Flashpoints Radio Sept 28: Report from Palestine; + Hiram Ruiz; and Nat Hentoff

FLASHPOINTS RADIO
produced by Dennis Bernstein

Friday Sept 28, 2001 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein: Amnesty International chides Israel.. Arafat meets Perez.. The military continues to kill children. Dennis: now w Shaki, head of Palestinian Human Rights Organization, L.A.W., from Palestine: Shaki: Everything is continuing, nothing has changed.. attacked Rafah during the meeting.. In Hebron they killed two, in Bethelehem one.. Dennis: About the attack in New York and Washington, D.C... Shaki: Sharon thought this was an excellent opportunity.. The only way to have peace in the Middle East is to finish the Israeli occupation.. We resist forever.. until it is lifted.. the Israeli\'s shooting killing children, old people, journalists even.. no one cared.. worse than before.. clear they don\'t want peace, don\'t want a just peace.. Dennis: about the violence in the last hours, while Arafat met with Perez.. Shaki: in Bethlehem a 10 year-old shot with live ammunition, in Hebron too, in Rafah.. in Hebron they were shooting everywhere into peoples\' houses.. 16 more house demolitions.. say the houses near a military installation.. Sharon wants to destroy any peaceful feelings.. in Gaza more critical.. like a prison for the Palestinians that live there.. see many families that can\'t find food.. Dennis: Sharon said now the Americans know how Israel feels.. Shaki: To me Sharon is a war criminal.. I\'m against the killing of civilians anywhere.. Every Israeli checkpoint everyday builds suicide bombers.. they not born.. by killing children, committing massacres, they put themselves into the same box as terrorists.
-13:30 Dennis with Hiram Ruiz, of the US Committee for Refugees, about Afghanistan humanitarian needs and assistance.. Mr Ruiz: many people in Kabul.. 100,000\'s of people have left fearing attack.. Dennis: people fleeing over land strewn with land mines? Mr Ruiz: you have inhospitable terrain, Taliban, people already malnourished.. a recipe for disaster.. people not leaving until their food is completely gone.. fleeing War and Hunger.. Afghan people are just poor hungry people.. Dennis: just the call to arms, may drive many to their deaths.. Mr Ruiz: about the refugee situation internal to Afghanistan.. Dennis: Pakistan not kind to refugees.. Mr Ruiz: the United States poured money into the refugee camps until the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan.. donor fatigue.. Pakistan fatigue.. because of the drought and the fighting.. Pakistan has been harrassing refugees to get them to go home.. among the worst refugee camps in the world.. in the last year, Pakistan\'s record has been very poor.. maybe now, more generosity
-29:20 Noelle Hanrahan: about the erosion of Civil Liberties in this last few days.. w Nat Hentoff, author of Liberty is a Fragile Thing in the Village Voice.. Hintoff: about The Alien and Sedition Act.. J. Edgar Hoover rounding up hundreds of.. during the First World War, practically extinguished the first amendment.. the McCarthy Era.. we have to fight to rescue the constitution, this time from terrorists.. the serious danger now, most Americans are unaware of their rights, the Bill of Rights.. about the fourth amendment, and probably cause.. and the person has to be named.. wholesale violated by the Ashcroft plan.. one-stop wiretapping.. roving wiretaps.. wiretaps on computers.. the internet is no longer a free zone.. find out your bank records, credit card info.. in Ashcrofts initial proposal, formal permission for \"black bag jobs\" (J Edgar\'s term), i.e. search without notification, i.e. secret searches of homes.. businesses.. get your private papers without.. in 1996 Clinton signed legislation.. let them build a circumstantial case.. in New York, a bill, you can be penalizing severely for \"supporting terrorism\".. most of the time Congress.. Hentoff: an unusual alliance, left and right.. Dick Armey, Bob Barr, John Conyers, Maxine Waters.. Bob Barr the only member of Congress to fight roving wiretaps in 1998.. IT DEPENDS ON US TO MONITOR WHAT\'S GOING ON AND MAKE A FUSS ABOUT IT:
-41:00 Hentoff: about the internment camps for Japanese.. this supreme court (discussion).. Noelle: activists questioned in the Bay Area.. Hentoff: This is sheer intimidation.. you don\'t have to talk to them.. unless they have a supeana or warrant.. they are trying to create a pervasive chilling effect so that people will shut up.. Noelle: NYTimes says Americans now \'more comfortable\' with racial profiling.. Hentoff: If we\'re ignorant about our own liberties and rights, we won\'t care about the liberties and rights of others.. we\'re close to a national ID card.. England, about to have a national ID card.. ABOUT \'NEWSPEAK\'.. people have to start talking incessantly to their representatives, TALK TO EACH OTHER.. teach-ins now.. the vital subject now, we need to get our liberties, rescue the constitution..
-46:40 Hentoff: about secret evidence.. people held for years via \'secret evidence\'.. even the attorneys for these people couldn\'t see the evidence.. now it\'s back again.. habeas corpus the oldest English speaking right.. like freedom of press and speech.. habeas corpus *embedded* in the constitution.. Thomas Jefferson.. if the press is going to be asleep this time.. Noelle: about racial profiling.. \"neighborhood watch\".. Hentoff: leads to vigilante justice.. people being held, we don\'t even know what the charges are.. a question of educating ourselves and other people, but any means they can.. need mass
-52:00 EVENTS: MASS RALLY at Delores Park in SF tomorrow, Saturday Sept 29; also a march at 11am tomorrow, begins at 777 Sonoma Ave in Santa Rosa.. It\'s a Womens March, Stop the War, Before It Starts!
-54:00 End today\'s show.. today\'s review by john lionheart

