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Talk Nation Radio for September 24, 2008 special

Listen to this week’s special here

Mediachannel and Globalvision Inc. Founder and Executive Editor Danny Schechter joins us to talk about his new book, ‘Plunder, Investigating our Economic Calamity’ and the sub crime scandal.

‘I see Wall Street as a crime scene. You know one of those crime scene programs ought to get down there right away OK?’ Danny Schechter, September 24, 2008

‘Not only has the State of Georgia been prevented from executing an innocent man. But I think more importantly that the death machine has blinked here. The pressure and the efforts of tens of thousands of activists around the country and around the world has really had a demonstrable result. The Supreme Court routinely will conference at a last minute and turn down request for stays and deny cert petitions and in this case the fact that they instead granted a stay of execution in order to have an orderly and proper hearing of the arguments that Troy has made I think is rightly counted as a victory. We are clearly not out of the woods. We need to keep up the pressure and keep up the efforts but I think this is a tremendous victory and should be celebrated’. Mike Stark, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

TRT: 29:50 music fades long

Produced by Dori Smith
Download at Pacifica’s Audioport or at Radio4all.net and Archive.org

First, we have been covering the painful case of Troy Anthony Davis who was about to be executed Tuesday September 23rd when the US supreme court stepped in to say they would review his appeal earlier than the September 29th date originally planned. Troy Davis has been on death row for 17 years for a murder he maintains he did not commit.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has been covering the case and editorial page editor Cynthia Tucker has just come out in support of a new trial for Davis. She notes in her oped that if Davis had occupied a higher rung on the social ladder he probably would not have been convicted of murder in the August 1989 shooting of a Savannah police officer, Mark Allen MacPhail. His death as he worked a second job on the night shift as a security guard left behind a young wife to raise their infant son alone.

McPhail’s mother insists there is no doubt Troy Davis is guilty, but the Atlanta Journal Constitution has been covering the drama that has unfolded as seven of nine original witnesses for the state recanted testimony before Georgia’s Board of Pardon’s and Parole. The Georgia Supreme Court denied Davis a new trial in a 5 to 4 decision. Now the US Supreme Court will look at a brief asking them to consider hearing this case, and if they decide in Davis’s favor, it will be the first time the new evidence has been heard by any court. (see CNN coverage for quote from McPhail family)

When Treasury Secretary Paulson announced plans for a $7 billion dollar bail out for the failing mortgage loan and insurance industry, Republican John McCain offered a financial plan of his own. Democrat Barack Obama put a hold on his plan, saying he wanted to encourage a bipartisan look at the White House proposal first and then offer a plan after the Bush administration made a case for their solution. Financial analysts and the Bush administration are referring to the financial crisis in dire terms. Some have called it the worst financial crisis in U.S. history.

In what appears to be an attempt at claiming the debate, owning the ‘message’ McCain announced he would suspend his political campaign and he urged Barack Obama to do the same. Obama had already said he would wait on his announcement of an economic plan, however, he agreed to go to Washington and in effect ‘suspended’ his campaign too in order to accept an invitation from President Bush to meet for an informational discussion about Paulson’s bail out plan.

Ohio progressive Democrat Dennis Kucinch has offered an alternative to Paulson’s plan he says would avoid putting more money into junk holdings and offer support to US taxpayers instead. However, even as McCain’s plane landed in Washington D.C. points out the Associated Press, there was an agreement of sorts between Democrats and Republicans over a modified bail out plan.

The McCain/Palin campaign has been falling in the polls recently and only days before a debate with John McCain the LA Times reported that McCain’s campaign director Rick Davis earned 15,000 a month between 2005 and August of 2008. Even as McCain formulated a financial platform his campaign director, Rick Davis was on retainer with the failed company.

Various companies at the center of the crisis are under FBI investigation including Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, AIG insurance giant, Lehman Bros., and the investigation could extend to other countries involved in the problem.

Danny Schechter offer his views on the Wall Street bail out. Schechter predicted the financial meltdown with a 2007 film, ‘In Debt We Trust’. Danny Schechter is author of numerous books including “Embedded: Weapons of Mass Deception.” He was in management and broadcasting for WBCN-FM, WGBH, CNN and ABC and has won Emmys, an IRIS award, a George Polk Award, a Major Armstrong Award, and honors from the National Association of Black Journalists.

Transcript pending..

