Sun Spots

SUNSPOTS

"Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac." So spoke Rockeffeller employee Henry Kissinger several years ago in one of his more candid moments. The original inspiration behind Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove" was scheduled to come speak at U-M commencement this week, but cancelled out, ostensibly due to "pressing business." But speculation was rife on campus that a broad-based movement to "disinvite" Henry, coupled with the threat of demonstrations and an organized counter-commencement, was actually behind the last-minute pull-out.

Meanwhile, across the globe in Indochina, two technologically under-developed armies, the Khmer Rouge and PRG/North Vietnamese, were dealing the final blows to Kissinger's self-violated "Peace Accords." With the inability of the American-propped Saigon regime to gather support among its own people completely apparent, Henry continued to plead that the great American cure-all, more money, would keep Theiu alive. Kissinger, Schlesinger, Ford and the rest painted themselves right into the corner on that one.

The bankruptcy of America's foreign policy, or more explicitly, its imperialist underpinning, is increasingly coming to public light. Cambodia and "South" Vietnam are being liberated without the much ballyhooed "bloodbath," in fact, with reports of Cambodians cheering the Khmer Rouge as they entered Phnom Penh. Last week it was revealed that the United Brands Corporation, commonly known as Chiquita Bananas, had been massively bribing officials of the Honduras to keep the banana tax down. Inside this issue of the SUN, ex-CIA spook Victor Marchetti tells how the CIA works hand-in-glove with US multinational corporations.

Five years ago American radicals were dismissed as irrational maniacs for suggesting that the CIA worked for American corporations. Now it's becoming public knowledge. Five years ago we were also ballyhooed for suggesting that three successive Presidents were lying their ass off about Indochina. Today the grippingly powerful movie "Hearts and Minds" documents the purposeful deception effectively, even gaining mass, nationwide distribution and an Oscar to boot. Five years ago we were utterly dismissed for suggesting that the CIA or some kind of internal government plot was responsible for the murders of JFK, RFK, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, the shooting of Wallace, etc. Today the Zapruder movie of JFK's shooting is revealing to all America that the Warren Commission was the cover-up to beat Watergate, that Kennedy was shot from the front as well as from the rear by an assassin other than simply Oswald. (The next SUN, out May 9, will feature Part III of our assassination series).

Of course, while all this represents progress in reaching the American people, the media remains controlled to a great degree by the same ruling interests as the major corporations. In the current Newspeak, for example. a ridiculous refutation of some solid conspiracy evidence on Kennedy's assassination is prominently displayed to help cool the growing movement to uncover the coverup. independent-minded media are rare in America, yet increasingly important. On May 1st the SUN will be four years old. We trace our history of activism, gains and mistakes inside.

Speaking of biased media, the Ann Arbor News is once again pulling a propaganda campaign in favor of its good buddies and associates, the local GOP. The News' coverage of the Republican last-ditch attempt to block Al Wheeler from taking office and challenge Preferential voting AFTER THE FACT speaks again to the need for alternative media in this town. The News’ coverage simply assumes that the Repubs have every right to challenge preferential, portraying the election as a "mess" caused by all sides, including Wheeler. It's only a “mess” because the News' favorite sons are losing their power over this city.

TIDS AND TADS: Democratic Presidential hopeful Fred Harris will appear at an open public gathering at the Campus Inn on Saturday, April 26, at 10am. Harris' campaign may spark the imagination of a great many progressive voters a fascinating account of the man's ideas about equalizing wealth in American and limiting the power of super-corporations, see Tom Hayden's excellent interview with Harris in the latest Rolling Stone...

GLF is hosting a dance in conjunction with Local Motion on May 10th at Barbour Gym at 9pm. The $2 admission fee will go to benefit the Lexington Legal Defense Fund for people being hauled before Grand Juries by the FBI for allegedly aiding fugitives . . .