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8:00-8:01 Billboard:
“If you repeat it loudly enough it will become the
truth” - MIT Institute Professor of Linguistics and
author Noam Chomsky speaks out on U.S. hegemony, controlling
the domestic population through fear and the historical parallels
of current U.S. foreign policy.
8:01-8:06 Headlines
UN Condemns Israeli Wall in the West Bank
The United Nations General Assembly yesterday approved a resolution
demanding that Israel stop building a massive 150-mile wall
through Palestinian villages in the West Bank. The vote was
144 to 4. The only countries voting against the measure were
the United States, Israel, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia.
12 nations abstained. Following yesterday’s vote, Israel
vowed construction of the barrier would continue.
Senate OKs Abortion Ban
Seventeen Democratic Senators joined Republicans yesterday
to pass a new law banning some forms of abortions. This marks
the first time since Roe v. Wade that Congress has barred
specific type of abortion. Opponents of abortion have long
described the practice banned as “partial birth”
abortions. But pro-choice groups say the bill is deliberately
vague and bans often-used safe and common procedures. Three
years ago the Supreme Court found a similar ban in Nebraska
unconstitutional because the bill was written so vaguely.
Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa who voted against the ban said,
“Congress has turned it’s back on America’s
women, their right to privacy, the right to choose. America’s
women are now second-class citizens.”
Iran Agrees To Curb Nuclear Activities
Iran yesterday pledged to fully cooperate with the International
Atomic Energy Agency by temporarily halting the enrichment
and reprocessing of uranium and by allowing in international
inspectors. Iran reached the agreement with foreign ministers
from Britain, France and Germany.
Report: U.S. Set To Arrest Leading Shia Cleric In Iraq
In Iraq, the Guardian is reporting that U.S. and Iraqi officials
are preparing an arrest warrant for Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
who they charge was involved in the April murder of a rival
Shia cleric. Sadr has been one of the most vocal opponents
of the U.S.-led occupation. Last week he announced the formation
of a rival government to the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing
Council. Observers in Iraq predict there will be massive resistance
if Sadr is arrested.
In other Iraq news, defense officials announced plans yesterday
to rotate 30,000 more reservists into Iraq.
U.S. officials said yesterday they now believe Khalid Shaikh
Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks,
personally played a role in the killing of Wall Street Journal
reporter Daniel Pearl who was murdered in Pakistan.
Pentagon Probes General Over Islam Remarks
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced the Pentagon is
launching an investigation into public statements made by
Lt. Gen. William Boykin that cast the so-called war on terror
in terms of a holy war. Boykin once said the U.S. battling
a spiritual enemy” named Satan. On Friday, Boykin insisted
he was "not anti-Islam" and said his remarks had
been misconstrued or taken out of context.
Report: One in Six U.S. Prisoners Suffer From Mental Illness
A new report by Human Rights Watch has determined that one
in six U.S. prisoners suffer from mental illness. The group
estimated that the nation’s prisons hold three times
as many mentally ill men and women as do the nation’s
mental hospitals.
Ecuadoreans Sue Texaco $1bn For Polluting Rainforests
In Ecuador, a trial has begun where 30,000 Ecuadoreans are
suing ChevronTexaco for $1 billion for polluting the nation’s
rainforests and water resources. Texaco, which later merged
with Chevron, is accused of dumping more than 18 billion gallons
of toxic materials into unlined pits and rivers in the Amazon
from 1972 to 1992.
Former President Bush Retires From Carlyle Group
And former US President George Bush is retiring as a senior
adviser to the Carlyle Group. The Financial Times reported
that Carlyle offered no explanation for Bush’s retirement
other than his age and his desire to move on to other endeavors.
Bush was one of many former top officials employed by the
secretive private equity firm which invests in defense companies.
Others include former British Prime Minister John Major, former
US Secretary of State James Baker and former Defense Secretary
Frank Carlucci.
George W. Bush also once served on the board of a Carlyle-owned
company. Ties between the Bush family and Carlyle has become
a growing political liability for President Bush in part because
Osama Bin Laden’s family were major investors in Carlyle
up until shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Anti-War Protests Set in D.C. and SF on Saturday
And anti-war protesters from across the country are planning
to march in Washington and San Francisco this weekend to oppose
the U.S. occupation in Iraq. The demonstrations are also timed
to coincide with the second anniversary of the passing of
the USA Patriot Act.
Meanwhile in Massachusetts, a judge yesterday ruled in favor
of 11 anti-war protesters who were arrested for trespassing
while they committed civil disobedience outside the Federal
Building in Springfield, Massachusetts.
8:06-8:07 One Minute Music Break
8:07-8:58 - “If you repeat it loudly enough
it will become the truth” - MIT Institute Professor
of Linguistics and author Noam Chomsky speaks out on U.S.
hegemony, controlling the domestic population through fear
and the historical parallels of current U.S. foreign policy.
Anti-war protesters from across the country are planning
to march in Washington and San Francisco this weekend to oppose
the U.S. occupation in Iraq. The demonstrations are also timed
to coincide with the second anniversary of the passing of
the USA Patriot Act.
We spend the hour hearing a speech by institute professor
and professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology Noam Chomsky. He is the author of Hegemony or
Survival: America’s Quest For Global Dominance, 9-11,
Power and Terror and many other books.
- Professor Noam Chomsky, speaking at Illinois State University
on October 7th, 2003.
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 Kris Abrams, Mike Burke, Angie
Karran, Ana Nogueira and Elizabeth Press. Mike Di Filippo
is our music maestro and engineer.
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