ch ed th e gir l’s gen ita l orga n s

• Between Au gu s t 20 a n d October 20 1990 , I s u ppos ed ly a s ked th e gir l to tou ch m e

• Du rin g th e m on th of J u n e or J u ly 1991 , I s u ppos ed ly ru bbed m y pen is a ga in s t h er va gin a l a rea .

• Du rin g th e m on th of Apr il or Ma y 1995 , I s u ppos ed ly pu t m y fin ger in h er va gin a

• Between th e m on th of Novem ber 15 ,1994 a n d J a n u a ry 15 , 1995 , th ere h a s been , s u ppos ed ly, s om e a ct ivity between th e gir l a n d m e in m y office, etc.

All th es e “ deta ils ” repea ted ten t im es . My bu s in es s s u cces s , m y pers on a l a n d s ocia l a ch ievem en ts , a n d th e

bon d with m y a dop ted ch ild ren , tu rn ed ou t to be th e ca u s e of m y down fa ll. Th e USA is th e cou n try of grea t oppor tu n it ies , bu t if a “ foreign er ”, a n

Ita lia n born in Libya , s u cceeds in ta k in g a dva n ta ge of th es e oppor tu n it ies , h a rd ly ever h e is a pprecia ted , es pecia lly in deep s ou th , wh ere d is cr im in a t ion h a b itu a lly is releva n t .

Th is “ foreign er ” h a d em ba rra s s ed a m em ber of th e “*RRG�2O·%R\Vµ clu b , (a s th e wh ite m em bers of th e com m u n ity a re ca lled ), by a dop t in g h is ch ild ren . ��

Non e of th e “m em bers ” wou ld h a ve ever been ch a rged for two m a in rea s on s :

a ) h is polit ica l con n ect ion s wou ld h a ve p la yed a m a jor role

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b ) wom en in th e s ou th don ’t en joy th e s a m e p r ivileges of m en , a n d th erefore if th ey don ’t wa n t to be is ola ted or r id icu led , don ’t da re to com e forwa rd .

My wife, few da ys im m edia tely a fter I filed m y requ es t for d ivorce, on J u ly 2 , 1996 , th e s a m e da y of m y a r res t , s h e filed h er ta x retu rn a s s in gle, a n d cla im in g th e th ree ch ild ren for dedu ct ion . Wh a t wa s th e m a in rea s on beh in d h er a ct ion ? Th e a n s wer is s im ple. In order to cla im m ore m on ey for ch ild s u ppor t from h er fir s t h u s ba n d , s h e u s ed to d ra w a s m a ller s a la ry th a n m in e, a bou t s ixty to s even ty percen t les s , from ou r bu s in es s . I th erefore en ded u p pa yin g m ore ta xes for m on ey I d idn ’t h a ve, beca u s e everyth in g I ea rn ed wa s s pen t for th e fa m ily! Th e on ly s ou rce of in com e I h a d wa s m y bu s in es s , wh ich beca m e th e vict im of m y d ivorce. In view of th e fa ct th a t I cou ld n ot h a ve com m u n ica t ion with a n y m em ber of m y fa m ily, du e to th e res t r ict ion s im pos ed on m e by th e bon d order , th e d ivorce ju dge decreed th a t I ru n th e bu s in es s from 07 :30 a .m . t ill n oon , a n d m y ex wife from n oon t ill five p .m .

Th is ru lin g rep res en ted th e dea th s en ten ce of m y bu s in es s , for on e s im ple rea s on : s h e d idn ’t s pea k Ita lia n a n d n in ety percen t of ou r cu s tom ers were Ita lia n . I a dd it ion s h e u s ed to h a n d le pers on n el m a t ters a n d a lm os t zero exper ien ce in in tern a t ion a l bu s in es s , even in cou r t s h e a ffirm ed th e oppos ite, lyin g u n der oa th on s evera l occa s ion s . Sh e wa s a s ch ool tea ch er a n d a fter ret ir in g s h e beca m e a gen t for edu ca t ion a l m a ter ia l.

To a void tota l d is a s ter I fou n d s om e in ves tors willin g to bu y ou r com pa n y, offer in g s ix-h u n dred -fifty th ou s a n d dolla rs , with a down pa ym en t of fifty th ou s a n d dolla rs a n d th e res t in m on th ly in s ta llm en ts .

I m u s t h on es t ly a dm it th a t I a s ked th e in ves tors to m a ke two s epa ra te offers , on e for th e cou r t of th ree-h u n dred -fifty th ou s a n d dolla rs , a n d th e rea l on e I kep t for m e, h op in g to h a ve a cces s to s om e extra fu n ds for m y lega l expen s es .

Th e in ves tors h a ve been s u m m on ed by th e d ivorce ju dge to exp la in th e deta ils of th e s a le. Bu t m y ex wife decided to cu t h er n os e in s p ite of h er fa ce, a n d a ffirm ed s h e d idn ’t wa n t s o s ell. Na tu ra lly th e ju dge gra n ted m y wife’s wh is h es , bein g h er a n a t ive. You don ’t kn ow h ow m a n y t im es I res en ted m y s tu p id decis ion of givin g h er fifty percen t of m y com pa n y’s s h a res , a s a p res en t . It wa s a n a ct of p la in a n d s im ple la ck of com m on s en s e, on m y pa r t !

Th e rea s on beh in d m y wife’s refu s a l to s ell th e com pa n y wa s to dep r ive m e of th e pos s ib ility of a dd it ion a l fin a n cia l res ou rces . If I h a d a cces s to m ore fu n ds I cou ld h a ve h ired a la wyer n ot en ta n gled with th e loca l “m a fia ” or th e in fa m ou s “JRRG�RO�ER\V” clu b : “ I’ll s cra tch you r ba ck a n d you s cra tch m y ba ck ”, s o to s pea k .

Th e m a n eu ver wa s to in flu en ce th e cr im in a l ca s e th rou gh th e d ivorce. In fa ct th e s a m e d ivorce ju dge m a de a n u n preceden ted a n d clea r ly

d is cr im in a tory decis ion in th e fin a l d ivorce decree: s h e a s s ign ed th e ba n kru p t com pa n y to m e a n d th e bu ild in g wh ere it wa s loca ted to m y ex

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wife! It wa s like a s s ign in g th e ca r to h er a n d th e t ires to m e, a s cou p le of b la ck m overs s a id to m e. I a m s u re th a t it took th e ju dge a lot of h a rd th in k in g to com e u p with s u ch a decis ion .

Sh e, th e d ivorce ju dge, a s s ign ed fou r of ou r five p roper t ies to h er , a lth ou gh I wa s th e b rea dwin n er . In a dd it ion I h a d to pa y s even -h u n dred -s even ty dolla rs a m on th for ch ild s u ppor t a n d keep a n h ea lth in s u ra n ce policy for m y da u gh ter a n d boys , a lth ou gh th e boys were a du lts , wa y before th e fin a l d ivorce decree!

I felt like th e s en ten ce for th e cr im in a l ca s e wa s a lrea dy writ ten in ca p ita l let ters on th e wa ll, a n d th e t r ia l wou ld h a ve been a pu re form a lity for th e even in g n ews !

Bu t I s t ill believed in J u s t ice a s oppos ed to ju s t ice. Th e rea l pu rpos e beh in d th e d is cr im in a tory d ivis ion of ou r p roper t ies

wa s to s en d m e ba ck to ja il, beca u s e th e p roper ty a s s ign ed to m e d idn ’t h a ve en ou gh equ ity to cover th e two-h u n dred -fifty th ou s a n d dolla rs bon d .

In fa ct , im m edia tely a fter th e d ivorce decree, m y ex wife’s la wyer a s ked th e cou r t to rem ove th e lien I h a d or igin a lly pu t on th e p roper t ies a s a colla tera l for th e bon d .

On Au gu s t 16 ,1997 I h a d to en dors e, u n der a tou gh p res s u re from m y (?) a t torn ey, a ll th e p roper t ies a s s ign ed to h er . I h a d a ls o to ru s h a n d em pty th e office bu ild in g, five room s fu ll of com pu ters , des ks , file-ca b in ets , etc, oth erwis e s h e wa s goin g to pu t a lock . All th is in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t I in ten ded to a ppea l th e d ivorce.

Beca u s e of th e poor res u lts in th e d ivorce a n d th e la ck of p rogres s in th e cr im in a l ca s e, I decided to d is m is s m y a t torn ey.

I th erefore h ired a tea m of la wyers : a defen s e a t torn ey , a d ivorce to a ppea l a n d a th ird on e to coord in a te th e work , s in ce h e told m e, wh en I fir s t m et h im , th a t h e wa s a good fr ien d of th e d is t r ict a t torn ey, beca u s e th ey both a t ten ded th e s a m e u n ivers ity.

Th e tea m “ lea der ”, th e on e wh o wa s s u ppos ed to a ct a s a lia is on , im m edia tely a s ked m e a s ixty th ou s a n d dolla rs a s a down pa ym en t , a n d I h a d to h ire a p r iva te in ves t iga tor , s u gges ted by h im , a t m y expen s e.

Th e d is t r ict a t torn ey, ca u gh t by s u rp r is e by m y m ove, in crea s ed th e cou n ts from th e or igin a l ten to twen ty-eigh t , h op in g th a t I wou ld p lea -ba rga in ! In few words th e n ew in d ictm en t repea ts th e s a m e ch a rges twen ty-eigh t t im es . Th is is h ow ju s t ice rea cts wh en th ey don ’t h a ve a ca s e, bu t n ever th eles s you r life is fu cked-u p .

Th ere is a n oth er rea s on beh in d h is rea ct ion . Du r in g on e of th e la s t h ea r in gs of m y d ivorce, m y wife’s la wyer con veyed to m y a t torn ey th e followin g p ropos a l: if I wa s willin g to give u p a ll ou r p roper t ies to m y wife, “ th ey” (m ea n in g m y wife) wou ld “ s u gges t ” to th e d is t r ict a t torn ey to s en ten ce m e to two yea rs p r is on term , th e s econ d of wh ich a s a “ t ru s tee”, m ea n in g th a t I wou ld be free du r in g th e da y, bu t a t n igh t I h a d to s leep in ja il! Th e m a n da tory s en ten ce for ea ch cou n t wa s of ten yea rs a n d u p !

Na tu ra lly I refu s ed beca u s e I wa s a n d s t ill a m in n ocen t . Bu t look in g ba ck a t th e even ts I a m on ly gu ilty of h a vin g t ru s ted th e Am erica n lega l s ys tem !

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Th e m a in rea s on , beyon d th e fin a n cia l a s pect , wa s to a void m y da u gh ter ’s tes t im on y a t t r ia l: th ey were a ll a fra id th a t u n der du e p res s u re s h e wou ld tell th a t th e a bu s es n ever occu rred .

Th is p ropos a l wa s con cocted between m y ex wife a n d th e ch ief a s s is ta n t d is t r ict a t torn ey, wh o wa s a s s ign ed to h a n d le m y ca s e, a n d s h e h a s been in th e pa s t m y wife’s la wyer for m a t ters con cern in g h er fir s t d ivorce. Th is p ropos a l p roves beyon d a n y dou b t h ow th e polit ica l con n ect ion s ca n in flu en ce th e a dm in is t ra t ion of ju s t ice.

Th e m os t im por ta n t p la yers of th e tea m (d is t r ict a t torn ey, ch ief a s s is ta n t d is t r ict a t torn ey, d ivorce ju dge, cr im in a l ju dge a n d m y wife) in volved in m y ca s e, a ll belon ged to th e s a m e polit ica l pa r ty: th e Repu b lica n or GOP (Gra n d Old Pa r ty).

On e da y wh ile I wa s goin g th rou gh a ll th e files I h a d to rem ove from th e office, I fou n d a box con ta in in g a ll th e docu m en ta t ion of h er fir s t d ivorce, in clu d in g corres pon den ce with la wyers , h er ex h u s ba n d , etc.

I wa s ou tra ged wh en I d is covered a ll th e corres pon den ce between m y firs t la wyer a n d m y wife, a n d between h er a n d th e ch ief a s s is ta n t d is t r ict a t torn ey. I r igh t a wa y th ou gh t th a t I h a d fou n d th e s olu t ion of m y ca s e, beca u s e of th e ou tra geou s con flict of in teres ts of th e pa r t ies in volved!

I wa s rea lly excited a n d im m edia tely wen t to s h ow th es e docu m en ts to th e n ew a t torn eys . I m a de cop ies of everyth in g of cou rs e, beca u s e every da y wen t by, I rea lized th a t I wa s s u rrou n d by s h a rks .

My excitem en t d is a ppea red wh en I wa s told by th e n ew la wyers , th a t a lth ou gh th es e pa pers were im por ta n t , th ey were n ot in teres ted in s u in g m y firs t a t torn ey for m a lp ra ct ice. To a ppea s e m e th ey t r ied to exp la in , or bet ter s a id bu lls h it m e, th a t a n y lega l a ct ion a ga in s t m y firs t la wyer cou ld h a ve h a m pered th eir effor ts in m y cr im in a l ca s e a n d d ivorce a ppea l!

Th ey s u gges ted to t ry to fin d a n oth er lega l firm willin g to h a n d le th e m a lp ra ct ice ca s e. I d idn ’t fin d a s in gle la w-firm with in th e Sta te of Ala ba m a willin g to h a n d le m y ca s e. Th ey a ll s ta ted th a t in th e pa s t th ey h a d dea lt with m y fis t la wyer . Very s eldom a s h a rk ea ts a n oth er s h a rk !

If I h a d belon ged to th e “JRRG�RO·�ER\Vµ�clu b , I wou ld h a ve h a d a lot of lega l-firm s to ch oos e from , beca u s e in a m a lp ra ct ice s u it , th e ju r ies a wa rd qu ite b it of m on ey a s pu n it ive da m a ges ! In a bou t n in ety percen t of th is type of lega l s u it , th e a t torn eys a ct ba s ed on a “ con t in gen cy-fee” a greem en t : th ey a re en t it led to on e th ird of th e pu n it ive da m a ge a wa rded , p lu s lega l expen s es pa id by th e defen da n t .

In s p ite of a ll d ifficu lt ies en cou n tered , I wa s s t ill determ in ed to go a h ea d a n d fin d a n ou t-of-Sta te lega l firm . Bu t I wa s s t ron gly d is cou ra ged by m y la wyers , beca u s e m y a ct ion cou ld h a ve en da n gered m y cr im in a l ca s e. In fa ct th e s on of m y firs t la wyer worked in th e d is t r ict a t torn ey’s office a n d it wou ld h a ve been “ em ba rra s s in g” for h im (a s I wa s told ) in ca s e it ca m e ou t du r in g th e cou rs e of m y lega l a ct ion !

To m a ke a lon g s tory s h or t I wa s u n der s iege a n d s u rrou n ded by a th ick “m a fia ” wa ll, very d ifficu lt to defea t , a ls o in ligh t of th e fa ct th a t I h a d a lm os t dep leted a ll m y fu n ds .

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Th e is s u e of th e s econ d in d ictm en t crea ted a s itu a t ion I fea red th e m os t , a fter th e u n fa ir d ivis ion of ou r p roper t ies by th e d ivorce ju dge: wh a t to u s e a s a colla tera l for th e bon d .

My la wyers p res s u red m e to com e u p with th e n eces s a ry fu n ds , or fin d s om ebody willin g to a ct a gra n tor . Th e p roper ty a s s ign ed to m e d idn ’t h a ve en ou gh equ ity in it , a n d I wa s des pera te a t th e th ou gh t of goin g ba ck to ja il. It wa s a ter r ib le a n d d ifficu lt m om en t for m e, bu t I wa s determ in ed to figh t ba ck .

I p la in ly told m y la wyers th a t I wa s u n a b le to fin d a gra n tor , a n d th a t I wou ld ca ll a p res s con feren ce to let everybody kn ow h ow ba d I h a ve been d is cr im in a ted by th e d ivorce ju dge a s well by th e lega l s ys tem , in ca s e th ey d idn ’t fin d a s a t is fa ctory s olu t ion .

Ma ybe everybody rea lized h ow s er iou s I wa s in m y in ten t to figh t , a n d in th e en d th e d is t r ict a t torn ey a n d m y la wyers , fou n d a “ tech n ica l” s olu t ion for m y bon d . Th ey ca lled it “ tech n ica l” s olu t ion , bu t I wou ld s a y it wa s “ s a ve th eir a s s es ” s olu t ion .

On ce m ore I beca m e con s ciou s of th e fa ct th a t th e n ew la wyers , a fter th eir in it ia l s t ron g cr it icis m of m y firs t a t torn ey, a n d th e p rom is es th a t th ey wou ld h a n d le m y ca s e in a rea l p rofes s ion a l m a n n er , th ey a ll d id th e ba re m in im u m to get by. I h a ve m a n y b in ders fu ll of th e let ters I wrote to a ll of th em , in clu d in g th e fir s t la wyer , to ta ck le s om e very im por ta n t is s u es . Th ey a n s wered by s en d in g th eir b ills for every lit t le expen s e, s u ch a s twen ty cen ts ph on e ca ll, or fifty cen ts for ph otocop ies !

I wou ld like to m a ke th es e b in ders a va ila b le to th os e wh o a ffirm th a t th e Un ited Sta tes a re th e cra d le of lega lity a n d dem ocra cy.

Yes , in fa ct , th e USA is th e cra d le of lega lity a n d dem ocra cy, bu t on ly for a very s m a ll grou p of peop le, th e wea lth y, wh o ca n a fford to bu y a n yth in g, in clu d in g th e p res iden cy!

Th e p r iva te in ves t iga tor I h ired con vey to m e, on m a n y occa s ion s , th a t m y ch a n ces of h a vin g a fa ir t r ia l were very s lim , beca u s e: I wa s a foreign er , a n d m y ex wife, a n Am erica n cit izen , h a d s t ron g polit ica l t ies . He kn ew very well th e im por ta n ce of polit ica l t ies , beca u s e in th e pa s t h e wa s em ployed a s th e Ch ief Ala ba m a in ves t iga tor . He took pa r t to va r iou s t r ia l a ga in s t s om e m em bers of th e Ku Klu x Kla n a n d often , in s p ite of th e u n equ ivoca l eviden ce p rovided by h im to th e cou r t , th ey were a cqu it ted in a bou t n in ety-n in e percen t of th e t im es !

Th e in ves t iga tor exp licit ly a s ked m e if I h a d a p la n to s a ve m e: in few words wa s I p repa red to flee th e cou n try?

I h a d becom e s o s kep t ica l a bou t peop le’s h on es ty, th a t I wa s won der in g if h e were rea lly con cern ed a bou t m e, or if h e wa s t ryin g to fin d ou t m y in ten t ion s , a n d th en repor t it to th e a u th or it ies .

Th e u n fa vora b le ou tcom e of m y d ivorce s ta r ted to h a ve a n ega t ive in flu en ce on m y cr im in a l ca s e, a s it wa s in m in d of th e d ivorce’s ju dge.

After th e s o-ca lled tech n ica l s olu t ion , th e la wyers told m e th a t in ca s e I wou ld be s en ten ced du r in g th e fir s t t r ia l, th e ju dge cou ld h a ve, eith er revoked by bon d or in crea s e it . In ca s e I wa n ted to a ppea l th e s en ten ce th ey wou ld n eed a dd it ion a l fu n ds , a rou n d s even ty th ou s a n d dolla rs !

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Soon a fter th e d ivorce decree, I h a ve a pp lied for a loa n of twen ty-five th ou s a n d dolla rs , from th e loca l ba n k I h a ve been doin g bu s in es s with , a n d wh os e d irector wa s a m em ber of th e Rota ry clu b of wh ich I wa s th e p res iden t . I h a d offered th e p roper ty a s s ign ed to m e a s a colla tera l.

A week la ter th e ba n k in form ed m e th a t th ey cou ldn ’t loa n th e a m ou n t I h a ve requ es ted , beca u s e th ere wa s a twen ty-five th ou s a n d dolla rs lien on m y p roper ty. My ex wife h a d pu t th e lien , beca u s e s h e wa s cla im in g th e ba la n ce of th e s tock a ccou n t I h a d .

It wa s a n illega l a ct beca u s e to pu t a lien on a p roper ty you m u s t fir s t h a ve a cou r t order to ju s t ify, bu t n ever th eles s , s h e d id it , u s in g h er con n ect ion s . At th e s a m e t im e th e s a m e ba n k gra n ted h er a s even ty-five th ou s a n d dolla rs loa n , in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t I h a d filed a n a ppea l to th e d ivorce decree! By pu re m is ta ke copy of th e loa n pa pers en ded u p in m a il box, a n d th a t is th e rea s on wh y I kn ew.

My la wyers , p res s u red by m e, filed a m ot ion to th e cou r t to h a ve th e a lleged vict im exa m in ed by a n OG-GYN of ou r ch oice.

Th e ju dge a pproved ou r m ot ion givin g u s a lim ited a m ou n t of t im e: ten da ys on ly.

I m is ta ken ly a s s u m ed th a t m y a t torn eys wou ld im m edia tely s ta r t look in g for a n obs tet r icia n a va ila b le to con du ct th e exa m . It wa s a n im por ta n t s tep for m y ca s e, beca u s e in ca s e th e gir l wou ld refu s e to u n dergo a s econ d gyn ecologica l tes t , I wou ld be s et free, with ou t a n y t r ia l.

My expecta t ion s were s olid n ot on ly beca u s e I kn ew m y da u gh ter , bu t a ls o du e to th e fa ct th a t it took m y ex wife twen ty-on e da ys from th e da te of m y a r res t , to con vin ce h er to be exa m in ed . Bu t m os t ly beca u s e I wa s in n ocen t .

On e a ftern oon du r in g m y u s u a l da ily wa lk , a ca r pa s s ed s lowly n ea r m e a n d s a w m y da u gh ter s it t in g n ext to th e you n g d r iver , wh ich wa s n ot m y oth er s on . I h a d th e d is t in ct feelin g th a t s h e wa n ted to ta lk to m e.

Wh en I told m y la wyers wh a t h a d occu rred , th ey told m e to im m edia tely ca ll th e police, beca u s e it cou ld h a ve been a t ra p ! In th a t in s ta n ce I felt th e en orm ou s cu ltu ra l ga p . In Ita ly th e la wyers wou ld h a ve s u gges ted to ta lk to h er a n d t ry to fin d ou t wh o con vin ced h er to go th rou gh a ll th is n igh tm a re.

Few da ys before th e exp ira t ion of th e ten da ys I ca lled m y la wyers to fin d ou t if th ey h a d con ta cted a n y OB-GYN. Th eir a n s wer wa s th a t h a ve been u n a b le to com e u p with s om eon e willin g to con du ct th e exa m in a t ion !

I wa s rea lly p is s ed , a n d I r igh t a wa y d is covered th e rea s on beh in d th eir “ d ifficu lty”: m on ey, n oth in g els e bu t fu ck in g m on ey.

If th ey con ta cted s om e of th eir a cqu a in ta n ces th ey h a d to pa y th e fees from th e down pa ym en t I a dva n ced th em , bu t if I fou n d on e I wa s res pon s ib le for th e expen s es !

Th ere were th ree da ys left a n d I r igh t a wa y con ta cted s om e of m y a cqu a in ta n ces a n d I fou n d a gyn ecologis t a va ila b le a n d willin g to con du ct th e exa m in a t ion , a s in s t ru cted by th e ju dge.

Th e la wyers in form ed th e cou r t of th e da te a n d t im e for th e a ppoin tm en t .

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At th is poin t s om eth in g u n h ea rd of, in a n y lega l s ys tem wor th y of th is n a m e, h a ppen ed : th e m orn in g in wh ich th e a ppoin tm en t wa s s et , th e ju dge revers ed h is own decis ion , s ta t in g th a t a fter two yea rs , th e tes t h a d n o lon ger a m ed ica l legit im a cy, beca u s e a fter s u ch a per iod th e ph ys ica l con d it ion s of th e a lleged vict im were n ot th e s a m e!

Th e a ctu a l exp la n a t ion beh in d th e ju dge’s res olu t ion wa s th a t everybody wa s a fra id of th e gir l’s refu s a l to u n dergo a n oth er tes t ; th erefore m y ex wife pu t in m ot ion th e polit ica l m a ch in e. In fa ct a ll th es e even ts were ta k in g p la ce in Ma rch 1998 a n d in Novem ber of th e s a m e yea r th ere th e elect ion s . I wou ld h a ve been a good “ t roph y” to s h ow du r in g th e elect ion ca m pa ign !

More fa vora b le verd icts , m ore ch a n ces of bein g reelected for th e ju dge a s well for th e d is t r ict a t torn ey.

Let u s n ot forget th a t h a s been elected p res iden t of th e Un ited Sta tes th e govern or of Texa s , th e Sta te with th e h igh es t n u m ber of execu t ion s , th a n of a n y oth er Sta te.

An yth in g is u s efu l for th e a dva n cem en t in th e polit ica l a ren a , a s well to get th e n eces s a ry fin a n cia l s u ppor t a n d en dors em en t : even th e life of in n ocen t peop le.

I recen t ly rea d a n a r t icle rega rd in g a n F.B.I. la bora tory in Texa s , wh ich fa b r ica ted fa ls e p roofs , ba s ed on wh ich in n ocen t peop le h a ve been s en ten ced to p r is on term s : a ll th is to h elp th e polit ica l ca reer of th e loca l d is t r ict a t torn ey.

Mos t th e a r t icles rega rd in g th e m is beh a viors occu rr in g in th e lega l s ys tem , a re n ot pu b lis h ed by ta b loids , bu t by im por ta n t m ed ia s u ch a s Wa ll Street J ou rn a l, New York Tim es , etc.

My ex wife, I wa s told by s om e com m on fr ien ds , wa s a m em ber of th e com m it tee for th e reelect ion of th e ju dge wh o revers ed h is own decis ion !

Th e s a m e ju dge rejected a ll ou r m ot ion s , s u ch a s : • Allow u s to in ter roga te m y da u gh ter , s in ce s h e tes t ified du r in g

th e d ivorce h ea r in gs , in s p ite of th e res t r ict ion s im pos ed on m y by th e bon d : I h a d to be a t 100 feet d is ta n ce from a n y m em ber of m y ex fa m ily. Her tes t im on y wa s a typ ica l s oa p opera perform a n ce. In fa ct m y wife’s la wyer wa s a llowed by th e d ivorce ju dge (fem a le) to a s k qu es t ion s a bou t th e p res u m ed a bu s es , ir releva n t to th e d ivorce p roceed in gs . Th e gir l fa ked cryin g a n d d idn ’t s a y a word .

• Allow u s to h a ve m y da u gh ter exa m in ed by a ps ych ologis t of ou r ch oice.

• Ha ve m ore p recis e da tes a n d p la ces wh ere th e a lleged a bu s es took p la ce

• Ta ke p ictu re of th e in s ide of ou r h om e to s h ow th e la you t of th e va r iou s room s .

• To get h old of a ll m y pers on a l d ia r ies , corres pon den ce, Ita lia n d r iver licen s e, etc.

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• Bu t m os t im por ta n t ly I h a d a folder with a ll th e n otes , let ters , or ca rds , wr it ten by th e ch ild ren to m e, on s evera l occa s ion s , wh ich cou ld h a ve h igh ligh ted , bet ter a n y words , m y rela t ion s h ip with th em . Bu t m y ex wife s ta ted u n der oa th th a t th is folder n ever exis ted , a n d th e ju dge of cou rs e ba s ed h is decis ion s on h er s ta tem en ts .

We h a ve a ls o been den ied th e r igh t to get copy of a n y tes t im on y relea s ed by th e a lleged vict im , wh ich even tu a lly led to m y a r res t .

Ea ch da y wen t by I beca m e a wa re of th e fa ct th a t m y “des t in y” wa s a lrea dy decided . Th e n ew la wyers d idn ’t even fin d n eces s a ry to s u m m on s om e peop le wh o kn ew m y fa m ily a n d m ys elf very well, to tes t ify a t th e t r ia l wh ich wa s s et for Apr il 13 ,1998 .

I h a d given th em a lis t of peop le willin g to tes t ify on m y beh a lf: -Th e n u n s wh ere a ll th ree ch ild ren a t ten ded th e p r im a ry s ch ool a n d

wh ere I s om et im es wen t to ta lk to th e cla s s a bou t Ita ly. -Th e s ch ool p s ych ologis t to wh om m y da u gh ter ta lked to, before th e

a dop t ion , a bou t h er “ fea rs ” wh en s h e wen t to h er fa th er ’s h ou s e. -Th e oth er p s ych ologis t wh o s a w th e ch ild ren , for few s es s ion s , a fter th e a dop t ion . -Th e p r ies ts of ou r pa r is h , wh o frequ en t ly ca m e to ou r h om e for d in n er -Som e m em bers of th e Rota ry clu b -Som e fr ien ds from Ita ly wh o h a d kn own m e for m a n y yea rs -Ou r fa m ily doctor etc.

Th is is th e a ccou n t of wh a t I wen t th rou gh . Th e s tory of a n in n ocen t m a n wh os e life h a s been s h a t tered . In a m a t ter of twen ty-fou r h ou r per iod I h a ve fa llen from gra ce to d is gra ce, th e twen ty-fou r h ou rs s pen t in a n Ala ba m a ja il.

I h a ve fou gh t h a rd t ill th e la s t pen n y of m y fu n ds , a lth ou gh I wa s a t d is a dva n ta ge, in a n h os t ile s ociety.

I h a ve been den ied a ll m y ba s ic r igh ts . I h a ve to s ta r t a ll over a ga in to s ecu re a decen t fu tu re for th e la s t yea rs of m y life. It is a ch a llen ge I a m p repa red to m eet , in s p ite of a ll th e h u m ilia t ion s s u ffered s in ce 1996 , a n d m y “you n g” a ge of s even t ies .

My s t ren gth d ra ws from m y in n ocen ce a n d th e love a n d a ffect ion of m y rela t ives a n d fr ien ds .

I h ope th a t God will on e da y give th e joy to h u g m y a dop ted ch ild ren , in n ocen t vict im s s a cr ificed on th e a lta r of th e on ly god h er m oth er believes in : m on ey.

It m u s t h a ve been d ifficu lt for th e ch ild ren to overcom e th e pa in of bein g “ given u p ” by th eir b iologica l fa th er , in exch a n ge of fifteen th ou s a n d dolla rs , (five th ou s a n d dolla rs ea ch a s th e told m e a fter th e a dop t ion ).

It m u s t h a ve n ot been ea s y to be dep r ived of th e pers on with wh om th ey h a d es ta b lis h ed a t ru e bon d , a n d by wh om th ey felt loved .

Th e “ lega l s ys tem ” wh ich s h ou ld p rotect th e lives of th es e you n g peop le, en ds u p bein g th e p r in cipa l ca u s e of th eir s u ffer in gs .

We grown u p peop le, wh en we com e a cros s a teen a ger wh o u s es d ru gs , we im m edia tely s in gle th em ou t , with ou t ever a s k in g wh ich m is for tu n e

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h a ppen ed in th eir s h or t lives . Th ey u s e th e d ru g to b rea k a wa y from th eir s u ffer in gs in flicted on th em by th e s o-ca lled pa ren ts .

I th in k I h a ve lived , from th e fir s t to th e la s t a ct , of th e Am erica n s oa p-opera .

Th is is th e let ter I wrote to th e govern or of Ala ba m a , with copy to th e Attorn ey Gen era l.

Govern or Fob J a m es Mon tgom ery-Ala ba m a RE. J USTICE IN ALABAMA

Dea r Sir , I ca m e to Ala ba m a in Ma y 1985 a s a gu es t of Govern or Wa lla ce, wh om I

h a d th e p lea s u re of m eet in g in Rom e, Ita ly in 1983 du r in g h is officia l vis it . Du r in g m y vis it I m et m y n ow ex wife a n d decided to m ove to Ala ba m a

(Fa irh ope) wh ere I s ta r ted a n expor t bu s in es s from s cra tch a n d in 1995 I h a d s even em ployees . My bu s in es s (H.T. & T. In c.) h a s been m en t ion ed s evera l t im es by th e S.B.A. a s a s u cces s s tory.

On J u ly 2 ,1996 I h a ve been a r res ted u n der th e a ccu s a t ion of m oles t in g m y a dop ted da u gh ter (ten cou n ts ).

Sin ce I d idn ’t kn ow a n y cr im in a l la wyer I h a ve a s ked m y th en vice-p res iden t of th e Poin t Clea r Rota ry Clu b to s u gges t a good la wyer .

Mr . E .E. Ba ll of Ba ym in et te a greed to ta ke m y ca s e for a fee of $ 50 ,000 .00 p lu s $ 25 ,000 .00 in ca s h for th e Bon d (m y Bon d is $ 250 ,000 .00 ) in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t I h a d pos ted a p roper ty bon d!

Wh ile I wa s in th e cell I fell on th e floor beca u s e of a h ea r t p rob lem : I woke u p a t th e em ergen cy room bed a t th e Ba y Min et te Hos p ita l with ch a in s a t m y feet (I a m n ow 65 yea rs old )!

Mr. Ba ll rep res en ted m e for th e Cr im in a l ca s e a s well for th e d ivorce th a t I filed wh ile in ja il.

I wa s relea s ed on J u ly 3 ,1996 . J u dge Pa r t in ru led in J u ly 1996 th a t s in ce m y in d ictm en t wa s too

gen era l, th e D.A. h a d to com e u p with m ore defin ite da tes . It took th e .D.A. t ill Decem ber 1996 to com e u p with s om e da tes .

