BETWEEN THE LINES
A weekly radio newsmagazine
WHO WE ARE

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




BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Find a radio station near you which broadcastsBetween The Lines.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Get Between The Lines delivered right to your desktop

Media Subscriptions


Listener/Activist Network Subscriptions

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

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


Hungry for more news from Between The Lines?

Many BTL interviews are excerpted from Scott Harris' live, 2-hour program, Counterpoint. To hear more in-depth analysis you won't get in mainstream media, listen to Counterpoint LIVE Monday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. EST on WPKN Radio

Counterpoint is now archived in its entirety on The White Rose Society website


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

medichannel.org

WPKN Radio mentioned in Danny Schechter's "The News Dissector" column

on independent media values.


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

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



ISSUES IN DEPTH
War And Profiteering

"The Future of Iraq: The Spoils of War," Blood and oil: How the West will profit from Iraq's most precious commodity, by Danny Fortson, Andrew Murray-Watson and Tim Webb, The Independent/UK, Jan. 7, 2007

"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

"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

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



Civil Liberties

"Martial Law Threat is Real," by Dave Lindorff, commondreams.org, July 27, 2007

"ACLU: US Constitution in Grave Danger,"United Press International, July 25, 2007

"Old-line Republican warns 'something's in the works' to trigger a police state," by Muriel Kane, Rawstory.com July 19, 2007

"Fascist America, in 10 easy steps," by Naomi Wolf, The Guardian, April 24, 2007



"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

Between The Lines

Home | Broadcast-Quality MP3s | Archives | Search BTL Archives
About |Broadcast Schedule | Contact | Squeaky Wheel Productions

Between The Lines
For The Week Ending July 25, 2008


PRE-ELECTION 2008 APPEAL -- FOCUS ON THE ISSUES

with Between The


A participatory democracy functions best with well-informed citizens. Listen to Between The Lines and arm yourself with information and analysis that those in power would prefer you don't have.

This year's presidential election could very well determine the course of the United States for the next decade and beyond.

Each week, Between The Lines provides dissenting views on the status quo, reporting on issues that matter including: skyrocketing energy prices and oil company profiteering; the growing debt crisis; the Republican party and religious extremism; the neoconservative drive for American empire; and the failing U.S. healthcare system.

Here's how you can support our efforts to get the word out to more people during this critical juncture in history:
  • Join us at our next event, "Eyewitness Reports on Iran, Palestine and Israel" with peace activists the Rev. Allie Perry and Patty Nuelsen and Between The Lines' very own producer Melinda Tuhus, Saturday July 26, 4-6 p.m. They will share their stories at a Connecticut outdoor reception about their recent travels to Iran, Palestine and Israel. $25 per person. Call (203) 268-8446 to RSVP or send us an email for more information.

  • Make a donation. As a thank you gift for your contribution in support of Between The Lines, one of the gifts we are offering is video DVD: "Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Dependency on Foreign Petroleum," a Media Education Foundation documentary featuring renowned energy and security expert Michael T. Klare, who unearths declassified documents and highlights forgotten passages in prominent presidential doctrines to show how concerns about oil have been at the core of American foreign policy for more than 60 years - rendering our contemporary energy and military policies virtually indistinguishable.

    Get more details including video and audio samples of this and other exciting thank you gifts, such as books, DVDs and CDs from historian Howard Zinn, Pulitzer prize-winning writer Chris Hedges, Physicians for a National Health Program Co-Founder Dr. Stephanie Woolhandler and Unite Here President John Wilhelm on universal health care, and award-winning documentary filmmaker Danny Schechter, at www.squeakywheel.net


THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

  • Iran Tests Missiles Amid U.S./ Israeli Threats
    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality
    of New Surveillance Law

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • Environmental Justice Group Favors
    Carbon Tax Over Credits

    For story text and audio, Click here!

  • Underreported News Summary
    from Around the World

    For full summary text and audio, Click here!
LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below.



