David Paterson Invokes Paul Robeson, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X in Remembrance of Jazz Legend Max Roach
Democracy Now - 12 Mar 2008
Last August, New York’s incoming governor, David Paterson, spoke at Riverside Church in Manhattan during the funeral of the jazz legend Max Roach. In his address, Paterson invoked the memory of blacklisted actor and singer Paul Robeson, abolitionist Harriet Tubman and black nationalist leader Malcolm X. [includes rush transcript]

David Paterson to Become First African American Gov in NY History, First Blind Gov in US History
Democracy Now - 12 Mar 2008
On Monday, New York Lieutenant Governor David Paterson will be sworn in to replace Eliot Spitzer as the state’s chief executive. Paterson will become New York’s first African American governor and the first blind governor in the nation’s history. We speak with Harlem journalist Herb Boyd, who has covered Paterson for years; New York State Senator Liz Krueger, who worked closely with David Paterson during his time in the New York Senate; and Carl Augusto, the president of the American Foundation for the Blind. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for March 13, 2008
Democracy Now - 12 Mar 2008
Iraqi Girl Slain By US Troops, Study: Most Americans Undercount US Toll in Iraq, US Receives Severed Fingers of Captured Contractors, Admin Blocks Release of Exhaustive Report on Key Pre-War Claim, 40 Militants, 8 Civilians Killed in Afghanistan, Israel-Hamas Truce Collapses with Israeli Attack in West Bank, Israel Boycotts Al Jazeera, Protesters Call Rice ?War Criminal? at House Hearing, Britain Orders 1,400 Asylum Seekers to Return to Iraq, UK Urged to Grant Asylum Gay Iranian Teen, Clinton, Obama Talk Michigan, Florida Re-Vote, Spitzer Resigns; Paterson to Become New York?s First Black Governor, Pentagon Reviewing Newly Disclosed Interrogation Tapes, New EPA Smog Standards Lower Than Scientists Recommend, Al-Arian Hospitalized on 9th Day of Hunger Strike, Former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum Dies at 90, Bush: Chavez Represents ?Vision of Terrorists and Demagogues?

Leading article: An admiral and a self-serving administration
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 12 Mar 2008
Summary: Admiral Fallon is not the first to fail to persuade the White House to adopt a more constructive approach to Iran. The 2006 Iraq Study Group recommended bringing neighbouring states, including Iran, on board to improve the security situation in the country. Yet despite commissioning the report, Mr Bush did exactly the opposite, seeking to isolate Iran and ordering the surge into Baghdad. source: The Independentread more

Iraq: Violence Flares as Mahdi Army Units Drive Police from Southern City
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 12 Mar 2008
First major breach of Moqtada al-Sadr’s unilateral ceasefire.

Israel raises the ante against Iran
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 12 Mar 2008
Summary: “We are in no danger at all of having an Iranian nuclear weapon dropped on us. We cannot say so too openly, however, because we have a history of using any threat in order to get weapons … thanks to the Iranian threat, we are getting weapons from the US and Germany.” – Israeli author, Martin van Crevled, June 2007. source: Asia Times Onlineread more

Iran still a target?
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 12 Mar 2008
Summary: KinzerWhy is the U.S., which maintains good relations with other odious regimes, unable to offer a hand of peace to Iran? The reasons are psychological as much as political. Powerful Americans have never forgiven Iran’s mullahs for overthrowing the shah in 1979, taking U.S. diplomats hostage and opposing Western interests in the Middle East and beyond. They feel the mullahs must be given the punishment they have thus far escaped. source: Baltimore Sunread more

Global Public Opinion Turns Against the U.S. on Iran’s Nuclear Program
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 12 Mar 2008
Summary: Bushehr ReactorFor months, diplomats and analysts have been suggesting that the Bush administration-led effort to pressure and isolate Iran over its nuclear defiance was losing steam. Now, with the release Tuesday of a BBC World Service Poll, there are some hard indications that indeed?at least in terms of global public opinion?that has been happening. source: U.S. News & World Reportread more

Defeat: British Journalist Jonathan Steele on Why America and Britain Lost Iraq
Democracy Now - 12 Mar 2008
As the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq approaches, we speak with Jonathan Steele, one of the journalists who was covered the Iraq war since 2003. Steele is the senior foreign correspondent and in-house columnist on international affairs for the London Guardian. His latest book is “Defeat: Why America and Britain Lost Iraq.”

