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> Fri., Apr. 18, 2003
Pacifica's PeaceWatch
Today's Stories:
Bechtel Scores Big - Jim Valette
New Mayor of Baghdad? - Mohammed Mohsen Zubadi
Bush Cultural Advisors Quit: Gary Vikan, Walters Art Gallery
Peace Activist Rachel Corrie’s Mom, Cindy Corrie Speaks
Out
Every Soldier, Someone's Child
Professor Noam Chomsky on the War In Iraq
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Story: Bechtel Scores Big - Jim Valette
The U.S. Agency for International
Development announced yesterday that it is awarding a
680 million dollar contract for the rebuilding of Iraq to
Bechtel, an engineering firm with close ties to the Bush
administration. The money will go towards the reconstruction
of Iraq's electrical grid and water system, damaged by US-led
bombing, as well as a dozen years of economic sanctions. But
the Bush administration's role in awarding the contract has
drawn much criticism from some observers. Among them is Jim
Valette, research director of the Institute for Policy Studies'
Sustainable Energy and Economy Network and co-author of the
recent report, "Crude Vision: How Oil Interests Obscured
US Government Focus on Chemical Weapons Use by Saddam Hussein."
As the General Accounting Office begins an investigation of
possible Bush administration favoritism in the awarding of
the Bechtel contract, Valette says that several members of
Congress are currently examining his group's findings.
Tape: Jim Valette is co-author of the 'Institute
for Policy Studies' recent report, "Crude
Vision: How Oil Interests Obscured US Government Focus on
Chemical Weapons Use by Saddam Hussein."
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Story: New Mayor of Baghdad? - Mohammed Mohsen Zubadi
Mohammed Mohsen Zubadi declared himself mayor of Baghdad
yesterday, after receiving the support of Iraqi and Iraqi
exile groups. Zubadi is a close associate of Ahmed Chalabi,
the leader of the Iraqi National Congress, which has received
hundreds of millions of dollars from the CIA. Many observers
consider the choice of Zubadi to run Baghdad the latest sign
that the American Army is positioning the controversial Chalabi
for a central role in governing a post-war Iraq. From Amman,
Jordan, Aaron Glantz has more.
Tape:
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Story: Bush Cultural Advisors Quit: Gary Vikan, Walters
Art Gallery
Two cultural advisers to the Bush administration have resigned
in protest over the failure of U.S. forces to prevent the
wholesale looting of priceless treasures from Baghdad's antiquities
museum. Martin Sullivan, who chaired the President's Advisory
Committee on Cultural Property for eight years, and panel
member Gary Vikan said they resigned because the U.S. defense
and state departments had had advance warning of the danger
to Iraq's historical treasures.
"We certainly know the value of oil but we certainly
don't know the value of historical artifacts," says Vikan,
director of the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore. Peacewatch
caught up with Vikan today and he says it’s fair to
say that the looting of the Iraqi museum amounts to one of
the greatest cultural disasters in Middle Eastern history.
And he expressed his reasons for resigning from the President’s
Advisory Committee on Cultural Property.
Tape: Gary Vikan, director of the Walters
Art Gallery in Baltimore
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Story: Peace Activist Rachel Corrie’s Mom,
Cindy Corrie Speaks Out
Several weeks ago, Rachel Corrie, an American college student,
left Olympia, Washington for Rafah, a settlement in the Gaza
Strip. Rachel was there as part of the International Solidarity
Movement in support of the Palestinian people who have lost
homes during the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands in
violation of UN resolutions.
On March 16th, Rachel was crushed by an Israeli soldier
on a bulldozer while trying to prevent the demolition of the
home of a Palestinian doctor. Earlier this week, Peacewatch
spoke with Rachel's mom, Cindy Corrie, about her
memories of her daughter and the meaning of Rachel's actions.
After our interview we learned that the Israeli government
had found the soldier innocent of any wrongdoing, and that
Rachel was guilty of illegal, irresponsible and dangerous
behavior.
Tape: Cindy Corrie, speaking about the death of her daughter,
American peace activist Rachel Corrie, killed
in the Gaza Strip by an Israeli soldier operating a bulldozer.
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Story: Every Soldier, Someone's Child
Well, the war has everyone re-examining his or her position
on complex issues of war and peace. Peacewatch commentator
Ruth Rosen shares her experience of a recent discussion she
had with the parents of two soldiers, currently fighting in
Iraq.
Tape: Peacewatch commentator Ruth Rosen. Her article entitled
"Every
Soldier, Someone's Child" appeared in the San Francisco
Chronicle earlier this week.
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Story: Professor Noam Chomsky on the War In Iraq
Finally, tonight, MIT professor and author Noam
Chomsky offers these thoughts on the Bush administration's
propaganda campaign leading up to the war on Iraq.
Tape: Author and analyst Noam Chomsky, speaking recently
in Boulder, Colorado. Thanks to Pacifica affiliate KGNU
for that segment.
Credits
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