Whether overt or covert, military muscle seems increasingly to make its presence felt on the political stage.

Strange concurrences fill the pages of Globalspin, which this week looks back over the last few years stories on the CIA and on Putin's rise. There is of course, the much disputed legality of the Presidency of George W. Bush and the rapid rise of an obscure KGB officer to the leadership of Russia.

One is puzzled by the seeming interchageability of these men. Whom does the following description describe?

"...launched his election campaign with promises to build a strong state, combat crime, streamline the government and lower taxes." * If the answer is not forthcoming, read on.

As Sharon assumes his position as Prime Minister of Israel, we note the following sequence of events. A bombing occurs that, coincidentally kills nobody, injures few, and is claimed by "new" groups. George Bush sends his admonitions to Arafat to "Stop the Violence". The stage is set for renewed IDF violence against Palestinians. How very convenient.

Of whom do you think the following was said and by whom? "..has a lively mind and a quick imagination, he has no personal thirst for power or intoxication with power." *2 "I've no idea, my good man."

"Or, of whom might it be said? "Imagine that the self-declared winner of the election is a son of the former prime minister, and that the former prime minister was himself the former head of the nation's secret police."

"Good heavens, sir, it is quite apparent that that would refer to the current President of the United States, George Dubya Bush is what they call the man, I believe."

"In last week's issue we read of the public relations re-packaging of Ariel Sharon and in this week's e-zine a former and quite famous prisoner praises Putin's personal qualities. Peculiar, don't you think? "

Those private citizens who make the country of Colombia a matter of study have become increasingly concerned about the possible increase in military activities in that country as the current Administration takes power. Meanwhile, into the spotlight, comes the revelation of the cooperation of the CIA and the Mossad in the formation of the Medellin cartel of Colombia.

Oscar Romero is by now well known to all who take an interest in social justice in Latin America and their North American supporters. He showed no fear in expressing his absolute horror at the vicious treatment of the people of El Salvador by the government sponsored death squads. Due to his forthrightness, he expected an untimely demise. And indeed, he met with one at the hands of a lone gunman. At least the offical story has the gunmen acting alone. But recently unearthed clues point northward.

We are presented with even more intriguing information. Last month a Kenyan political magazine told us that American officials were apprised of plans to to bomb the US Embassy in Nairobi well in advance of the actual event. "Good, heavens, sir, why did they do absolutely nothing to protect those poor innocents?"

"Why not, indeed!"

"Following hard on the heels of that revelation comes yet another. It seems, my dear Mr. Watson, that a German television station exposed CIA and Mossad links to the 1986 bombing of the Berlin disco, the incident, I might add, which served as the pretext for the then president Reagan's air attack on Libya. The revelation is doubly interesting in light of the fact that it was the American embassy bombings in Africa that served as pretext for the most recent president Clinton's war on Osama Bin Laden, arguably the first war of the U.S. government against an individual.

"Quite extraordinary that!"

"What's that, Watson? "

"Well, this business of a country declaring war on an individual, when you stop and think about it."

"Well, that is clear enough, but it seems that the trail leads even deeper into the heart of darkness as familiar names reveal themselves in connection with recent event in the Congo."

"Extraordinary, sir!"

"Hmm, and a good read as well."

"Mr. Holmes, might I ask you a question." "Well, of course, Mr. Watson" "What is televison?" "An abomination, I assure, you my dear Watson."