Category Archives: News

Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

House Rejects $700 Billion Bailout

In defiance of President Bush and party leaders, the House on Monday rejected a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry. By a 228 to 205 vote, a coalition of mostly liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans joined together to block what would have been the largest corporate bailout in U.S. history.

Dow Falls Record 778 Points; Stocks Lose $1.2 Trillion

The vote shocked many investors. On Wall Street the Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 778 points – its worst single-day point loss ever. Stocks lost $1.2 trillion in value on Monday in what is being described as Wall Street’s blackest day since the 1987 crash. Despite the setback President Bush said a new relief package for Wall Street will be put forward.

President Bush: “With this strong and decisive legislation, we will help restart the flow of credit, so American families can meet their daily needs and American businesses can make purchases, ship goods, and meet their payrolls. We’ll make clear that the United States is serious about restoring confidence and stability in our financial system.”

The Washington Post described the vote as President Bush’s worst legislative defeat. On the campaign trail both Barack Obama and John McCain called on lawmakers to support a new bailout package. The impact of the House vote was felt around the world as stock values dropped in Asia, Australia and Europe. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urged U.S. lawmakers to approve a bailout.

Kevin Rudd: “The decision by the United States Congress not to pass the measure by the U.S. administration for the stabilization of the U.S. financial markets is disappointing, this is a bad development. I’ve spoken this morning to the Australian ambassador to the United States and our understanding is this measure or a similar measure will be represented to the United States Congress later this week. I’ve spoken also to the British Prime Minister this morning, Gordon Brown. The attitude we’ll adopt and I believe other friends and allies of the United States will adopt is to urge the United States Congress to pass this or a similar measure when it is represented to the Congress later this week. This is necessary for the stabilization of the U.S. markets. It is necessary for the stabilization of the global financial markets.”

Finance Sector Gave 51 Percent More to House Bailout Backers

The Center for Responsive Politics is reporting members of the House of Representatives who supported bailing out the financial sector have received 51 percent more in campaign contributions from the finance, insurance and real estate sector in their congressional careers than those who opposed the emergency legislation.

Unions Protest Against Wall Street Bailout

Opposition on Main Street to the federal bailout continues to mount. On Monday labor unions held another rally on Wall Street. Speakers include Ed Ott of the New York City Labor Council.

Ed Ott: “It was irresponsible what was done here. And if we put it back together we want assurances that someone will watch the til. For 25 years both parties have been complicit in undermining our protections, under the guise of de-regulation. They have now cost us tens of thousands of jobs, it is unacceptable.”

Banking Consolidation Continues As Citigroup Buys Wachovia

In other financial news, the nation’s fourth largest bank Wachovia has been acquired by Citigroup for $2 billion in a deal orchestrated by the federal government to prevent another bank failure. The deal could cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. Citigroup is inheriting over 300 billion dollars in Wachovia’s loans but the government has agreed to pay any losses over the $42 billion mark. Wachovia’s sale comes just days after Washington Mutual was seized by regulators before its assets were sold to JPMorgan Chase. The fall of Washington Mutual and Wachovia leaves the nation with three superbanks – Bank Of America, Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase. The consolidation may result in higher fees on everything from checking accounts to bounced checks and overdrafts, and lower interest-rate yields on deposit accounts.

Prosecutors Subpoena Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae

Meanwhile federal prosecutors have subpoenaed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae for documents as part of an investigation into the mortgage giants.

Mukasey Appoints Special Prosecutor For U.S. Attorneys Scandal

Attorney General Michael Mukasey has appointed a Special Prosecutor to continue the probe into whether political misconduct led to the firing of nine U.S. attorneys. The appointment came at the request of a lengthy Justice Department investigation. Investigators singled out Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for his conduct in the firings, accusing of him of “abdicating” his responsibility and questioning his faulty and evasive public statements. Senate Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy warned President Bush not to misuse his pardon power to benefit officials connected to the scandal.