TROY ANTHONY DAVIS EXECUTION STAY ORDER GRANTED!

The Court has released the attached order in 08-66 (08A241); Troy Davis v. State of Georgia.
The Public Information Office
Supreme Court of the United States

(ORDER LIST: 554 U.S.)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2008
ORDER IN PENDING CASE
08-66 DAVIS, TROY A. V. GEORGIA
(O8A241)
The application for stay of execution of sentence of death
presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is
granted pending the disposition of the petition for a writ of
certiorari. Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be
denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event
the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall
terminate upon the issuance of the mandate of this Court.

Best wishes to the Davis family and all concerned parties. Onward Justice!

To: The U.S. Supreme Court

Open Letter on the matter of Troy Anthony Davis’s conviction and the execution scheduled for September 23, 2008

I am grateful to hear that the Court will hear about this case prior to Mr. Davis’s death. However, I urge you to consider giving this case your full and extended attention for months, not hours. The complexities of the case warrant your full attention at your leisure, not over the course of tense moments in advance of an execution.

Here we see new evidence that has not been viewed by any court. Please give the defense time to expand on their appeal in a formal setting under the exacting conditions of a hearing.

Like many Americans I saw Representative John Lewis (D-GA) make his appeal to the nation on television on Democracy Now this morning. He told Amy Goodman, “It is my hope and my prayer that Troy Anthony Davis will find peace in some way and somehow, that his life will be spared. But if not, he is a witness to this unbelievable craziness that still exists in one of the most developed places in the world, in America. And we advanced so far, but at the same time, we’re so far behind, when it comes to respecting the dignity and the worth for every human being.”

Let me humbly add my voice to his more eloquent one in asking you to grant a stay of execution and new trial for Troy Davis.

Thank you,

Dori Smith
Talk Nation Radio

Glenn Weintraub, Newsvine: update
As of 9:45 this morning, the United States Supreme Court has AGREED to an emergency hearing today, before the scheduled execution of Troy Anthony Davis’ execution. This does not mean they will agree to eventually delay the execution, or to order a retrial, but at least they have agreed to have the hearing before the execution rather than after it.

Thanks Glenn. There is an information office at the court however they were not willing to provide info as of this afternoon, saying only they would put us on their list of people to call with the result of any ‘emergency’ hearing. — Dori

CNN still using ‘cop killer’ language for effect. Where were they last week?
CNN reports US Supreme Court to consider case in special hearing hours before execution.

Letter from Troy Davis’s sister Martina Correia

Talk Nation Radio special for September 22, 2008

Graham Usher reports from Islamabad
Listen to this week’s show here

Political repercussions from Marriott Hotel bombing. Violence at borders with N. Waziristan
Pakistani Military firing at US Helicopters. Kidnapping of Afghan consul Abdul Khaliq Farahi by unidentified gunmen, his driver was killed in the attack. Meetings at the UN General Assembly, Pakistani and Afghan leaders and Obama/Biden, McCain/Palin.

Graham Usher is a free lance journalist and writer based in Islamabad. He writes for Al Ahram
weekly, Middle East Report Online, and the Nation and other publications and he contributes to
National Public Radio.

TRT: 29:38
Produced by Dori Smith, WHUS Storrs, a Pacifica Affiliate at the University of Connecticut in
Storrs, CT

Download at Pacifica’s audioport here
Or at http://www.radio4all.net and http://www.archive.org

Click here for download page for broadcast quality audio and podcasting as well as LPFM and lower speed download files.

Veteran journalist and writer Graham Usher discusses headlines in Islamabad, Pakistan. People are still on edge after a bombing at the Marriott Hotel killed some dozens of people and wounded hundreds. The full death toll is not yet known but could reach 60 or more. We hear developing news about the terror attack that might have been originally planned to coincide with a religious event that was supposed to be attended by members of Parliament at the Marriott prior to a last minute change of venue.

Monday morning US aircraft were fired upon by Pakistani military and they returned back across the Afghan border in a defensive maneuver. There has been increasing anger in Pakistan over US Special Forces engaging in cross border ground operations and US air strikes including attacks by USM drones. There is an increase in anti-American sentiment even as newly elected Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari meets with the President and travels to New York for a meeting with the UN General Assembly.

