Pacifica's Peace Watch
Fri., Feb. 7, 2003
Today's Stories:
Games are over: Bush Rush
Congressman Ron Paul Co-Sponsors Bill to Repeal War Powers
Given to Bush
Not So Fast: DeFazio Introduces Resolution to Repeal War Powers
European Parliamentarians Meet with Un Officials in Baghdad
North Korea Proposals Pre-emptive Strike Against US
New York Peace Rally Court Hearing
NYC - Times Square Rally
Forum at Howard University - War Alternatives
Senior Citizens Protest
The audio of today's show is posted at http://www.radio4all.net/
Story: Games are over: Bush Rush
The Bush administration has raised the national terror alert
from yellow to orange, the second-highest level in the color-coded
system. Attorney General John Ashcroft cited an "increased
likelihood" that the Al-Qaeda terrorist networks would
attack Americans, either at home or abroad. Ashcroft said
apartment buildings; hotels or other "lightly secured
targets" in the United States could be vulnerable. The
attorney general also said terrorists might seek "economic
targets, including the transportation and energy sectors,
as well as symbolic targets and symbols of American power."
That alert comes on the heels of President Bush’s
bellicose warning yesterday to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
that quote - - - ‘the games are over’ - - - made
during a late afternoon statement yesterday at the White House.
Tape: President-select Bush
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Story: Congressman Ron Paul Co-Sponsors Bill to Repeal
War Powers Given to Bush
Congressman Ron Paul, Republican of Texas, co-sponsored
a bill this week with Democratic Representative Peter DeFazio
of Oregon to repeal the law granting Bush broad military authority
to attack Iraq. Paul answered the questions of callers on
C-Span yesterday about his reasons for opposing the war in
Iraq.
Tape: Congressman Ron Paul Republican of Texas
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Story: Not So Fast: DeFazio Introduces Resolution
to Repeal War Powers
Some U.S. lawmakers - - - both Republicans and Democrats
- - - opposed to launching a pre-emptive attack on the people
of Iraq have introduced a resolution to repeal the authority
Congress granted the president last fall to declare war on
Iraq. Democrat Peter DeFazio of Oregon has co-authored a bill
with Republican Ron Paul of Texas that would take back the
broad powers congress granted Bush last fall to launch an
attack against Iraq. During a conversation with Peace Watch
this afternoon, Representative DeFazio said he heard nothing
in Secretary of State Colin Powell’s address to the
UN that convinced him the U.S. needs to go to war against
Iraq. DeFazio was one of several Democrats who voted against
granting Bush war powers in October. We asked him if he’s
heard from his constituents on this issue.
Tape: Congressman Peter DeFazio, Democratic of Oregon
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Story: European Parliamentarians Meet with Un Officials
in Baghdad
Two dozen left-wing members of the European Parliament are
on their way back home today after a week-long trip to Iraq.
As part of their trip the Parliamentarians met with United
Nations officials in Baghdad. From Amman, Jordan Aaron Glantz
has their findings.
Tape:
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Story: North Korea Proposals Pre-emptive Strike Against
US
The British newspaper The Guardian reported recently that
the North Korean foreign ministry said, “North Korea
is entitled to launch a pre-emptive strike against the US
rather than wait until the American military have finished
with Iraq.” PeaceWatch spoke with Journalist Tim Shorrock
who has written about US relations with Korea for over 20
years, to get his assessment of the threat that North Korea
poses.
Tape: Tim Shorrock journalist and expert on North Korea
for over 20 years
North Korean Song: by The Radio Satire Group "Christmas
Coup Comedy Players" at Pacifica Stations KPFT in Houston
and WBAI in New York
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Story: New York Peace Rally Court Hearing
The Peace Movement has run into opposition from the City
of New York. Millions were scheduled to march pass the United
Nations and rally for peace in New York City on Saturday,
February 15, which has been planned as an international day
of protest. So far, they have been unable to get a permit
from the City to march. United For Peace has gone to court
to sue the City for their constitutional rights. PeaceWatch
spoke with Jane Hirschman, today at the federal Courthouse
while the hearings were in progress.
Tape: Jan Hirschman, United for Peace
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Story: NYC - Times Square Rally
As Secretary of State Colin Powell made his presentation
to the UN Security Council, to convince the world that Iraq
was in breech of the UN Resolution 1441, he seemed not to
have made a dent in the passion of people against an impending
war. For them, Bush’s case was not made.
Tape: Ian Forrest from Pacifica Station WBAI in NY attended
the ANSWER Coalition’s Answer to Secretary Powell and
filed this report.
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Story: Forum at Howard University - War Alternatives
In what organizers say is an attempt to spend more money
on academic events instead of parties, Howard University’s
Graduate Student Assembly hosted “Destination: Iraq”
a debate forum between six panelists from local university
and government policy think tanks. The panel presented arguments
for and against military invasion of Iraq.
Deputy Director at the Institute for Near East Policy, Dr.
Patrick Clawson began with a pro-invasion position focused
on the problem of Saddam Hussein’ dictatorship and the
continued suffering of the Iraqi people.
Tape: David Russo of PeaceWatch and the DC Independent Media
Center filed this report
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Story: Senior Citizens Protest
What's more charismatic than Donald Rumsfeld's chiseled
jaw? It may be the vocal group of Californians shaking canes,
rolling in wheelchairs, and supported by walkers marching
for peace. Each Friday, disregarding the obstacles of poor
health and cold weather, a 100 strong group of residents at
Mill Valley's Redwood Retirement Center in Marin, California
march out of their residences and take to their streets to
oppose the impending war in Iraq. Peacewatch had a chance
to speak with one of those enthusiastic activists last week,
and Eleanor Kennedy expressed both her concerns, and her hopes
for a more peaceful America.
Tape: Eleanor Kennedy, of Marin California
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For a copy of today's show, please contact Pacifica
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