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From: Democracy Now!
Re: Rundown 10-09-03
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8:00-8:01 Billboard:
Congressman Demands Rove’s Resignation Over Outting
Of CIA Operative
With White House Approval, House Panel OKs Sanctions Against
Syria
11 Die in Iraq Suicide Bombing; Tensions Grow Between U.S.
& Iraqi Governing Council
Peace Group Infiltrated By Government Agent
Teen Activists Defend Themselves At Trial After Arrest At
Military Recruitment Protest
8:01-8:06 Headlines
8:06-8:07 One Minute Music Break- audio from ceremonies
8:07-8:20 Congressman Demands Rove’s Resignation
Over Outting Of CIA Operative
INTRO: Rep. John Conyers wrote a letter to Bush’s
closest aide Karl Rove calling on him to step down. He also
said the Bush administration is engaged in what he called
an "orchestrated campaign to smear and intimidate truth-telling
critics." We speak with Rep. Conyers and hear an excerpt
of his speech on the floor of the U.S. Congress.
The Bush administration announced earlier this week that
it would not be handing over the documents requested by the
Justice Department as part of its investigation into who outted
a covert CIA operative.
Press Secretary Scott McClellan said the White House may
need up to 2 weeks to vet the material before handing it over
to Justice Department investigators. This comes as the House
Judiciary Committee's top Democrat is calling on President
Bush’s chief political adviser Karl Rove to resign.
Representative John Conyers, ranking member of the Judiciary
Committee wrote a letter to Rove yesterday calling on him
bluntly to step down. He also said the Bush administration
is engaged in what he called an "orchestrated campaign
to smear and intimidate truth-telling critics."
- Tape: Rep. John Conyers speaking on floor of the U.S.
Congress on October 8, 2003.
- Rep. John Conyers, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.
8:20-8:21 One Minute Music Break - possible other clip from
African Burial grounds
8:21-8:30 With White House Approval, House Panel
OKs Sanctions Against Syria
INTRO: The House International Relations Committee voted
33 to 2 yesterday to impose sanctions against Syria. The Arab
League warned today sanctions will “increase the tension
in the region and make the chances for peace more remote.”
We talk to Syrian expert Patrick Seale.
On Capitol Hill, The House International Relations Committee
voted 33 to 2 yesterday to impose sanctions against Syria.
If the sanctions are signed into law, all U.S. exports to
Syria would be barred except for food and medicine. Travel
by Syrian diplomats in the U.S. would be severely curtailed
to Washington and within 25 miles of the United Nations. U.S.
businesses would be barred from holding investments in Syria.
Syrian owned or controlled aircraft could no longer take off,
land or fly over the United States. Syrian assets in the United
States would also be frozen. The sanctions are expected to
be approved by Congress and the White House.
The vote came days after the White House expressed support
for Israel’s recent bombing of Syria. The attack on
Sunday marked the first time Israel attacked Syria in 30 years.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said yesterday, "We
have repeatedly said that Syria is on the wrong side in the
war on terrorism and that Syria needs to stop harboring terrorists.”
Republican Ron Paul of Texas was one of only two legislators
who voted against the sanctions. He said, "It just looks
like we're looking for more trouble.” Republican Jeff
Flake of Arizona also voted against the measure.
The Arab League today criticized the bill, saying it would
"increase the tension in the region and make the chances
for peace more remote. It also makes more difficult a dialogue
between Syria, as a main power broker in the region, and the
United States."
- Tape: John Bolton, Under Secretary for Arms Control and
International Security testifying before the House International
Relations Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and
Central Asia on September 16th, 2003.
- Patrick Seale, British journalist who has covered the
Middle East for over 30 years specializing in Syria. He
is the author of “Asad: The Struggle for the Middle
East.”
8:30-8:40 11 Die in Iraq Suicide Bombing; Tensions
Grow Between U.S. & Iraqi Governing Council
INTRO: In one of the deadliest days in weeks, a car bomb
exploded outside a Baghdad police station today killing at
least eleven and a Spanish diplomat was shot dead. Meanwhile
the White House has launched a new PR effort to increase support
for the invasion. We go to Baghdad to speak with The Christian
Science Monitor’s Dan Murphy.
At least 11 people have died after a car bomb exploded outside
a police station in northeast Baghdad. Nearly 30 more people
have been injured. U.S. officials said a suicide bomber drove
a white Oldsmobile through the gates and detonated a bomb
that left a crater in police courtyard 10 feet across and
four feet deep.