Graham Usher offers his assessment on what Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari must do during UN General Assembly meetings and with members of the Bush administration and US Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.

http://www.merip.org
http://www.whus.org

Talk Nation Radio special

Amnesty International Calls for Emergency Stay of Execution for Troy Davis before 9-23-08 7 PM

Click and play MP3 here

Listen to this week’s special in Hifi MP3 here

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It is a terrible countdown to the execution of Troy Davis scheduled for 7 PM Tuesday September 23, 2008, by prosecutor in the case Spencer Lawton. In Georgia a five person pardons and parole board is the only entity that can provide clemency. The Governor Sunny Purdue is not empowered to do so. This after a case of pardon buying dating back to the 1900′s led Georgia legislators to force the governor to appoint a board to make such decisions.

The board has denied clemency to Mr. Davis despite new evidence.

Official sources in the Georgia judicial system explained that the Attorney General, Thurbert E. Baker has no authority to order a stay of execution either. The defense has submitted a last minute appeal for another stay of execution and there is a petition with the Supreme Court. Due to the setting of the immediate execution date while the Supreme Court is not in session, there is no time for the legal process to move forward.

An appeal from Troy Davis to the State Supreme Court was turned down, as were extraordinary motions for a new trial. A federal Habeas Corpus appeal is outstanding.

For more on the story…

Seven of nine witnesses recanted early on but defense lawyers did not use the information. Troy Davis has been on death row for 17 years, for a total of 19 years in prison. All of his adult life. There is no physical evidence in this case, no DNA was tested, and Davis is now essentially being executed based on the testimony of one man, a Sylvester Coles, or Red Coles, and according to our guest today on 91.7 at 6 PM that man has intimidated the witnesses in this case for years. Who has accused Coles? The man that the officer who was killed in this case was trying to help.

Talk Nation Radio will provide updates on the case of Troy Davis on Saturday at 6 PM at FM 91.7 and again Monday between 3 PM and 4 PM. We interview Robert Nave of Amnesty International’s Program to Abolish the Death Penalty and Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty.
And Attorney Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center.

Listen live here and look for audio downloads at this site coming soon.

Alternet has a good recent story about the case here
from, ‘Troy Davis to Die Next Week: Will Georgia Execute an Innocent Man?’ By Michelle Garcia, Amnesty International Magazine. Posted September 17, 2008. The center provides information about research that has shown how flawed America’s justice system is, a system that would have executed 130 innocent people had not research proven that they could not have committed the crimes of murder. See this page reporting: Posted: September 18, 2008
that: ‘The Collin County court in Texas has dismissed capital murder charges against Michael Blair who had been on death row for the 1993 murder of Ashley Estell. After more than a decade of legal appeals and requests for DNA testing, the hair evidence that had been used to convict Blair was shown to be mistaken. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals found that no reasonable jury would convict Blair based on the existing evidence’.

Sources we interviewed in Georgia told us off the record that the argument for innocence in the Davis case is problematical and that the system benefits those seeking clemency for good behavior or prison or ‘technicalities’ in the trials that put them on death row. Ironically, it is technicalities in Georgia’s judicial system that is preventing the five member board of pardons and parole or Supreme Court from utilizing all of the new details in the form of testimony about another person accused of the crime who is also one of the witnesses that originally put Troy Davis behind bars. The legal system is offering the rationale that the testimony now is ‘hearsay’ in spite of the fact that nineteen years ago it was similar testimony, the authority of a range of people who now say they were under pressure from police, that convicted Davis.

Amnesty International’s online action center here
‘Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed on September 23 for the murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia, yet serious doubts of his guilt remain and compelling evidence of his innocence has not been heard in court. On Friday, September 12, the Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles denied clemency to Davis — we must urge them to reconsider their decision’.

Georgia Parole Board Fax Numbers:
(404)-651-8502 (404)-651-6670; (404)651-8502; (404) 651-5282; (404) 463-6627
Letter from Troy’s sister on more things to do here in down-loadable format.

Message from the Connecticut Coalition at the top of their web site: ‘The Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty (CNADP) has been working to abolish the death penalty in Connecticut since 1986. We stand strongly opposed to the death penalty as it is poor public policy. The death penalty does not deter crime, it is not cost efficient, it kills the mentally ill, it is economically and racially biased, it kills the innocent, and it does not provide closure to families – it is simply revenge, not justice’.

