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Law and Disorder June 14, 2010
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Economic Crisis, Greek Theater, Our Drama
We are joined in the studio by Professor of Economics Rick Wolff and National Lawyers Guild Attorney Eric Poulos. Both have recently returned from Greece. Rick Wolff’s recent articles outline an economic theater playing out in Greece and across the globe. There is no alternative and this is all the worker’s fault, is the mantra from rulers who are cutting wages and pensions in Greece. It’s deceptive and false says Rick Wolff, and the economic conditions in Greece is an old pattern that is replicating everywhere. Greek capitalist enterprises and top shareholders evade paying taxes Rick writes. Meanwhile economic contradictions of Greek capitalism drive employers and employees to demand more from the government. The government can’t finance its expanding services and tries to raise taxes. The masses resist, social movements to tax the rich accelerate, then the rich quickly offer to lend the government more of the money they saved from not paying taxes. There are many more acts to this economic theater , Rick Wolff asks what will the final scenes be in the European working class?
- I looked at the professors faces and I realized the economic crisis had come home and hit them very hard.
- Every single professor received a pay cut, which took a effect as soon as I arrived to Athens. Fifteen to 20 percent less a year for every teacher in the country.
- Not only every teacher, but every public employee, it includes the police, and the foot soldiers in the Army.
- On top of the unemployment, this is a blow against every single working person. We are at the beginning of a major disaster. This also threatens other countries, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland.
- This crisis is showing us we are for years of dysfunctional captialism as a global system.
- Greece is remarkable in that it has a well organized, strong working class. The super rich in Greece do not want to pay taxes. The working class is powerful enough in Greece (unlike here in the United States) to make the government stand up and notice.
- Governments borrow money as a solution for taxation. Lenders ask why lend to a small country with little promise of making good on the loan. Lenders had already loaned to the US. It’s the US crisis that created the dilemma for Greece. The biggest holders of the debt of Greece are French and German banks.
- They turned to the Greek government and said, squeeze them, but don’t squeeze them to the point where they’ll default.
- The people who brought us the crisis are dictating the suffering of masses of people to work their way out of the crisis with no cost to themselves.
- We have a president today in a terrible economic crisis, and not only is there not a government program to hire people, it’s not proposed, it’s defended, our government isn’t explaining our own history has that as the thing we did the last time.
- Those who made out like bandits in the last 30 years, ought to be made to pay, the lion’s share of the cost for cleaning up the economic mess. If democracy means anything it should begin in the place where we spend most of our adult lives. Where we work.
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Attorney Eric Poulos:
- Greece is really a society that is smouldering. There have been 3 general strikes since the cutbacks in March.
- 40 thousand jobs a month are being lost in Greece.
- The civil servants in Greece have not had their prescriptions filled since March.
- The country has been run by Socialist for 30-36 years. Socialists and Communists have bought on to this.
- There have already been huge demonstrations in Portugal and Spain. Portugal was huge.
- This is looting. They are looting Greece.
- Greece is now going privatize the post office. The gas, the water works, the railway.
- The banks are really picking off the pieces of Greece.
- They’re interested in suppressing the social wages and whatever they can accumulate.
- The landscape in the United States is not very hopeful because the working class labor movement hasn’t stepped up at all.
- If private corporations want government money to bail them out, we take them over, we run it.
- If there are going to be lay offs. We cut the work week. Work 4 days but the workers get paid 5 days.
- You need the political will and the question is where will that come from and how will that be done.
Guest – Rick Wolff, Professor of Economics at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In his new book Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Global Economic Meltdown and What to Do About, Rick takes the reader back to 2005 and step by step reveals how policies, economic structures and wage to profit systems led to a global economic collapse.
Guest – Attorney Eric Poulos with the National Lawyers Guild who traveled to Greece.