Sen. Patrick Leahy: “The evidence in our investigation in the Judiciary Committee and the report today shows Karl Rove and others among the highest ranks of the White House were involved in the firings and apparently they focused on the political impact of federal prosecutions. I don’t think the White House should be allowed to hide from accountability.”

Ex-CIA Executive Director Pleads Guilty

The CIA’s former executive director pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud as part of a plea bargain. Kyle “Dusty” Foggo was the third highest ranking official at the CIA until his resignation in 2006. Federal prosecutors accuse him of accepting up to $70,000 worth of gifts from his friend Brent Wilkes in exchange for lucrative CIA contracts. Foggo originally faced 28 charges, but prosecutors agreed to drop 27 of them in exchange for a guilty plea for wire fraud.

Immigration Agents Arrest 1100 In California

In California, federal immigration agents have arrested more than eleven hundred people over the past three weeks in a series of sweeps. It was the largest immigration operation ever carried out by ICE agents in California. One ICE official described the effort as a “big surge.” Immigrant rights advocate Basil Robledo of San Jose said the raids have been traumatizing. He said: “It is a scary situation for folks in the community.. People keep their kids home from school. It creates less of a willingness to talk to police. They see ICE agents and they see a uniformed person, and that blends into all of law enforcement.”

GOP Concern Growing Over Selection of Palin

The website Politico reports a growing number of Republicans are expressing concern about John McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin’s performance on the campaign trail and her understanding of key issues. National Review columnist Kathleen Parker has called on Palin to step aside. Parker recently wrote: “Quick study or not, she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion.” Criticism of Palin intensified last week after her interview with Katie Couric on CBS. During the interview Couric asked Palin about the proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.

Sarah Palin: “But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the–oh, it’s got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So, healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we have–we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.”

On Monday Palin returned for another interview with Katie Couric, this time with John McCain. Couric questioned McCain about Palin’s interaction with a voter in Philadelphia on Saturday when she contradicted McCain’s stated position on Pakistan by saying that U.S. troops should absolutely go into Pakistan if that’s what needed to stop the terrorists from coming into Afghanistan.

Katie Couric: Is that something you shouldn’t say out loud, Sen. McCain?

John McCain: Of course not. But, look, I understand this day and age of “gotcha” journalism. Is that a pizza place? In a conversation with someone who you didn’t hear … the question very well, you don’t know the context of the conversation, grab a phrase. Gov. Palin and I agree that you don’t announce that you’re going to attack another country …

Couric: Are you sorry you said it?

McCain: … and the fact …

Couric: Governor?

McCain: Wait a minute. Before you say, “is she sorry she said it,” this was a “gotcha” sound bite that, look …

Couric: It wasn’t a “gotcha.” She was talking to a voter.

Olmert: Israel Should Withdraw From Most of West Bank & Golan Heights

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has told an Israeli newspaper that Israel should withdraw from nearly all territory captured in the 1967 Middle East war in return for peace with the Palestinians and Syria. Olmert told Israel’s largest newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth: “I am saying) what no previous Israeli leader has ever said: we should withdraw from almost all of the territories, including in East Jerusalem and in the Golan Heights.” More than 450,000 Jewish settlers live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, and a further 20,000 in the Golan Heights. Olmert said that traditional Israeli defense strategists had learned nothing from past experiences and that they seemed stuck in the considerations of the 1948 war of independence. He said: “With them, it is all about tanks and land and controlling territories and controlled territories and this hilltop and that hilltop. All these things are worthless.” Olmert recently resigned over corruption allegations but remains prime minister until a new government is approved by parliament. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki criticized Olmert for waiting until now to call for an end to the settlements.

Riyad Al-Malki: “We wish we heard this personal opinion when Olmert was prime minister, not after he resigned. I think it is a very important commitment, but it came too late. We hope this commitment will be fulfilled by the new Israeli government.”

U.S. Suspends Trade Benefits to Bolivia

In news from Latin America, the Bush administration has suspended longtime trade benefits to Bolivia as tension continues to rise between the two countries. Washington cited the failure of President Evo Morales’ administration to cooperate in the so-called war on drugs as the main motivation for the move. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia have received duty-free status for most of their goods under a program dating to 1991 to help fight the illegal drug trade. But now Bolivia will have to pay more to get exports like textiles into the United States. Morales said Bolivia would immediately start looking for new outlets for exports.