Updates from the Davis family, Amnesty International, and concerned supporters here. Information here in PDF format from Amnesty International and contact for the Davis family. Please use reason before making contacts, and use time to contact the media. The 2007 case was very widely covered but in the last few weeks there has been minimal coverage of the pending death of Mr. Davis.
Phone 404 876-5661 Extension 12

Democracy Now coverage of 2007 notes former FBI director not known for his leiniency submitted letter supporting Davis in 2007.

‘Groups including Amnesty International have rallied behind Davis” case. Former FBI director William Sessions submitted a written clemency appeal on Davis’s behalf while the Council of Europe urged the United States not to commit what it said would be an error it would come to regret. And Georgia Congressmember John Lewis testified in person before the parole board.

Yesterday I interviewed Troy Davis’s sister, Martina Correia, she has led the fight for her brother’s life. Today we go back to Atlanta where I’m joined by attorney Chris Adams. He’s Director of Georgia Capital Defender, a public office providing representation and support in death penalty cases. He is co-chair of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Death Penalty committee’.

Contact Talk Nation Radio at talknationradio@gmail.com

Talk Nation Radio for September 17, 2008

Michael Klare on his new book, Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy

Listen to this week’s show in Mp3 hi fi here
and in a smaller lo fi Mp3 file here

TRT: 29:48

Download at Pacifica’s audioport here

or at http://www.radio4all.net or http://www.archive.org

Energy and security policy expert Michael T. Klare is our guest for the half hour. He is Five College Professor of the Peace and world security studies program at Hampshire College in Amherst and defense correspondent for the Nation Magazine. His most recent book is Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy. Klare is also author of, Blood and Oil, the Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum. A film based on the book will be shown at Aces Arts Hall, in New Haven on Saturday Sept. 27 at 3PM, and Professor Klare will also be on hand for a discussion afterward. You can find more information here and film trailer here

For those living closer to Hartford, Micheal Klare will also join Pace the People’s Action for Clean Energy, on Saturday November 22nd at 4:45, for another showing of Blood and Oil at the Unitarian Society, 50 Bloomfield Ave route 189 in Hartford. Michael Klare will discuss renewable energy=peace, the event is free to the public and there will be a panel discussion after the show. Between 4:45 to 6:45 pm participants can check out solar exhibits, then have pizza and homemade deserts, and at 7 PM the program will start.

The Republican Party has been gaining ground on the issue of drilling in ANWR, Alaska’s protected wilderness region. High gas prices have made Americans more curious about the idea that the US can free itself of foreign oil dependency through Arctic drilling, and it’s an idea that brought Alaska Governor Sarah Palin together with Senator Ted Stevens back in 2006 for a discussion about how to promote ANWR drilling. In 2006 Alaska’s governor Sarah Palin and Senator Ted Stevens were taped at a meeting on oil development in ANWR, the Alaska Wilderness Region. While Stevens railed against regulation and taxes, Palin said she wanted to replace US dependence on foreign oil with dependence on US resources.

Now Sarah Palin has been saying we can replace America’s dependence on foreign oil by drilling in places like ANWR. Professor Klare talks about this rediculous notion and looks at the new frontier, offshore drilling in the Arctic region
in waters where some five countries including Russia have sought to claim exploration and drilling rights. Russia has the largest land mass in the region compared to Alaska, Canada is next in line. We will be looking at such hidden battle over resources going on unnoticed during the US Presidential Election season.

See: Michael T. Klare, South Ossetia, It’s the Oil Stupid August 14, 2008

Emilie Surrusco of the Alaska Wilderness League, Luci Beach of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, Gwich’in Tribe Alaska, and Clips of McCain, Palin, Government experts on ANWR and oil here

Rick Kelley, Coldsnap Legal Collective, Karl Frisch of Media Matters at the RNC Convention, a discussion on the media, the madness, and Gov. Sarah Palin here

Our Music is by Fritz Heede

To contact Hampshire Professor Michael T. Klare here

Talk Nation Radio looks at questions surrounding the next US energy policy and global security.

Listen in live Wed. at 5 PM at WHUS.org and again Thurs. between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

On Wed. September 17th we spend the half hour with energy and security policy expert Michael T. Klare a Five College Professor of the Peace and World Security Studies Program at Hampshire College in Amherst, and defense correspondent for The Nation Magazine’.

