Talk Nation Radio for November 25, 2010 No Holiday for Soldiers with PTSD US Soldier Jeff Hanks with More on PTSD and War Update on Hanks Case plus Analysis of US in Middle East through another Holiday Season for 2010
Comments from Sarah Lazare in this report, see here, here
Produced by Dori Smith TRT: 28:06 (note time difference this week as an exception to our usual 29+ time) Download at Pacifica's Audioport here Or at radio4all.net and archive.org
We hear the second part of our interview with 1st Infantryman Jeff Hanks who went AWOL to avoid redeployment to Afghanistan. Hanks had a panic attack at the airport when he was about to ship out for the Middle East again... he went AWOL to try to get mental health treatment. Hanks turned himself in shortly after our interview, and his efforts to get care have been mixed.
We also hear more from David Lindorff about a seldom discussed aspect of the MidEast wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fact that another nuclear arms race has been catalyzed. With all the talk about global security after 9/11, we review the aftermath of Bush/Cheney wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Volatile markets, challenges to the Obama administration's hard won health care policy, and new concerns about social security. Journalist and author David Lindorff joins us to take the national pulse on these and other issues. We'll look at America's economic health, and consider what if any good or bad change may be coming during the second half of the Obama administration.
David Lindorff is author of Killing Time, an investigation into the case against Mumia Abu-Jamal, the more recent, This Can't be Happening, Resisting the Disintegration of American Democracy, and The Case for Impeachment, about former President George W. Bush. His book about the nation's health care system is titled, Marketplace Medicine, The Rise of the For-Profit Hospital Chains.
Talk Nation radio for November 10, 2010 AWOL over PTSD, Jeff Hanks is Helped by IVAW's Operation Recovery 1st Infantryman Jeff Hanks, Reporter Sarah Lazare
Jeff Hanks is AWOL and the group Iraq Veterans Against the War is supporting him as part of a new campaign called Operation Recovery. IFAW.org is the web site, they are asking the Military and the White House to stop deploying soldiers that have been wounded and pushed beyond the limits of humanity and end Afghan War. A U.S. Army Infantryman who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Jeff Hanks sought medical help at his military base for symptoms of combat stress. He had an appointment at a clinic for mental health services but the Military command wanted to hurry along his redeployment to Afghanistan. We also hear from Sarah Lazare, the reporter who told Jeff Hank’s story on Truthout.org. She is part of a support network for soldiers called: The Civilian Soldier Alliance working in collaboration with IVAW, Iraq Veterans against the War. Courage to Resist is also working to help Jeff Hanks and other soldiers like him.
Produced by Dori Smith in Storrs, CT TRT: 29:22 Download at Pacifica’s Audioport here or at Archive.org and Radio4all.net
Contact the group Iraq Veterans Against the War online at IVAW.org or try the GI Rights hotline, their number is 877-447-4487. email them at girights@girightshotline.org or find them online at http://www.girightshotline.org/
CLIP: On November 6th Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, told NPR’s Scott Simon that the military doesn’t understand the problem of suicide and not much is known about it. Jeff Hanks calls on the President and the Military to visit clinics where soldiers and veterans are being treated, and simply ask them what they need.
Talk Nation Radio for November 4, 2010 Bill Curry, CT Vote, Craig Holman of Public Citizen on Federal Complaint against Crossroads Plus headline news about CT Governor’s Race, it’s Malloy, AP says at last.. Indy Media in CT calls Governor’s Race, AP misses…
Craig Holman of Public Citizen joins us to discuss the impact of 3.7 to 4 billion in money to candidates in the 2010 Congressional races. Holman just filed a complaint to the Federal Election Commission and IRA, against Crossroads Grassroots Political Strategies. He explains why they are electioneering, and should be classified as such.
First, Democrat Bill Curry, a long time Democratic pundit, he is frequently on NPR in Connecticut as a political commentator and is a former Gubernatorial candidate. Bill Curry is about to release a book on politics.