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


 Iran Tests Missiles Amid U.S./Israeli Threats

Interview with professor William Beeman,
author of "The Great Satan vs. The Mad Mullahs",
conducted by Scott Harris


missiles

Iranian tests of short and long-range missiles on July 9 were just the latest in a series of actions by Iran, the U.S. and Israel signaling rising tensions which could lead to conflict. Iran's test of nine missiles during war games demonstrating its ability to retaliate against any future attack, came after Israeli military exercises in late June, seen by many as a practice run for possible air strikes against Iran's nuclear research facilities.

President Bush maintains that all options, including military action, are still on the table in regard to Washington's belief that Iran is engaged in developing a nuclear weapons program -- all while U.S. aircraft carrier groups cruise the Persian Gulf. On June 6, Israeli Transportation Minister and former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz was quoted as saying that an attack on Iran was unavoidable if the Islamic Republic didn't stop its development of nuclear weapons.

Added to all this is Seymour Hersh's New Yorker article titled, "Preparing the Battlefield," which alleges that the Bush administration is currently engaged in covert actions inside Iran designed to weaken and destabilize the Tehran government. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with professor William Beeman, chair of the Dept. of Anthropology at the University of Minnesota and author of the book, "The 'Great Satan' vs. The 'Mad Mullahs'." He assesses the rising tension between Iran, the U.S. and Israel, and the danger that conflict could erupt in the lastsix months of the Bush presidency.

Read William Beeman's articles online at www.wbeeman.com

Related links:



Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality
of New Surveillance Law


Interview with Danielle Tully,
ACLU staff attorney attorney,
conducted by Scott Harris


FISA

On July 3, President Bush signed into law an amended version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which grants sweeping new powers to the executive branch, allowing wholesale collection of American's overseas phone calls and email. The measure, passed by the Senate on July 2, also provides retroactive immunity to telephone companies that participated in Bush's warrantless wiretap program that will likely end pending lawsuits filed against the companies for their role in the illegal spy program.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the FISA legislation on July 10. Joining the lawsuit were the Nation Magazine, on behalf of two of their contributing writers -- Chris Hedges and Naomi Klein -- and other plaintiffs, including Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, Global Fund for Women, PEN American Center, Washington Office on Latin America, Service Employees International Union and several private attorneys. The groups and individuals signing on to the suit believe their ability to perform work -- which relies on confidential communications -- will be greatly compromised by the new FISA law.

The defendants in the case are the Attorney General of the United States Michael Mukasey; John M. "Mike" McConnell, director of National Intelligence; and Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency and Chief of the Security Service. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with ACLU staff attorney Danielle Tully, one of five lawyers working on the case, who explains why the lawsuit was filed and how the FISA law undermines important protections in the U.S. Constitution.

For more information on the group's FISA lawsuit, contact them at (202) 457-0800 or visit their website at www.aclu.org

Related links:



Environmental Justice Group Favors
Carbon Tax Over Credits


Interview with Cecil Cobin-Mark,
policy director of WE ACT,
conducted by Melinda Tuhus


speed

After decades of inaction, Congress has recognized the need to deal with carbon emissions, the main source of global climate change. Various bills have been introduced in this session of Congress. The Lieberman-Warner bill, which would have given away millions of dollars in carbon credits as an incentive to reduce overall emissions, was considered to have been the best chance of passage, but that bill was killed by Republican opposition. Other bills would sell carbon credits, rather than giving them away, but those bills haven't made much progress either.

Any proposals to tax the amount of carbon dioxide produced, in order to encourage the reduction of CO2, have made no headway in Congress, despite strong support from former Vice President Al Gore and many scientists.

