Pacifica's Peace Watch
Monday Dec. 02, 2002
Today's Stories:
UN Update
Hans Von Sponek
Dennis Kucinish
Houston Candlelight Vigil
Turkey’s Role in War
Cost of War: William Nordhaus Report
Ralph & Mya: Elliott Abrams Commentary on Cost of War
Phil Berrigan
The audio of today's show is posted at http://www.radio4all.net/
Story: UN Update
The U.N. Security Council reversed it self late Sunday and
handed over to the United States and the four other permanent
council members — Britain, France, Russia and China
— full copies of the 12,000-page declaration. Deputy
Russian Ambassador Gennady Gatilov said the United States
had taken the council's lone copy to Washington where it would
make duplicates for distribution to the four other council
members. Angered by the deal cut over the weekend by Secretary
of State Colin Powell, diplomats said, Syria planned to protest
the arrangement during Security Council consultations Monday.
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it would
take some time to review the declaration and he called on
Washington and others to be patient with the inspectors.
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Story: Hans Von Sponek
Hans Von Sponek, former U-N Humanitarian Aid Project Coordinator
says there’s little to object to if one is interested
in a peaceful resolution . He quit his post in the year 2000
because of U.S. sanctions against Iraq which he perceived
to be a punitive policy that was causing suffering to innocent
civilians. During an interview today with Peace Watch Von
Sponek says he is disappointed with Senators comments that
the report contains false information and says one has to
recognize the effort Bagdad has made comply with resolution
1441.
Tape: Hans Von Sponek, former U-N Humanitarian Aid Project
Coordinator from 1998 to 2000
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Story: Dennis Kucinish
Congress is officially out of session until January 7th,
when members come back to DC under Republican control. But
a handful of lawmakers from the "progressive house caucus"
came together this afternoon in the capitol with an anti-war
message. They challenge to the Bush Administration to let
the UN weapons inspectors do their job. The event was organized
by Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich:
Tape: Democratic Representatives Maurice Hinchey, NY, John
Conyers, MI, and Barbara Lee, CA Josh Chaffin of Independent
Media reported
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Story: Houston Candlelight Vigil
As concern about war on Iraq grows, the Houston Coalition
for Justice not War is taking action OUTSIDE of the local
peace and justice community in order to encourage members
of the GENERAL PUBLIC to take a stand for peace.
Tape: by Honore Brown and Jeff Barber of the Houston Independent
Media Center and Pacifica station KPFT.
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Story: Turkey’s Role in War
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan [re-JEP ty-IP ER-do-gon]
arrives in Washington tonight for meetings with George Bush,
Dick Cheney, Condolisa Rice and Donald Rumsfeld. On the agenda
is whether the Bush administration will be allowed to launch
its attack on Iraq from Turkey military bases.
Tape: Aaron Glantz in Istambul, reported
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Story: Cost of War: William Nordhaus Report
A report issued last week by the American Academy of Arts
and Science, entitled War with Iraq: Cost, Consequences and
Alternatives, found that the political, military and economic
consequences of war with Iraq could be extremely costly; far
more than is being estimated by the Bush administration. Professor
William Nordhaus of Yale University projects that in the worst
case scenario the total cost of war with Iraq could be as
high as $1.9 Trillion. And asserts further that the Administration
has failed to articulate the full economic impact of this
war on the U.S. economy and the potential for global ramifications.
Tape: Professor William D. Nordhaus, of Yale University
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Story: Ralph & Mya: Elliott Abrams Commentary
on Cost of War
President Select Bush has appointed Elliot Abrams, as his
new director of Middle Eastern Affairs and speculation is
growing that he will be responsible for the occupation and
reconstruction of Iraq if there is a war. Human Rights Watch
and Amnesty International accused Abrams of complicity in
the operation and cover up of death squads in Guatemala, Honduras
and El Salvador. According to Ralph Shoneman and Mya Shone
of Pacifica station WBAI in New York, if there is a war with
Iraq, we can expect death squads to be employed in Iraq to
silence any and all opposition.
Tape: Ralph Shoneman and Mya Shone of Pacifica station WBAI
in New York
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Story: Phil Berrigan
Surrounded by his family and community, renowned peace activist
Philip Berrigan passed away from cancer Friday evening at
his home in Baltimore, MD. He was 79. Philip Berrigan and
his brother Dan, both Catholic priests gained national prominence
for opposing the Vietnam War by burning draft files with homemade
napalm. Rooted in his faith, Philip’s commitment to
resisting US militarism continued. With the support of his
community, he was arrested over 100 times and spent 11 years
of his life behind bars for nonviolent civil resistance.
Tape: by Pacifica’s Peacewatch producer Laurel Paget-Seekins
Credits
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For a copy of today's show, please contact Pacifica
Radio Archives at 800 735 0230.
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