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Flashpoints website, audio archive

KPFA Flashpoints Radio 94.1 FM Berkeley
Your Daily Investigative Radio News Magazine
-produced by Dennis Bernstein
online live 5-6pm Pacific time weekdays at KPFA.org

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Thursday, Sept 27, 2001 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein w Robert Knight and the Knight Report from New York City
-04:40 Dennis Bernstein w Mr. Galli(sp?) of Versale Press, an expert on Afghanistan and the Taliban.. Mr. Galli: could be an incredibly long and messy assignment.. fighting in the Hindu Kush mountains not (to be taken lightly).. about Pakistan.. not a fundamentalist country.. more religious zealotry in Israel than in Pakistan.. it\'s a debate.. 15-30% support the Taliban.. Dennis: about the relationship with Saudi Arabia.. Mr. Galli: not a secret to the intelligence agencies.. the support for bin Laden in Saudi Arabia.. bin Laden first supported by the Saudi\'s and the U.S... the alienated in Saudi Arabia have turned to bin Laden.. Even if the U.S. changes the government in Kabul, finds bin Laden and executes him.. the situation will not change.. (discussion).. Dennis: 13 of the suspected hijackers were Saudi?
-15:45 Dennis w Prof Peter Dale Scott, about the CIA history of training terrorists.. Prof Scott: in 1954.. we could expect the Soviet Union to try any kind of dirty trick against us, so we allowed to create dirty tricks against them.. e.g. the Contras in Central America issued a manual.. the \"Stingers\" we issued in Afghanistan to the fundamentalist fighters.. may come back to haunt us, if they\'re used to shoot down American planes.. Prof Scott: we worked mainly through Pakistan.. coups in Pakistan all the time.. we could see a radical Muslim group come to power.. Made in the USA, How the... terrorists.. Prof Scott\'s website about Al-Qaeda and bin Laden).. Dennis: about the CIA being involved in drug trafficing operations across the globe.. Prof Scott: (gives examples and details).. Dennis: Where does this take us? Prof Scott: NO! These kind of.. primarily a political, multilateral campaign.. India, technically a neighbor of Afghanistan.. Dennis: expanded powers for the CIA? Prof Scott: If the CIA had an outstanding record, that would be one thing.. Prof Peter Dale Scott\'s website about Al-Qaeda and bin Laden)
-37:20 Noelle Hanrahan with Nick, who spent 2 years in an Iranian prison for writing poetry.. Nick: .. after the attack, hate.. now w Leila Salazar, of the Accompaniment Project, a project of Global Exchange in cooperation with many other groups.. a \'Community Protection\' program.. are looking for people to accompany Muslim and other peoples at risk of abuse to different functions.. an outpouring of people who want to help.. Nick: when I was kid in Iran.. no problem with no one.. then at age 15and 1/2, I started reading poetry.. under the Shah.. one of the best students.. learn from the best poet in Iran.. i study under him 5 year.. .. start to make a book.. one day someone called.. Leila: non-violent actions.. people who have experience.. provide legal support to those being harrassed.. we\'re seeing terrible .. hate crimes right around the corner from us.. people have been killed.. children have been spit on.. this hatred is .. just terrible.. WE DENOUNCE THESE HATE CRIMES, NO MORE VICTIMS HERE OR ABROAD.. .. We need to come together as a community and speak up.. Love and Support, says Nick.. I love people, doesn\'t matter any nationality..
-47:25 EVENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS Leila: come to City Blend Cafe, 16th Str. between Valencia and Mission streets.. Call Global Exchange.. lots of events.. phone 415.558.9486 ext 355.. HUGE RALLY Delores Park SF Saturday 11am.. Sunday, Womens Rally, Afghan Women for Peace call Global Exchange 415.558.9486 ext355
-48:30 Noelle Hanrahan w Berkeley High students and their recent school teach-ins about racial profiling, scapegoating, and harrassment.. student song.. \"A Hero Lies in You\"
-53:34 End today\'s show.. today\'s review by john lionheart