David Paterson Invokes Paul Robeson, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X in Remembrance of Jazz Legend Max Roach
Democracy Now - 12 Mar 2008
Last August, New York’s incoming governor David Paterson spoke at Riverside Church in Manhattan during at the funeral of the jazz legend Max Roach. In his address, Paterson invoked the memory of blacklisted actor and singer Paul Robeson, abolitionist Harriet Tubman and black nationalist leader Malcolm X.

David Paterson to Become First African American Gov in NY History, First Blind Gov in U.S. History
Democracy Now - 12 Mar 2008
On Monday, New York Lieutenant Governor David Paterson will be sworn in to replace Eliot Spitzer as the state’s chief executive. Paterson will become New York’s first African-American governor and the first blind governor in the nation’s history. We speak with Harlem journalist Herb Boyd who has covered Paterson for years, New York State Senator Liz Krueger who worked closely with David Paterson during his time in the New York Senate and Carl Augusto, the president of the American Foundation for the Blind.

Headlines for March 13, 2008
Democracy Now - 12 Mar 2008
Iraqi Girl Slain By U.S. Troops, Study: Most Americans Undercount U.S. Toll in Iraq, U.S. Receives Severed Fingers of Captured Contractors, Admin Blocks Release of Exhaustive Report on Key Pre-War Claim, 40 Militants, 8 Civilians Killed in Afghanistan, Israel-Hamas Truce Collapses With Israeli Attack in West Bank, Israel Boycotts Al Jazeera, Protesters Call Rice ?War Criminal? at House Hearing, Britain Orders 1,400 Asylum Seekers to Return to Iraq, UK Urged to Grant Asylym Gay Iranian Teen, Clinton, Obama Talk Michigan, Florida Re-Vote, Spitzer Resigns; Paterson to Become New York?s First Black Governor, Pentagon Reviewing Newly-Disclosed Interrogation Tapes, New EPA Smog Standards Lower Than Scientists Recommend, Al-Arian Hospitalized on 9th Day of Hunger Strike, Former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum Dies at 90

Political crisis set to worsen
Electronic Intifada - 12 Mar 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rTYRE, Lebanon, 12 March (IPS) – Soon after the US destroyer USS Cole was deployed off Lebanon’s shore 28 February to “preserve political stability”, a group of young men gathered around in the embattled agricultural town Qana in south Lebanon, and voiced their fears. “Everyone feels there is a war coming,” said Salman Ismael, a 22-year-old university student. “Especially after the killing of (Hizballah commander) Imad Mughniyeh and what is happening in Gaza.”

Crossing the Line interviews Gaza-based journalist Rami Almeghari
Electronic Intifada - 12 Mar 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThis week on Crossing the Line: Israel continues its siege and steps up attacks on the Gaza Strip killing more than 100 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians according to various human rights organizations. Host Naji Ali speaks with journalist, Rami Almeghari, to get an update on the situation in Gaza.

Egypt quietly lets in 230 patients from Gaza
Electronic Intifada - 12 Mar 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rJERUSALEM/GAZA, 12 March 2008 (IRIN) – Egypt has allowed over 200 Palestinian patients from the Gaza Strip to make their way into Egypt via the Rafah border crossing, according to Palestinian health officials. After the large-scale Israeli incursion into Jabalya refugee camp at the end of February and beginning of March, which killed about 120 and caused many injuries, Egypt allowed some of the wounded to enter its territory through Rafah.

A letter from a mother in Gaza to a mother in Sderot
Electronic Intifada - 12 Mar 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rDear Rima Haimov, When I read your words the only thing I can say is that I feel sorry for your son, and that I can understand you as a mother and the traumatic events that your child is experiencing. I cannot deny the fact that life becomes very difficult in such circumstances when you realize that you and your family are in danger at any moment; I fully understand your worries, your feelings and concerns. I am addressing this letter to you with the hope that you will understand my pain too.

Salata Baladi or Afrangi?
Electronic Intifada - 12 Mar 2008
rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rCultural critic Joseph Massad finds a problematic political agenda is at the heart of Nadia Kamel’s first documentary Salata Baladi, in which she mourns the imagined loss of a cosmopolitan Cairo, told through the story of her mother Mary Rosenthal, a.k.a. Naila Kamel and her separation from family that left Egypt for Israel.