Flashpoints June 12: Ashcroft terrorizes US liberties; Zimbabwe; US migrants die : Indybay

KPFA Flashpoints Radio
VERDICT IN: FBI TO PAY EARTH FIRST! $4.4 MILLION, HALLALUYAH JURY FINDS AGENTS GUILTY ON MOST ALL COUNTS

Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - Start Audio

-00:00 KPFA News Headlines
-03:00 Dennis Bernstein: introduction: the case of the 'dirty bomber' the gutting of constitutional due process; 2,000 migrants die from INS Operation Gatekeeper; interview with Professor Horace Cambell about Zimbabwe
-03:54 now with Robert Knight and the Knight Report..

Robert: about Ashcroft's latest attempt to blow up the US Constitution.. Chicago gangbanger Jose Padilla accused by Ashcroft of plotting to explode a radioactive bomb.. Wolfowitz disagrees.. White House chastises Ashcroft.. attorney Donna Newman files suit for Padilla.. about attorney Lynn Steward accused of aiding terrorism.. Leonard Weinglass gives her an award.. Steward announces the first victory in her fight for to exonerate herself.. a US cargo plane crashes near Kabul.. Afghanistan expected to approve UNOCAL pipeline .. about the damage to White House computer keyboards by outgoing Clinton staff
-10:00 Dennis: about Jose Padilla, arrested for plotting to explode a 'dirty' bomb in the US..

now w Michael Ratner of the Center for Constitutional Rights.. Michael: about CoInTelPro.. one example: MLK and Malcomb X *targeted* to 'prevent the rise of a black Messiah'.. many of us fought for years to get FBI guidelines put in place to prevent these kind of abuses.. now these "William Smith French" guidelines being ripped apart and cut asunder by Ashcroft.. we're in a very, very bad situation.. the FBI will now pay a guy to sit and listen to KPFA all day.. will hear us talk about how they shouldn't be doing what they are doing in Guantanamo.. label us seditious.. unravels from there into a broad attack on dissent in this country.. (about previous excesses by the FBI even before Ashcroft).. Dennis: bringing in the CIA?.. Michael: the FBI trained to respect the constitution to some degree, the CIA trained to trash constitutions, to disobey national laws.. the FBI will start feeding information to the CIA.. a bogus partnership, a violation of the National Security Act.. Dennis: about the 'dirty' bomber.. Michael: quite a remarkable case.. an US citizen.. he could be charged with a crime, confront his accusers, like usual.. but today before his scheduled appearance in court, Ashcroft puts the guy into a military brig, indefinite detention.. with no rights.. to be held to the 'end of the war'.. what war? this is not a 'war', this is a police action to round up terrorists.. you can't treat people like this.. most international lawyers are shocked.. first the administration said, 'we'll only do this to non-citizens' (re Guantanomo), now just on Ashcroft's say-so, they do this to a US citizen.. the core civil liberties in this country say everyone has a right to a lawyer, to habeas corpus, to confront their accusers.. this is a very dangerous precedent to us all.. Ashcroft could lock anyone he wants to away using the same argument if he is allowed to get away with this.. the newspapers, not to their credit, parroted Ashcroft.. there doesn't seem to be any real evidence.. no real plot.. Ashcroft heavily exaggerated this, and the media went along with it.. even the Bush administration is upset with Ashcroft.. about the FBI hearings in the house now.. FBI under scrutiny.. and suddenly Ashcroft comes out and says, "hey, we just caught a bomber".. implying things are hunky-dorry at the FBI.. opportunistic.. Ratner: THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENT I HAVE SEEN SINCE 9/11.. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS BEING TAKEN AWAY BEFORE OUR EYES.. Padilla's lawyer has filed a writ of habeas corpus.. we'll see where that goes
-27:19 Dennis: the wave of

struggle for freedom rages on in the continent of Africa.. now the second part of our interview with Professor Horace Campbell.. disguished professor at Columbia University.. author of Rasta and Resistance and other books.. Prof Campbell: about Zimbabwe.. a man called Cecil Rhodes.. English settler who monopolized the mines of Zimbabwe (Rhodesia).. Rhodes scholarships funded by the plundering of Africa.. 1% of the population controlled 99% of the resources.. all the peaceful routes to independence were closed.. mobilized people all over the world, including reggae god, Bob Marley.. about the settler class that still controlled most of the land of Zimbabwe.. Robert Mugabe internalized European attitudes, for ten years supported colonial continuation.. Mugabe went to Jamacia in 1996.. the Jamacians asked him, why do you dress like a European?.. why do you not return the land of Zimbabwe to the people?.. about the corrupt black Zimbabweans who treated the poor like the Europeans did.. corruption.. water not shared with the people.. homophobia.. AIDS.. the most backwards ideas.. when Mugabe began to lose popularity in the country.. he unleased war veterans against people of the country, and against land owners.. "Bob

all progressive human beings must distance themselves from this kind of leadership.. Prof Campbell: we're on a US tour.. next stop, Portland.. with the Black Radical Congress.. I am very encouraged by the anti-capitalist, anti-globalization movement..
-39:10

music break: Bob Marley, Zimbabwe
"Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny.. And in this judgement there's no partiality.. So arm in arms, with arms, we will fight this little struggle.. Cause that's the only way we can overcome our little troubl"e
-40:11 Dennis: in the past 7 and a half years,

