Home > Programs
> FSRN
> Wed., Mar. 16, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
Thanks to FSRN.org
for making the daily programs available to Pacifica.org
Today's lead stories:
Major Move Towards Drilling in Alaska's National Wildlife
Refuge
Residents Still Skeptical as Israel Hands Over Jericho
Wolfowitz is Bush's Choice to Lead World Bank
Australia Responds to China's Law to Possibly Attack Taiwan
Hallabja Massacre Anniversary
Italy Extends Iraq Mission Another Six Months
Armed Forces Plans to Start Live Bombing Exercises in Environmentally
Sensitive Central Florida
FSRN Headlines
US HOUSE HANDILY APPROVES ANOTHER 81.4 BIL FOR WARS
The US House overwhelmingly approved an $81.4 billion emergency-spending
package for combat and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan
today that if passed by the Senate will push the total cost
of the wars beyond $300 billion. The legislation is the fifth
emergency-spending measure President Bush has sent to Congress
for wars since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The bill
approved by the House provides $76.8 billion for defense-related
expenses and is roughly $500 million less than the president's
request. The House trimmed the president’s request for
Afghan reconstruction projects and State Department programs
and prohibited any money in the bill from being used to build
a sprawling U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Illinois Representative
Danny Davis was one of only 43 members to oppose the bill,
and speaking on the House floor he explains why. The ANSWER
Coalition is calling for nationwide protests this Saturday
to mark the 2nd anniversary if the invasion of Iraq and to
demand an end to the occupation.
CUNY STAFF MEMBER SUSPENDED FOR PROTESTING RECRUITERS
The arrest and suspension of a secretary at a community college
days after a protest has sent shock waves through the college
campus. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.
BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
Indigenous coca farmers in the Chapare region of Bolivia lifted
crippling road blockades today, hours after Bolivian President
Carlos Mesa asked parliament to convoke early elections. Reed
Lindsay has more from La Paz, Bolivia.
MORE PINOCHET MONEY IN US BANKS
A new Senate Committee report released today reveals that
ties between former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and
private banks in the United States were much deeper than previously
thought. Ellen Ratner reports from Washington DC.
[top]
Major Move Towards Drilling in Alaska's National
Wildlife Refuge (3:04)
After a several year battle, the US Senate today took a
major step forward in opening up Alaska's National Wildlife
Refuge to oil drilling. The Senate narrowly rejected an amendment
to the budget resolution that would have continued to protect
the 19 million acres of land that is home to over 260 species.
Mitch Jeserich reports from Washington
[top]
Residents Still Skeptical as Israel Hands Over Jericho
(1:42)
The handover of Jericho from Israeli to Palestinian Authorities
was postponed for several hours today - Israel said they forgot
their written agreement while Palestinians accused the Israelis
not wanting to sign. Sami Musallam is Jericho's Governor.
CLIP1
The main Palestinian-Israeli disagreement that postponed the
agreement last week remains unsolved, and Palestinians accepted
control of Jericho without the neighboring village of Oja-
one of the main entries to the city which sits on the main
road of the Jordan Valley. Israeli solders remained on the
checkpoints until 6.00PM waiting orders to evacuate, then
remained on site, although they were not controlling passing
cars. Governor Musallam says that at least one checkpoint
will be removed.
CLIP 2
Residents remain skeptical in the city citing that all the
has essentially happened is movement of checkpoints from one
part of the city to another. Awad Duabies prepared this report
for us.
[top]
Wolfowitz is Bush's Choice to Lead World Bank (2:04)
Paul Wolfowitz became the latest administration hawk picked
for a role in a major international body today. The Deputy
Defense Secretary is President Bush's choice for President
of the World Bank. Anastasia Gnezditskaia reports.
[top]
Australia Responds to China's Law to Possibly Attack
Taiwan (3:12)
The recent passage of anti-secession legislation in Beijing
led to worsened relations between China and Taiwan. As the
tension between the two escalate, talk of the US military
supporting Taiwan in a possible conflict has put Australia
in a precarious position. Erica Vowles reports from Sydney.
[top]
Hallabja Massacre Anniversary (4:38)
Iraq's National Assembly met for the first time today- although
plans for a coalition government agreement between Shiite
and Kurds came to a stalemate. Shiites, who won 140 seats
in the assembly, still need 75 seats gained by the Kurds to
acquire the two-thirds majority to elect a president, who
will, in turn, nominate a prime minister. As the shaky National
Assembly opens, today also marks the 17th anniversary of the
Hallabja massacre in Iraq. On, March 16, 1988, Saddam Hussein
doused the small Kurdish city with deadly chemical weapons,
killing 5,000 civilians. At the same, Iraq was in the midst
of a long war with Iran. Europe and the United States backed
Saddam, but Kurdish civilians, tired of Saddam's oppressive
rule, sided with Iran. Saddam retaliated in a number of ways-
including using chemical weapons. But his Anfal campaign was
far more severe. In 1988, thousands of Kurdish homes were
burned to the ground. After they lost their homes, many tens
of thousands were taken to death camps and shot. Aaron Glantz
reports.
[top]
Italy Extends Iraq Mission Another Six Months
(1:38)
Despite objections by left-leaning parties, the Italian
government coalition parties voted in parliament on Tuesday
to extend funding for its Iraq mission for another six months.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced that Italy
will start withdrawing its soldiers from Iraq this September.
Center-left opposition parties in Italy have used Iraq as
a rallying cry against Prime Minister Berlusconi, a strong
ally of the Bush administration. FSRN's Diletta Varlese reports
from Rome.
[top]
Armed Forces Plans to Start Live Bombing Exercises
in Environmentally Sensitive Central Florida (3:45)
After decades of protest by the people of Puerto Rico, a
US navy bombing range on the island of Vieques was closed
in 2003. The environmental damage and health risks to the
people and habitat of Vieques Island will take their toll
for years to come. But now the Navy and Air Force are attempting
to relocate live bombing exercises which took place at Vieques,
to environmentally sensitive land in central Florida- and
citizens who live near the site are being left out of the
decision making process. From WMNF radio In Tampa, Andrew
Stelzer reports.
[top]
|
Listen
to the show 
Help
stream
download
