Pacifica's Peace Watch
Tues. Feb. 11, 2003
Today's Stories:
No March at New York Rally
Pentagon Town Hall Meeting
Iraqi War Preparation
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Civil Liberties Threatened
NATO in Crisis Over Turkey
Eid Feast Raphael
Political Folk Singer Stephan Smith
The audio of today's show is posted at http://www.radio4all.net/
Story: No March at New York Rally
Organizers of the massive peace rally planned for New York
City this weekend are continuing their court battle to get
a permit to march. Peace advocates are mobilizing in over
304 cities around the world for a mass demonstration against
a U.S. led attack on the people of Iraq. United
for Peace and Justice, the organizers of the New York
City demonstration are fighting for a permit to march in front
of the United Nations where a decision will be made over the
next week or so whether to authorize war. The majority of
the U-N Security Council members are opposed to military action
and three key members of the Council, France, Germany and
Russia have threatened to use their veto power to prevent
a U-S resolution declaring war.
The former archbishop of South Africa, Bishop
Desmond Tutu a slated speaker at the Saturday’s
protest says the tactics sound all too familiar.
Tape: Bishop Desmond
Yesterday, US District Court Judge Barbara Jones upheld a
lower court ruling denying the group a permit to march. The
Judge cited heightened security concerns as the reasons for
refusing the permit. She asserted that the U.S. Constitution
guarantees the right to protest but no right to march.
Bob Wing of United for Peace and Justice, the organizing
coalition for this mass demonstration spoke with Peace Watch
this morning about the judge’s ruling.
Tape: Bob Wing of United for Peace and Justice
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Story: Pentagon Town Hall Meeting
Last night, Pentagon officials were invited to a town hall
meeting in Arlington, Virginia by US Congressman James Moran.
It was the first occasion during which pentagon officials
have attended a town hall meeting about the impending war
against Iraq. Most of the 400 people in attendance had tough
questions for the congressional and military representatives.
Tape: Ingrid Drake and Matt Bradley from WBIX.org
Refugees and Exiles Radio Network filed this report
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Story: Iraqi War Preparation
The Bush administration and the United Kingdom continue
to send troops to the region around Iraq. Inside Baghdad preparations
are underway for the impending military assault.
Tape: PeaceWatch Correspondent Jeremy
Scahill, from Baghdad.
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Story: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Officials at the Department
of Homeland Security issued strict warnings about terrorist
attacks yesterday, and they recommended that all Americans
take certain precautions, including stocking their homes with
three days worth of food and water in case of a strike with
chemical, biological or radiological weapons. They also advised
that families should designate a room in their house to gather
in, in case of attack, and that they should have blankets,
flashlights, scissors, spare batteries, a manual can opener
and heavy plastic sheeting. And, of course, extra rolls of
duct tape.
The likelihood of terrorist threats in the near future was
a topic of discussion at today’s hearing of the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence. Among those who expressed
concerns was Committee Chairman Pat Robert, Republican from
Kansas.
Tape:
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Story: Civil Liberties Threatened
While Americans are warned of possible terrorists threats,
quietly and outside the scope of public scrutiny the US
Justice Department is preparing to expand the powers of
the so-called Patriot Act to further erode civil liberties
guaranteed residents under the U.S. Constitution and the Bill
of Rights.
Tape: Pacifica station WBAI’s
Hosts Ralph Schoenman and Mya Shone
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Story: NATO in Crisis Over Turkey
Europe’s split with America deepened after France,
Germany and Belgium vetoed measures to authorize NATO
to make plans to protect Turkey in the event of an attack
on Iraq. PeaceWatch reporter Aaron Glantz was in Turkey recently
and filed this report on the latest developments as war with
Iraq seems more and more likely.
Tape: Aaron Glantz, PeaceWatch reporter in Amman, Jordan
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Story: Eid Feast Raphael
Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid
Al Adha, which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage
to the holy city of Mecca. They observe this feast by slaughtering
a lamb to remember Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son
Ismael to show his allegiance to god. In Jordan-- like in
most Arab countries-- Eid has a somewhat different tone this
year.
Tape: Oula Farawati and Raphael Krafft report from Amman
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Story: Political Folk Singer Stephan Smith
Stephan Smith's
folk songs and poetry have become national anthems to the
activist community. We caught up with this cultural activist
Saturday as he joined some 100 people at DC’s Youth
Activism Summit. The Youth Activism Summit was organized by
the Youth Leadership Support Network. Today Smith will be
releasing an album called "THE BELL" with his message
of Anti-War, Equity, and Cultural equality. "THE BELL"
also includes artist and folk legend Pete Seeger, Dean Ween,
DJ Spooky and Tara Nevins (Donna the Buffalo.)
Tape: Stephan Smith, political folk singer Thanks to James,
Mike, John Simo and Radha Lewis and Ryme Katkhouda,
Peacewatch producer for WPFW,
Pacifica’s station in Washington DC.
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For a copy of today's show, please contact Pacifica
Radio Archives at 800 735 0230.
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