Evo Morales: “I’ve asked the economic team and foreign ministry to urgently open markets with China, Iran, Libya. It’s just a question of producing more and starting negotiations.”

Police: Gassing of Mosque in Ohio Was Not A Biased Crime

Police in Dayton Ohio said no hate crime was committed when two men sprayed a gas inside a Mosque filled with over 300 Muslims. On Friday night two men reportedly approached a window at the mosque and began spraying a chemical irritant. A 10-year-old girl was sprayed in the face. According to a police report the girl said she immediately felt burning on her face and felt “sick to her stomach.” Other children and a woman felt effects from the chemical and the mosque had to be evacuated. On Monday Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl said no hate crime was committed. He said, “The men didn’t say anything to her. There was nothing left at the scene or anything that makes us believe this is a biased crime.”

Denver Police T-Shirt: “We Get Up Early, To Beat The Crowds”

And in Denver the city’s police union has printed commemorative t-shirts joking about police brutality at the Democratic National Convention when police arrested 154 people. The shirt reads: “We get up early, to beat the crowds. 2008 DNC.” The t-shirt shows a grinning police office holding a baton.

Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

Congress Set to Vote on $700 Billion Bailout

Congressional leaders and the White House agreed Sunday to a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry. The biggest bailout in US history won the tentative support of presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. The House will vote on the bailout today. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the $700 billion package as a buy-in, not a bailout.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi: “The party is over. The era of golden parachutes for high-flying Wall Street operators is over. No longer will the US taxpayer bail out the recklessness of Wall Street. And that’s the news that this legislation brings. Again, we want to insulate the American taxpayer, Main Street, everyday Americans, from the crisis on Wall Street. People have to know that this isn’t about a bailout of Wall Street. It’s a buy-in so that we can turn our economy around.”

The Democrats backed down on their demand to give bankruptcy judges authority to alter the terms of mortgages for homeowners facing foreclosure. Democrats also failed in their attempt to steer a portion of any government profits from the package to affordable-housing programs. According to the economist Dean Baker, the bailout includes no serious restrictions on CEO pay. However, the Democrats succeeded in securing some oversight for the program and some control of the finances. Under the proposed bill, half of the $700 billion will be immediately available, but the other half could be held back by Congress.

UK Seizes Large Bank; Belgium Bails Out Fortis; Citigroup to Buy Wachovia

The agreement on the bailout comes as the financial crisis continues to spread across the globe. Earlier today, Britain seized one of the country’s largest mortgage providers, the Bradford & Bingley bank. Meanwhile, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg have announced a $16 billion bailout for the financial services giant Fortis. Here in the United States, Citigroup is reportedly preparing to buy Wachovia bank.

McCain and Obama Square Off in First Presidential Debate

On Friday night at the University of Mississippi, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama squared off on the economy and foreign policy in the first of three presidential debates. No third party candidate was invited to participate. Senator Barack Obama tied the current economic crisis to the Republican Party’s economic views.

Sen. Barack Obama: “Now, we also have to recognize that this is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by George Bush, supported by Senator McCain, a theory that basically says that we can shred regulations and consumer protections and give more and more to the most, and somehow prosperity will trickle down. It hasn’t worked. And I think that the fundamentals of the economy have to be measured by whether or not the middle class is getting a fair shake.”

During the debate, Obama referenced President Bush ten times. McCain never said Bush’s name. When asked about the economic crisis, John McCain called for a sweeping spending freeze.

Sen. John McCain: “How about a spending freeze on everything but defense, veteran affairs and entitlement programs.”

Jim Lehrer: “Spending freeze?”

McCain: “I think we ought to seriously consider, with the exceptions of caring for our veterans, national defense and several other vital issues.”