Headline News Update on CT Gov Race, D. Dan Malloy wins..as Foley still sees irregularities he says. Two independent online newspapers, CTNEWSJUNKIE.COM and the NewHavenIndependent.org, got the CT Governor’s race right. AP ‘uncalled’ the race after first saying Foley had won. They had missed a few ballots, now say they have the New Haven count and it’s the Democrat, Dan Malloy, who is the winner. We updated our headline after the wire service “recalled” it’s election result on Wed. Nov. 3nd.
We spoke with AP's Bill Kole who kindly explained the circumstances under which this race was initially called for Foley. In fact, the CT Governor’s race has also been historic in that a judge held the Bridgeport polls open for an extra two hours after 8:00 PM on Election Day due to a lack of ballots provided to voters. There were also long delays in New Haven, according to the New Haven Independent’s Paul Bass. (Speaking to CT NPR)
Underwriting for the program is provided by Jeremy R. Hammond.com, political analysis from outside the standard framework. He is a recipient of the 2010 Project Censored award, and founder of Foreign Policy Journal. His recent stories include a critical analysis of reports of Iran’s aid to Iraqi Militias, plus The Myth of the UN Creation on of Israel”, which has sparked debate over land rights and what the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 181 did and did not do.
Talk Nation Radio for October 28, 2010 Money, the 2010 Election Season, and the Environment Dave Leventhal of Open Secrets and Andrew Restuccia of The Washington Independent
We’ll look at how the massive influx of dollars has impacted races in various states. The political debates nationwide have centered vaguely on taxes, fear has been a major component, yet what about concern about global warming? That has fallen by the wayside during an election season that has been mainly focused on generic voter angst. We discuss elections in key states.
Produced by Dori Smith, Storrs, CT TRT: 29:23 Download at Pacifica's audioport here or at Radio4all.net and archive.org
Environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action have endorsed candidates. Still, they are scaling back their hopes and becoming more “realistic” according to our guest Andrew Restuccia of The Washington Independent. Andrew Restuccia writes about energy and the environment. He joins us to discuss his analysis of what might happen during the lame duck session and beyond when it comes to environmental legislation. How will key bills like Cap and Trade? Given the severity of the BP oil spill, can the new Congress pass a responsible package to respond to the disaster in 2010 and 2010? Or will it be gridlock?
And Dave Leventhal of Open Secrets explains how much money were talking about and the influence it has had on the 2010 Congressional Election. Dave Leventhal is communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics and editor of Open Secrets blog.
The group, Clean Water Action is calling the Rhode Island Governor’s race a priority, they’re endorsing Lincoln Chafee because of his vote to tighten mercury regulations on oil & gas power plants, and his authorship of the Brownfield’s Remediation Act. Chaffee also served on the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works. That group is also endorsing Democrats David Cicilline and Jim Langevin for the House. In Massachusetts, Clean Water Action favors Jim McGovern, Niki Tsongas, and Bill Keating for the House. Deval Patrick for Governor. For New York they see Carolyn Maloney as the better House candidate. Turning to Connecticut, the Sierra Club has endorsed Richard Blumenthal, who says his support for cap and trade is incontrovertible. The long time Attorney General is in a hotly contested race against Republican Linda McMahon. Bloggers at My Left Nutmeg, criticize McMahon for her position against cap and trade and also for claiming that Blumenthal wants to set up a quote: “energy tax”
Open Secrets: Blumenthal has long been considered pro environment in Connecticut, and is actually opposing large rate hikes by North East Utilities. What may be more important though is the fact that Linda McMahon has sunk a fortune into the race. She has purchased saturation ad time and says she will continue to spend as much as 50 million on the race. She has spent nearly 44 million compared to Richard Blumenthal’s $7 and a half million. McMahon’s campaign is 100% self financed while Blumenthal’s campaign is 30% self financed. (Open Secrets)
Elections in all states are influenced by donations to parties from the oil and gas industries, but some states are more targeted than others to include Louisiana, Alaska, and Colorado. (Open Secrets)
Andrew Restuccia of The Washington Independent: "First and foremost is whether negotiations behind the scenes can get on-the-fence Democrats like Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) and some Republicans on board. These negotiations will likely focus on language in the bill that removes a company’s $75 million cap on economic liability in the event of a spill. Landrieu and Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), as well almost all Republicans, have raised concerns about the language.
