February 05, 2004
Headlines
Another Halliburton Investigation
Halliburton, the company formerly run by Vice President Dick Cheney before he became George Bush’s running mate, and one subsidiary are facing another investigation. Meagan Britton reports from D.C.
Indian MPs Say Coke and Pepsi Full of Pesticides
Members of the Indian Parliament have confirmed that Coca-Cola and Pepsi drinks are have enough pesticides in them to harm human health. Binu Alex reports from India.
Censorship Charges Thrown at Berlusconi
An executive at one of Italy’s major news agencies is openly charging President Silvio Berlusconi and executives at some of his media holdings with censorship. Diletta Varlese reports from Italy.
Coalition in NM Sues U.S. Government
Members of the Navajo Nation, environmentalists, ranchers and other community groups are suing the U.S. Bureau of Land Management over access to land given to natural gas mining interests. From KUNM in Albuquerque, Leslie Clark reports.
NYC Formally Opposes USA Patriot Act
The New York City Council denounced the USA Patriot Act, joining 249 other cities and 3 states, and passed a resolution opposing the infringement of civil liberties in the name of national security. More from Ama Buadi at WBAI.
Features
George Tenet Defends CIA on Iraq
Today CIA Director George Tenet defended U.S. intelligence of prewar war Iraq by saying the intelligence never indicated that Iraq was an imminent threat. Speaking at Georgetown University in Washington DC, Tenet said analysts differed on several aspects on Iraq’s weapon’s programs that he said were available in the intelligence estimates. However as FSRN’s DC Editor Mitch Jeserich reports, critics say President Bush and his administration made it very clear before the invasion that Iraq was an imminent threat.
Grocery Worker Lockout Continues (3:44)
Thousands rallied this afternoon on Wall street to support striking and locked out grocery workers in California. The Wall Street protest comes a week ahead of Safeway’s shareholders meeting. It also comes a day after unions representing 70,000 striking and locked out workers offered to go back to work if the companies agreed to enter into binding arbitration. But the companies refused. Aaron Glantz and Ngoc Nguyen have more from Los Angeles.
India and Kashmiri Separatists Talking Peace? (3:59)
Today is Kashmir Solidarity Day, a national holiday in Kashmir and a day when solidarity to occupied Kashmir is extended from many parts of the world. The holiday comes as today at least four Indian soldiers were killed and seven wounded when their vehicle ran over a landmine. Many in Kashmir are using today’s holiday to call for peace and independence, subjects which were broached in recent meetings between Kashmiri Separatists and the Indian government. The five member delegation of the Kashmiri separatist group, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference met Indian Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with both sides hoping to initiate a process towards resolution of Kashmir dispute. Both sides agreed to work towards an end to all forms of violence and decided to meet again in March. Shahnawaz Khan reports from Srinagar the Capital of Kashmir.
Pakistani Nuclear Secrets (3:09)
On the heels of yesterday’s television address across Pakistan where nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan admitted supplying secret information to Iran, Libya and North Korea, today President Pervez Musharraf pardoned Dr Khan and added that Pakistan will not allow international supervision of its nuclear program. This comes as seven nuclear scientists in Pakistan are under investigation by government agencies and some say also by the FBI for acts of nuclear proliferation. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last month accused President Musharraf of leaking nuclear secrets to other countries. Foreign office spokesman in Islamabad reacted by saying that some scientists might be involved in proliferation out of personal greed, which, as our correspondent Masror Hussain reports, was seen as an attempt to absolve the military of any involvement.
Ana Mae Aquash Case (3:59)
A case that could shed some light on the political turmoil on the Pine Ridge reservation during the 1970’s got underway this week in Rapid City, South Dakota. The trial involves Arlo Looking Cloud who is accused of the 1975 murder of American Indian movement activist Anna Mae Pictou Aquash. Pictou-Aquash’s death and the motives behind it have remained an enduring mystery for nearly three decades. And while some people say the trial will bring the truth to light, others say it may only cause deeper divisions between the native community and law enforcement officials, and within the American Indian movement itself. FSRN’s Charles Michael Ray is in Rapid City SD with this report.
