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> Mon., Mar. 31, 2003
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Today's lead stories:
Latest Update in War
UN: Oil For Food
Affirmative Action Case Tomorrow
Burma Boycott Grows
Black Community Rally for Peace
Latest Update in War
“There is no honor in murder. This war is murder by
another name”, so said a statement signed over the weekend
by some 800 US war veterans in a message to the troops. This
comes as the war on Iraq picked up intensity. Embedded reporters
with U.S. Marines battling in An Nasiriyah indicate that up
to 5,000 more reinforcements are currently being sent to join
the 7k Marines already there . The Australian Broadcasting
Corporation is reporting that thousands of marines have been
given a pamphlet called "A Christian's Duty," a
mini prayer book which includes a tear-out section to be mailed
to the White House pledging the soldier who sends it in has
been praying for President Bush. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command,
says it is deciding how to treat captured Iraqis as prisoners
of war. In a war briefing, Brigadier General Vincent Brooks
says no decision's been made yet to designate any of the more
than 4,000 Iraqi prisoners as unlawful combatants, but if
they are designated as “terrorists” by the military
they could be sent to Guantanamo base in Cuba. And despite
some unprecedented turns, with troops facing suicide bombings
and others acts of resistance seemingly unexpected by US central
Command, Military spokesmen still maintain the war in on track.
Ian Forrest takes a look at some of the issues in the news
in this the nations 2nd week at war.
[top]
UN: Oil For Food
Iraq’s information minister on Saturday rejected a
new United Nations Resolution renewing the oil-for-food program,
one day after its unanimous approval by the security council.
The measure gives un secretary-general Kofi Annan sole authority
for 45 days to buy food and medicine using frozen Iraqi oil
revenues. Minister Mohammed said Al-Sahhaf said any measure
not involving the Iraqi government cannot be implemented on
the ground. Until Annan suspended the program on the eve of
the U.S.-led invasion, the Iraqi Government distributed food
throughout most of the country, and Baghdad has sharply criticized
Annan for bowing to u.s. pressure. The new resolution, adopted
after a week-long debate, nods in the direction of Iraqi sovereignty,
but critics say it fails to call for what Iraqi civilians
need most: a ceasefire. Susan Wood reports from the UN.
[top]
Affirmative Action Case Tomorrow
The United States Supreme Court will begin deliberations
this week on two Michigan court cases that could do away with
affirmative action. In a nationwide response, civil rights
groups, religious organizations and affirmative action proponents
have organized a march in Washington DC tomorrow in an effort
to rally around what organizers are calling an increasing
erosion of civil rights. In Houston, a diverse group of young
people boarded a bus for the 30 hour ride to Washington as
Houston-area Democratic Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee
and members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a town
hall meeting to assess civil rights in America. Jackson Allers
reports from Pacifica station KPFT in Houston.
[top]
Burma Boycott Grows
The 40th store in 3 years has announced it will no longer
carry goods manufactured in Burma. May Department Stores,
the St. Louis based retail company and the owner of 14 chains
including Lord and Taylor, Hecht's and David's Bridal, said
it will no longer be tied to a garment industry supported
by sweat shop labor. As a result of the boycott campaign spearheaded
by the Free Burma Coalition, US imports of “made in
Burma” clothing have dropped nearly 30% in the last
year alone. Ingrid Drake reports from DC.
[top]
Black Community Rally for Peace
The International Black Coalition for Peace and Justice
held a mass rally to demonstrate opposition to the Bush Administration's
war on Iraq and the Iraqi people. Eben Ray has more from LA.
[top]
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