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The Berlin Wall (German: Berliner Mauer) was a long barrier separating West Berlin from East Berlin and the surrounding territory of East Germany. Its intent was to restrict access between West Berlin and the German Democratic Republic. It existed from 1961 until 1989.
Background
After World War II, Berlin, like the rest of Germany, was divided into four sectors, although it was surrounded on all sides by the Soviet sector of Germany. The Soviet Union, the United States, the United (…)

In the face of mounting pressure for investigations (see links below) and movements to recount the vote - Ohio and New Hampshire are going forward with recounts - why haven’t we seen our mighty President Bush saying to the forces who stand for full disclosure, "Bring It On"?
With the ample assistance of a total media lockdown on any concern over the election just past, the President hasn’t needed to so much as whisper about a potential meltdown of the electoral process, his legitimacy as a (…)

Israel’s move against Mordechai Vanunu, the man who exposed their nuclear secrets, couldn’t have been timed better
by Justin Raimondo
The death of Yasser Arafat overshadows the re-arrest of Mordechai Vanunu, and it was, as they say, no accident: Arafat had barely breathed his last gasp when 20 to 30 heavily armed Israeli police commandos stormed the Anglican cathedral of St. George in Jerusalem, seized Vanunu, and confiscated his computer, while their superiors absurdly yelped that he (…)

“If your attack is going exceptionally well, it is probably an ambush.” Old military maxim
by Maarten Vanheuverswyn
On the face of it, the siege of Fallujah seems to be going relatively well for the US troops. Most of the city has been captured and according to the mass media “Operation Phantom Fury” will be finished in a couple of days. Though yesterday the US army suffered some losses, these were nothing compared to the figure of 600 insurgents killed, probably more. It is indeed (…)

by Wayne Besen
The gay movement is the canary in the coalmine for the future of the Democratic Party. If party leaders move right and abandon basic fairness and equality, it is a strong signal that they will capitulate and surrender their other core principles too. This may lead to widespread disillusionment and the creation of a powerful third party that will shake-up American politics.
For the record, I have always been a proud Democrat and I still expect to die as one. I have loathed (…)

Agency officials believed to be disloyal to Bush are reportedly the targets
by Knut Royce
WASHINGTON - The White House has ordered the new CIA director, Porter J. Goss, to purge the agency of officers believed to have been disloyal to President Bush or of leaking damaging information to the media about the conduct of the Iraq war and the hunt for Osama bin Laden, according to knowledgeable sources.
"The agency is being purged on instructions from the White House," said a former senior (…)

Kerry Almost Doubles Bush’s Recount Funds Primary campaign funds give Kerry the edge
By Alex Knott
WASHINGTON, November 1, 2004 - Sen. John F. Kerry may have a $24.8 million advantage over President George W. Bush in pursuing any recounts that result from Tuesday’s election, according to the campaigns’ most recent financial filings.
Under Federal Election Commission rules, both candidates are allowed to use remaining funds from their primary election committees to conduct recount (…)

by Carol Norris
Dear Members of Congress:
As you are no doubt aware, concerns about possible voter fraud abound. Irregularities have been well documented in many states, more than enough to raise legitimate questions. Is it widespread or in several isolated places? Might it change the outcomes of any of the races? What changes need to be made to protect our vote? We need you to investigate. But more than that, we need you to understand that this issue is not a partisan one. It’s not (…)

BY BOB NORMAN
By the time you read this, you might know the identity of the next president. Or perhaps lawyers reign and the world’s fate is hanging, like so much chad, in the balance.
Either way, Broward County is screwed. It’s stuck with a dysfunctional elections office that was plagued by technological problems, ill-equipped early voting stations, and, worst of all, the disappearance of thousands of absentee ballots. The question lingers: Was that mysterious disappearance — which (…)

By STEVE HARTSOE
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A Florida-style nightmare has unfolded in North Carolina in the 10 days since Election Day, with thousands of votes missing and the outcome of two statewide races still up in the air.
The fiasco has not reached the proportions of what happened in 2000 in Florida - in part because the presidential race was not close here. But election observers say North Carolina has been the site of some of 2004’s worst problems.
The biggest failure resulted from a (…)