Raj Patel on the Collapse of the World Trade Organization Talks
Democracy Now - 31 Jul 2008
Talks to expand the World Trade Organization have collapsed after a week of negotiations. The talks broke down in part because India and other developing nations demanded the right to protect their farming sectors against heavily subsidized imports. The US refused to accept the protections and insisted on giving US corporations greater access to markets in India, China and other nations. [includes rush transcript]

Plan Mexico and the US-Funded Militarization of Mexico
Democracy Now - 31 Jul 2008
We broadcast a report from Mexico produced by Inside USA (Al Jazeera English) on the US role in Mexico’s growing drug war. And we speak about the Plan Mexico initiative with Avi Lewis, Laura Carlsen and John Gibler. [includes rush transcript]

GOP Congressional Candidate Accuses Al Jazeera of Trying to Kidnap Him in Florida
Democracy Now - 31 Jul 2008
Al Jazeera host Avi Lewis discusses the bizarre story of Allen West, a retired Army lieutenant and congressional candidate who recently accused Al Jazeera of trying to kidnap him after a booker from the network asked him to appear on the show. “I don’t know if it was a kidnapping attempt,” West told the New York Daily News. “But I am not going to entrust Al Jazeera with my life. I said, ?Cancel the interview!’” [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for July 31, 2008
Democracy Now - 31 Jul 2008
Olmert to Resign Amid Corruption Investigations, House Committee Finds Karl Rove in Contempt, Turkish Court Rejects Ban on Ruling Party, RAND Report Criticizes Military Focus of War on Terror, Olympic Committee Admits China Will Censor Internet During Games, Radovan Karadzic to Appear Before UN War Crimes Tribunal, Ecuador Refused to Renew Lease on US Air Force Base, Chevron Lobbies to Fight Amazon Pollution Lawsuit, Humanitarian Activists to Sail to Gaza to Break Israeli Blockade, Report: US Military to Play Intelligence Role During DNC in Denver, Gun Control Activist Exposed as Gun Lobby Spy

Germany defends export of gas equipment to Iran
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 31 Jul 2008
Summary: Berlin – Germany rejected Thursday criticism from Israel over a deal to export gas-liquefaction equipment to Iran. source: M & Cread more

US forces Statoil to hold back from Iran operations
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 31 Jul 2008
Summary: StatoilHydro, the Norwegian national oil company, has become the latest big western energy group to commit against investment in Iran following pressure from the US. source: FTread more

Why Are Neocons Attacking Turkey?
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 31 Jul 2008
Summary: Some neoconservatives in Washington are obsessed with attacking Iran before President Bush leaves office at the end of this year. Hence, they have been pushing the Bush administration for increased economic and political isolation of Iran in order to weaken its current regime. Crucial to this plan is the support of Turkey, a traditional U.S. ally and an increasingly critical player in the region. source: Just Foreign Policyread more

To Provoke War, Cheney Considered Proposal To Dress Up Navy Seals As Iranians And Shoot At Them
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 31 Jul 2008
Summary: Iranian BoatSpeaking at the Campus Progress journalism conference earlier this month, Seymour Hersh ? a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist for The New Yorker ? revealed that Bush administration officials held a meeting recently in the Vice President?s office to discuss ways to provoke a war with Iran. source: Think Progressread more