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ACTIVIST RESOURCES

Global social justice movement resources
Collection of interviews and Web sites with contacts for breaking news about the global social justice movement. (Audio files in MP3 and RealAudio formats.)

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Hungry for more news from "Between The Lines?"

Many BTL interviews are excerpted from Scott Harris' WPKN program, "Counterpoint." To hear more in-depth analysis you'll rarely hear in corporate media, listen to "Counterpoint" LIVE Monday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. ET.

Listen during the above time slot by clicking here!

Check out our
new archive
of selected in-depth interviews and other audio collectibles on our distribution production company's site at www.squeakywheel.net


WPKN Radio mentioned in Danny Schechter's "The News Dissector" column on independent media values. Click here to view the column on Mediachannel.org.

New Haven Advocate's
"Best of New Haven 2001"
-- Staff Picks --
Scott Harris, Best Radio News Reporter
WPKN Radio, 89.5 FM

"Giving Voice to Dissent: Bridgeport's WPKN Radio Covers The News With Left-Of-Center Takes Not Found In The Mainstream Media" Hartford Courant, Feb. 26, 2003

"The Rest of the News," New Haven Advocate, July 3, 2003


ISSUES IN-DEPTH

War And Profiteering

Those Who Dared to Come Forward
Compilation of Washington insiders speaking out on Bush administration policies and actions

Project for the New American Century's Letter to President Clinton on Iraq, Jan. 26, 1998 Urges President Clinton to remove the threat that Iraq poses by stating a strategy to do so in his "upcoming State of the Union Address."

"Iraq On The Record," U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman report, March 16, 2004

"Greenspan Testimony Highlights Bush Plan for Deliberate Federal Bankruptcy," by Michael Meurer, truthout.org, March 2, 2004

"Noam Chomsky on Middle East Conflict and U.S. War Plan Against Iraq," Between The Lines interview with Noam Chomsky, conducted by Scott Harris, for the Week Ending May 3, 2002

"The Iraq War & The Bush Administration's Pursuit of Global Domination," Counterpoint, Sept. 15, 2003

The Iraq Crisis, a Global Policy Forum, U.N. Security Council section on the 13 years of sanctions and other background of the war, the humanitarian situation, the importance of Iraq's huge oil resources, and disputes over a post-war government and reconstruction plan

"Occupation, Inc." Southern Exposure, Winter, 2003/2004

"Pipeline Politics: Oil, The Taliban, and the Political Balance of Central Asia," World Press Review Special Report, Nov.-Dec. 2001

"War Profiteering," by The Nation editors, April 24, 2003

"An Annotated Saddam Chronology," ZNet, Dec. 15, 2003

Civil Liberties

"The Global Gulag: Into The Shadows," by Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch.com, April 5, 2004

"Keeping Secrets: The Bush administration is doing the public's business out of the public eye. Here's how--and why," by Christopher H. Schmitt and Edward T. Pound, U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 12, 2003

"FBI Memo: Tactics Used During Protests And Demonstrations" Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oct. 15, 2003

"F.B.I. Scrutinizes Antiwar Rallies" by Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, Nov. 23, 2003

"Fascism Anyone?" 21 Signs of Fascism, Free Inquiry Magazine, Volume 23, No. 2

"Germany In 1933: The Easy Slide Into Fascism," The Crisis Papers, June 9, 2003

Multi-Ethnic Issues Advocacy

Dr. Earl Ofari Hutchinson's Commentaries, The Hutchinson Report
and in Audio (needs RealPlayer)

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The Lines

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Between The Lines
For The Week Ending March 10, 2006

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Between The Lines at the World Social Forum

-------------------

Scott Harris' "Counterpoint" talk show

Between The Lines Executive Producer Scott Harris' live, 2-hour "Counterpoint" program is now archived in its entirety on The White Rose Society website at www.whiterosesociety.org

For downloadable MP3s, Click here!
(Please note that this is an automated recording from WPKN's webcast Monday nights between 8-10 p.m. ET, and may include portions of other programs preceding and following "Counterpoint.")

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM
  • Iraq Holy Shrine Bombing
    Triggers Sectarian Violence;
    Nation Near Civil War

    For story text, Click here!

  • South Dakota Anti-Abortion Forces
    Working to Overturn Roe vs. Wade

    For story text, Click here!

  • Civil Liberties Advocates Maintain
    Bush's Illegal Conduct
    Constitutes Impeachable Offenses

    For story text, Click here!

  • Underreported News Summary
    from Around the World

    For full summary, Click here!
LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below. MP3 files available until March 14, 2006.