McCain & Obama Spar Over Pakistan

The foreign policy portion of the debate focused on Iraq, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Sen. McCain: “I’m not prepared at this time to cut off aid to Pakistan. So I’m not prepared to threaten it, as Senator Obama apparently wants to do, as he has said that he would announce military strikes into Pakistan. We’ve got to get the support of the people of–of Pakistan. He said that he would launch military strikes into Pakistan. Now, you don’t do that. You don’t say that out loud. If you have to do things, you have to do things, and you work with the Pakistani government.”

Senator Barack Obama challenged McCain.

Sen. Obama: “Nobody talked about attacking Pakistan. Here’s what I said. And if John wants to disagree with this, he can let me know, that if the United States has al-Qaeda, bin Laden, top-level lieutenants in our sights, and Pakistan is unable or unwilling to act, then we should take them out. Now, I think that’s the right strategy; I think that’s the right policy. And, John, I–you’re absolutely right that presidents have to be prudent in what they say. But, you know, coming from you, who, you know, in the past has threatened extinction for North Korea and, you know, sung songs about bombing Iran, I don’t know, you know, how credible that is. I think this is the right strategy.”

After the debate, Obama’s running mate Joseph Biden appeared on almost every newscast offering post-debate commentary. McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin gave no interviews. However, she did make headlines on Saturday. During a campaign stop in Philadelphia, a graduate student at Temple asked her whether the US should cross the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Palin said absolutely.

Sarah Palin: “If that’s what we have to do to stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should.”

On Sunday, Senator McCain attempted to retract Palin’s comment. The first and only vice-presidential debate will be held on Thursday at Washington University in St. Louis.

Dayton, Ohio Mosque Gassed; Two Hospitalized

In Dayton, Ohio, two people were hospitalized Friday after someone gassed a mosque filled with over 300 Muslims celebrating the last ten days of Ramadan. Two men were seen spraying an unknown chemical into a room where babies and children were being kept while their mothers were engaged in prayers. People inside the mosque soon began coughing, tearing up and losing their breath. One adult and one child were take to a local hospital, others were treated at the scene. Tarek Sabagh, a board member of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, said, “It’s very disturbing. Something like this has never happened before.”

Ecuador Approves New Constitution

In Ecuador, voters appear to have approved a new constitution, handing a major victory to President Rafael Correa. The website UpsideDownWorld reports the new constitution will expand access to healthcare, social security and education, while increasing state control over the economy. On Sunday, Rafael Correa celebrated the victory.

Rafael Correa: “Today, Ecuador has decided on a new nation. The old structures are defeated. This confirms the citizens’ revolution.”

Gonzales Will Not Face Grand Jury for Firing of US Attorneys

A Justice Department investigation has recommended former attorney general Alberto Gonzales not be referred to a federal grand jury for his role in the 2006 firings of nine US attorneys. But the New York Times reports the probe offers a blistering critique of the political motivations that led to the firings. The report is expected to produce evidence that Gonzales’s chief of staff Kyle Sampson was carrying out directives crafted by more senior officials, including Gonzales, White House adviser Karl Rove, and former White House counsel Harriet Miers.

Senate Approves $634 Billion Spending Bill

On Capitol Hill, the Senate has approved a $634 billion spending bill. The legislation includes a $25 billion bailout for the auto industry, the elimination of a longstanding ban on offshore oil drilling and a record Pentagon budget totaling nearly half a trillion dollars.

House OKs US-India Nuke Deal

Meanwhile, the House voted Saturday to approve a deal to lift a three-decade ban on US nuclear trade with India. The deal will allow India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty as other nations must.

US Army Deploys Advanced Radar System in Israel

The New York Times reports the US Army has deployed an advanced US radar system on Israeli soil allowing early detection of incoming ballistic missiles. The system is being set up in the Negev Desert and will be operated initially by an American crew.