Klare’s most recent book is, ‘Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy’. He is also author of a book that has been an international sensation, ‘Blood and Oil, the Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum’. A film that is based on the book will be shown at Aces Arts Hall, in New Haven on Saturday Sept. 27 at 3PM, and Professor Klare will also be on hand for a discussion after that event. Details are available at Between the Lines radio, produced at WPKN in Bridgeport, CT, a Squeekywheel Production.

Renewables=Peace! On Sat. November 22, 2008 Michael T. Klare joins PACE, People’s Action for Clean Energy, for an afternoon of exhibits and events at the Unitarian Society, at 50 Bloomfield Ave., (Route 189) Hartford. The event is free to the public. This is one of a list of events PACE (www.pace-cleanenergy.org) is hosting during the fall of 2008.

Renewables=Peace is designed to promote awareness about the crucial need to transform America’s energy use into alternative methods and away from fossil fuels. Starting at 4:45 PM to 6:45 PM you can join PACE in exploring the solar exhibits and then enjoy pizza and homemade deserts then at 7 PM the program will start. There will be a showing of the film Blood and Oil and then Professor Michael T. Klare will be presenting a talk and participating in a panel discussion with questions from the audience.

Then on Thursday morning the 18th of September between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM we look at some of the real icebergs hiding beneath Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin’s VP Bid. We discuss the US and Russian drilling rights in the region of the North Pole plus the politics of religion and the Third Wave Movement, featuring an interview with Bruce Wilson of Talk2action.org

Join us for Talk Nation Radio Thursday morning September 18th for a detailed look at the northern exposure to more US financial risk, to corporations pushing to drill in the North Pole region and the price they are willing to ask Americans and others to pay.

Netaganda on North Pole Drilling heated up, and these CEOs embraced Sarah Palin months ago.

In May of 2006, Arctic oil and Gas corporation and it’s partners filed a claim at the United Nations General Assembly. CEO Peter Sterling said his organization should have exclusive rights to oil & gas exploration in the much contested North Pole region, offshore in the Arctic region of Alaska, and he has been pushing the idea that the US can replace its dependence on foreign oil through offshore drilling there.

The company began trading on Wall Street in January.

Peter Sterling’s claim filed with the UN General Assembly and countries claiming rights including Russia, the US, Norway, Denmark, and Canada, sets up Americans for a protracted battle that could lead to economic or even military conflict. And the question is, who would really benefit?

On Thursday we will hear from experts on the claims asserted in this region and the Law of the Sea. We will also take a look at the political side of offshore drilling and Arctic drilling.

Republican Presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin appear to be using harsh rhetoric about Russia as a way to generate support for the US in a much anticipated fight with former Soviet leaders and Russian oil interests over Arctic drilling rights.

‘THE NORTH POLE IS OURS, NOT RUSSIA’S’ asserts Cliff Kincaid, who also claimed the US was first to reach the North Pole in the early 1900s. Thus, it is America, not Russia, he asserts, that has a valid claim to the North Pole. His views appear in an opinion piece reprinted on the web site of the United Oil and Gas Consortium Management Group, which has partnered with
Arctic oil and Gas corporation. In March Kinkaid was criticizing John McCain, but he is an avid defender of Sarah Palin.

It’s a war behind the scenes evidenced by a ground swell of net propaganda.

On June 26th 2008, the consortium’s partner, the Artic Oil and Gas corporation, began cropping up in web posts written on media blogs at the web site for the L.A. Times, Newsweek, Reuters and other sites, by CEO Peter Sterling.

As Sterling issued calls for more offshore drilling in the US, he openly supported a then obscure Alaskan Governor named Sarah Palin. In fact, Sterling quotes some of the lines and phrases that Palin has been using during her debute as John McCain’s running mate. He quoted Palin on her claims that oil and gas production from ANWR and offshore is crucial to America’s future. He quoted her as saying, “the people who live here, want it drilled”. –Regular listeners will know that this is a point that bears much closer scrutiny, and essentially, depends on who you talk to.

http://www.strategicnine.com/STERLING-AMERICAN-ENERGY-PLAN.htm ‘June 26th 2008. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin believes more oil and gas production from ANWR and offshore is crucial to America’s future..’ …’the people who live here, want it drilled’. See: Sterling-Stickley: American Energy-Independence and Economy Revitalization (plan linked)

Politics aside, Americans are being kept in the dark about one of the biggest problems involving any potential return on an increased taxpayer investment in Alaska or further North at the North Pole. They are also largely in the dark about economic factors that make Alaska crucial in the next phase of a Republican-led energy plan.

