Flashpoints Oct 30: Russian gas, bio/chem warfare issues; Sam B in Ramallah

Tuesday, Oct 29, 2002 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein: introduction: death toll from the storming of the Russian theater continues to rise, about the gas agent used.. arrests, violence spirals upward against Palestinian civilians
-00:50 Robert Knight and the Knight Report.. Robert: the UN Security Council meeting tonight under pressure from the US.. Ari Fletcher says its 'decision making time'.. Colin Powell says to leaders of Europe, US action does not require a second resolution.. Germany says it does too.. Iran's foreign minister says it will defend itself.. Russia gases its own citizens, threatens harsh reprisals against 'terrorists'.. 101 Russians dead, 418 survivors released from hospital, 245 remaining in medical care, 16 in critical condition.. US Marines sent to Djibouti (map) in the horn of Africa to look for Al-Quada.
-04:45 Dennis: now to Moscow w Fred Weir, writer for the Christian Science Monitor, Canadian radio.. about the blundered Russian hostage rescue.. Fred: what happened inside the theater a great unknown.. about Chechnya.. about the cause of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.. about the blundering of the Russian rescue.. a growing debate in Russia about that.. (Russian Press).. the details of the gas were not made available to their own medical personnel.. not even a specific antidote made available.. Russian special forces went in not even wearing masks.. a very thick mixture of gas.. no immediate care made available.. deliberately and knowingly.. no field hospital a blunder.. the witholding of vital information, a crime..
-24:40 Dennis: more about the storming of the theatrer.. what gas was used on the 800 innocent moviegoers.. Edward Hammond of the Sunshine Project.. Edward: initial speculation via the Pentagon.. a type of opiate.. syntanal (sp?).. a heroin type drug, modeled after the opium plant.. but syntanal much more powerful that heroin.. the first time a drug like this being used.. raises many questions about the biological, chemical warfare issues.. Dennis: would they knowingly risk the lives of 800 people.. Edward: governments have convinced themselves that there are safe non-lethal incapacitants.. it appears summary executions were performed.. Dennis: the Pentagon denies they have developed drugs like this.. Edward: that's a lie.. see our website for details.. allegations in the past that these kind of drugs used in combat before.. a dangerous precedent.. no country has come out and condemned this use.. now weaker countries will try and develope these agents.. now w Susan Wright, of the University of Michigan, biological warfare specialist.. Susan: what are the political implications trying to restrain these types of agents.. it lowers the moral and legal barriers.. the slippery use of the term terrorist.. 101 of the hostages died.. not non-lethal.. even tear gas can be lethal.. about the silence.. no country has come forth to question this use.. Russia might be in violation of certain treaties.. Dennis: the US resistant to treaties restraining the use of chemical and biological weapons.. Edward: a major major challenge for the chemical weapons treaties.. we were denied access to the meeting.. denied accreditation.. under the chemical weapons convention, this gas would not be allowed.. it is very clear that the agent used in Moscow, did not have temporary effects, it had lethal effects.. about the inspections allowed under weapons treaties.. the US resists inspections, and thus treaties.. the chemical weapons treaty looks weaker and weaker.. Dennis: how extensive is the US chemical and biological? weapons program?.. Susan: the US has by far and away the largest stockpile and development of biological weapons in the world.. under the US Defence Department.. contract to a private company, Optometrics, based in Michigan.. to develop.. certain agents.. a major no-no.. and in the chemical weapons arena.. a very worrying situation.. Susan: THE US IS GENETICALLY ENGINEERING.. A STRAIN OF ANTHRAX THAT WOULD RESIST ANY KNOWN VACCINE.. I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE WORRYING DEVELOPMENT.. THAT KIND OF WORK SHOULD BE DEFINED AS ILLEGAL.. if the US succeeds in delaying the 5th review conference, that issue will never come to the table.. ironic that US.. denying this legal barrier to biological warfare.. about the CWC.. we need to be operationalizing those provisions now..
-42:00 music break
-42:50 Dennis: occupied Palestine situation getting worse everyday.. shooting of olive pickers.. settler violence is soaring.. home destructions.. house arrests.. now to Ramallah with Sam Bahour, US Palestinian businessman, developer.. Sam: as the world believes that things are calming down as no major events.. not true.. many Palestinians being arrested, held for six month, political prisoners, so-called 'administrative detentions'.. Dennis: 7000 people seized, some of our friends seized?.. Sam: all violation of international law.. Hiphan Hamori (sp?).. a resident of East Jerusalem, on the staff at the YMCA.. four Israeli soldiers entered the Y, went to his desk.. took his hard drive, and took him to the 'Russian Compound' (the main Israeli torture chambers for Palestinian prisoners).. a Israeli lawyer took the case but was never allowed to meet him.. after three days, he was taken before a judge, given a six month detention.. he was working on building a YMCA in Ramallah.. got one million dollars from US aid.. while in his hearing.. Isareli officer said he was being arrested for making trips to Ramllah.. he is not a threat, has no connection to any violence.. while Bush calls for reform, any community activist or reformer is put in prison.. Dennis: when you put one Palestinian in prison, the whole family suffers.. his eight year writes: we love you and miss you a lot.. we need you.. I can't go to karate or piano, as there is no one to drive me.. Sam: this is devastating.. about his three daughters and his wife.. were told yesterday they could visit him.. a three hour drive.. they left early in the morning.. they were terrified.. when they got to the prison, they were told, no we just decided no visit today.. lots of burdens.. Israel systematically trying to break the Palestinian spirit.. they will fail, we will built the YMCA.. Harretz today saying 500 prisoners sleeping on the floor, because Israeli will not provide mattresses.. and torture is permitted.. about Marwan Barghouti on trial.. info: www.freebarghouti.org or write me sbahour@palnet.com.. Dennis: about the threat of *transfer* under cover of a US Iraq war.. Sam: yes, and Israel has adopted the policy of collective punishment.. a policy of transfer by economic strangulation.. to pressure Palestinians to exit Palestine..
