Pacifica's Peace Watch
Mon., Feb. 3 2003
Today's Stories:
Militarism of Space
Draft Board Resister
Military Reservist Against The War
Commentary from Monty Python’s Terry Jones
Jordan Anti-War Rally
Anti-war Resolution Los Alamos, New Mexico
Funkis Velvet Spoken Word Artist
The audio of today's show is posted at http://www.radio4all.net/
Story: Militarism of Space
A group of NASA panelists who warned last year that safety
problems loomed on the horizon for the fleet of shuttles if
more money was not poured into the agency and were consequently
fired from the panel; now say NASA was trying to suppress
their criticisms.
A sixth panelist on the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel,
retired three-star admiral, Bernard M. Kauderer, was so upset
at the firings that he quit the group.
NASA said it changed the charter of the group so that new
members, younger and more skilled, could be added. Sonja Alexander,
a spokeswoman at NASA headquarters in Washington said, “It
had nothing to do with shooting the messenger.”
Members of Congress who heard testimony from the panel last
spring said yesterday that they would re-examine whether budget
constraints had undermined safety, but several said they doubted
it. The Bush administration said today that it would propose
a $470 million increase in NASA spending and that the increase
was planned before the Columbia's destruction this weekend.
Leading members of Congressional committees with oversight
for the space program promised yesterday that they would investigate
whether the budget policies of the administration and Congress
were a factor in the loss of the shuttle.
Bruce Gagnon, International Coordinator of Global Network
Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space said the loss of
the seven astronauts comes as NASA begins to expand its program
to use nuclear power in outer space. We spoke with Gagnon
from Albuquerque, New Mexico where he’s participating
in a vigil outside a meeting of aerospace industry scientists.
Tape: Bruce Gagnon, International Coordinator of Global
Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.
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Story: Draft Board Resister
Last month, two pieces of legislation were introduced in
both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives that,
if passed, may reinstate the military draft that was abolished
in 1973. Democratic Representative, Charlie Rangel of NY introduced
legislation in Congress to reinstate the draft for men and
women between the ages of 18-26. Backing the bill is Democratic
Representative from Michigan, John Conyers. Both are armed
services veterans and members of the Congressional Black Caucus
who argue that two years of mandatory military or national
civilian service for all Americans, men and women, in the
18 to 26 year age group, creates a fair approach to who should
bear the burden of war But one member of the Selective Service
Board from a local Branch near Houston, TX sees the draft
as unconstitutional and has come out firmly against the proposed
attack on Iraq.
Tape: Eric Dondero, a navy veteran. Produced by Jackson
Allers of Pacifica station KPFT, Houston
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Story: Military Reservist Against The War
Peace Watch reporter Ingrid Drake had the opportunity to
speak recently with a Marines corps reservist who is being
deployed today to an unknown destination. The reservist, who
asked to remain anonymous, received a Masters Degree in international
studies, with an emphasis in Peace and Middle East affairs.
He does not believe the Bush Administration has made a case
for invading Iraq.
Tape: Anonymous Marines Corps Reservist. Produced by Ingrid
Drake from WBIX.org, Refugees and Exiles Radio Network
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Story: Commentary from Monty Python’s Terry
Jones
The administration has indicated that it will be weeks not
months before going to war with Iraq. And, in the face of
an ongoing debate about using funds from Iraqi oil to fund
the war, London Observer commentator and former cast member
of Monty Python, Terry Jones, offers these rather unique suggestions.
Tape: Terry Jones, commentator for the London Observer and
former cast member of Monty Pythons Flying Circus.
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Story: Jordan Anti-War Rally
More than a thousand people held an anti-war protest last
Saturday in Amman, Jordan, in the first authorized demonstration
in several months. With its parliament dissolved since June
2001, Jordan is governed with decrees, laws of exception and
arbitrary arrests. Though expressions of popular dissent are
usually prohibited, Jordanian public opinion is generally
in sharp contrast with the crown on the issues of the Israeli/
Palestinian conflict and the impending war with Iraq.
Tape: Raphael Krafft filed this report from Amman, Jordan
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Story: Anti-war Resolution Los Alamos, New
Mexico
On January 27, Los Alamos, NM held a forum to pass an anti-war
resolution. Los Alamos is most often mentioned as the birthplace
of the nuclear bomb, yet it is also a vibrant and culturally
diverse intellectual community. The nuclear plant is still
active, yet at this forum the focus was on peace. At the meeting
Vietnam Vets, nuclear lab workers, and young people all gave
ample reason to oppose the war in Iraq and protect the Constitution
in this 'defense' town.
Tape: By independent producer Steven Fettig
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Story: Funkis Velvet Spoken Word Artist
Finally, tonight this musical reflection from Washington-area
actor and performance artist Funkis Velvet.
Tape: Funkis Velvet
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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