BETWEEN THE LINES
A weekly radio newsmagazine

WHO WE ARE

Between The Lines History

Production staff


ARCHIVES

Past programs (text/audio)

"Between The Lines Q&A"/Transcripts

Search The Archives

[If you don't already have the FREE RealPlayer 8 Basic, then download it here.]


BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Click here to find a radio station which broadcasts Between The Lines near you.


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.)

Between The Lines at the World Social Forum
Click here to download audio files, view photos from
the 2006 World Social Forum in Caracas, Venezuela.


SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Get "Between The Lines" delivered right to your desktop! For more information, click here.

To sign up for Between The Lines Q&A, a weekly interview transcript with RealAudio link, send an email by clicking here!

To sign up for Between The Lines Weekly Summary, a summary of the week's program with RealAudio link, send an email by clicking here!

Listener/Activist Network Subscriptions

Downloadable, MP3 broadcast quality audio files now available. Please contact us for our distribution schedule.


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!

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.")

Check out our
collection
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

"Cheney is Longtime Bad News for U.S.," by John Nichols, by the Madison Capital Times (Wisconsin), Jan. 16, 2007

"Bush administration provokes open war on Iran: Irbil raid, and other operations, authorized "several months ago," by Larry Chin, Global Research, Jan. 15, 2007

"Iran: The Next War," by James Bamford, Rolling Stone, July 24, 2006

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?" 14 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)

Between
The Lines

Home | Archives | About Between The Lines | Search BTL Archives
Broadcast Schedule | Contact us | Squeaky Wheel Productions

Between The Lines
For The Week Ending Feb. 16, 2007

ANNOUNCEMENTS

"The Case for Impeachment"

impeach cd impeach dvd
Co-authors journalist David Lindorff and Center for Constitutional Rights attorney Barbara Olshansky speak about their book, "The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office," at the United Church on the Green, in New Haven, June 24.

A video DVD and audio CD is now available of this event, "The Case for Impeachment," with journalist David Lindorff and Center for Constitutional Rights attorney, Barbara Olshansky
Listen here for an audio sample

Click here for information about ordering an audio CD or video DVD of this event for purchase or broadcast! Or e-mail us at betweenthelines@snet.net if you would like more information.
1st hour of video recording on Google Video, compliments Nick Pasquariello, producer, Cablevision channel 77, Bridgeport, CT
2nd hour of video recording on Google Video, compliments Nick Pasquariello

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM
  • Bush Attempts to Link Iran
    with Growing Iraq War Chaos

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • White House's Proposed Tax Deduction
    on Health Insurance a
    BandAid on Systemic Crisis

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • States Now Trying to Reverse
    Failed Electricity Deregulation

    For story text and audio, 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 Feb. 20, 2007.

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

Bush Attempts to Link Iran
with Growing Iraq War Chaos

Interview with Phyllis Bennis,
fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies,
produced by Scott Harris

iraq

As President Bush began deploying more than 21,000 additional U.S. troops -- following through on his promised escalation of the Iraq war -- violence reached record levels with the bombing of a Baghdad market killing 135 people on Feb. 3rd. The bombing, the most deadly since the war began, and a death toll of 1,000 Iraqis in one week, underscored the growing chaos that has defined the U.S. occupation. Democrats in the U.S. Senate failed in their Feb. 5 attempt to pass a nonbinding resolution criticizing Bush's so-called troop surge, when Republicans blocked a motion to end debate.

While Baghdad burned, the president further raised tensions in the region when he announced that American soldiers are now under orders to capture or kill Iranian operatives inside Iraq that the administration claims are aiding Shiite militias targeting U.S. forces. This comes amid rising U.S. pressure on Iran to end their nuclear program and after Washington sent two aircraft carrier groups to the coast off Iran and arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq. When an Iranian diplomat was abducted by men in Iraqi Army uniforms on Feb. 4, Iran warned that it held the United States responsible for his life.

Between the Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, who examines the effect of additional U.S. troops in Iraq and the attempt by the Bush administration to link the worsening conflict in Iraq with what they allege is interference by Iran.

Phyllis Bennis' latest book is titled, "Challenging Empire: How People, Governments and the U.N. Defy U.S. Power." Contact the Institute by calling (202) 234-9382, or visit their website at www.ips-dc.org

Phyllis Bennis' forthcoming book, "Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer," at www.interlinkbooks.com or www.tari.org/understanding_the_palestinian.htm

Related links:

White House's Proposed Tax Deduction
on Health Insurance a
BandAid on Systemic Crisis

Interview with Dr. Oliver Fein,
professor of medicine at Cornell University
and chairman of the New York Metro Chapter
of Physicians for a National Health Program,
conducted by Scott Harris

healthcare

In his Jan. 23 State of the Union address, President Bush focused briefly on two proposals for health care reform. The first would offer a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families who purchase their own health insurance or receive coverage through work. The measure would encourage those with generous insurance plans to either buy cheaper coverage or penalize them with a new tax. Bush also announced a proposal that would take federal money now going to hospitals and redirect the funds to state programs assisting the uninsured to obtain health coverage.