Audio this show (scrollable)
Flashpoints website, audio archive

KPFA Flashpoints Radio 94.1 FM Berkeley
Your Daily Investigative Radio News Magazine
-produced by Dennis Bernstein
online live 5-6pm Pacific time weekdays at KPFA.org

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Wednesday, Sept 26, 2001 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein w Dr Arrod Kareem(sp?) M.D. a member of the Council on American Islamic Relations (C.A.I.R.).. a week and a half ago, the Sunday after the terrorist attacks.. I was home.. watching CNN.. saw two sharply dressed men.. Jehovah Witnesses?.. as soon as I opened the door, they flashed their badges.. wanted to question me about 9-11.. I suggested we all meet at the C.A.I.R. office.. they ultimately agreed.. called me back in a hour.. set an appointment for the following evening at 7PM.. they did not show up.. I was upset.. I had rushed over.. waited 3 hours.. I called their office, no answer, no message machine.. the next morning.. (phone tag).. they came by, I wasn\'t there.. they wanted to meet me alone.. we met in front of a local coffee shop.. they told me, \"Frankly, Doctor.. we thought you had fled the country.\" I was stunned.. Where would I go? I was born in America.. It was baffling to me.. (Dr Kareem details the questioning).. FBI asked him about his \'political views\'.. My views are quite well known..n (discussion).. an FBI agent asked him, \"are we the bad guys in this thing?\".. I am an American, I abhor this kind of act. This is an attack on us as well. (more about the questioning).. Dr Kareem: I shared my views.. We need to hunt the (perpetrators) down, smoke them out.. Then, when emotions have settled down a bit.. we need to look at why so many people around the world.. have resentment toward us.. Dennis: Why You? Dr Kareem: I don\'t know. They didn\'t ask me anything about the attack.. about the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development.. My parents are Palestinian.. Dennis: We hear of Palestinians are being visited all across the country.. Dr Kareem: These visits are part of a larger problem.. racial profiling.. people getting kicked off airplanes.. (discussion)..
-17:10 Noelle Hanrahan.. Kate Rafael with Women In Black and also with QUIT/Queers for Palestine: on Monday nite I got a voicemail message from a woman from the FBI, she wanted me to call her back.. I didn\'t want to do that.. so I asked Rachel, an attorney for the National Lawyers Guild, .. Rachel: because they\'re doing a very broad investigation.. non-violent vigils .. Kate: Women in Black is an International Network of Women committed to Anti-Militarism and Racial Justice.. begun by Israeli women during the first infitada.. stand in the Central Square of Jerusalem.. patterned on Argentine \'Mothers of the Disappeared\'(U2).. Yogoslavia women very active.. in Belgrade, focused on the ethnic cleansing.. driven underground by the Milosvich regime, at the same time bombarded by NATO.. I take inspiration from her.. the questioning was quickly devolved into the personal political and religious beliefs.. asked intrusive questions, even: \"Do You Support Your Government More Than You Do Your Religion?\" [can that be right?] Kate: I was threatened with supeana to New York.. Rachel Letterman: 100\'s of people have been contacted by the FBI.. It\'s our right not to communicate with them.. If it\'s a legitimate.. It\'s hard to believe that they could think that Women In Black, a group of Jewish Lesbians, would have links to fundamentalist Islamic terror sects.. Barbara Lee\'s area being singled out as not down with the program of going to war against the world.. It\'s not going to get them anywhere.. Kate: I call on all Community Activists to Stand UP for Each Other\'s Rights, and For Your Own Rights.. Join Women In Black, 5PM Friday October 5 Montgomery and Market.. Stop the War, End the Racist Attacks at Home, End the Occupation.. 1324 womeninblacksf@mail.yahoo.com .. National Lawyers Guild phone: 415-285-1055, Ideas for the show 510-848-6767 ext 244 NLG 415-285-1055
-27:20 Attorney Lynn Washington of Temple University, author of The Beating Goes On.. Attorney Washington: about the new \'Terrorism Czar\', Pennsylvania\'s Governor Tom Ridge.. a propensity to ... scheme with the mayor of Philidelphia to falsely arrest people who were in Philly to protest at the Republican Convention.. signed 214 death warrants, more overturned.. in July 2000, at the National Governors Conference at Penn State.. where death penalty opponents were harrassed, followed.. he called 911, \'help there\'s someone following me\'.. then the police turned on their sirens and.. eventually gave him a ticket for not signaling when he stopped to call 911.. about the.. came into the puppet theater, the right wing Maldon Institute (link2) provided information to the state police.. 72 arrested.. all charges thrown out.. didn\'t prevent the police from totally destroying every float, every puppet.. torn up, and dumped.. a wacko group according to a lot of state\'s police.. a major embarrassment.. Noelle: a report that Philly police commissioner tapped, John Temmany, as an aid to Tom Ridge.. Attorney Washington: ..it appears the state police were brought in.. about the civil suits filed because of the puppet destruction.. but charges were lodged for months and months at a time.. a close working relationship of different element of the criminal justice system.. these element are charged with protecting our rights.. this could be open season on descent.. of a certain political stripe.. not the anti-abortion loonies.. look at this failed war on drugs.. it\'s a scary time we\'re getting into.. Noelle: Does Tom Ridge respect civil liberties? Lynn: .. they\'re trying to restrict public records.. (discussion).. about the department forwarding Abu-Jamal\'s mail to the Governor, who timed his signing of Mumia\'s death warrant to foil an appeal..
-46:00 Mumia and more, poetry, singing..
-47:00 Noelle Hanrahan about Mumia Abu-Jamal. Brand new essay/s for Flashpoints. 1: Mumia: Why Do they Hate Us So Much?
-53:55 End today\'s show.. -today\'s review by john lionheart

