BETWEEN THE LINES
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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.)

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.


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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!

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

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Between The Lines
For The Week Ending May 18, 2007

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HedgesChris

Pulitzer Prize-winning NY Times Reporter Chris Hedges, Author of
"American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America,"
Comes to New Haven, CT Saturday, May 12 from 2-4 p.m.


A discussion and booksigning with: Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winning, former New York Times correspondent and author of "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America" (Free Press, 2007), Saturday May 12; 2-4 p.m. at the Center Church on-the-Green, 250 Temple St., New Haven, CT ($10 suggested contribution)

A reception follows the booksigning from 4-5 p.m. at the Center Church-on-the Green Parish House, 311 Temple St., New Haven, CT. (Behind the New Haven Public Library.) Advance tickets required: $35 for discussion and reception. Call (203) 268-8446 or visit www.squeakywheel.net for more details on parking, tickets, preferred seating, etc.

Click here for a downloadable flyer!

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM
  • Bush Administration Deployment
    of Missile Defense System
    to Eastern Europe Could
    Trigger New Cold War

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • White House Maintains The Right
    to Engage in and Expand
    Warrantless Domestic Spy Program

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • Historian and Activist Howard Zinn Champions
    International Declaration of Human Rights
    at May Day Rally

    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 May 22, 2007.

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

Bush Administration Deployment
of Missile Defense System
to Eastern Europe Could
Trigger New Cold War

Interview with Victoria Samson,
research analyst with the Center for Defense Information,
conducted by Scott Harris

missiledefense

President Bush has spent tens of billions of dollars on a dubious missile defense program supported by the former Republican-controlled Congress. Before testing of the program has been completed, ground bases for missile interceptors have been built in both California and Alaska. Testing of the system, which is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missile warheads outside the earth's atmosphere, have been mediocre at best. Only 6 of 11 tests, in highly scripted exercises, have succeeded in hitting their target. Most of the tests have not included scenarios with inexpensive countermeasures, which could easily render the missile system ineffective.

Now the Bush administration is planning to deploy 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar installation linked to the program inside the Czech Republic. The Pentagon justifies expansion of the missile defense program into Eastern Europe by declaring that this system would defend against any future missile attack by Iran targeting the U.S. or Europe. Despite protests by groups in Poland, the Czech Republic and across Europe, the White House and Pentagon are pushing ahead.

In response to the U.S. missile program in Eastern Europe, Russia has threatened to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate Forces Treaty and the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe. Between the Lines Scott Harris spoke with Victoria Samson, research analyst with the Center for Defense Information, who assesses the likely repercussions if President Bush goes forward with his plan to deploy elements of the U.S. Missile Defense program in Eastern Europe.

Contact the Center for Defense Information by calling (202) 332-0600 or visit their website at www.cdi.org

White House Maintains The Right
to Engage in and Expand
Warrantless Domestic Spy Program

Interview with Jonathan Hafetz,
attorney with the Brennan Center for Justice,
conducted by Scott Harris

iwantspy

After much controversy over the Bush administration's warrantless National Security Agency domestic spying program, the White House seemed to reverse its position in January. The Justice Department, responding to the Republican's loss of Congress, stated that it would once again place its domestic surveillance operation under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court as mandated by a 1978 federal law.

But in a May 2 Senate hearing, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell declared that the president has the authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution to conduct warrantless spying. He also defended the Bush administration's draft legislation that would expand the government's power to spy under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The proposal would eliminate the need for some court warrants and increase the length of time warrants would be in effect. Another provision would block lawsuits against telephone companies that cooperated with the government spy program.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Jonathan Hafetz, an attorney with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School. Hafetz provides an overview of the constitutional violations linked to the Bush administration's warrantless spy program and discusses the Brennan Center's support for a lawsuit filed by U.S. civil rights groups challenging the government's right to make secret, phone company participation in illegal surveillance programs.