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United National Anti-War Conference
Attorney and radio host Jim Lafferty joins us today. We get updates on the upcoming anti-war conference in Albany New York, the ongoing immigration policy conflicts in Arizona and new developments on the Israeli attacks and killings on the Gaza flotilla. We will also get more information on Attorney Peter Erlinder’s condition in Rwanda. As listeners may know, former National Lawyers Guild president Professor Peter Erlinder was arrested 2 weeks ago by Rwandan Police for allegedly denying the country’s 1994 genocide. He is currently imprisoned in Rwanda and very little information is getting out. Facebook Group – Free Professor Erlinder Now
Jim Lafferty:
- United National Anti-War Conference July 23 / 24
- There’s been an ebb in the anti-war movement in terms of the way it’s manifested itself in the streets.
- US Should Not Condone Israeli Attack – By Michael Ratner
- Sponsored by IVAW / US Labor Against the War / Code Pink / Raging Grannies /
- Hundreds will be gathering in Albany to help revitalize the sentiment.
- During the Vietnam War, the teach-ins preceded the growth of the movement.
- Now that the war has expanded, it’s important to teach to younger generations that this is US imperialism in its worst form. Why it has nothing to do with making us safer.
- Get out of Iraq, get out of Afghanistan and leave the people of Pakistan alone.
- Arizona Immigration Legislation Update
- Peter Erlinder Update – Lawyers have been able to make contact with Peter Erlinder. He was recently denied bail.
- Rwandan Ambassador James Kimonyo – 202-232-2882 / National Lawyers Guild Page Updates
Guest – Jim Lafferty, Executive director of the National Lawyers Guild in Los Angeles and host of The Lawyers Guild Show on Pacifica’s KPFK 90. 7 FM
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Law and Disorder June 7, 2010
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Updates:
- Miranda Rights Undercut – Tompkins Decision – Waver By Silence
- NYC Resists Despite Vulcan Ruling – Fundamental Injustice Upheld By New York City
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Critical: Attorney Peter Erlinder Arrested in Rwanda
Former National Lawyers Guild president, Professor Peter Erlinder was arrested last week by Rwandan Police for allegedly denying the country’s 1994 genocide. He had traveled to Rwanda from Brussels on Sunday May 23, to join the defense team of Rwandan presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza. He had recently attended a defense conference that they’d organized for the people working with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He arrived in Rwanda with the intention of defending aspiring presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire and joining her legal team. Ingabire is the opposition candidate who was recently arrested and accused of denying the Rwanda genocide. Prosecutors say Erlinder made statements in publication that there was no genocide in Rwanda. Under a 2003 law, persons condemned for denying or grossly minimizing genocide, attempting to justify genocide or destroy evidence related to it are liable to a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 in prison. Facebook Group – Free Professor Erlinder Now
Professor Erlinder is 62 a Chicago native and professor of law at the William Mitchell College of Law. He is a frequent litigator and consultant, often pro bono, in cases involving the death penalty, civil rights, claims of government and police misconduct, and criminal defense of political activists. He is also a frequent news commentator. Erlinder was president of the National Lawyers Guild from 1993-1997, and is a current board member of the NLG Foundation. He has been a defense attorney at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda since 2003. National Lawyers Guild Page Updates
Gena Berglund:
- He’s accused of revisionism, revising history. Peter Erlinder years before found mountains of documentation at the UN about Rwanda’s history. He read them and discovered that the history of Rwanda is the history that’s told in the documents.
- He actually found that there was a civil war going on there for 4 years preceding the last 3 months when the alleged genocide took place.
- The civil war was the causation of the genocide. By doing this work, he encountered the wrath of the Rwandan government.
- He was trying to help the defense of an opposition presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, who was arrested for “denying the genocide” and when Peter Erlinder arrived in Rwanda, he was arrested on the same charge.
- Rwanda President Paul Kagame has discredited presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza.
- We don’t know in the US, what’s really going on in Rwanda. The US is supporting Kagame’s war in the East Congo, the war is being fought over minerals and rights to minerals.
