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> Fri., May. 2, 2003
Pacifica's PeaceWatch
Today's Stories:
Bush speaks aboard aircraft carrier:
“We have prevailed”
Iraqi Resistance in Fallujah
Hatred and Distrust of US’s Forces Grows
Former Texas Army National Guard Lt. Col. Bill Burkett on
Bush the Chicken hawk
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Receives Criticism
Arcata, CA opposes Patriot Act
“A Clear and Present Danger” series part 1: Investigative
Journalist Greg Palast on Media Coverage of War
Creative Unity Collective’s public service announcement
from the President
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Bush speaks aboard aircraft carrier: “We have
prevailed”
Speaking aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln on
its way back from the Persian Gulf last night, Bush praised
the soldiers for their work, and he announced an official
end to the military phase of the war on Iraq…
Tape:
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Iraqi Resistance in Fallujah
Bush also applauded the service members for conducting what
he characterized as a largely humanitarian mission…
Tape:
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Hatred and Distrust of US’s Forces Grows
But while the President and other administration officials
praise the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime and the arrival
of democracy to a nation that’s lived under dictatorship
for over three decades, distrust and hatred of America is
running high in many parts of Iraq.
The London Telegraph reports that on the streets of Fallujah,
where Iraqis launched grenades into the US military compound
yesterday, wounding seven and damaging vehicles, Iraqis are
shaking their fists at foreigners and vowing to take revenge.
Outside the mayor's office, which is next to the American
compound, they’ve displayed banners reading: “Man
can be destroyed, not defeated,” and, "Sooner or
later, US killers, we will kick you out." Peacewatch
correspondent
Tape: Rafael Krafft visited Fallujah today, and he files
this report
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Former Texas Army National Guard Lt. Col. Bill Burkett
on Bush the Chicken hawk
In his 20-minute speech yesterday aboard the U.S.S. Abraham
Lincoln, whose planes dropped nearly 1/3 of the bombs that
rained down on Iraq, President Bush said the Iraq conflict
was merely one small part of a broader fight that he pledged
the US would continue to pursue against Al Qaeda and other
terrorists around the world.
Tape: Bush speaking aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln
But despite all the belligerent rhetoric coming from the
Commander in Chief, his praise of American servicemen and
women and his dramatic aerial arrival yesterday aboard a Navy
S-3B Viking jet, some critics have been quick to remind us
that the military record of Bush, himself, is a bit lacking.
According to military records from the Vietnam War, Bush
served in the Army National Guard, but from the period of
May 1972 through October 1973, he failed to report for weekend
duty.
For clarification of Bush’s background, Peacewatch
gave a call today to retired Lieutenant Colonel Bill Burkett,
who served in the military for 28 years, including as War
Plans Officer during Operation Desert Storm. From 1995 until
his retirement in 1998, he also served as State Plans Officer
for the Texas Army National Guard, under then-governor George
W. Bush. Burkett alleges there was a widespread practice of
delaying filing forms to remove names of soldiers no longer
in service, thus continuing to receive federal funding for
personnel that no longer existed. Burkett asserts when he
went public he was refused medical treatment for a near-fatal
illness he developed while on a tour of duty in Panama.
We started our discussion with Burkett describing how he
knew Bush’s potentially embarrassing and controversial
past was hidden from the public during his campaign to become
president of the United States.
Tape: Lieutenant Colonel Bill Burkett served as State Plans
Officer for the Texas Army National Guard from 1995 to 1998,
under then-governor George W. Bush.
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-----Music: Dubya Banjo Rap----------
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Receives Criticism
Egyptian feminist Nawaal el Sadawi and others meet with
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s representative to
discuss humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq. While American and
British soldiers return home from the Persian Gulf, famed
Egyptian feminist and novelist Nawaal el Sadawi and a handful
of Arab scholars and activists met earlier this week with
Daniel Turk, who’s United Nations Secretary General
Kofi Annan’s spokesperson and representative on political
affairs. The purpose of their meeting was to convey their
concerns about the future of Iraq and the humanitarian catastrophe
caused by the US-led war. Peacewatch correspondent Barbara
Nimri Aziz sat in on the meeting, as Turk responded to criticism
of the Secretary General’s failure to speak out more
forcefully in the lead-up to the US-led war on Iraq…
Tape:
A debriefing was held following the meeting with Daniel
Turk. Many of the delegates were unable to attend the appointment
with Turk because of a last minute scheduling change by the
UN, so this was their first opportunity to hear how that dialog
transpired.
Tape: Peacewatch correspondent Karen D’Andrea was
there, and files this report.
[top]
Arcata, CA opposes Patriot Act
Nationwide 162 cities large and small have passed anti-war
resolutions and seven cities have passed resolutions intended
to defend the rights of the civil rights of their citizens
from perceived threats of the USA Patriot Act or the Homeland
Security Act and related legislation. In this climate of growing
opposition, Arcata, CA has taken its existing resolution a
step further. Casey Connor has this report.
Tape: Casey Connor, reporting for Pacifica affiliate KMUD
in Northern California. Special thanks also to Simon Frech
and Joellen Clark Peterson for production assistance with
that report.
[top]
“A Clear and Present Danger” series part
1: Investigative Journalist Greg Palast on Media Coverage
of War
Today on Peacewatch, we’re introducing the first part
of a ten part special series called, “A Clear and Present
Danger,” which will explore the challenges of free expression
in an open society. Today, host Steven Rhode speaks with investigative
reporter Greg Palast on the effects embedding journalists
with the military has had on the freedom of expression during
the war and now the post war coverage in Iraq.
Tape: hosted by Civil Liberties attorney Stephen Rhode.
His guest investigative journalist Greg Palast. This segment
was a production of PEN Center USA and the Pacifica Radio
Archives, executive producer, Debra Jones, engineer and editor,
Mark Torres.
[top]
Creative Unity Collective’s public service
announcement from the President
Finally, tonight, the Creative Unity Collective at Pacifica
station WBAI in New York presents this public service announcement
from the President of the United States.
Tape: Creative Unity Collective at Pacifica station WBAI
in New York. Special thanks to T (from the Pattersons Taking
the Train to Tibet)
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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