After th e d ivorce t r ia l wa s over I h a ve fired Mr. Ba ll beca u s e I wa s n ot p lea s ed th e wa y h e h a n d led th e d ivorce a s well th e cr im in a l ca s e.

As a m a t ter of fa cts m y ex wife h a s been a wa rded 90% of a ll th e p roper t ies ( I h a ve in th e m ea n t im e a ppea led th e d ivorce).

I h a ve la ter d is covered in goin g th rou gh m y files , th a t Mr. Ba ll h a d in th e pa s t rep res en ted m y ex wife a ga in s t h er fir s t h u s ba n d (wh ile s h e wa s m a rr ied to m e).

After fir in g Mr. Ba ll I h a ve h ired Mr. Lloyd Roebu ck of Mobile. He h a s told m e th a t h e wou ld a ppoin t two good la wyers p lu s a n in ves t iga tor for a tota l s u m of $ 60 ,000 .00 . I ga ve h im $ 50 ,000 .00 with th e u n ders ta n d in g th a t I wou ld la ter give h im th e ba la n ce if n eeded .

Mr. Don Bolton of Foley a n d Mr. Cla u de Boon e of Mobile were h ired .

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After I h ired th e n ew la wyers th e D.A. h a s filed a n ew in d ictm en t for 28 cou n ts in s tea d of th e or igin a l 10 . Th is s econ d in d ictm en t does n ot s pecify a n y da tes .

My n ew la wyers h a ve filed a m ot ion to give m ore defin ite da tes a n d th is t im e J u dge Pa r t in den ied ou r m ot ion .

We a ls o filed a m ot ion to h a ve th e a lleged vict im exa m in ed by ou r exper t a n d J u dge Pa r t in ru led on Ma rch 18 ,1998 to a llow s u ch m ed ica l exa m in a t ion .

After th e D.A. h a s filed a n oppos it ion , J u dge Pa r t in revers ed h is or igin a l decis ion !!

I wa s told by on e of m y n ew la wyers th a t u n les s I com e u p with a n a dd it ion a l $ 10 ,000 .00 th ey wou ld n ot file a n a ppea l!!

I owe m y n ew la wyers a dd it ion a l $ 10 ,000 .00 for th e d ivorce a ppea l. In th e m ea n t im e I h a ve d is bu rs ed $ 5 ,000 .00 a dd it ion a lly to cover th e expen s es of th e “m ed ica l exper ts ” .

In th e m ea n t im e a n a ppea l h a s been filed in Mon tgom ery on Good Fr ida y.

I wa n ted to s u e Mr. Ba ll for m a lp ra ct ice bu t I wa s a dvis ed n ot to do beca u s e “Mr. Ba ll’s s on works a t th e D.A. office”.

For you r in form a t ion Mis s J u dy Newcom b, th e a s s is ta n t D.A. wh o is p ros ecu t in g m e, h a s rep res en ted , in th e pa s t , m y ex wife in m a t ters a ga in s t m y ex wife’s fir s t h u s ba n d!!

Dea r Sir I a m n ot wr it in g a ll th e a bove for m ys elf, bu t for fu tu re vict im s of th e lega l s ys tem .

I s ee n o fu tu re for m ys elf. I a m ph ys ica lly, m ora lly a n d fin a n cia lly des t royed .

Th a n k you for you r t im e Sign ed m y n a m e

PS: My ex wife wa s in polit ics for s even yea rs (Fa irh ope Cou n cil m em ber) Cc: Hon ora b le Bill Pryor At torn ey Gen era l

Th e ed itor ia l below, pu b lis h ed by th e New York Tim es , on lin e vers ion on J u n e 23 ,2003 , illu s t ra tes wh o Bill Pryor is : %HJLQQLQJ�RI�WKH�HGLWRULDO��-XQH����������%H\RQG�WKH�3DOH�An y of th e Bu s h a dm in is t ra t ion ’s ju d icia l n om in ees h a ve been eva s ive a bou t th eir pos it ion s on a bor t ion , bu t n ot Willia m Pryor . Mr . Pryor , Ala ba m a ’s a t torn ey gen era l, h a s decla red th a t Roe v. Wa de, th e la n dm a rk ru lin g u ph old in g a bor t ion r igh ts , “ r ipped th e Con s t itu t ion a n d r ipped ou t th e life of m illion s of u n born ch ild ren .” He h a s s h own th e s a m e la ck of s u b t lety — a n d fierce ideologica l a gen da — on is s u es ra n gin g from civil r igh ts to s ta tes ’ r igh ts a n d ga y r igh ts .

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His extrem is m a n d d is da in for th e lega l r igh ts of m a n y Am erica n s m a ke h im u n s u ited to be a federa l ju dge. Mr. Pryor , wh o h a s been n om in a ted to th e Atla n ta -ba s ed Un ited Sta tes Cou r t of Appea ls for th e 11 th Circu it , h a s a record of in cen d ia ry com m en ts th a t s h ow a la ck of ju d icia l tem pera m en t a n d a cyn ica l view of th e la w. Wh en h e d is a greed with th e Su prem e Cou r t ’s decis ion to dela y a n execu t ion in a ca p ita l pu n is h m en t ca s e, h e d is m is s ed th e cou r t a s “ n in e octogen a r ia n la wyers .” On a n oth er occa s ion , h e en ded a s peech with a p ra yer for “ n o m ore Sou ters ,” a b la s t a t Su prem e Cou r t J u s t ice Da vid Sou ter , a m odera te. As Ala ba m a a t torn ey gen era l, Mr . Pryor h a s tu rn ed h is office in to a ta xpa yer-fin a n ced r igh t-win g la w firm . He h a s tes t ified to Con gres s in fa vor of d ropp in g a key pa r t of th e Vot in g Righ ts Act . In a Su prem e Cou r t ca s e ch a llen gin g th e Violen ce Aga in s t Wom en Act , 36 s ta te a t torn eys gen era l u rged th e cou r t to u ph old th e la w. Mr. Pryor wa s th e on ly on e to a rgu e th a t th e la w wa s u n con s t itu t ion a l. Th is term , h e s u bm it ted a b r ief in fa vor of a Texa s la w th a t m a kes ga y s ex illega l, com pa r in g it to n ecroph ilia , bes t ia lity, in ces t a n d pedoph ilia . Mr . Pryor h a s ta ken pa r t icu la r ly ou t la n d is h pos it ion s on “ federa lis m ,” a da n gerou s s ta tes ’ r igh ts m ovem en t th a t s eeks to ta ke a wa y federa l r igh ts . Th is term , h e u rged th e Su prem e Cou r t to m a ke n ea r ly five m illion s ta te em ployees in eligib le to s u e for da m a ges u n der th e Fa m ily a n d Med ica l Lea ve Act . Ch ief J u s t ice Willia m Reh n qu is t , a s t ron g s u ppor ter of federa lis m , wrote th e op in ion reject in g Mr. Pryor ’s pos it ion a s too extrem e. In a n oth er s ta tes ’ r igh ts ca s e th is term , in volvin g s ta tu tes of lim ita t ion s , th e cou r t rejected Mr. Pryor 9 to 0 . J u d icia l n om in ees a re often a ccu s ed of u n dergoin g “ con firm a t ion con vers ion s ,” ba ck in g a wa y from con trovers ia l s ta n ds to win Sen a te s u ppor t . Bu t th ere is n o grea t h on or in th e pos it ion s Mr. Pryor s tu ck to a t h is con firm a t ion h ea r in g: th a t Roe wa s “m ora lly wron g” a n d res pon s ib le for “ th e s la u gh ter of m illion s of u n born ch ild ren ,” th a t pa r t of th e Vot in g Righ ts Act s h ou ld be repea led a n d th a t wh en h e res ch edu led h is fa m ily’s va ca t ion to Dis n ey World to a void a da y wh en m a n y ga ys a t ten d , it wa s a legit im a te “ va lu e ju dgm en t .” If a fa r -r igh t lega l grou p n eeds a la wyer to a rgu e extrem e pos it ion s a ga in s t a bor t ion , wom en ’s r igh ts , ga y r igh ts a n d civil r igh ts , Mr . Pryor m a y be a s u ita b le ca n d ida te. Bu t h e does n ot belon g on th e federa l ben ch . (QG�RI�WKH�HGLWRULDO. Everyth in g I h a ve wr it ten is n ot a n im a gin a ry ta le, bu t is a t ru e s tory, s u ppor ted by th ou s a n d of officia l docu m en ts . It is th rou gh wh a t I h a ve pers on a lly exper ien ced , by h a vin g worked with th e Am erica n s a n d lived in th e Un ited Sta tes , wh ich a llow m e to be a n

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im pa r t ia l obs erver a n d let you s ee th e oth er fa ce of th e Am erica n coin , a n d n ot on ly th e s h in in g pa r t of it . How m a n y peop le s t ill believe in th e fa iry ta le of th e Am erica n d rea m ? Yes it is t ru e th a t th e Am erica n d rea m exis ts , bu t on ly for few! I con s idered m ys elf lu cky to h a ve been a b le to p reva il over th e m a n y a t tem pts by th e Am erica n bu s in es s a s well lega l a r roga n ce t ryin g to des t roy m e n ot on ly fin a n cia lly, bu t a ls o m ora lly. My figh t ca n be com pa red to th e Bib lica l s k irm is h between lit t le Da vid a n d m igh ty Golia th . How m a n y peop le a re n ot given th e ch a n ce to s h ow to th e res t of th e wor ld th a t th e violen ce is a h om egrown p rodu ct of USA?

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Pa rt fou r Th e Am erica n foreign policy a n d Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks

Th e Un ited Sa tes h a ve a lwa ys n eeded a n en em y to be a t wa r with , to

exper im en t n ew wea pon ry, a s well to s ecu re n ew oil s u pp lies . Th e b la ck popu la t ion is a lwa ys m a rgin a lized a n d gh et toized , a n d th e

Am erica n n a t ion is officia lly in tegra ted . Th e va r iou s eth n ic grou ps live on th e m a rgin of th e m a in s trea m . Ea ch city h a s th e Ita lia n or th e Polis h , or th e Mexica n , or th e b la ck or th e Ru s s ia n qu a r ter , wh ich m ore or les s res em ble gh et tos .

I h a ve s om e rela t ives in th e Sta tes wh o live in city in New J ers ey. My u n cle live in th e Ita lia n qu a r ter , wh ile m y cou s in wh o m a rr ied a m a n of Polis h des cen t , lives in Polis h qu a r ter .

Th e Am erica n p r ide th em s elves of bein g a “m elt in g pot” , bu t in rea lity th ey a re a “ boilin g pot” , rea dy to exp lode a n yt im e, like it d id in Newa rk , or in Los An geles or in Cin cin n a t i.

To p reven t s u ch a n exp los ion , th e U.S. govern m en t u s es th e foreign policy, like cowboys , to “ u n ite” th e n a t ion , a n d a ls o a s a d ivers ion from th e m a n y p rob lem s of th e popu la t ion .

“ I feel like a cowboy wh o lea ds a ca t t le towa rds th e ba rn ”: th is is th e s ta tem en t George W. Bu s h m a de, on J u n e 5 ,2003 , a t th e en d of h is m eet in g with Sh a ron , th e p r im e m in is ter of Is ra el a n d Abu Ma zen , th e Pa les t in ia n p r im e m in is ter ! At la s t a s in cere s ta tem en t!

In effect th ey u s e th eir econ om ic power to “ bu y” th e a llia n ces th ey n eed from t im e to t im e. Wh en th e flow of m on ey com es to a n en d , th es e a llia n ces d is a ppea r a n d qu ite often becom e th eir wors t en em ies .

Ira q a fter th e wa r a ga in s t Ira n , h elped by USA to rem ove th e in flu en ce of th e Ayotolla h s , a n d Afgh a n is ta n h elped a n d t ra in ed by C.I.A., to defea t th e Ru s s ia n s , ju s t to m en t ion th e m os t recen t exa m ples . Th e lis t is qu ite lon g.

Th e p repa ra t ion a n d th e t ra in in g for th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks cou ld n ot h a ve been ca r r ied ou t by a s m a ll grou p of des pera dos , bu t it requ ired a deta iled p la n n in g by a p rofes s ion a l orga n iza t ion .

Th e s yn ch ron is m of th e a t ta cks dem on s tra tes th e p rofes s ion a lis m of th e perpetra tors . It is in con ceiva b le to th in k th a t th e fou r grou ps a cted in depen den t ly from ea ch oth er .

Th e orga n iza t ion of th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks m u s t h a ve requ ired , n ot on ly a s ou n d fin a n cia l ba ck in g , bu t a s et of h igh level loca l con n ect ion s .

It m u s t h a ve ta ken m on th s of t ra in in g a n d p la n n in g, beca u s e it wa s n ot a n a ct ion decided du r in g a coffee b rea k or d in n er .

It is a lm os t u n th in ka b le th a t a grou p of “ foreign ers ” h a s lived a n d been a ct ive in th e Un ited Sa tes , with ou t ra is in g a n y red fla g. Th e perpetra tors m u s t h a ve open ed ba n k a ccou n ts in order to h a ve cred it ca rds , t ra vel, in few words con du ct a n orm a l life n ot to ra is e a n y s u s p icion .

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In th e Un ited Sta tes you n eed to h a ve th e “ s ocia l s ecu r ity n u m ber”, SSN, in order to be a b le to fu n ct ion a t a n y level. Th is SSN is is s u ed ba s ed on th e pos s es s ion of a n iden t ifica t ion docu m en t .

It is n ext to im pos s ib le, in th e USA, to con du ct a n orm a l life with ou t a cred it ca rd . All ca s h pa ym en ts a re m a de on ly for s m a ll pu rch a s es ; a n y ca s h fin a n cia l t ra n s a ct ion for la rger a m ou n ts ra is es th e s u s p icion of m on ey la u n der in g. It goes with ou t s a yin g th a t if s om eon e m a kes a depos it of m illion s of dolla rs in s om e fin a n cia l in s t itu t ion s , th a t in s t itu t ion does n ot n eces s a r ily repor ts it to th e a u th or it ies .

All cred it ca rds t ra n s a ct ion s a re recorded in a cen tra l da ta ba s e, a ccord in g to th e “ s ocia l s ecu r ity n u m ber”. Wh a t I a m t ryin g to m a ke clea r is th e fa ct th a t th e ch a in of con trols is s o va s t th a t it will be n ext to im pos s ib le to elu de it , with ou t “ s om ebody’s ” h elp .

Th ey, m ea n in g th e perpetra tors , d idn ’t pa rk a t ru ck fu ll of exp los ives n ext to a govern m en t bu ild in g like it h a ppen ed in Ok la h om a City, wh ere over on e-h u n dred -s ixty peop le d ied . Accord in g to th e officia l vers ion Mr. McVeigh wa s th e on ly on e wh o ca rr ied ou t th e cr im in a l a ct . After h is t r ia l it wa s d is covered th a t m ore th a n th ree th ou s a n d im por ta n t docu m en ts were n ot m a de a va ila b le to h is defen s e la wyers ; bu t in s p ite of th is , Mr . McVeigh wa s n ot gra n ted a s econ d t r ia l. Th ey on ly pos tpon ed h is execu t ion for a m on th .

Th is is wh a t p res iden t George W. s ta ted , a bou t th is even t : “Mr . McVeigh is lu cky to be a n Am erica n cit izen ”, m ea n in g th a t h e wa s “ form a lly” gra n ted h is lega l r igh ts , before bein g execu ted !

Th e ru s h by wh ich th e execu t ion wa s ca r r ied ou t lea ves s om e qu es t ion s u n a n s wered . Norm a lly it ta kes s evera l yea rs , from a m in im u m of five u p to fifteen yea rs or m ore, before a n y execu t ion ta kes p la ce, du e to th e va r iou s a ppea ls . Bu t in Mr. McVeigh ’s ca s e th e a u th or it ies ru s h ed th e wh ole p roces s th rou gh , beca u s e, a ccord in g to s om e p res s repor ts , th ey were a fra id th a t cer ta in em ba rra s s in g t ru th s wou ld s u rfa ce, like th e in volvem en t of s pecific “ a gen cies ”, a s a vin d ica t ion for bein g s in gled ou t du r in g th e Wa co a s s a u lt wh ere s evera l peop le d ied .

I h a ve lived in th e USA for a bou t th ir teen yea rs , a n d I ca n a s s u re you th a t a n ybody with a foreign la s t n a m e does n ’t go u n n ot iced . Th e a ccen t of a n on -n a t ive is th e fir s t wa rn in g wh ich ra is es a red fla g. I ca n vou ch it with m y pers on a l exper ien ce, beca u s e I felt like I wa s u n der s om e s or t of s u rveilla n ce: th e ru m ors in town were th a t eith er I belon ged to th e “Sicilia n m a fia ” beca u s e of m y pa ren ts ’ or igin , or th a t I wa s a n em is s a ry of s om e Libya n orga n iza t ion s , du e to m y p la ce of b ir th , Tr ipoli, Libya !

My a pp lica t ion to ob ta in th e s o-ca lled “ green ca rd ”, th e perm a n en t res iden ce s ta tu s , took lon ger th a n u s u a l, in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t I m a rr ied a n Am erica n cit izen . In fa ct m y wife h a d to wr ite a let ter to on e of th e Ala ba m a federa l s en a tors , exp la in in g th a t wh en I wa s born , Libya wa s yet a n Ita lia n colon y.

Th e Am erica n s a re a lwa ys very s u s p iciou s of peop le wh o com e from oth er cou n tr ies , es pecia lly s o in th e deep s ou th . It is th erefore n ext im pos s ib le for m e to believe th a t Moh a m m ed Atta , on e of th e a lleged

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perpetra tors , cou ld h a ve ob ta in ed th e p ilot licen s e in Ala ba m a , with ou t ra is in g a n y dou b t .

I h a ve lived in th a t s ta te a n d I kn ow for cer ta in th a t with ou t a h igh level con n ect ion , Moh a m m ed Atta cou ld h a ve n ot m oved a fin ger .

Th e s ta te of Ala ba m a h a s a popu la t ion of a bou t fou r m illion s , a n d it is n ot a well kn own tou r is t res or t , oth er th a n th e s pa ce cen ter in Hu n ts ville.

Mr . At ta wa s u n der th e ra da r of va r iou s in tern a t ion a l “ a gen cies ” a n d h e cou ld h a ve ea s ily gon e u n n ot iced in a la rge city like New York or Los An geles , bu t n ot in a t in y town in Ala ba m a .

Accord in g to th e va r iou s exp la n a t ion s by th e Am erica n a u th or it ies , it com es ou t th a t Moh a m m ed Atta wa s t ra velin g with regu la r docu m en ts in h is own n a m e. He pu rch a s ed th e a ir t icket pa yin g it with a cred it ca rd a n d m a n y weeks before da te of depa r tu re.

His fligh t in s t ru ctor decla red , a fter th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks , th a t Mr. At ta wa s m ore in teres ted in lea rn in g h ow to s witch d irect ion , ra th er th a n la n d in g m a n eu vers . How com e th a t th is fa ct wa s n ot repor ted?

He a ls o took fligh t les s on s in a s m a ll town in Flor ida , ca lled Ven ice. Mr . At ta , a ccord in g to p res s repor ts , a pp lied for a loa n from th e Depa r tm en t of Agr icu ltu re, to pu rch a s e a s m a ll p la n e for “ a gr icu ltu ra l” u s e.

All th es e a ct ion s took p la ce in th e n a t ion th a t s pen ds b illion s of dolla rs a yea r for th e defen s e.

Bu t th e m os t a s ton is h in g fa ct is th a t , a ccord in g to va r iou s Am erica n p res s s ou rces , th e I.N.S., th e Im m igra t ion & Na tu ra liza t ion Sys tem , wh ich opera tes u n der th e Depa r tm en t of J u s t ice, s en t to Mr. At ta th e a u th or iza t ion to live in th e Un ited Sta tes !

If, a fter th e a t ta cks , th e a u th or it ies were a b le to recon s tru ct a ll h is wh erea bou ts , it m ea n s th a t th ey kn ew h im . Wh y d idn ’t a n ybody a ct before, es pecia lly wh en h is n a m e wa s on th e pa s s en gers ’ lis t , da ys before th e depa r tu re da te? In th e USA a n ybody com in g from a n y of th e Midd le-ea s tern cou n tr ies is a lm os t s in gled ou t . In fa ct , im m edia tely a fter th e cr im in a l a ct ion a ga in s t th e govern m en t bu ild in g in Ok la h om a city, th ere wa s a witch -h u n t for a n ybody wh o looked like a m idd le-ea s tern cit izen .

Th e oth er m em bers of th e tea m res pon s ib le for th e a t ta cks h a ve been a b le to ta ke flyin g les s on s with ou t ra is in g a n y s u s p icion .

A b ig h ole in th e U.S. defen s e s ys tem wa s d is covered in a s m a ll town in Ala ba m a , Ma r ion . Th is is th e town wh ich h os ted a h igh level pa ra m ilita ry t ra in in g ca m p , equ ipped with a ll th e n eces s a ry gea rs : police ca rs , s ch ool bu s s es with du m m ies in s ide, like if th ey were pa s s en gers , etc. In few words everyth in g u s efu l to t ra in s pecia l tea m s .

Th e n a m e of th is ca m p s h ou ld s en d s h u dders of d rea d to th e a u th or it ies in ch a rge of n a t ion a l s ecu r ity: Grou n d Zero USA!

In th is ca m p th ey fou n d police ca rs with a lot of bu llet h oles , th e du m m ies covered with red s pots like b lood , etc.

In th e USA th es e t ra in in g ca m ps a re officia lly perm it ted , beca u s e of th e con s t itu t ion a l r igh t to bea r a rm s a n d to p ra ct ice. As lon g a s you pa y th e du es , I m igh t a dd!

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Th is is th e s ta tem en t m a de by th e loca l s h er iff to ABC TV s ta t ion : “Th e t ra in in g ca m p wa s m os t ly u s ed by foreign ers , a n d th is fa ct m a de m e worry, bu t th ere n oth in g I cou ld do”. Th is s ta tem en t s ou n ds ph on y, s in ce Ala ba m a is a s m a ll s ta te, peop le a re bou n d to be rela ted to ea ch oth er or to kn ow on e a n oth er or for bein g in bu s in es s . Th erefore a n y “ foreign er ” is kep t u n der s pecia l s cru t in y by th e loca l or s ta te a u th or it ies , a n d if s om eth in g s u s p icion h a ppen s it is im m edia tely repor ted to th e F.B.I.

Wh y wa s th e s h er iff of Ma r ion p reven ted from in terven in g? Th ere two va lid s u ppos it ion s . Th e fir s t on e is th a t s om ebody h a s b r ibed h im ; th e s econ d on e is th a t h e wa s in s t ru cted to look th e oth er wa y.

Th e corru p t ion of pu b lic officia ls is n ot a n Ita lia n exclu s ivity. In th e USA is ca m ou fla ged u n der th e n a m e of “ s pecia l in teres t grou ps ”, es pecia lly in th e polit ica l a ren a .

An Is la m ic religiou s lea der du r in g a n in terview with ABC TV s ta t ion s a id th a t : “At ten d in g a pa ra m ilita ry ca m p in th e USA is like goin g for a p icn ic”.

Scot la n d Ya rd h a s d is covered th e exis ten ce of th e t ra in in g ca m p in Ma r ion th rou gh th e con fes s ion of Al Qa eda lea der a r res ted in Lon don . Th is a lleged m em ber of Al Qa eda h a d a dver t is ed th e n a m e of th e ca m p in th e webs ite of h is com pa n y.

Ma r ion is a s m a ll town loca ted a t a bou t on e-h u n dred k ilom eters ea s t on Mon tgom ery, th e Ala ba m a ca p itol, a n d few k ilom eters from Selm a , th e city from wh ere Ma r t in Lu th er Kin g s ta r ted h is m a rch . Nor th of Ma r ion is Tu s ca loos a , wh ere a n im por ta n t u n ivers ity is loca ted . All th es e deta ils a re u s efu l to m a ke a n im por ta n t poin t : th e t ra in in g ca m p wa s n ot loca ted in th e m idd le of th e Neva da or Ar izon a des er t , well h idden , bu t a t th e in ters ect ion of two m a jor cit ies .

I forgot to m en t ion th a t th e own ers of th e ca m p a re Br it is h , beca u s e pa ra m ilita ry ca m ps a re forb idden in Grea t Br ita in .

Wh a t is th e u s e of th e b illion s of dolla rs s pen t for th e n a t ion a l s ecu r ity? It is m y h u m ble op in ion th a t th e Am erica n s a re m ore in teres ted in s pyin g on th e Eu ropea n a n d oth er foreign in du s tr ies , th rou gh th e well kn own Ech elon s ys tem , to h elp th eir in du s tr ies , ra th er th a n u s in g th e in form a t ion p rovided by th e d ifferen t s o-ca lled s ecu r ity a gen cies , to p reven t even ts like th e Sep tem ber 11 , 2001 .

Ma ybe p rofit m u s t p reva il over s ecu r ity! It is a bou t t im e to in form th e C.I.A. th a t th e cold wa r is over , a n d th ey

don ’t n eed a s m a n y a gen ts s pea k in g Ru s s ia n , wh ile few s pea k Ara b ic. After th e a t ta cks to th e Twin Towers th e a u th or it ies h a ve s ta r ted recru it in g a gen ts wh o s poke Ara b ic.

Wh en I wa s work in g a t th e Am erica n Em ba s s y in Tr ipoli, Libya , n on e of th e C.I.A. or F.B.I. a gen ts s poke a word of Ara b ic. Th ey u s ed th e loca l t ra n s la tors , wh o in tu rn cou ld h a ve in form ed th e oth er pa r ty.

Let m e go ba ck to th e New York a n d Wa s h in gton a t ta cks . Fin a lly th e rea s on wh y p res iden t George W. Bu s h , r igh t a wa y a fter th e

t ra gic even ts , a ccu s ed Os a m a Bin La den of bein g th e m a s term in d of th e wh ole opera t ion , is com in g to s u rfa ce. Few m on th s before Sep tem ber 11 ,

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between Ma y a n d Au gu s t of th e s a m e yea r , th e p res iden t wa s in form ed by th e C.I.A. a bou t th e likelih ood th a t Am erica n a irp la n es wou ld be h ija cked . Som e F.B.I. a gen ts h a ve repor ted th e u n u s u a l h igh n u m ber of m idd le-ea s tern cit izen s ta k in g flyin g les s on s . It wa s a ls o poin ted ou t th a t s om e of th es e s tu den ts were a lot in teres ted in a irpor t s ecu r ity s ys tem s .

Du e to th e h igh n u m ber of s tu den ts a t ten d in g th e flyin g s ch ools , s om e F.B.I. a gen ts in Ar izon a h a d s u gges ted th a t th e Depa r tm en t of Sta te wou ld is s u e s pecia l vis a s , s o th a t th ey cou ld t ra cked bet ter . An F.B.I. ba llpa rk figu re s a ys th a t a t lea s t s ix-h u n dred m idd le-ea s tern cit izen s ea ch yea r a t ten d Am erica n flyin g in s t ru ct ion s ch ools .

A Pa k is ta n i ter ror is t , s en ten ced beca u s e h e wa s p la n n in g to b low a irp la n es over th e Pa cific Ocea n , h a d a t ten ded fou r Am erica n flyin g s ch ools a t th e begin n in g of 1990 .

It is m in d bu glin g to rea lize th a t in s p ite of s o m a n y pa s t in s ta n ces , n obody took th e in it ia t ive to s ta r t a n a t ion -wide in ves t iga t ion .

Wh y d idn ’t a n ybody th in k of in ten s ifyin g th e s ecu r ity s ys tem s a t th e m a jor Am erica n a irpor t , in s p ite of s o m a n y wa rn in gs ? It is a well kn own fa ct th a t , to s a ve m on ey, th e a irpor t s ecu r ity is h a n d led by p r iva te com pa n ies . Alm os t a ll of th eir workers , pa id th e ba re m in im u m wa ge, receive a s h or t t ra in in g. It h a s been d is covered th a t th es e com pa n ies em ploy form er cr im in a ls a s well a s illega l im m igra n ts , with very low pa y.

Th e govern m en t wa rn ed th e federa l a gen cies in volved in a ir t ra vel m a t ters , a bou t th e pos s ib ility of a irp la n es bein g h ija cked .

“ It is th a n ks to ou r wa rn in gs th a t th e ter ror is ts were forced to u s e p la s t ic kn ives to p reva il over th e a irpor ts s ecu r ity s ys tem s ”. Th is is a s ta tem en t m a de by a govern m en t officia l! I don ’t m en t ion th e n a m e s im ply beca u s e I d idn ’t ta pe th e s ta tem en t m a de on TV.

If th e h ija ckers h a ve rea lly u s ed p la s t ic kn ives , it s eem s im pos s ib le to believe th a t th ey cou ldn ’t h a ve been n eu tra lized . It s h ou ld h a ve been ea s y to u s e th e fire-ext in gu is h er , or th row a pot of boilin g coffee on th em .

Every a ir lin e s erves lu n ch es a n d d in n ers du r in g lon g fligh ts . Th ey u s e p la s t ic forks a n d kn ives in tou r is t cla s s , wh ile regu la r s ilverwa re is u s ed in fir s t cla s s . If we ta ke for gra n ted th e in form a t ion p rovided by th e a u th or it ies th a t th e a irp la n es h a ve been h ija cked u s in g “ p la s t ic kn ives ”, h ow ca n we a ll be s u re th a t th es e even ts will n ot occu r in th e fu tu re? Or s h a ll we ea t th e m ea ls s erved on boa rd with ou r h a n ds ?

In a ll h on es ty it is s eem s like a fa iry ta le th a t a ll fou r a irp la n es h a ve been h ija cked u s in g s im ple “ p la s t ic kn ives ”. I th in k th a t a r roga n ce a n d p r ide h a ve p la yed a m a jor role, beca u s e n obody h igh er u p th ou gh t th a t th es e even ts cou ld h a ppen to a s u perpower . It occu rred to George W. Bu s h wh a t h a ppen ed in th e pa s t to Fra n k lyn Dela n o Roos evelt , wh o, du e to a r roga n ce or polit ica l ga in , m a de everybody believe th a t it wa s im pos s ib le a J a pa n es e a t ta ck wou ld ever com e to pa s s . Accord in g to a n Am erica n writer , Gore Vida l, “ p res iden t Roos evelt wa s well a wa re of th e p la ce a n d th e t im e of th e a t ta ck , bu t it dela yed th e wa rn in g, s a cr ificin g th ree-th ou s a n d live to wa ge a wa r n ot ba cked u p by th e n a t ion ”

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A ter r ifyin g exp la n a t ion of th e rea s on s wh ich led to th e u s e of th e a tom ic bom b over J a pa n , a ccord in g to Gore Vida l, is th a t “ J a pa n wa s rea dy to s u rren der s in ce Ma y, bu t p res iden t Tru m a n du r in g th e m eet in g in Pos tda m rea lized Sta lin ’s t rem en dou s offen s ive power , a n d th erefore decided for a dem on s tra t ive a ct ion , wh ich ca u s ed th e dea th of on e-h u n dred -twen ty-th ou s a n d peop le in Hiros h im a a n d eigh ty-th ou s a n d in Na ga s a k i, n otwith s ta n d in g th e oppos it ion of gen era l Eis en h ower a n d Nim itz… .” Both of th e a bove two qu otes a re pa r t of a n in terview to Gore Vida l by a n Ita lia n n ews pa per , La Repu bb lica , on Ma y 18 , 2001 , du r in g th e p res en ta t ion of h is n ew book “Th e gold era ”.

In s p ite of th e wa rn in gs by th e va r iou s s ecu r ity a gen cies , p res iden t Bu s h d idn ’t th in k th a t Os a m a Bin La den wou ld da re to a t ta ck th e U.S. Ma ybe a m ore h u m ble a pproa ch cou ld h a ve s a ved m a n y lives !

Th e a t ta ck a t th e World Tra de Cen ter , in 1993 , s h ou ld h a ve been u s ed a s a rem in der . If a ll th e s ta tem en ts collected du r in g th e t r ia l of th e peop le res pon s ib le for th e cr im in a l a ct a t th e World Tra de Cen ter , h a d been th orou gh ly exa m in ed , m a ybe s om e u s efu l in form a t ion cou ld h a ve been fou n d .

As t im e goes by, s om e rea lly em ba rra s s in g in form a t ion for th e U.S. s ecu r ity a gen cies a re becom in g kn own . Th e N.S.A.(Na t ion a l Secu r ity Agen cy),a b ra n ch of th e Depa r tm en t of Defen s e (D.O.D.), wh ich m a n a ges va r iou s s a tellites a n d s pecia l a n ten n a s , collects over s even ty-five percen t of th e Am erica n “ in telligen ce”. Well, s u ch a gen cy on Sep tem ber 10 ca p tu red s om e con vers a t ion s a m on g Al Qa eda opera t ives in Afgh a n is ta n a n d th eir cou n terpa r ts in Sa u d i Ara b ia a bou t a n im m in en t ter ror is t a t ta ck . Bu t N.S.A. t ra n s la ted s u ch con vers a t ion s on Sep tem ber 12 , th e da y a fter th e a t ta cks , in New York a n d Wa s h in gton .

Th e n u m erou s wa rn in gs by th e F.B.I. a gen t Rowley were n ot ta ken s er iou s ly, m a ybe beca u s e s h e is a wom a n ? Un for tu n a tely wom en a re n ot very th ou gh t of in th e work en viron m en t in gen era l, bu t very m u ch s o in th e s ecu r ity a gen cies , wh ere th e m a ch o m en t ra d it ion is dom in a n t .

