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> Mon., June 14, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
FBI Whistleblower Does Not Get Her Day in Court
Tension Building in Iraq
Trans-national Elections in Europe
Domestic Security Enhancement Act – Further Erosion
of Civil Liberties?
Artistic Terrorism?
FSRN Headlines
Cheney Involved in Halliburton Contract
Pentagon officials admit that Vice President Dick Cheney’s
office and political operatives in the Bush White House played
a significant role in granting the no-bid Iraq contract to
Halliburton. Darby Hickey with the D.C. Coop reports.
One Nation Under God in Schools
The U.S. Supreme Court sidesteps the constitutionality of
the phrase “one nation under God” when reciting
the pledge of allegiance in public schools. Ellen Ratner reports
from D.C.
Former Hostages Refused a Hearing at Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court also announced today that they refuse
to hear a case filed by former U.S. hostages who were held
in Iran for 444 days. While the deal was brokered by the Carter
administration, the hostages were released on the day Ronald
Reagan was inaugurated. Some recently released documentation
indicated that the hostages were intentionally held past the
November elections. A federal appeals court ruled last year
that the agreement made to release the hostages prohibited
legal action against Iran. Today’s Supreme Court decision
allows that ruling to stand.
Iran Pressured on IAEA
Western nations are putting pressure on Iran through the International
Atomic Energy Agency or the IAEA. Haider Rizvi explains from
the United Nations.
Fed Sweep LA for Undocumented
Federal agents are sweeping through the LA area stopping people
who they believe may be undocumented residents, including
those traveling to the U.S. for medical treatment. Aura Bogado
reports from KPFK.
Environmental Activist Cause for Terror Alert
A nationwide fundraising effort for an imprisoned environmental
activist was seen as a threat to US law enforcement, which
then issued warnings of eco-terrorism over the weekend. Andrew
Stelzer has more from WMNF.
[top]
FBI Whistleblower Does Not Get Her Day in Court
(4:50)
Today Attorney General John Ashcroft announced charges against
Somali native Nuradin Abdi of attempting to blow up a shopping
mall in Columbus, Ohio. A grand jury returned a 4-count indictment
including a count of conspiracy to provide material support
to Al-Qaeda. Abdi has been in custody since November for immigration
violations. Ashcroft used the occasion to reissue the administration's
warning that Al-Qaeda wants to hit the U.S. hard. Meanwhile,
as Mitch Jeserich reports from DC former FBI translator and
whistleblower Sibel Edmonds claims that the Justice Department
is delaying court proceedings to address the issue of a so-called
gag order against her.
[top]
Tension Building in Iraq (2:40)
In Baghdad, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi’s office yesterday
confirmed that the United States is seeking into a special
legal category for foreign contractors in Iraq, one that not
subject to military justice and beyond the reach of Iraq's
justice system. If granted – private contractors would
enjoy the same immunity from local laws that US military personnel
now receive. This afternoon, a car bomb in a busy Baghdad
square during rush hour killed at least eight people, including
five foreign contractors. As the June 30 deadline for a limited
transfer of power from the occupation authority to Iraqis
nears, U-S and Iraqi officials are predicting an increase
in violence. But even as the U-S military draws back from
some areas, tensions between Iraqis are building, as Salam
Talib and David Enders report from Najaf.
[top]
Trans-national Elections in Europe (3:24)
In the world's largest trans-national elections, voters
in Europe’s 25 member states went to the polls over
the last four days. But apathy was apparent -- only 155 million
of the 350 million eligible voters cast their ballots. Many
who did vote used the opportunity to cast protest votes against
national governments who supported the military action in
Iraq, as was the case with Tony Blair’s government in
Britain. These elections and Britain’s local council
elections have plunged Blair’s Labour government into
crisis. Naomi Fowler reports from London that this was the
worst electoral performance for the ruling party in UK political
history.
[top]
Domestic Security Enhancement Act – Further
Erosion of Civil Liberties? (3:42)
Following September 11, Bush and Congress adopted sweeping
anti-terror policies that critics say in many cases have cast
a long shadow over the civil liberties of Americans. This
election year there is a political struggle over the expiration
of certain laws in the Patriot Act. In their campaigns, both
Senator John Kerry and President Bush address the Patriot
Act sunset Laws. Bush is campaigning ON the Patriot Act and
it’s potential extension. Senator Kerry has signed on
to a bill that addresses key controversial issues in the Patriot
Act. Meanwhile, what some civil libertarians find troubling
his election year is the covert effort to push the Domestic
Security Enhancement Act 2003 known as Patriot Act 2. From
New York, Geoff Brady has more.
[top]
Artistic Terrorism? (3:54)
A Grand Jury convenes tomorrow in Buffalo, New York to hear
testimony regarding a New York art professor under scrutiny
for possession of biological agents that were used in his
artwork. The trial is proceeding despite the failure of the
FBI to file any charges, and after the materials were deemed
legal and harmless. Free Speech Radio News correspondent Catherine
Komp reports.
[top]
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