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

Iraq Holy Shrine Bombing
Triggers Sectarian Violence;
Nation Near Civil War

Interview with Chris Toensing,
editor of Middle East Report,
conducted by Scott Harris

The Feb. 22 bombing of the Askariya Shrine in Samarra, one of the holiest sites of the Shia religion in Iraq, set off a wave sectarian violence that in a week may have killed as many as 1,300. In retaliation for the destruction of the gold-domed shrine, Shia militias attacked and killed Sunni clerics and destroyed or took over dozens of Sunni Mosques. The execution-style murders of men, women and children, randomly targeted for their religious faith, illustrated the depth of anger and hate that engulfed Iraq over the past week.

Government police and the U.S. military did little to stop the violence, but the imposition of a daytime curfew limited the carnage. However, continuing attacks and counter-attacks triggered by the shrine bombing has brought the low-level conflict in Iraq closer to becoming an all-out civil war. Shiite and Sunni politicians working to form a new Iraqi government abruptly halted their negotiations, but representatives of both sides publicly blamed the U.S. occupation for being, in part, responsible for the bloodshed.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Chris Toensing, editor of Middle East Report, who discusses the latest wave of sectarian violence in Iraq and the outlook for a withdrawal of large numbers of U.S. troops.

Contact Middle East Report by calling (202) 223-3677 or visit their website at www.merip.org

Related links:

South Dakota Anti-Abortion Forces
Working to Overturn Roe vs. Wade

Interview with Nancy Keenan,
president of NARAL Pro-Choice America,
conducted by Melinda Tuhus

abortion

On Feb. 24, the South Dakota legislature passed a bill that bans abortion in all cases except to save the life of the mother. Republican Gov. Mike Rounds has said he'll probably sign it. The law is a direct challenge not just to the Roe v. Wade, U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in 1973, but to legal abortion itself. And that's the point. Lawmakers are counting on the measure, if the governor signs it, ending up at the Supreme Court. There, they are hopeful of overturning Roe, since anti-abortion justice Samuel Alito replaced Sandra Day O'Connor, whose swing vote usually sided with abortion protections.

The right to abortion has been narrowed significantly over the 33 years since Roe v. Wade was decided. Restrictions have been imposed including: parental and spousal notification and prohibition of "late" term abortions. The so-called "partial birth abortion" procedure is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court, despite rulings from three separate appeals courts that banning the procedure is unconstitutional.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, about this latest attack on abortion rights, what her organization is doing about it, and why the issue goes beyond abortion to all women's reproductive rights.

Contact NARAL at (202) 973-3000 or visit their website at www.prochoiceamerica.org

Civil Liberties Advocates Maintain
Bush's Illegal Conduct
Constitutes Impeachable Offenses

Interview with Michael Ratner,
president of the Center for Constitutional Rights,
conducted by Scott Harris

bush

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., President Bush has used the power of the White House to authorize extraordinary measures that a growing number of observers believe violate the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Controversial actions taken by the president include the institution of policies that allow for the detention of foreign nationals and U.S. citizens without charge, access to an attorney or the courts. Many prisoners held by the Pentagon and CIA are subjected to torture and abusive practices permitted by the White House. The Bush administration has also secretly adopted a policy called, "extraordinary rendition," that permits the transfer of terrorist suspects to nations that employ brutal interrogation methods illegal in the U.S. More recently, the president has admitted to monitoring the phone calls and email communication of American citizens without a court order -- illegal under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Among the groups challenging the Bush administration's actions is the Center for Constitutional Rights. In June 2004, the Center won a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court that affirmed the legal rights of both U.S. and foreign citizens to challenge their military detention before a judge or other neutral decision makers. But recently, Congress has attempted to revoke that right with an amendment to an anti-torture bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. In another setback for civil liberties advocates, federal Judge David Trager recently dismissed a lawsuit brought on behalf of a Canadian citizen, Maher Arar, represented by the Center, who was forcibly taken from the U.S. to Syria by American intelligence agents where he was imprisoned and tortured.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, who outlines the criminal violations committed by the president that he believes are grounds for the impeachment of Bush. Ratner, along with his colleagues at the Center, have just written a book detailing their findings titled: "Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush."

Contact the Center for Constitutional Rights by calling (212) 614-6464 or visit the Center's website at www.ccr-ny.org. Michael Ratner is a contributor to the new book titled, "Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush."