Meanwhile the Spanish Foreign Ministry reported that a Spanish
diplomat was shot dead outside his home in Baghdad today.
In other Iraq news, the U.S. announced they had detained
112 people in a major raid near the Syrian border on Sunday.
Among those captured was a high-ranking official in the former
Republican Guard.
The Washington Post reports the White House is launching
a new public relations campaign to justify the invasion and
occupation of Iraq.
As part of the effort President Bush is scheduled to speak
today about Iraq and Vice President Cheney will speak tomorrow.
The Republican National Committee also sent out a briefing
to reporters in an attempt to spin the findings of weapon
inspector David Kay who last week reported he had found no
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The Republican briefing
asked, "What did David Kay find? Hidden labs, documents
and equipment, biological and chemical weapon catalysts, UAV
and missile programs, and more."
And National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice again justified
the invasion as she spoke before the Chicago Council on Foreign
Relations yesterday. She said “Saddam Hussein lied to
the Security Council. And, let there be no mistake, right
up until the end, Saddam Hussein continued to harbor ambitions
to threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction and
to hide his illegal weapons program."
- Dan Murphy, reporter for The Christian Science Monitor
speaking in Baghdad.
8:40-8:41 One Minute Music Break
8:41-8:50 Peace Group Infiltrated By Government Agent
INTRO: Peace Fresno was infiltrated by an agent working
for the Fresno Sheriff’s Department and local anti-terrorism
unit. Aaron Kilner, known by Peace Fresno activists as Aaron
Stokes, died in a motorcycle accident in late August. Peace
Fresno activists learned his true identity in the local paper’s
obituary.
Members of the organization Peace Fresno were recently shocked
when they found out that one of their participants, Aaron
Stokes, died in a motorcycle accident.
An obituary published in the local newspaper in late August
showed Aaron’s picture. But the name under the picture
was not Aaron Stokes. It was Aaron Kilner - an undercover
detective who was working for the Fresno County Sheriff’s
department. He was also a member of the local anti-terrorism
unit.
A Peace Fresno member Nicholas MdeGraff says, “The
first question on everyone’s mind was ‘a dove
in hawk’s clothing, or a hawk in dove’s clothing?”
Kilner was 26 years old and the father of two girls.
Peace Fresno activists are concerned that an undercover officer
attending their meetings is in violation of their personal
liberties and civil rights.
Fresno County sheriff Richard Pierce would not answer whether
or not Kilner was attending meetings but asserted that he
“was not and is not the subject of any investigation
by the Fresno County Police Department. “
But in a statement issued October 2, Pierce declared, “For
the purpose of detecting or preventing terrorist activities,
the Fresno County Sheriff's Department may visit any place
and attend any event that is open to the public, on the same
terms and conditions as members of the public generally."
- Nicholas DeGraff , Peace Fresno activist and member of
a newly formed group monitoring the Joint Terrorism Task
Force of the Fresno Police Department.
Contact: www.peacefresno.org
- Catherine Campbell, Civil Rights Attorney representing
Peace Fresno
8:50-8:58 Teen Activists Defend Themselves At Trial
After Arrest At Military Recruitment Protest
INTRO: Thirteen people were arrested for participating in
a "die-in" at a military recruitment office in Ithaca,
NY late last year. Four of these activists were minors who
chose to represent themselves at the trial. We hear from Ana
Grady Flores and Marie DeMott Grady.
On December 21, 2002, thirteen people were arrested for participating
in a "die-in" at a military recruitment office in
Ithaca, NY. Four of these activists were minors, and their
legal proceedings have garnered a special degree of support
and attention.
In July, at their original trial, a judge ordered the courtroom
cleared of some 87 observers and supporters--however, they
refused to leave. The trial was postponed until September,
and declared open to the public. The young women chose to
represent themselves, with the assistance of one lawyer as
co-counsel, and much of the trial included their cross-examination
of each other.
- Ana Grady Flores, teen activist from Ithaca, NY.
- Marie DeMott Grady, teen activist from Ithaca, NY.
8:58-8:59 Outro and Credits
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Jeremy Scahill, Mike Burke,
Angie Karran, Sharif Abdul Kouddous, Lenina Nadal, Ana Nogueira,
and Elizabeth Press. Mike Di Filippo is our music maestro
and engineer.
[Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Rafael delaUz, Gabriel Weiss, Johnny Sender,
Rich Kim, Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Jenny
Filipazzo]
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