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> Fri. Mar. 7, 2003
Pacifica's Peace Watch
Today's Stories:
Bush Holds a Press Conference
Weapons Inspectors Report to the United Nations
Democrats Respond to Bush’s press conference
Russia’s Deal w/ Iraq
Blair High School Protest
The Army Reserves and Activated
Women In The Military and Sexism
International Women’s Day
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The United States clashed bitterly with France, Germany,
China and Russia at the U.N. Security Council on Friday, as
all four nations stood firm against U.S. plans to launch a
war against Iraq.
A mixed report from U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix
today left the major powers more divided than ever on the
looming war, which President Bush has threatened to launch
with or without United Nations approval.
Blix's latest report gave some backing to both sides. He
told a tense Security Council that Iraq's move to begin destroying
its al-Samoud 2 missiles constituted "a substantial measure
of disarmament" but criticized the rate at which the
Iraqis had handed over documents on prohibited chemical and
biological systems.
Story: Bush Holds a Press Conference
It was only the second time the President has held a ‘news
conference’ in prime time - - - and last night Bush
used the occasion to attempt to persuade the American public
an invasion into Iraq is just shy of a mandate.
Tape: President-select Bush
[top]
Story: Weapons Inspectors Report to the United Nations
The UN Security council gathered again in New York today
to receive another update from the weapons Inspectors. Hans
Blix’s report was the most favorable to date. Though
he called for greater access to scientists in private, he
commended Iraq for “real and substantive” cooperation.
Tape: Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector for the UN Security
Council
Today the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency,
Mohammed El Baradei characterized the present activities of
the IEA as one of investigation. He said, “Iraq has
not restarted to rebuild its nuclear weapons program. And
that the defunct industrial capacity has deteriorated significantly.”
Turning his attention to the much touted aluminum tubes El
Baradei had these comments.
Tape: Mohammed El Baradei, of the International Atomic Energy
Agency
Iraq’s Ambassador Mohammed Al Douri was critical of
the US and Britain position that stood in contrast to the
other members of the Security Council. He began by congratulating
the peoples of the US and Britain.
Tape: Iraqi Ambassador to the UN, Mohammed Al Douri
[top]
Story: Democrats Respond to Bush’s press conference
Bush’s press conference was timed to appear on the
eve of the critical weapons inspectors’ report to the
U-N and a soft spoken, Bush attempted to appear reasonable
rather than rash. But congressional Democrats, many of whom
voted to give Bush authority to use force against Iraq, came
out swinging last night Minority leaders from the House and
Senate, Nancy Pelosi and Tom Daschle said invading Iraq would
be premature. Daschle said there is virtual unanimity among
Democrats that Bush has failed in his diplomatic dealings.
U.S. Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, of Ohio, is a
member of the House Ways and Means Committee - - -Peacewatch
asked her if Bush was convincing in his attempts to make the
case for war.
Tape: U.S. Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, of Ohio,
is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee
[top]
Story: Russia’s Deal w/ Iraq
According to undisclosed sources, Russian Prime minister
Yevgeny Primakov, held secret meetings with Iraqi president
Saddam Hussein recently. Victor Gubareff, an associate with
Stratfor global intelligence service asserted that plans are
being made to try to head off the war in Iraq.
Tape: Victor Gubareff, an associate with Stratfor global
intelligence service
[top]
Story: Blair High School Protest
It was supposed to be a tidy photo op for homeland security
director Tom Ridge. At a high school in suburban Maryland
this morning, Ridge pledged funding for safer schools in the
face of terrorism. But it turned into a noisy rally when about
three hundred kids walked out of the building in protest of
Ridge's boss. The kids say homeland security could be achieved
through a more diplomatic foreign policy.
Tape: Josh Chaffin has this report from Silver Spring, Maryland.
[top]
Story: The Army Reserves and Activated
Across the US army reserve units are being called into action
for deployment to the Middle East… much to the surprise
and chagrin of Reservist Adolphus.
Tape: Army reservist Marcus Adolphus
[top]
Story: Women In The Military and Sexism
With a quarter of a million troops poised to invade Iraq,
on the home front, the US military is coming under intense
scrutiny for mounting claims of sexual harassment. In Colorado
Springs, 54 female Air Force Academy cadets have lodged complaints
of rape and sexual assault. And as Michael G Haskins reports
from NY, life inside the military smacks of not only of gender
discrimination, but also institutional racism.
[top]
Story: International Women’s Day
Women from Kansas, Vermont, Oregon, Texas and dozens of
other states have begun arriving in Washington, DC--dressed
in pink--to participate in the women-led rally and march that
will be held on Saturday, March 8, International Women's Day.
They will join authors Alice Walker and Maxine Hong Kingston,
Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
and thousands of other women to express their vigorous opposition
to a war on Iraq. The rally will begin at 11 AM and be followed
by a march through the streets of the nation's capitol to
encircle the White House for peace.
A February 2003 New York Times/CBS poll revealed that 12
percent more women than men support a diplomatic solution
with Iraq. A recent Zogby International poll showed that while
45 percent of men said they would strongly support a war against
Iraq, only 21 percent of women did. As women around the world
prepare to commemorate International Women’s Day this
weekend, Carolyn Crane has this report.
Tape: Carolyn Crane, of community station KVMR
Credits
[top]
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