Bu t m a n y lives h a ve been s a cr ificed on th e a lta r of polit ica l deceit . Th e t ru th will n ever be kn own beca u s e it cou ld be rea lly em ba rra s s in g for th e p res t ige of th e on ly s u perpower , wh ich s h owed its vu ln era b ility in s p ite of th e b illion of dolla rs in ves ted for th e defen s e.

It is in con ceiva b le to believe th a t s u ch a t ta cks cou ld h a ve n ot been a voided . Th e Un ited Sta tes h a ve th e m os t s oph is t ica ted in form a t ion ga th er in g s ys tem s in th e wor ld ; th eir s py s a tellites a re a b le to rea d a ca r ta g n u m ber a n d ca n lis ten to a n y teleph on e con vers a t ion in a n y pa r t of th e wor ld .

A poor fa rm er , in a rem ote des er t of Ar izon a , h a s been fin ed for h a vin g d r illed a n a r tes ia n wa ter s ys tem : it wa s d is covered th rou gh a p ictu re ta ken by a s a tellite. I ca n con t in u e with a lot of oth er exa m ples , bu t I h ope I h a ve m a de m y poin t clea r .

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Th e Am erica n s collect a lot of in form a t ion , bu t th ey la ck a good a n a lyt ica l a pproa ch . Th e fa u lt is m os t ly du e to th eir edu ca t ion s ys tem , wh ich tea ch es h ow to becom e a n exper t in s pecific fields , bu t la cks in th e form a t ion of a m a n .

Th e com m en t m a de by Con doleeza Rice, in ch a rge of Na t ion a l s ecu r ity, a fter s om e n ews pa pers d is clos u res , is rea lly wor th y of a ba n a n a repu b lic: “Th e va r iou s wa rn in gs n ever m en t ion ed th a t th e ter ror is t were goin g to u s e th e a irp la n es like gu ided m is s iles ”!

Im m edia tely a fter th e a t ta cks p res iden t George W. Bu s h pu t th e b la m e on th e d ifferen t s ecu r ity orga n iza t ion s . Th is fa ct h a s in crea s ed th e exis t in g in tern a l wa r a m on g th e va r iou s s ecu r ity a gen cies , wh ich t ry to ob ta in m ore fu n ds from th e federa l govern m en t .

Som e s o-ca lled “ deep th roa ts ” or “ u n n a m ed s ou rces ” h a ve d is clos ed cer ta in ra th er em ba rra s s in g n ews : th e p res iden t wa s a wa re of th e pos s ib ility of a irp la n es h ija ck in g by peop le con n ected to Os a m a Bin La den .

Th is exp la in s wh y th e U.S. govern m en t im m edia tely in d ica ted th e in volvem en t of Bin La den . Th e in form a t ion h e s a id h e h a d were th e on es h e received from th e s ecu r ity a gen cies wh ile h e wa s on va ca t ion in h is Texa n ra n ge.

Som e of Os a m a Bin La den ’s b roth ers , th e n u m ber on e s u s pect , a re in bu s in es s with th e Bu s h fa m ily th rou gh a fin a n cia l grou p . Th e b roth ers in fa ct volu n teered to s u pp ly b lood s a m ples or a n yth in g els e n eeded to m a p Os a m a ’s DNA.

Accord in g to s om e Am erica n jou rn a lis ts , th e da y before th e Sep tem ber 11 t ra gic even ts , s om e teleph on e con vers a t ion s a m on g Bin La den followers were h ea rd , bu t h a d n ot been t ra n s la ted for la ck of fu n ds . News week , th e Am erica n m a ga zin e, h a s pu b lis h ed a lon g a r t icle to exp la in th a t two of th e h ija ckers h a d a regu la r U.S. vis a beca u s e C.I.A. fa iled to in form th e I.N.S. (Im m igra t ion a n d Na tu ra liza t ion Sys tem ). Th es e two in d ividu a ls a re th e on es wh o boa rded th e p la in th a t h it th e Pen ta gon . Th e n a m es of th es e two h ija ckers were lis ted on th e ph on e book of a city in Ca liforn ia .

Th e a bove ca ta s t roph e is du e to th e be la ck of a well orga n ized cen tra l u n it , bu t m ore im por ta n t ly by th e a bs en ce of coopera t ion a m on g th e a gen cies . Th e C.I.A. h a s n o ju r is d ict ion to go a fter p res u m ed cr im in a ls in th e Un ited Sta tes , beca u s e it is th e res pon s ib ility of th e F.B.I.

In th e m ids t of th es e t ra gic even ts p res iden t George W. Bu s h is t ryin g to revive Rea ga n ’s “ s ta r wa rs ” p rogra m . If h e in s tea d wou ld a lloca te a very s m a ll fra ct ion of th e m on ey n eeded to bu ild “ s ta r wa rs ”, to m a ke m a n da tory th e kn owledge of foreign la n gu a ges a m on g th e s ecu r ity officers , m a ybe th e U.S. s ecu r ity wou ld ta ke a lea p forwa rd .

I rea lize th ou gh th a t th e tea ch in g of foreign la n gu a ges does n ot gen era te th e n eces s a ry bu s in es s for th e m ilita ry in du s tr ies , wh ich p rovide th e fin a n cia l ba ck in g of a n y con gres s ion a l or p res iden t ia l elect ion .

Th e p res en t wa r in Afgh a n is ta n h a s a “ cos t ” of s evera l m illion dolla rs a m on th . If I a m n ot m is ta ken a s in gle m is s ile Cru is e cos ts a rou n d two m illion dolla rs . Ma ybe it wou ld be bet ter to rep la ce th e word “ cos t ” with

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“ in ves tm en t” , beca u s e a ll m ilita ry a ct ion s rep res en t a good “ in ves tm en t” for th e Am erica n defen s e in du s tr ies !

If th ey rea lly in ten ded to ca p tu re Os a m a Bin La den a n d h is cron ies , th e Un ited Sta tes cou ld h a ve b r ibed s om e Pa k is ta n i s ecret s ervice a gen ts , well in form ed of h is wh erea bou ts .

Su ch ch oice, I rea lize, wou ld h a ve n ot gen era ted th e s a m e econ om ic retu rn of a lon g wa r wa ged u n der th e fla g of “En du r in g freedom ”, a n d , a t th e s a m e t im e, it wou ld in crea s e of th e p res iden t ’s popu la r ity. Let u s n ot forget th e lon g con trovers y a bou t th e res u lts of th e p res iden t ia l elect ion s a n d th e recou n t in g of th e votes in Flor ida . In th e en d th e Su prem e Cou r t , by a n a rrow m a rgin , th ree in fa vor a n d two a ga in s t , p rocla im ed George W. Bu s h p res iden t .

Ba ck to Afgh a n is ta n . At th e begin n in g of th e wa r , th e m ilita ry a irp la n es togeth er with th e bom bs , th rew flyers p rom is in g a fifty m illion dolla rs rewa rd to a n ybody wh o wou ld h elp ca p tu re Os a m a Bin La den ! Ma ybe th e Pen ta gon wa s in s p ired by a m ovie d irector .

If you look a t th e wh ole U.S. m ilita ry opera t ion , from a n im pa r t ia l pers pect ive, it s eem s d is p ropor t ion a te th e m a s s ive u s e of m ilita ry equ ipm en t a n d wea pon ry a ga in s t a grou p of des pera dos , well orga n ized bu t n ot a s well equ ipped . In fa ct a fter qu ite few m on th s from th e begin n in g of th e wa r , th e res u lts s eem to be ra th er in a dequ a te.

Th e in volvem en t of oth er n a t ion s in th e wa r is m ea n t to give a n in tern a t ion a l legit im a cy to a decis ion a lrea dy m a de in Wa s h in gton .

It wa s p it ifu l th e beh a vior of th e Ita lia n govern m en t , wh o wa n ted a t a n y cos t join th e U.S.

Accord in g to s om e well in form ed s ou rces , th e rea s on to wa ge a wa r a ga in s t Afgh a n is ta n wa s to p rotect th e in teres t of a n Am erica n oil com pa n y for th e con s tru ct ion of a p ipelin e u p to th e Ca s p ia n s ea . In fa ct a fter th e in s ta llm en t of a fa ke govern m en t in Ka bu l by th e Un ited Sta tes , th e con tra ct h a s been s ign ed . Th is s a m e con tra cted h a d p reviou s ly been revoked by th e Ta liba n s .

Th e on ly a s ton is h in g res u lt s o fa r , s in ce th e begin n in g of th e wa r , is th e dea th of th ou s a n ds of in n ocen t civilia n s k illed by th e m a s s ive bom ba rdm en ts . A good exa m ple is th e dea th of m ore th a n fifty civilia n s wh o ga th ered togeth er to celeb ra te a wedd in g. Th e fireworks for th e celeb ra t ion were er ron eou s ly a s s u m ed by s om e Am erica n p ilots a s a r t illery fire a n d th ey im m edia tely th rew a bom b on th e grou p : a “m a de in USA” p res en t! Th is is on ly on e of th e m a n y in ciden ts wh ich occu r a lm os t every da y, s in e th e begin n in g of “ en du r in g freedom ”.

Ult im a tely “ th e wa r is th e k illin g of m a n y peop le wh o don ’t kn ow ea ch oth er , in th e n a m e of few peop le wh o kn ow ea ch oth er , bu t th ey don ’t k ill ea ch oth er ”!

Th e h u n t for Os a m a Bin La den ca n be com pa red to Ita ly a s k in g th e NATO trou pes in terven t ion to defea t ou t la w Giu lia n o in Sicily (often com pa red to Rob in Hood), or to cru s h th e Red Br iga des or to overpower th e m a fia !

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After th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks th e p ictu res of th e perpetra tors , film ed by th e s u rveilla n ce ca m era s a t th e a irpor ts , h a ve been m a de pu b lic. How d id th e a u th or it ies recogn ized th em a m on g th e th ou s a n d of pa s s en gers pa s s in g th rou gh th e a irpor ts th a t da y?

How do th ey kn ow th eir rea l n a m es a n d n a t ion a lit ies if th ey a ll h a d fa ls e pa s s por ts ? An d if th ey (th e a u th or it ies ) kn ew of th em , wh y d idn ’t th ey s en d th eir p ictu res to a ler t a ll th e a ir lin es ?

If few da ys a fter th e s t r ikes , th e a u th or it ies froze a ll ba n k a ccou n ts a lleged ly con n ected to Os a m a Bin La den opera tors , wh y d idn ’t th ey a ct before, a t th e t im e of th e a ler t by th e s ecu r ity a gen cies ?

Ma ybe it wou ld h a ve been to ra t ion a l! Let u s go ba ck to th e da y of th e a t ta cks . How wa s it pos s ib le th a t th e fou r a irp la n es , cou ld ea s ily ch a n ge th eir

or igin a l fligh t p la n , with ou t bein g n ot iced by th e va r iou s , m a ybe too m a n y, s a tellites a n d con trol towers with ou t th e im m edia te in terven t ion of th e U.S. a ir force? Wh a t were th e workers of th e con trol towers doin g?

How com e th a t s oon a fter th e fir s t a irp la n e h it on e of th e Twin towers , yet n o m ilita ry jet took off ? I th in k th a t a rou n d for ty lon g m in u tes wen t by before th e s econ d a irp la n e h it th e oth er tower . Wh o wa s s u ppos ed to in terven e? Wh a t h a ppen ed to a ll th e s ecu r ity m ea s u res , for wh ich b illion s of dolla rs a re s pen t every yea r?

How wa s is pos s ib le to a t ta ck th e Pen ta gon , th e h ea r t of th e m os t powerfu l n a t ion on ea r th , with ou t a n y a t tem pt of defen s e?

Wh a t is th e u s e of h a vin g th e Am erica n a ir force ba s es in Ita ly, if th ey a re n ot a b le to defen d th eir own n a t ion from twen ty des pera dos ?

Th e dem on s tra t ion th a t th e U.S. wa s ba d ly p repa red for s u ch a n even t wa s con firm ed by th e fa ct th a t th ey keep th e p res iden t flyin g for s evera l h ou rs , du r in g a t ta cks in New York a n d Wa s h in gton .

Wh a t rea lly h a ppen ed to th e fou r th a irp la n e wh ich cra s h ed in Pen n s ylva n ia ?

I h a ve a lot m ore qu es t ion s to a s k , bu t I kn ow th a t a re u s eles s beca u s e a re too ra t ion a l. Tru th a n d ju s t ice a re th e m os t d ifficu lt ch a llen ge to s tu m ble u pon .

I firm ly believe th a t th e im a gin es of th e two p la n es cra s h in g a ga in s t th e Twin towers a re th e bes t a dver t is em en t for th e p res iden t . Th is t ra gic even t m a de it pos s ib le for h im to in s ta n t ly becom e th e p res iden t of th e en t ire n a t ion a n d n ot on ly of th e m in or ity wh o voted for h im .

George W. Bu s h h a s been n om in a ted p res iden t by th e U.S. Su prem e Cou r t , by a n a rrow m a rgin , th ree in fa vor a n d two a ga in s t , in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t Al Gore h a d th e m a jor ity of th e popu la t ion ’s vote.

An “ Im per ia l decis ion ” a ccord in g to Gore Vida l’s s ta tem en t . Th e th ree ju dges wh o voted in fa vor of George W. Bu s h h a ve been

a ppoin ted to th e Su prem e Cou r t by h is fa th er , wh en h e wa s p res iden t . Th e percen ta ge of voters du r in g a p res iden t ia l elect ion is a rou n d fifty

percen t a t bes t . Th erefore George W. Bu s h h a s been ch os en by les s th a n twen ty-five percen t of th e voters .

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Do you rem em ber th e ch a os in th e recou n t in g of th e votes in Flor ida , wh ich dela yed th e fin a l res u lts ?

Th e Su prem e Cou r t ’s decis ion ir r ita ted a good por t ion of th e Am erica n popu la t ion , a n d th e begin n in g of George W. Bu s h ’s p res iden cy wa s n eith er ea s y n or b r illia n t . An oth er im por ta n t rea s on wa s th e begin n in g of a reces s ion . Th e econ om ic s low-down wou ld h a ve ca u s ed a n a dd it ion a l d is s a t is fa ct ion a m on g th e peop le.

I kn ow th a t wh a t I a m a bou t to s a y cou ld in terp reted a s cru el, a bs u rd , or a s a polit ica l fa iry-ta le, bu t n ever th eles s a llow m e to expres s m y op in ion , th e op in ion of a com m on pers on , a bou t th e s equ en ce of even ts wh ich led to th e Sep tem ber 11 t ra gedy.

Wh o h a s been th e key ben eficia ry of th e a t ta cks ? George W. Bu s h fir s t of a ll. Th e a t ta cks ga ve h im th e ca ta lys t to

gen era te a rou n d h im th e con s en s u s h e d idn ’t receive by th e m a jor ity of th e voters .

How? Pres iden t Bu s h h a s s k illfu lly s eized th e oppor tu n ity by pu t t in g in m otion th e U.S. powerfu l wa r m a ch in e to s ea rch for th e “ lit t le m ou s e” h id in g in th e m ou n ta in s of Afgh a n is ta n . Let ’s n ot forget th a t th e “ lit t le m ou s e” wa s well kn own by th e Am erica n s , beca u s e it wa s on e of th eir “ crea tu re”. He h a d received fin a n cia l a id , m ilita ry t ra in in g to en a b le h im to figh t a ga in s t th eir com m on en em y: th e Soviet Un ion !

Som e of toda y’s ter ror is ts were yes terda y’s “ freedom figh ters ” . Th e t ra in in g a n d th e s u pp ly of wea pon ry to th e Ta liba n s h a d res u lted in a h igh p r ice ta g of s evera l b illion dolla rs for th e USA.

Bu t a t th e en d of th e wa r Os a m a Bin La den goes ba ck to h is h om ela n d a n d s ta r ts a cru s a de a ga in s t th e “Am erica n im per ia lis m ”, wh ich h e con s iders a s ba d a s th e Ru s s ia n .

Th is is th e u m pteen dem on s tra t ion of th e la ck of kn owledge of wor ld h is tory by th e Am erica n s in dea lin g with foreign cou n tr ies .

Th e Ta liba n s were willin g to let a n Is la m ic t r ibu n a l p ros ecu te Os a m a Bin La den , bu t th e Am erica n h a d to p rovide eviden ce of h is res pon s ib ilit ies . Obviou s ly th e U.S. d idn ’t a ccep t s u ch term s .

Th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks ga ve George W. Bu s h a free h a n d on th e econ om ic fron t a s well th e polit ica l on e. On th e econ om ic fron t th e defen s e in du s try wa s th e fir s t ben eficia ry by u s in g a ll th e wea pon ry in th eir s tock ; th e a ir lin es received fifteen b illion dolla rs of pu b lic fu n ds to overcom e th e los s du e to decrea s e of pa s s en gers . In th e m ea n t im e th e a ir lin es h a d d is m is s ed over on e-h u n dred th ou s a n d workers , to cope with th e los s es . Oth er in du s tr ies received ta x relieves for over s even ty b illion dolla rs .

It a lm os t s ou n ds like pa y-ba ck t im e for th e fin a n cia l s u ppor t du r in g th e p res iden t ia l elect ion !

Th e m on ey s pen t for every elect ion cou ld feed m a n y u n der developed n a t ion s for a n en t ire yea r!

Un for tu n a tely m a n y peop le don ’t h a ve th e p r ivilege of dyin g in fron t of th e televis ion ca m era s , a n d th erefore th eir dea th s go u n n ot iced .

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We a ll willin gly ign ore th e fa ct th a t for m illion s of peop le a rou n d th e wor ld every da y is “Sep tem ber 11 ”!

It gra bs m ore a t ten t ion by th e m ed ia th e dea th of two peop le vict im of th e a n th ra x, th a n th e dea th of s evera l th ou s a n d ch ild ren in Ira q du e to th e la ck of m ed icin es a s a con s equ en ce of th e em ba rgo im pos ed by th e USA.

Th e dea th of two peop le in fected by th e a n th ra x h a s been a t th e cen ter of th e m ed ia ’s a t ten t ion , beca u s e th e U.S. govern m en t im m edia tely poin ted th e fin ger a ga in s t Ira q. It wa s la ter d is covered th a t a U.S. cit izen , wh o works a t th e Pen ta gon , wa s th e a lleged perpetra tor .

Bu t th e dea th of th es e two peop le h a s a llowed George W. Bu s h to bes tow a p res en t to a n oth er in du s tr ia l s egm en t , th e ph a rm a ceu t ica l. How? By crea t in g a pa n ic a m on g th e pu b lic. In fa ct th e Con gres s h a s been clos ed for few da ys to be “ decon ta m in a ted ” from th e a n th ra x. Add it ion a lly th e govern m en t ordered th e va ccin a t ion of everybody “ a t r is k of con ta m in a t ion ”. Th e federa l govern m en t h a s a cqu ired a h u ge a m ou n t of va ccin e a n d everybody ru s h ed to bu y th e va ccin e.

In th e cou rs e of th e s itu a t ion des cr ibed a bove, s om eth in g h a ppen ed wh ich p roves h ow fa r th e Am erica n a r roga n ce ca n go, a n d h ow ju s t ice is con ceived wh en th eir in teres ts a re a t s ta ke. In fa ct , th e USA h a s th rea ten ed a Germ a n ph a rm a ceu t ica l in du s try to ta ke a wa y from th em th e pa ten t for th e p rodu ct ion of a n a n t ib iot ic to cu re a n th ra x in fect ion s , if th e com pa n y refu s ed to redu ce th eir s a le p r ice! Obviou s ly th e Germ a n com pa n y h a d n o ch oice bu t redu ced th e p r ice.

An a dd it ion a l m a n ifes ta t ion th a t th e life a s in gle Am erica n cit izen is fa r m ore im por ta n t th a n th a t of m illion s peop le belon gin g to oth er n a t ion s .

Bu t th e a pproa ch ch a n ges wh en th e Am erica n cit izen s a re k illed by th eir own govern m en t , s u ch a s th e ca s e of over th ree-th ou s a n d-s even -h u n dred in m a tes s en ten ced to th e ca p ita l pu n is h m en t , wa it in g for th e execu t ion da y.

Th e dea th of th e vict im s of th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks wa s a lm os t im m edia te. Th e a gon y of th e in m a tes a n d of th eir fa m ilies la s ts s evera l yea rs in s tea d .

My qu es t ion is : wh o ign ored , or wa s in s t ru cted to ign ore, a ll th e a ler ts com in g from th e va r iou s s ecu r ity a gen cies , p reced in g th e a t ta cks ?

Wh y is th e Wh ite Hou s e is n ow tryin g to b lock a in qu iry by a res t r icted Con gres s ion a l com m it tee in to to th e even ts wh ich led to th e a t ta cks ? Accord in g to s om e p res s repor ts th e F.B.I. h a s been in s t ru cted to in ves t iga te th e m em bers of th is com m it tee for th e d is clos u re of s om e im por ta n t in form a t ion . Th e F.B.I. wa n ts to u s e th e lie-detector m a ch in e to d is cover th e com m it tee m em ber res pon s ib le for th e lea k to th e p res s .

How ca n we s t ill u s e th e word dem ocra cy? Wh en it wa s d is covered th a t a ll th e perpetra tors belon ged to a llies of

th e Un ited Sta tes , wh y d idn ’t th ey a t ta ck th e cou n tr ies th ey ca m e from ? Th e a n s wer is s im ple: it is a m a t ter of bu s in es s in teres ts ! Th e dea th of th ree th ou s a n d peop le is n ot wor th th e d is ru p t ion of th e

oil s u pp ly a t a d is cou n ted p r ice.

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An exa m ple of th e in a dequ a te U.S. defen s e s ys tem , yet a fter th e a t ta cks , is th e ep is ode wh ich took p la ce on J a n u a ry 5 ,2002 . A fifteen -yea r-old boy, with a s m a ll a irp la n e, a fter flyin g over th e ba s e wh ere th e cen tra l com m a n d for th e opera t ion s in Afgh a n is ta n is loca ted , cra s h ed a ga in s t a s kys cra per in Ta m pa , Flor ida ! He h a d in h is pocket a p iece of pa per p ra is in g Os a m a Bin La den !

How m a n y m ore lies do we yet h a ve to en du re, before we a re told th e t ru th ?

Sin ce a n y even t offers a n oppor tu n ity to m a ke m on ey, th e pa ren ts of th e vict im s wa n t to s u e Sa u d i Ara b ia , a n d n ot th e Ta liba n , for h a vin g fu n ded Os a m a Bin La den . Wou ldn ’t it be m ore ra t ion a l to ta ke lega l a ct ion a ga in s t th e govern m en t for fa ilin g to p rotect th em ?

Even th e t ra gic even ts ca n be exp loited for a n ew polit ica l ca reer . A New York firefigh ter , wh o s u ffers of a s th m a a fter work in g a t “ grou n d-zero”, h a s a n n ou n ced h is ca n d ida tu re for n ext Novem ber 2002 con gres s ion a l elect ion s . To bet ter en h a n ce th e “ h ero” effect h e h eld h is p res s con feren ce in fron t of h is office with th e red firefigh ters t ru cks in th e ba ckgrou n d! I wou ldn ’t be s u rp r is ed if, to overcom e h is la ck of polit ica l exper ien ce, will u s e th e im a ges of th e colla ps in g twin towers , du r in g h is ca m pa ign .

I th in k th a t it wa s a m is ta ke to im m edia tely a ccu s e Os a m a Bin La den of bein g th e m a s term in d of th e Sep tem ber 11 t ra gedy, beca u s e it m a de h im a h ero in th e eyes of th e ter ror is ts for bein g a b le to in flict s u ch a los s to th e m os t powerfu l n a t ion on ea r th .

Th e m ore t im e goes by with ou t h is ca p tu re a n d th e m ore h is repu ta t ion grows .

On th e oth er h a n d th e Am erica n peop le a re in n eed of th e im a ge of a n iden t ifia b le en em y to feel rea s s u red . Sin ce it is a s ociety wh ich is da ily bom ba rded by im a ges , (televis ion , a dver t is in g b illboa rds , com m ercia ls , etc.) th ey th erefore ps ych ologica lly n eces s ita te to s ee th e p ictu re of th e pers on res pon s ib le for th eir a n gu is h .

An im a ge is wor th a th ou s a n d words .

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Th e wa r on terror

Th e wa r on ter ror is becom in g m ore a n d m ore th e wa r on dem ocra cy. We a re fa s t rea ch in g th e equ a t ion by wh ich a n a t ion will be con s idered dem ocra t ic n ot on th e ba s is of th e in tegr ity of it s lega l a n d electora l s ys tem , bu t on th e s t ren gth of it s figh t a ga in s t Al Qa eda .

How m a n y d icta tor ia l s ta tes a re n ow followin g th e U.S. wa r on ter ror ru les , to s t ren gth en th eir gr ip on th e power? It is s u fficien t to go th rou gh th e lis t of n a t ion s wh ich join ed in , to rea lize h ow th e va lu e of “ dem ocra cy” h a s s h ra n k .

In th e n a m e of th e wa r on ter ror , m a n y of ou r in d ividu a l r igh ts a re h in dered on a da ily ba s is , n ot on ly in th e a u th or ita r ia n n a t ion s , bu t a ls o in th e U.S.

On ly recen t ly a t im id d is s en t h a s s ta r ted to a ppea r on s om e n ews pa pers , a n d th e Am erica n dem ocra t ic pa r ty s eem s to fin a lly d is ta n ce its elf from th e “ u n ified wa y of th in k in g”, wh ich d idn ’t a llow a n y d is s en t , s in ce th e a t ta cks a t th e Twin towers .

Nobody ca n era d ica te ter ror is m tota lly by bom ba rdm en ts on ly. To rea ch s u ch a goa l we m u s t go to th e root of th e rea s on s wh ich b r in g in to bein g th e ter ror is m , to th e cu ltu ra l en viron m en t .

It is like t ryin g to cu re th e tooth -a ch e with a n a lges ics on ly. Even if you in crea s e th e qu a n t ity of s u ch m ed icin e or u s e s t ron ger d ru gs , you will n ever rem ove th e ca u s e of th e pa in . In a dd it ion a ll th es e d ru gs will even tu a lly da m a ge oth er pa r ts of th e body.

We m u s t follow Ippocra te p r in cipa ls : “Firs t of a ll don ’t ca u s e a n y h a rm ”. I a m of cou rs e fu lly a wa re th a t s u ch p r in cipa ls will n ot be a dva n ta geou s to cer ta in in du s tr ies .

He wh o figh ts “ evil” s h ou ld a ls o kn ow th a t to p reva il in a con flict does n ot in evita b ly m ea n th e tota l elim in a t ion of th e con ten der , bu t to rea lly a ckn owledge th e n eeds of th e two con ten ders .

Th e cu rren t a t t itu de in Wa s h in gton is to elim in a te a n ybody wh o h a s th e gu ts to res is t it s fin a n cia l a n d econ om ic expa n s ion .

Th e Un ited Sta tes wa ge th eir wa rs from th e s k ies , beca u s e th ey a re u n a b le to bu ild th e pea ce from th e grou n d .

All th eir a ct ion s a re th e con s equ en ce of th eir des ires for reven ge a n d n ot to bu ild a fu tu re dem ocra t ic n a t ion .

Th ey in ves t a lot m on ey in bu ild in g m ore s oph is t ica ted a n d powerfu l wea pon s , like th e M.O.A.B (m oth er of a ll bom bs )!

Th eir lega l s ys tem is a des ta b ilizin g fa ctor of th eir s ociety: with ea s y in ca rcera t ion s , es pecia lly for th e poor peop le, dea th pen a lty, th e des t ru ct ion of fa m ilies du e to th e ra p id d ivorces (over fifty percen t of th e m a rr ia ges en d u p in a d ivorce). Th e ch ild ren a re th e rea l vict im s .

Th ey h a ve very few s ocia l reh a b ilita t ion p rogra m s , beca u s e of la ck of fu n ds . If th e Am erica n s a re u n a b le to s olve th eir p rob lem s a t h om e, h ow ca n we expected th em to s et a n exa m ple for oth er em ergin g cou n tr ies ?

Bu t h ypocr is y is p redom in a n t th es e da ys in Wa s h in gton .

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Let m e refer to a s ta tem en t m a de by George W. Bu s h to ju s t ify h is in ten t ion to a t ta ck Ira q:

“We h a ve th e ob liga t ion n ot to a llow th e wors t lea ders of th e p la n et to bu ild a n d u s e wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion to th rea ten th e free cou n tr ies . Th is a n ob liga t ion a n d a res pon s ib ility th a t we h a ve in th e wor ld ”. En d of qu ote.

At th is poin t I h a ve few qu es t ion s a s k Dick Ch en ey, th e s h a dow p res iden t .

Q: To wh ich n a t ion belon ged th e lea der wh o firs t u s ed “ th e wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion ”?

A: USA Q: Wh o in ten ds to bu ild s m a ll a tom ic bom bs “ to th rea ten ” free n a t ion s ? A: USA Q: Wh o s old to th e “wors t lea ders of th e p la n et ” th e tech n ology to bu ild

a n d u s e th e “ th e wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion ”? A: USA Q: Wh o h a s equ ipped a n d t ra in ed th e p res en t “wors t lea ders of th e

p la n et ”? A: USA Q: “Th is a n ob liga t ion a n d a res pon s ib ility th a t we h a ve in th e wor ld ”.

Wou ldn ’t it be bet ter to s u bs t itu te th e word “wor ld ” with fin a n cia l in teres ts , defen s e in du s tr ies , etc. ?

Q: Wh ich lea der d idn ’t s ign th e Kyoto t rea ty to s a ve th e p la n et? A: USA Q: Wh ich lea der d idn ’t s ign th e In tern a t ion a l Tr ibu n a l Trea ty, a ls o

kn own a s Rom e Trea ty, to p ros ecu te th e cr im es com m it ted a ga in s t h u m a n ity, wa r cr im es , a n d gen ocides ? Is n ’t th is a n ob liga t ion a n d a res pon s ib ility to th e wor ld?

A: USA Q: Wh o is lea der wh o refu s es to s ign th e t rea ty to ba n th e tor tu re a s

a pproved by th e Un ited Na t ion s Orga n iza t ion ? A: USA “ Is n ’t a n ob liga t ion a n d a res pon s ib ility” to a llevia te th e s ta rva t ion

a rou n d th e wor ld a n d to p rom ote rea l dem ocra cy even in th e cou n tr ies wh ich don ’t h a ve oil fields ?

Wh y is U.S. u s in g a ll it s force a ga in s t power les s cou n tr ies (Afgh a n is ta n , Cu ba , Som a lila n d , Su da n , Libya , Gu a tem a la , Leba n on , Pa n a m a , etc.), wh ile on th e con tra ry s h ows its res t ra in t a ga in s t powerfu l cou n tr ies (Ch in a , Nor th Korea , Pa k is ta n , Ira n , Ru s s ia , etc.) ?

Sh ou ldn ’t th e U.S. h a ve “ a n ob liga t ion a n d a res pon s ib ility” to: • Com ply with th e in tern a t ion a l t rea t ies s ign ed a n d ra t ified ? • Stop th e m u rderer of in n ocen t civilia n s in Pa les t in e a n d Is ra el ? • Be a ccou n ta b le for th eir m is ta kes a n d m is deeds du r in g th e

con du ct of a n u n decla red wa r , or th e in va s ion of a s overeign cou n try ?

• Abolis h th e dea th pen a lty ?

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• Stop th e C.I.A. from in ter fer in g in th e in tern a l a ffa irs of a s overeign cou n try, des ta b ilizin g th eir elected govern m en ts like Ch ile, Ven ezu ela , etc. or th e m u rder in g of th eir lea ders n ot in tu n e with you r polit ica l a gen da , s u ch a s Allen de in Ch ile, Lu m u n ba in Con go, Su ka rn o in In don es ia , or Ma t tei, th e m a n in ch a rge of th e Ita lia n s ta te oil com pa n y, etc. ?

It is “ a n ob liga t ion a n d a res pon s ib ility” to in ves t m ore in edu ca t ion , tea ch in g foreign la n gu a ges in you r s ch ools , wor ld h is tory, bet ter th a n bu ild in g m ore powerfu l wea pon ry. An y edu ca ted cit izen will m a ke bet ter decis ion s with a lon g la s t in g effect on th e res t of th e cou n try a n d th e wor ld . Th is s a m e pers on will n o be a t th e m ercy of th e lobb ies of th e defen s e in du s tr ies , wh o h a ve on ly th eir in teres t in m in d a n d n ot th a t of you r cou n try. Th e d is a s ter of Sep tem ber 11 is a livin g p roof th a t wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion s a lon e will n ot p rotect you .

Wh y do you u s e, in th e foreign policy, Hollywood ’s a n d th e m ed ia ’s ph ilos oph y wh ich s a ys : “ If it b leeds it lea ds ”?

Wh o ga ve th e r igh t to decide th e wor ld ’s fu tu re? Wh y don ’t you u s e you r fin a n cia l power to gu a ra n tee a bet ter fu tu re for th e poor , th e m in or it ies , es pecia lly th e b la ck peop le, wh o live a t th e m a rgin of th e Am erica n s ociety? Wh a t a bou t gra n t in g h ea lth ca re to th e over for ty-five u n in s u red Am erica n s ? Wh y don ’t you fu n d s ocia l reh a b ilita t ion p rogra m s to h elp peop le wh o h a ve s erved th eir t im es in ja il, in s tea d of a s s u r in g th em a perm a n en t res iden t s ta tu s in you r p r is on s ys tem , for la ck of s ocia l h elp?