Contact the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School by calling (212) 998-6730, or visit the group's website at www.brennancenter.org

Related links:

Historian and Activist Howard Zinn Champions
International Declaration of Human Rights
at May Day Rally

Talk by Howard Zinn,
historian and activist,
produced by Melinda Tuhus

zinn

"May First," International Workers Day, is celebrated in nations around the world. And although the observance honors those who protested for the eight-hour workday in Chicago, and their persecution in 1886, here in the U.S., the holiday has been marginalized. _

On May 1, 2006 immigrants and their allies revived the holiday when they protested in large numbers in cities across America. They rallied and marched in support of immigrant rights and against the threat of massive deportation. This year, like many other cities, New Haven, Conn., saw a second round of somewhat smaller pro-immigrant marches. But unlike most other U.S. cities, New Haven holds an annual celebration of workers rights each May Day on the city's Green. This two decade-old tradition features music, speakers, food and information tables from dozens of progressive groups.

This year, octogenarian historian and activist Howard Zinn, author of "A People's History of the United States," addressed May Day participants in New Haven about the meaning, in the 21st century, of the International Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights treaties, and called for a world without borders.

Professor Zinn has just published a new two-volume set of books titled, "A Young People's History of the United States." For more information, visit his website at www.howardzinn.org

This week's summary
of under-reported news

Compiled by Bob Nixon

  • Colombian President Alvaro Uribe met with Congress, eager to free up $55 million in funds frozen by the U.S. government and win backing for the U.S.-Colmbian free trade pact. A growing scandal involving Colombian government officials' links to paramilitary groups and the murders of trade unionists has threatened the pact and U.S. aid. ("Unionists' Murders Cloud Prospects for Colombia Trade Pact," Washington Post, April 10, 2007; "Colombian Leader Faces Tough Sell to U.S. Congress," Christian Science Monitor, May 2, 2007)
  • Private equity funds, with financial backing from insurance companies, pension funds, and wealthy individuals, are buying out public companies like Hertz, Burger King, and Harrah's casino, with half a trillion dollars. While private equity and hedge funds soar, economic inequality is widening; the top 1 percent of American taxpayers - those making $350,000 a year now make more money than the bottom 150 million taxpayers. ("Inside the World of Private Equity," SEIU executive summary, www.behindthebuyouts.org, April 24, 2007; "Buyout Industry Should Ensure Workers, Nation Share in Economic Opportunities Being Created by Private Equity," SEIU press release, April 24, 2007; "Top Hedge Funds Chiefs Earn $14 Billion," Los Angeles Times, April 25, 2007)
  • The Communication Workers of America union has broken ranks with media reformers like Save the Internet Coalition, over the battle on Net neutrality. CWA claims Net neutrality will hamper efforts to catch up with broadband advances in Europe and Japan, but media reformers criticize the union for paying too high a price for saving union jobs. The progressive content that supports the CWA's own values may not make it through a corporate-controlled Internet, which would resemble a 'gilded toll road'. ("Not Neutrality," In These Times, April 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 May 22, 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: Chris Ferrio
News copy editor: Chris Ferrio
Senior web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Jeffrey P. Yates
Newswire editor: Hank Hoffman
Photo editor: Scott Harris
Outreach coordinator: Anna Manzo
Distribution: Anna Manzo, Bill Cosentino & Jeffrey P. Yates
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)
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Between The Lines Broadcast Availability
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BETWEEN THE LINES
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E-Mail: betweenthelines@snet.net

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

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Last Week's Program

Between The Lines Week Ending 5/11/07

U.S. Politics

"House Dems May Seek Short-Term Financing Of War," The New York Times, May 8, 2007

"Snuff Politics: Democrats Escalate Attacks On Single Payer," by Corporate Crime Reporter, Counterpunch, May 8, 2007

"The Lonely Guy: U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest On Being An Antiwar Republican," by David Weigel, Reason, May 8, 2007

"Injury, Death And The American Worker," by Dick Meister, TomPaine.com, May 7, 2007

"Giuliani Praise Bush As 'Great President,'" Des Moines Register (Iowa), May 5, 2007

More newswire ...