17 Killed in Syrian Car Bombing

In Syria, a car bomb in a suburb of Damascus killed at least seventeen civilians on Saturday. The bombing occurred near a Shiite shrine frequently visited by Iranian and Iraqi pilgrims. Earlier today, at least five people died in a suspected car bomb attack on a military bus carrying soldiers in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

Prominent Female Afghan Police Officer Assassinated

Afghanistan’s most prominent female police office has been assassinated in the city of Kandahar. Malalai Kakar was the head of the city’s department on crimes against women. The Taliban claimed credit for the killing. About 750 police officers have been killed in Afghanistan in the past six months.

Nepalese PM, Former Maoist Leader Prachanda Speaks in NYC

Here in New York, Nepal’s new prime minister, Prachanda, spoke on Friday night for the first time since successfully leading the decade-long Maoist rebellion against Nepal’s monarchy. Last month, Prachanda was overwhelmingly voted in as Nepal’s new premier by lawmakers in the country’s constitutional assembly. Earlier this year, Nepal’s national assembly voted to abolish the monarchy.

Prachanda: “This is a new beginning, which will give every man and woman the freedom and opportunity by creating social, economic and political justice and fairness to all. And the basis of all this development would be multi-party competition, democratic dispensation, inclusive state, rule of law, freedom of press and opinions, and the respect for fundamental human rights, above all. We will ensure a just, prosperous, stable and peaceful society.”

US Activist Killed and Raped in Mexico

In Mexico, police have arrested a man for raping and killing an American activist named Marcella Grace Eiler. She had spent time in Oaxaca as an international human rights observer, photographer, journalist and translator. She was also connected to Arizona Indymedia.

Seattle Police Arrest 24 People at Nickelsville Tent City

Police in Seattle arrested twenty-four people Friday after a raid on a homeless encampment known as Nickelsville. Over the past week, homeless residents had set up 150 tents on property owned by the city. On Saturday, a new tent city was set up in a nearby parking lot. Homeless advocates say tent cities are increasingly showing up across the country due to the foreclosure and economic crisis.

Paul Newman, 83, Dies

And the Oscar-winning actor, philanthropist and activist Paul Newman has died at the age of eighty-three. His films included The Hustler, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Color of Money. Newman was also a longtime antiwar, anti-nuclear and women’s rights activist. Paul Newman once said being named on Richard Nixon’s enemies list was the “highest single honor I’ve ever received.” In 1969, he spoke out in favor of the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam.

Paul Newman: “We’re here to support one of the main themes of the moratorium, which is business as usual. We are actors, but I don’t remember that anybody asked us to give up our citizenship papers when we became actors. And so, we’re here obviously as citizens protesting what we feel is the tragedy of the Vietnamese war. So, we are asking, respectfully, that people just don’t go to our films on November 14th.”

Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

GOP Opposition Derails Wall Street Bailout Deal

The federal bailout of Wall Street is in limbo after Republican lawmakers refused to support an emerging deal between the Bush administration and Democratic leaders. The surprise move came hours after it appeared all sides were close to an agreement. The proposed deal would spend some seven-hundred billion dollars to buy up defaulted Wall Street debts, while also imposing some executive pay limits and granting the government equity that could possibly be sold to help recoup the bailout costs. But as talks progressed Congressional Republicans emerged to propose an alternative plan emphasizing insurance for mortgage-based assets and further de-regulation of the financial sector. Lawmakers huddled at the Capitol Building until late in the evening. Democratic Congressmember and House Banking Committee chair Barney Frank blamed Republicans or the delay.

Rep. Barney Frank: “House Republicans stayed a while, and then left. And at this point we are told the House Republicans have no plan to participate in helping draw this up, or having any commitment to help pass it.”

Many Democrats pointed the finger at Senator John McCain, saying his involvement in the talks helped derail an emerging deal. Connecticut Senator and Senate Banking chair Christopher Dodd called the meeting “a rescue plan for John McCain.” McCain has been accused of waging a political stunt after announcing he would suspend his campaign to help push through an agreement on the financial crisis.