Wh y do you decla re th a t you r a s p ira t ion is to expor t dem ocra cy in th e wor ld , wh ile s om e of th e cou n tr ies you do bu s in es s with , a re th e wors t offen ders of h u m a n wrigh ts ?

Dem ocra cy ca n n ot be expor ted with bom bs , or m ilita ry in terven t ion , bu t s h ou ld be p rom oted by en h a n cin g th e livin g con d it ion s of th e peop le, th rou gh fin a n cia l gra n ts for edu ca t ion a l p rogra m s , im provem en t of in fra s t ru ctu res , etc, a n d n ot to bu y wea pon s from you r defen s e in du s tr ies .

Ga n dh i s a id : “Be th e ch a n ge th a t you wa n t to s ee in th e res t of th e wor ld ”. In few words , h ow ca n you expor t s om eth in g th a t you don ’t a pp ly in you r cou n try, by gra n t in g to a ll you r own cit izen s th e s a m e oppor tu n it ies , m in or it ies in clu ded? You cou ld era d ica te th e pover ty wh ich exis ts in eleven of th e fifty s ta tes , a ccord in g to U.S. govern m en t s ta t is t ics , a n d s et a n exa m ple for th e res t of th e wor ld !

I a m a lm os t cer ta in th a t before too lon g, in th e n a m e of th e wa r on ter ror , a n ew form of ba n will be a ct iva ted : cer ta in words ca n n o lon ger be u s ed , in ou r da ily con vers a t ion s , em a il or s m s .

Bu t , if I a m n ot m is ta ken , th is ba n a lrea dy exis ts . In fa ct if you s en d a n em a il to you r boyfr ien d or gir lfr ien d a n d s a y th a t “ you were a “ bom b” la s t n igh t ” , or “ you h a ve a t ta cked m e la s t n igh t ” , etc. th e s py s ys tem Ech elon will detect it a n d you ca n a ter ror is t s u s pect , before you kn ow it !

Th e b illion s of dolla rs th a t a re bein g s pen t for th e wa r in Afgh a n is ta n , cou ld h a ve been u s ed to feed m illion s of poor peop le a n d th erefore elim in a te on e of th e m a n y rea s on s of ter ror is m .

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Let ’s ta lk a bou t a n oth er lega lized type of ter ror is m , th a t of th e con glom era tes . Som e of th e la rge corpora t ion s a re a n a m a zin g exa m ple of th e exp loita t ion of pover ty, by viola t in g th e fu n da m en ta l h u m a n r igh ts of th eir workers in th e u n derdeveloped cou n tr ies . I a m n ot a wa re of a n y lega l a ct ion s b rou gh t by th e U.S. govern m en t a ga in s t th em . Th a n ks m a in ly to th e a ct ion s of s om e NGO (Non Govern m en ta l Orga n iza t ion s ) few of th os e corpora t ion s h a ve been forced to s top th e a bu s es .

Th e bot tom lin e is a lwa ys th e s a m e: th e p rofit for few in oppos it ion to th e r igh ts of m a n y. In fa ct few con glom era tes ca n en force cer ta in m a rket in g s t ra tegies a t th e expen s e of th e r igh ts of m illion s of peop le. Th is is th e begin n in g of th e cycle wh ich lea ds to th e dea th for s ta rva t ion of th e in h a b ita n ts of th e s o-ca lled th ird wor ld cou n tr ies .

It is im pos s ib le to con qu er th e h ea r ts a n d m in ds of th e poor peop le with th e bom bs .

On th e oth er h a n d a n in terven t ion by th e Coa lit ion of th e Willin g (C.O.W.) ju s t to u s e a n expres s ion cu rren t ly u t ilized in Wa s h in gton , to pu t a n en d to pover ty a n d fa m in e cou ld u n derm in e th e s p rea d in g of ter ror is m . Provid in g a cces s to edu ca t ion a n d crea t in g job oppor tu n it ies will defin itely redu ce th e s p rea d of violen ce.

Un t il s u ch a b roa d d is s im ila r ity between Nor th a n d Sou th exis ts , th ere will a lwa ys be peop le willin g to join a n y cr im in a l orga n iza t ion in exch a n ge of m on ey to feed th eir fa m ilies . Let u s n ot forget th a t fa n a t icis m grows well wh ere th ere is ign ora n ce, pover ty a n d des pera t ion .

He wh o h a s n oth in g, does n ’t fea r a n yth in g! Mos t of th e con glom era tes m a ke in ves tm en ts wh ere th ere a re few ru les

to p rotect h u m a n r igh ts , a n d wh ere la bor is very ch ea p , with ou t th erefore con tr ibu t in g to th e im provem en t of th e lives of th e loca l popu la t ion , bu t on ly to in crea s e th eir bot tom lin e. Profit a t a n y cos t!

Th e wa r on ter ror res em bles m ore a n d m ore to th e wa r on d ru gs in th e Un ited Sta tes . Th e Am erica n s , for a ch a n ge, bom b s om e fields in Colom bia , wh ile th eir cit izen s a re th e la rges t d ru g u s ers .

Wh y don ’t th ey in ves t m ore m on ey in th e reh a b ilita t ion p rogra m s for d ru g a dd icts , in s tea d of s en d in g th em to ja il?

On Ma y 16 ,2001 a b la ck wom a n h a s been s en ten ced to twelve yea rs in ja il for u s in g cra ck wh ile p regn a n t . To th e n ewborn will a s s ign ed a n u m ber in s tea d of a n a m e, s o h e will be im m edia tely recogn ized by th e p r is on s ys tem a s h e grows u p !

I tota lly a gree with p res iden t George W. Bu s h wh o h a s decla red a wa r a ga in s t ter ror is m in a n y pa r t of th e wor ld !

It is u s efu l to go th rou gh th e lis t of s om e of th e m os t h ein ou s cr im es com m it ted between 1999 a n d 2001 , to com e to th e con clu s ion th a t th ere is n o m ore t im e to wa s te.

Act ion s a re n eeded a n d n ot words to era d ica te th e “ evil” wh ich is des t royin g th e s ociety of th e th ird m illen n iu m !

Colora do: Apr il 1999 , two boys , s even teen a n d eigh teen -yea r-old , h a ve k illed , u s in g a u tom a t ic r ifles , twelve cla s s m a tes , a tea ch er a n d th em s elves .

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Arka n s a s : two boys , eleven a n d th ir teen -yea r-old , h a ve k illed a tea ch er a n d for cla s s m a tes .

Ken tu cky: a fou r teen -yea r-old boy h a s k illed th ree fem a le cla s s m a tes . Oh io: in October 1999 , s om e boys , between fou r teen a n d eigh teen

yea rs of a ge, h a ve been a r res ted beca u s e th ey were p la n n in g a ca rn a ge in a h igh s ch ool du r in g Ha lloween n igh t .

Hon olu lu : Novem ber 1999 , a worker h a s k illed s even of h is collea gu es . Ok la h om a : Decem ber 1999 , a th ir teen -yea r-old s tu den t h a s been

a r res ted for s h oot in g on a grou p of cla s s m a tes wou n d in g five of th em . Ca liforn ia : Decem ber 1999 , th e t r ia ls of th ree th ou s a n d peop le wh o

h a ve been s en ten ced , a re goin g to be reopen ed beca u s e th e Los An gels police is u n der in ves t iga t ion for corru p t ion ch a rges .

Lou is ia n a : Decem ber 1999 , a twelve-yea r-old boy k ills a fr ien d with th e gu n received a s a Ch r is tm a s p res en t .

Texa s : 1999 , a you n g m oth er k ills h er five ch ild ren in th e ba th tu b . New York : Febru a ry 2000 , a b la ck im m igra n t from Gu in ea , u n a rm ed ,

h a s been k illed by fou r wh ite policem en , with for ty-on e gu n s h ots . Mich iga n : Ma rch 2000 , a s ix-yea r-old gir l h a s been k illed , a t s ch ool, by

a s even -yea r-old boy, wh o h a s fou n d a 32 m m . gu n in h is h ou s e. Ma s s a ch u s et ts : Decem ber 2000 , a form er worker of a n In tern et

con s u lt in g com pa n y, k ills s even collea gu es . Texa s : J a n u a ry 2001 , a m a n k ills h is ex wife, a s tore own er a n d two of

h is rela t ives a n d a fterwa rds com m its s u icide. Illin ois : Feb ru a ry 2001 , five peop le h a ve been k illed in a m a n u fa ctu r in g

p la n t by a fellow worker . Flor ida : Ma y 2001 , a fou r teen -yea r-old s tu den t h a s been s en ten ced to

twen ty-five yea rs for h a vin g k illed h is En glis h tea ch er . Iowa : a twen ty-th ree-yea r-old m a n h a s k illed h is wife, a n eigh bor a n d

s even ch ild ren , a n d ra va gin g th e bod ies of th e vict im s . New J ers ey: Febru a ry 2002 , a s ixteen -yea r-old boy h a s k illed s ix

peop le. Ca liforn ia : J u ly 2002 , a wh ite policem a n bea ts a s ixteen -yea r-old b la ck

boy wh o wa s p reviou s ly h a n dcu ffed , h e th en pu t a ch a in a rou n d th e boy’s n eck . Th e wh ole s cen e goes on in th e p res en ce of oth er policem en wh o don ’t in terven e. A pa s s in g by m a n wh o film ed th e even t , wh o wa s la ter a r res ted .

Flor ida : October 2002 , Noelle Bu s h , twen ty-five-yea r-old da u gh ter of govern or J eb Bu s h a n d th e p res iden t ’s n iece, will s pen d ten da ys in ja il for d ru g pos s es s ion .

Wa s h in gton : October 2002 , ten peop le h a ve been k illed by a s er ia l k iller .

Over th ree-th ou s a n d U.S. in m a tes a re in th e va r iou s govern m en ta l s la u gh ter -h ou s es , wa it in g to be execu ted .

Accord in g to a repor t is s u ed by th e U.S. govern m en t , th e n u m ber of a du lts beh in d ba rs , p lu s th e on es ou t on pa role or on bon d , a t th e en d of yea r 2000 , were over s ix-a n d-h a lf m illion s . An a vera ge of a cit izen for every th ir ty-two!

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Th e cr im es m en t ion ed a bove a re a s m a ll s a m ple of a n a t ion u n der s iege of a “m a de in th e USA” ter ror is m .

Th e a cces s ib ility to a n y type of wea pon s is on e of th e m a jor ca u s es of th e violen ce. Th e r igh t to bea r a rm s is gra n ted by th e s econ d a m en dm en t of th e Am erica n con s t itu t ion . For a you n g Am erica n boy is a lot ea s ier to pu rch a s e a gu n , th a n to bu y a beer a t a ba r . An ybody wh o own s a cred it ca rd ca n pu rch a s e a gu n , th rou gh on e of th e m a n y a va ila b le m a il-order ca ta logu es .

Th ere a re over two-h u n dred -m illion s fire a rm s in th e USA. Fou r peop le d ie every h ou r vict im s of gu n s h ots . Every yea r over th ir ty-th ou s a n d peop le a re k illed by fire-a rm s , a n d over

on e-h u n dred -fifty-th ou s a n d a re wou n ded . Over s even -h u n dred -fifty-th ou s a n d peop le h a ve d ied from 1960 t ill

2003 , vict im s of fire a rm s . Th e N.R.A. (Na t ion a l Rifle As s ocia t ion ) es ta b lis h ed in 1871 ,im m edia tely

a fter th e civil wa r , is th e m os t powerfu l Am erica n lobby a n d is very gen erou s with its con tr ibu t ion s to th e Repu b lica n pa r ty, du r in g th e elect ion ca m pa ign s .

Th e Am erica n a pproa ch to th e s olu t ion of th e violen ce p rob lem is th e s a m e a s th e on e with th e toba cco in du s try: lega l a ct ion s !

A federa l cou r t in Brook lyn h a s decla red n in e m a n u fa ctu rers of wea pon s a ccou n ta b le for cr im es com m it ted by peop le wh o a cqu ire wea pon s illega lly !

Th e cou r ts , in few words , t ry to fill th e m ora l void left by th e polit icia n s wh o don ’t pa s s s t r icter la ws beca u s e th ey a re a fra id of loos in g votes a n d th e fin a n cia l s u ppor t by th e in du s tr ies .

Th e U.S.A. reta in s th e wor ld ’s record of la ws u its . An y excu s e is good for a lega l a ct ion .

I lis t h ereu n der a n a s s or tm en t of lega l ca s es to give you a bet ter idea . An eigh teen -yea r-old boy, wh o wa s s er iou s ly in ju red in ca r a cciden t in

th e city of Bra den ton , Flor ida , h a s s u ed th e city-h a ll beca u s e a policem a n fa iled to a r res t h im in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t h e wa s d r ivin g u n der th e in flu en ce of a lcoh ol (D.U.I.). Th e policem a n wh o s topped h im , in fa ct , told h im to go h om e. Im m edia tely a fter th e you n g boy h a d a n a cciden t a n d h e h a d to s pen d over on e-h u n dred -th ou s a n d dolla rs for m ed ica l t rea tm en ts .

A s even ty-yea r-old execu t ive in New York city, wh o wa n ted to t ry n ew em otion s , a fter u s in g Via gra , d ivorced h is s ixty-on e-yea r-old wife. His wife h a s s u ed th e m a n u fa ctu rer of th e p ill, a ffirm in g th a t a la bel s ta t in g th a t “ th e u s e of th e p ill cou ld be en da n ger th e m a rr ia ge” s h ou ld be pu t on ea ch pa cka ge!

A m a rr ied cou p le in th e s ta te of Uta h h a s s u ed a n eigh bor wh o s m oked in h is own h om e.

Debra Miller , in Ca liforn ia , h a s s u ed two a ir lin e com pa n ies s eek in g fin a n cia l com pen s a t ion for th e h ea r t a t ta ck s h e s u ffered , s ixteen da ys a fter h er t r ip from Pa r is to Sa n Fra n cis co, m en t ion in g th e s o-ca lled “ tou r is t -cla s s s yn drom e”. Th is s yn drom e occu rs wh en s om ebody s its s t ill for m a n y h ou rs .

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Th e fa m ily of a Lou is ia n a s tore clerk wh o beca m e pa ra lyzed a fter a s h oot in g, h a s s u ed th e film d irector Oliver Ston e, a n d th e m otion p ictu re com pa n y wh ich p rodu ced th e m ovie “Na tu ra l born k iller ” . Accord in g to th e la ws u it , th e film p rodu cers kn ew th a t th e m ovie wa s violen t a n d it wa s m os t ly in ten ded for a you n g pu b lic. Th erefore th e two you n gs ters res pon s ib le for th e s h oot in g, were in s p ired by th e s cen es of th e m ovie.

A fem a le ph a rm a cis t of Sea t t le, in th e s ta te of Wa s h in gton , is s u in g h er em ployers , own ers of va r iou s ph a rm a cies , on th e ba s is of s exu a l d is cr im in a t ion , beca u s e h er in s u ra n ce policy d idn ’t in clu de th e con tra cep t ives . Th e ph a rm a cis t a ffirm s th a t th e con tra cep t ives s h ou ld be in clu ded in a n y h ea lth in s u ra n ce policy for wom en , wh ile th e a bor t ion or th e va s ectom y a re a lrea dy covered .

Th e fa m ilies of th e fifteen s tu den ts a n d tea ch ers of Colu m bin e High Sch ool, wh o h a ve been k illed in 1999 , a re s eek in g a five b illion dolla rs com pen s a t ion from th e m a n u fa ctu rer of videoga m es , a m on g th em Sega , Son y, ID Softwa re. Th e fa m ilies s ta te th a t th e m a s s a cre cou ld h a ve been a voided if th e you n g a s s a s s in s h a d n ot p la yed violen t ga m es like “Doom ” a n d “Qu a ke”. In th e m ea n t im e th e fa m ilies of th e vict im s a n d of th e s u rvivors of Colu m bin e High s ch ool m a s s a cre, h a ve rea ch ed a n ou t cou r t s et t lem en t for two-a n d-h a lf m illion dolla rs com pen s a t ion , in th e la ws u it a ga in s t th e pa ren ts of th e two you n g k illers a n d th e s u pp liers of th e gu n s u s ed in th e ca rn a ge.

Th e la rges t tea ch ers a s s ocia t ion h a s offered a n in s u ra n ce covera ge to th eir m em bers for on e-h u n dred -fifty-th ou s a n d dolla rs a ga in s t th e r is k of dea th a t th eir workp la ce.

Th e m a jor ity of Am erica n res ta u ra n ts s erve on ly filet of fis h in s tea d of a n en t ire fis h , to a void expen s ive la ws u its if a s p in e or lit t le bon e h u r ts a clien t .

Th e pa ren ts of on e of th e vict im s of th e Twin towers in New York , h a ve received a lega l n ot ice from th eir da u gh ter ’s la n d lord , cla im in g th e ren t , beca u s e “ s h e fa iled to give th ree m on th s n ot ice”!

Mr . Wen dell Willia m s on , wh o h a s been fou n d gu ilty for th e m u rder of two peop le in 1995 , h a s received a rou n d fou r-h u n dred -m illion dolla rs com pen s a t ion from a ps ych ia t r ic of Nor th Ca rolin a . Th e ps ych ia t r ic h a s been a ccu s ed of n ot ta k in g s er iou s ly th e s ta tem en t , m a de by Mr. Willia m s on du r in g a vis it p r ior to th e m u rders , wh o s a id th a t h e wa s h ea r in g voices tellin g h im “ to s a ve th e wor ld ”. Th e doctor s u gges ted to s eek a n oth er op in ion from a d ifferen t p s ych ia t r ic. Willia m s on in s tea d s topped ta k in g h is m ed ica t ion a n d in J a n u a ry 1995 k illed a s tu den t a n d a wa iter with a r ifle.

Som e ba n ks , wh en you open a n a ccou n t , give you a r ifle a s a p res en t , wh ile few s u perm a rkets offer bu llets a t a d is cou n t .

To relea s e th e s t res s s om e peop le u s e fa ke wea pon s . In fa ct th e m a ga zin e Scien ce h a s ded ica ted th e cover for th e en d of th e yea r 2000 is s u e to a n Am erica n fa ctory wh ere, every Fr ida y a ftern oon , th e workers u s e a ll s or ts of wea pon s to s h oot a t ea ch oth er u s in g ru bber bu llets .

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Th e m ilita ry t ra in in g in USA is devis ed to t ra n s form m en in to a ctu a l wa r m a ch in es . Ca m p Lejeu n e, in Sou th Ca rolin a , is a well kn own cen ter for it s b ru ta l m eth ods in t ra in in g th e a s p ira n t m a r in es . Th ey u n dergo s t res s fu l ph ys ica l, em otion a l a n d m en ta l exercis es . Du r in g th e t ra in in g th e a re b ra in wa s h ed : th ey h a ve n o r igh ts , ca n n ot com pla in , or cry, oth erwis e th e a s p ira n ts will be expelled . At th e en d of th e s u rviva l cou rs e, to p rove th a t th ey a re tou gh a n d a b le to s u rvive a n y tor tu re, a r itu a l ca lled “Blood win gin g” ta kes p la ce. In few words th e p in with win gs , th eir em blem , is p in n ed on th eir ch es t , by th e older m a r in es ! Th is r itu a l h a s been s h own on a ll televis ion s ta t ion s in 1997 , th rou gh a video ta ken cla n des t in ely.

Two U.S. m a r in es , ba s ed in Ita ly, on Febru a ry 3 ,1998 , ca u s ed th e dea th of twen ty Eu ropea n tou r is ts beca u s e on e of th em cu t th e wires of a ca b le ca r in Ca va les e wh ile flyin g low with h is a irp la n e. Th ey were bet t in g a ca s e of beer of wh o wa s a b le to fly lower! Th ey h a d ta ped th e fligh t , bu t th a t ta pe s t ra n gely d is a ppea red .

If th e tou r is ts were Am erica n s th e U.S. govern m en t wou ld h a ve s en t th e s ixth fleet , in s tea d th e two m a r in es were s en t ba ck to th e Un ited Sta tes . Th e Am erica n Cou r t Ma r t ia l, on Ma rch 4 ,1999 a cqu it ted th e p ilot res pon s ib le for th e t ra gedy!

Mos t s old iers retu rn in g h om e a fter a wa r m is s ion , a re u n a b le to get u s ed to a n orm a l life. Ma n y of th e s old iers wh o took pa r t to th e Vietn a m wa r , u pon th eir retu rn h om e, beca m e d ru g u s ers , or frequ en t gu es ts of th e p r is on s ys tem , a r res ted for violen ce. Ma n y of th e Vietn a m vetera n s h a ve been h os p ita lized for m en ta l d is ea s es a n d a lot of th em beca m e h om eles s .

Som e m em bers of th e “Specia l forces ”, a fter retu rn in g h om e from Afgh a n is ta n , h a ve k illed th eir fia n cés or wives .

Th e Pen ta gon s h ou ld h a ve rea lized by n ow th a t it is m ore d ifficu lt to h ea l th e ps ych ologica l wou n ds th a n th e ph ys ica l on es .

Th ere is very lit t le a t ten t ion to th e well-bein g of th e popu la t ion in gen era l. I will m en t ion th e res u lts of s om e res ea rch es to s u bs ta n t ia te m y poin t .

Accord in g to a res ea rch con du cted by USA-Toda y, pu b lis h ed in October 2000 , th e workers in th ir ty-five s ta tes , in volu n ta r ily b r in g h om e from th eir work -p la ce toxic s u bs ta n ces like m ercu ry, ra d ioa ct ive m a ter ia l, berylliu m , pes t icides a n d a rs en ic. Th es e s u bs ta n ces a re t ra n s m it ted th rou gh s h oes , s ocks , work -tools , etc. th erefore con ta m in a t in g th e res t of th e fa m ily. Th e ch ild ren a re th e on es in da n ger of get t in g ca n cer .

A res ea rch to s tu dy th e con s equ en ces of th e n u clea r tes ts ca r r ied ou t in th e Neva da des er t a n d in th e Pa cific a tolls , du r in g th e s o-ca lled “ cold wa r”, h a s revea led th a t over fifteen th ou s a n d Am erica n s h a ve d ied of ca n cer . Th e ca n cer wa s ca u s ed th rou gh b rea th in g, with ou t kn owin g it , ra d io-a ct ive m a ter ia l. Th e ra d io-a ct ive fa ll ou t en ded u p th ou s a n d of k ilom eters a wa y, ca r r ied by th e win ds .

Th e U.S. govern m en t h a s a lwa ys den ied it : bu t in 1997 , du r in g a s tu dy con du cted a bou t th e s p rea d in g of a s u bs ta n ce ca lled iodu re 132 , wh ich

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ca u s ed two-th ou s a n d-five-h u n dred dea th s du e to th e th yroid tu m or , th e govern m en t h a s pa r t ia lly a dm it ted its res pon s ib ility.

Over five th ou s a n d s old iers h a ve been u s ed , a lwa ys du r in g th e “ cold -wa r”, to exper im en t b iologica l a n d ch em ica l wea pon s , between 1952 a n d th e begin n in g of 1970 . Th e Pen ta gon h a s a ckn owledge s u ch exper im en ts on ly in October 2002 . Th e Pen ta gon h a s a ls o a dm it ted th a t s om e toxic m a ter ia ls h a d been s p rea d in Flor ida , Ala s ka a n d Ha wa ii.

Ma ybe in th e n ext ten or twen ty yea rs we will kn ow th e t ru th a bou t th e “Golf s yn drom e” wh ich h a s ca u s ed m a n y b ir th -defects on ch ild ren in th e U.S. a s well in Ira q, a s a con s equ en ce of u ra n iu m u s ed to bu ild wea pon s .

Over twen ty-eigh t m illion s Am erica n s u s e ps ych o-p ills . Good lu ck Mr. Pres iden t! You h a ve a lot of work to do a t h om e before

s olvin g oth er cou n tr ies ’ p rob lem s . Th e ter ror is ts will n ever be defea ted com pletely with bom ba rdm en ts . If on ly ten percen t of th e U.S. defen s e a n d p r is on s ’ bu dget wou ld be

u s ed to feed th e poor , in clu d in g th e Am erica n s , bu ild s ch ools , h os p ita ls , roa ds , with ou t goin g th rou gh th e In tern a t ion a l Mon eta ry Fu n d (I.M.F.), ter ror is m will s h r in k .

It will be like pu m pin g wa ter ou t of a fis h pon d to exterm in a te s om e pois on in g type of fis h . Non fis h will s u rvive with ou t wa ter , a n d n o poor peop le will pa y m u ch a t ten t ion to th e p rom is es of th e ter ror is ts . Wh en peop le h a ve en ou gh food on th e ta b le for th e en t ire fa m ily, th eir ch ild ren go to s ch ool regu la r ly a n d h a ve a cces s to m ed ica t ion s wh en n eeded , very few peop le will be en t iced to r is k th eir lives for a s o-ca lled polit ica l or religiou s ca u s e. Sta rva t ion ch a n ges peop le’s pers pect ives .

I rem em ber rea d in g th e s tory of a p la in cra s h in s om e m ou n ta in s in Sou th Am erica , a n d th e s u rvivors a te th e corps es of th eir fr ien ds wh o d ied in th e cra s h . I th in k th a t a m ovie wa s m a de a bou t it , beca u s e on e of th e s u rvivors , wh o wa s res cu ed a fter weeks , wrote a book . In few words a grou p of s o-ca lled civilized peop le beca m e ca n n iba ls ; in a n orm a l en viron m en t th ey wou ld be s en t to ja il for th e res t of th eir lives !

It is d ifficu lt to u n ders ta n d h u n ger in own “ lim ited wor ld ” wh ere we s pen t a lot of m on ey t ryin g to loos e weigh t!

Wh y b la ck peop le in th e U.S. con s t itu te th e m a jor ity of th e p r is on popu la t ion ? Beca u s e th ey a re n ot offered th e s a m e oppor tu n it ies of th e wh ite peop le, a n d live in p reca r iou s con d it ion s .

Wh y s om e m a n y you n gs ters com m it ter r ib le cr im es ? Beca u s e th ey a re left on th eir own , a n d a re th e vict im s of th e h igh n u m ber of d ivorces .

Ea s y in ca rcera t ion s a n d dea th pen a lty a re n ot th e s olu t ion . To s olve s om e of th e p rob lem s in th e wor ld th ere is a n eed for m ore

d ia logu e a n d les s bom bs . Th e s o-ca lled u n dergrou n d d ip lom a cy defu s ed s om e poten t ia l con flicts

du r in g th e “ cold wa r” per iod . It s h ou ld s t ill be u s ed to figh t th e wa r on ter ror .

I u n ders ta n d th ou gh th a t th e d ip lom a t ic a pproa ch ca n n ot fu n d th e ever expen s ive polit ica l ca m pa ign s , a n d it ca n n ot com pete with th e defen s e in du s tr ies ’ electora l con tr ibu t ion s .

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Th e televis ion , es pecia lly in th e USA, is th e “ d ru g” th e govern m en t u s es to a ppea s e th e popu la t ion a n d to m a ke th em relia n t on every s ta tem en t m a de on TV. Th a t is th e rea s on wh y, du r in g th e elect ion ca m pa ign s , th e televis ion s ta t ion s a re th e u lt im a te ben eficia r ies of th e fu n ds ra is ed by th e ca n d ida tes . A lot of m on ey is s pen t on th e s o-ca lled “ s m ea r com m ercia ls ”: in s tea d of ta lk in g a bou t h is or h er p rogra m , if elected , th e ca n d ida tes t ry to des t roy th e a dvers a r ies with in n u en dos , m os t ly s exu a l a ffa irs , or a bou t p reviou s s ta tem en ts on u n im por ta n t is s u es .

Dem ocra cy h a s th erefore becom e th e bes t polit ica l s ys tem th a t m on ey ca n bu y.

"Polit ica l la n gu a ge ... is des ign ed to m a ke lies s ou n d t ru th fu l a n d m u rder res pecta b le, a n d to give a n a ppea ra n ce of s olid ity to pu re win d ." By George Orwell: “Polit ics a n d th e En glis h La n gu a ge”

Th e a bove s ta tem en t dep icts per fect ly th e p res en t s itu a t ion a rou n d th e wor ld .

Th e televis ion is defin itely th e fou r th power , a n d n ot on ly in th e USA. Du r in g th e “ cold wa r” per iod th e U.S. were h a ppy to h a ve a n

iden t ifia b le en em y, th e Soviet Un ion , th e “ evil em pire” a s p res iden t Rea ga n la beled it . Th e “ cold wa r” wa s u s ed a s a ju s t ifica t ion for th e m edd lin g of th eir govern m en t a n d s py a gen cies in to oth er cou n tr ies ’ in tern a l a ffa irs , a n d / or to des ta b ilize th e elected govern m en ts n ot a lign ed with th e Am erica n s t ra tegies .

I rem em ber th e effor ts of th e U.S. to in ter fere with th e Ita lia n polit ics , beca u s e we h a d th e s t ron ges t com m u n is t pa r ty, ou ts ide th e Soviet Un ion . On e of th e m os t popu la r polit ica l lea der , Aldo Moro, h a s been k idn a pped a n d la ter a s s a s s in a ted . Aldo Moro wa s becom in g “ da n gerou s ” du e to h is effor ts to in volve th e “ s pa gh et t i” com m u n is t pa r ty in s om e im por ta n t s ocia l is s u es .

Ma n y t ra gic even ts took p la ce du r in g th os e yea rs , with th e los s es of in n ocen t peop le: exp los ives p la ced in pu b lic p la ces , like a ba n k in Mila n , or in th e t ra in s ta t ion of Bologn a , ju s t to m en t ion few. Mos t of th es e a t ta cks were m ea n t to crea te a s ocia l u n res t .

Th e “ u s u a l s u s pects ” were a r res ted a n d la ter relea s ed . On ly recen t ly s om e n ews a re s u rfa cin g a bou t th e in volvem en t of “ foreign ” s ecret s ervices .

Th e a irp la n e of a n Ita lia n a ir lin e wa s s h ot down wh ile flyin g from Rom e to Pa lerm o, everybody on boa rd d ied : it is kn own a s th e Us t ica t ra gedy.

Wh a t a bou t th e p la n e cra s h of En r ico Ma ttei, th e h ea d of th e Ita lia n oil com pa n y? He wa s becom in g a pa in in th e a s s of th e Am erica n oil com pa n ies , for h is bu s in es s ph ilos oph y of “ fifty-fifty”, th e equ a l d ivis ion of p rofits between th e oil com pa n y a n d th e cou n try own er of th e oil fields !

It will ta ke m a n y yea rs before th e t ru th will ever be kn own . Hen ry Kis s in ger clea r ly s ta ted th a t “ th e U.S. don ’t h a ve perm a n en t

fr ien ds or en em ies , bu t perm a n en t bu s in es s in teres ts ” . Th e defen s e in du s try wou ld go ou t of bu s in es s , in a New York s econ d , with ou t a n en em y to wa ge a wa r to.

Th e Am erica n foreign a n d m ilita ry a ffa irs s eem to be m otiva ted to s erve corpora te in teres ts , (Ira n , Ira q, Ven ezu ela , Libya , etc), or polit ica l rea s on to

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ch a n ge th e elected govern m en ts (Cu ba , Cile, etc.), ra th er th a n by th e des ire to b r in g freedom a n d dem ocra cy.

Th e Ca th olics celeb ra te th e “ s ta t ion s ” of th e Cros s , bu t th e Am erica n s celeb ra te th e “ oilfields ’ s ta t ion s ”, wh ich even tu a lly becom es a Ca lva ry for th e h os t n a t ion s .

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Th e polit ica l A.I.D.S. Th e Am erica n In tern a t ion a l Dis a s ter Sys tem a .k .a . Th e foreign policy

Th e Am erica n a m ba s s a dors to th e m os t im por ta n t cou n tr ies a re a ppoin ted by th e n ewly elected p res iden t , a s a rewa rd for th e con tr ibu t ion s received du r in g th e p res iden t ia l ca m pa ign . Th e du ra t ion of th e a ppoin tm en t is s t r ict ly con n ected to th a t of th e p res iden t ; in few words cou ld la s t a m in im u m of fou r to a m a xim u m of eigh t yea rs in ca s e th e p res iden t is re-elected . Th erefore even d ip lom a cy is for s a le: th e h igh er th e con tr ibu t ion , th e m ore p res t igiou s th e a s s ign m en t will be.

Non e of th es e a m ba s s a dors h a ve a p r ior d ip lom a t ic exper ien ce, a n d th a t is on e of th e m a in rea s on of th e fa ilu re of th e polit ica l d ip lom a cy.

Th e Am erica n peop le a re very p rovin cia l a n d h a ve lit t le in teres t for wh a t h a ppen s in th e res t of th e wor ld . Few of th em h a ve pa s s por ts , on ly a m in or ity t ra vels a b roa d , a n d m os t of th em for bu s in es s rea s on s . Th ey don ’t look beyon d th eir belly!

Th a t is wh y th e Am erica n s were s h ocked by th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks . For a ll of th em wa s a wa ke-u p ca ll, a fter a lon g illu s ion th a t wor ld even ts d idn ’t h a ve s om e bea r in g on th eir lives .

Mos t of th e fa ilu res in foreign policy a re du e to th e a r roga n t a pproa ch towa rds th e cou n try in wh ich th ey in ten d to expa n d th eir econ om ic power . Th eir poor kn owledge of wor ld h is tory pu ts th em a t d is a dva n ta ge a n d m os t of th e t im e th eir a ct ion s en d u p a s a tota l los s , in s p ite of th e m a s s ive u s e of th e m ilita ry force. Vietn a m is a good exa m ple, a n d n ot th e on ly on e.