First, Alaska is an adjunct member of OPEC, the same oil cartel that represents MidEast oil interests. Second, the race to Alaska to develop energy and other resources, will involve the state’s northern border and a dispute with Russia that could in some ways resemble Russia’s dispute with Eastern European countries over energy rights. That means support from Alaska’s Governor is crucial for corporations seeking drilling rights in the contested North pole region. We’ll be hearing from experts who talk about the time it could take to locate and set up oil rigs and start producing, we’ll look at environmental factors, and economic ones. See Sarah Palin’s Alaskanomics Sept. 9, 2008 by Michael Kinsley.

Of the 50 states, Kinsley reports, Alaska ranks No. 1 in US tax dollars spent per resident. Alaska is also No. 1 in spending per resident, creating a national tax burden per resident of 2 1/2 times the national average. Kinsley raises an interesting question, would US dependence on Alaskan oil be any more pleasant to the pocketbook than dependence on MidEast oil.

On Thurs. at 8:00 to 10:00 AM we’ll be looking at the corporations that are standing in line for federal earmarks which would make the much debated ‘bridge to nowhere’ in Alaska seem like a trivial matter.

Talk Nation Radio is produced and hosted by Dori Smith and syndicated through Pacifica Network. Look for our ongoing coverage about the hidden agendas behind the 2008 presidential campaign rhetoric. Write to us at talknationradio@gmail.com

See also: Russia greets flag team ‘heroes’ as the world condemns Arctic stunt Times Online, Catherine Philp, August 4, 2007. ‘Russia released the first pictures of the moment the tricolour was placed on the Arctic shelf at a depth of more than two and a half miles in a mission intended to advance the country’s claims over the region’s vast untapped mineral resources. It announced on Thursday that two of its submarines had successfully reached the bottom of the Arctic Ocean under the pole. But the symbolic planting of a rust-proof titanium Russian flag drew scornful responses from Western nations with Arctic ambitions. ‘

Talk Nation Radio for September 12, 2008

Dahr Jamail offers an update on Iraq, David Swanson talks about Impeaching Bush to help keep the Democratic Party viable, plus a look at the recent ‘news’ coverage on Iraq and the election.

Listen to this week’s broadcast here for streaming audio or podcasting and broadcast quality sound.

here

TRT: 29:17
Download at Pacifica’s Audioport Or at radio4all.net and Archive.org

Dahr Jamail looks at the ongoing crisis for Iraqis and US soldiers as the policy remains the same, but those dealing with it must continue to try to find new ways to cope, and survive. The US press has been downplaying the latest US military casualties in Iraq. But there were four USM casualties in September thus far and last month 22 USM casualties. US soldiers are being wounded too. And on 8-12 a car bomb took the lives of some 34 Iraqis.

Surge failing also: There are ongoing political tensions that may spell trouble for the exiting Bush White House and the new administration: The Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is no longer inclined to remain aligned with US interests in the region and the Iraqi government has been targeting members of the Sunni Awakening. Their cooperation agreement with the US has been cited as a major contributing factor in the slowdown in violence.

David Swanson of Democrats.com talks about impeaching Bush to strengthen the Democrat’s chances to win in the future. He talks about a press conference in Washington DC where Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich released information about the growing interest in impeaching George Bush. (see Kucinich plan for Iraq below.)

During the interview David Swanson mentions that like Karl Rove, Gov. Sarah Palin has declined to testify in the matter of her own investigation of a State Trooper in Alaska, Officer Wooten. This means, says Swanson, that we will see the same type of behavior under McCain that we did under Bush where many people have declined to obey federal subpoena’s.

According to the Anchorage Daily News Sarah Palin’s husband Todd Palin has been subpoenaed in the firing probe. “The Senate Judiciary Committee acted at the request of investigator Stephen Branchflower, who is gathering evidence on whether Gov. Palin abused her power by firing Walt Monegan, the state’s director of public safety. Critics charge she fired Monegan after he refused to dismiss Mike Wooten, a state trooper who had a messy divorce from the governor’s sister. Palin says Monegan was let go because of a budget dispute.” — The article goes on to say that Branchflower admits Sarah Palin is not on his 13 person list of people targeted with subpoenas.

