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> Wed., Sept. 14, 2005
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Day Three of John Roberts Confirmation Hearings
UN Summit Kicks Off With Watered Down Resolution
Mumia Abu Jamal Comments on Francis Newton
Driving Days in Iraq
Women in Upcoming Afghani Elections
9/11 Commissioners Release Report
FSRN Headlines
The Senate blocked a bid to open an independent investigation
into the post 9-11 government response to Hurricane Katrina.
Failing to receive 2/3 of the necessary votes, the alternative
option to create a bi-partison congressional panel, prevailed.
Meanwhile, the Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing
to open the door on a government inquiry to look into the
effectiveness of the post 9-11 emergency response plans. After
9-11, the government consolidated response management and
spent billions of dollars on national disaster response plans.
A Jakarta Court sentenced another Australian embassy bomber,
Ahmad Hasan, to death. It is the second such sentencing in
2 days. From Jakarta, Meggy Margiyono has more.
The number of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba who are on
a hunger strike has increased to 128. From Washington, DC
Philip Getz reports.
Chile's Supreme Court has lifted the legal immunity of former
dictator General Augusto Pinochet. This is the third time
the highest court has allowed Pinochet's prosecution on human
rights abuses. Jorge Garretón has more from Santiago.
A San Francisco court ruled that reciting the pledge of allegiance
in public schools is unconstitutional. Meaghan Keyser reports
from KPFA in Berkeley.
[top]
Day Three of John Roberts Confirmation Hearings
(3:09)
And we continue our coverage of confirmation hearings for
nominee, Judge John Roberts for the position of Chief Justice
to the Supreme Court. On day 3, Senators from the Democratic
Party demanded that Roberts state his position on issues of
abortion, affirmative action and capital punishments, as well
as his juridical opinion of specific court decisions. Anastasia
Gnezditskaia reports from Capitol Hill.
[top]
UN Summit Kicks Off With Watered Down Resolution
(3:40)
World leaders converged in New York today for the United
Nations Summit. The conference is set to focus on security,
human rights and aid, as leaders from 191 nations adopted
a watered-down reform plan for the organization. UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan expressed disappointment with the new text,
stating that, at a time when the world's attention centers
on weapons of mass destruction, the issue of non-proliferation
and disarmament are missing. We're joined on the line by Ian
Williams, UN Correspondent for The Nation, Foreign Policy
in Focus UN Analyst.
[top]
Mumia Abu Jamal Comments on Francis Newton
(2:38)
40 year old African American woman Frances
Newton is scheduled to be executed at or after 6:00pm
Central Standard Time tonight in Huntsville, Texas. Newton
would be the 1st African American woman to be officially executed
by the state since Texas re-instituted the death penalty in
1982. Meanwhile, Newton's family, human rights organizations
and lawmakers like Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee have all
made last-ditch attempts to halt the execution. In this commentary,
Mumia Abu Jamal describes Newton's current situation from
his cell on Pennsylvania's death row.
[top]
Driving Days in Iraq (3:23)
Over 150 people were killed today in a series of over a
dozen bombings, in the deadliest attack in Baghdad since the
US-led invasion in March 2003. Over 500 people were left injured
as a result of suicide bombings. Al-Qaeda in Iraq has taken
responsibility for the attacks, which came on the day Iraqi
lawmakers announced the draft constitution would be sent to
the UN to be printed and handed out to residents for the October
15 referendum. Meanwhile, Iraqis are also suffering with severe
fuel shortages and traffic jams. FSRN's Aaron Glantz reports
on the Iraqi government's new solution: alternate day driving.
[top]
Women in Upcoming Afghani Elections (3:29)
Afghanistan will hold its first-ever general election on
Sunday, September 18, when voters will choose the Wolesi Jirga,
or Lower House of Parliament, and Provincial Councils. In
a country where tradition keeps women out of public life,
and even public sight, 25% of the seats have been reserved
for them. Nearly 600 women candidates have come forward but
that's still only about ten per-cent of the total. Tony Cross
followed one of them on the campaign trail.
[top]
9/11 Commissioners Release Report (2:58)
The former 9/11 Commissioners released the first part of
a report today assessing implementation of the Commission's
recommendations on homeland security, emergency preparedness
and response. Ryme Katkhouda of the DC Radio Coop reports.
[top]
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