Th e Am erica n s u s e a ll th eir m ilita ry power to des t roy a cou n try ra th er th a n a s a th rea t to pers u a de, lea vin g beh in d th em a t ra il of n ew en em ies , a n d th erefore fu tu re ter ror is ts .

Th ey h a rd ly ever a ch ieve th eir in it ia l goa l, wh eth er econ om ic or polit ica l; a n d wh en th eir m ilita ry in terven t ion fa ils , th ey im pos e th e “ em ba rgo”, expect in g th e res t of th e wor ld to go a lon g with th eir u n ila tera l decis ion .

An in teres t in g book pu b lis h ed du r in g th e “ cold wa r” per iod illu s t ra tes th e flou r is h in g of p rofita b le bu s in es s es beh in d th e s cen es , to overcom e th e em ba rgo, u s in g th e s o-ca lled t r ia n gu la t ion s m eth od . Th e t it le of th e book , if I rem em ber well, is “Vodka -Cola ”. Th e em ba rgo th erefore in flicts th e s u ffer in gs on th e poor peop le on ly, with lit t le or zero res u lts a t th e polit ica l level.

Toda y’s en em ies were yes terda y’s a llies : Sa dda m Hu s s ein , Os a m a Bin La den , Gh edda fi, Nor iega , Ma rcos , etc.

Th e fa ll of th e Ber lin ’s wa ll a n d th e b rea kdown of th e Soviet Un ion h a s ch a n ged th e Am erica n m ilita ry s t ra tegy, from bein g defen s ive to offen s ive.

Th e followin gs a re s om e exa m ples of U.S. foreign policy’s fa ilu res : Cu ba . Th e fir s t em ba rgo wa s im pos ed by Eis en h ower in 1960 , a fter Ca s tro n a t ion a lized s om e Am erica n bu s in es s es . In 1961 th e C.I.A. t ra in ed exiles fa iled to in va de Cu ba , in th e Ba y of Pigs .

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Sin ce Ca s tro d idn ’t b lin k a n eye, th e U.S. b roa den ed th e s a n ct ion s t ill th ey pa s s ed th e Helm s -Bu r ton la w in 1995 . Th e pu rpos e of th is la w is to exten d th e s a n ct ion s of th e em ba rgo a ls o to a n y com m ercia l t ra de between th e Eu ropea n com pa n ies a n d Cu ba . It is a ra th er a r roga n t a pproa ch to im pos e th eir decis ion s on oth er free cou n tr ies a s well; bu t th is is th e wa y Wa s h in gton in ten ds to expor t dem ocra cy.

Th e va r iou s a t tem pts to k ill Ca s tro h a ve fa iled m is era b ly. Th e em ba rgo does n ’t p rom ote dem ocra cy, in s tea d s t ren gth en s th e

power of th e d icta tor in ch a rge, a n d in crea s es th e p rofits of few corpora t ion s . Accord in g to cer ta in u n n a m ed s ou rces m a n y of th e m os t lu xu r iou s h otels bu ilt in Cu ba h a ve been fin a n ced by U.S. in ves tm en ts grou ps , ch a n n eled th rou gh com pla cen t cou n tr ies .

Th e Am erica n cit izen s will en d u p in ja il if th ey vis it Cu ba , with th e excep t ion of form er U.S. p res iden ts of cou rs e. In fa ct J im m y Ca r ter a n d h is wife wen t to Cu ba a n d du r in g th eir vis it a s ked Ca s tro to a llow th e In tern a t ion a l Red Cros s to in s pect th e Cu ba n p r is on s . Th e U.S. h a ve n ever a llowed Am n es ty In tern a t ion a l to vis it th eir p r is on s .

Du r in g a s peech p res iden t Ca r ter s a id : “Ou r n a t ion is n ot per fect a s fa r a s h u m a n r igh ts a re con cern ed . A lot of ou r cit izen s a re in ja il, a n d th ere is n o dou b t th a t th e dea th pen a lty is m ore s everely h a n ded over to poor b la ck peop le or m en ta lly reta rded . For m ore th a n a qu a r ter of cen tu ry we h a ve fou gh t with ou t s u cces s to gra n t a ll ou r cit izen s th e ba s ic h ea lth in s u ra n ce. Never th eles s ou r con s t itu t ion gives ou r peop le th e pos s ib ility to ch a n ge s u ch la ws ”. En d of qu ote.

I h a ve a qu es t ion to a s k J im m y Ca r ter : How com e th a t you r cit izen s a re yet t rea ted u n equ a lly, in s p ite of th e s o-ca lled equ a l r igh ts th ey a re en t it led to?.

Pres iden t George W. Bu s h h a s a s ked Ca s tro to a llow free elect ion s to let th e Cu ba n s expres s th eir will. It s ou n ds a lit t le s a rca s t ic if n ot h ypocr ite, in view of th e fa ct th a t th e Am erica n peop le’s will h a s n ot been ta ken in to con s idera t ion for th e res u lts of th e yea r 2000 elect ion s , wh ere th e m a jor ity voted for Al Gore !

After over for ty yea rs Ca s tro is s t ill in power , in s p ite of th e em ba rgo! Alger ia : Severa l th ou s a n ds peop le h a ve been k illed in Alger ia , over on e-h u n dred -fifty-th ou s a n d a ccord in g to th e la s t s ta t is t ics : How com e th e U.S. h a ve n ever felt th e n eed to p rom ote dem ocra cy in th a t cou n try? Wh y don ’t th ey p rom ote a Un ited Na t ion s ’ res olu t ion to con dem n th e h u m a n r igh ts viola t ion s in th a t cou n try? Th e a n s wer is : th e U.S. h a s n o bu s in es s in teres ts to p rotect . Sou th Ara b ia : Th e Am erica n s a re th e m os t im por ta n t pa r tn ers a n d defen ders of th is cou n try s in ce th e b ir th of th e k in gdom in 1932 , in exch a n ge of th e s u pp ly of oil. Th ey tu rn th e oth er wa y wh en it com es to h u m a n r igh ts viola t ion s in th is cou n try, for th e s a ke of con t in u ou s oil s u pp ly a t a lower p r ice. Th e dea th pen a lty a s a ru le is u s ed . In th e yea r 2001 n in ety percen t of th e execu t ion s h a ve ta ken p la ce in fou r cou n tr ies : U.S.A., Ch in a , Ira n a n d Sou th Ara b ia .

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Gu a tem a la : In 1954 th e govern m en t of Arben s h a s been over th rown by Colon el Arm a s , h elped by th e U.S. Arben s h a d n a t ion a lized U.S. com pa n y la n ds . Nica ra gu a : After th e Sa n d in is ta u p r is in g in 1979 , th e U.S. h a ve t r ied to over th row Da n iel Or tega ’s govern m en t with th e u s u a l em ba rgo. Th e CIA-tra in ed Con tra s rebels la u n ch ed ter ror is t a t ta cks a ga in s t civilia n clin ics a n d s ch ools ru n by th e Sa n d in is ta govern m en t a n d m in ed Nica ra gu a n h a rbors . Th e Con tra s were fin a n ced from th e p roceeds of th e illega l s a le of wea pon s to Ira n , with ou t th e con gres s ion a l a pprova l, du r in g Rea ga n ’s p res iden cy. In fa ct , th e CIA d irector , Ca s ey, a n d colon el Oliver Nor th h a ve been in ves t iga ted by Con gres s du r in g th e s o-ca lled Ira n ga te in ves t iga t ion . El Sa lva dor: Th e Rea ga n a dm in is t ra t ion fin a n ced , a t th e begin n in g of 1980 , du r in g th e civil wa r goin g on in th a t cou n try, th e a rm y wh ich s u ppor ted th e fa m ou s “ dea th s qu a ds ” of Rober to D’Au bu is s on . Ven ezu ela : Hu go Ch a vez h a s been elected p res iden t in 1998 t rou gh free elect ion s . Ven ezu ela expor ts h a lf of it s oil to th e Un ited Sta tes . Pres iden t Ch a vez is n ot very well liked by th e USA du e to h is s ocia l polit ica l a gen da , a s well for th e fa ct th a t Ven ezu ela en ter ta in s t ra de rela t ion s h ip with Libya , Ira q a n d Cu ba s pecifica lly, wh ere its s old is s old a t a d is cou n ted p r ice. By m id Apr il 2002 Hu go Ch a vez is over th rown , a fter s om e pu b lic p rotes ts , du r in g wh ich a bou t ten peop le were k illed . Th e d irector of th e Ven ezu ela n in du s tr ia l a s s ocia t ion , Ca rm on a , is a ppoin ted p res iden t , h e s u s pen ds th e con s t itu t ion , s h u ts down th e pa r lia m en t , a n d im m edia tely s tops th e oil s u pp ly to Cu ba . Wh o is beh in d a ll th es e even ts ? Som e Am erica n n ews pa pers h a ve repor ted th a t Ca rm on a h a d n u m erou s con ta cts with th e U.S Sta te depa r tm en t a s well a s with th e Pen ta gon a fter th e cou p d'éta t , togeth er with oth er p res iden t Ch a vez’s oppon en ts . Th e Wh ite Hou s e rem a in ed in exp lica b ly s ilen t wh ile th es e even ts were ta k in g p la ce, in s tea d of con dem n in g th e ou s ted of a dem ocra t ica lly elected p res iden t , wh ile oth er cou n tr ies im m edia tely con dem n ed th e cou p d'éta t . Hu go Ch a vez h a s t r ied to in ter fere with th e m a n a gem en t of th e Sta te own ed oil com pa n y. Th is a ct t rou b led Wa s h in gton , fea r in g th e redu ct ion or th e s u s pen s ion of th e oil s u pp ly. Du r in g th is s a m e per iod Ira q a n n ou n ced th e s u s pen s ion for th ir ty da ys of it s oil s u pp lies in s u ppor t of th e Pa les t in e, in va ded by th e Is ra eli a rm y-ta n ks . Ch ile: Allen de h a s been dem ocra t ica lly elected in 1970 , bu t h is s ocia l a gen da t rou b led p res iden t Nixon . On Sep tem ber 11 ,1973 , a cou p d'éta t , h elped by th e CIA a n d a u th or ized by Hen ry Kis s in ger , th e Secreta ry of Sta te, ta kes p la ce. Th is is a s ta tem en t m a de by Kis s in ger , a ccord in g to officia l docu m en ts , decla s s ified by p res iden t Clin ton : “We ca n n ot lea ve a cou n try in th e h a n ds of com m u n is ts du e to th e ir res pon s ib le decis ion s of th e Ch ilea n popu la t ion ”. En d of qu ote. Th e cou p d'éta t m a rked th e begin n in g of Pin och et ’s d icta tors h ip , on e of th e cru eles t of th e cen tu ry, du r in g wh ich over th ir ty-th ou s a n d peop le d ied , bu t th e n ew des pot wa s es teem ed a n d s u ppor ted by Wa s h in gton .

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Th e in volvem en t of th e CIA a n d th e fin a n cia l ba ck in g of U.S. govern m en t a re well-kn own . Pres iden t Clin ton a u th or ized th e pu b lica t ion of th e officia l docu m en ts of th a t per iod “ to a llow th e pu b lic to ju dge h ow th e Am erica n in volvem en t in flu en ced n ega t ively th e dem ocra cy a n d h u m a n r igh ts in Ch ile” . A s a d relief, a fter th ir ty yea rs , for lots of fa m ilies , vict im s of th e d icta tors h ip ! Wou ldn ’t it be th e ca s e of a la w-s u it a ga in s t th e U.S. for fin a n cia l com pen s a t ion s , like J ews d id for th e vict im s of th e Holoca u s t? Th e in volvem en t of Hen ry Kis s in ger h a s been a t th e cen ter of s om e cou r t ca s es in ves t iga t in g th e cr im es wh ich occu rred du r in g Pin och et d icta tors h ip . From th e Sta te depa r tm en t ’s a rch ives Hen ry Kis s in ger is dep icted a s bein g th e s t ron ges t s u ppor ter of m ilita ry regim es in th a t per iod : Ma rcos in th e Ph ilipp in es , Videla in Argen t in a a n d th e colon els in Greece. In th e n a m e of U.S. in teres ts , Kis s in ger u s ed to des cr ibe th e defen s e of h u m a n r igh ts a s “ s tu p id s en t im en ta lis m ”. Bu t in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t Kis s in ger ’s h a n ds were ta in ted with th e b lood of m a n y in n ocen t vict im s , in 1973 h e wa s a wa rded th e Nobel p r ice for “ pea ce”! On ly recen t ly a book h a s been pu b lis h ed in th e USA by th e jou rn a lis t Ch r is toph er Hitch en s with th e t it le “Th e Tr ia l of Hen ry Kis s in ger . Wa n ted for cr im es a ga in s t h u m a n ity”. It is n ow clea r wh y th e Un ited Sta tes h a ve n ot s ign ed th e Rom e Trea ty a .k .a . Th e In tern a t ion a l Tr ibu n a l. Accord in g to s om e ru m ou rs goin g a rou n d th e in tern a t ion a l s py a gen cies , Hen ry Kis s in ger m igh t h a ve been in d irect ly in volved in s om e of th e “ u n res olved ” cr im in a l ca s es wh ich took p la ce in Ita ly. Wh en Silvio Ber lu s con i beca m e p r im e m in is ter of Ita ly, a fter th e elect ion s of Ma y 13 ,2001 , h e con s u lted with Kis s in ger , before form in g a n ew cen ter -r igh t govern m en t! Colu m bia : In s p ite of th e h igh n u m bers of th e polit ica l a s s a s s in a t ion s , th e Un ited Sta tes h a ve been du r in g th e ’90 m a jor s u pp liers of wea pon ry a n d m ilita ry t ra in ers . Violen ce con t in u es to grow a lon g with m ilita ry a ids to wa ge a wa r a ga in s t d ru g dea lers . Th e Colu m bia n govern m en t exp la in s th a t th e u s e of violen ce is n eces s a ry to defen d th e cou n try from th e a t ta cks of th e ter ror is t rebels . An even t , bet ter th a n a lot words , elu cida tes th e p rom is cu ity between bu s in es s a n d foreign a ffa irs : th e p res iden t of th e New York s tock exch a n ge m et with th e rebels , wh om th e govern m en t a lleged ly com ba ts , to en cou ra ge th em to in ves t th eir m on ey in th e s tock exch a n ge ra th er th en u s in g it to figh t th e govern m en t! Tu rkey: Th e rep res s ion of th e Cu rds in Tu rkey h a s been of ca ta s t roph ic d im en s ion s . Over on e-m illion peop le, between 1990 a n d 1994 , fled th e cou n try, wh ile th e Tu rk is h a rm y des troyed va r iou s villa ges . Du r in g th e s a m e per iod Tu rkey wa s on e of th e m a jor im por ter of m ilita ry s u pp lies from th e Un ited Sta tes a n d th e res t of th e wor ld . A Cu rd rebel wa n ted by Tu rkey fled to Ita ly, a n d to s olve th e p rob lem of wh eth er to extra d ite h im to Tu rkey or gra n t h im a polit ica l a s ylu m in Ita ly, Ma delein e Alb r igh t , th en

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Am erica n Secreta ry of Sta te, a s ked Tu rkey to a bolis h th e dea th pen a lty! A fa n ta s t ic exa m ple of polit ica l coh eren ce: “ do a s I tell you , a n d n ot a s I do”. Ira q: Th e Un ited Sta tes , du r in g Rea ga n ’s p res iden cy, h a ve fin a n ced , s u pp lied wea pon ry, a n d t ra in ed th e Ira qi a rm ed forces , du r in g th e wa r a ga in s t Ira n , from 1980 to 1988 , to defea t th e a ya tolla h Kh om ein i. Th e p res en t Secreta ry of Defen s e, Don a ld Ru m s feld , wa s s en t by Rea ga n to Ba gh da d , in Decem ber 1983 , to m eet with Sa dda m Hu s s ein , to “ n orm a lize” th e rela t ion s h ip with Ira q. Wh ile th e Un ited Na t ion s in Ma rch 1984 den ou n ced th e u s e of ch em ica ls (ga s ) a ga in s t th e Ira n ia n s , Don a ld Ru m s feld wa s in a m eet in g with Sa dda m Hu s s ein (Ma rch 4 ,1984) to rea ffirm th e s u ppor t of th e Am erica n govern m en t a n d to p rovide in telligen ce a s well m ilita ry equ ipm en t , in clu d in g ch em ica ls . In s p ite of th e m a s s ive Am erica n com m itm en t th e Ira qis d idn ’t defea t Ira n , a n d a fter eigh t yea rs of wa r , Ira q wa s forced to s ign th e Un ited Na t ion s cea s e-fire res olu t ion . Th e en d res u lt of th e wa r wa s th a t Ira q a cqu ired qu ite a b it of tech n ology m a de in USA, with pos s ib le n ega t ive con s equ en ces in th e fu tu re. Th e in va s ion of Ku wa it by th e Ira qis offered a ch a n ce to th e U.S. to topp le Sa dda m Hu s s ein regim e, bu t in exp lica b ly it d idn ’t h a ppen . Du r in g th e Golf wa r , to wh ich Ita ly took pa r t , th e Am erica n s s u ffered m ore los s es du e th e s o-ca lled fr ien d ly fire, th a n by Ira qis ’ a t ta cks . In view of th e fa ct th a t Sa dda m Hu s s ein wa s s t ill in power , th e U.S. u s ed th e em ba rgo, wh ich on ly b r in gs s u ffer in gs to th e popu la t ion , a n d does n ’t a ffect th e regim e in ch a rge. At th e en d of th e Golf wa r USA a n d Grea t Br ita in im pos ed th e “ n o-fly-zon e” in th e n or th a n d s ou th of Ira q, with ou t a n y Un ited Na t ion s res olu t ion , to p rotect th e Cu rds (n or th ) a n d th e Sh iite (s ou th ). A lot of in n ocen t civilia n s d ied a s a con s equ en ce of th e con t in u ou s bom bin gs , by th e Br it is h a n d Am erica n forces . I h ope th a t m y poin t of view is n ot m is u n ders tood : I a m n ot defen d in g Sa dda m Hu s s ein a n d h is regim e. On th e con tra ry. I a m con vin ced th a t Sa dda m Hu s s ein s h ou ld be depos ed by h is own peop le a n d b rou gh t to ju s t ice for h is h orr ib le cr im es . Ha ve th e Am erica n s con s idered wh a t will h a ppen in Ira q a fter a p lot ca r r ied ou t by “ extern a l” forces ? Th e oppos it ion lea ders wh o s h ou ld govern Ira q a fter th e depos it ion of Sa dda m Hu s s ein , s eem to be m ore in teres ted in en joyin g th eir golden exiles a t th e expen s es of CIA, ra th er th a n be in ch a rge of a n a t ion in d is a s t rou s con d it ion s . Wh a t a bou t th e h is tor ic d ivis ion s a m on g th e va r iou s eth n ic fa ct ion s : Cu rds , Su n n is a n d Sh iites ? Wh a t type of con s t itu t ion do th e Am erica n s h a ve in m in d for Ira q? Wh o will fu n d th e recon s tru ct ion , in a dd it ion to th e gu a ra n teed con tra cts with Am erica n com pa n ies , a s it h a ppen ed in Ku wa it? How lon g will ta ke before th e elect ion s ca n occu r? Wh o will gu a ra n tee th e pu b lic s a fety du r in g th e t ra n s it ion per iod? Wou ldn ’t it be rea s on a b le to a n s wer a ll th es e qu es t ion s before wa gin g a wa r? Wh a t if Ira n will p repa re a s u rp r is e in va s ion ?

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Bu t th e U.S. in gen era l a n d George W. Bu s h a n d Ch en ey in in d ividu a lly, a re n ot in teres ted to a n s wer a ll th es e “ s tu p id ” qu es t ion s . Th e rea l rea s on is to vin d ica te h is fa th er ’s a s s a s s in a t ion a t tem pt a n d m os t ly to open th e cou n try to th eir oil com pa n ies ! We, oilm en , u n ders ta n d ea ch oth er! Wh y s h ou ld we, Ita lia n s , s en d ou r fa th ers , s on s , b roth ers , to d ie? Sim ply beca u s e George W. Bu s h m a de h is m in d u p? Sa dda m Hu s s ein h a s la s ted th a n ks to th e la ck of a s t ron g a n d u n ited oppos it ion . Th e Am erica n bom bs will on ly s erve m ore to des t roy th e lit t le clou t th ey s t ill h a ve in th e Ara b wor ld , du e to th e u n res olved con flict between Is ra el a n d Pa les t in e, th a n to bu ild a dem ocra t ic s ta te in Ira q. Th e en t ire region will be des ta b ilized a n d a lot of eth n ic cla s h es will com e to pa s s . Th is is qu es t ion th a t th e Am erica n n ever ta ke in to con s idera t ion du e to th eir ph ilos oph y of “ s h or t term in teres ts ” in s tea d of “ lon g term ben efits ” . It is th e ba s ic ph ilos oph y th ey a pp ly in th e fin a n cia l a n d econ om ic field . If th e rea l rea s on beh in d Sa dda m Hu s s ein ’ ou s t in g is to a llevia te th e Ira qis s u ffer in gs , wh y don ’t th ey u s e m ilita ry a irp la n es to d rop food a n d m ed icin es for th e poor civilia n s ? Peop le th in k bet ter with a fu ll s tom a ch , a n d th ey h a ve en ergies to orga n ize a n u p r is in g. Wh a t bet ter occa s ion to p rove th a t you h a ve a t h ea r t th e Ira qis well bein g, in s tea d of you r ben efit? If Ira q d idn ’t h a ve oilfields th e Am erica n a t ten t ion wou ld th e s a m e a s th e on e th ey pa y to th e Pa les t in ia n p rob lem , or oth er poor n a t ion s . Th e Un ited Na t ion s ’ res olu t ion kn own a s “ food for oil” is n oth in g bu t a s h a m . Alm os t h a lf of th e p roceed in gs go to reim bu rs e th e wa r da m a ges to th e n a t ion s in volved . Every pers on receives th e equ iva len t of twen ty-five cen ts for s om e r ice, len t ils a n d tea . Wh o were th e grea tes t ben eficia r ies of th e Un ited Na t ion s res olu t ion ? Th e cou n tr ies wh ich bu y th e oil or th e Ira qis ch ild ren wh o con t in u e to d ie from s ta rva t ion ? Th e Am erica n s th ou gh con tr ibu te to p res erve Sa dda m Hu s s ein ’s regim e by pu rch a s in g h is oil, m ore th a n a n y oth er n a t ion in th e wor ld , a t th e ra te of ten -b illion dolla rs a yea r , in s p ite of th e em ba rgo! Wh ere is th e coh eren ce between wh a t th ey s a y a n d wh a t th ey do? All th e fa iled a t tem pts to ou s t Sa dda m Hu s s ein rein force h im polit ica lly in th e Ara b wor ld even th ou gh h e is m ilita r ily wea ken ed . He por t ra ys h im s elf a s Da vid s ta n d in g u p to th e Am erica n Golia th , b la m in g m a n y of h is cou n try’s in tern a l p rob lem s on U.S. econ om ic s a n ct ion s . Th e Ira q’s s itu a t ion cou ld be s olved with ou t bom bin gs if th e Un ited Sta tes wou ld a llow in tern a t ion a l in s pectors , rea lly in depen den t a n d n ot like th e Au s tra lia n in s pector Rich a rd Bu t ler , to ver ify if th e Ira qis h a ve or n ot ch em ica l wea pon s . Rich a rd Bu t ler wa s k icked ou t of Ira q beca u s e of h is a lleged t ies with CIA. If th e rea l pu rpos e of th e in s pect ion s is to d is cover th e t ru th , I don ’t u n ders ta n d wh y th e U.S a re defyin g s u ch in it ia t ive.

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It is clea r th a t th e in ten t is s om eth in g els e, like Rolf Ekeu s , in ch a rge of th e Un ited Na t ion s in s pect ion s from 1991 to 1997 , con firm ed : “Th ere is n o dou b t th a t Wa s h in gton wa n ted to m a n ipu la te th e in s pect ion s ”. At th e p res en t t im e th ere a re on ly Wa s h in gton ’s a s s er t ion s th a t Ira q h a s ch em ica l wea pon s , with ou t a n y s u ppor t in g rea l p roof. Or s h a ll we ta ke th e U.S a s s er t ion s a t fa ce va lu e, like a dogm a , wh ich does n ’t a llow a n y dou b t? Spea k in g of in s pect ion s , is n ’t a bou t t im e th a t th e Pen ta gon fin a lly revea ls , a fter eleven yea rs , wh a t ca u s ed th e “Golf s yn drom e”? Over on e-h u n dred -th ou s a n d Am erica n s a n d few th ou s a n d Eu ropea n s a re s u ffer in g form th is d is ea s e, bu t th e Pen ta gon is n ot yet relea s in g a n y in form a t ion , bein g a fra id of lega l a ct ion s . As a con s equ en ce of th is d is ea s e m a n y ch ild ren in th e USA h a ve been born with h orr ib le b ir th -defects . Accord in g to a repor t is s u ed by Ra n d Corpora t ion , wh ich works for th e Am erica n a rm y, th ere is a lin k between th e m ed icin es given to th e U.S. a rm ed forces a s a p rotect ion a ga in s t a n y ch em ica l s u bs ta n ce wh ich th e Ira qis m igh t u s e a n d th e “Golf s yn drom e”. Th es e p ills s h ou ld h a ve p rotected th em from a s u bs ta n ce ca lled “ s om a n ”, u n kn own by Ira q’s regim e. Th e rea l pu rpos e to ou s t Sa dda m Hu s s ein is to s ecu re a n oth er s ou rce of oil, beca u s e th e Am erica n s a re con cern ed a bou t th e s ta b ility of Sa u d i Ara b ia ’s polit ica l s itu a t ion . Th e con t in u ou s flow of m on ey to Al Qa eda orga n iza t ion is a rea l con cern . An u pda ted in form a t ion a fter th e Am erica n in va s ion of Ira q. After th ree th e U.S. a rm ed forces h a ve a r r ived in Ba gh da d , a n d yet n o wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion h a ve been fou n d . In th e m ea n t im e th e Pen ta gon m a y be p repa r in g a n oth er p re-em ptive wa r by a n n ou n cin g th a t th e WMD (Wea pon s of Ma s s Des tru ct ion ) m a y h a ve been h idden in Syr ia . Th e s t ren gth of th e Ira qis a rm ed forces h a s been grea t ly exa ggera ted to ju s t ify th e ca rpet-bom bin g of th e cou n try, ca u s in g th erefore m a n y vict im s a m on g in n ocen t civilia n s . A h igh ra n k in g Am erica n officer h a s ju s t ified th e m a s s a cre of fifteen civilia n s , s h ot dea d a t a ch eck poin t , by s a yin g: “No m is ta kes h a ve been m a de, th e ca rn a ge h a s on ly been a n in ciden t” . An a rm a da wor th fou r-h u n dred -b illion dolla rs a yea rs a ga in s t a n a rm y of on e-b illion dolla rs : th is is th e p res en t ba t t lefield in Ira q. Th e An glo-Am erica n forces h a ve s o fa r s u ffered m ore los s es ca u s ed by th e s o-ca lled “ fr ien d ly fire” , th a n by Ira qis a t ta cks . A joke goes a rou n d th es e da ys : “Th e Ira qi m in is ter of in form a t ion a n n ou n ces on TV th a t th e Ira qi a rm ed forces h a ve down ed a n En glis h m ilita ry a irp la n e. Few m in u tes la ter th e Am erica n p res iden t a ppea rs on CNN, h e is ra th er u ps et a n d s a ys : Here we a re with th e u s u a l p ropa ga n da of th e Ira q’s regim e. Th e En glis h p la n e h a s been down ed by u s ”. Th e in va s ion of Ira q h a s a lwa ys been por t ra yed a s a des ire to b r in g dem ocra cy in th a t cou n try. In th e m ea n t im e th ere h a s been a vict im of th e expor ted dem ocra cy. Th e jou rn a lis t wh o beca m e fa m ou s du r in g th e Golf

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wa r in 1991 , wh ile work in g for CNN, Peter Arn et t , h a s been d is m is s ed by th e Am erica n televis ion NBC beca u s e h e h a d th e gu ts to cr it icize th e Pen ta gon ’s p la n s du r in g a n in terview to th e Ira qi televis ion . NBC is own ed by Gen era l Electr ic, very m u ch in teres ted in ob ta in in g lu cra t ive con tra cts for th e recon s tru ct ion of Ira q, a n d th erefore th e freedom of s peech is s a cr ificed on th e a lta r of a lm igh ty dolla r ! Im m edia tely a fter th e a r r iva l in Ba gh da d of th e Am erica n t roops , th e loca l popu la t ion a s s a iled a ll th e govern m en ta l s ites , in clu d in g th e p res iden t ia l pa la ces , m u s eu m s , etc, s tea lin g a n yth in g th ey ca n ca r ry. All th is wa s h a ppen in g with ou t th e in terven t ion of th e Am erica n t roops . Th e Oil Min is t ry is th e on ly on e wh ich h a s been p rotected by th e m a r in es . Ku wa it : Th e in va s ion of Ku wa it by Ira qi a rm ed forces wa s eith er th e u m pteen s u rp r is e for CIA, or th e U.S. delibera tely looked th e oth er wa y to in terven e m ilita r ily la ter? By rea d in g s om e of th e n ews of th a t per iod you will a gree th a t m y qu es t ion is n ot ou t of p la ce. At th e t im e of th e in va s ion , Ira q a n d th e U.S. en ter ta in ed n orm a l d ip lom a t ic rela t ion s h ip . Th e p roof is th e s ta tem en t m a de by th e Am erica n a m ba s s a dor of th a t per iod , Apr il Ga s p ie, few da ys before th e in va s ion : “Th e Un ited Sta tes a re n eu tra l rega rd in g th e d is pu te between Ira q a n d Ku wa it ” . Th is s ta tem en t wa s m a de beca u s e Ira q h a d m oved its t roops n ext to th e Ku wa it borders . Here is a n oth er s ta tem en t : “Th e Am erica n m ilita ry exper ts don ’t believe in a m ilita ry a t ta ck in th e n ea r fu tu re” a s pu b lis h ed by th e Wa s h in gton Pos t on J u ly 29 , exa ct ly th ree da ys before th e in va s ion of Au gu s t 2 ,1990! How wa s it pos s ib le th a t th e s u perpower wa s ca u gh t by s u rp r is e, in s p ite of th e m a n y s py-s a tellites ? In m y m odes t op in ion , it wa s a n oppor tu n ity th a t th e Am erica n s d idn ’t wa n t to m is s . A m ilita ry in terven t ion wou ld s erve th e pu rpos e to fin a lly wipe ou t th e s o-ca lled “Vietn a m com plex”, a m on g th e U.S. a rm ed forces . It wa s th e grea tes t oppor tu n ity th ey h a ve been wa it in g for , to p rove th eir m ilita ry s u per ior ity s in ce th e “ cold wa r”. I a m n ot let t in g m y im a gin a t ion ru n wild . Ten yea rs a fter th e en d of th e Golf wa r , th e Am erica n t roops a re s t ill in Ku wa it , a n d th is p res en ce cou ld ca u s e s om e res en tm en ts a m on g th e loca l popu la t ion . Th ey a re a fra id of loos in g th eir n a t ion a l iden t ity a n d religiou s t ra d it ion s . Ira n : In 1953 a com m a n d opera t ion , with th e s u ppor t of th e wor ld -kn own a gen cy, over th rows a dem ocra t ic govern m en t to in s ta ll th e Sh a h . Bu t rela t ion s ch a n ge a ccord in g th e bu s in es s clim a te: th e p r ice of oil wa s too low du r in g th a t per iod . Th erefore th e USA h a ve h elped Aya tolla h Kh om ein i, over eigh ty-yea rs old , livin g in Pa r is , to s ta r t a “ revolt ” to over th row th e Sh a h . Aya tolla h Kh om ein i, a s s oon a s h e retu rn ed to Ira n , k icked th e Am erica n s ou t of th e cou n try. Som e Am erica n d ip lom a ts were kep t h os ta ge a t th e Am erica n em ba s s y in Teh era n , by a grou p of Ira n ia n s tu den ts , for fou r-h u n dred -for ty-fou r da ys , from 1978 to 1981 . In Apr il 1980 a n a t tem pt to res cu e th e fifty-two h os ta ges fa iled a n d eigh t t roops d ied in th e cra s h

