Home > Programs
> Democracy
Now! > Mon., Dec. 22, 2003
Democracy Now!
ATTN: ALL STATIONS
From: Democracy Now!
Re: Rundown 12-22-03
PRSS Channel: A67.7
8:00-8:01 Billboard:
Is The Libya Agreement To Abandon Arms Programs For Security
Or For Oil?
Iran Signs Protocol on Surprise Inspections; Israel Threatens
Iran's Nuclear Sites
Leaning To The Right? A Look At Canada’s New Prime
Minister
8:01-8:06 Headlines
8:06-8:07 One Minute Music Break
8:07-8:30 Is The Libya Agreement To Abandon Arms
Programs For Security Or For Oil?
INTRO: On the 15th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am
flight 103 that killed 270 people, Libya agrees to give up
its arms program and reestablish diplomatic ties. We speak
with the mother of one of the victims as well as a biographer
of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Libya is ready to sign a protocol allowing surprise UN inspections
of its nuclear sites. This follows Friday’s announcement
of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's decision to abandon
all efforts to develop any chemical, biological and nuclear
weapons. The decision reportedly followed nine month of secret
negotiations with Britain and the United States.
Libya is already a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty but the protocol allows for tougher, short-notice visits
of nuclear sites by IAEA experts.
Several states in the Middle East including Egypt and Iran
welcomed Libya's announcement and urged Israel to follow suit
by eliminating any banned weapons it may have.
Several papers are reporting Libya hopes to gain lucrative
oil contracts blocked by U.S. sanctions as well as reap other
economic benefits form the decision. Libyan Prime Minister
Shukri Ghanem told the BBC “We are turning our swords
into plowshares, and this step should be appreciated and followed
by all other countries.” The U.S. is the one country
that maintains sweeping sanctions, which were imposed in 1986
accusing Libya of supporting terrorist groups.
American oil companies own joint-venture concessions in Libyan
oil fields, but sanctions have blocked them from developing
those fields.
The announcement came the day before the 15th anniversary
of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland
which killed 270 people. After years of denials, Gaddafi admitted
to Libya's role in the bombing earlier this year. Relatives
of people killed in the attack gathered at Arlington National
Cemetery yesterday for a memorial service.
- Susan Cohen, her only child, Theodora, was killed in
the Lockerbie bombing. She was 20 years old and one of 25
students from Syracuse University who were klilled in the
bombing.
- Andrew Lycett, author of “Qaddafi and the Libyan
Revolution” (Little Brown and Company, 1987) He joins
us on the phone from London.
8:30-8:40 Iran Signs Protocol on Surprise Inspections;
Israel Threatens Iran's Nuclear Sites
INTRO: As Iran agrees to allow UN inspectors into the country
to examine suspected nuclear sites, Israeli Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz has begun publicly discussing a possible Israeli
attack on Iran to destroy Iran's nuclear capability. And two
weeks ago, evidence emerged indicating Pakistan might have
given Iran and North Korea technology to enrich uranium.
On Thursday, Iran agreed to allow UN inspectors into the
country to examine suspected nuclear sites. The announcement
came one day before the Libya announced it would scrap its
arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.
Iran signed a portion of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty
and vowed that its atomic program was for peaceful purposes.
The U.S. praised the move but said it was only a first step.
Iran’s claim that its nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes contradicts reports coming out of Pakistan. Two weeks
ago the Pakistani government detained three top nuclear scientists
after evidence emerged that indicated they might have given
Iran and North Korea technology to enrich uranium.
In Israel, Haaretz is reporting that the Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz has begun publicly discussing a possible Israeli
attack on Iran to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability.
The Defense Minister first discussed the attack on Israel
radio. Last month a top official in Israel’s spy agency
Mossad described Iran’s nuclear program as the biggest
threat to Israel since its 1948 creation.
- Prof. Ervand Abrahamian, Middle East and Iran Expert at
Baruch College, City University of New York. He is the author
of several books on Iran including “Khomeinism: Essays
on the Islamic Republic” (University of California
Press, 1993) and The Iranian Mojahedin (Yale University
Press, 1984).
8:40-8:41 One Minute Music Break
8:41-8:50 Leaning To The Right? A Look At Canada’s
New Prime Minister
INTRO: Former Canadian finance minister Paul Martin was
sworn in as prime minister this month replacing Jean Chretien
who has headed up the Liberal Party for the last 10 years.
We go to Ottawa to speak with Tony Clark of the Polaris Institute.
Canada’s former finance minister Paul Martin was sworn
in as prime minister on December 12th. Martin replaces Jean
Chretien who headed up the Liberal Party as prime minister
for the last 10 years.
At Martin's swearing-in ceremony, a Native Canadian elder
conducted a "cleansing ceremony" complete with burning
sage as a sign that the government would change course, even
though Martin has succeeded a fellow Liberal whom he served
as finance minister.
Martin has announced his aim to strengthen Canada's international
standing, particularly in relations with the United States.
He has appointed David Pratt defense minister who urged the
previous government to join the invasion of Iraq. Pratt is
expected to be an articulate advocate for increasing the military
budget.
Martin visited the Department of National Defense headquarters
after only three days while former Prime Minister Chretien
never set foot in the building during 10 years in office.
8:40-8:41 One Minute Music Break
8:41-8:58 Gay Couples Seek Marriage Rights In New
Jersey Lawsuit
INTRO: A notice of appeal is being filed today before an
appellate court in New Jersey that seeks the same rights and
responsibilities for gay couples that go along with government-sanctioned
heterosexual marriage. We speak with a gay couple who are
among seven plaintiffs in the suit.
- Sandra Heath and Alicia Toby, among seven plaintiffs
in a New Jersey lawsuit seeking the same rights for gay
couples that go along with government-sanctioned marriage.
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 Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
|
Listen
to the show
Help