Cecil Corbin-Mark is policy director of WE ACT, a Harlem, New York-based environmental justice organization. His group joined with many others concerned about the disproportionate impact of pollution in general -- and global warming in particular -- on communities of color in the U.S. The group is part of the Environmental Justice Forum on Climate Change. Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Corbin-Mark, who explains why his group supports a carbon tax -- along with a carbon cap -- as a fairer, more transparent, less expensive way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Contact WE ACT at (212) 961-1000, or visit the group's website at www.weact.org



  • The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court is seeking the arrest of Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for masterminding the genocide campaign in Darfur. ("Sudan Leader to be Charged with Genocide " Washington Post, July 11, 2008; "ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest of Sudan Bashir" Reuters, July 14, 2008)
  • Abortion politics has intruded into the effort to expand funding for the Indian Health Service, which provides medical care fo two million Native Americans. ("Poison Pill Slipped into Indian Health Bill," In These Times, July 9, 2008)
  • The Bush administration has decided not to take any new steps to regulate greenhouse gas emissions before the president leaves office.The decision comes despite pressure from the Supreme Court and broad agreement among senior federal officials that new regulation is appropriate now. ("EPA Won't Act on Emissions This Year,"" Washington Post, July 11, 2008; "White House Puts Warming Threats on Back Burner," Los Angeles Times, July 11, 2008)


Credits:
Executive producer: Scott Harris
Segment producers: Scott Harris, Melinda Tuhus
Senior news editor: Bob Nixon
Program narration: Denise Manzari
News reader: Ruben Abreu
Senior web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Jeffrey P. Yates
Web consultant: Gary Trujillo
Newswire editor: Reggie Johnson
Photo editor: Scott Harris
Outreach coordinator: Anna Manzo
Distribution: Anna Manzo and 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)
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)
- Contact us for distribution schedule 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)2008 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 7/18/08

Between The Lines' Blog

"Reading Between The Lines"

U.S. Politics

"Obama Botches The Abortion Conversation," by Marie Cocco, Washington Post Writers Group, July 8, 2008

"Supreme Court Inc.: Supremely Pro-Business," by Stephen Lendman, ZNet, July 8, 2008

"The Dems And Truthiness In The FISA Debate," by mcjoan, Daily Kos, July 5, 2008

"Betting It All On Criminal Wiretapping Prosecutions," by Kagro X, Daily Kos, July 5, 2008

"The Political Establishment And Telecom Immunity: Why it Matters," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, July 5, 2008

"Obama Tries And Fails To Put out The FISA Fire In His Own House," by Bob Ostertag, Huffington Post, July 5, 2008

"GOP Just Can't Give Enough To Big Oil," by Joel McNally, Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin), July 5, 2008

"Barack At Risk: No Retreat-If You Want To Win, Stop The War!," by Tom Hayden, Huffington Post, July 5, 2008

"What John McCain Didn't Learn In Vietnam," by Joe Consaon, Salon, July 4, 2008

"Fixing The System Obama Broke," by Bruce Ackerman & Ian Ayres, The American Prospect, July 3, 2008

"Vendor Misinformation In The E-Voting World," by Dan Wallach, Freedom to Tinker, July 2, 2008

"It's Not the Man, It's The Movement," by Amy Goodman, TruthDig, July 2, 2008

More newswire ...

Bush Regime

"Financial Collapse Edges Closer," Asia Times, by Martin Hutchinson, July 16, 2008

"Fannie, Freddie spent $200M to buy influence," by Lisa Lerer, Politico.com July 16, 2008

"Fannie, Freddie spent millions on lobbying," by Tom Raum and Jim Drinkard, Associated Press, July 17, 2008

"The Financial Tsunami: The Next Big Wave is Breaking Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and US Mortgage Debt," Global Research, by F. William Engdahl, July 15, 2008

More newswire ...

American Empire/War Profiteering

"Will The U.S. Support Terrorists To Destabilize Iran?," by William Beeman, New America Media, July 7, 2008

"Bush-Led 'Disaster Capitalism' Exploits Worldwide Misery To Make A Buck," by Naomi Klein, The Nation, July 4, 2008

"U.S. Military Looks To Colombia To Replace Base In Ecuador," by Teo Ballve, Venezueanalysis.com, July 4, 2008

"Military-Industrial Convergence: Raytheon, Boeing And Rice In Prague," by Laray Polk, Counterpunch, July 3, 2008

More newswire ...