-54:20 Mary Bishop: wrapup
-55:04 End today's show. today's review by john lionheart

photos from SF march and rally, click to enlarge
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Monday, Oct 28, 2002 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein: introduction: Flashpoints Special: complete audio John Pilger's electrifying new documentary, Palestine is Still The Issue
-00:38 Dennis: in 1977, British journalist John Pilger made a documentary, Palestine is Still The Issue, telling how the Palestinians were forced from their homes in 1948 and again in 1967.. now in 2002, he asks why the Palestinians' right of return is still denied.. now begin documentary audio.. Israeli voices: There is only one way of ending this, it is ending the Occupation.. the Occupation has reduced us to animals.. this is a huge bluff of Israel, that every criticism of its policy is anti-semitism.. Palestinian Woman: the soldiers' mothers should come and see what their sons are doing here.. Pilger: Israel is backed by a very powerful friend, the US.. in 25 years nothing has changed.. except the Palestinians have stood up and fought back.. they have no tanks, no planes, no missiles.. but still they fight back.. about the ruthless control of all aspects of their lives.. last April troops and tanks invaded Ramallah.. an attack on schools, offices, radio stations..this vandalism is typical.. even the Palestinian Cultural Ministry was destroyed.. (Amira Hass report) (more Amira) Administrator: (leading Pilger on a tour) this is the administration room, everything is broken.. exhibitions, folklore.. now we don't have anything, except a feeling of humiliation.. this is a bag of shit.. and shit smeared all over the copymaker.. Pilger: they ate and shit in the same room.. Administrator: putting the shit everywhere, even on the walls.. they didn't use the toilets.. (also see: Kathleen Christison) Pilger: let's go in this room.. good grief! these are children's drawings.. Administrator: yes, this the room for children.. to express themselves.. they (the Israelis) don't respect anything.. this is the terrorism of the Israeli state.. Pilger: the heart of the struggle here is a struggle for land, for soil.. during the early part of the 20th century, the majority of inhabitants of Palestine were Palestinian Arabs (not further review tonight, no synopsis could do justice, listen yourself)
-57:00 End today's show. today's review by john lionheart

PAUL WELLSTONE KILLED IN SUSPICIOUS PLANE CRASH, BALANCE OF POWER SHIFTS TO REPUBLICANS.. Wellstone was bitterly opposed by the White House and the large pharmaceutical industry.. no one can help but recall the death of Democratic Senatorial candidate Mel Carahan in 2000.. Locked in a tight senate race against now Attorney General John Ashcroft, Carnahan too was killed in a similar plane crash.. (read more)

Friday, Oct 25, 2002 - Start Audio
-00:00 Dennis Bernstein: introduction: Venezualan military plots a new coup.. secret FTAA meetings in Ecuador.. Jeb Bush on the ropes in Florida?.. about tomorrow's anti-war protests in SF and DC..
-00:53 Dennis: insurrection by Venezualan military against elected populist president, Hugo Chavez; General Gomez demands Chavez's resignation.. now w Greg Palast, author of the The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.. Greg: the majority of the military refused to knuckle under to a few coup plotters.. but a US AP wire report this morning said Chavez *disbanded the constitution*.. Dennis: Washington's involvement?.. Greg: when Chavez was kidnapped in April, the US ambassador ran down and had his picture taken with the guys who kidnapped the president.. about Chavez role as president of OPEC.. "the US can't leave Chavez in power, if they invade Iraq".. Dennis: people should be concerned about Otto Reich? Greg: he was.. illegally supplying aid to the Contras violating US law.. now given power in the Bush administration.. Dennis: Jeb Bush having problems with his re-election in Florida? Greg: the people in Florida aren't buying the weapon of mass distraction, ie the war on Iraq.. they're looking at the economy.. not allowing Jeb to wrap himself in a flag.. polls show Jeb losing.. but Jeb has the means of correcting that problem.. [wry laughter].. Greg: in Salon Magazine next week I'll give more details.. about the thousands of black voters kicked off the rolls in Florida in 2000.. NAACP has sued Katherine Harris.. Harris confessed, said we're sorry, said we'll restore those people.. now the state saying we cannot restore those people until after this election.. 125,000- 150,000 votes.. that could be the difference.. Greg: my money is on an endless round of litigation until after 2004 election..
