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> Thur., Aug. 19, 2004
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Senate Judiciary Committee
Pentagon Report Faults Senior Commanders
Luis Jodel Champlain's Trial
US Military Assistance to Protect Nigerian Oil
President Carlos Mesa's Plans in Bolivia
Learning from Latin America
FSRN Headlines
The Iranian Defense Minister said his nation would consider
a pre-emptive strike to protect their nuclear facilities.
Talking in Farsi through an Arabic translator with Al-Jazeera,
Minister Ali Shamkhani said some military commanders in Iran
have said that preventative measures discussed by U.S. officials
are not an American monopoly. Iranian officials insist their
nuclear facilities are strictly for creating energy and will
consider any strike against them an attack on the whole nation.
The United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency
will submit a report based on their investigation of Iran’s
program next month in Geneva. Some diplomats expect economic
sanctions will be imposed on Iran shortly thereafter.
In 1981, the Israeli government unleashed a missile attacked
against another Iranian nuclear facility. Typically, Iranian
officials respond to questions about their nuclear intentions
by pointing to the Israeli plant in the Negev desert. Israeli
officials neither confirm nor deny that the plant is used
to produce and store nuclear weapons. U.S. government officials
have yet to respond to the Iranian Defense Ministers statements
about a possible pre-emptive strike.
Halliburton must submit details about how a billing dispute
with the Army could impact U.S. in Iraq. Renee Feltz reports
from KPFT in Houston.
Today, members of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party,
a para-military and a pro-government Tamil political party
protested in front of foreign missions in Sri Lanka over the
killing of their media spokesman. Ponniah Manikavasagam reports
from Vavuniya.
The Government Accountability Office reports that officials
overseeing potential Medicaid abuse are allowing massive fraud
to slip past them. More from Kellia Ramares.
[top]
Senate Judiciary Committee - 3:54
On Capitol Hill, Congress continued with hearings on the
9/11 Commission's recommendations to secure the homeland.
Today the Senate Judiciary Committee took up the issue of
civil rights and immigration. Mitch Jeserich reports.
[top]
Pentagon Report Faults Senior Commanders
- 3:00
Some senior US commanders are reportedly faulted in a much
anticipated Pentagon report set to be released later this
month. A retiring Republican congressman, meanwhile, expressed
his regret for the US invasion of Iraq calling it a dangerous
costly mess. Jenny Johnson files this report.
[top]
Luis Jodel Champlain's Trial - 1:30
Human rights groups are calling the trial of Haitian death
squad leader Luis Jodel Chamblain a sham. Tuesday's trial,
which acquitted Chamblain of murder, was held at night and
lasted only five hours. K-BOO's Jacob Fenston reports.
[top]
US Military Assistance to Protect Nigerian Oil
- 4:09
The United States has offered to help Nigeria protect oil
installations in the Gulf of Guinea and the adjourning Niger
Delta. This is part of US military collaboration with Nigeria
under US plans to control oil in the Gulf of Guinea. Given
the Nigerian military's poor human rights record, it is feared
that US military assistance could increase human rights violations
in the Niger Delta. Free Speech Radio News correspondent Sam
Olukoya reports.
[top]
President Carlos Mesa's Plans in Bolivia
- 4:12
Bolivian President Carlos Mesa assumed office 10 months
ago amid massive indigenous-led protests that forced his predecessor
and former running mate, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, from office.
Today, he has an approval rating of close to 70 percent, one
of the highest of any president in South America. On July
18, Bolivians voted in favor of a national referendum designed
by Mesa that asked five questions on how to exploit the nation's
natural gas and oil. The referendum was a crucial vote of
confidence in Mesa, who first entered politics as Sanchez
de Lozada's vice-presidential candidate in 2002. However,
he's failed to win over leaders of Bolivia's powerful social
movements, who accuse him of saying one thing and doing another.
From La Paz, FSRN Correspondent Reed Lindsay speaks to President
Mesa and others about the future of Bolivia.
[top]
Learning from Latin America - 4:00
And now, from his cell on Pennsylvania's Death Row, a commentary
from Mumia Abu Jamal.
[top]
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