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"Classic Washington Pushoff" - Fmr. Counterrorism
Advisor Rand Beers on Rice's Reported Dismissal of Pre-9/11
CIA Warnings
SEIU Leader Andy Stern on "Getting America Back on Track"
Actor Mark Ruffalo on His Decision To Speak Out Against the
Bush Administration
Tensions High in Oaxaca as Fox Warns Force Might Be Used
to Crush Uprising
"Classic Washington Pushoff" - Fmr. Counterrorism
Advisor Rand Beers on Rice's Reported Dismissal of Pre-9/11
CIA Warnings
In his new book, "State of Denial," Bob Woodward
reveals that then-CIA director George Tenet had warned of
an imminent threat from al-Qaeda in a July 2001 meeting with
Condoleezza Rice. We speak with former counterterrorism advisor
Rand Beers. He served on the National Security Council under
four consecutive presidents before resigning on the eve of
the invasion of Iraq. [includes rush
transcript]
The Bush administration is coming under renewed scrutiny
over its actions in the months prior to the Sept. 11th attacks.
In his new book, State of Denial, Bob Woodward reveals that
on July 10, 2001 then CIA director George Tenet called President
Bush's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to hold
an emergency meeting to review the latest on Osama Bin Laden.
Intelligence was showing an increasing likelihood that al-Qaeda
would soon attack the United States.
According to the Tenet and his counterterrorism chief Cofer
Black told Rice that al-Qaeda was going to attack American
interests, possibly in the United States itself. They also
said that they needed to immediately take covert or military
action to thwart bin Laden.
Woodward reports that Tenet hoped his abrupt request for
an immediate meeting would shake Rice but he left feeling
that Rice had brushed off the warnings. Two months later the
World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacked.
After the publication of Woodward's book, Rice initially
suggested such a meeting in July 2001 did not even take place.
On Sunday, Rice told reporters said, "The idea that I
would have ignored that, I find incomprehensible. I am quite
certain that it was not a meeting in which I was told that
there was an impending attack, and refused to respond."
But on Monday the State Department confirmed that Rice did
meet with Tenet and Black on July 10th and that after the
meeting Rice was compelled enough to ask the CIA to give the
same briefing to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and to
then Attorney General John Ashcroft.
- Rand Beers, served in the Bush administration as Senior
Director for Combating Terrorism on the National Security
Council. He also served on the National Security Council
during the Reagan, first Bush and Clinton administrations.
He resigned in protest from the Bush administration in March
2003, five days before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He is
currently president of the National
Security Network.
SEIU Leader Andy Stern on "Getting America Back
on Track"
We speak with Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees
International Union - the largest and fastest-growing union
in North America - about his new book, "A Country That
Works: Getting America Back on Track." In it, Stern criticizes
labor unions for not adapting to the current political landscape
and for failing to unite more workers. [includes rush
transcript]
A federal advisory panel has recommended Congress take immediate
steps to guarantee that all Americans have access to affordable
health care by 2012. In a draft report released last week,
the panel wrote, "A national public or private program
must be established to ensure protection against very high
out-of-pocket medical costs for everyone." Labor unions
praised the panel findings and the Service Employees International
Union urged the panel to set the 2012 goal in stone to ensure
real reform.
Andy Stern is the president of the SEIU, which is the largest
and fastest-growing union in North America. He has a new book
out -- "A Country That Works: Getting America Back on
Track". In the book, Stern criticizes labor unions for
not adapting to the current political landscape and for failing
to unite more workers. Stern lays out a plan to overhaul the
tax system, transform the health care system, fix the retirement
system, and improve education.
- Andy Stern, president of SEIU,
the Service Employees International Union. His latest book
is "A Country That Works: Getting America Back on Track."
Actor Mark Ruffalo on His Decision To Speak Out Against
the Bush Administration
On Thursday, the group World Can't Wait is calling for protests
in over 170 cities and towns across the country to demonstrate
against President Bush and his administration. This week the
group held emergency gatherings in response to Congress passing
the new Military Commissions Act. Actor Mark Ruffalo took
part in an event in New York. He stopped by our studio to
talk about his decision to speak out. [includes rush
transcript]
On Thursday, the group World Can't Wait is calling for protests
in over 170 cities and towns across the country to demonstrate
against President Bush and his administration. On Monday night,
the group held emergency gatherings in response to Congress
passing the new Military Commissions Act.
In Oakland, Vietnam whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg spoke alongside
poet and author Alice Walker and hip-hop artist Boots Riley.
Here in New York, speakers included former British ambassador
Craig Murray, attorney Bill Goodman and actors Olympia Dukakis
and Mark Ruffalo. Ruffalo stopped by our studio yesterday
to talk for the first time about speaking out against the
Bush administration.
- Mark Ruffalo, actor. His latest film, just released,
is called "All the King's Men" where he stars
alongside Sean Penn.
Tensions High in Oaxaca as Fox Warns Force Might
Be Used to Crush Uprising
In Oaxaca, Mexico, tensions remain high over concerns that
the government is planning to use force to crush a populist
uprising there. Over the weekend, military aircraft began
flying over Oaxaca City and additional troops were deployed
to nearby army posts. We go to Oaxaca to get a report from
independent journalist John Gibler. [includes rush
transcript]
In Oaxaca, Mexico, tensions remain high over concerns that
the government is planning to use force to crush a populist
uprising there. Over the weekend, military aircraft began
flying over Oaxaca City and additional troops were deployed
to nearby army posts. A headline in the Mexico City daily
Milenio proclaimed, "Preparations for war in Oaxaca."
Over the past few months, tens of thousands of striking public
school teachers have been joined by indigenous, youth and
labor organizations to launch a widespread campaign of civil
disobedience in Oaxaca. The protesters are calling for Oaxaca
governor Ruiz Oritiz to resign. Protesters have blockaded
streets and government buildings and have taken over the state-run
television station.
President Vicente Fox has said he will resolve the standoff
before he leaves office at the end of November and has not
ruled out the use of force.
- Vicente Fox, President of Mexico: "While the possibility
exists to reach an agreement we will continue to insist
on it, in reaching an agreement and resolving everything
in that manner. If this does not happen, violations of the
law must always be stopped, and must be punished. This government
is ready to fulfill its responsibility on both accounts.
First, to promote a dialogue, to look for a democratic understanding,
and, to always uphold the application of the law."
Meanwhile, leaders of the Oaxaca populist uprising said they
would not attend a round of negotiations set for today in
Mexico City. They accused the government of using the proposed
forum as an attempt to legitimize the use of force.
- Flavio Sosa, a leader of the People's Popular Assembly
of Oaxaca: "This is like double talk, like a forum
that is attempting to be an ultimatum. We are not going
to accept it. This town has a peaceful vocation. We are
right and most of society is with us. This is a peaceful
fight, I want to insist."
For more on the latest, we go to Oaxaca to speak with independent
journalist John Gibler.
- John Gibler, independent journalist based in Mexico.
His articles have been published in a many magazines including
Z magazine and Left Turn. John's article about the recent
events in Oaxaca will be in the November issue of In These
Times. John is also a Human Rights Fellow with Global Exchange.
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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