With Unexpected Iraqi Withdrawal Demand, Bush Has Lost the War
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 11 Jul 2008
New Iraqi resistance to U.S. demands reflects Iran’s influence as well as Sadr’s belief that he could succeed in driving U.S. forces out.

Slavery by Another Name: Author Douglas Blackmon on the Re-Enslavement of Black People in America
Democracy Now - 11 Jul 2008
A new book by award-winning journalist Douglas Blackmon uncovers the forgotten history of neo-slavery imposed on hundreds and thousands of African Americans that continued well after the Civil War and persisted right up to the 1940s. Using extensive archival sources, Blackmon uncovers the shameful system created to re-enslave African Americans. Under new laws, they were intimidated, arrested, charged with exorbitant fines, and then sold as forced laborers to corporations, mines and plantations or compelled into involuntary servitude. [includes rush transcript]

Stop-Loss: A Look at the US Military Policy that Creates a “Backdoor Draft” to Force Soldiers to Continue Service
Democracy Now - 11 Jul 2008
With about 175,000 troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the US military has been forced to rely on a controversial policy known as “stop-loss” to force soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints had ended. We speak with two US soldiers: one on active duty in Iraq on his second tour of duty after being stop-lossed, the other facing redeployment after being stop-lossed. We also speak with Hollywood director Kimberly Peirce about her feature film, Stop-Loss. [includes rush transcript – partial]

Headlines for July 11, 2008
Democracy Now - 11 Jul 2008
Probe Raises Afghan Civilian Toll to 47 in US Attack, Afghan Governor Fired After Criticizing Lethal US Airstrike, Palestinians, Israelis Protest West Bank Wall on World Court Ruling Anniversary, UK Settles Iraq Torture Case, Poll: Half of UK Military Forces Ready to Quit, Admin to Ignore Ruling on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Bush: ?Goodbye, from the World?s Biggest Polluter?, McCain Adviser Dismisses Economic Worries, Calls US ?Nation of Whiners?, Rice: Admin Will Act Against Iran to Defend US ?Interests?, Jailed War Resister Faces Canada Deportation, Kucinich Introduces Single Article of Impeachment for President Bush, Sami Al-Arian Ordered Released on Bond, Sudanese President Faces Darfur Genocide Charges