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> Thur., Dec. 18, 2003
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Bush Cannot Hold Padilla as “Enemy Combatant”
9-11 Attacks “Not Something That Had to Happen”
Central American’s Protest CAFTA
US Goes To UN On Iraq
Sex Workers Call for Basic Rights
Free Speech Radio News Headlines by Randi
Zimmerman
State Employee Says No Random Drug Testing
A veteran Florida state employee is suing the state's Department
of Juvenile Justice for firing him after refusing to submit
to a random drug test. Mitch Perry reports from WMNF.
Australian at Gitmo Gets Attorney
An Australian lawyer has just been granted access to see his
client being held by the United States government for close
to two years at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba. Josh Chaffin has more.
HRW Says Observors Needed in Aceh
Human Rights Watch is asking the Indonesia government to permit
international aid agencies and foreign journalists to visit
Aceh fearing an open door for potential abuses. Meggy Margiono
reports from Aceh.
Berlusconi to Legalize Media Monopoly
Italian media mogul and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is
seeking to legalize his television monopoly over objections
from the Italian President. Diletta Varlese reports from Brecha,
Italy.
Bush's WMD Seeker in Iraq Resigns
George W. Bush’s appointed weapons inspector in Iraq
is resigning from his post citing the most common cause for
leaving this administration -- he wants to spend more time
with his family. David Kay was appointed to the task in June
after Bush officials charged the United Nations was incapable
of finding weapons of mass destruction up until the time of
the U.S. led invasion. In their preliminary report in October,
they said there was evidence of chemical and biological weapons
programs. But to date none of the stockpile of actual weapons
the Bush administration claims is now in Iraq has been found.
The staff of close to 14-hundred workers will continue, despite
a large portion of them being moved to work on how to stop
the mounting resistance to the U.S. occupation.
[top]
Bush Cannot Hold Padilla as “Enemy Combatant”
(4:07)
Today a federal appeals court ruled that the alleged dirty
bomber Jose Padilla must be released from military custody
in 30 days. The 2 to 1 ruling out of the Second Circuit Court
of Appeals in New York indicated Padilla could be transferred
to civilian authorities who could bring him to a trial. The
decision means that President Bush does not have the authority
to designate American citizens as enemy combatants and to
detain them indefinitely without charge. The case will likely
go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Mitch Jeserich has more from
Washington DC
[top]
9-11 Attacks “Not Something That Had to Happen”
(3:49)
Stinging criticism late yesterday for the Bush Administration
from the head of the team selected by President Bush to probe
into the September 11 attacks. Former New Jersey Governor
and head of the investigation team, Republican Thomas Kean
said the attacks were “not something that had to happen”
and the government “simply failed”. Kean said
he was flabbergasted that unnamed officials who should have
done more still have their jobs and he went on to promise
major revelations when his committee starts hearing public
testimony from top officials - possibly even President Bush
and former President Bill Clinton. Deepa Fernandes speaks
to Rita Lasar who lost her brother in the WTC and is a member
of September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrow’s.
[top]
Central American’s Protest CAFTA (3:42)
This week in the nation’s capitol, the United States
finalized negotiations and signed a free trade agreement,
known as CAFTA, with Central American nations, the notable
exception was Costa Rica which left the negotiations in protest.
Costa Rica refused to sign the agreement over proposed trade
rules governing agriculture products, textiles and the service
industry. During recent weeks widespread protests against
CAFTA have been the order of the day throughout Central America.
From Managua, Nan McCurdy has more.
[top]
US Goes To UN On Iraq (4:04)
The US military reported that a soldier was ambushed and
killed in Baghdad yesterday. It was the first American combat
death since Saturday’s seizure of former leader Saddam
Hussein. The attack underscores the continuing resistance
to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Hoping to stem the mounting
casualties, the Bush Administration this week returned to
the United Nations with a plan to transfer power to an Iraqi
provisional government. While some members of the Security
Council are welcoming the plan, critics say it lacks legitimacy
in the eyes of the Iraqi people. Susan Wood reports from the
UN.
[top]
Sex Workers Call for Basic Rights (3:51)
Every year untold numbers of brutal attacks, rapes, or murders
of sex workers go unreported and uninvestigated. Sex workers
say that social attitudes that deem them less than human mean
their deaths are not taken seriously, such as in the case
of the Green River Killer whose sentencing started today for
the murder of at least 48 women, most of them prostitutes.
Yesterday sex workers gathered around the world to remember
those who have been killed and to work to end the violence.
WPFW’s Darby Hickey reports from Washington.
[top]
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