INS 'Operation Gatekeeper' has resulted in the deaths of 2,000 migrants.. human rights activists gathering at the US/Mexico border.. now w Claudia Smith of CA Rural Legal Assisstance Foundation.. Claudia: people keep dying, about one per day on average.. a deliberate strategy of the INS.. channelling migrants into hell.. dying of thirst, exposure in the desert.. what the coroners' offices say.. the dying people will lie down, make a pillow of their clothes and display their ID so someone might notify their family.. migrant deaths skyrocketed after 9/11.. what I would like to say to George Bush
-51:39 music break

"Sometimes they have to kill us, they *have to* kill us, because they can't break our spirit.. we know the difference between the reality of freedom and the illusion of freedom.."
-53:10 Dennis:

reads the poem of the week: La Migra, by Pat Mora

1)
Let's play La Migra
I'll be the Border Patrol
You be the Mexican maid
I get the badge and sunglasses
You can hide and run
but you can't get away
because I have a jeep
- - - - - - - -
Oh, and a gun
Get ready, get set, run
2)
Let's play La Migra
You be the border patrol
I'll be the Mexican woman
Your jeep has a flat
and you have been spotted by the sun
I know this desert
where to rest
where to drink
Oh I am not alone
- - - - - - - -
Agua dulce, brota aqui, aqui, aqui,
but since you can't speak Spanish
you do not understand,
get ready, get ready

-54:44 Dennis:

EVENTS:

Robert Fisk; Counting the Cost of Jenin, June 20 7PM at the First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley; June 21 in Sacramento, June 22 in Palo Alto, info 510-548-0542 or www.MECAforPeace.org.. ALSO see/hear Greg Palast and Katherine Austin Fitts at Mission High School, 7PM Sunday, June 16, benefit for Media Alliance and Friends of Free Speech Radio..
-58:06 End today's show. today's review by john lionheart

Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - Start Audio

-00:00 Dennis Bernstein: introduction: JUDI BARI, DERREL CHERNEY WIN LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FBI! (Dennis live from the courthouse, BIG PARTY IN PROGRESS)
-01:00 now w Alicia Littletree, Derrel Cherney
-15:40 now w attorney Dennis Cunningham: no one could replace Judi
-27:00 LP music
-27:20 Dennis: yesterday Bush and Sharon meet in DC.. now w Hussein Ibish: Arafat and Bush will not meet with Arafat.. uncritical support US for Israel.. without any committment to acknowledge the legitimate rights of the Palestinians.. while Israelis have the right to defend themselves, the Pals have the right to live free, free of military occupation.. but the coalition of Jewish lobby, 'Christian' right, and defence contractors.. this administration not willing to use the capital necessary to end this conflict.. in the end, very damaging to American interests.. Dennis: Israel says we have to partner with with whom to talk peace (re: Arafat).. Ibish: also the Pals can say we are not talking to Ariel Sharon, the butcher of Beruit.. the point is.. this has to be resolved between 'peoples' between societies.. if Arafat is killed tonight, you're right back to square one.. the army is there, the settlements are there.. and the 3 million Pals will still be there (with the Israeli boot still on their necks).. our goverment is too afraid of these powerful special interests.. Dennis: about the US military being present with the Israeli troops during the 'Jenin Atrocity', where Israel troops went door-to-door in a pitiful Palestinian refugee camp bulldozing, looting, and killing everyone in sight.. Is there an unsafer place for people to live in the world than the West Bank and Gaza?.. Israel is a dangerous place to live as well.. Dennis: the Christian right says the NY TIMES favors the Pals?.. Ibish: an obvious public relations trick.. pre-empts the truth of Times support of Israel.. if the NY Times runs five op-eds by Arabs, by Muslims in a whole year, would be a lot.. (details).. American public opinion has flipped away from support of the Jewish lobby.. 3/4 of Americans are in favor of a Palestinian state, and 3/4 are willing to cut aid to Israel to leverage peace.. these opinions are.. why Isreal has 6 PR firms working overtime.. spending thousands of dollars on TV ads in *defence* of Israel.. about the JDL bomb plot against a mosque in LA.. about Al-Quada.. racial proviling is not helpful..
-49:00 Dennis: about Ziad ^^^^ who gave the commencement speech, controversally titled "American Jihad" recently at Harvard.. Hear Commencement Address, Ziad: 'Jihad' is the determination to do right, moral behavior.. one on level it is simple.. everyone wants the same things we do.. this is our American struggle.. this is our American Jihad.. there is no contradiction.. a community of the human spirit.. what is new is taught us by last fall's tradegy and carnage.. a more just and peaceful global society.. let us struggle and leave our mark.. we will be the change we seek in this world
-55:00 EVENT/S: BBC Middle Eastern Affairs Journalist, Robert Fisk, just back from the West Bank, in Berkeley Thursday June 20, Sacto June 21, Palo Alto June 22, info 510-548-0542 or www.MECAforPeace.org
-xx:xx End today's show. today's review by john lionheart

