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> Wed., May. 7, 2003
Pacifica's PeaceWatch
Today's Stories:
Still No Telephones in Baghdad
Wayne Madsen - Who Is L. Paul Bremer?
Muslim American experiences racist backlash
Hip hop producer Fred Wreck "Down With US"
Alternative visions of patriotism
Dixie Chicks/ patriotism musical collage
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Still No Telephones in Baghdad
The Bush Administration bombed nearly every telephone switching
station during the war. The idea was to shut down the communications
infrastructure of Iraq making it more difficult for officials
of Saddam Hussein's regime to communicate with each other.
With the telephone switching centers gone, Iraqis can only
make telephone calls within their own neighborhood, making
it difficult to do business and making it impossible for many
people to speak with their families.
Tape: From Baghdad, Aaron Glantz reports.
[top]
Wayne Madsen - Who Is L. Paul Bremer?
Retired general Jay Garner, who had been appointed Iraq’s
chief civil administrator has been replaced by former foreign
service officer L. Paul Bremer - - - a former diplomat equally
close to the Bush administration but with a reputation for
being blunt.
It’s predicted Garner will be out and Bremer in just
a matter of weeks, a political stroke designed to broker a
truce between the warring factions within the Bush administration
- - - the state department and the defense department. Each
has presented rival agendas for running Iraq. Bremer is the
former ambassador at large for counter terrorism under Reagan,
but his foreign service has never included a stint in the
Middle East. He’s a close friend of Secretary of War
Donald Rumsfeld and despite his history with the state department,
will report directly to the Pentagon.
Former National Security Agency officer Wayne Madsen offers
this perspective on Bremer’s new appointment as Chief
Civilian Administrator of Iraq.
Tape: Wayne Madsen is former National Security Agency Officer
and co-author of the book The American Nightmare the Presidency
of George Bush, II.
[top]
Muslim American experiences racist backlash
Yesterday, Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Sununu
of New Hampshire and Ross Feingold of Wisconsin) introduced
a bipartisan resolution condemning bigotry and violence against
Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South-Asian Americans, and
Sikh Americans. According to an FBI report, the number of
anti-Muslim incidents rose 16 hundred percent from 2000 to
2001, largely due to the post-September 11th backlash.
Ayesha Kazmi is a Muslim American. Since September 11th,
she has lost friends and been treated with contempt and suspicion
because of her religion. Last weekend, she spoke about her
experiences at a conference held at the University of Massachusetts,
Boston, entitled "War on Terrorism or Assault on Human
Rights?”
Tape: Ayesha Kazmi is a Muslim American. She spoke at the
University of Massachusetts in Boston last weekend. Special
thanks to Mark Weaver
[top]
Hip hop producer Fred Wreck "Down With US"
Hip Hop, a culture that began in 1970s in the South Bronx
and soon spread to other disenfranchised communities, not
only in the United States but throughout the world, has been
a voice of resistance and freedom for youth, and more importantly
youth of color. One producer of rap music, Fred Wreck, has
used his talents and connections in the hip hop industry to
educate and activate his audience, using famous rappers as
the storytellers for lessons in American foreign policy and
its effects in the Middle East and closer to home. He recently
completed a song entitled "Down With US," which
showcases famous rappers such as Everlast, Dazz Dillenger,
Dilated Peoples, and others. They came together to share a
critical message with youth regarding the War on Terrorism,
through the medium of hip-hop. Wreck spoke recently with Michael
Slate of Pacifica station KPFK in Los Angeles.
Tape: The song "Down With US," can be downloaded
from the Internet at www.fredwreck.com.
Special thanks also to editors and co-producers Fidel Rodriguez
and Christine Blosdale.
[top]
Alternative visions of patriotism
Since the war in Iraq began, a climate of heightened nationalism
and a silencing of dissent have enveloped the country. But
according to Richard Nelson, Barry Lopez and Terry Tempest
Williams, co-authors of the book Patriotism and the American
Land, true patriotism means something entirely different than
simply supporting the troops and hanging a flag in your front
yard.
Speaking with Peacewatch earlier today, Nelson, Lopez and
Williams explore a more in-depth meaning of the words “Terrorism,”
“Patriotism” and “Homeland Security,”
and they take us on an earthly and spiritual journey that
redefines patriotism from a whole new perspective...
Tape: Terry Tempest Williams, along with Richard Nelson
and Barry Lopez, co-authors of the book Patriotism and the
American Land.
[top]
Dixie Chicks/ patriotism musical collage
As the nation launched its preemptive war against Iraq last
month, many actors, musicians and celebrities who questioned
the Administration's motives were suddenly silenced and shunned
by the media and other members of the artistic community.
Among the casualties was the music group the Dixie Chicks,
after lead singer Natalie Maines told a London crowd she was
ashamed the president is from her home state of Texas.
Peter Bochan, producer of “All Mixed Up” at
Pacifica station WBAI in New York presents this musical mix.
Tape:
Credits
[top]
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