Secondly, post-recess passage of the energy/oil spill bill will be dependent on the mood in the Senate after lawmakers talk to their constituents. It seems like it would be difficult to leave for the year without passing any legislation responding to the spill, but a lot will depend on pre-election jitters."
Underwriting for this program was brought to you by JeremyRHammond.com, political analysis from outside the standard framework. Jeremy R. Hammond is founder and editor of ForeignPolicyJournal.com and a recipient of the Project Censored 2010 Award. At jeremyrhammond.com, you will find stories about US policy on Iran, negotiating with the Taliban, Gaza, and more.
See: "Thin Evidence from War Logs of Iranian Backing of Iraqi Militias", Jeremy R. Hammond, "Under the headline “Leaked Reports Detail Iran’s Aid for Iraqi Militias“, the New York Times reports that documents from the Wikileaks Iraq War Logs “provide a ground-level look – at least as seen by American units in the field and the United States’ military intelligence – at the shadow war between the United States and Iraqi militias backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.”
The Yes Men, Rainforest Action Network, Amazon Watch, Nab Chevron for False PR Campaign "We Agree" with Chevron say the Yes Men, but they are spoofing the oil giant.
Interview with Maria Ramos of the Rainforest Action Network about the trick they played on Chevron, and why. She discusses the critical situation in the Amazon where people are sick and some have died because of oil toxicity that is Chevron's responsibility. The oil giant has tried to evade that responsibility, and Ramos explains what they are doing to try to see to it that they clean up the ongoing oil disaster in the rainforest.
Media reports pay more attention to the spoof than Chevron's multi million dollar ad campaign.
Stephen F. Downs of Project Salam on Repression against Muslims and Peace Activists: Will the 2010 Midterms Lead to an increase in Repression?
Attorney Stephen F. Downs is with Project Salam in Albany, New York. Their new web project is designed to help people understand the magnitude of the problem of U.S. repression against Muslims. They will list hundreds of case histories of Muslims that have been arrested "preemptively" and unfairly, they say.
Attorney Stephen F. Downs joins us for a discussion about the growing climate of anger toward Muslim Americans. Is it the politics of the right? Right wing candidates are getting a bump from the media’s focus on anger itself as a motivator for casting a vote in the November 2nd election. If many of the more hard right wing candidates that are running actually win, could America become even more repressive toward Muslims that it is now? Already peace activists are being seen as next in line for FBI surveillance and so-called "preemptive arrest". Stephen F. Downs argues that we are in a devastating climate where lies and fear are once again the heart of the matter.
As to the media, there are lies of omission and lies of confusion. At a "Town Hall Meeting" on ABC, Christiane Amanpour framed the debate as a question about Holy War, should Americans Fear Muslims? The media encourages us to draw sides in often militant debates where news coverage has been short on the facts. The emotionally charged words of people like Rev. Franklin Graham provokes a response by claiming that Muslim nations "don't allow" the building of churches, a debate ensues. But news outlets don't clarify. In which Muslim nations are Temples or Churches not allowed?
In fact, in Iraq there are many Muslims, yet ancient Mosques and also Churches survived for hundreds of years before they were destroyed after the U.S. invasion and occupation of 2003. We will be following up with a discussion about the impact of Bush/Cheney policy, preemptive war and occupation, that it is war and occupation that provokes violence, not religion. In upcoming programs we will be taking a look at the real causes of violence in countries with Muslim populations. Dr. Robert Pape and others at the University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Terrorism. have studied the root cause of terrorism, and it's not being Muslim, not reading the Koran, but living under occupation.