Bush Regime

"DOJ Hired Lawyers Based On Political Affiliations," McClatchy Newspapers, May 6, 2007

"Ex-Analyst Tells A Tale Of Twisted Iraq Intelligence," Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 6, 2007

"The Ongoing Iraq Intel Fraud," by Robert Parry, Consortium News, May 5, 2007

"Bush Determined To Prolong A Lost War," by JosephL. Galloway, McClatchy Newspapers, May 3, 2007

More newswire ...

American Empire/War Profiteering

"Anti-U.S. Uproar Sweeps Italy Over Base Proposal," by David Swanson, AfterDowningStreet.org, May 8, 2007

"Sanctions Aggravate Iranian Rights Situation," by Praful Bidwai, Antiwar.com, May 6, 2007

"Six Questions For Laura Rozen On Iran," by Ken Silverstein, Harper's, May 4, 2007

"Duck And Cover: The Bush Administration Is Reviving The Nuclear Threat," by William D. Hartung & Frida Berrigan, In These Times, Apr. 30, 2007

More newswire ...

"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan

"Anti-U.S. Sentiment On The Rise In Afghanistan," Newsweek, May 14, 2007

"Infant Mortality In Iraq Soars As Young Pay Price For War," Independent/UK, May 8, 2007

"U.S. Attack 'Kills Iraqi Children,'" BBC/UK, May 8, 2007

"Final 'Surge' Brigade Heads To Baghdad," Los Angeles Times, May 6, 2007

"U.S., Iraqi Forces Find Sadr City Torture Chamber," CNN, May 6, 2007

"Propaganda Fear Cited In Account Of Iraq Haditha Killings," The New York Times, May 6, 2007

"The Struggle Over Iraqi Oil," by Tom Engelhardt & Michael Schwartz, TomDispatch.com, May 6, 2007

"Great Wall May Be Going Up, But There's Still Carnage On The Streets," by Patrick Cockburn, Independent/UK, May 6, 2007

"Memorial Honoring Fallen Soldiers In Iraq, Afghanistan Runs out of Room," San Jose Mercury News, May 4, 2007

"Trainers Say Iraqi Forces Would Collapse Without U.S. Support," Los Angeles Times, May 3, 2007

More newswire ...

Civil Liberties/ Human Rights

"The Hate Equation: Targeting Migrant Children In L.A.," by Juan Santos, Counterpunch, May 8, 2007

"LAPD 'Stands Down' 60 Officers Over May Day Violence," Los Angeles Times, May 8, 2007

"Gitmo Detainees Still Stuck Down There," by Herman Schwartz, Legal Times, May 7, 2007

"GOP Convention Papers Ordered Opened," Associated Press, May 4, 2007

"L.A. Immigration Protest: The Police 'Were Relentless. They Were Merciless,'" by Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!, May 4, 2007

"National I.D. Card A Disaster In The Making," by Richard Forno & Bruce Schneier, CNet News, May 3, 2007

"Spying On Americans," The New York Times editorial, May 2, 2007

More newswire ...

Media Issues

"Eulogy For The New Standard," by Steve Anderson, Coanews.org, May 6, 2007

"A Deeper Look: American Massacres And The Media," by Carla Blank, Counterounch, May 5/6, 2007

"Disseminate Information, Protest Democracy: Postal Rate Increases Put Small Presses At Risk," by Teresa Stack, The Nation, May 5, 2007

"Fear Factor: Press Plays 9/11 Card To Justify Somali Slaughter," by Chris Floyd, LewRockwell.com, May 3, 2007

More newswire ...

Activism

"The World Social Forum At The Crossroads," by Walden Bello, Foreign Policy in Focus, May 8, 2007

"'The Other K Street': In The Concrete Canyon Of The Business Lobby, A Pocket Of Liberal Activists Settles In," Washington Post, May 7, 2007

"Antiwar Groups Use New Clout To Influence Democrats On Iraq," The New York Times, May 6, 2007

"Sitting In On Sen. Kohl And The War: A Conversation With Antiwar Students," by Ron Jacobs, ZNet, May 6, 2007

More newswire ...

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