- Those minerals are used in cell phones.
- Help Peter Erlinder: Contact the US State Department and urge them to take an active role.
- Rwanda President Paul Kagame put 7 people on a list of those he would like to see assassinated, Peter Erlinder was on that list.
Sarah Erlinder:
- My Dad is back in the hospital, the Rwandan government is claiming that he attempted suicide.
- Gena Berglund said in the press conference that taking the pills was a “strategy’ for Peter to escape the poor conditions in the cell where he is being held with seven or eight other inmates and handcuffed each time he is taken out of the cell.
- No one has been able to talk with him since he was arrested. Peter is in a private hospital, a shared unit with 8 other patients. Facebook Group – Free Professor Erlinder Now
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Guest – Attorney Gena Berglund with the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and International Humanitarian Law Institute of Minnesota
Guest – Sarah Erlinder, Peter’s daughter, attorney and National Lawyers Guild member.
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Israel Attacks on Aid Ships
International waves of protest continue over the lethal Israeli attack of 6 ships carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip. The shipd called the Freedom Flotilla, were carrying shipments of wheelchairs, prefabricated homes, crayons, raw construction supplies, dental surgery equipment and reams of paper in a relief effort to end the blockade in Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla was an effort by a coalition of human rights and humanitarian organizations to nonviolently break through Israel’s illegal blockade, and deliver much needed humanitarian and developmental aid to the Palestinians of Gaza. Almost 700 passengers from 40 different countries joined the flotilla, including: human rights workers, humanitarian aid workers, Members of Parliament, doctors, nurses, teachers, community leaders, and international journalists.
The lead coalition partners included:
- Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), the largest coalition partner, contributing 2 Turkish-flagged cargo ships, the Turkish-flagged passenger ship “Mavi Marmara,” and 380 Turkish nationals to the effort. This was IHH’s first attempt to break the Gaza blockade.
- The European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, contributing the Greek-flagged passenger ship “Sfendoni.” This was the European Campaign’s second mission to Gaza.
- The Free Gaza Movement, contributing the U.S.-flagged passenger ship “Challenger I.” This was Free Gaza’s ninth mission to Gaza.
- A Ship to Gaza, Sweden, and A Ship to Gaza, Greece, contributing the Greek-flagged cargo ship “Eleftheri Mesogeios.” This was the first voyage of A Ship to Gaza, Sweden, and the fourth of a Ship to Gaza, Greece.
Israeli Commando To Get Valor Medal / Rep. Sherman: Prosecute US Citizens Involved With Gaza Flotilla
The world watched in horror as Israeli commandos rappelled onto the ships from helicopters and opened fire. According to latest reports 19 people were killed and 60 wounded in the attack 75 miles off the coast of Israel and Gaza. The raid set off the strongest international condemnation of Israel since the 22-day military assault Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip 18 months ago.
- Legality of Israel continuing the blockage against Gaza: Israel disengaged from territorial occupation in 2005 but continues to control all the borders, airspace and sea entry.
- Israel completely controls what gets in and out of Gaza, including fuel and medicines so that it’s functionally occupied and legally considered to be occupied.
- Internationally, there are several provisions requiring you to protect the necessities of the civilians
- Hamas still considered terrorist government. A blockade is an act of war
- If Gaza is defined as occupied, it is collective punishement, if it not occupied it means this is an act of war
- The UN charter is clear that any use of force that is not legally justified as self defense against an armed attack is unlawful. The law is when you’re attacked on the high seas, you have a right to act in self defense.
- The Israeli attack was a violation of the freedom of the high seas and a criminal, unlawful use of force. As far as I know, these allegations about these terrorist ties and background are completely invented, completely contrived. The New York Times has given the Israeli disinfo campaign, credibility is doesn’t deserve.
- Under customary international law, you can’t do what Israel has been doing.
- It’s a vindictive treatment of the people, the family members weren’t told if their loved ones were alive.