Audio this show (scrollable)
Flashpoints website, audio archive

KPFA Flashpoints Radio 94.1 FM Berkeley
Your Daily Investigative Radio News Magazine
-produced by Dennis Bernstein
online live 5-6pm Pacific time weekdays at KPFA.org

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Flashpoints Radio Sept 25: UK journalist Robert Fisk; Feminist poet Robin Morgan

Tuesday, Sept 25, 2001 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein w news headlines from Robert Knight in New York City.. 1/3 of New Yorkers according to a poll favor internment camps for those \"sympathetic to terrorist causes\".. 50% opposed
-05:00 Dennis w Robert Fisk, a award-winning reporter for the London Independent.. Fisk: this part of the world (Middle East) has suffered from terrorist actions.. Irishmen murdered by South Lebanese militiamen, the killers flown to sanctuary in the U.S. by Israel.. 17,500 Lebanese civilians killed by Israeli military in 1982.. crimes against humanity.. 1,800 massacred in Sabra and Shatilla.. Fisk: I don\'t remember any candlelight vigils in the U.S or Europe for them.. I don\'t remember any memorial services.. this is not a war against terrorism, this is a war against America\'s enemies.. Dennis: about Israel strategies.. Fisk: the moment the Palestinians continue to resist occupation, they automatically become \'terrorists\'.. (about American officials) without any understanding or compassion for the Middle East.. urging that the U.S. should start bombing around the country, around the region.. absolutely obscene.. an innocent country, Lebanon.. on the verge of economic breakdown.. attacks could have earthquake responses here.. IF it\'s bin Laden, and I\'m waiting for the proof from Powell.. IF it\'s bin Laden.. he did it because he wanted an American reaction so.. brutal that Arab people overthrow Mabarak, the Saudi regime.. Fisk: In 1842, 16,500 English (4,500 soldiers and officers, 12,000 women, children and servants) left Kabul (reference).. attacked by Afghans wielding knives and axes.. killed every Englishman and woman except one.. hacked them to death.. Britain lost four wars.. Soviets lost 62,000 men.. Afghanistan not a country, but a collection of tribes within borders drawn by others.. Fisk: as the days have gone by, it has become clear.. America does not want to attack *all* sources of terror.. about ordinary civilians around the world.. what are we westerners being asked to sign up to?.. a vehicle for the reimposition of massive American power.. European powers already extremely skeptical.. what happens if we take over Afghanistan?.. nation-building again?.. the crimes against humanity in New York and Washington.. have we thought this through? do we know what we\'re doing? we can fund.. the Northern Alliance.. are we going to turn them into a government? are we planning to decide who their government should be?.. if we are, i think the people who are being asked to support this war should be told about it.. Dennis: about oil, about pipelines? Fisk: the Saudis who helped create the Taliban.. had plans for a pipeline.. about Saudi Arabia\'s connection with the Taliban².. (discussion).. Dennis: what about the \'second wave of terror\' here in this country, attacks on Arabs and others.. Fisk: It is infantile.. We have a whole history.. we\'ve had 30 years of