Tuesday, July 8, 2008

• FISA Makes Its Way to the President’s Desk
• War Powers Act Re-Write?
• Former National Security Advisor on Iran, The US and Israel
  
• Haitian Death Squad Leader on Trial in NY
• G8 Reaches Accord on Global Warming
• Small Communities in California Struggle to Cope with Fires

Click here for Headlines Package
Click here for 13 Meg Version
Click here for Dial-Up Version

FISA Makes Its Way to the President’s Desk

The FISA debate about the president's warrant less wiretapping program may be coming to a close. After several delays by dissenting lawmakers, the Senate debated the issue today and are expected to pass a bill identical to the one passed by the House of Representatives in June. Approval from the Senate would send the bill to the White House – but depending on amendments, the President could veto the very bill he's been waiting for. Tanya Snyder reports from Washington.

War Powers Act Re-Write?

A bi-partisan commission made up of former Secretaries of State is proposing changes to the War Powers Act - the statute used to seek approval for armed conflict. The Commission says the current law, implemented in 1973 is broken. We hear from Commission Co-Chairs and former Secretaries of State Warren Christopher and James Baker.

Former National Security Advisor on Iran, The US and Israel

In a speech to Iran's Revolutionary Guards today, Supreme Leader Ali Shirazi said Iran will strike Tel Aviv, U.S. shipping in the Gulf and American interests around the world if it is attacked over its disputed nuclear activities. Yesterday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country would not stop enriching uranium. Today, G8 leaders repeated their call for an end to Iran's program.

Haitian Death Squad Leader on Trial in NY

Emmanuel Toto Constant, a former Haitian death squad leader, is on trial today in a New York State Supreme Court charged with grand Larceny, forgery, and falsifying records. Haitian Human's rights activists and supporters rallied outside Constant's trial in Brooklyn to draw attention to his record, which includes crimes of murder, rape, arson and widespread terrorization of the Haitian People. Andalusia Knoll reports.

G8 Reaches Accord on Global Warming

Leaders of the world's 8 most industrialized nations continue their annual summit today in Japan. To combat the global food crisis, leaders called on nations with excess food reserves to release some of their stockpiles and lift export restrictions. Expressing "grave concern" about the violence marred elections in Zimbabwe, G8 members warned of financial repercussions against individuals behind the violence. North Korea was urged to abandon nuclear weapons programs and encouraged to move forward in dialogue with Japan regarding abductions of Japanese civilians in the 1970s and 1980s. The heads of state also urged Iran to end its uranium enrichment activities.

After refusing to sign on to the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, President Bush today joined key allies in pledging to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. The G8 – representing the world's eight most industrialized nations - approved a plan aimed at spurring a new worldwide treaty to limit global warming. The plan acknowledges the need for the world to cut carbon emissions by at least 50 percent and for each nation to set its own target for a nearer term. Leaders noted a growing number of countries who consider nuclear power a viable means of attaining that goal. Karl Grossman is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury. He is also the author of Cover Up – What You Are Not Supposed to Know about Nuclear Power and other books about nuclear technology. We spoke with Grossman about whether a major shift to nuclear power would greatly reduce the carbon footprint of energy production – or not.

Small Communities in California Struggle to Cope with Fires

Wildfires have burned more than 600 thousand acres in Northern California. Firefighting efforts have claimed the life of one volunteer firefighter. State wide several communities have been evacuated; more than 40 homes have been destroyed. Some 200 National Guard troops are in the state to help in the fire fighting efforts. But sparse state resources have left some communities to fend for themselves. FSRN's Christina Aanestad reports.