Pacifica's Peace Watch
Wed. Feb. 26, 2003
Today's Stories:
US Resorts to Arm Twisting to Raise Votes For War
Arab World Reacts to War Plans
Pakistan Woman Rally for Peace - RAWA demo in Pakistan
Turkish parliament Delays Decision
Human Shields in Baghdad
Former Senator George McGovern Speaks Out Against War in Iraq
Author Rose Lord: Food & Peace
The audio of today's show is posted at http://www.radio4all.net/
Story: US Resorts to Arm Twisting to Raise Votes
For War
Every vote on the 15-member U-N Security Council is crucial
to the US as it lobbies heavily for support of an invasion
into Iraq. High-level U.S. officials have been dispatched
to key African countries on the council like Angola, Guinea
and Cameroon and warned to vote ‘yes’ for
the war…or risk paying a heavy price. The timing of
the administration’s arm-twisting tactics coincide with
aid requests from the poor African nations giving rise to
charges of vote buying.
According to one U.S. diplomat "the order from the
White House was to ‘use all diplomatic means necessary’,”
another U.S. diplomat said, "That really means everything."
At yesterday’s press briefing, White House Spokesperson
Ari Fleischer refuted reporters’ claims that the U.S.
was buying votes.
Tape: White House Spokesperson Ari Fleischer
Story: Arab World Reacts to War Plans
Reaction in the Arab world to the administration’s
war plans is diverse.
Tape: Ali Abunimah, the co-founder of an Internet watchdog
group
Story: Pakistan Woman Rally for Peace - RAWA demo
in Pakistan
In what was perhaps the first anti war demonstration held
by Afghans, hundreds of mostly women and children said ‘no‘
to a war against Iraq in Islamabad, Pakistan this week. Supporters
of the Bush agenda to attack Iraq often cite Afghanistan as
an example of how the U.S. liberated Afghan women from the
evil rule of the Taliban during the hunt for Usama bin Laden.
But the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
or RAWA organized this protest.
Women marched to the United Nation office and presented
a memo to officials. RAWA spokesperson, Shala Hassan, said
that war is not ever a solution and that the US must come
up with a political strategy to deal with the crisis. She
quoted a Pakistani newspaper the Statesman saying, "The
example of Afghanistan is before us and once the US forces
cross into the Iraqi borders, no one is strong enough to get
them out". 6-700 Afghan women living in Pakistan took
to the streets against a U.S. invasion into Iraq."
Tape: Sonali Kolhatkar of Pacifica station KPFK in Los Angeles
Story: Turkish parliament Delays Decision
George Bush will have to wait at least one more day to get
the okay to use Turkey's military bases as a launching pad
for a Northern Front against Iraq. The US military wants to
send 255 U.S. warplanes and 65 helicopters to Turkey and has
won approval for the plan from the Turkish Cabinet and the
Turkish Military, but the Parliament has been a tougher sell.
From the Turkish Capital, Ankara, Aaron Glantz has the story.
Story: Human Shields in Baghdad
63 anti-war activists calling themselves "human shields"
arrived in Baghdad two weeks ago after traveling across Europe
in a convoy of buses. 37 more joined them last week, and another
group of 25 people left Amman, Jordan yesterday to join the
delegation. It seems that Monday morning departures of humans
Shields to Baghdad is becoming a ritual in Amman. ...
Tape: Raphael Krafft filed this report from Baghdad
Story: Former Senator George McGovern Speaks Out
Against War in Iraq
In front of a crowd of 2,500 cheering peace activists in
Caras Park in Missoula, Montana, former Senator for South
Dakota, George McGovern weighed in against the war on Iraq.
Characterizing president-select Bush as young and naïve,
McGovern called for reason and sober minds to prevail. The
rally was part of the International Weekend for Peace where
millions around the world gathered to say no to war.
Tape: Former Governor George McGovern in Missoula, Montana,
Special thanks to David Moor for that segment
Story: Author Rose Lord: Food & Peace
Finally, tonight, a little food for thought. Author Rose
Lord says what you choose to eat can influence our prospects
for a more peaceful world. Chew on that!
Tape: Rose Lord, author of What I’ve Learned About
Food and Peace
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