Related links:

This week's summary
of under-reported news

Compiled by Bob Nixon

  • The United Arab Emirates, entangled in a heated debate over their state-owned Dubai Port World's takeover of terminal operations in six major U.S. ports, is also a major buyer of American high-tech weapons. The UAE is a major investor in the Carlyle Group, a private equity investment firm where President George Herbert Walker Bush once served as senior adviser, and home to many powerful GOP officials. ("UAE, Jolted by Port Deal is Key Western Weapons Buyer," InterPress Service, Feb. 23, 2006)
  • The National Resources Defense Council concludes that Hurricane Katrina floodwaters left a deep layer of sediment contaminated with high levels of arsenic, lead and petrochemicals, all hazardous to human health. ("Safety of Post-Hurricane Sludge is Disputed," Washington Post, Feb. 23, 2006; "Contamination in New Orleans Sediment," NRDC report on Katrina damage, Feb. 23, 2006)
  • A growing number of pastors in North Carolina are objecting to a request by the state Republican Party for church membership directories for the purpose of outreach and voter registration campaigns. ("Some Churches Ignore GOP Request," Associated Press, Feb. 17, 2006)

DOWNLOAD this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below. Needs Quicktime Player or your favorite MP3 player. Note: Make sure your browser is set for streaming or download depending on your connection speed. MP3 files available until March 14, 2006

Note to our broadcast affiliates: We offer FTP access for faster, more reliable download of our broadcast quality files. Please call Anna Manzo at (203) 268-8446 ext. 2, to register for FTP logon access, obtain schedules or send feedback to us at betweenthelines@snet.net.

Credits:
Executive producer: Scott Harris
Segment producers: Scott Harris, Melinda Tuhus
Senior news editor: Bob Nixon
Program narration: Denise Manzari
News reader: Chris Ferrio
Senior Web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Jeff Yates
Newswire editor: Hank Hoffman
Photo editor: Brendan Angelides
Outreach coordinator: Anna Manzo
Distribution: Bill Cosentino, Harry Minot, Jeff Yates
Theme music: Written by Richard Hill and Jody Gray, and performed by Mikata.


Between The Lines
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Last Week's Program

Between The Lines Week Ending 3/3/06

Between The Lines Community Forum

Share your thoughts with the Between The Lines crew and listeners' community!

U.S. Politics

"A National Popular Vote," by Rob Richie & Ryan O'Donnell, TomPaine.com, Feb. 28, 2006

"Supreme Court Backs Abortion Protesters," Associated Press, Feb. 28, 2006

"Saving Our Democracy," by Bill Moyers, AlterNet, Feb. 27, 2006

"All 50 Governors Say Bush Policies Weakening National Guard," The New York Times, Feb. 27, 2006

"Sizing Up The Opposing Armies In The Coming Abortion Battle," The New York Times, Feb. 26, 2006

More newswire ...

Bush Regime

"When Americans No Longer Own America," by Thom Hartmann, www.CommonDreams.org, Feb. 27, 2006

"The Case For Impeachment: Why We Can No Longer Afford George Bush," by Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, Feb. 27, 2006

"Bush's Bunker Days," by David Lindorff, Counterpunch, Feb. 27, 2006

"Worse Than Hoover: A Fool's Economic Paradise," by Stephen Pizzo, News For Real, Feb. 27, 2006

"Defeat Is Victory. Death Is Life," by Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, Feb. 27, 2006

"White House 'Discovers' 250 Emails Related To Plame Leak," by Jason Leopold, Truthout, Feb. 24, 2006

"Bush And The Ports Deal: The Boy Who Cried Wolf," by William Greider, The Nation, Feb. 23, 2006

"Watchdogs Urge Full Probe Of Bush Propaganda Spending," OneWorld.net, Feb. 22, 2006

"Port Debate Pits Bush Against His Own Party," by Dick Polman, Knight Ridder, Feb. 22, 2006

"U.S. Terror Fears, Stoked By Bush, Now Bite Him," Reuters, Feb. 22, 2006

"Bush Didn't Know About Ports Deal Until After its Approval," USA Today, Feb. 22, 2006

More newswire ...

American Empire/War Profiteering

"Venezuela Cautions U.S. It May Curtail Oil Exports," The New York Times, Feb. 27, 2006

"The Coming Fall Of Pakistan," by William Lind, Counterpunch, Feb. 24, 2006

"Condi's Baffling Iran Strategy: Guaranteed To Hurt the People We Most Want to Help," by Fred Kaplan, Slate, Feb. 21, 2006

More newswire ...