Next Week: With four months to go for the Bush/Cheney White House, the US press seems to be getting worse when it comes to covering key issues such as the Iraq War and energy policy plus US economic failures. The debate seems rhetorical but the US Military seems to be continuing to position itself to take action in Iran and in Eastern Europe. Next time we hear from Michael T. Klare of Hampshire College, author of the book Blood and Oil and other books on energy and security. He says in the future the US will use it’s air force more, and he notes the parts of the world where the quest for oil is likely to lead to more instability. Michael Klare’s latest book is, “Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy.

Squeaky Wheel Productions to host a showing of film Blood and Oil in New Haven, CT SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 2008 . The film plus a discussion with Michael Klare will take place at ACES/ECA Arts Hall, 55 Audubon Street, Orange Street Entrance New Haven, CT 3-5:30 p.m.

We’ll also hear again from Francis A. Boyle an international law expert at the University of Illinois. He has suggested legal action for the Iranians to prevent a US and Israeli attack on Tehran. Meanwhile, the BBC is reporting that Iran has lodged a formal protest with the UN after Israeli minister Rafi Eitan, a former Nazi hunter, saying his country could kidnap Iran’s president over threats he has made against Israel. Iran’s UN ambassador has called the remark “outrageous and vicious” and he is calling on the UN Security Council to take action. (BBC)

contact the show at talknationradio@gmail.com

http://www.afterdowningstreet.com

http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com

http://www.democrats.com

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/resist/2008/0907wholost.htm

We will upload more content early from our two hour 9/11 special as we can get to edits.
Please forgive the appearance of our web site which was hacked. It is under construction.

Special thanks to engineer John Schwenk and WHUS producer Jay Hughes as well as Tom from Talk Nation blog discussion pages.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Plan for Iraq:
The Kucinich Plan For Iraq

On 8 January, 2007 Dennis Kucinich unveiled his comprehensive exit plan to bring the troops home and stabilize Iraq.[47] His plan includes the following steps:[48]

1. Announce that the US will end the occupation, close the military bases, and withdraw.
2. Announce that existing funds will be used to bring the troops and the necessary equipment home.
3. Order a simultaneous return of all U.S. contractors to the United States and turn over the contracting work to the Iraqi government
4. Convene a regional conference for the purpose of developing a security and stabilization force for Iraq.
5. Prepare an international security peacekeeping force to move in, replacing U.S. troops, who then return home.
6. Develop and fund a process of national reconciliation.
7. Restart programs for reconstruction and creating jobs for the Iraqi people.
8. Provide reparations for the damage that has been done to the lives of Iraqis.
9. Assure the political sovereignty of Iraq and ensure that their oil isn’t stolen.
10. Repair the Iraqi economy.
11. Guarantee economic sovereignty for Iraq.
12. Commence an international truth and reconciliation process, which establishes a policy of truth and reconciliation between the people of the United States and Iraq.

Talk Nation Radio special: Alaska’s Progressive Reporter Shannyn Moore on the Gov. Sarah Palin she knows.

Listen to this week’s election special show or download at this JUST A GIRL FROM HOMER is attracting lots of attention because Moore knows Alaska Governor Sarah Palin well and has interviewed her many times. She delves into the more controversial Sarah Palin, her church, her prayers for Walmart and for mergers between ‘people’ and ‘corporations’ and her calls to parishioners for help pushing through a $30 billion dollar gas pipeline project.

Shannyn Moore has spoken with Palin about her plan to spend more than $1 million in taxpayer dollars for a sports dome for a church. And Talk to Action has noted her specific world view in religious terms and discusses the Third Wave in context with Palin’s attendance at an Assembly of God Church that is not part of the mainstream AOG but is in fact viewed as heretic. We will be exploring the End Days organizations supporting John McCain in upcoming programs. We will also look at the huge stories the media has not picked up on including the fact that some five countries are currently vying for offshore drilling rights in the Arctic region, including Russia. (www.whus.org Wed. at 5 PM for more on that)

Gov. Sarah Palin: “God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that pipeline built, so pray for that!”