Underwriting for this program was brought to you by JeremyRHammond.com, political analysis from outside the standard framework. Jeremy R. Hammond is founder and editor of ForeignPolicyJournal.com and a recipient of the Project Censored 2010 Award. At jeremyrhammond.com, you will find stories about US policy on Iran, negotiating with the Taliban, Gaza, and more.
Journalist Shannon Young is a headlines producer at FSRN, and reports for PRI, Public Radio International's, The World. She has been providing breaking news reports from Oaxaca, Mexico, during years of change and upheaval there. She joins us to talk about her breaking news stories in context. For example, she expands on her report on a paramilitary siege endangering civilians in San Juan Copala. Peace convoys trying to reach them have been violently attacked and rights workers died. Organizers of a convoy that was being organized to help women and children leave San Juan Copala for their safety were killed a day before the convoy was supposed to leave.
Shannon Young’s stories are best understand in the context of Oaxaca history and in San Juan Copala where there is a three way factional struggle that has long been exacerbated by the politics of poverty versus wealth. We’ll also hear about the isolation of some indigenous groups due to violence or landslides which have left some cut off since August. Then of course there is the ever present threat to journalists.
From Shannon Young's report to FSRN: San Juan Copala, in May of 2010: "The ambush last month that killed a prominent Mexican human rights defender and a Finnish observer near San Juan Copala, Oaxaca may be the first time in Mexican history that paramilitaries have opened fire on an international humanitarian caravan, but it’s not an isolated act of violence. The fiercely independent Triqui nation has been steeped in years of bitter internal fighting which was itself preceded by decades of military occupation. Francisco López Bárcenas, an academic who has written extensively about Triqui history, traces the current crisis back to the 1940s when the government withdrew recognition of San Juan Copala’s status as a county seat municipality – Mexico’s only political district with a distinctly Triqui identity. Governor and UBISORT paramilitaries".
Underwriting for this program was brought to you by JeremyRHammond.com, political analysis from outside the standard framework. Jeremy R. Hammond is founder and editor of ForeignPolicyJournal.com and a recipient of the Project Censored 2010 Award. At jeremyrhammond.com, you will find stories about US policy on Iran, negotiating with the Taliban, Gaza, and more.
Journalist Shannon Young is a headlines producer at FSRN, and reports for PRI, Public Radio International's, The World. She has been providing breaking news reports from Oaxaca, Mexico, during years of change and upheaval there. She joins us to talk about her breaking news stories in context. For example, she expands on her report on a paramilitary siege endangering civilians in San Juan Copala. Peace convoys trying to reach them have been violently attacked and rights workers died. Organizers of a convoy that was being organized to help women and children leave San Juan Copala for their safety were killed a day before the convoy was supposed to leave.
Shannon Young’s stories are best understand in the context of Oaxaca history and in San Juan Copala where there is a three way factional struggle that has long been exacerbated by the politics of poverty versus wealth. We’ll also hear about the isolation of some indigenous groups due to violence or landslides which have left some cut off since August. Then of course there is the ever present threat to journalists.
From Shannon Young's report to FSRN: San Juan Copala, in May of 2010: "The ambush last month that killed a prominent Mexican human rights defender and a Finnish observer near San Juan Copala, Oaxaca may be the first time in Mexican history that paramilitaries have opened fire on an international humanitarian caravan, but it’s not an isolated act of violence. The fiercely independent Triqui nation has been steeped in years of bitter internal fighting which was itself preceded by decades of military occupation. Francisco López Bárcenas, an academic who has written extensively about Triqui history, traces the current crisis back to the 1940s when the government withdrew recognition of San Juan Copala’s status as a county seat municipality – Mexico’s only political district with a distinctly Triqui identity. Governor and UBISORT paramilitaries".
Underwriting for this program was brought to you by JeremyRHammond.com, political analysis from outside the standard framework. Jeremy R. Hammond is founder and editor of ForeignPolicyJournal.com and a recipient of the Project Censored 2010 Award. At jeremyrhammond.com, you will find stories about US policy on Iran, negotiating with the Taliban, Gaza, and more.