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between a n Am erica n p la n e a n d h elicop ter . It wa s a ra th er em ba rra s s in g in ciden t for th e Un ited Sta tes . Ira n is n ow a t th e cen ter of a t ten t ion of th e des k -wa rr iors a t th e Pen ta gon , a n d of Don a ld Ru m s feld , Secreta ry of Depa r tm en t of Defen s e. Th e officia l rea s on is th a t Ira n is bu ild in g n u clea r power p la n ts , with th e h elp of Un ited Sta tes ’ p res en t bes t a lly, Ru s s ia . Do th e Ira n ia n oilfields h a ve a n yth in g to do with th is m u ch a t ten t ion ? It wou ld be u s efu l to h igh ligh t on a wor ld m a p th e cou n tr ies with oilfields to p in poin t wh ere n ext U.S. bom bin g a n d / or in va s ion is goin g to ta ke p la ce. Th is a lis t of th e oil res erves of s om e cou n tr ies , in m illion s of ba r rels , to bet ter illu s t ra te th e Am erica n “ s t ra tegic” in teres t for Ira q a n d Ira n : Sa u d i Ara b ia 259 .000 , Ira q 113 .000 , Ira n 90 .000 , Libya 30 .000 , Egyp t 3 .000 . Oilfield is th e polit ica l s yn on ym for “Rogu e n a t ion ”. Pa n a m a : Th is cou n try h a s been m ore or les s a U.S. p rotectora te. Nor iega h a s been a crea tu re of th e CIA, bu t very likely h e wa s get t in g too dem a n d in g, a n d th erefore U.S. t roops in 1989 in va ded Pa n a m a to ou s t th e n a t ion a lis t regim e of Ma n u el Nor iega . Th e U.S. a ccu s ed its form er a lly of a llowin g d ru g-ru n n in g in th e cou n try. Su ch in va s ion p reven ted th e Pa n a m a n ia n s from over th rowin g th eir own d icta tor fir s t a n d in s ta llin g a n ew dem ocra t ic govern m en t to th eir lik in g. Th es e in terven t ion s a re m os t ly ca r r ied ou t , a rou n d th e wor ld , to in s ta ll a p ro-U.S. govern m en t , or d icta tor , to p rotect th eir bu s in es s in teres ts , ra th er th a n to s p rea d dem ocra cy. Nor iega wa s in s tea d ta ken to Flor ida a n d ch a rged with h is d ru g t ra ffick in g, a n d s en ten ced . Wh y wa s n ’t h e t r ied by a Pa n a m a cou r t in s tea d of a U.S. cou r t? Libya : After th e Ma rs h a ll Pla n fin a n cia l a id for th e recon s tru ct ion of th e cou n try, th e U.S. h a ve t r ied with a n y pos s ib le m ea n to topp le th e n a t ion a lis t Mu h a m m a r Gh a dda fi. In 1986 th ey la u n ch ed a bom bin g ra id a ccu s in g Libya of s pon s or in g a ter ror is t grou p . Th e bom bin g ra id k illed m a n y civilia n s , in clu d in g on e of Gh a dda fi’s da u gh ters , wh ile h e rem a in ed in power . In view of th e fa ct th a t th e m ilita ry a t ta ck d idn ’t work , th e U.S. em ployed th e em ba rgo wea pon . Du r in g th e em ba rgo th e Am erica n s bu ilt on e of th e lon ges t wa ter p ipelin e in th e wor ld , th rou gh a Korea n com pa n y! Sin ce 1989 Libya is pa r t of th e “Rogu e n a t ion s ” lis t . Th is lis t is com piled in Wa s h in gton by th e Sta te Depa r tm en t a ccord in g to th e on goin g m ood of th e m om en t . Th e U.S. govern m en t is n ow ch a n gin g its cou rs e, u n der th e p res s u re of U.S. oil a n d in du s tr ia l com pa n ies , beca u s e th ey a re loos in g a lot of bu s in es s con tra cts gra n ted to Eu ropea n com pa n ies . In don es ia : Th e CIA, a ccord in g to a recen t book , p la yed a n im por ta n t role in th e revolt , wh ich a bou t th ir ty-five yea rs a go, topp led p res iden t Su ka rn o, th e rea l p rom oter of In don es ia ’s in depen den ce. Du r in g th a t revolt m a n y

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m em bers of th e com m u n is t pa r ty h a ve been m a s s a cred by th e dea th -s qu a dron s . La os : In th e s ixt ies a n d s even t ies th is cou n try wa s a t th e cen ter of ca rpet bom bin gs , h it t in g m a n y civilia n s s ites . Du r in g th es e bom bin gs th e U.S. h a s u s ed th e s o-ca lled “ bom bies ”, lit t le a m m o to k ill or m a im h u m a n s a n d n ot des t roy ed ifices . Sin ce th a t t im e every yea r th ou s a n ds of peop le s t ill d ie du e to th e exp los ion of th es e “ bom bies ”. Th e Un ited Sta tes don ’t s eem to be in teres ted in s en d in g th e exper ts n eeded to defu s e s u ch a m m o, beca u s e th ey s a y it wou ld in fr in ge m ilita ry s ecrets . Is ra el a n d Pa les t in e: Th e lon g con flict between Is ra el a n d th e Pa les t in ia n s will n ever be res olved t ill th e Am erica n s will con vin ce or force, like th ey do in oth er n a t ion s , th e Is ra eli govern m en t , to a llow th e in terven t ion of Un ited Na t ion s in depen den t obs ervers . At th e p res en t t im e th e polit ica l s ca le is t ilted in fa vor of Is ra el. Th e U.S. s u ppor ts Is ra el fin a n cia lly with th ree b illion dolla rs a yea r , vers u s on e-h u n dred m illion dolla rs to th e Pa les t in ia n govern m en t . Th e Am erica n in flu en ce t ilt s s t ron gly in fa vor of Is ra el du r in g a Repu b lica n p res iden cy. Let u s n ot forget th a t over s ix m illion J ews live in th e U.S. a n d th eir votes a re im por ta n t . Everybody is qu ick in con dem n in g Ira q for n ot a b id in g to th e Un ited Na t ion s res olu t ion s , bu t very few m en t ion th e fa ct th a t if Is ra el wou ld fu lly a dh ere to s om e of th e U.N. res olu t ion s , th e con flict cou ld be res olved . Th e en d of th e con flict will pu t a n en d to th e dea th of m a n y in n ocen t civilia n s of both cou n tr ies . Th e ter ror is ts s h ou ld be p ros ecu ted in a cou r t of la w, a n d th eir a ct ion s don ’t s erve th e Pa les t in ia n ca u s e. Bu t a t th e s a m e t im e, Is ra el s h ou ld n ot u s e ta n ks a n d h elicop ters or m is s iles a ga in s t th e “ s ton e th rowers ”. Wh y dem olis h th e h om es of th e fa m ily wh os e s on is res pon s ib le of a ter ror a t ta ck? Wh a t h a ppen ed to th e ru le of la w? I a m a lm os t cer ta in th a t I will a ccu s ed of bein g “ a n t i-Is ra el” , bu t I h a ve a ls o lea rn ed th a t th e t ru th does n ’t s t ren gth en a fr ien ds h ip . Vietn a m : An en t ire book wou ld n ot be en ou gh to des cr ibe th e fa ilu re of th e U.S. m ilita ry in terven t ion , in s p ite of th e u s u a l “ ca rpet-bom bin gs ” a n d th e m a n y U.S. a rm ed forces in volved . Th e wa r pu t U.S. forces a ga in s t Nor th Vietn a m a n d Com m u n is t rebels figh t in g to over th row p ro-U.S. d icta tors h ip in Sou th Vietn a m , La os a n d Ca m bod ia . Over two m illion peop le were k illed in th e wa r , in clu d in g fifty-five th ou s a n d U.S. t roops . Th e em blem of th e U.S. defea t wa s th e p ictu re of Tim e m a ga zin e’s cover , s h owin g th e Am erica n a m ba s s a dor , h old in g th e fla g u n der h is a rm , fleein g on boa rd a n h elicop ter from th e roof of th e Em ba s s y. Afgh a n is ta n : Th e officia l exp la n a t ion for th e wa r in Afgh a n is ta n is to reta lia te a ga in s t th e ter ror is t a t ta cks in New York a n d Wa s h in gton . Bu t a ccord in g to s om e well in form ed s ou rces th e wa r wa s con ceived a n d p la n n ed lon g before th e Sep tem ber 11 , 2001 . Th e “ globa l wa r on ter ror ” is s m okes creen . Bu t let ’s p reten d to believe th e officia l rea s on . Pres iden t George W. Bu s h , before th e begin n in g of th e bom bin gs s ta ted : “We will ca p tu re Os a m a Bin La den dea d or a live, we will elim in a te a ll th e ter ror is ts ” . After m on th s of ca rpet-bom bin gs , th e equ iva len t in ton s of

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exp los ives u s ed in Vietn a m , n obody m en t ion s Bin La den a n y m ore. Now th e U.S. a dm it th a t it is like fin d in g a n eed le in a h a y s ta ck ! In th e m ea n t im e a lot of civilia n s h a ve been k illed . Th e s t ra tegic loca t ion of Afgh a n is ta n ca n s ca rcely be overs ta ted . Th e Ca s p ia n Ba s in con ta in s s evera l b illion s of dolla rs wor th of oil a n d ga s res ou rces , a n d th e m os t d irect p ipelin e rou te to th e r ich es t m a rkets is th rou gh Afgh a n is ta n . Is n ’t th is a va lid rea s on to “ s p rea d dem ocra cy”? Afgh a n is ta n is a m u lt ieth n ic cou n try a n d will ea s ily b rea k a pa r t in a ca ta s t roph ic region a l wa r . Ea ch wa r lord h a s its own a rm y, well equ ipped . Bu t in th e m ea n t im e to give a n a ppea ra n ce of s u cces s , Ha m id Ka rza i is in s ta lled a s h ea d of a n in ter im govern m en t a n d s u bs equ en t ly h e is elected p res iden t of Afgh a n is ta n , or a s h e is u n officia lly ca lled th e “m a yor” of Ka bu l. Ka s h m ir : Th is s ta te cou ld be a t th e cen ter of a n u clea r con flict , beca u s e In d ia a n d Pa k is ta n h a ve n u clea r wea pon s . Th e des ire of a u ton om y by th e loca l popu la t ion h a s been lon g ign ored by th e U.S. Th e m a n y border in ciden ts in th e a rea cou ld t r igger a n u n des ired con flict . Pa k is ta n : Th e p res iden t of Pa k is ta n , Gen era l Pervez Mu s h a rra f, h a s s eized th e oppor tu n ity of th e “ globa l wa r on ter ror ” , to s t ren gth en h is power . Th e U.S. dep ict h im a s a s ym bol of “ dem ocra cy”. Let u s n ot forget th a t th e Ta liba n s eem to en joy a cer ta in a m ou n t of freedom a lon g th e borders . I wou ldn ’t be s u rp r is ed if in th e n ea r fu tu re Pa k is ta n will be b la m ed by th e U.S. for n ot doin g en ou gh to con trol th eir borders a n d a llow th e Ta liba n free s u pp ly of wea pon s . Pa k is ta n cou ld th erefore becom e a m em ber of th e “ rogu e n a t ion ” clu b , like m a n y form er U.S. a llies : Libya , Ira q, Ira n , Pa n a m a , Bin La den , etc.

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Im a ge over rea lity Mos t of th e U.S. in terven t ion s s erve corpora te in teres ts , res u lt in g qu ite often in los s es of in n ocen t civilia n s a n d s old iers . Th e CIA wou ld a ls o h elp to s u ppor t or in s ta ll p ro-U.S. d icta tors h ips like Ira n , Ch ile, Gu a tem a la , In don es ia , a n d oth er cou n tr ies a rou n d th e wor ld . In th e 1990s , th e U.S. led a s er ies of wh a t it term ed “ h u m a n ita r ia n in terven t ion s ” it cla im ed wou ld s a fegu a rd civilia n s . Yet th e m ilita ry ta ct ics em ployed often left beh in d m a s s ive civilia n "colla tera l da m a ges ." Wa r p la n n ers m a de lit t le d is t in ct ion between rebels a n d th e civilia n s wh o lived in rebel zon es of con trol, or between m ilita ry a s s ets a n d civilia n in fra s t ru ctu re, s u ch a s t ra in lin es , wa ter p la n ts , a gr icu ltu ra l fa ctor ies , etc Alth ou gh n ea r ly a ll th e pos t-World Wa r II in terven t ion s were ca r r ied ou t in th e n a m e of "freedom " a n d "dem ocra cy," n ea r ly a ll of th em in fa ct defen ded d icta tors h ips con trolled by p ro-U.S. elites . Wh eth er in Vietn a m , Cen tra l Am erica , or th e Pers ia n Gu lf, th e U.S. wa s n ot defen d in g "freedom " bu t a n ideologica l a gen da (s u ch a s defen d in g ca p ita lis m ) or a n econ om ic a gen da (s u ch a s p rotect in g oil com pa n y in ves tm en ts ). Mos t of th e U.S. in terven t ion s a re ca r r ied ou t in a s u ch a wa y th a t p reven ts th e loca l popu la t ion from over th rowin g th eir own d icta tor fir s t a n d elect in g a n ew dem ocra t ic govern m en t to th eir lik in g. Th e res u lt of ou ts ide in terven t ion s ten ds to s t ren gth en th e d icta tor ’s h old on power , or in th e ca s e h e is over th rown , a civil wa r ta kes p la ce. Th e fa ct ion s wh ich were oppres s ed by th e d icta tor will s eek reven ge a ga in s t h is form er s u ppor ters . Th e b loods h ed con t in u es in a n en d les s s er ies of reta lia t ion s , es pecia lly in m u lt ieth n ic cou n tr ies .

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“ Dem ocra t ic d icta tors h ip ” or “ Tota lita r ia n dem ocra cy”

Im m edia tely a fter Sep tem ber 11 ,2001 a s ilen t Cou p d'éta t h a s been ca r r ied ou t by th e Su perpower . I h a ve in ten t ion a lly u s ed th e ca p ita l C to bet ter illu s t ra te th e s ign ifica n ce a n d th e con s equ en ces it will h a ve, from n ow on , in ou r da ily life. Th e in teres ts a n d th e greed of th e in tern a t ion a l con glom era tes h a ve ta ken over th e gen era l wellbein g, it ca u s es th e in crea s e of d is pa r ity between Nor th a n d Sou th in th e wor ld . Dem ocra cy is becom in g a lu xu r iou s com m odity for few, in th e Un ited Sta tes a s well a s in th e res t of th e s o-ca lled developed cou n tr ies . Dem ocra cy with th e ca p ita l D h a s been s u bs t itu ted by a “ televis ed dem ocra cy”. Th e m a in televis ion s ta t ion is loca ted in Wa s h in gton , bu t it feeds th e en t ire wor ld th rou gh its em bedded s u bs id ia r ies . Th e “ televis ed dem ocra cy” b roa dca s ts very dogm a tic m es s a ges , like a “ cru s a de”, or “ th e fir s t wor ld wa r of th e th ird m illen n iu m ” filled with a lot of im a ges , beca u s e it la cks s u bs ta n ce. After a th orou gh res ea rch it ca m e ou t th e “ en du r in g freedom ” dogm a . A t it le wh ich s ou n ds im pres s ive to th e ea rs of worr ied peop le. A s loga n ca p tu res th e a t ten t ion of th e a vera ge Am erica n , bet ter th a n a m ore p rofou n d con cep t . It is th e typ ica l com m u n ica t ion u s ed to p rom ote a n ew p rodu ct . Th e Am erica n s love to be ch eered u p even with t ru m ped-u p s tor ies . It goes ba ck to th e ba s ic con cep t u s ed du r in g th e s la very per iod , “ Ign ora n ce is th e bes t a n d th e on ly cu s tod ia n of obed ien ce”. “Des er t s torm , Evil em pire, Rogu e n a t ion s , No Fly zon e”, etc. a re a ll good exa m ples of th e a bove th eory. After Sep tem ber 11 ,2001 , p res iden t Bu s h ’s popu la r ity in crea s es a lon g with th e “ ter ror a ler ts ” . Th es e “ ter ror a ler ts ” a re m os t ly u t ilized to keep th e popu la t ion u n der p res s u re a n d a s a d is t ra ct ion from th e con t in u ou s viola t ion s of th eir r igh ts , by th eir govern m en t . Th e “ a ler ts ” a re s o b roa d th a t a re s im ila r to th e h oros copes : a n ybody in terp rets it a ccord in g to h is / h er des ires . An ybody wh o does n ’t a gree with th e p res iden t is con s idered a n en em y, s in ce th e “wa r on ter ror ” bega n , de fa cto elim in a t in g th e freedom of s peech . In a recen t officia l s peech h e s ta ted : “ In th is wa r , I s a id a n d I repea t , you a re with u s or a ga in s t u s ”. I th in k h e m u s t h a ve evoked th e s peech m a de by Pope Piu s XII a t Ea s ter of 1948 , before th e Ita lia n elect ion s , wh en h e s a id : “With God or a ga in s t God”. Peop le vot in g for th e Ita lia n Com m u n is t pa r ty were con s idered by th e Va t ica n to be “ a ga in s t God”. In fa ct a ll Com m u n is t lea ders a n d m em bers were excom m u n ica ted ! “Th e popu la t ion ca n a lwa ys be forced to obey th e Lea der . It is ea s y. You m u s t tell th em th a t th ey a re u n der a ggres s ion , a n d con dem n th e pa cifis t for la ck of pa tr iot is m , beca u s e th ey expos e th e Cou n try to th e a ggres s ion ”: th is is a s ta tem en t m a de by Herm a n n Goer in g, in ch a rge of SS, du r in g th e Nu rem berg t r ia l.

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In th e s ta te of Oregon a n ew la w h a s recen t ly been p ropos ed to com pa re th e pa cifis ts to peop le s u ppor t in g ter ror is ts . Th e even ts of th es e da ys r is k to b r in g to life s pecters of th e pa s t , du r in g th e cold -wa r per iod : th e witch -h u n t by s en a tor J os eph McCa r th y. In Febru a ry of 1950 a repu b lica n s en a tor from th e s ta te of Wis con s in , J os eph McCa r th y, kn own a s J oe, pu b lis h es th e lis t of a bou t fifty “ com m u n is ts ” , wh o, a ccord in g to h im , were “ h id in g” in th e Sta te Depa r tm en t ; a n d a n oth er lis t of over two-h u n dred em ployees wh o were com m u n is ts “ s ym pa th izers ” . Th is is th e begin n in g of th e witch -h u n t h os t ile to film m a kers , a ctors like Ch a r lie Ch a p lin , fa m ou s wr iters like Ber tolt Brech t , etc. It wa s a t ra gedy wh ich u n s et t led th e Un ited Sta tes for yea rs , with u n fa ir t r ia ls , t rea ch erou s wh is t le-b lowers , illega l deten t ion s a n d s u icides . A com m is s ion for “An t i-Am erica n a ct ivit ies ” h a s been a ppoin ted : it a cted a s pecia l t r ibu n a l. Th is com m it tee qu es t ion ed a n d in cr im in a ted n ot on ly a r t is ts a n d writers , polit icia n s , h igh level execu t ives , a n d a ls o wor ld fa m ou s s cien t is ts . Ma n y b r illia n t ca reers h a ve been des t royed a n d th e Un ivers ity tea ch ers were forced to p ledge to be a n t i-com m u n is t . Th e fu n da m en ta l Am erica n r igh t wh ich s ta tes th a t you a re in n ocen t t ill p roven gu ilty, wa s u n derm in ed . In 1954 s en a tor J os eph McCa r th y’s ca reer ca m e to a n en d du e to th e corru p t ion ch a rges b rou gh t a ga in s t h im by a Sen a te com m it tee. Eu ph em is m p la ys a n im por ta n t role in th e Am erica n polit ica l a ren a . Th e s pecia l t r ibu n a ls a re ca lled “ com m is s ion s ”, th e polit ica l corru p t ion is ca lled “ lobbyin g” or “ ca m pa ign con tr ibu t ion ”, th e m a s s a cre of in n ocen t peop le a re “ colla tera l da m a ges ”, wa rs a re “ h u m a n ita r ia n in terven t ion s ”, th e oil in du s tr ies in teres ts becom e “wa r a ga in s t evil” , th e dea th pen a lty is “ a dm in is t ra t ion of ju s t ice”, th e Cou n tr ies wh ich don ’t ben d to U.S. will a re “ rogu e n a t ion s ”, k illin g a n a lly is “ fr ien d ly fire” , ca rpet-bom bin g of a n oth er n a t ion with ou t a n y decla ra t ion of wa r becom es “ p re-em ptive wa r”, p res iden t ia l decep t ion for polit ica l ga in is “wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion s ”, la ws lim it in g pers on a l freedom becom e “ en du r in g freedom ”, in va s ion of you r p r iva cy is “wa r on ter ror ” , etc. After fifty yea rs it looks a s if McCa r th y’s s pecter h a s retu rn ed to Wa s h in gton . Th e Am erica n p res s a n d a good pa r t of th e s o-ca lled developed cou n tr ies , h a ve becom e “ em bedded ” for fea r of bein g a ccu s ed of s u ppor t in g ter ror is m . Pres iden t Bu s h h a d a n ea s y ta s k with th e m ed ia beca u s e eigh ty percen t of it is con trolled by fou r grou ps . Th e s a m e s itu a t ion is ta k in g p la ce in Ita ly with on e pers on m a n a ges p r iva te televis ion s ta t ion s a n d bein g in ch a rge of th e govern m en t h a s con trol power on th e pu b lic s ta t ion s too. A fa n ta s t ic exa m ple of dem ocra cy. Pres iden t Bu s h h a s been a b le to ga g th e oppos it ion pa r ty, wh ich does n ’t wa n t to r is k of a ppea r in g a n t i-pa tr iot ic, a n d de fa cto yield in g its con s t itu t ion a l role.

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Bu s h ’s a dm in is t ra t ion h a s decided to in t rodu ce s pecia l t r ibu n a ls , like th e on es du r in g Sta lin ’s per iod , to p ros ecu te n on Am erica n cit izen s . Th ou s a n ds of peop le h a ve been a r res ted m os t ly ba s ed on th e olive color of th eir s k in , a n d th e m idd le-ea s tern look . A p res iden t ia l s ecu r ity a gen t wa s n ot a llowed to boa rd a n a irp la n e, even a fter s h owin g h is creden t ia ls , beca u s e of Ara b or igin . Th e Un ited Sta tes open ed a con cen tra t ion ca m p in s ide th eir m ilita ry ba s e in Gu a n ta n a m o, Cu ba . Ma n y Afgh a n i deta in ees , t ra n s fer red on boa rd of a irp la n es , s h a ck led to th e s ea ts , with th eir h ea ds covered a n d s eda ted , a re h eld in extern a l m eta l ca ges . George W. Bu s h h a s a u th or ized CIA to k ill even foreign h ea d of Sta tes , u s in g th e lega l t ra p of “ s elf defen s e”. Th e FBI, from n ow on , does n ’t n eed a n y s pecia l a u th or iza t ion to ea ves d rop in a n y type of com m u n ica t ion s ys tem . FBI cou ld a ls o pu t u n der s pecia l s u rveilla n ce a n ybody wh o is s u s pected of h a vin g t ies with ter ror is ts . If a ll th e a bove is n ot en ou gh a n ybody, a ccord in g to a 1942 ru lin g, ca n be con s idered a n “ en em y-com ba ta n t ” a n d in ca rcera ted . Th e Am erica n cit izen J os eph Pa d illa , wh o em bra ced th e em bra ced in th e 1990s th e Is la m ic religion wh ile h e wa s s ervin g t im e in a n Am erica n p r is on . Accord in g to Am erica n n ews pa pers , h e h a s been h eld in s olita ry con fin em en t , in a federa l p r is on , for a n en t ire m on th , s h a ck led a t h is feet , wr is t , a n d wa s te. He h a s n ot been a llowed a n y lega l a s s is ta n ce. Pa d illa h a s been a ccu s ed of bein g a n Al Qa eda a ffilia te. Th e a r res t of th is Am erica n cit izen h a s crea ted con fu s ion a n d pa n ic a m on g th e popu la t ion . All th e ter ror a ler ts a re bein g exp loited a s a m ea n to s t ren gth en th e power of th e p res en t a dm in is t ra t ion , a n d to cover th eir a s s es in ca s e of rea l a t ta cks . Th e Un ited Sta tes h a ve n ot s ign ed th e In tern a t ion a l Tr ibu n a l Trea ty, a ls o kn own a s Rom e Trea ty, to a dm in is ter ju s t ice a ccord in g to th eir bes t in teres ts a n d n ot n eces s a r ily a ccord in g to th e ru le of la w. Th e dem on iza t ion of form er a llies , like Bin La den , Sa dda m Hu s s ein , a n d oth er “ rogu e n a t ion s ” a ccu s ed of fin a n cia lly s u ppor t in g th e ter ror is ts , h a s becom e th e leitm ot iv of th e p res en t a dm in is t ra t ion ’s foreign policy. George W. Bu s h is u s in g th e “wa r on ter ror ” to keep th e Am erica n cit izen s u n der p res s u re a n d a t th e s a m e t im e s t r ip th em of s om e ba s ic r igh ts . Ben ea th th e fla g of th e “wa r on ter ror ” is th e globa liza t ion of a police-s ta te. Accord in g to s om e recen t n ews pu b lis h ed by Tim es of Lon don , J u ly 2002 , th e Am erica n govern m en t is la u n ch in g a p roject to h ire on e-m illion com m on peop le to t ra in th em to becom e FBI in form a n t . Th e n a m e of th is fu tu re orga n iza t ion s is TIPS, wh ich s ta n ds for “Terror is m In form a t ion a n d Preven t ion Sys tem ”. Sloga n s a lwa ys get Am erica n cit izen s ’ a t ten t ion , beca u s e th ey a re ea s y to rem em ber! Th e s cope of th e a bove orga n iza t ion is to con ver t a n y worker , pos tm a n , ta xi d r iver , ga s m eter rea ders , ph on e tech n icia n s , etc. to a n FBI in form a n t , a fter a s h or t t ra in in g.

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I im a gin e th e witch -h u n t for th e “ s u s p iciou s ”. Pr iva cy, a n d freedom of expres s ion will becom e a rem in der of th e pa s t , a n d we a ll will s a y: Yes , Th os e Were th e Da ys , with a regret in ou r h ea r ts , for n ot bein g a ler t en ou gh ! A n ew s ecu r ity orga n iza t ion is in th e p la n n in g s ta ge. Th e s pecia l a gen ts of th is orga n iza t ion will be t ra in ed “ to th in k like th e ter ror is ts ” , in order to d is cover th e defects of th e U.S. s ecu r ity s ys tem . Th e ten ta t ive n a m e of th is orga n iza t ion is “Red tea m ”. Th e Depa r tm en t of In tern a l Secu r ity will be s et u p with a s ta ff of over two h u n dred -th ou s a n d a n d it will cos t th e ta x-pa yers a rou n d on e-h u n dred b illion dolla rs a yea r . All th e a bove in a dd it ion to th e m a n y exis t in g s o-ca lled s ecu r ity orga n iza t ion s s u ch a s : FBI, CIA, NSA, TIPS, s ecret s ervices , s ta te, federa l a n d loca l police forces , s py s a tellites like Ech elon , etc. Un for tu n a tely it is t ru e th a t ter ror is m is th e bes t a lly of th e wor ld ’s wors t govern m en ts . Everybody s pea ks a bou t th e m a rket globa liza t ion bu t very few t ry to p rom ote th e globa liza t ion of dem ocra cy a n d h u m a n r igh ts . We ca n rea ch a s a d con clu s ion : “ en du r in g freedom ” is rea l freedom on ly for th os e wh o decla red it . Freedom to d is h on es ty, to ter ror ize with th e s o-ca lled “ ter ror a ler ts ” , to rem ove th e con s t itu t ion a l r igh ts , to in t ru de in to ou r p r iva cy, to in ca rcera te with ou t a n y du e p roces s , to in va de a n in depen den t cou n try, to es ta b lis h Soviet Un ion s tyle gu la gs like Gu a n ta n a m o, lega lize th e m a s s a cre of in n ocen t peop le th rou gh th e ca rpet-bom bin g, etc. George W. Bu s h h a s a lwa ys decla red th a t J es u s is h is fa vor ite ph ilos oph er . From n ow, before elect in g a p res iden t or n om in a t in g a p r im e m in is ter , th e res t of th e wor ld s h ou ld a s k perm is s ion to HIM, th e Mes s ia h . Th e m os t recen t exa m ple is th e He, George W. Bu s h , h a s decided th a t Ara fa t is n ot good for th e Pa les t in ia n s , or , a s He t r ied in Ven ezu ela , get r id of a dem ocra t ica lly elected p res iden t , beca u s e n ot in lin e with His p la n s . In th e m ea n t im e, a s con s equ en ce of th e s ilen t Cou p d'éta t , s om e wor ld lea ders a re u s in g th e u n expected oppor tu n ity to cla m p down on th e ru les of th e la w. Pr im e m in is ter Sh a ron , in th e n a m e of th e “wa r on ter ror ” is u s in g a n ew a ph or is m : “ p re-em ptive elim in a t ion s ” of th e Pa les t in ia n ter ror is ts . Th is n ew wa y s a ves a lot m on ey: n o n eed for m ore p r is on s , t r ibu n a ls , etc. It s a dden s m e th a t s om e Eu ropea n lea ders a re followin g th e foots teps of th is n ew polit ica l ph ilos oph y, or bet ter s a id n ew cou rs e of “ los t dem ocra cy”. It is a bou t t im e th a t we Eu ropea n s s ta r t m a k in g ou r own polit ica l ch oices in s tea d of followin g th e n ew d is a s t rou s d irect ion th e p res en t Am erica n a dm in is t ra t ion is h ea d in g for . Th e a ltern a t ive will be th e m a ter ia liza t ion of th e On e Globa l Govern m en t a s th e fa m ou s “Clu b of th ir ty” wa s ta lk in g a bou t in th e ‘90s . Th ere is n o n eed of a n y revolu t ion a ry a ct , n o n eed to des t roy s h ops or ou t lets belon gin g to m u lt in a t ion a l corpora t ion s , n o violen t a cts a t a ll.

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As Ma rga ret Mea d s a id “Never dou b t th a t a s m a ll grou p of th ou gh tfu l, com m it ted cit izen s ca n ch a n ge th e wor ld . In deed , it is th e on ly th in g th a t ever h a s ” We s h ou ld a ll wa ke u p from th is t ra n qu il u n con s ciou s n es s , in wh ich we fell in , free ou rs elves from ou r a s s evera t ion to th e a bu s es , d ra w everybody’s a t ten t ion to th e con t in u ou s violen ce a ga in s t th e poor a n d defen celes s , in th e n a m e of p rofit a t a n y cos t . Th e wea kes t th in g in th e wor ld is a d rop of wa ter , bu t for s u re it ca n p ierce th e h a rdes t rock . Th e s t ren gth of ou r idea s ca n m a ke u s rega in ou r power . Th e bom bs k ill peop le, bu t n ot idea s . Freedom ca n tem pora r ily be ta ken a wa y, bu t it ca n n ot be k illed . Th e eviden ce th a t “ a cou pe d ’éta t ” h a s ta ken p la ce, is th e fa ct th a t th e U.S. Con gres s h a s a pproved a n ew legis la t ion s o-ca lled “Pa tr iot a ct ” to figh t ter ror is m . Som e a r t icles of th is n ew la w a re a tota l repu d ia t ion of th e ru le of la w a n d s u s pen d s om e of th e in tern a t ion a l t rea t ies p reviou s ly en dors ed . It is a n u m pteen dem on s tra t ion of th e a r roga n ce of th e p res en t a dm in is t ra t ion . Th e a bove la w gives a m ple power to th e p res iden t to s u s pen d a n y type of m ilita ry a id , t ra in in g or s u pp ly of wea pon ry to th e n a t ion s wh ich refu s e to s ign a b ila tera l a greem en t with Wa s h in gton , s ta t in g th a t n o Am erica n cit izen s will be p ros ecu ted u n der th e ru les of th e In tern a t ion a l Tr ibu n a l, a .k .a . Rom e Trea ty. In few words , if a n Am erica n cit izen com m its cr im es a ga in s t h u m a n ity, h e/ s h e ca n n ot be ju dged by th e In tern a t ion a l Tr ibu n a l! We h a ve gon e ba ck to th e la w of th e ju n gle, or th e s o-ca lled m u s cu la r polit ics . Th e a pp lica t ion of th es e b ila tera l a greem en ts will of cou rs e boos t th e b la ck m a rket of a n y type of wea pon s , or go ba ck to th e cold -wa r per iod with t r ia n gu la t ion s . Wh y do th e U.S. yet lectu re oth er cou n tr ies a bou t dem ocra cy, h u m a n r igh ts , etc. Th e rea l s u rp r is e for th e Un ited Sta tes will com e from Ru s s ia . In fa ct p res iden t Pu t in is n ow ta k in g a dva n ta ge of th e “wa r on ter ror ” a tm os ph ere to s t ren gth en h is power a n d rebu ild its defen ce s ys tem with th e fin a n cia l h elp of USA. Never th eles s Ru s s ia con t in u es to s u ppor t a n d h a ve t ra de rela t ion s with Ira n , in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t th is cou n try is on Wa s h in gton ’s “ rogu e n a t ion s ” lis t . Bu t I h a ve lea rn ed lon g t im e a go th a t th e word “ coh eren ce” does n ’t exis t in th e polit ica l d ict ion a ry. Pr im e m in is ter Ber lu s con i em ph a s izes h is fr ien ds h ip with p res iden t Pu t in , form er KGB d irector , wh ile com pla in in g for th e exis ten ce of com m u n is ts in Ita ly, wh ich h a ve a lm os t d is a ppea red du e to in tern a l s qu a bb lin g. Bu t n ot a s in gle jou rn a lis t h a s da red to a s k Ber lu s con i on e s im ple qu es t ion : h ow d id h e m a n a ge to becom e th e r ich es t m a n in Ita ly, a n d on e of r ich es t in Eu rope, with s o m a n y com m u n is ts in Ita ly? Bu t Ita lia n s believe in m ira cles !