Monday, June 10, 2002 - Start Audio

-00:00 Leslie Kean: introduction: Professor Horace Campbell on Africa; report by Human Rights Watch finds the Israeli public school system discriminates against Arab children in every possible way; 11 Mexicans die trying to cross the border into US
-00:30 Leslie: Non-Jewish public schools are operated separately from Jewish schools and are inferior in every respect.. now with Zama Coursen-Neff, the author of the HRW report, titled Second Class, Discimination against Arab children in Israeli Schools .. Zama Coursen-Neff: the report uses data collected by the Israeli government itself.. we found in every area we looked at, that the Israeli government is discrminating against Arab children, citizens of Israel proper.. (details).. about the Beduoin people.. the most discriminated against people.. many times not even provided with electricity or schools or other basics.. those schools were shocking.. Zama Coursen-Neff: many Israeli citizens think this discrimination is wrong.. the government needs to make discrimination in education illegal.. [webmasters note: there is no bill of rights in Israel.. they don't even have a constitution.. (link1) (link2)]
-15:10 Leslie: 11 people have died in the last three days trying to cross the border between Mexico and the US.. now w Isabel Garcia, an immigrant rights attorney in Southern Arizona. She is also a co-founder of the Coalicion de Derechos Humanos in Tucson, Arizona. Isabel: we are talking about people who are very desperate to make a living for their family.. going outside 3-4 miles from habitation centers (due to the beefed up US border policy).. desert areas, absolutely fatal.. has caused over 3,000 deaths since the advent of the post 9/11 US policy.. people whose last thoughts on earth are "I came to this country (US) to feed my family, and now I am about to die, and what will happen to my family".. how can the US people not sympathize with these people?.. about the "Free Trade Agreement" which is exacerbating the immigration problems, and militarizing our borders.. our nation is acting as gatekeeper for the multinational corporations labor needs.. IT IS IN SHEER DESPERATION THAT PEOPLE CROSS.. MASS MIGRATION IS COMPLEX SOCIAL PHENOMENON..it is not a law enforcement problem.. the pitiful survivors who are captured are deported.. even people who need dialysis treatment (because of dehydration) for the rest of their lives.. they probably wont' get that in Mexico.. deportation is a death sentence.. more info 520-770-1373
-28:10 Dennis Bernstein: about the legacy of colonialism in Africa.. now with Professor Horace Campbell.. author of Rasta and Resistance.. Prof Campbell: I an so very pleased to be here on KPFA.. to highlight the importance of the lives of human beings.. in a Biotech century there is debate about the right 'breed' of human beings.. social darwinism was led to the philosophy that certain people are not important.. specifically Africans.. a massive hemorrage of people in Africa from AIDS.. but the working people of Africa people.. the African Union will come into being next week!.. the African Union will never accept undemocratic.. about the true leaders of Africa, the African women.. the African women are the future of the world.. they are the strongest folk on the earth.. Prof. Campbell: about Ken of Nigeria.. we face a crisis of 'breathing while black'.. environmental racism like the 'driving while black; political racism.. about a case to hang a pregnant women for adultery.. about the BS the Western world throws at the African AIDS crisis.. the median age has dropped to 39.. 3,000 PEOPLE DIED IN 9/11 AND THE US AND THE WORLD WAS JUSTIFIABLY UPSET, BUT 3,000 PEOPLE DIE IN SOUTH AFRICA EVERY WEEK FROM AIDS AND WHERE IS THE INTERNATIONAL OUTRAGE?? IF THE VICTIMS WERE WHITE? .. the participants of the international arms trade should arrested and brought to justice.. they are spreading terror.. Bush is spending billions of dollars.. the government of Israel unleashing unspeakable horrors on the Palestinians.. India and Pakistan.. Dennis: how can this new Afican union succeed.. Prof Campbell: it will take your help, the help of KPFA and its listeners.. about the Rwandan genocide.. advisor to President Clinton.. our public instititions are complicit in racism.. about the new movement in Africa.. about the trade relations in alliance with INDIA and BRAZIL.. and the most rich continent of DNA is Africa and we have resisted the WTO movement to corporatize African DNA.. the reason that war crimes in Yugolavia are prosecuted but the (much worse) war crimes that took place in Rwanda are not even being investigated: America's perspective is racist.. the US citizens must support the International Criminal Court.. the government of the US and of France assisted the genocide in Rwanda.. and have covered up their complicity
-52:10 EVENT/S: BBC Middle Eastern Affairs Journalist, Robert Fisk, just back from the West Bank, in Berkeley Thursday June 20, Sacto June 21, Palo Alto June 22, info 510-548-0542 or www.MECAforPeace.org
-55:52 End today's show. today's review by john lionheart

Flashpoints June 12: Ashcroft terrorizes US liberties; Zimbabwe; US migrants die

Donate

Get Involved

Publish