Feds Seize WaMu in Largest Bank Failure in U.S. History

The stalemate came as regulators announced the seizure of the savings and loan giant Washington Mutual–making it the largest bank failure in U.S. history. Under a government-brokered deal, WaMu will be sold off to JP Morgan Chase. JP Morgan acquired the investment bank Bear Stearns under a similar federal-backed effort earlier this year. About ten percent of WaMu’s branches are expected to be shut down nationwide.

Protesters Hit Wall Street to Protest Bailout

As talks proceeded in Washington, protesters took to the streets across the country to oppose a Wall Street bailout. In New York a series of demonstrations occurred near the Stock Exchange.

McCain Holds Ground on Debate Refusal

Meanwhile on the campaign trail, it remains unclear if McCain will join Obama tonight for their scheduled debate at the University of Mississippi. Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York, McCain indicated he still plans to skip out.

Sen. John McCain: “As of this morning I suspended my political campaign as you know, with so much on the line for America and the world. The debate that matters most right now, is taking place in the United States capital and I intend to join it. Senator Obama is doing the same. America should be proud of the bipartisanship that we’re seeing.”

Obama meanwhile told the same crowd he wants the debate to proceed.

Sen. Barack Obama: “Our election is in forty days, our economy is in crisis, our nation is fighting two wars abroad. The American people I believe deserve to hear directly from myself and Senator McCain about how we intend to lead our country. The times are too serious to put our campaign on hold, or to ignore the full range of issues that the next president will face.”

Palin Claims U.S. “Victory” in Iraq

In other campaign news, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been caught in an apparent gaffe after claiming the U.S. has achieved “victory” in Iraq. Speaking to CBS News anchor Katie Couric, Palin said “a surge in Afghanistan also will lead us to victory there, as it has proven to have done in Iraq.” Palin was also asked about her comments that an Israeli attack on Iran shouldn’t ever be “second guessed.”

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: “We don’t have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe that it is in their country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests to fight against a regime, especiallybIran, who would seek to wipe them off the face of the earth. It isbobvious to me who the good guys are in this one and who the bad guysbare. The bad guys are the ones who say Israel is a stinking corpse andbshould be wiped off the face of the earth. That’s not a good guy who is saying that. Now, one who would seek to protect the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel and her friends, her allies, including the United States, in my world, those are the good guys.”

Study: CO2 Emissions Outpacing Worst Projections

In environmental news, a new study says the rise in carbon dioxide emissions has outpaced even the most dire scientific projections. The Global Carbon Project says CO2 emissions rose nearly three percent last year. That’s at the high end of the projections from the world’s leading scientific panel on global warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Researchers say the rise could mean a global temperature increase of eleven degrees by the end of the century. Climate scientists have warned of massive environmental catastrophe if increases in carbon dioxide emissions top three percent.

Gore Calls for Civil Disobedience Against Carbon-Emitting Coal Plants

Meanwhile former Vice President Al Gore has encouraged young people to engage in civil disobedience against coal plants unable to store carbon. In an address to the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Gore said: “I believe we have reached the stage where it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture and sequestration.”

Senate Panel Holds Testimony on U.S. Torture

On Capitol Hill, the Senate Armed Services Committee convened a hearing Thursday on the treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody in Iraq, Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay. Air Force instructor and Iraq veteran Colonel Steven Kleinman testified he witnessed a deliberate program of what he called “punishment” against Iraqi prisoners. Kleinman said forced nudity, sleep deprivation, and painful shackling were all used against those who wouldn’t cooperate with U.S. interrogators. The techniques were the same as those taught in a Pentagon program to prepare U.S. servicemembers for what they would experience under foreign captors who don’t respect the Geneva Conventions. In one case, Kleinman said he witnessed a prisoner forced to kneel beneath a spotlight and repeatedly hit across the face with every answer he gave. Kleinman said the interrogators were baffled when he tried to stop the beating. Democratic Senator and Armed Services Committee chair Carl Levin was the lone Senator to attend the hearing.

Senate Judiciary Committee Orders Torture Docs

Meanwhile the Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to subpoena the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel for documents outlining Bush administration authorization of harsh interrogation techniques.