Connecticut Groups Oppose FBI Raids on Unions and Peace Groups
Chris Gauvreau of Connecticut United for Peace discusses the uniting of her group with CAIR, the Council of American-Islamic Relations, in CT, http://www.cair-ct.com/ as they join other peace groups in vowing to keep on fighting policies of U.S. intervention, and demanding jobs. They see the latest rounds of FBI arrests and grand jury subpoenas as an outrage.
Peace groups and union leaders in coalition with them have been organizing ahead of a national demonstration in Washington D.C. and we discuss the impact of FBI raids on peace activists who will be facing grand juries in early October. Groups are re declaring their commitment after the FBI has arrested and subpoenaed leaders in Chicago and Minneapolis just one week prior to their national protest.
Talk Nation Radio for September 30, 2010 Peace groups have set up a web site to discuss the crisis here. Chris Gauvreau offers advice to people who have been arrested or who fear they might be arrested in the ongoing FBI sweeps that have affected Quakers, Catholic Workers, the Thomas Merton House, Greenpeace, and groups working for Palestinian rights such as the Arab American Action Network. Their executive director, Hatem Abudayyeh of Chicago, is one of those subjected to an FBI raid and subpoenaed to a grand jury.
Why did FBI agents take these repressive measure now in spite of a Department of Justice review of their actions targeting the very same types of groups? They were criticized by the DOJ for applying 'war on terror' rules when targeting peace activists, yet they are claiming the very same grounds now. What is up with the FBI, and is it incompetence or a carefully planned political attack?
New reports (wire services) indicate that 22 FBI employees were just found to have cheated on tests during an open book exam on agent guidelines.The Office of the Inspector General found the cheating, and Inspector General Glenn Fine said, "We believe the extent of the cheating...was greater than the cases we detailed in this report." The Hartford Courant.
Chris Gauvreau has recently presented arguments against peace groups organizing a “right-left” coalition. We fold these comments into our program as part of a discussion on the wider political implications, and also air clips of what Noam Chomsky said during an interview with Tom Ashbrook of ‘On Point Radio.‘ The show is an NPR daily program produced out of Boston’s WBUR. They titled their interview with Chomsky: Noam Chomskey on U.S. Rage, Ruin. They have lately been taking a look at how anger is affecting voters ahead of the U.S. Congressional races November 2, 2010. Chomsky mentioned that there is a rising fascist trend in the United States. He also discussed the Republican Party as having deteriorated, and said members of the tea party are waiting to be organized.
These are voters who are being misinformed and who can’t vote their self interests until they have the facts. Chomsky is also calling on people who are being critical of the Tea Party voters to see some of what they are saying as a “cry for help”. The Democrats are not reaching out to them he argues.
Chris Gauvreau agrees with Chomsky and she has also said that the leadership on the right could not be helpful in building a national coalition of the majority. So it is a matter of addressing individual voters, not demagogic leaders using slogans, targeting Social Security, and in some cases using xenophobic and even racist language. Listen to her entire speech here along with other views about this topic: http://www.thestruggle.org/MediaP.htm
October 9th CELEBRATION with Poetry, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, Willimantic, Connecticut The line up will include Poetry, Dance, Music and Visual Arts, plus the writer Wally Lamb.
Download an interview with organizers Marge and David Schneider here.
Willimantic Makes it Happen and the Rays of Hope Project have a fun evening in store for you.
It’s a celebration with Poets, Dancers, Musicians, and Visual Artists, featuring writer Wally Lamb at the Capital Theater in Willimantic Connecticut on October 9th 2010. The event features some of the artists featured in Wally Lamb’s latest book, 'I'll Fly Away: Further Testimonies from the Women of York Prison' (2007). Plus world music, Afro, Celtic, Jazz and Funk: the music of Alvin Carter with African Drum, Katherine Blossom on Celtic Harp, Richard McGhee with flute and Peter Onofrio on Digeridoo, and singers Margaux Hayes and gospel singer Tonya Cherry May round out the program. Contact Margedavidpeace@yahoo.com for tickets and information.