The president's proposals, like other plans recently introduced in Massachusetts and California, maintain the pre-eminent role of the nation's private health insurance industry to finance health care coverage for the majority of Americans. But critics say there is little evidence that without a dramatic overhaul of America's expensive health system, care will be provided to the estimated 47 million Americans without health insurance and tens of millions more who are underinsured.

The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn't provide its citizens universal health care coverage. But despite growing dissatisfaction with the current system and skyrocketing medical costs, politicians at the state and national level seem unwilling to challenge the current system, defended by wealthy insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Between The Lines spoke with Dr. Oliver Fein, professor of Medicine at Cornell University and chairman of the New York Metro Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program. He critiques the president's reform proposals and explains why his organization advocates a single-payer universal system.

To contact Physicians for a National Health Program, call (312) 782-6006 or visit their website at www.pnhp.org

Related links:

States Now Trying to Reverse
Failed Electricity Deregulation

Interview with Tyson Slocum,
director of Public Citizen's energy program,
conducted by Melinda Tuhus

utility

A decade after many states in the U.S. deregulated their electric utilities, energy prices are now rising exponentially. According to the federal Energy Department, of the 16 states that opened their markets to competition, more than half are now paying well above the national average of 10.94 cents per kilowatt hour. A prominent advocate of deregulation at the time was Enron, the company associated with one of the biggest corporate scandals in American history.

Connecticut, one of the states whose legislature voted to deregulate in 1998, will see some consumers' electric rates increase this year 50 percent over the next few months. Electric utilities point to the rising cost of energy as the main culprit, but a small energy cooperative in the state that must also contend with rising prices has increased rates only slightly. Critics of the huge price hike blame deregulation, which was advertised as a boon to competition and lower prices, but delivered neither.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's energy program, based in Washington, D.C. He discusses the history of electricity deregulation and the tough road ahead for states that now want to re-regulate their power industry. He begins by explaining why deregulation doesn't serve the interests of consumers.

Public Citizen is organizing a conference in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 26 about deregulation and what can be done about it. For information on the conference, visit www.takebackthepower.net. Contact Public Citizen's energy program by calling (202) 546-4996 or visit their website at www.citizen.org
Related links:

This week's summary
of under-reported news

Compiled by Bob Nixon

  • The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative thinktank, has offered $10,000 to economists and scientists to write opinion articles to discredit the latest report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change. ("Scientists Offered Cash to Dispute Climate Study," The Guardian, Feb. 2, 2007; "UN Says There's No Stopping Global Warming," Los Angeles Times, Feb. 2, 2007)
  • Human Rights Watch accuses local government officials in Nigeria's prime oil producing region of massive corruption and squandering oil revenue while ignoring basic education and healthcare services. ("Nigeria: Corruption and Misuse Robs Nigerians of Rights," Human Rights Watch, Jan. 31, 2007; "River Rejects Human Rights Watch Report," Daily Champion, Feb. 1, 2007)
  • A U.S. government audit has uncovered mistreatment of undocumented immigrants in detention at five prisons nationwide. ("Immigrants Mistreated, Report Says," Washington Post, Jan. 17, 2007)

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 Feb. 20, 2007

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: Bill Cosentino
News copy editor: Chris Ferrio
Senior web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Jeff Yates
Newswire editor: Hank Hoffman
Photo editor: Scott Harris
Outreach coordinator: Anna Manzo
Distribution: Anna Manzo, Jeff Yates and Bill Cosentino
Theme music: Written by Richard Hill and Jody Gray, and performed by Mikata


Between The Lines
Airs on WPKN 89.5 FM ET
Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesdays, 8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
(7:30 a.m. - 8 a.m. during April, October fundraising)
Saturdays, 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.


Listen to Between The Lines live at these times by clicking here!
Between The Lines Broadcast Availability
- Pacifica Radio Network
Ku Satellite feed (every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on the Satellite's Left Channel A)
- MP3 download by FTP access
or CD subscription
Contact us for distribution schedule and/or FTP logon access below:

BETWEEN THE LINES
c/o WPKN Radio 89.5 FM
244 University Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Telephone:
(203) 268-8446
or
(203) 331-9756

E-Mail: betweenthelines@snet.net

Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc.
(c)2007 Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

How You Can Support Between The Lines
Click here to learn how to support our efforts!

