Today, the Associated Press reported that:

A former journalist and ex-congressional press secretary was arrested Thursday on charges she acted as an Iraqi spy before and after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, accepting $10,000 for her work, prosecutors said Thursday.

Susan Lindauer, 41 years old, was arrested in her hometown of Takoma Park, Md., and was to appear in court later Thursday in Baltimore, authorities in New York said.

Takoma Park, Md., is an area I drive by every day on my way to work, but that is not the most interesting angle of this story for me. One of the most interesting facts of Ms. Lindauer's arrest is her connection with certain peace groups in America.

So, whats the big deal? Consider the fact that many of the anti-war groups who marched in support of Iraqi's former dictator, Saddam Hussein, were helping to keep the murderous dictator in power. Conservatives, of course, have claimed this for years. What may be different in Ms. Lindauer's case, however, is that if the charges are upheld in court, we will see evidence for the first time of people on Saddam's payroll actively involved in the peace movement here in America.

The one current link found is Ms. Lindauer's signature on a peace pledge in 2002, which states:

PEACE PLEDGE: TO STOP SPREAD OF ANTI-TERRORIST WAR TO IRAQ

Phase III of the Campaign of Conscience for the Iraqi People

Fellowship of Reconciliation, Voices in the Wilderness, American Friends Service Committee, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Lutheran Peace Fellowship, Education for Peace in Iraq Center, Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and others are collecting signatures of those who say:

"I support peace for Iraq. I grant permission to use my name and city publicly as an opponent of the ongoing economic and bombing war on Iraq, and of any escalation of that war."

introductory letter from Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation Organizer, Mike Yarrow

Even more interesting, if you go to the introductory letter page written by Mike Yarrow, you will see that he asks the question, Are we to wait for this escalation to happen and then hold up our well-worn "Stop the Bombing" signs — or can we take pro-active steps to prevent the escalation?