BETWEEN THE LINES
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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


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ISSUES IN DEPTH
Presidential Transition


"The First Hundred Days or the Last Hundred Days? Obama's Rendezvous with Destiny -- and Ours," by Ira Chernus, by TomDispatch.com, Dec. 10, 2008

"Who Will Seize the Moment?" Turning Crisis into Opportunity, by Ralph Nader, Counterpunch, Dec. 4, 2008

"Community Organizers Press Obama for Real Change," by CommonDreams.org, Dec. 3, 2008

Converting Fossil Fuel Economy to Green Economy


"Electric Cars Put Hawaii on The Road to Independence," by Times Online/UK, Dec. 4, 2008

"Weapons Come Second: Can Obama Take on the Pentagon?" by Frida Berrigan, TomDispatch.com, Nov. 25, 2008

The FY 2009 Pentagon Spending Request - Global Military Spending, by the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Economic Crisis


"A Look At Wall Street's Shadow Market: How Some Arcane Wall Street Financial Instruments Magnified Economic Crisis," 60 Minutes, Oct. 5, 2008

"Swapping Secrecy for Transparency," by Christopher Cox, SEC Chairman, The New York Times Op-Ed, Oct. 19, 2008

"The Bet That Blew Up Wall Street: Steve Kroft On Credit Default Swaps And Their Central Role In The Unfolding Economic Crisis," 60 Minutes, Oct. 26, 2008

Broken Government




"Broken Government: By The Numbers," 40 ways in which the federal government failed to perform under the administration of George W. Bush, 2001-2008

Class Warfare


"How the Rich Are Different From You and Me,"Places that went for Obama are richer and smarter than places that went for McCain, by Bill Bishop and Robert Cushing, Slate, Dec. 11, 2008

"Questions About the $700 Billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Funds," First Report of the Congressional Oversight Panel for Economic Stabilization, Dec. 10, 2008

War And Profiteering


"This Is Change? Twenty Hawks, Clintonites and Neocons to Watch for in Obama's White House," by Jeremy Scahill,Alternet, Nov. 20, 2008


"Don't Let Barack Obama Break Your Heart," Why Americans Shouldn't Go Home, by Tom Engelhardt, Nov. 12, 2008

"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

"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 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, November-December 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

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Posted Dec. 31, 2008

Between The Lines
For The Week Ending Jan. 9, 2009


torture

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

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


Massive Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza
Kill Hundreds of Palestinians
Suffering from Blockade


 RealAudio  MP3

Interview with Ramzi Kysia,
an organizer with the Free Gaza movement,
conducted by Scott Harris


gaza

Less than a week after a six-month Israeli-Hamas ceasefire agreement expired on Dec. 19, massive Israeli air strikes have killed more than 375 and injured over 1,500 Palestinians in Gaza as of Dec. 31. The United Nations estimated that 60 of those killed were women and children. Israel cited the launching of hundreds of crude, poorly aimed rockets from Gaza into southern Israel as a justification for their attack. Since the offensive began on Dec. 27, four Israelis living in towns near Gaza have been killed by Palestinian rocket fire.

Israeli warplanes have targeted the Hamas police force, government buildings, tunnels to Egypt, mosques, the territory's television station and a university. United Nations officials say that Gaza's already poorly-equipped hospitals, devastated by a long Israeli blockade, are unable to cope with the massive number of injuries. While the Israeli government is hoping their assault will weaken Hamas, some observers believe that Israel's disproportionate attack and loss of civilian life may strengthen the Islamic political party that was elected to power by Palestinians in a 2006 election. Since the bombardment began, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets all over the world, demanding an end to the Israeli attack on Gaza.

The U.S.-based organization, Free Gaza, has organized six boat trips to Gaza to challenge the Israeli blockade. The group's latest attempt to bring medical volunteers and supplies to Gaza was thwarted on Dec. 30 when an Israeli patrol boat in the Mediterranean Sea rammed the pleasure craft Dignity, which had 16 passengers on board, including former Democratic Congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Ramzi Kysia, an organizer with the Free Gaza movement, who looks at the human toll resulting from Israel's massive bombardment of Gaza and the timing of the attack related to the coming Israeli national election in February.

Contact Free Gaza Movement's U.S. office at (510) 232-2500, or visit their website at www.freegaza.org.



Obama Plan to Escalate Afghan War
Criticized as a Grave Error


 RealAudio  MP3

Interview with journalist and author Stephen Kinzer,
conducted by Scott Harris


afghanistan

As 2008 draws to a close, the U.S. has seen its deadliest year in Afghanistan since President Bush ordered the American invasion of the nation in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

Over the past year, Taliban attacks against Afghan government and NATO troops have increased in number and sophistication. But as U.S. and NATO forces react with more air strikes and raids on villages, a greater number of civilians are being killed and injured, creating a backlash against foreign troops and increased support for the Taliban among the Afghans.