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Th e Am erica n ca p ita lis m Th e Am erica n ca p ita lis m is ba s ed on a n en orm ou s a m ou n t of deb t , a n d is a con t in u ou s betra ya l to th e u n in form ed in ves tors a n d workers . J u s t a m in or ity h a s th e p r ivilege to h a ve a cces s to th e top pa id jobs . Th e ra t io between th e s a la ry of th e top m a n a ger a n d a regu la r worker is u n believa b le ou t of p ropor t ion , with ou t ta k in g in to a ccou n t a ll th e fr in ge ben efits for th e top m a n a ger . Th e a ppa ren t wea lth of th e Am erica n popu la t ion is bu ilt on cred it . With ou t th e h elp of va r iou s cred it orga n iza t ion s , from ba n ks to cred it ca rd com pa n ies , m os t con s u m ers wou ldn ’t be a b le to a fford to bu y a n yth in g. Over n in ety percen t of pu rch a s es by th e Am erica n fa m ilies a re m a de on cred it : h ou s es , ca rs , fu rn itu re, grocer ies , ga s olin e, etc. Th e a vera ge Am erica n pers on h a s a m in im u m of ten cred it ca rds , in h is / h er wa llet , bu t very lit t le ca s h . Th e “ bu y n ow a n d pa y la ter ” is th e p illa r of th e Am erica n econ om y. In th e la s t ten yea rs th e Am erica n fa m ilies h a ve a ccu m u la ted , a s a n a vera ge, a deb t clos e to n in ety percen t of th e a va ila b le in com e, wh ile th e s a vin gs a re a rou n d s ix percen t on ly. Th e Un ited Sta tes h a ve fin a n ced th eir econ om ic growth with th e s a vin gs of th e res t of th e wor ld , with en d res u lt of a n h u ge federa l deficit . In th e yea r 2001 a lon e foreign ca p ita ls expor ted to th e U.S. rea ch ed th e a m ou n t of five-h u n dred b illion dolla rs . Th e Am erica n pu b lic h a s n ot yet rea lized th a t th e p res en t a dm in is t ra t ion h a s wiped ou t th e federa l s u rp lu s left by th e Clin ton a dm in is t ra t ion of over two-h u n dred -fifty b illion dolla rs . Th e “wa r on ter ror ” is cos t in g th e ta x-pa yers b illion s of dolla rs a n d is m or tga gin g th e fu tu re of th e Am erica n s ociety, for m a n y yea rs to com e. Th e Wa ll Street s ca n da ls a re crea t in g m ore h a rm th a n Os a m a Bin La den . ENRONITE, th e b igges t fin a n cia l s ca m in Wa ll Street , h a s ru in ed th e lives of th ou s a n ds of workers a s well of s m a ll in ves tors . Som e of th e a u d it corpora t ion s h a ve h elped a cer ta in n u m ber of com pa n ies lis ted on th e s tock exch a n ge, to fa ls ify th eir ba la n ce-s h eets . Th e ba n ks a n d th eir m a rket a n a lys ts en cou ra ge in ves tors to bu y s tocks wh ich a re n ot wor th th e p r ice qu oted , s im ply to ca s h th e com m is s ion s pa id by th e com pa n y lis ted on th e s tock exch a n ge. ENRON: th e la rges t elect r ica l grou p , wh os e p res iden t h a s a lon g s ta n d in g fr ien ds h ip with George W. Bu s h , wh ich goes ba ck to wh en h e wa s th e govern or of Texa s . Th e a m ou n t of th e ba n kru p tcy is over s even ty b illion s dolla rs , th e va lu e of th e s tocks wen t from n in ety dolla rs to fifty cen ts ! Eleven th ou s a n ds workers h a ve los t th eir job , s a vin gs a n d pen s ion fu n d , wh ile th e p res iden t ca s h ed m illion s of dolla rs a s a bon u s . A cou r t in Ca liforn ia is in ves t iga t in g if th e va r iou s electr icity b la ck -ou t , wh ich ca u s ed s evera l fin a n cia l los s es to th e Sta te, wa s s et off by En ron a n d oth er pa r tn ers , in clu d in g th e com pa n y own ed by th e form er

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p res iden t ia l ca n d ida te, Ros s Perot , to crea te a n a r t ificia l elect r ica l s h or ta ge to r is e th e p r ices . Th e En ron ’s ba n kru p tcy h a s com e to pa s s th a n ks to th e com plicity of th e ba n ks , a n d th e a u d it com pa n y: Ar th u r An ders en . Th e S.E.C., Secu r ity a n d Exch a n ge Com m is s ion , s h ou ld h a ve been m ore a ler t . Th e S.E.C. p res iden t , Ha rvey Pit t , a ppoin ted by p res iden t George W. Bu s h , h a s been th e la wyer for Ar th u r An ders en a n d of oth er a u d it in g com pa n ies , a s well th e p res iden ts pers on a l la wyer! Con n ect ion s , a fter con n ect ion s ! ENRON ga ve its fin a n cia l con tr ibu t ion for George W. Bu s h ’s ca m pa ign for govern or of Texa s , a s well for th e p res iden t ia l elect ion s . Over s even ty U.S. s en a tors a n d a lm os t two-h u n dred con gres s m en , of both polit ica l pa r t ies , h a ve received fin a n cia l con tr ibu t ion s for th eir ca m pa ign s from En ron . Th e ju d icia l s ys tem en ters in to th e p ictu re of th e En ron ba n kru p tcy. An ybody wou ld im a gin e th a t th e m a in rea s on is to p rotect th e in teres ts of th e workers a s well of th e s m a ll in ves tors , for th e con flict of in teres ts of Ar th u r An ders en , or for th e fa ls e fin a n cia l in form a t ion th rou gh a ltered com pa n y’s ba la n ce s h eets . Bu t s in ce th e Am erica n peop le n eed a n in s ta n t villa in , th e cou r ts p ros ecu ted Ar th u r An ders en for “ obs tru ct ion of ju s t ice” beca u s e it s h redded a ll th e En ron ’s records ! A good s m oke-s creen to h ide em ba rra s s in g fa cts . Th e workers a n d th e s m a ll in ves tors en ded u p with th e s h or t en d of th e s t ick , u n a b le to recover th e m on ey los t ; wh ile s om e of top m a n a gers keep en joyin g th e p rofits th ey m a de before bein g ca u gh t . Th e Am erica n d rea m is a lwa ys th e p r ivilege of few. Bu t if s om ebody s tea ls a n a pp le a t th e s u perm a rket , es pecia lly if h e/ s h e is b la ck , th e ja il is a n a s s u red res u lt . I h a ve wr it ten a t len gth a bou t th e En ron ca s e to h igh ligh t th e s t ron g con n ect ion between th e polit ica l wor ld a n d th e fin a n cia l on e. Th e lis t of th e com pa n ies in volved in s ca n da ls rep res en t th e h igh es t ra n ks of th e Am erica n ca p ita lis m . Th es e a re s om e of th e n a m es : Xerox, Com pu ter As s ocia tes , Tyco, Globa l Cros s in g, Merr ill Lyn ch , Ar th u r An ders en , Rite Aid , WorldCom , etc. Ar th u r An ders en cer t ified th e fin a n cia l s ta tem en ts of WorldCom , wh os e vice-p res iden t m a de fou r-h u n dred m illion s dolla rs p rofit in bu yin g a n d s ellin g com pa n y’s s tocks , with fu n ds borrowed from th e s a m e com pa n y. Th is is a good eth ica l s ta n da rd of com pa n y’s t ra n s pa ren cy! In J u ly 2002 WorldCom filed for ch a p ter 11 , ba n kru p tcy p rotect ion , for a n a m ou n t excid in g on e-h u n dred b illion s dolla rs . Th e pu b lic s tock own ers los t on e-h u n dred -s even ty b illion s dolla rs . Freedom of en terp r is e h a s becom e s yn on ym of freedom of s tea lin g. As lon g a s th e word “ freedom ” gets in to th e p ictu re, th e res t does n ’t m a t ter ! Sca n da ls h owever ca n offer a n u n expected oppor tu n ity to m a ke a p rofit , even if it m ea n s to con tra d ict you r p reviou s beliefs , like in th e ca s e of Ru dolph Giu lia n i, form er New York m a yor .

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In th e ‘80s , wh en h e wa s ch ief p ros ecu tor in New York , h a d a r res ted m a n y s tock b rokers with th e ch a rge of “ in s ider t ra d in g”. On e of th es e s tock b rokers wa s Iva n Boes ky wh o wa s a b le to m a ke a s ixty m illion s dolla rs p rofit in on e da y! In J u n e 2002 Ru dolph Giu lia n i h a s been h ired by Merr ill Lyn ch to n egot ia te a fin e of on e-h u n dred m illion s dolla rs with th e p ros ecu tor wh o took h is p la ce. Th e com pa n y’s fin a n cia l a n a lys ts en cou ra ged th eir clien ts to bu y s tocks of com pa n ies th ey ju dged n ega t ively, ju s t to ca s h th eir com m is s ion s . In ca s e of n ew I.P.O. (In it ia l Pu b lic Offer in g), wh en a com pa n y goes pu b lic, s om e ba n ks u s ed to a s k th eir top cu s tom ers a n extra com m is s ion to be a llowed to bu y th e s tocks a t th e in it ia l p r ice. Afterwa rd th e s a m e ba n ks crea ted a lot of fict it iou s m ovem en ts of bu yin g a n d s ellin g to boos t th e va lu e of th e s tock a n d s ell it wh en it rea ch ed th e top p r ice. Th e s m a ll in ves tors a re th e on es wh o s u ffered th e los s es , beca u s e th ey bou gh t th e s tocks a t h igh p r ice, h op in g in a n a dd it ion a l in crea s e. It wou ld h a ve m a de m u ch m ore s en s e, in s tea d of fin in g th e ba n ks for th e illega l a ct ion s , a s k th e s a m e ba n ks to reim bu rs e th e s m a ll in ves tors for th eir los s es , vict im s of th e Wa ll Street m a fia . Bu t on e-h u n dred m illion dolla rs fin e gra bs th e even in g n ews h ea d lin es , a n d th erefore it offers a n oppor tu n ity to th e p ros ecu tor to becom e fa m ou s , for a fu tu re polit ica l ca reer . A 1995 la w, a pproved by Con gres s in s p ite of p res iden t Clin ton ’s veto, forb ids a n y lega l a ct ion from in ves tors , beca u s e th ey h a ve to p rove “ beyon d a n y rea s on a b le dou b t” th a t th ere wa s a rea l in ten t of fra u d! Th e h igh ly pa id ba n k la wyers h a ve a n ea s y ta s k a n d th e poor in ves tor is a lwa ys th e loos er! It wou ld be a rea l h u m a n r igh ts ’ victory if th e cla u s e “ beyon d a n y rea s on a b le dou b t” wou ld be releva n t in oth er lega l ca s es , s u ch a s s exu a l m oles ta t ion . Even th ou gh s u ch ru le is on e th e books , very s eldom is a pp lied , beca u s e th e pers on vict im of s u ch a n a llega t ion , does n ’t h a ve a n y lobby beh in d . In a dd it ion th e Ch r is t ia n fu n da m en ta lis ts a re a powerfu l force in th e Am erica n polit ica l a ren a . A fit t in g exa m ple is th e Mon ica Lewin s ky ca s e. Million s of ta x pa yers dolla rs h a ve been s pen t to d is pu te if ora l s ex corres pon ds to a n in tercou rs e or n ot . Let m e go ba ck to th e fin a n cia l s ca n da ls to h igh ligh t th e h ypocr is y of th e p res en t a dm in is t ra t ion . George W. Bu s h wen t to th e s tock exch a n ge in New York to cry fou l a ga in s t th e peop le res pon s ib le of th e p res en t s ca n da ls . He im m edia tely p ropos ed to in crea s e th e p r is on term s for th os e res pon s ib le for s u bm it t in g fa ls e (in fla ted ) fin a n cia l s ta tem en ts . Th e word “ p r is on ” is a s m oke-s creen for th e Am erica n pu b lic, beca u s e th e powerfu l lobb ies in Wa s h in gton kn ow h ow to in flu en ce legis la tors with ca m pa ign con tr ibu t ion s .

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On e wa y to a void “ in fla ted ” ba la n ce-s h eets is to a void th a t “ s tock op t ion s ” given to th e top m a n a gers be con s idered a s expen s es , or th a t th e a u d it com pa n ies s h ou ld n ot be a llowed to a ct a s con s u lta n ts too. Th is is th e wa y “ s tock op t ion s ” work : th e top m a n a gers h a ve th e p r ivilege to pu rch a s e com pa n y’s s tocks a t a d is cou n ted p r ice, a n d th en s ell it on th e open m a rket . Th erefore th es e m a n a gers h a ve a ll th e in teres t in to doin g everyth in g in th eir power to in crea s e th e va lu e of th e s tocks qu oted a t th e s tock -exch a n ge. Th a t is wh y th e com pa n y’s ba la n ce-s h eets a re in fla ted , s h owin g p rofits (th e s o-ca lled pa per p rofit ) wh ich don ’t exis t , th rou gh a r t ificia l a ccou n t in g gim m icks . Th e en d res u lt is th e s m a ll in ves tors a re th e on ly los ers . George W. Bu s h a n d Dick Ch en ey h a ve ta ken u s ed th e s a m e t r icks in th eir pa s t bu s in es s a ct ivit ies . Th e p res iden t s old in 1989 th e s h a res of a com pa n y in wh ich h e wa s th e CEO, for a bou t n in e-h u n dred -th ou s a n d dolla rs , ju s t th ree da ys before th e s h a res los t m os t of it s va lu e. In a dd it ion to th e a bove t ra n s a ct ion , h e viola ted a la w wh ich s ta tes th a t a n yon e in ch a rge of a com pa n y, s h ou ld in form im m edia tely S.E.C. (Secu r ity a n d Exch a n ge Com m is s ion ) a bou t th e s a le of h is s h a res . George W. Bu s h in form th e SC.E.C. lon g a fter th e s a le occu rred . S .E .C. open ed a n in ves t iga t ion , bu t n o a ct ion wa s ta ken beca u s e a t th a t t im e h is fa th er wa s th e p res iden t of th e Un ited Sta tes ! Wh en a jou rn a lis t m en t ion ed th e a bove s tory du r in g George W. Bu s h wen t to th e s tock - exch a n ge to a n n ou n ce tou gh er s a n ct ion s , h e s im ply rep lied th a t it wa s a n old s tory of th e pa s t ! In few words : “Do a s I tell you , n ot a s I do”. Dick Ch en ey wa s th e Secreta ry of th e Depa r tm en t of Defen s e a t th e t im e of th e Gu lf wa r of 1991 . After s ervin g h is term h e beca m e th e p res iden t of a n Am erica n oil com pa n y a n d wen t to Ku wa it a n d Sa u d i Ara b ia , to “ collect h is du es ” by s ign in g a dva n ta geou s con tra cts for h is n ew com pa n y. It h a s n ow com e to ligh t th a t th e com pa n y of wh ich Dick Ch en ey wa s p res iden t , u s ed to in fla te th e ba la n ce-s h eets , with th e a dvice of Ar th u r An ders en . On Au gu s t 2000 Dick Ch en ey s old th e s h a res of th e com pa n y with a p rofit of a lm os t n in eteen -m illion dolla rs ; a n d a fter two m on th s th e s a m e s h a res los t a lot of it s va lu e! Th e Wa ll Street J ou rn a l h a s pu b lis h ed a n old a dver t is em en t of 1996 in wh ich Dick Ch en ey p ra is es Ar th u r An ders en ! Wh a t k in d of cred ib ility ca n h a ve a n a dm in is t ra t ion filled with peop le wh o m a de exces s ive p rofit by viola t in g th e s a m e la ws th ey a re expect in g oth ers to follow? Th e followin g is a s ta tem en t m a de by Ha rvey Pit t , th e pers on in ch a rge of S .E.C.: “Th is will in evita b ly s ou n d s elf-s ervin g, bu t th e fa ct is th a t it is a n en orm ou s a dva n ta ge to th e pu b lic to h a ve s om ebody wh o kn ows a bou t th e s ecu r it ies bu s in es s a n d th e s ecu r it ies la w a s I do, a n d it wou ld be u n th in ka b le to dep r ive peop le of m y exper t is e.” Arroga n ce h a s n o lim it ! Th is s ta tem en t wa s repor ted by th e New York Tim es on J u ly 18 ,2002 .

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Th e on ly m em ber of th e p res en t U.S. a dm in is t ra t ion wh o h a s n ot been in th e n ews for fin a n cia l ir regu la r ity is th e Secreta ry of Sta te, Colin Powell. I a m s u re th a t h e been a s ked to becom e a m em ber of th e a dm in is t ra t ion beca u s e it is polit ica lly correct to h a ve a m a n or a wom a n wh o is a m em ber of th e m in or ity. I a m a lm os t s u re th a t in ca s e George W. Bu s h will be re-elected for a s econ d term , h e will n ot be pa r t of it . He is th e on ly “ a des k wa rr ior ” , like oth er m em bers of th e ca b in et , like Ru m s feld , a n d h e kn ows very well th e con s equ en ces of a wa r , beca u s e h e fou gh t in Vietn a m . Th e p res iden t h im s elf is a “ des k wa rr ior ” , beca u s e h e a voided to be s en t to Vietn a m beca u s e of h is fa th er ’s con n ect ion s . A rea l fu n da m en ta lis t a n d des k wa rr ior is Dick Ch en ey’s wife. Sh e s eem s to wa n t to follow th e foot-s teps of s en a tor McCa r th y. In fa ct a fter th e Sep tem ber 11 ,2001 a t ta cks s h e is com pilin g a “ b la ck lis t ” of th e s o-ca lled libera ls , th rou gh h er A.C.T.A. orga n iza t ion , (Am erica n Cou n cil of Tru s tees a n d Alu m n i), a rea l con s erva t ive grou p . All jou rn a lis ts , wr iters , a n a lys ts , polit icia n s , wh o cr it icize th e p res en t a dm in is t ra t ion ’s polit ica l a gen da cou ld be a ccu s ed of n ot bein g very pa tr iot ic! Mrs . Ch en ey u s ed to be very a ct ive a ls o du r in g Bu s h ’s fa th er p res iden cy. Th e p res en t fin a n cia l s ca n da ls a re n ot n ew in th e Am erica n fin a n cia l h is tory, beca u s e from t im e to t im e pop u p . On e s ca n da l wh ich ru in ed a lot peop le took p la ce in Ca liforn ia in 1980s . Th e Sa vin gs & Loa n s ba n kru p tcy b lew a wa y th e lifet im e s a vin gs of m a n y ret ired peop le. It is n eed les to s a y th a t th e vict im s a re a lwa ys poor cit izen s . Th e 90s will be rem em bered a s th e yea rs of “ n ew econ om y”, wh ile th e yea r 2000 will be rem em bered a s th e yea r of “ n ew a ccou n t in g”, m ea n in g “ h ow to in fla te com pa n y records for pers on a l ga in . Arou n d five percen t of th e Am erica n popu la t ion own s n in ety percen t of th e tota l wea lth . To in ves t in th e s tock m a rket h a s becom e, m ore or les s , like p la yin g lot to. In th e pa s t , before bu yin g th e s tock of a com pa n y, we u s ed to con s u lt th e ba la n ce-s h eets , th e s a les foreca s t , th e h is tory of th e com pa n y, etc. a n d ba s ed on th is in form a t ion we felt s a fe in in ves t in g in th a t com pa n y. Nowa da ys a ll th e a bove is a lm os t u s eles s beca u s e a lot of oth er extern a l fa ctors en ter in to th e p ictu re. Th es e a re few exa m ples : th e Federa l Res erve beige book , CPI (con s u m ers p r ice in dex), PMI (pu rch a s in g m a n a gers in dex), th e a n a lys ts ’ foreca s t , th e p rofit wa rn in g, th e qu a r ter ly fin a n cia l s ta tem en ts , etc. In a dd it ion of th e a bove s ta t is t ics a n y polit ica l even t cou ld s wa y th e m a rket in a n y d irect ion . Th e Am erica n s tock exch a n ge u n for tu n a tely in flu en ces th e res t of th e wor ld . Let m e m en t ion a n oth er a s pect of th e Am erica n ca p ita lis m ’s cyn ic a pproa ch . Th e s ou rce of th is in form a t ion is n ot a ta b loid , bu t th e Wa ll Street J ou rn a l, a s pu b lis h ed in a n a r t icle du r in g th e m on th of Apr il 2002 . I will m en t ion ju s t th e ba s ic fa cts .

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Th e Am erica n com pa n ies bu y life-in s u ra n ce for th eir workers , with ou t in form in g th em , a n d th e com pa n y is th e on ly ben eficia ry in ca s e of th eir dea th . Th e a r t icle m en t ion s th e ca s e of a twen ty-n in e yea rs old worker , wh o d ied of AIDS. Th e fa m ily d idn ’t receive a cen t beca u s e h e wa s in s u red , wh ile th e com pa n y ca s h ed over th ree-h u n dred th ou s a n d dolla rs ! In it ia lly th es e in s u ra n ce policies were u s ed to p rotect th e com pa n y in ca s e of a s u dden dea th of a top m a n a ger . Bu t in 80s beca m e com m on p ra ct ice beca u s e th e com pa n ies cou ld ob ta in loa n s u s in g th e policies a s colla tera l, a n d th e in teres ts a re ta x exem pt . Th es e in s u ra n ce policies ca r ry on even wh en th e worker lea ves th e com pa n y. It is bet ter for th e com pa n y of cou rs e if th e worker d ies s o th a t th ey ca n ca s h th e p rem iu m ! Th e a r t icle m en t ion s th a t Nes t lè in s u res eigh teen -th ou s a n d workers , wh ile Procter & Ga m ble in s u res fifteen -th ou s a n d! Th e n a m e of th e policy is COLI, Corpora te Own ed Life In s u ra n ce. “ In God we t ru s t a n d th e peop le we fu ck ”, s eem s to be th e a ppropr ia te m ot to for th is p ra ct ice. George W. Bu s h ’s rea s on to in terven e a t th e New York s tock exch a n ge, a fter th e s ca n da ls ca m e to ligh t , is m a in ly du e to “ da m a ge con trol” in view of th e u pcom in g elect ion s to ren ew Con gres s a n d on e th ird of th e Sen a te. Wh a t a bou t th e cr im in a l n egligen ce of s om e oth er m a jor in du s tr ies ? It is of com m on kn owledge by n ow th e la ws u its a ga in s t th e m os t im por ta n t U.S. ca r m a n u fa ctu rers , wh ich to s a ve few dolla rs , h a ve ca u s ed th e dea th of qu ite few Am erica n cit izen s . In th e en d is a lwa ys th e con s u m er wh o pa ys th e p r ice of th e va r iou s corpora t ion s ’ m is ta kes , or bet ter s a id , n egligen ce. In fa ct , th es e corpora t ion s , to a void th e con s equ en ces of la ws u its , bu y in s u ra n ce policies to cover th eir a s s es , a n d th e cos t of th es e in s u ra n ce policies is pa s s ed on to th e con s u m er . To com plete th e con d it ion in wh ich th e Am erica n popu la t ion lives , in s p ite of th e wea lth y a ppea ra n ces dep icted by th e em bedded m ed ia , th e Cen ter for Dis ea s e Con trol (C.D.C.) in At la n ta repor ts th a t ea ch yea r over on e-h u n dred -th ou s a n d peop le d ie du e to h os p ita ls ’ in fect ion s . Th e C.D.C cla im s th a t s even ty percen t of th es e dea th s cou ld be a voided with a bet ter con trol of th e s a n ita ry con d it ion s a t th e h os p ita ls . Th e in ves tm en t requ ired is m in im u m . Let u s n ot forget th a t over for ty-five m illion s Am erica n don ’t h a ve h ea lth in s u ra n ce covera ge. Th e m ega m ergers ta k in g p la ce a rou n d th e wor ld , bu t m os t ly in th e Un ited Sta tes a re des t royin g th e com pet it ion a n d th e con s u m ers a re left with lit t le ch oices . Th e p rofit of few a t th e expen s es of m a n y.

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U.S.A. a n d th e In tern a t ion a l Trea t ies

Th e Un ited h a ve a lwa ys h a d a ra th er a m bigu ou s a pproa ch con cern in g th e In tern a t ion a l t rea t ies a s well th e In tern a t ion a l orga n iza t ion s like th e Un ited Na t ion s , th e WTO (World Tra de Orga n iza t ion ). Th ey lectu re th e res t of th e wor ld on h ow to en force th e Trea t ies s ign ed a n d ra t ified , bu t wh en th eir n a t ion a l (m os t ly bu s in es s rela ted ) in teres t is in volved th e Un ited Sta tes a lwa ys exon era te th em s elves from com plyin g with th e cla u s es of th es e Trea t ies . Th is beh a vior h a s m a xed ou t du r in g th e Rea ga n p res iden cy a n d n ow th e George W. Bu s h is followin g th e s a m e ph ilos oph y. Th e Un ited Sta tes h a ve n ot s ign ed th e s o-ca lled “Rom e Trea ty”, s ign ed by over on e-h u n dred -twen ty Cou n tr ies , wh ich es ta b lis h ed th e In tern a t ion a l Cr im in a l Cou r t to p ros ecu te peop le res pon s ib le of cr im es a ga in s t h u m a n ity. Th e m a jor U.S. con cern is th a t s om e of it s cit izen s , like Kis s in ger , cou ld be in d icted a n d p ros ecu ted by th e In tern a t ion a l Cr im in a l Cou r t . Accord in g to p res iden t Bu s h th e Am erica n cit izen s wou ld be bet ter p rotected by th eir Con s t itu t ion , b la ck peop le a n d oth er m in or it ies exclu ded of cou rs e! Th e U.S. govern m en t is th rea ten in g to with d ra w th eir a rm ed forces from Bos n ia , forget t in g th a t th e In tern a t ion a l Cr im in a l Cou r t wa s s et u p to p ros ecu te wa r cr im es or wh o orga n izes gen ocides , a n d n ot to a r res t th e pea ce keep in g a rm ed forces of th e Un ited Na t ion s . Th e Na t ion s pa r t icipa t in g to pea ce-keep in g m is s ion s , h a ve th e res pon s ib ility to p ros ecu te th eir own cit izen s wh o com m it a n y cr im e du r in g th eir m is s ion s . Th e ca s e in poin t is wh en th e U.S. govern m en t p ros ecu ted a n Am erica n s old ier wh o ra ped a ten -yea r old Bos n ia n gir l! Th e I.C.C. gets in volved on ly wh en th e n a t ion a l cou r ts don ’t or a re n ot willin g to p ros ecu te th e pers on wh o com m it ted a cr im in a l a ct ion . Th e Un ited Sta tes a lwa ys a s s er t th eir r igh t to ju dge th e res t of th e wor ld , bu t a re a fra id to be ju dged , beca u s e th ey a re fu lly a wa re of th e fa ct th a t s om e of th eir a ct ion s do n ot m eet th e in tern a t ion a lly recogn ized eth ica l a n d lega l s ta n da rds . Th ey firm ly believe in th eir s u p rem a cy! Th ey h a ve wa ited a bou t th ir ty lon g yea rs before ra t ifyin g th e Un ited Na t ion s Act of 1966 on h u m a n a n d polit ica l r igh ts ! Bu t s in ce 1980 th e U.S. Cou r ts h a ve cla im ed th e r igh t to p ros ecu te foreign h ea d of govern m en ts , m in is ters , or h igh ra n k in g officia ls res pon s ib le of h u m a n r igh ts viola t ion s in th eir cou n tr ies ! Th e t ra gedy in Cerm is , Ita ly, is a per fect exa m ple of th e a t ten t ion th e U.S. pa y to th e In tern a t ion a l ru le of la w: tota l im pu n ity for Am erica n cit izen s overs ea s , even wh en th ey a re res pon s ib le of cr im in a l a cts , bu t th eir tota l freedom to in ca rcera te or in d ict n on -U.S. cit izen s . Let m e give you th e deta ils of wh a t h a ppen ed in th e s k i-res or t of Ca va les e, in Ita ly. On e Febru a ry 3 ,1998 , a t a rou n d 1 :30m p .m . a n a irp la n e EA6B of th e U.S. m a r in es , took off from Avia n o a irba s e, for a low a lt itu de t ra in in g fligh t . At a rou n d 2 :15 p .m . th e a irp la n e h it th e ca b les of th e ca b le ca r u s ed to con n ect th e town of Ca va les e u p to m ou n ta in Cerm is a n d vice vers a .

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Th e collis ion took p la ce wh en th e ca b le ca r wa s a t a n a lt itu de between 300 to 400 feet from th e grou n d a n d wa s des cen d in g. Th e collis ion poin t h a ppen ed a t a bou t 50 m eters from th e ca b in a n d th e im pa ct cu t off th e ca b les a s well des t royed th e s u ppor t in g p illa r . Th e ca b in fell to th e grou n d a n d a ll twen ty pa s s en gers d ied . Th es e a re th e n a t ion a lit ies of th e pa s s en gers wh o d ied : Ita lia n , Au s tr ia n , Germ a n , Polis h , Belgia n , a n d Holla n d . On Ma rch 4 ,1999 th e Am erica n Cou r t Ma r t ia l a cqu it ted th e p ilot of th e a irp la n e! Un officia l s ou rces revea led th a t th e p ilot h a d m a de a bet with a n oth er m a r in e, wh o wa s a b le to fly th e lowes t : a ca s e of beer wou ld go to th e win n er . To va lida te th e bet th ey ta ped th e fligh t . It is u s eles s to s a y th a t th e video d is a ppea red a fter th e in ciden t . In few words twen ty in n ocen t tou r is ts los t th eir lives for a ca s e of beer! Th is is h ow m u ch is wor th th e life of n on -U.S. cit izen s for th e Am erica n ju s t ice(?) s ys tem . If th e vict im s were U.S. cit izen s a n d th e p ilot a foreign er , th e U.S. govern m en t wou ld h a ve s en t th e s ixth fleet to Ita ly a n d ca p tu re th e p ilot a n d s en ten ce h im to dea th in th e U.S. If I a m n ot wron g th ere is p res en t ly a la w before th e U.S. Con gres s to a u th or ize th e U.S. govern m en t to u s e a n y type of “ force” to free U.S. cit izen s a r res ted by th e In tern a t ion a l Cr im in a l Cou r t , ba s ed in Th e Ha gu e, Holla n d . Th e Kyoto Trea ty a bou t “ globa l wa rm in g” h a s been s ign ed by p res iden t Clin ton , bu t George W. Bu s h , th e cu rren t p res iden t , h a s decided to overr ide it . To give you a n idea of wh a t George W. Bu s h th in ks a bou t th e en viron m en t I will m en t ion th e s olu t ion s u gges ted to p reven t fu tu re b la zes in Oregon , du r in g h is vis it th ere in th e m on th of Au gu s t 2002 : “To a void fu tu re b la zes we s h ou ld cu t a ll th e t rees ”. Th e a bove s ta tem en t wa s widely repor ted by th e U.S. m ed ia . We s h ou ld n ot forget th a t th e Sta te of Texa s is on e of th e m os t pollu ted Sta tes , a ccord in g to U.S. en viron m en ta l s ou rces . Th e pa r t icipa t ion of th e U.S. to th e Kyoto Trea ty is es s en t ia l beca u s e, in s p ite of th e fa ct th a t th ey rep res en t on ly five percen t of th e wor ld popu la t ion , th e USA a re res pon s ib le for twen ty-five percen t of ca rbon -m on oxide em is s ion . An oth er exa m ple of p res iden t George W. Bu s h ’s in terp reta t ion of s ign ed In tern a t ion a l Trea t ies took p la ce du r in g a n in tern a t ion a l m eet in g h eld in Rom e, Ita ly, in Ma y 2002 . Th e m eet in g wa s orga n ized a fter th e s ign a tu re of th e Trea ty for th e redu ct ion of n u clea r wa rh ea ds a n d of Ru s s ia becom in g a pa r tn er of NATO. Wh ile th e Ru s s ia n s h a ve decided for th e des t ru ct ion of th es e wa rh ea ds , th e U.S. in s tea d op ted to s tore th em with ou t des t royin g. Wh a t is th e m ea n in g of a t rea ty wh en on e th e pa r tn ers in volved decides to viola te on e of th e cla u s es ?

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All th e viola t ion s of th e In tern a t ion a l Trea t ies by th e Un ited Sta tes s eem to or igin from th eir “ th eory of th e vita l in teres ts ” , wh ich m ea n s : th e USA will a ct m u lt ila tera lly wh en it is pos s ib le, bu t u n ila tera lly wh en is n eeded . After ten yea rs of eva lu a t ion s th e Un ited Na t ion s h a ve fin a lly a pproved th e Trea ty to ba n tor tu res . On e of th e cla u s es of th is a greem en t fores ees s u rp r is e con trols a n d in s pect ion s in deten t ion p la ces of th e pa r t icipa t in g Cou n tr ies . Th e p rotocol of th e a bove Trea ty h a s been a pproved by th e wor ld Na t ion s with th e excep t ion of USA, Ch in a , Ira n , Libya , Su da n a n d Cu ba ! Som e of th e a bove Cou n tr ies a re la beled a s “ rogu e n a t ion s ” by Wa s h in gton . Th e n on pa r t icipa t ion of th e U.S. to th e a bove t rea ty con firm s th e s u s pects th a t tor tu re is bein g u s ed a t Gu a n ta n a m o Ba y a s well in th eir p r is on s wh ere a lot of peop le a re deta in ed a fter Sep tem ber 11 , 2001 . Th e Trea ty to ba n th e p rodu ct ion of ba cter iologica l m a ter ia ls , s ign ed in 1972 a n d ra t ified by over on e-h u n dred -for ty cou n tr ies , h a s n ot been s ign ed by USA. Th e exp la n a t ion for s u ch refu s a l is th a t th ey a re perp lexed a bou t th e p rocedu res on h ow to im p lem en t it . Th erefore, in s tea d of s u gges t in g oth er p rocedu res , th ey p refer n ot to t ie th eir h a n ds by s ign in g th e Trea ty, a n d be free to exper im en t n ew ba cter iologica l “wea pon s ”. Th e Un ited Sta tes h a ve yet to s ign th e In tern a t ion a l Trea ty a ga in s t th e d is cr im in a t ion of wom en . Th is Trea ty h a s of cou rs e been s ign ed a n d en a cted by over on e-h u n dred -s ixty-n in e n a t ion s , wh ile it h a s been wa it in g for U.S. Con gres s ’s a pprova l s in ce 1980 , wh en form er p res iden t Ca r ter s u bm it ted it for it s ra t ifica t ion . Th e a bove Trea ty h a s been ba n n ed by Ta liba n !