"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan

"Iraq Insists On Withdrawl Timetable For U.S. Troops," Associated Press, July 8, 2008

"Maliki Wants U.S. Pullout Timetable," by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation, July 7, 2008

"The Bush Administration Strikes Oil In Iraq," by Tom Engelhardt & Nick Turse, TomDispatch.com, July 7, 2008

"Bomb At Indian Embassy Kills 41 In Afghanistan," Associated Press, July 7, 2008

"Military Action In Iran 'Would Destabilize Iraq,'" by Patrick Cockburn, Independent/UK, July 5, 2008

"Journalist Charges Censorship By U.S. Military In Fallujah," by Dahr Jamail, Inter press Service, July 4, 2008

"Rise Of Awakening Groups Sets Off Sunni Power Struggle," Washington Post, July 4, 2008

"Snapshots Of Life And Death In Baghdad," by Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, July 3, 2008

"Marines Extended In Afghanistan As Violence Rises," ABC News, July 3, 2008

More newswire ...

Civil Liberties/ Human Rights

"Whistleblowers Speak Out On FISA," by mcjoan, Daily Kos, July 8, 2008

"Truth And The Gitmo Detainees," by Steve Chapman, Reason Magazine, July 7, 2008

"Professor Ticketed For 'Not To Empire' Bumper Sticker," by Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive, July 7, 2008

"'Science Fiction-Like' Weapons On Tap For Political Conventions," by David Edwards & Stephen C. Webster, Raw Story, July 7, 2008

"Authoritarianism," by dday, Daily Kos, July 5, 2008

"'State Secrets' Privilege Details Rendition Suit," by William Fisher, Inter Press Service, July 4, 2008

"Civil Liberties Groups Sue For Info On Cell Phone Lojacking," by Julian Sanchez, Ars Technica, July 4, 2008

"Tenant Banned From Flying Flag Upside Down, Gets Death Threat," by Matthew Rothschild, The Progressive, July 4, 2008

"Is The Department Of Justice Tracking Your Cell Phone without A Warrant?," by Chris Nolan, AlterNet, July 3, 2008

"The Founders' Rights Stuff," by Rosa Brooks, Los Angeles Times, July 3, 2008

"How Dare They Rip The Fourth Amendment?," by Joseph L. Galloway, McClatchy Newspapers, July 3, 2008

"Civil Liberties Group Criticizes New FBI Profiling Authority," Associated Press, July 3, 2008

"China Inspired Interrogations At Guantanamo," The New York Times, July 2, 2008

"Torture, Communism And The American Way," by Jacob G. Hornberger, Future of Freedom Foundation, July 2, 2008

More newswire ...

Environment and Sustainability

"Bush to G8: Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter,'" by Andrew Grice, The London Independent, July 10, 2008

"Shell shocked," by Gregory Hladky, The Boston Globe, July 13, 2008

More newswire ...

Media Issues

"The Press' McCain Rules," by Paul Waldman, The American Prospect, July 8, 2008

"Beltway Myth: The 'Left-Wing Base' Vs. 'The American People' On Iraq," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, July 7, 2008

"Google Ordered To Hand Over YouTube User Details To Viacom," Telegraph/UK, July 4, 2008

More newswire ...

Activism

"Protesters Gearing Up For Political Conventions," Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2008

"Police Crack Down On Cyclist Group's Traffic Tactic," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 5, 2008

"Protesters Rally Ahead Of G8 Summit," Agence France Presse, 2008

"My War Story," by Dave Lindorff, Counterpunch, July 4, 2008

"Protesters Interrupt Bush Holiday Speech," ABC News, July 3, 2008

"Reality Time At MyBarackObama.com," by Bob Ostertag, Huffington Post, July 3, 2008

More newswire ...



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

[Return to top of this page]