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> Thur., May. 15, 2003
Pacifica's PeaceWatch
Today's Stories:
Dr. Jim Jennings- Cluster Bomb Use
and Affects in Iraq/Afghanistan
Nada Doumani International Committee of the Red Cross
Mass Graves/Baghdad
Jay Bookman Commentary: America as Empire
Neoconservative underpinnings of the Bush White House
Boston Civil Liberties Speech Series
Anti-war Mural
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Dr. Jim Jennings- Cluster Bomb Use and Affects in
Iraq/Afghanistan
The U.S. has come under fire by Human Rights groups for
failing to remove unexploded cluster bombs littering the Iraqi
landscape and leading to an undetermined amount of civilian
casualties.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that US troops have
reportedly removed about 600 unexploded bomblets from the
Baghdad neighborhood of Doura, it says, but unexploded ordinances
still littering cities such as Najaf have become a source
of strong resentment by many Iraqis towards the U.S. occupying
forces.
Jim Jennings, President of the humanitarian aid organization
Conscience International has made several trips to Iraq over
the past 12 years to deliver food and medical supplies in
violation of US/ UN economic sanctions on that country. Speaking
with Peacewatch earlier this afternoon, Jennings said that
he's seen the effects of cluster bombs firsthand, and that
they can have disastrous consequences on the civilian population...
Tape: Jim Jennings is President of the humanitarian aid
organization Conscience International.
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Nada Doumani International Committee of the
Red Cross Mass Graves/Baghdad
Thousands of mass graves have been found in the town of
Hillah and many other cities throughout Iraq. The BBC reported
this week that most of the graves seemed to have been dug
in the early 90's after the Gulf War, but others are much
more recent.
Peacewatch spoke with Nada Doumani media spokesperson for
the International Committee of the Red Cross in Baghdad today
regarding the graves in Hillah.
Tape: Nada Doumani, spokesperson for the International Committee
of the Red Cross, speaking to us from Baghdad, Iraq.
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Jay Bookman Commentary: America as Empire
Since waging a unilateral war on Iraq, without seeking renewed
UN backing, the US has come to be seen by many international
observers-even those in the mainstream-as an imperial power.
The concept seemed controversial just a few months ago, but
now it's been adopted by the Right wing and mentioned on the
op-ed pages of major newspapers across the country.
Tape: Commentary by Jay Bookman, Deputy Editorial Page Editor
of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Neoconservative underpinnings of the Bush White House
DC-based journalist Jim Lobe works with the Interpress News
Service, and he serves on the advisory board of the Foreign
Policy in Focus think tank. For over 20 years, he's been keeping
an eye on the neo-conservative movement. As half a century
American foreign policy undergoes changes that have isolated
the US from the rest of the world, Lobe spoke with reporter
Pokey Anderson from Pacifica station KPFT in Houston about
the history and philosophical underpinnings of the relatively
obscure group of political ideologues he says are now exerting
their influence inside the Bush White House.
Tape: Investigative journalist Jim Lobe, speaking with Pokey
Anderson at Pacifica station KPFT
in Houston. Special thanks to Renee Feltz for production assistance.
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Boston Civil Liberties Speech Series
In remarks delivered at the Annual Peace Officers Memorial
Service today in Washington DC, President Bush told those
gathered to commemorate slain officers that - - - quote -
- - ‘law enforcement officers know that evil is real,
and evil has servants of its own.’ And he went on to
say that ‘evil must always be opposed.’
Matthew Rothschild, editor of the Progressive magazine,
in comments delivered last week at a conference held at the
University of Massachusetts, Boston entitled, "War on
Terrorism or Assault on Human Rights?" takes note of
Bush’s use of the word evil and how religious demagoguery
is shaping American foreign policy.
Tape: Matthew Rothschild, editor of the Progressive, speaking
at a conference held at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
More accounts can be viewed at his McCarthy Watch Website
at www.progressive.org
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Anti-war Mural
With the Los Angeles Police Department recently declaring
graffiti a form of terrorism, several artists in the area
have taken advantage of the increased focus on their work.
They're using their talents to educate their fellow Californians
about their perceptions of American foreign policy, and more
specifically, their strong disagreements over the US-led war
on Iraq.
One such artist stepping is Mear One. Recently, Mear One
created a mural with no sketches, what is known in the hip-hop
world as free styling. He created it in front of a '76 gas
station in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, and
last weekend, the unveiling of the mural took place. Fidel
Rodriguez of Pacifica station KPFK stopped by the corner of
Sunset and Alvarado and spoke to a variety of people about
their thoughts on the piece, as well as Mear One's insights
on the power of art to inspire. He presents this musical mix.
Tape: Graffiti artist Mear One. You can visit Mear One's
website at www.mearone.com
Special thanks to Fidel Rodriguez at Pacifica station KPFK
in Los Angeles for that piece.
Credits
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