Pacifica's Peace Watch
Wed. Feb. 12, 2003
Today's Stories:
Former Iraqi Nuclear Scientist Imad Khadduri
Christ the Pacifist?
Price of War?
Bigger Government Less Liberties Patriot Act II
Australian Women Disrobe to Disarm
Christmas Coup Comedy Players
The audio of today's show is posted at http://www.radio4all.net/
The Bush administration is turning up the heat on United
Nations’ Head Weapons Inspector Hans Blix to word his
statement to the Security Council committee Friday in strong
enough language to persuade wavering council members to support
an immediate move towards war. National Security Advisor,
Condoleeza Rice flew to New York this morning for an unannounced
meeting with Blix. The U.S. and Britain are considering introducing
a resolution as early as next week that could pave the way
for war.
CIA Director George Tenet warned the Senate yesterday that
….the desire for nuclear weapons among smaller nations
of the world is on an upsurge. According to Tenet, Iran, North
Korea, Libya and Iraq - -- are all making moves to obtain
equipment to produce weapons grade nuclear materials over
the past 12 months.
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Story: Former Iraqi Nuclear Scientist Imad
Khadduri
Secretary of State Collin Powell, in a partly plagiarized
speech last week before the U-N Security Council, presented
satellite images, audio recordings and Iraqi defectors to
portray Iraq as a nation - - - harboring weapons of mass destruction
and while many embraced Powell’s multimedia presentation
as convincing and damning for Saddam Hussein, a growing number
of critics have dismissed the report as less than credible.
Imad Khadduri is a former Iraqi nuclear scientist. He worked
for the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission for 30 years from 1968-
1998. During an interview with him earlier this week, we asked
Khadduri to describe Iraq’s nuclear capability at the
time he left his position.
Tape: Imad Khadduri a former Iraqi nuclear scientist.
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Story: Christ the Pacifist?
As Bush attempts to make his case for war, more and more
he is invoking the language of religion, a position that could
backfire if war is actually declared against Iraq. Russell
Mohkiber of the Corporate Crime Reporter and host of Fighting
Corporate Power on Pacifica station WPFW in Washington, questioned
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer about this issue at a
recent press conference.
Tape: Russell Mohkiber of the Corporate Crime Reporter and
host of Fighting Corporate Power on Pacifica station WPFW
in Washington, questioning White House spokesman Ari Fleischer
PeaceWatch spoke with Russell Mohkiber about his experience
at the press conference and Bush’s use of religion as
a marketing tool for war against Iraq.
Tape: Russell Mohkiber of the Corporate Crime Reporter and
co-host of Fighting Corporate Power on Pacifica station WPFW
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Story: Price of War?
What’s the price of war, and what precisely does it
cost to project the will of the United States abroad? Christopher
Simpson, professor of Communications at American University,
author and analyst looks at the history of declining empires
and draws some stark parallels to the current state of affairs
with the United States and Iraq.
Tape: Author, analyst Christopher Simpson teaches at the
American University in Washington, DC. Thanks to independent
producer Eddie Becker for that segment.
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Story: Bigger Government Less Liberties Patriot
Act II
Even though the Republican Party often advocates a smaller
less intrusive federal government; the Justice Department
is presently considering a proposal to expand the powers of
the so-called Patriot Act to include provisions that will
diminish the rights of privacy. The proposed Patriot Act II
would eliminate all the gains made in civil liberties since
the Eugene McCarthy era. Jerry Quickly of Pacifica station
KPFK spoke with Civil Rights attorney Steven Rohde regarding
the so-called Patriot Act II.
Tape: Civil rights attorney Steven Rohde speaking with Jerry
Quickly of Pacifica station KPFK in Los Angeles.
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Story: Australian Women Disrobe to Disarm
Across the country and around the world, people concerned
about the impending war with Iraq are planning creative actions
to ensure that their voices get heard. In one of the most
extraordinary actions, 750 women in Australia recently took
off their clothing and formed a giant heart bearing the words
“No War.”
Tape: Grace Knight, organizer of Disrobe to Disarm
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Story: Christmas Coup Comedy Players
Utah Phillips offers this perspective of President Bush
by the Christmas Coup
Comedy Players Radio Theatre.
Tape: Christmas Coup Comedy Players Radio Theatre
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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