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FBI Launches Criminal Civil Rights Investigation of NYPD
Over RNC Protests
Ex-NSA Head Bobby Ray Inman on the National Security Agency’s
Domestic Surveillance Program: “This Activity Was Not
Authorized”
Church Committee Counsel Frederick Schwarz on Corporate Involvement
in Government Spying
Baghdad ER: Documentary On US Military Hospital in Iraq Gets
Cold Reception From Army
FBI Launches Criminal Civil Rights Investigation
of NYPD Over RNC Protests
Democracy Now has learned the Justice Department has launched
a criminal investigation of the New York Police Department
over the NYPD’s treatment of protesters during the Republican
National Convention. During the week of the 2004 convention,
police arrested some 1800 protesters – more than at
any previous political convention in the country’s history.
[includes rush
transcript]
Democracy Now has learned the Justice Department has launched
a criminal investigation of the New York Police Department
over the NYPD”s treatment of protesters during the Republican
National Convention. Last week the FBI sent the New York Civil
Liberties Union a letter asking the group for assistance in
what it described as a “pending criminal civil rights
investigation into the New York City Police Department's arrest
of certain individuals in connection with their protest activity
at the Republican National Convention in August of 2004.”
The letter went on to state “We are attempting to determine
if any police officers” conduct violated federal civil
rights statutes.”
During the week of the 2004 convention, police arrested some
1800 protesters – more than at any previous political
convention in the country’s history. It is unclear as
to the extent of the Justice Department”s criminal investigation
of the NYPD, but the FBI appears to be focusing on the arrest
of Dennis Kyne, a Gulf War veteran turned anti-war activist.
Kyne was arrested on the steps of the New York Public Library
on multiple charges including inciting a riot. His case went
to trial but it was dismissed after his legal team presented
videotaped evidence that proved the police lied to the court.
As part of the criminal investigation, the FBI is seeking
to interview other protesters whose constitutional rights
have been violated by the police.
The police department has acknowledged it has opened its
own investigation into the arrest of Kyne and is cooperating
with the FBI. The announcement of the FBI investigation of
the NYPD comes just week after the city’s own Civilian
Complaint Review Board issued a report criticizing the actions
of two deputy police chiefs during the convention. We are
joined now in our Firehouse studio by attorney Gideon Oliver
who is representing Dennis Kyne and other protesters arrested
during the convention.
- Gideon Oliver , attorney for Dennis Kyne and other protesters
arrested during the convention.
Ex-NSA Head Bobby Ray Inman on the National Security
Agency’s Domestic Surveillance Program: “This
Activity Was Not Authorized”
Admiral Bobby Ray Inman has become the highest-ranking former
NSA official to speak out about the domestic spy program.
“There clearly was a line in the FISA statutes which
says you couldn’t do this,” said Inman last week
in remarks that have received little attention. [includes
rush
transcript]
On Thursday the Senate Intelligence Committee will open its
confirmation hearing for General Michael Hayden to become
the next director of the CIA. Hayden is the former head of
the National Security Agency who authorized the agency in
2001 to begin monitoring the phone calls of U.S. citizens
without legally required court warrants.
While Hayden and the Bush administration have defended the
secret domestic surveillance program, it is now being criticized
by an unlikely source – a former director of the NSA.
Last week Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, who headed the NSA from
1977 to 1981, spoke in New York at a forum sponsored by the
New York Public Library and the Century Foundation. It was
part of the library’s Live at the NYPL series.
Besides an article at the website Wired News, Inman’s
statements have received almost no media attention even though
he is believed to the highest ranking former NSA official
to speak out about the program. At the forum he disputed the
Bush administration's claim that Congress authorized the secret
spy program when it authorized the president to use force
following the Sept. 11 attacks. Inman also said the program
clearly contradicts the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act which Congress passed in 1978 – at the time he was
head of the National Security Agency.
- Bobby Ray Inman, Former Director of the National Security
Agency, speaking at a forum sponsored by the New York Public
Library and the Century Foundation.