Last Week's Program

Between The Lines Week Ending 2/9/07

U.S. Politics

"Pelosi Leads House Debate On War," Associated Press, Feb. 13, 2007

"Cue The Smear Machine," by Paul Waldman, TomPaine.com, Feb. 13, 2007

"GOP Expects Defections As House Debates Iraq Resolution," Washington Post, Feb. 12, 2007

"The Gentleman From Illinois," Phoebe Connelly, TheAmerican Prospect, Feb. 12, 2007

"Anti-Immigrant Sentiments Fuel KKK Resurgence," Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 9, 2007

"A New Fast Track For Unfair Trade," by Christine Ahn, TomPaine.com, Feb. 8, 2007

More newswire ...

Bush Regime

"Libby Defense: Cheney Won't Testify," ABC News, Feb. 13, 2007

"Journalists Testify That Libby Never Mentioned CIA Officer," Washington Post, Feb. 13, 2007

"Tenet Fires Back At Rice In New Book," The New York Times, Feb. 13, 2007

"Five Ousted U.S. Attorneys Received Positive Job Evaluations," McClatchy Newspapers, Feb. 12, 2007

"Edwards Steps Out Front On Health Care," by Dean Baker, Truthout, Feb. 12, 2007

"Inquiry On Intelligence Gaps May Reach White House," The New York Times, Feb. 10, 2007

More newswire ...

American Empire/War Profiteering

"Blowup? America's Hidden War With Iran," Newsweek, Feb. 19, 2007

"An Appeal To Conscience To Those Who Would Bomb Iran," by U.S. Army Reserve Col. Ann Wright (Ret.), Truthout, Feb. 13, 2007

"Target Tehran: Washington Sets Stage For New Confrontation," by Patrick Cockburn, Independent/UK, Feb. 13, 2007

"Joint Chiefs Head Demurs On Accusation Of Iran," Washington Post, Feb. 13, 2007

"President Bush's New Gambles In The Mideast," by Mark Weisbrot & Robert Naiman, Common Dreams, Feb. 12, 2007

"For Neocons, Attack On Iran Has Been A Six-Year Project," by Larisa Alexandrovna, Raw Story, Feb. 12, 2007

"War On Iran--It's Not About Democracy," by Ron Jacobs, ZNet, Feb. 12, 2007

"Thelma & Louise Imperialism? Over The Cliff With George & Dick," by Tomm Engelhardt, TomDispatch.com, Feb. 8, 2007

More newswire ...

"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan

"Surging Into Catastrophe In Iraq," by Tom Engelhardt & Michael Schwartz, TomDispatch.com, Feb. 12, 2007

"Iraqi Insurgents Offer Peace For U.S. Concessions," by Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, Feb. 10, 2007

"DoD Report Appears To Confirm Downing Street Memo," by Jason Leopold, Truthout, Feb. 9, 2007

"Will Watada Mistrial Spark An End To The War?," by Jeremy Brecher & Brendan Smith, The Nation, Feb. 9, 2007

More newswire ...

Civil Liberties/ Human Rights

"The Road Map To Despotism," by Chris Hedges, Truthdig, Feb. 12, 2007

"Repeal The Military Commssions Act And Restore The Most American Human Right," by Thom Hartmann, Common Dreams, Feb. 12, 2007

"Pot Prisoners Cost Americans $1 Billion A Year," by Paul Armentano, AlterNet, Feb. 10, 2007

"Gitmo Coverup?," ABC News, Feb. 9, 2007

More newswire ...

Media Issues

"The Media Escalates Its Lies About Iran," by David Swanson, DavidSwanson.org, Feb. 12, 2007

"NYT Reporter Who Got Iraqi WMD Claims Wrong Now Highlights Bush Regime Iran Charges," by Greg Mitchell, Editor & Publisher, Feb. 10, 2007

"The New World According To Google," by Barbara Cassin, Le Nouvel Observateur/France, Feb. 8, 2007

"Time's Joe Klein: A Supreme Suck-Up," by Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone, Feb. 7, 2007

"Scooter Libby & The Media Debacle," by Eric Boehlert, Media Matters for America, Feb. 6, 2007

More newswire ...

Activism

"Why We Are Striking: The War Must End," Columbia Coalition Against the War, Feb. 13, 2007

"Dissent Takes Center Stage At Grammys," Washington Post, Feb. 12, 2007

"Protesters Disrupt Obama Rally," Chicago Tribune, Feb. 12, 2007

"Activists 'Step Up' Challenge To Climate Change," by Shreema Mehta, The New Standard, Feb. 10, 2007

"Students Rising To Climate Challenge," by Kim Teplitzky, Wiretap, Feb. 10, 2007

More newswire ...

Home | Archives | About Between The Lines | Search BTL Archives
Broadcast Schedule | Contact us

[Return to top of this page]