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> Wed. Mar. 19, 2003
Pacifica's Peace Watch
Today's Stories:
The World Braces For A US Invasion Into Iraq
Turkey’s Parliament Again Prepares To Vote Regarding
the US’ War on Iraq
Media Coverage of War
Poet Jean Claude T
British Consulate Protest
Protesters Arrested in Washington, DC and New Haven, CT
Iraq Pledge of Resistance Press Conference
Code Pink Holds Funeral Procession
Israeli Soldier Kills American College Student Rachel
Corrie
Poet and Author Ruben Martinez
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Story: The World Braces For A US Invasion Into Iraq
The world braces for a U-S invasion into Iraq - - - while
security levels in the U.S. reach code orange levels…and
a United Nation’s emergency session goes almost without
notice.
American troops, armored vehicles and trucks have begun
advancing toward the Iraqi border, positioning themselves
to invade with just hours remaining before President Bush's
deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave. Throughout Baghdad…hundreds
of armed members of Saddam Hussein's Ba’ ath party and
security forces were deployed today, taking positions behind
sandbags and in foxholes.
The White House warned today that war against Iraq will
be as short as possible but Americans must be prepared for
loss of life. Bush met with his war council and the White
House sent Congress formal notification of justification for
war. In two separate documents, Bush said diplomacy has failed
to protect America's security, linked Saddam's regime with
the al-Qaeda network and - laying out a new rationale for
war said captured Iraqi officials could identify terrorists
living in the United States.
On Capitol Hill some lawmakers found it difficult to conduct
business as usual under the uncertainties of war. Senator
Christopher Dodd, of Connecticut.
Tape: Senator Christopher Dodd, of Connecticut
At the United Nations in New York today members of the Security
Council gathered to hear a final report from head weapons
inspector Hans Blix.
Tape: Hans Blix, Chief UN weapons Inspector
Secretary General Kofi Anan expressed frustration that a
diplomatic compromise had not been reached.
Tape: UN Secretary General Kofi Anan
Reaction from member states opposing the advance towards
war was swift as ambassadors from France, Germany and Syria
all weighed in.
Tape: French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin.
Tape: German: Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer
Tape: Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Al Shara.
Tape: Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Al Douri
[top]
Story: Turkey’s Parliament Again Prepares To
Vote Regarding the US’ War on Iraq
Turkish parliament get ready to vote tomorrow on whether
to allow US troops to launch a northern offensive against
Iraq from Turkish soil. The people are making preparations
for war.
Aaron Glantz reports from Diarbakkir in Southeastern, Turkey
[top]
Story: Media Coverage of War
Those seeking peace as an alternative to war have been shocked
and awed at some of the media hype leading up to the invasion.
David Brock, author of Blinded by the Right, the Conscience
of an Ex-Conservative and former so-called “media hit
man” for the conservative right joined Peacewatch today
for an analysis of the media coverage of the march to war.
Brock spent many years as a columnist for the Washington Times,
and also wrote for Esquire, Rolling Stones Magazine, and the
New York Times and Washington Post op ed pages.
Tape: David Brock, author of Blinded by the Right, the Conscience
of an Ex-Conservative.
[top]
Story: Poet Jean Claude T
One of the callers to Pacifica station WPFW in Washington,
during the community comment segment this morning was Poet
Jean Claude T who has been provoking audiences for years with
his unique rhythm of poetry and verse. He expressed frustration
with the media coverage of the war in this piece entitled
News Man.
Tape: Jean Claude T, a noted regional artist, and poet.
[top]
Story: British Consulate Protest
Millions of people in the UK, the US, and around the world
want the British Government to abandon its support of a US
invasion of Iraq. Some anti-war groups are expressing themselves
on this issue through direct action.
Tape: Renee Feltz files this report from sister station
KPFT, in Houston
[top]
Story: Protesters Arrested in Washington, DC and
New Haven, CT
Twenty-three protesters from the religious community were
arrested today in front of the White House they prayed
and crossed the police lines in an act of civil disobedience.
Connecticut was the site of an anti-war protest this morning.
About 75 people gathered at the federal building in New Haven,
CT to oppose the war on Iraq. Sixteen were arrested
Tape: Melinda Tuhus was there.
[top]
Story: Iraq Pledge of Resistance Press Conference
This morning, the Iraq Pledge of Resistance held a press
conference in Washington, DC with dozens of other peace groups
to outline plans for national civil disobedience to stop the
war with Iraq.
Tape: PeaceWatch correspondent Ingrid Drake
[top]
Story: Code Pink Holds Funeral Procession
Code Pink sent a very strong message to congressional leaders
with a dramatic funeral procession to Capitol Hill.
Tape: Selina Musuta reporting
[top]
Story: Israeli Soldier Kills American College Student
Rachel Corrie
In a story that leaves one puzzled and amazed a young American
college student and peace activist was run over by an Israeli
bulldozer in the West Bank town of Rafah early this week.
Rachel Corrie was 23 and in her senior year. She went to Palestine
as a peace activist hoping to prevent the demolition of homes
and other critical structures by the occupying army of Israel.
PeaceWatch spoke with her friend and colleague today, Will
Hewitt who was with Rachel in Palestine at the time of her
death. In a chilling series of events, Hewitt tells how and
why Rachel Corrie is dead.
Tape: Will Hewitt, peace activist and friend of the slain
Rachel Corrie of Olympia, Washington
[top]
Story: Poet and Author Ruben Martinez
With the threat of war looming over our heads, one American
is reminded of the ravages of war experienced firsthand during
the 1980’s civil war of El Salvador. Ruben Martinez,
honored his political and cultural history from El Salvador
and Mexico as a writer of conscience with his poem, on the
Eve of War, featured as part of a collective found on poetsagainstthewar.org.
Ruben Martinez is currently an Associate Professor of Creative
Writing at the University of Houston and author of “Crossing
Over,” “A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail.”
Tape: Ruben Martinez. Recorded by Anna Nunez at Pacifica
sister station KPFT
[top]
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