THE HEADLINES

"Evidence" of Iranian destruction of nuclear weapons facility before possible IAEA inspection.

YOU CAN’T TRUST THOSE SNEAKY IRANIANS: THEY MAY BE CONDUCTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS ON THE SLY.

(McClatchy)

Director of International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amana adds something to the pile of suspicions about Iranian nuclear weapons development, reporting that in 2003 Iran “may” have cleaned-up a site of such testing before submitting to an IAEA inspections.  The implication is that the absence of evidence today of any such testing is no proof that it is not being conducted.  It’s called you can’t win for losing when the word “may” enters the vocabulary of officials.

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GUILTY BY “ASSOCIATION” WITH TERRORISTS. THE PENALTY: DEATH BY DRONE ATTACK

(Salon)

Glenn Greenwald describes the continued and escalating practice of U.S. forces of bringing down drone attacks on occasions like funerals of “known” terrorists killed in earlier attacks.  This is a crude form of “profiling” in which not only funeral attedants but those of weddings or even those who go to the assistance of people injured or killed in one attack are presumed to be guilty of terrorism themselves, with the operator of a remote drone based in Nevada acting as “judge and juror” for the killing of many people in the expectation that “a few” of them will be terrorists.  (Collective punishment is actually itself a “terrorist” tactic—also a war crime.)

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IN NEW YORK “MINIMUM WAGE IS HARDER TO GET THAN GAY MARRIAGE.”

(In These Times)

David Sirota notes this ironic disposition of two major issues in the state.  The state legislature, with 58% support in public opinion, has passed legislation to make the U.S. the 6th state to legalize same-sex marriage.  Although enjoying 78% support in public opinion, Governor Cuomo is unable to “get” a one dollar rise in the minimum wage.  The difference: Wall Street financiers have literally “nothing to lose” from legalizing gay marriage and have poured millions of dollars in campaigning for same.  Minimum wage? Another story.  The investment interests that drive stock market profits see a rise in minimum wage as a drain on those profits.

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HO HUM:  RECORD LOW TURNOUT EXPECTED IN CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY TODAY.

(Sacramento Bee)

With the nominees of both the Democratic and Republican parties already “known,” California voters will be staying home in droves today.  A Field Poll indicates that only 35% of registered voters will actually vote—and only 25% of all “eligible” voters (which include eligible but not-registered ones).   With no contest at the top and no sexy “downballot” issues to induce turnout, it looks to be an all-time record in California for voter apathy.

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“THERE IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T LOVE A WALL.”

(Daytona Beach News Journal)

Business leaders in New Smyra Beach FL (south of Daytona Beach) disagree with poet Robert Frost on this one.  At least they love the ”two whopping walls” being constructed as a “gateway” to NSB near the I-95 entrance from State Road 44 with a $1.4 million grant from Florida Department of Transportation.  Developing an idea long “bandied about,” they are now accomplishing the “beautification” of the city by constructing walls with a beautiful “wave” design that matches the city’s logo.  Tourist promotors’ delight!

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