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> Mon., Oct. 6, 2003
Pacifica's PeaceWatch
Today's Stories:
Israel Alleges Syria Responsible for
Suicide Bombing In Israel
Author Scott C. Davis: A Look at Syria
Philip Berrigan: In His Own Words
Ralph Nader On The California Recall and Presidential Elections
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This week on PeaceWatch we’re bringing you a series
of speeches and interviews from our archives that we deem
to have relevance to events in the news today. The second
half of tonight’s show will be devoted to the late,
longtime peace activist Phil Berrigan who would have turned
80 years old yesterday. In the first half hour, we’ll
talk to Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader about the California
recall election tomorrow and his plans for election 2004.
But first a brief update on the violence this weekend in Syria.
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Israel Alleges Syria Responsible for Suicide Bombing
In Israel
Israeli warplanes on Sunday bombed a suspected terrorist
camp northwest of Damascus, Syria. Israel alleged that Islamic
Jihad in Syria were responsible for a suicide bombing the
day before at a seaside restaurant in Haifa. The group Islamic
Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing but denied having
training bases in Syria.
At the United Nations today, Israel faced worldwide condemnation
for its actions over the weekend. That condemnation came even
from the United States, which is typically a staunch ally
and supporter of Israel. Speaking with reporters, President
Bush said he had told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
that although Israel has the right to defend itself, it must
avoid escalating tensions in the region.
Speaking with CNN, Syrian Government Minister Butayna Shaaban
rejected claims that her country was harboring terrorists,
and she criticized Israel for launching the attack.
Tape: Syrian Government Minister Butayna Shaaban, speaking
with CNN.
[top]
Author Scott C. Davis: A Look at Syria
A source at the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
-- the group whose base in Syria was raided by Israeli warplanes
on Sunday - reasserted today that the base had been abandoned
for the past 7 years and that the footage of the camp being
circulated by the Israeli military was taken from a film made
in Syria several years ago.
Several months ago, Peacewatch spoke with Scott C. Davis,
the author of The Road From Damascus: A Journey Through Syria.
The book is a travelogue, in which Davis shifts back and forth
between the Syrian police state of Hafiz al-Asad and the rich
cultural heritage underneath this little-understood Arab country.
In this informal commentary, Davis shared with Peacewatch
his perspective on Syria and the events as they unfold. His
work in progress is the second in his series on "Syria.
Four Freedoms: Syrians Talk about Life in a Time of War"
includes interviews with Syrians from all walks of life.
Tape: Scott C. Davis is the author of The Road From Damascus:
A Journey Through Syria.
[top]
Philip Berrigan: In His Own Words
On today's special edition of Peacewatch we celebrate the
life of a great peacemaker, Philip Berrigan, who passed away
December 6, 2002 at the age of 79. Yesterday would have been
his 80th birthday. Phil and his brother Dan, both Catholic
priests, gained national prominence for opposing the Vietnam
War by burning draft files with homemade napalm. Rooted in
his faith, Philip's commitment to resisting US militarism
continued. With the support of his community, he was arrested
over 100 times and spent 11 years of his life behind bars
for nonviolent civil resistance.
Tape: Laurel Paget-Seekins produced our tribute to Philip
Berrigan, with help from Scott Gurian. Produced from over
30 years of audio recordings from Jim Goodnow and Radio for
Peace International, Brian DeShazer of the Pacifica Radio
Archives and Amy Goodman and Jeremy Scahill of Democracy Now!
[top]
Ralph Nader On The California Recall and Presidential
Elections
Well, tomorrow's gubernatorial recall election in California
has captured so many of the media headlines over the past
several weeks. The candidates finished campaigning today,
as a new poll found decreasing support for the recall, with
44 percent saying they would definitely vote to get rid of
embattled governor Grey Davis.
As election season heats up, both on the national level
and within California, Peacewatch spoke earlier today with
renowned consumer advocate and political candidate Ralph Nader.
We asked for his thoughts about the upcoming elections and
his take on the process of recalling a government official.
Tape: Ralph Nader is a consumer advocate and a former Green
Party candidate for President of the United States.
Credits
[top]
For a copy of today's show, please contact Pacifica
Radio Archives at 800 735 0230.
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