Aijaz Ahmad: Restoration of “democracy” is an extension of emergency conditions Story Transcript What’s next for Pakistan? PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR: Pakistan’s President Musharraf lifted the emergency on December 15 and restored the constitution, introducing several amendments to the Constitution by presidential decree. He’s also constituted a new national command authority, chaired by the president […]
Posted inClimate Crisis
Who cares if the world drowns?
Afsan Chowdhury on the U.N. Climate Change Conference at Bali Story Transcript PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR: The U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali ended last week in a surprising consensus among the 191 countries in attendance. The U.S., Canada, and Japan had all opposed binding targets of any kind for lowering carbon emissions until the […]
Posted inUncategorized
Turkish troops cross Iraqi border
Over 300 Turkish soldiers attack PKK rebel bases in Northern Iraq Story Transcript ZAA NKWETA, PRESENTER/PRODUCER: Kurdish officials in Iraq said on Tuesday that some 300 Turkish troops crossed about three kilometres into northern Iraq. Relations have been strained between the two since Iraq-based Kurdish rebels ambushed a Turkish military patrol, killing twelve soldiers, on […]
Posted inPolitics and Movements: International
Conflict over Bolivia’s constitutional reform
Rich lowland states fight Evo Morales’ plan to share revenues with poor, indigenous highland regions Story Transcript ZAA NKWETA, PRESENTER/PRODUCER: Bolivia saw massive demonstrations on Saturday in favour of and against President Evo Morales, the country’s first indigenous president. Morales and his majority coalition are proposing a new constitution, which would grant more power to […]
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Turkey bombs Kurdish Iraq
Did Washington open Iraqi airspace prior to Turkish offensive? Story Transcript ZAA NKWETA, PRESENTER/PRODUCER: Turkish air forces attacked alleged Kurdish bases in northern Iraq on Sunday. The Turkish and U.S. governments define the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the PKK, as a terrorist group and have accused them of launching attacks from Iraq into the border region […]
Posted inPolitics and Movements: US
Did CIA break the law destroying torture tapes?
Michael Ratner: U.S. law is clear – Torture is a crime and destroying evidence is a crime Story Transcript PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR: Controversy continues on Capitol Hill about the video tapes destroyed by the CIA in 2005 allegedly showing waterboarding and the torture of two top al-Qaida suspects. The tapes were destroyed during the […]
Posted inPolitics and Movements: US
CIA vs. the White House?
Aijaz Ahmad on the continuing fallout of the NIE report Story Transcript ZAA NKWETA, PRESENTER/PRODUCER: Controversy over the National Intelligence Estimates report regarding Iran’s nuclear capability continues. The report states that Iran has halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. Neoconservatives have been calling the report sabotage, time to undercut the White House. Senior Editor […]
Posted inClimate Crisis
US Congress takes a small "green" step
Republicans stall environment-friendly energy bill in Senate Story Transcript PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR: Last week in the midst of the U.N. climate change conference in Bali, the U.S. Senate voted down an energy bill that included what was said to be a comprehensive approach to reducing carbon emissions. Among its reforms, the bill increases fuel […]
Posted inUncategorized
Why is violence down in Iraq?
Pepe Escobar: Evolving Iraqi nationalism is Washington’s worst nightmare Story Transcript PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR: The U.S. government claims violence in Iraq has dropped to levels not seen consistently for almost three years. Osama bin Laden says al-Qaida in Iraq has made mistakes and seems in retreat. U.S. Army General David Petraeus says the surge […]
Posted inClimate Crisis, Politics and Movements: US
U.S. and Canada obstruct Bali talks
U.N. Climate Change Conference in turmoil over mandatory targets for reducing carbon emissions by 2020 Story Transcript PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR: The U.N. Climate Change Conference at Bali is considered the next step in fostering a new international treaty to combat global warming. After almost two weeks of open dialogue, the conference finds itself in […]