SUNY Buffalo Art:

It's Not Bio-Terror, But Is It Illegal Anyway?

Al Matthews,
CNN Headline News

(CNN) — SUNY Buffalo art professor Steven Kurtz, his publisher, and their scientific and artistic colleagues are embroiled in court proceedings that began as a full federal bio-terrorism investigation, and ended up as charges of wire and mail fraud.

Anonymous Comrade writes:

Stop the Draft Before it Starts

Healing Garden

Here we go:

There is pending legislation in the House and Senate to reinstate the draft (twin bills, S89 and HR163). Bill S89 was introduced by Sen. Fritz Hollings and Bill HR163 was introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY). This plan, among other things, eliminates higher education as a shelter and includes women as eligible to be drafted.

The Pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide. $28 million has been added to the 2004 Selective Service System(SSS)budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. The Selective Service must report to the President on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. (For further reading see here.)

from healinggarden@chartermi.net

FBI Harrassment of Artist and Scientist Continues

CAE Defense Fund

Kurtz and Ferrell face 20-year charges of mail and wire fraud in
federal court arraignment

Dr. Steven Kurtz, Associate Professor of Art at the University of
Buffalo, was arraigned and charged in Federal District Court in
Buffalo today on four counts of mail and wire fraud (United States
Criminal Code, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1343),
which each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

U.S. House Refuses To Curb Patriot Act

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto threat Thursday and stood by the USA Patriot Act, defeating an effort to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate people's reading habits.

The effort to defy Bush and bridle the law's powers lost by 210-210, with a majority needed to prevail. The amendment appeared on its way to victory as the roll call's normal 15-minute time limit expired, but Republican leaders kept the vote open for about 20 more minutes as they persuaded about 10 Republicans who initially supported the provision to change their votes.