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Women, Oil and the Role of the U.S. in Iraq's New Constitution
Protest on the Range: Cindy Sheehan Calls for Mass Demos
at Bush's Crawford Ranch
FDR’s Grandson: At 70-Years-Old, Social Security Will
Be "Successful Right Through The 21st Century"
The Fire This Time: The Watts Rebellion at 40
Women, Oil and the Role of the U.S. in Iraq's New
Constitution
The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution called for
the creation of an autonomous Shiite Region in Southern Iraq.
We speak with activist and author Antonia Juhasz about the
draft Constitution that is due to be released on Monday. [includes
rush
transcript]
On Thursday one of the leading Iraqi Shiite politicians called
for the nine provinces in the oil-rich southern portion of
the country to become an autonomous Shiite region. The announcement
has raised serious questions about whether or not legislators
will meet the August 15 deadline to approve a draft of a new
constitution.
The Shiite politician, Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, made the announcement
one day after meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani,
the leading Shiite cleric.
- Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for
the Islamic Revolution, speaking in Najaf before a gathering
of thousands of Shiite supporters
The move could pave the way for a Shiite-controlled federation
in the south and a Kurdish-controlled federation in the north.
Sunni leaders have condemned the proposal and are warning
that it could lead to the breakup of Iraq. It would block
Sunnis from having access to most of the country's oil resources.
- Saleh al-Mutlaq, a Sunni and a spokesperson for the Iraqi
National Dialogue
That was Sunni leader Saleh Al-Mutlaq. The role of federalism
and the balance of power between the Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish
communities have been key sticking points during constitution
negotiations. The U.S. had set an Aug. 15 deadline for legislators
to agree on a draft constitution. To speak about the current
negotiations over the constitution
- Antonia Juhasz, activist and author of the new book,
"The Bush Agenda: Invading the World One Economy at
a Time"
Protest on the Range: Cindy Sheehan Calls for Mass
Demos at Bush's Crawford Ranch
Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed last year in Iraq,
is finally getting major media coverage after months of protesting
George Bush’s policies in Iraq. We go live to Crawford,
Texas to speak with Cindy Sheehan. [includes rush
transcript]
We turn now to the story of Cindy Sheehan. A year and a half
ago Sheehan’s oldest son, Casey, was killed in Iraq.
He was 24 years old. Sheehan is now in Crawford Texas –
taking part in a vigil near President Bush’s vacation
ranch.
Sheehan has asked to meet with President Bush. But so far
the White House has said no. Now she is threatening to stay
in Crawford until the President grants her a meeting.
- Cindy Sheehan, speaking last week in Crawford, Texas
- President Bush, speaking Thursday
Sheehan’s protest has generated headlines around the
world. Military families from around the country are heading
to Crawford to join her vigil. Meanwhile Sheehan has come
under attack by right-wing websites and commentators. Earlier
this week Bill O’Reilly of Fox News suggested that Sheehan
was committing treason.
- Cindy Sheehan, Her son Casey was killed in Iraq in April
2004. She is the co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.
FDR’s Grandson: At 70-Years-Old, Social Security
Will Be "Successful Right Through The 21st Century"
This weekend marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of
the Social Security Act by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The program remains the most successful social program of
the century. We speak with FDR's grandson. [includes rush
transcript]
This Sunday, marks the seventieth anniversary of the signing
of the Social Security Act. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
signed the Act into law on August 14th, 1935. Social Security
was the centerpiece of his New Deal Program and included benefits
for the elderly, the retired and the unemployed.
- President Roosevelt, speaking at the signing of the Social
Security Act in 1935.
President Bush has made overhauling Social Security a centerpiece
of his second-term domestic agenda. Bush has advocated privatizing
portions of the program claiming it is the only way to save
the system from bankruptcy. But he has encountered fierce
resistance from both Democrats and Republicans and his proposal
for instituting personal accounts died in the House last session.
However, earlier this week Bush met with economic advisors
to strategize ways of pushing through his plan for privitization
when Congress returns in the fall. But Americans remain skeptical
of Bush's efforts. The latest poll conducted by the American
Association of Retired People found that eighty-six percent
of non-retired Americans think social security should continue
as a government program.
- James Roosevelt, Jr., grandson of F.D.R and president
and CEO of Tufts Health Plan.
The Fire This Time: The Watts Rebellion at 40
This week marks the 40th anniversary of the Watts Uprising
in Los Angeles. Today, many of the same economic inequalities
persist for African American residents of South Central. We
speak with Gerald Horne, author of "Fire This Time: The
Watts Uprising and the 1960s." [includes rush
transcript]
This week marks the fortieth anniversary of the Watts rebellion.
Forty years ago yesterday, the South Central neighborhood
of Watts, Los Angeles erupted into six days of rioting after
white traffic police stopped a black man, accused him of drunk
driving and crowds gathered as officers began beating him
with their batons. The Watts uprising sheparded in a new more
militant era of the civil rights movement as African-Americans
took to the streets in a mass protest against white economic
exploitation and police brutality.
But mainstream media coverage at the time portrayed the uprising
only as lawless and destructive. There was little attempt
to understand the reasons behind the rebellion and there were
virtually no interviews with the rioters themselves. In fact,
at the time of the riots, the L.A Times did not have one black
reporter on its' staff.
- Universal Newsreel, report on the Watts Riots, 1965
That was a Universal Newsreel report from 1965 about the
Watts rebellion. We now go to a radio documentary from the
Pacifica Radio
Archives about the uprising that was also produced in
1965. It is entitled “The Fire This Time" and was
produced by Pacifica Radio”s KPFA and KPFK.
- "The Fire This Time", radio documentary produced
by Pacifica Radio's KPFA and KPFK in 1965. Pacifica
Radio Archives
- Gerald Horne, author of the book "Fire This Time:
The Watts Uprising and the 1960s"
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.
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