Shannyn Moore: “The first part of that prayer to bring companies and people together, when a government official is praying for that or legislating for that, basically, that’s fascism, when you as a politician are wanting to create laws or protections for companies that’s the definition.–There is a real fundamental line that she doesn’t have a real clear cut on between politics and her religion. —She has said that she stood up to big oil and in certain ways, the legislature did. They went back and revised a tax against the oil companies. The previous one, is the one that we’ve got people sitting in jail for selling their votes to, so doing the right thing and trying to reverse a corrupted law is not standing up to big oil. But right after that she stood up for big oil and she sued the federal government for putting Polar Bears on the endangered species list. now when George Bush’s administration puts Polar Bears on the endangered species list you can bet your bottom dollar it is probably too late for the Polar Bears. And now as a state under her administration we are suing the federal government to get Polar Bears off the endangered species list? Oh because it affects drilling on the North Slope.”

Huffington Post has been updating their information on Palin’s church which appears to be oriented around the ‘end days’ prophetic belief systems. Here

Part 2, Talk Nation Radio special on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Alaska radio journalist Shannyn Moore has been very busy since Republican John McCain announced she would be his Vice Presidential running mate because she knows Palin and has interviewed her many times. In part two we discuss Palin’s legislative decision making and the interest shown by high powered Washington figures including Vice President Dick Cheney.

We also look at the vetting process, Karl Rove told FOX viewers that it was Arthur B. Culvahouse who originally vetted Palin. Culvahouse has strong ties with the White House and held Karl Rove’s job during the Reagan administration. He served as White House counsel then and was also an adviser to Reagan on the Iran Contra investigations.

“A.B. Culvahouse” has contributed the maximum amount to the McCain campaign, but perhaps one of his most interesting ties is with Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney appointed him to lead the Federal Advisory Committee on Nuclear Failsafe and Risk Reduction, and advised on the US Nuclear Command and Control System.

We also discuss the FBI investigation into Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, Cheney’s involvement with Stevens and the pipeline project, and the fact that Sarah Palin ran a 527 fund raising organization for him and might run into difficulty where the FBI is concerned. She would likely have had contact with some of the very wealthy high powered financial people who were donating to the Stevens campaign.

Talk Nation Radio for September 3, 2008

Rick Kelley, Coldsnap Legal Collective, Karl Frisch of Media Matters at the RNC Convention, a discussion on the media, the madness, and Gov. Sarah Palin

TRT: note 27:58
Download audio here

We hear from Media Matter’s Director of Communication, Karl Frisch who is at the Republican National Convention underway at the Xcel Center in Minneapolis. Karl Frisch worked for the McCain campaign in 2000 and the Dean campaign in 2004. We’ll be discussing the convention and news coverage of John McCain’s sudden choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

And Rick Kelley of the Coldsnap Legal Collective starts us off with some discussions about what his group does in helping to provide support for protesters who may be still in custody after Minneapolis and Saint Paul police and federal officers arrested them at their homes or at anti Iraq War protests. We talk about the heavy handed tactics used on young people who were peacefully protesting and in one case some Coldsnap Legal Collective staff who were trying to wipe pepper spray from a protester’s eyes when mounted police approached. The two warned the police that there could be people harmed in the vicinity and the officers proceeded to place them under arrest.

‘We have multiple reports of the use of tear gas, of pepper spray, of concussion grenades, of Tasers, of rubber bullets, a variety of things. There were a variety of injuries. Folks were almost trampled by horses when they were trying to flush out protester’s eyes who had just been pepper sprayed. Two members of my own collective were there when that transpired and tried to stand in the way and encouraged the police to step back because it was escalating and people were in danger. They were pepper sprayed and held to the ground with guns to their head. It’s really a climate of fear and terror that’s been created in the Twin Cities by the authorities.’ Rick Kelley, Coldsnap Legal Collective, Hotline No (651) 356-8635.

As world attention is focused on the 17-year-old daughter of Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, there have been calls to give her privacy, and concern has been expressed for this young unmarried woman who is pregnant and in the spotlight. Yet, the story of the 300 or so people detained without warrant and in some cases brutally beaten by police during protests of the RNC has fallen down to only a small paragraph in the national news.

Glenn Greenwald of Salon.com was with Jane Hamsher when they found themselves at the scene of one of the home raids. They captured the voice of an eighteen year old girl who was traumatized when police in riot gear entered her residence near the RNC convention with assault rifles drawn. They pushed her and other teens to the floor.

Karl Frisch discusses the climate at the RNC Convention amongst members of the press and analysis press coverage. We also discuss recent reports about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on the internet and look at the way the corporate press has been covering her.

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