There will be an auction run by the Mayor Ernest Eldridge, and you could wind up with 2 tickets to an African safari! The CELEBRATION is a chance to find great items, and you will be helping deserving people who have recovered from hard times to get what they need the most, JOBS.
This is the culminating event for the CooperARTiva fiesta that will be going on all day October 9th on Main Street in Willimantic, where people can workshop on how to trade job skills cooperatively. The doors open at 6:00 PM at the Capital Theater, 896 Main St., Willimantic, the curtain opens at 7:00 PM. Again for further information contact Marge or David Schneider for tickets at margedavidpeace@yahoo.com, or 860-872-6899.
Brad Friedman Troubleshoots our Voting Systems ahead of the November 2, 2010 Congressional Elections
Voting special Number 1 for the 2010 Congressional Election on November 2, 2010
Produced by Dori Smith, Storrs, CT TRT: 29:00 Download at Pacifica's audioport here Or at Radio4all.net and Archive.org
Brad Friedman of Bradblog.com joins us with an overview of the nation's voting systems as we approach the November 2nd, Congressional election. He has used his http://www.bradblog.com web site to document problems with the nations voting machines for years. We talk about the latest round of problems with voting machines and with absentee ballots, voter rolls, numbers that don't add up and more.
Brad Friedman raises questions: Did Tea Party Republican Christine O'Donnell actually win Delaware? He says no one can actually prove that she did. Meanwhile, angry Republicans have filed a Federal Elections Commission complaint against O'Donnell, but they are looking at campaign contributions and public outreach.
-Meg Whitman's attack on former President Bill CLinton about what amounted to a CNN error. "Billionaire Meg Whitman, a former EBay CEO who surpassed the $100 million mark in campaign spending nearly a month prior to the traditional Labor Day kickoff of the Fall campaign, who, by Sept. 16, had donated a record-smashing $119 million of her own funds to her campaign, who refused to meet with former California Democratic Governor Jerry Brown and Republican State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poisner in a pre-primary debate, has knowingly sought to fill the gaping knowledge deficit created by the corporate media's gross neglect of its fourth estate responsibilities with disinformation about Brown, her Democratic opponent". (From Bradblog.com)
How much negative campaigning can voters take and how much can wealthy candidates like Whitman or Republican Linda McMahon spend? Both gained razor sharp corporate skills, but are they running their campaigns more like CEO's than candidates?
As Linda McMahon campaigns for the U.S. Senate being vacated by long time Democratic Senator Chris Dodd, she is promising to spend as much as it takes to win. She has been saturating local TV and radio with negative attack ads about Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and some have questioned her judgment. Still she has pulled to near even with Blumenthal. But how much money are corporations contributing to candidates? They don't have to say.
We also hear about faulty voting machines and systems, it's Diebold again, and we hear about problems in Shelby County in Memphis, Tennessee where ten candidates filed lawsuit and in Alaska where Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski now plans to run as a write-in candidate after losing her GOP primary race to "Tea Party" candidate Joe Miller. Can the voting machine system really function for write in candidates?
This program is produced in Storrs, Connecticut and syndicated nationally with Pacifica Network. Our web site is talknationradio.org and you can write to us at talknationradio@gmail.com. Our theme music is by Fritz Heede.
Underwriting for this program was brought to you by JeremyRHammond.com, political analysis from outside the standard framework. He is founder and editor of ForeignPolicyJournal.com and a recipient of the Project Censored 2010 Award. New at jeremyrhammond.com, “Newly Disclosed Documents Shed More Light on Early Taliban Offers, Pakistan Role”, a review of Taliban proposals to turn over Osama bin Laden and Pakistani efforts to get the U.S. to negotiate with the Taliban on their offers.”
Talk Nation Radio interview with Jeremy R. Hammond Has the US been fomenting unrest in Iran?here