During the presidential campaign, President-elect Barack Obama pledged to reduce the number of American forces in Iraq, while sending tens of thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, which he maintained should be the central focus in the war against al-Qaeda. Top Pentagon officials, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates -- who will continue in his job under the new administration, said they plan to send 20,000 to 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan by next spring in addition to the roughly 32,000 there now.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with award-winning former New York Times foreign correspondent and author Stephen Kinzer, who recently wrote an article titled, "The Reality of War in Afghanistan." In the piece, Kinzer warns of the danger he sees in President-elect Barack Obama's plan to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

Stephen Kinzer's latest book is titled, "A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It." Read Kinzer's Oct. 15 article, "The Reality of War in Afghanistan," online at www.boston.com



After 15-Year Battle,
Workers Win Union Vote
at Smithfield Foods


 RealAudio  MP3

Interview with David Simmons,
member of the labor organizing committee at Smithfield Foods,
conducted by Melinda Tuhus



smithfield

In early December, workers at Smithfield Foods in Tar Heel, N.C. voted by a 160-vote margin to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers. The over 15-year battle at the world's largest pork producer, with more than 4,000 workers, involved lawsuits and counter-suits, including a federal racketeering charge by the company that the union's public complaints about workers' treatment amounted to extortion. The union countered that its statements were protected by the First Amendment. Union representatives are still under a gag order and could not speak to the media about the election. This is not the first Smithfield plant to see a union victory, but it is the largest, both in the number of workers and in the amount of pork shipped from the plant. Despite the brutal working conditions, starting pay for workers at $9.60 per hour, is better than many other jobs in rural North Carolina.

The vote took place under an enhanced National Labor Relations Board process that provided a more even playing field than the one usually dominated by management. The union organizing committee will now sit down with management to negotiate a contract.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with David Simmons, a member of the union organizing committee who works on the Smithfield production line. He says that while the workers have won the right to bargain with management for a contract, there's still a long way to go.

Contact the United Food and Commercial Workers Union at Smithfield Foods at (202) 466-1591 or visit their website at www.ufcw.org

This week's summary
of under-reported news


 RealAudio  MP3

Compiled by Bob Nixon

  • Mass graves of Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners who had surrendered to U.S. ally Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, a well-known Afghan war lord, have been emptied. ("As Possible Afghan War-Crimes Evidence Removed, U.S. Silent," McClatchy newspapers, Dec. 11, 2008)
  • Pope Benedict recently outraged gay and lesbian activists with his end-of-year address to senior Vatican staff. ("Pope Accused of Stoking Homophobia After He Equates Homosexuality to Climate Change," Times of London, Dec. 12, 2008; "Gay Groups Angry at Pope's Remarks," BBC News, Dec. 23, 2008)
  • Twenty years after the murder of rainforest defender Chico Mendes, hundreds of human rights activists and environmentalists in the Brazilian Amazon continue to face death threats. ("Hundreds of Brazil's Eco-Warriors at Risk of Assassination, " The Guardian, Dec. 23, 2008)


Credits:
Executive producer: Scott Harris
Segment producers: Scott Harris, Melinda Tuhus
Senior news editor: Bob Nixon
Copy editor: Chris Ferrio
Program narration: Ruben Abreu
News reader: Chris Ferrio
Senior web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Anna Manzo
Web consultant: Gary Trujillo
Newswire editor: Hank Hoffman
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
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Last Week's Program

Between The Lines Week Ending 1/2/09

Between The Lines' Blog

"Reading Between The Lines"

U.S. Politics

"Republicans Popping Up To Defend Saltsman For 'Magic Negro' CD," by Eric Kleefeld, Talking Points Memo, Dec. 30, 2008

"Defiant Illinois Governor Names Pick for Obama Seat," The New York Times, Dec. 30, 2008

"You're Likable Enough, Gay People," by Frank Rich, The New York Times, Dec. 28, 2008

"Marty Peretz and the American political consensus on Israel," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, Dec. 28, 2008

"The GOP's White Supremacy," by Paul Jenkins, Huffington Post, Dec. 28, 2008

"Facing the Economic Crisis," by Stanley Aronowitz, ZNet, Dec. 27, 2008

"The Skeletons in Dennis Blair's Closet: How Obama's New Intelligence Chief Ran Interference for Indonesia's Butchers," by Bradley Simpson, Counterpunch, Dec. 26-28, 2008

"Obama's Best Pick? Hilda Solis for Secretary of Labor," by David Macaray, Counterpunch, Dec. 23, 2008

More newswire ...