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Polit ics a n d Fin a n ce: a con t in u ou s in ces t

Th e en t ire polit ica l s ys tem is a t th e m ercy of fin a n cia l con tr ibu t ion s . It is a lega lized s ys tem of corru p t ion th rou gh th e s o-ca lled polit ica l ca m pa ign con tr ibu t ion s . Th e peren n ia l polit ica l elect ion s , a t a ll levels : loca l, s ta te, a n d federa l, s erve a s veh icle to fu n d th e polit ica l pa r ty wh ich ca n bet ter s erve th e in teres ts of th e va r iou s bu s in es s es : defen s e, ph a rm a ceu t ica l, in s u ra n ce, h ea lth , oil com pa n ies , A..B.A. (Am erica n Ba r As s ocia t ion s ), etc. Every two yea rs th e Am erica n peop le vote to elect fou r-h u n dred -th ir ty-five Con gres s m a n ; p lu s on e th ird of th e on e-h u n dred s en a tors . Every fou r yea rs th e Sta te Govern ors a re elected a n d th e p res iden t of th e Un ited Sta tes . In a dd it ion th es e m a in offices , th ere a re th e elect ion s for th e ren ewa l of th e va r iou s lega l offices : ju dges (cou n ty, s ta te, federa l, etc), city cou n cils , m a yors , a n d a n yth in g pu b lic office you ca n th in k of! Th e Su prem e Cou r t J u dges a re a ppoin ted by th e Pres iden t bu t h a ve to be a pproved by th e Sen a te, a n d th ey s erve for life. Th erefore if a Repu b lica n p res iden t is in power th e Su prem e Cou r t is filled with “ con s erva t ive” ju dges , oth erwis e libera l ju dges a re a ppoin ted by a Dem ocra t ic p res iden t . Th e m a jor ben eficia r ies of th e polit ica l ca m pa ign s a re th e m os t im por ta n t televis ion s s ta t ion s . It is a fes t iva l of s m ea r com m ercia ls to des t roy th e oppon en t . Th e a wkwa rd res u lt is th a t , in s p ite of th e in crea s in g a m ou n t s pen t du r in g th e polit ica l ca m pa ign s , th e n u m ber of voters s eem to decrea s e a ccord in gly. Du r in g th e 2002 elect ion s on ly th ir ty-s even percen t of th e regis tered voters wen t to th e polls . Th erefore, in order to be elected , you on ly n eed les s th a n twen ty-five percen t of th e votes . On e of th e m a jor ca u s es for th e d is a ffect ion of th e voters is th e len gth of th e polit ica l ca m pa ign s . Th e 2000 ca m pa ign for th e p res iden t ia l elect ion s a n d for th e ren ewa l of Con gres s la s ted over ten m on th s . Th e followin g is a lis t of th e a m ou n ts d is bu rs ed , by th e va r iou s bu s in es s s ectors , for th e elect ion of George W. Bu s h . Next to ea ch a m ou n t a re th e u n s poken wis h es of th e con tr ibu tors . Ba n ks : twen ty-five m illion dolla rs , to m a ke it ea s ier to collect fu n ds from clien ts decla r in g ba n kru p tcy. Oil a n d ga s com pa n ies : twen ty-s ix m illion dolla rs , n ot to en a ct th e Kyoto t rea ty a n d to be a b le to d r ill oil fields in Ala s ka . Ph a rm a ceu t ica l in du s tr ies : eigh teen m illion dolla rs , to a bolis h th e p r ice con trols on m ed icin es . Toba cco in du s tr ies : s even m illion dolla rs , to repea l a ll federa l la ws u its a ga in s t th em . Air com pa n ies : fou r m illion dolla rs , to revis e th e a n t it ru s t la ws a n d to en a ct s t r icter la ws a ga in s t s t r ikes . Tim ber in du s try: th ree m illion dolla rs , to a bolis h res t r ict ion s on cu t t in g of t rees .

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I h a ve on ly m en t ion ed th e m a jor con tr ibu tors . Th ere a re of cou rs e s evera l oth er m illion dolla rs fu n n eled th rou gh orga n ized grou ps . For every corpora t ion con victed of b r ibery or of givin g m on ey d irect ly to a pu b lic officia l in viola t ion of federa l la w, th ere a re th ou s a n ds wh o give m on ey lega lly th rou gh polit ica l a ct ion com m it tees , a .k .a . PAC, to ca n d ida tes a n d polit ica l pa r t ies . Th ey p rofit from a s ys tem th a t effect ively h a s lega lized b r ibery. An oth er wa y to ra is e fu n ds for th e pa r ty a n d th e ca n d ida tes a re orga n ized d in n ers . Th e p r ice ta g to pa r t icipa te to th es e d in n ers ca n ra n ge from a m in im u m of ten -th ou s a n d dolla rs per pers on u p to s evera l th ou s a n ds depen d in g on th e im por ta n ce of “ th e gu es t of h on or”. At a d in n er orga n ized in Wa s h in gton in J u n e 2002 , wh os e gu es t of h on or wa s p res iden t George W. Bu s h , th ir ty-m illion dolla rs h a ve been ra is ed ! Th e m a jor con tr ibu tors were th e ph a rm a ceu t ica l com pa n ies , beca u s e th e d in n er took p la ce two da ys a fter th e in t rodu ct ion in Con gres s , by th e Repu b lica n pa r ty, of a p ropos a l to m a ke th e Am erica n cit izen s pa y for cer ta in type of m ed icin es . Ea ch ph a rm a ceu t ica l com pa n y pa id two-h u n dred -fifty-th ou s a n d dolla rs . Th e elected officia ls becom e th erefore th e s pecia l en voys of th e va r iou s con tr ibu tors to p rom ote la ws fa vora b le to th e “ p redom in a n t econ om ic grou ps ” a n d n ot for th e peop le a s it s h ou ld be in a rea l dem ocra cy. Th is is th e rea s on wh y th ere is s u ch a low pa r t icipa t ion du r in g th e elect ion s : th ey kn ow th a t very lit t le, if n oth in g, ch a n ges for th em . Th e cu rren t Wh ite Hou s e (a fter th e 2000 elect ion s ) h a s becom e th e eigh th m a jor “ oil com pa n y” of th e wor ld . Bu s h , Ch en ey, a n d Con doleeza Rice a re th e key own ers . (An oil ta n ker h a s been n a m ed a fter Con doleeza Rice). It is th e “ dem ocra cy of th e few ch os en on es ” wh ich p res ides over th e res t of th e n a t ion . Th e bes t exa m ple is th e policy of ta x redu ct ion s : lower ta xes for th e r ich , a lit t le les s for th e m idd le cla s s a n d n o p rovis ion s for th e poores t . It is th e s o-ca lled “ t r ick le down econ om ics ”: give m ore to th e r ich es t , h op in g th a t s om e “ cru m bs ” will fa ll in to th e la p of th e poores t . Th e Am erica n dem ocra cy h a s con s equ en t ly becom e th e bes t polit ica l s ys tem th a t m on ey ca n bu y. Th is flood of m on ey widen s th e ga p between th e r ich es t a n d th e poores t , beca u s e th eir ba s ic n eeds a re n ot p roper ly ta ken ca re of. A good exa m ple is th e h igh n u m ber of Am erica n cit izen with ou t m ed ica l in s u ra n ce: over for ty-five m illion s . Th e n u m ber of h om eles s s eem s to in crea s e every yea r in th e r ich es t a n d m os t powerfu l n a t ion on ea r th . Wh y is it? Th e a n s wer is s im ple: th ey don ’t h a ve a n y lobbyin g power! ENRON, th rou gh th e vice-p res iden t Dick Ch en ey, s u gges ted th e en ergy p la n a dop ted by p res iden t George W. Bu s h . Th e p res iden t of En ron , a fter George W. Bu s h wa s elected p res iden t , ga ve h im th e n a m es of s om e of h is fr ien ds to be a ppoin ted in th e n ew a dm in is t ra t ion . On e of th is is th e Secreta ry of J u s t ice. Th e “ deregu la t ion ” h a s gen era ted de fa cto a Da rwin ia n la w: wh ere th e s t ron ges t will p reva il over th e power les s .

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Th e on goin g m ergers a m on g th e top in du s tr ia l a n d fin a n cia l grou ps com e with a p r ice for th e con s u m ers , by elim in a t in g th e com pet it ion , a n d for th e work force, with th e redu ct ion of th eir n u m ber . Th e en d res u lt is th e p rofit of few a t th e expen s e of m a n y. Th e Am erica n polit ica l s ys tem h a s becom e a “ p lu tocra cy”: “ th e polit ica l a n d econ om ica l p redom in a n ce of in d ividu a ls or grou ps wh o h a ve en orm ou s wea lth ”. Th e p lu tocra ts u s e th eir fin a n cia l power to con trol th e polit ica l a gen da , for th eir p r iva te in teres ts . Th e p rofit of few a ga in s t th e in teres t of m a n y: th e m a jor ity of th e peop le a lwa ys en d u p with th e s h or t en d of th e s t ick . Som e of th e fin a n cia l in cen t ives , s u ch a s ta x redu ct ion s for h igh er in com e recip ien ts , a re ca m ou fla ged a s s t im u lu s for “ n a t ion a l” econ om ica l growth , wh ile if fa ct s erve to in crea s e th e p rofit of few lu cky on es . Th e top ten -percen t of th e Am erica n popu la t ion own n in ety-percen t of th e “ n a t ion a l” wea lth ! Th a t is wa y th ey ca lled it “ n a t ion a l” growth ! Bu t in ca s e of corpora te ba n kru p tcies th e p rofits a re p r iva te bu t th e los s es a re pu b lic. Th ou s a n ds of peop le los t th eir life’s s a vin gs , pen s ion etc. wh en En ron wen t ba n kru p t . Plu tocra cy is th e da rk s ide of dem ocra cy. Dem ocra cy m ea n s to s h a re th e power a n d th e wea lth a n d a llow equ a l oppor tu n ity to everybody. Wh a t a re th e ch a n ces for a n ord in a ry cit izen to becom e a m em ber of Con gres s , with ou t th e en orm ou s fin a n cia l ba ck in g? Th e m ora l s ta n da rds in pu b lic offices h a ve decrea s ed in d irect p ropor t ion to th e in crea s e of m on ey n eeded to be elected or re-elected . Un for tu n a tely th e n ega t ive effects of p lu tocra cy h a ve s p rea d beyon d th e borders of th e Un ited Sta tes . Th e m u lt in a t ion a l corpora t ion s a re, to a ll in ten ts a n d pu rpos es , a p la n eta ry econ om ic a n d fin a n cia l p lu tocra cy. J u s t con s ider wh a t is h a ppen in g in th e a gr icu ltu ra l field , wh ere a dozen or s o of corpora t ion s con trol th e p r ices of fu n da m en ta l res ou rces . Alm os t n in ety-percen t of th e wor ld t ra de of gra in , coffee, cocoa , toba cco etc. is in th e h a n ds of few m u lt in a t ion a l corpora t ion s . Th e s o-ca lled developed cou n tr ies h a n d over s u bs id ies to th eir fa rm ers of a rou n d th ree-h u n dred b illion dolla rs a yea r . Th e im por t ta xes on th e a gr icu ltu ra l p rodu cts com in g from th e poor cou n tr ies s om et im es exceed on e-h u n dred -percen t , wh ile, on th e oth er h a n d , th e developed cou n tr ies expect th e poor n a t ion s to a bolis h a n y im por t ta x. By in t rodu cin g th e OGM (Gen et ica lly Modified Orga n is m ) s eeds , th e m u lt in a t ion a ls a re t ryin g to tota lly con trol th e a gr icu ltu ra l p rodu ct ion . In fa ct th e s eeds of a ll OGM crops ca n n ot be u s ed for th e n ext s ea s on , beca u s e th eir gen et ica lly m od ified s t ru ctu re ren ders it u n produ ct ive. Th e p roces s is a s or t a gr icu ltu ra l va s ectom y! It is a n ew wa y of s ter iliza t ion , th e b ir th con trol p roces s of n a tu re, to th e a dva n ta ge of few. Th erefore th e fa rm ers a re forced to bu y th e s eeds from th em .

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Th e a gr icu ltu ra l in du s try becom es con s equ en t ly a b ra n ch of th e ch em ica l in du s try. Do you rem em ber th e “m a d cow d is ea s e”? Wh a t a bou t th e “ clon in g” of a n im a l s pecies ? J u s t recen t ly s om e exper ts h a ve s ta ted th a t it is s a fe to ea t th e m ea t of “ clon ed ” a n im a ls !

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Th e im porta n ce of pu b lic im a ge in th e Am erica n s ociety In th e Un ited Sta tes everyth in g m u s t “ a ppea r ” form a lly correct , even th e dea th pen a lty execu t ion s . I rem em ber th e ca s e of a m a n s en ten ced to dea th wh o t r ied to com m it s u icide. I rep rodu ce h ere below th e a r t icle repor ted by CNN Ita lia on lin e vers ion , on Decem ber 9 ,1999 : “Hu n ts ville, Texa s . Tu es da y h a s t r ied to com m it s u icide, by s wa llowin g a s t ron g dos e of a n t i-dep res s ive d ru g. Bu t Da vid Lon g, for ty-s ix yea rs old , h a s been s a ved by th e p r is on gu a rds of Hu n ts ville, Texa s a n d ru s h ed to a m ed ica l cen ter . Im m edia tely a fter recover in g from th e s h ock of th e a t tem pted s u icide, th e in m a te, s en ten ced to dea th for th e m u rder of th ree wom en in Da lla s , in 1986 , wa s ta ken to th e “ dea th ch a m ber” a n d pu t to dea th . A s ta te la w of Texa s s ta tes th a t th e a n y pers on s en ten ced to dea th m u s t “ be a wa re” of th e pu n is h m en t bes towed on h im . Th e p rocedu re of th e leth a l in ject ion s ca n be ca r r ied ou t “ on ly wh en th e in d ividu a l is fu lly a wa re of wh a t is goin g to h a ppen to h im / h er ”… … . Before la yin g on th e dea th -bed Lon g s ta ted th a t h e wa s deep ly s orry for th e cr im es com m it ted a n d s a id th a t th e ca u s e wa s is lon g res ide in a Ca liforn ia n s ta te s h elter ” (QG�RI�TXRWH It wou ld h a ve n ot been “ form a lly” correct to let h im pa s s a wa y in pea ce. Do you rem em ber p res iden t Clin ton com in g ou t of Ch u rch with th e Bib le on h is h a n d , m a ybe s oon a fter a “ clos e en cou n ter ” with Mon ica ? His pu b lic im a ge wa s s a fe! Did you kn ow th a t s om e in ves tm en t con s u lta n ts , to a ppea r m ore t ru s twor th y, h a n g on th eir office d ra win gs m a de by ch ild ren , a lth ou gh th ey don ’t h a ve ch ild ren ? Th ere a re peop le wh o s pecia lize in m a k in g a n d s ellin g s u ch d ra win gs . Th e u n em ploym en t ra te is officia lly low, com pa red to oth er in du s tr ia lized cou n tr ies , s im p ly beca u s e th e m a jor ity of workers ea rn th e m in im u m wa ge, of a bou t fou r dolla rs a n h ou r . Th e fork between th e r ich a n d th e poor widen s every yea r . Th e a ppa ren t Am erica n p ros per ity is bu ilt on cred it . With ou t th e “ bu y n ow pa y la ter ” in fern o very few peop le cou ld a fford to bu y a n yth in g. �“ In deb t we t ru s t ” s eem s to be th e credo of th e m a jor ity of Am erica n s . Borrowed m on ey fu els th e lifes tyles of a ll a ges . Am erica n s get en s n a red in a web of deb t s pu n by a "cred it in du s tr ia l com plex" th a t a lm os t s eem s to fu n ct ion like a con s p ira cy to d r ive peop le in to fin a n cia l s ervitu de. Deb t is p rofita b le beca u s e len ders ea rn m on ey, ch iefly th rou gh s h or t -term loa n s th rou gh cred it ca rds . Th e Un ited Sta tes a re a deb t-r idden n a t ion a n d th e deb t bom b m a y yet exp lode, ta k in g Am erica n p ros per ity with it . Let m e exp la in h ow th e “ fin a n cia l s ervitu de” s ta r ts .

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Wh en you bu y a h ou s e th e ba n k len ds you u p to n in ety-percen t of th e tota l a m ou n t , a s lon g a s you r “ cred it h is tory” is clea n . Th e “ cred it h is tory” is bu ilt a rou n d you r Socia l Secu r ity Nu m ber (SSN). All you r fin a n cia l t ra n s a ct ion s : a n y type of cred it ca rds , ba n k loa n s , m or tga ges , etc. a re recorded a ccord in g to you r SSN, with th e excep t ion of ca s h pa ym en ts . Th ere two or th ree com pa n ies wh ich collect a ll th is in form a t ion in a da ta ba s e a n d wh en you a pp ly for a loa n , m or tga ge, or cred it ca rd , th e len der requ es ts a copy of you r cred it repor t to th es e com pa n ies . It is of cou rs e u n ders tood th a t you m u s t pa y for th e cos t of th e repor t . If you were la te on s om e pa ym en ts th e len der m a y reject you r requ es t . Th e a bs u rd ity of th e s ys tem is th a t if you pa id a ll you r pa s t pu rch a s es in ca s h , you h a ve n o cred it h is tory a n d th erefore you a re n ot cred it wor th y. You r cred it h is tory ca n be s old a n d you r p r iva cy goes to h ell. In th e Un ited Sta tes a n yth in g ca n be s old : th e n a m es of s u bs cr ibers to m a ga zin es ; n ews pa pers ; cred it ca rd h olders ; u n con ta m in a ted u r in es on th e In tern et , with th e a cces s or ies , wh ich will a llow you to u s e it in ca s e you h a ve to ta ke a tes t wh en you a pp ly for a n ew job ; frozen eggs ; in clu d in g ch ild ren (in m y ca s e). If, by ch a n ce, th e com pa n ies com pilin g th e da ta ba s es m a ke a m is ta ke in you r “ cred it h is tory”, s u ch a s m is s pellin g you r n a m e, or wron g b ir th da te, or you r la s t n a m e is th e s a m e of s om eon e els e, th en you r a re in for a bu m py r ide. Bu t don ’t worry: th ere a re la wyers wh o s pecia lize in “ cred it h is tory” correct ion s , of cou rs e a t a cos t ! In ca s e you rea lly h a ve a ba d “ cred it h is tory”, you ca n con ta ct cer ta in orga n iza t ion s wh ich for “ a p r ice” th ey will recrea te “ you r virgin ity”, like it h a ppen s in th e m ed ica l field ! In a dd it ion to th e com m ercia l da ta ba s es , th ere a re th e on es kep t by th e va r iou s loca l, s ta te, federa l a gen cies . Th e m a jor ity of Am erica n s tu den ts , a t th e en d of th eir college yea rs , in view of th e fa ct th a t th ey h a ve em bra ced th e credo, "Borrow, ba by, borrow", th ey h a ve a ccu m u la ted a deb t wh ich ra n ges from a m in im u m of ten -th ou s a n d dolla rs to s evera l th ou s a n ds . Th ey th erefore becom e th e ta rget of th e s o-ca lled collect ion a gen cies , a n d en d u p work in g th e fir s t yea rs ju s t to repa y th eir deb t . “Th e fir s t im por ta n t s tep of you n gs ters , wh en th ey becom e a du lts is to file for ba n kru p tcy”. Th is is s ta tem en t of Eliza beth Wa rren , p rofes s or a t th e Ha rva rd Un ivers ity. Th e ba n kru p tcy filin gs a m on g peop le les s th a n twen ty-five yea rs of a ge, h a ve s kyrocketed in th e 90 ’s , from s ixty-th ou s a n ds in 1991 to over on e-h u n dred -twen ty th ou s a n ds by 1999 .

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Som e fin a l th ou gh ts

I th in k I ca n a ffirm , with ou t th e fea r of bein g a ccu s ed of a n t i-Am erica n is m , th a t a ll decis ion s im p lem en ted by p res iden t George W. Bu s h dem on s tra te h is tota l relia n ce on th e in du s tr ies wh ich h a ve s u ppor ted h is elect ion ca m pa ign a n d th a t of th e Repu b lica n pa r ty. A n a t ion wh ich d is rega rd th e s ign ed In tern a t ion a l Trea t ies , does n ot h a ve th e r igh t to lectu re th e res t of th e wor ld . Wh y s h ou ld th e res t of th e wor ld s h ou ld en du re th e con s equ en ces th e n u m erou s a n d a voida b le U.S. foreign policy d is a s ters ? Wh o h a s ba cked fin a n cia lly m ilita ry cou p d'éta t to over th row dem ocra t ica lly elected govern m en ts , forced ou t for n ot ca vin g in to polit ica l p res s u re from Wa s h in gton ? Wh o s u ppor ted th e wors t d icta tors ? (See Pin och et for exa m ple) Th e U.S. foreign policy s eem s to follow th e credo of “ perm a n en t in teres ts ” wh ich gen era te “ perm a n en t con flicts ” . Toda y’s “ rogu e n a t ion s ” were yes terda y’s “ bes t a llies ” of th e Un ited Sta tes , wh ich h a ve received from th em wea pon s a n d m ilita ry tech n ology, th a t Wa s h in gton n ow wa n ts to des t roy. Th ere is n o n eed to s en d Un ited Na t ion s in s pectors a n ywh ere. It is en ou gh to go th rou gh th e Pen ta gon ’s records to d is cover th e lis t of cou n tr ies wh ich h a ve received “wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion s ”. It will be s u fficien t to ch eck th e CIA ba n k records in th e “ fis ca l-pa ra d is e” cou n tr ies to d is cover th e n a m es of “ ter ror is t orga n iza t ion s ”. Wh ich is th e d ifferen ce between ter ror is m a n d p re-em ptive wa rs ? Non e: ter ror is m is a n in d ividu a l a ct ion , p re-em ptive wa rs a re govern m en ta l a ct ion s . Wh ich is th e d ifferen ce between ter ror is t a t ta cks a n d ca rpet-bom bin gs ? Th e n u m ber of in n ocen t vict im s . �I wa n t to m a ke it per fect ly clea r th a t I firm ly con dem n a n y ter ror is t a ct ion , for wh ich th ere a re n o ju s t ifica t ion s . Th e on ly pers on wh o h a s t r ied to cla im th e r igh t to figh t “ evil” , s in ce He d id n ot h a ve a m ilita ry force, h a s been cru cified over two-th ou s a n d yea rs a go. Th e “ a x of evil” ca n n ot be era d ica ted with ca rpet-bom bin gs , bu t on ly by pu t t in g a n en d to th e “ a x of s ocia l a n d econ om ic in equ a lity”. I rea lize th ou gh , th a t th e elim in a t ion of th e “ a x of s ocia l a n d econ om ic in equ a lity”, will n ot p rovide th e fin a n cia l ba ck in g du r in g th e elect ion ca m pa ign . I like to qu ote a s en ten ce from th e book “You th a n d m ora lity” wr it ten by a n Ira n ia n p rofes s or Sa yyid Mu jta ba Mu s a vi La r i: “Th os e wh o th in k th a t th ey a re s u rrou n ded by th e a x of evil, will live a pa in fu l, obs cu re a n d u n h a ppy life. Th ey will loos e m os t of th eir power a n d th eir a b ility a n d will p lu n ge in to th e ign ora n ce of a ll th e good th in gs th ere a re in th e wor ld .” (QG�RI�TXRWH Th e Am erica n s a re p ron e to s u bm is s ion a s lon g a s th ey don ’t h a ve to ta ke ch a rge of th eir pers on a l or collect ive res pon s ib ilit ies .

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“Th e es s en ce of obed ien ce con s is ts in t ra n s form in g th e ps ych ology of a pers on in m a k in g h im / h er believe th a t h e/ s h e is th e in s t ru m en t to s a t is fy th e wis h es of a n oth er pers on , with ou t feelin g res pon s ib le for th eir a ct ion s ”. Th is is wh a t th e Am erica n ps ych ologis t , S ta n ley Milgra m of Ya le Un ivers ity, h a s s ta ted in h is book “Obed ien ce to th e a u th or ity”. Th e pu rpos e of th e s t ra tegy th a t George W. Bu s h h a s em bra ced im m edia tely a fter th e Twin Towers a t ta ck , by decla r in g “wa r a ga in s t th e a x of evil” , a n u n iden t ifia b le en em y with s u ch a b roa d des cr ip t ion , bu t very u s efu l for polit ica l a n d power ga in , is to ob ta in th e tota l obed ien ce from th e Am erica n cit izen s . To s t ren gth en h is p la n , h is a dm in is t ra t ion , is s u es “ ter ror a ler ts ” to s ca re th e “ em bedded n a t ion ”; a n d la bels th e on es wh o don ’t bu y h is ta ct ic, a s n on pa tr iot ic. Pres iden t George W. Bu s h u s es “ evil” a s a n a rcot ic for th e pu b lic op in ion , wh ich , a fter Sep tem ber 11 , s eem to h a ve los t th e tou ch with rea lity. “En du r in g freedom ” is becom in g every da y s yn on ym of con t in u ou s lega lized a bu s e of power : I ta ke you r pers on a l freedom a wa y for you r own good . Th e Un ited Sta tes wa ge th eir wa rs from th e a ir , a s in ca rpet bom bin g, beca u s e th e a re in ca pa b le of dea lin g with pea ce a t grou n d level. Th e “ pea ce in du s try” is n ot a s p rofita b le a s th e “wa r in du s try”. Wh y th e dea th of on e-h u n dred -twen ty-th ou s a n d in n ocen t cit izen s in Hiros h im a , eigh ty-th ou s a n d in Na ga s a k i, th ir ty-th ou s a n d in Ch ile, s evera l th ou s a n ds Ira qi ch ild ren a n d oth er in n ocen t civilia n s , a n d m illion s of poor peop le dyin g every yea r in Afr ica du e to s ta rva t ion , a re les s im por ta n t th a n th e th ree-th ou s a n ds U.S. cit izen s wh o d ied du r in g th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks ? Th e a n s wer is very s im ple: n ot everybody h a s h a d th e p r ivilege of dyin g in fron t th e TV ca m era s ! As lon g a s th e d is pa r ity in va lu in g peop le’s lives exis ts , it will be very d ifficu lt to era d ica te ter ror is m . I wou ld like to wra p u p m y th ou gh ts by m en t ion in g wh a t th e Am erica n gen era l Dou gla s Ma cArth u r s a id wh en Ga n dh i d ied , a s m en t ion ed in th e book “Ga n dh i” by Yoges h Ch a dh a : “ In th e evolu t ion of civiliza t ion , if it s h ou ld con t in u e to exis t , n obody s h ou ld ign ore Ga n dh i’s op in ion wh o a ffirm ed th a t th e u s e of m a s s ive force to s olve con trovers ia l is s u es , n ot on ly is fu n da m en ta lly wron g, bu t it tu rn s ou t to be th e begin n in g of s elf-des t ru ct ion ”

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Th e wea pon s of m a s s des tru ct ion

Th e s ea rch for th e WMD in Ira q h a s becom e th e wea pon of m a s s m a n ipu la t ion . Here is a s m a ll lis t of exa m ples of m a n ipu la t ion of th e t ru th in order to s ta r t a wa r , wh ich wa s a lrea dy decided im m edia tely a fter th e Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks . As of th is da te (J u n e2003), n o t ra ce h a s been fou n d of th e “ t rea ch erou s ” a rs en a l of ch em ica l a n d ba cter iologica l wea pon s , wh ich Sa dda m Hu s s ein s u ppos ed ly h a d on h a n d . Were a re th e s evera l ton s of ga s , a n th ra x, botu lis m , etc. a s m et icu lou s ly dep icted by th e Secreta ry of Sta te, gen era l Colin Powell, a t th e Un ited Na t ion s m eet in g in Febru a ry 2003? Th e lives of h u n dreds of An glo-Am erica n s old iers (a s of th is da te J u n e 2003) a n d th ou s a n ds of in n ocen t Ira qi cit izen s , h a ve been s a cr ificed on th e a lta r of decep t ion . Th e followin g a re s om e im por ta n t s ta tem en ts m a de by Br it is h a n d Am erica n officia ls . “2XU� LQIRUPDWLRQ� LV� EDVHG� RQ� WKH� UHSRUW� SUHSDUHG� E\� WKH� %ULWLVK�LQWHOOLJHQFH�� ,W� VWDWHV� WKDW� ,UDT� KDV� FKHPLFDO� DQG� ELRORJLFDO�ZHDSRQV��ZKLFK��FDQ�DFWLYDWH�LQ�IRUW\�ILYH�PLQXWHV” . Pr im e m in is ter Ton y Bla ir on Sep tem ber 24 ,2002 . “6DGGDP� FRQWLQXHV� WR� GHQ\� WKH� H[LVWHQFH� RI� :0'� LQ� ,UDT�� %XW�QRERG\� EHOLHYHV� KLP�� ,I� KH� �6DGGDP�� LQVLVWV� ZLWK� VXFK� OLHV�� LW�PHDQV�WKDW�KH�UHMHFWV�DQ\�SHDFHIXO�VROXWLRQ” . J a ck Stra w, th e Br it is h foreign m in is ter , on Decem ber 19 ,2002 . “ ,� KDYH� DOZD\V� VDLG� WKDW� RXU� LQWHQWLRQ� ZDV� QRW� RI� D� UHJLPH�FKDQJH��RXU�LQWHQWLRQ�ZDV�WR�HOLPLQDWH�WKH�:0'” . Ton y Bla ir on Ma rch 25 ,2003 . “7KH�LGHD�WKDW�ZH�KDYH�PDQLSXODWHG�WKH�UHSRUWV�RI�WKH�LQWHOOLJHQFH�WR� LQYHQW� WKH� DELOLW\� RI� XVLQJ� WKH� :0'� LQ� IRUW\�ILYH� PLQXWHV�� LV�DEVROXWHO\� IDOVH�� ,� DP� RQH�KXQGUHG�SHUFHQW� FRQYLQFHG� RI� WKH�HYLGHQFH” . Ton y Bla ir on Ma y 2 ,2003 . “:H�KDYH�LQVLVWHG�RQ�WKH�:0'�IRU�EXUHDXFUDWLF�UHDVRQV��EHFDXVH�HYHU\ERG\�ZRXOG� DJUHH� RQ� LW�� %XW� WKLV� KDV�QHYHU� EHHQ� WKH�PDLQ�UHDVRQ�IRU�WKH�ZDU” . Pa u l Wolfowitz, th e n u m ber 2 a t th e Pen ta gon , a n d th e m a in a s s is ta n t to Don a ld Ru m s feld , th e U.S. Secreta ry of Defen s e.

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Th e a u th or ’s n ote Wh a t is left of dem ocra cy? I a m n ot a com m u n is t , a n t i-Am erica n , n or a ter ror is t , bu t I a m s im p ly a well in form ed pers on ! I a m a ls o perfect ly a wa re th a t th e pu b lica t ion of th is book will t r igger s om e p rob lem s in m y life, bu t I a m s t ill a firm believer of th e freedom of exp res s ion . �

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Pa rt on e Sta tem en t pa g. 2 Tr ipoli: 1933-1942 pa g. 5 Sicily: 1942-1947 pa g. 7 Retu rn to Tr ipoli: 1947-1954 pa g. 9 Am erica n Air ba s e in Tr ipoli: 1954-1957 pa g.12 Am erica n Em ba s s y in Tr ipoli: 1957-1962 pa g.15

Pa rt two Rom e: 1962-1985 pa g.20

Pa rt th ree Th e yea rs 1985-1989 pa g. 29 Th e bu s in es s rebou n d : 1989-1992 pa g. 41 Th e a dop t ion : 1992-1996 pa g. 44

Pa rt fou r Th e Am erica n foreign policy a n d Sep tem ber 11 a t ta cks pa g. 78 Th e wa r on ter ror pa g. 90 Th e polit ica l A.I.D.S. pa g. 101 Im a ge over rea lity 111 “Dem ocra t ic d icta tors h ip ” or “Tota lita r ia n dem ocra cy” pa g. 113 Th e Am erica n ca p ita lis m 117 U.S.A. a n d th e In tern a t ion a l Trea t ies pa g. 124 Polit ics a n d Fin a n ce: a con t in u ou s in ces t pa g. 127 Th e im por ta n ce of pu b lic im a ge in th e Am erica n s ociety pa g. 131 Som e fin a l th ou gh ts pa g. 133 Th e wea pon s of m a s s des t ru ct ion pa g. 136

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Pr in ted on Sep tem ber 2003 by Tipolitogra fia Pr in t Hou s e – Cor t in a -Ita ly

for ALBERTI & C. Ed itor i pu b lis h er