-11:53 music break
-12:40 Leslie Kean: about the FTAA summit in Ecuador next week.. Ecuadoreans mobilizing for a fight.. beginning next Thursday.. FTAA destructive.. the Seattle of South America.. now w David Solnick (sp?) in studio, and on the phone, Justin Ruben and Kristina Chamorra (sp?) from Ecuador.. Justin: Ecuador has a long history of resistance to neo-liberalism.. kicked out the last two presidents.. FTAA a bigger badder NAFTA.. Leslie: Kristina a 22 year old student from Quito, grew up on a farm in Ecuador.. Kristina: the National Organization for Campezinos.. our campaign is organized and growing.. if the FTAA gets power here, natural resources.. water will be privatized, already started.. farmers can no longer use the water.. cultural.. food programs.. with FTAA this will be lost.. a market oriented activity.. destroy our traditional practices.. make us dependent.. now w David with Action for Global Justice.. David: about Bechtel Corp.. taken over the water.. about their takeover in Cochacabamba, Boliva.. they drastically raised rates, then people rose up.. 100 wounded.. but they won their water system back.. but now Bechtel suing these poor people for 25 million dollars.. Justin: a seamless web, business summit and trade summit.. mixing behind closed doors.. an incredible gulf between them and the people.. all the FTAA negotiations out of the reach of the public.. David: not just a South American issue.. Bechtel privatizing water in California too..
-27:00 David: on Sunday October 27 a Bay Area Social Forum.. (gives details).. at the Women's Building, SF 1-5PM .. workshops.. on October 28 11AM.. protest at Bechtels HQ SF, Beale and Mission.. a non violent direct action.. demand Bechtel drop their lawsuit against Boliva.. more info http://www.StopFTAA.org/sf 415-621-8100 www.Ecuador.indymedia.org..
-30:30 music break It's All About The Price Of Oil
-33:38 Dennis: about the quote by California US House rep, Tom Lantos to the Knesset member.. 'My Dear Collette,.. you won't have anymore problem with Saddam, we'll be rid of the bastard soon, we'll install a pro-Western dictator who'll be good for us and you'.. Dennis: clearly he is not talking about democracy.. tens of thousands of protestors expected in SF and DC tomorrow.. authorities in DC doing their best to undermine the protest.. from DC, Ilias Rushwawe (sp?).. and in studio, Barbara Lubin of the Middle East Children's Alliance.. both on the steering committee of Answer.. Ilias: a press conference at the Washington Press Club.. we plan to collect ten million signatores.. a planned Peoples Peace Congress on MLK's birthday.. an incredibly upbeat mood in DC.. thousands of buses expected.. a historic moment in the US peace history.. Dennis: the Israelis now not permitting the Pals to pick their own olives.. Ilias: the attack against the Pals, Bush's attack on Iraq.. to remove any hurdle to US dominance in the Middle East.. Palestinians a hurdle.. Iraq a hurdle.. Afghanistan a hurdle.. US civil liberties a hurdle.. now w Barbara Lubin of the Middle East Children's Alliance.. Barbara: we all know.. the taking away our basic human liberties.. the role of the US in the world.. WE NEED TO BE OUT IN THE STREETS TOMORROW.. SHOW THAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SAYING NO TO WAR.. a lot of coalitions building.. if we want to have peace in the Middle East.. JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE, THE HEART OF THE ISSUE.. THAT AND OIL.. we can not.. try and find the lowest common denominator, and leave Palestine out.. Barbara: about the horrible conditions killing the people, the children of Palestine.. Ilian: of 1.5 million acres, of the West Bank and Gaza, 750,000 already taken by Israel.. 120,000 olive trees uprooted.. wells banned, houses demolished.. a truly horrendous situation.. 1.5 million Iraqis dead.. Lantos says US will install another dictator.. eliminating the right of people to self-determination, so that US citizens can enjoy the monetary benefits.. info www.VoteNoWar.org.. Barbara: the people of the South Bay have an alternative to Tom Lantos, Maude ^^^^.. Ilias: I want to echo Barbara's support for Maude.. LANTOS' POSITIONS.. FOR WAR AND ISRAEL.. NOT SERVING THE INTERESTS OF THE US, BUT SERVING THE INTERESTS OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.. Dennis: hard to imagine what would happen if the US attacked Iraq.. Barbara: like in the first Gulf War hundreds of thousands of people murdered.. old people, mothers, fathers.. bridges down.. ANOTHER WAR WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OUR CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY TO EVER LEAVE THIS COUNTRY.. IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS WORLD FOR ALL OF US.. Dennis: about the treatment of Arab Americans at home, the degredation of all our civil liberties.. Barbara: EVENT: on Nov 8 I'm going to the Arab Film Festival, at 5PM.. film Power and Terror by Noam Chomsky.. info: 510-548-0542
-57:00 End today's show. today's review by john lionheart