Bush Regime

"Seasonal forgiveness has a limit. Bush and his cronies must face a reckoning," by Jonathan Freedland. Guardian/UK, Dec. 24, 2008

"Cheney's Legacy of Deception," by Robert Scheer, TruthDig, Dec. 23, 2008

More newswire ...

American Empire/War Profiteering

"Gaza: Leaders Lie, Civilians Die and the Lessons of History Are Ignored," by Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, Dec. 30, 2008

"George Washington's warnings and U.S. policy towards Israel," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, Dec. 30, 2008

"Party to Murder," by Chris Hedges, TruthDig, Dec. 29, 2008

"The world gives Israel a free hand," by Simon Tisdall, Guardian/UK, Dec. 29, 2008

"Gaza: the logic of colonial power," by Nir Rosen, Guardian/UK, Dec. 29, 2008

"Israel Using New US-Supplied Smart Bombs in Gaza Attacks," Antiwar.com News, Dec. 28, 2008

"Venezuela and Cuba, 1960-2008," by Saul Landau, Counterpunch, Dec. 24, 2008

More newswire ...

"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan

"US Activists Call for Release, Pardon of Iraq Shoe-Thrower," Agence France Presse, Dec. 30, 2008

"Obama and the Graveyard of Empires: The Coming Surge Into Afghanistan," by Gary Leupp, Counterpunch, Dec. 26-28, 2008

"Top Ten Myths about Iraq, 2008," by Juan cole, Informed Comment, Dec. 26, 2008

"Torture, Slaughter and Lies: War With Contempt for Civilians," by Brian Cloughley, Counterpunch, Dec. 24, 2008

"Amid Taliban Rule, a NATO Supply Line Is Choked," The New York Times, Dec. 24, 2008

"The Road Out of Iraq Begins in Vietnam," by Scott Ritter, TruthDig, Dec. 24, 2008

"Obama's Afghan Escalation," by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation, Dec. 23, 2008

More newswire ...

Civil Liberties/ Human Rights

"Guantanamo prisoner's lawyers accuse US defence secretary," Guardian/UK, Dec. 23, 2008

"Obama's Black Widow," by Nat Hentoff, Village Voice, Dec. 23, 2008

"An Interview with Guantánamo Whistleblower Stephen Abraham, Part 1," by Andy Worthington, Future of Freedom Foundation, Dec. 22, 2008

More newswire ...

Environment and Sustainability

"A Change We Can Believe In - Dumping Industrial Agriculture" by Jim Goodman, Common Dreams, Dec. 30, 2008

"Lump This Myth with 'Frosty the Coalman,'" by Dan Radmacher, The Free-Lance Star (Virginia), Dec. 30, 2008

"Spill May Have Permanently Altered Tenn. Community," Associated Press, Dec. 30, 2008

"Moose Are Roaming Right Out of Existence," Los Angeles Times, Dec. 29, 2008

"Drillers eye oil reserves off California coast," San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 29, 2008

"A First Hand Account of the TVA Coal Ash Disaster in Kingston, TN," by Dave Cooper, Huffington Post, Dec. 28, 2008

"Sea Shepherd Activists Cover Whaler With Stinky, Slimy Goo," Environment News Service, dec. 26, 2008

"Will Environmental Justice Finally Get Its Due?," by Brentin Mock, The American Prospect, Dec. 22, 2008

More newswire ...

Media Issues

"Lights Out in Gaza, News Blackout in US," by Deena Guzder, Common Dreams, Dec. 30, 2008

"The GOP Must Renounce Limbaugh, The Rest of Us Should Boycott Clear Channel," by Casey Gane-McCalla, Oxdown Gazette, Dec. 30, 2008

"Internet Providers, Industry Lobbyists Move to Shape Broadband Push; Net Neutrality Advocates Have Proposals of Their Own," Wall Street Journal, Dec. 30, 2008

"David Gregory shows why he's the perfect replacement for Tim Russert," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, Dec. 29, 2008

More newswire ...

Activism

"Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Obama's Hawaii House," Reuters, Dec. 30, 2008

"Auto Workers Told to Take Concessions, Abandon Retirees," by Tiffany Ten Eyck, Labor Notes, Dec. 30, 2008

"Union-Made Lattes: The Industrial Workers of the World ramps up its campaign to organize Starbucks," by Sam Stoker, In These Times, Dec. 29, 2008

"What Were Those 1960s Terrorists Thinking, Anyway?" by Judy Gumbo Albert, Counterpunch, Dec. 25, 2008

More newswire ...



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