Informed Sources

Over a week has gone by since the final American withdrawal from Vietnam, but the subject continues to dominate the news. The latest controversy revolves around the estimated 130,000 evacuees now located in military bases in the Pacific and throughout the U.S.

Unlike the baby airlift of last month, the new refugees are getting no welcome in the U.S. Racist attitudes which once made it possible to bomb "gooks" with hardly a second thought now make many in this country unwilling to take in the victims of that destructive policy.

But not all Vietnamese coming to the U.S. are innocent victims. Among those evacuated are the crooked bureaucrats, top military officers, and ex-police officials that served under the U.S.-backed Thieu regime. For example, listed in the "high risk" categories for evacuation were agents of the CIA-directed Phoenix program, used to murder and torture opponents to the Thieu regime.

"Most of the people involved in the murders and tortures were criminals who were rounded up from the prisons of South Vietnam," reports Michael Klare, author of War Without End -- a study of U.S. counter-insurgency planning. "When the program was under direct U.S. supervision, 26,396 people were murdered by Phoenix operatives, and another 33,358 were imprisoned."

Mail to Congressional leaders and the White House has been predominantly critical of the evacuation. The influx of Vietnamese is opposed for reasons ranging from the already high unemployment rates, to anger at letting in "the cowards who refused to stand up and fight the communists in their own country."

Most Americans seem willing to just forget the war, which would be very difficult to do with a Vietnamese family living next door. However, Congress appears ready to allocate funds for resettlement, and this country will be forced to accept the consequences of its disastrous foreign policy.

SOCIALIST MANDATE IN PORTUGAL

With much of Southeast Asia under communist influence, will Europe be next to elude American domination?

According to Henry Kissinger, "all Europe will go Marxist in ten years."

Portugal is moving rapidly in that direction, and even the "moderates" who won a majority of the seats in last month's elections are socialists. Portugal remains

CORPORATE IMPERIALISM IN ACTION

U.S. intervention in foreign affairs has not been limited to governmental activities. Another scandal has followed tight on the heels of the United Brand uproar, in which it was revealed the company bribed top Honduran officials for concessions in the banana trade. Gulf Oil has now been found to be paying off officials in unidentified countries to the tune of $4 million.

Gulf officials reportedly admitted the "contributions" during private testimony before the Securities and Exchange Commission. Claims were made that revealing the bribed country would place a $700 million investment in severe jeopardy. Gulf shows only three areas with investments of that amount -- Canada, Latin America, and Europe. Latin America, including Ecuador and Venezuela, have been projected as likely recipients.

Reports indicate that a number of multinational corporations may be involved in similar scandals, with millions from arms manufacturers and oil conglomerates being used as kickbacks to foreign officials. Northrop Corporation, an arms manufacturer, is alleged to have used a $30 million slush fund to pay off officials who convinced their governments to buy war planes from Northrop Braniff Airlines is also expected to admit to a slush fund soon.

A-BOMBS BY TRUCK

Weapons are also the subject of a domestic problem revealed by the General Accounting Office. Nuclear warheads have been shipped in common commercial vans across the U.S. by the U.S. Defense Department.

The GAO report indicated the warheads lacked necessary security systems and guards to prevent potential hijackings or sabotage. Adequate communications systems have not been used to monitor progress of vans which carry nuclear warheads, and security teams do not follow the convoys to assist in the event of a nuclear emergency. Not directly mentioned but implicit in the report is the possibility of a massive nuclear disaster. Both the Army and Navy have confirmed the GAO's findings.

EPA URGEST REACTOR DELAY

Concern over nuclear power was strengthened by a report from the Environmental Protection Agency, suggesting development of the dangerous "breeder" reactors which use plutonium as fuel should be delayed.

Citing potential dangers, the EPA suggested the reactors would not be needed as soon as predicated by the Atomic Energy Commission. EPA argued figures on U.S. energy needs were inflated, and power demands would make it possible to delay implementation of the breeders between four and twelve years.

NADER FOR PRESIDENT?

Inflationary figures are increasingly the concern of the White House. Recent reports indicate President Ford and his economic advisors are concerned over the possibility that as the recession lessens, inflation will skyrocket.

Their proposed solution is to slow the economic upturn, which means contained high unemployment.

Can the White House policies be fought?

"The Nixon-Agnew-Rockefeller-Kissinger administration is operating on the premise that a majority of voters will continue to vote forever for corruption-inflation-recession-depression," says John D. Lee. "Well, maybe this time around, you can't fool most of the people all of the time."

Lee is head of a new national organization which thinks it has a solution. It's the "Draft Ralph Nader for President Club."

The club is currently circulating petitions across the U.S. in an attempt to convince Nader to declare himself for president in 1076, and persuade the Democratic Party to nominate him.

In a Gallup Poll taken last November, Nader placed fifth among 31 Democrats, all of whom have been mentioned as presidential contenders.

WALLACE CHECKS CONSPIRACY

Another presidential contender is making plans for his campaign in '76. Alabama Governor George Wallace, who reportedly has amassed a huge campaign fund, is talking about making the conspiracy question an issue in his run for the high office.

Wallace has held several meetings with the FBI in an effort to uncover evidence which might prove Arthur Bremer was a hired assassin. Wallace has questioned where Bremer found money for such activities as following Wallace around the country, purchasing a car, or staying in luxury hotels. The FBI continues to tell Wallace no evidence of a conspiracy in the assassination attempt has been discovered.