-
Full transcript of forum available
Church Committee Counsel Frederick Schwarz on Corporate
Involvement in Government Spying
In the 1970s, the Church Committee, led by Senator Frank
Church, conducted a major investigation of the country’s
intelligence agencies. During its investigation the Church
Committee uncovered that several major corporations helped
the NSA spy on Americans in a secretive program known as Project
Shamrock. Frederick Schwarz, who served as chief counsel to
the Church Committee, joins us to look at the similarities
with the current NSA spy scandal. [includes rush
transcript]
In the 1970s, the Church Committee, led by Senator Frank
Church, conducted a major investigation of the country’s
intelligence agencies. The Committee criticized the government
for conducting widespread surveillance of citizens inside
the country and it led Congress to pass the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act in order to establish some form of oversight
over domestic surveillance programs.
During its investigation the Church Committee uncovered that
several major corporations – including Western Union,
ITT and RCA Global – helped the NSA spy on Americans
in a secretive program known as Project Shamrock. To talk
about the Church Committee we are joined by attorney Frederick
Schwarz. He served as chief counsel to the Church Committee
in the mid 1970s. He is now senior counsel at the Brennan
Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and co-author of the
forthcoming book "Unchecked and Unbalanced: Presidential
Power in a Time of Terror."
- Frederick Schwarz , chief counsel to the Church Committee
in the mid 1970s.
Baghdad ER: Documentary On US Military Hospital in
Iraq Gets Cold Reception From Army
A new documentary film on the emergency room of a US military
hospital in Iraq is being met with resistance by the US Army.
The film "Baghdad ER", which airs Sunday on HBO,
chronicles life in the emergency room of the 86th Combat Support
Hospital in Baghdad’s Green Zone during a two-month
period last year. The Army surgeon general has warned military-personnel
it could cause post-traumatic stress disorder, while the Secretary
of the Army asked HBO to delete some footage from the final
cut. We play excerpts of the film, and speak to the film’s
directors, as well as a military doctor depicted in the film,
and a mother of a soldier whose death is chronicled on screen.
[includes rush
transcript]
The Army surgeon general has issued an unusual warning about
an upcoming film that airs this Sunday on HBO. In a memo to
military personnel, Lieutenant General Kevin Kiley writes
that watching the documentary could result in symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder, such as flashbacks or nightmares.
The film "Baghdad ER" chronicles life in the emergency
room of the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad’s
Green Zone during a two-month period last year. It examines
the daily lives of doctors, nurses, chaplains and soldiers
who work at one of the busiest hospitals in Iraq.
"Baghdad ER" was screened on Monday night at the
National Museum of American History and is scheduled to be
shown at 22 military installations around the country. But
it has already caused controversy because of it’s graphic
footage of soldiers reeling from, and in some cases dying,
from their war wounds. HBO screened the film in March for
Senior Army officials including Undersecretary of the Army
Pete Green. HBO’s executive Vice President Richard Pleper
said the film received an enthusiastic response.
But then last week, the Army suddenly seemed to withdraw
support for the film. HBO’s offer to co-sponsor a screening
of the film this week at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where the
86th is based- was turned down by the Pentagon. And last week
the Army suddenly declined to attend Monday’s screening.
In addition, none of the highest ranking officers or senior
medical personnel attended the screening. After the screening,
Shelia Nevins, President of HBO’s documentary unit,
told the Washington Post, "Maybe people at the Pentagon
feel the truth will discourage people from backing the war.
The film certainly tells you what could happen in a war, but
it’s also about the heroism, courage and dedication
of our troops.”
- Jon Alpert, award-winning filmmaker and founder of Downtown
Community Television. Produced and Directed "Baghdad
ER" which airs on HBO on Sunday, May 21st.
- Matthew O’Neill, a producer at Downtown Community
Television. He Produced and Directed "Baghdad
ER" which airs on HBO on Sunday, May 21st.
- Dr. James Hill, flight surgeon in aviation medicine at
Fort Rucker in Alabama. He spent a year as an emergency
medical physician in the Combat Support Hospital in Baghadad.
- Paula Zwillinger, her son, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal
Robert Mininger was killed in Iraq on June 6, 2005. He was
21 years old.
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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