THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

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  This week we present Between The Lines' summary
  of under-reported news stories and:

  After Taliban Abandon Afghanistan's Cities,
  Will U.S. Be Drawn into a Protracted Guerilla War?
  Interview by Scott Harris.

  After four weeks of relentless bombing of Taliban government targets by U.S. planes and missiles, the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance advanced at a rapid pace, taking over the key cities of Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat and finally the capital city of Kabul. Although the Taliban described their change in fortune as a strategic retreat, U.S. government and Pentagon officials expressed delight and surprise at their allies' rapid march south. Many observers warn that the Taliban may be abandoning the cities in order to prepare for what could be a brutal guerrilla war.

  In capturing Kabul, the Northern Alliance disregarded their agreement to remain outside the capital city until the U.S. could hammer out a plan establish a stable post-Taliban government that was inclusive of all Afghanistan's competing ethnic groups. As the U.S.-backed force overtook fleeing Taliban soldiers, there were many press accounts of executions, torture and looting by Northern Alliance militia.

  Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Eugene J. Carroll Jr. of the Center for Defense Information, who assesses the quick turn of events in Afghanistan and how this may affect the U.S. goal of capturing Osama bin Laden and dismantling his Al Qaeda terror network believed to be responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

  Contact the Center for Defense Information by calling (202) 332-0600 or visit their Web site at http://www.cdi.org

  Under Pressure from Poor Nations, World Trade Organization
  Agrees to Make Affordable Medicines Available to Treat Those in Need
  Interview by Scott Harris.

  Under extremely tight security, delegates to the World Trade Organizasion arrived in the Persian Gulf city of Doha, Qatar to convene the international trade group's fourth ministerial meeting. The WTO had touted this gathering as historic due to the invitation extended to both China and Taiwan to join their club. But the main goal by wealthy industrial nations here was to win an agreement that would launch a new round of comprehensive negotiations on a number of new trade issues.

  It's been two years since the tumultuous WTO summit in Seattle, where tens of thousands of demonstrators succeeded in shutting down the controversial institution's meeting and bringing international attention to trade regulations that many critics believe places profits before people. But in Qatar, a small authoritarian nation which tolerates no dissent, very few representatives of non-governmental organizations were allowed to attend. But while human rights, labor and environmental activists - not able to travel to Qatar - held demonstrations around the world - delegates of poor developing nations in Doha - attempted to challenge the blueprint for globalization drafted by wealthy states led by the U.S. and European Union.

  Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Robert Weissman, editor of the Multinational Monitor, who discusses the important issues debated at the World Trade Organization's ministerial summit and the future of the international anti-globalilzation movement.

  You can contact the Multinational Monitor by calling area code (202) 387-8030 or visit their web site at: http://multinationalmonitor.org/

  Planned Parenthood Says Attorney General
  Ashcroft Ignores Anthrax Threats Made to Abortion Clinics
  Interview by Richard Hill.

  Since the first letters containing deadly anthrax spores began arriving at media and government offices, there has been much speculation about the possible foreign sources of these bio-terrorism attacks. But reproductive health clinics have been the target of bio-terror threats since as early as 1994 and hundreds of anthrax threat letters have been received by family planning clinics in recent weeks.

  Ann Glazier, director of security for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has been gathering information about Christian fundamentalist and right-wing militia groups that have attacked or threatened many of Planned Parenthood's 900 clinics over the last 8 years. She recently attempted to meet with Attorney General John Ashcroft to discuss her security concerns and to deliver data and suggestions. As reported by the New York Times' columnist Frank Rich, the Attorney General has thus far failed to respond to Planned Parenthood's request for a meeting.

  Between The Lines' Richard Hill spoke with Ann Glazier, director of security for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, about her concern that the Attorney General may be overlooking domestic terrorist groups which could be connected with the recent bio-terrorism attacks.

  You can contact Planned Parenthood Federation of America at (202) 785-3351 or visit their web site at http://www.ppfa.org/

  This week's summary of under-reported news
  Compiled by Bob Nixon

  • D American missile attack destroys the Kabul offices of Al-Jazeera, the Arab TV network based in Qatar.( BBC, "Al-Jazeera's offices hit," November 13, 2001; CNN, "Serbian TV goes Dark," April 25, 1999)
  • Anti-apartheid activist, and former African National Congress official, Trevor Ngwane leading protests against International Monetary Fund's neo-liberal agenda imposed on South Africa which privatized key public services including power, water and parklands. (New Internationalist, "From Seattle to Soweto,", September 2001)
  • Unions and activists mobilizing a global campaign to end sweatshop conditions in factories that make clothing for major retail outlets. (In These Times, "Never Let Them See You Sweat," October 15, 2001)

  Credits:
  Senior news editor/writer: Bob Nixon
  Program narration: Denise Manzari
  News narration: Nigel Rees
  Segment Producers: Scott Harris, Richard Hill
  Distribution: Anna Manzo, Harry Minot, Jeff Yates
  Web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
  Executive producer: Scott Harris

... MORE ...

Commentary on America's Crisis, from the Producer

"Respond to Terror With a Revolution of the Heart"

"Respond to Terror With a Revolution of the Heart," audio file in MP3.

Between The Lines' Special Reports on Fallout from Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks

Special Report, Week Ending Sept. 21, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Sept. 28, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Oct. 5, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Oct. 12, 2001

Special Report, Week Ending Oct. 19, 2001

Ali Abunimah, vice president of Chicago's Arab American Action Network, interview in RealAudio, Sept. 12, 2001

In-Depth News Analysis

Third World Traveler, Foreign Policy section, collection of resources on www.thirdworldtraveler.com

"They can't see why they are hated: Americans cannot ignore what their government does abroad" by Seumas Milne, Guardian Unlimited, UK's Special Report on Terrorism in the U.S., Sept. 13, 2001

In-depth Reporting and Analysis of Sept. 11 Terror Attacks

AlerNet.org

The Nation magazine

Mediachannel.org

Economic Globalization Resources

ZNet's Global Economic Crisis resource site Excellent source for understanding global economics and trade issues and particularly in preparation for ongoing demonstrations about economic justice

"The Fight for Everything" A series of interviews with activists and leaders of grassroots, progressive groups analyzing the goals, strategy and tactics of the global social justice movement

Multi-Ethnic Public Issues Advocacy

Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson's Commentaries, The Hutchinson Report

Between The Lines' 10th Anniversary CD