"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan

"U.S. Troops In Iraq: 72% Say End War In 2006," Zogby International press release, Feb. 28, 2006

"Iraq: Preparing For The Worst," by Robert Dreyfuss, TomPaine.com, Feb. 28, 2006

"Volatile Days: " by Riverbend, Baghdad's Burning, Feb. 27, 2006

"U.S.-Run Jail In Afghanistan 'Worse Than Guantanamo,'" Telegraph/UK, Feb. 27, 2006

"Analysts See Lebanon-ization Of Iraq in Crystal Ball," Los Angeles Times, Feb. 26, 2006

"Sectarian Bloodshed Reveals Strength Of Iraq's Militias," The New York Times, Feb. 25, 2006

"Iraq's Interior Ministry Said To Run Death Squads," Independent/UK, Feb. 25, 2006

"Pentagon Report: Insurgent Attacks Hit Postwar High," Stars And Stripes, Feb. 25, 2006

"Iraq Government Warns Of 'Endless Civil War,'" Reuters, Feb. 25, 2006

"Bush Is To Blame For Destroying Iraq," by Robert Dreyfuss, TomPaine.com, Feb. 24, 2006

"Iraq's 9/11: Askari Mosque Bombing Is Bigger Than You Think," by Geov Parrish, WorkingForChange.com, Feb. 24, 2006

"Pentagon: No Competent Iraqi Battalions," Associated Press, Feb. 24, 2006

"Violent Cycle Of Revenge Stuns Iraqis," The New York Times, Feb. 24, 2006

"Foes And Even Friends In Mideast Say 'America Is To Blame' For Mosque Bombing," Associated Press, Feb. 23, 2006

"Baghdad Curfew As Iraq Seeks To Stem Violence," Reuters, Feb. 23, 2006

"Destruction Of Holiest Shiite Shrine Brings Iraq Closer To Civil War," by Patrick Cockburn, Independent/UK, Feb. 23, 2006

"U.S. Military Denies Iraq On Brink Of Civil War," Agence France Presse, Feb. 23, 2006

"Little Help Available For Mental Trauma In Iraq," USA Today, Feb. 21, 2006

"The Raid," by Riverbend, Baghdad's Burning, Feb. 11, 2006

More newswire ...

Civil Liberties/ Human Rights

"David Horowitz And The Attack On Independent Thought," by Robert McChesney, Common Dreams, Feb. 28, 2006

"Tortured Logic," by Anthony Lagouranis, The New York Times, Feb. 28, 2006

"Accountability Absent In Prisoner Torture," by John D. Hutson, St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota), Feb. 28, 2006

"Bolivian Human Rights Leader Barred From Entering U.S.," by Benjamin Dangl, Counterpunch, Feb. 28, 2006

"Guantanamo: American Gulag," by by Thomas Wilner, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 26, 2006

"On Being 'Good Americans' In A Time Of Torture," by Fred Branfman, Tikkun, Feb. 25, 2006

"Why Should Anyone Worry About Whose Communications Bush And Cheney Are Intercepting?," by John W. Dean, FindLaw, Feb. 24, 2006

"Why's A Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel On The 'No-Fly' List?," by John Nichols, The Nation, Feb. 24, 2006

"Total Information Awareness Data Mining Program Lives On," by Shane Harris, National Journal, Feb. 23, 2006

"The Perpetual Surveillance Society," by George Monbiot, AlterNet, Feb. 23, 2006

"Pentagon Told To Release Gitmo Transcripts," Associated Press, Feb. 23, 2006

"Files Show Military Rebuffs FBI Guantanamo Worries," Reuters, Feb. 23, 2006

"U.S. Report: 'Big Brother' Watching Email, Computer Data," Agence France Presse, Feb. 23, 2006

"Nearly 100 Dead In U.S. Custody In Iraq, Afghanistan: Report," Agence France Presse, Feb. 22, 2006

"Peace Groups Under Watch," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Feb. 22, 2006

More newswire ...

Media Issues

"NYT Sues Pentagon Over Domestic Spying Docs," Reuters, Feb. 27, 2006

"Schechter Calls For Protests Over Media Complicity In Iraq War," Democracy Now!, Feb. 24, 2006

"If It's Sunday TV Talk, It's Conservative," by Joshua Holland, AlterNet, Feb. 24, 2006

"Superficial Abstractions: The Unreal Death Of Journalism," by Norman Solomon, Counterpunch, Feb. 23, 2006

More newswire ...

Activism

"Seven Arrested At White House For War Protest," by Mike Ferner, Counterpunch, Feb. 28, 2006

"Students Call For Banning Of Peace Studies Class," Washington Post, Feb. 26, 2006

"Volunteers Of America: The Politics Of The Weather Underground," by Ron Jacobs, Counterpunch, Feb. 23, 2006

"Protest And Celebration In Venezuela," by Michael Blanding, The Nation, Feb. 23, 2006

"One By One, Towns Are Urging Peace," by Karen Dolan, MinutemanMedia.org, Feb. 22, 2006

"Antiwar Concert Will Kick Off Nationwide Speaking Tour," Rolling Stone, Feb. 22, 2006

More newswire ...

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