Psychologists Chide Pentagon on Interrogation Policy

The nation’s top psychiatric organization is accusing the Pentagon of violating a pledge not to use psychiatrists in the interrogation of foreign prisoners. In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, American Psychiatric Association president Dr. Nada Stotland writes: “The use of psychiatrists to aid in interrogations is a serious violation of medical ethics and should be discontinued.” Opposition to involvement in interrogations is on the rise within the ranks of the nation’s mental health specialists. Last week members of the American Psychological Association approved a landmark vote barring members from taking part in the interrogations.

Bush Hosts Abbas at White House

President Bush hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on Thursday. Bush said he could offer no commitments on any key issues but said he is still committed to his “vision” for a peace deal.

President Bush: “As you know, I’ve got four more months left in office and I’m hopeful that the vision that you and I have worked on can come to pass. And my only pledge to you is that I’ll continue to work hard to see that it can come to pass. And so I welcome you back–and I think it’s safe for me to say I welcome you back, my friend.” Bush has repeatedly offered statements on reaching a “framework” and “vision” on a peace deal but has refused to address any significant issues. Some Palestinians have criticized the Abbas-led government for even meeting with Bush as he continues to support Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Critic of Settlements Attacked in Pipe Bombing

Meanwhile in Israel, an Israeli historian known for his criticism of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has been targeted in a bombing attack. Zeev Sternhell was lightly injured when a pipe bomb exploded at his Jerusalem home. Israeli police say they’re investigating right-wing settler groups. Flyers found near Sternhell’s home were said to offer hundreds of thousands of dollars for killing members of Peace Now, an Israeli group also critical of the settlements. Born in 1935 in Poland, Sternhell survived the Nazi holocaust. He is widely known for his studies on fascism.

U.S., Pakistan Trade Fire Near Afghan Border

In Pakistan, U.S. and Pakistani troops have exchanged fire near the Afghan border. Pakistan says it opened fire after a U.S.-Afghan force crossed the border. The U.S. says its troops were behind the Afghan side. A series of cross-border attacks by U.S. troops have heightened tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan.

Horta: End U.S. Embargo of Cuba

East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta was among the world leaders to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Ramos-Horta called for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta: “As a friend of the U.S., I humbly appeal to the next U.S. administration and congress to lift the embargo on Cuba. Such a gesture would be an honorable one and my admiration for the U.S. would only increase. As it is, as I witnessed the impact of U.S. sanctions on a small developing country and its refusal to provide assistance unconditionally to Cuba following the devastation caused by cyclones Gustav and Ike, my heart bleeds in sorrow and my admiration for the U.S. seriously diminishes.”

Stevens Defense: Wife Controlled Finances

Back in the nation’s capital, opening statements began Thursday in the corruption trial of Republican Senator Ted Stevens. The Alaskan senator faces seven felony charges for receiving payments and gifts from the now-defunct oil services company VECO. In a preview of his defense strategy, Stevens attorney Brendan Sullivan laid blame on Stevens’ wife, Catherine Stevens, saying she controls the Stevens family finances.

Louisiana Given Deadline on Jailed Ex-Black Panther

A federal judge has given Louisiana a four-month deadline to dismiss charges or retry a former Black Panther whose murder conviction for the 1972 killing of a prison guard was recently overturned. The prisoner, Albert Woodfox and two other former Black Panthers, are known as the Angola Three. Many believe they were framed for their political activism. Woodfox’s conviction was overturned after a judge ruled his lawyer failed to properly challenge the credibility of witnesses who later admitted they were coerced into falsely testifying. Woodfox has spent more than three decades in solitary confinement.

Mentally-Handicapped Man Falls to Death After Police Tasering

And here in New York, police are admitting at least partial fault in the death of a mentally-handicapped man who fell from a building after he was tasered. Thirty-five year old Inman Morales was standing naked on a ledge when police confronted him to try to bring him down. Police say they had called for an inflatable bag to break Morales’ fall. But it had not arrived before an officer struck him with the taser weapon, sending him plunging to his death. Police say the incident violated some departmental guidelines but are not disciplining the officers.