- The Israelis can’t claim self defense. The Israeli use of force was excessive and disproportionate.
- Israel continues to enjoy US protection and impunity.
Guest – Richard Falk professor of international law emeritus, Princeton University and Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territories for the United Nations Human Rights Council. His book, The Great Terror War (2003), considers the American response to September 11, including its relationship to the patriotic duties of American citizens. He published Costs of War in 2008.
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Law and Disorder May 31, 2010
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No End In Sight, Number One In War
What will you remember on Memorial Day? US law officially proclaims Memorial Day “as a day of prayer for permanent peace.” – However, the US is much closer to permanent war than permanent peace – writes Bill Quigley, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights in his recent article titled No End In Sight, Number One In War. The article outlines, the rising costs of war, the damage to country and who reaping massive profits. At what point do we begin to transition to permanent peace?
- Yes, politicians are making hay from the permanent war, but there’s also a lot of people who are making an awful lot of money from the US military.
- We discount the role they’re playing, in keeping the US constantly fearful and preparing for and perpetrating war in every place across the globe.
- This is something that people are afraid to talk about.
- The “Axis of Evil” spends less than one percent of what the US spends. This coming year the US will spend 708 billion dollars on war and another $125 billion for Veterans Affairs.
- Al-Qaeda spends less than one percent of one percent of what the US spends.
- You have to ask yourself “why?” Why are people in the United States more afraid than anybody in the whole world? Fanning the flames of fear. Behind the scenes are huge corporations that are making billions of dollars.
- We talk about Blackwater, but there are a couple corporations that dwarf Blackwater.
- Lockheed Martin, a huge corporation that runs almost entirely on tax payer money. 140 thousand employees.
- A corporation totally reliant on the United States Congress. You spend 125 thousand lobbying Congress and Congress doesn’t get some benefit from that.
- The US is spending 10 times more on the military than China. Who is calling for accountability on this spending?
Guest – Bill Quigley. Bill is the Legal Director for the Center for Constitutional Rights, a national legal and educational organization dedicated to advancing and defending the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Bill joined CCR on sabbatical from his position as law professor and Director of the Law Clinic and the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center at Loyola University New Orleans. He has been an active public interest lawyer since 1977.
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Hosts get an update on the uneasy tensions between North and South Korea. A multinational investigation concluded last week that a North Korean submarine had torpedoed the 1200 ton warship called the Cheonan back in March killing 45 people. North Korea denies involvement in the sinking, South Korean defense ministry denies that any of its ships had crossed “Northern Limit Line.” Meanwhile, the threat of sanctions against the already oppressed North Korean population escalate. South Korea and the Obama administration have agreed to initiate joint anti-submarine military exercises near North Korean border. Right now, there are almost 29,000 U.S. troops in South Korea.
- When you look into the history of the conflict, and we are still technically at war, as an armistice doesn’t technically end a war only stops the shooting.
- These kind of incidences occur because you don’t have a peace regimen to fall back on.
- There is a very conservative South Korean government. Very hawkish toward the North
- The intitial report of them torpedoing the boat, there are a lot of questions, there are people who are writing about Tonkin Bay, and thinking about.
- You have a choice to march toward war or go toward peace.
- The United States at this point is ramping up the rhetoric.
- Before this situation with the South and the North, we had a lot more exchanges and things were going in a positive direction. If you think there’s no exit strategy after Iraq, look at Korea, sixty years later.
- We’re working with a campaign to end the Korean War.
Guest – Attorney Eric Sirotkin, is a member of the National Lawyers Guild and helped found Korean Peace Project. Eric Sirotkin, the founder and Director of Ubuntuworks, LLC mixes his experience as a human rights lawyer, film producer, author and peacemaker. Over the years his peacemaking activities have taken him around the world, including India, Peru, Cuba, South Africa, Japan, North and South Korea, France, Netherlands, Canada and China. He contributed to dialogue on the new Constitution in South Africa, was a UN sponsored election observer at President Mandela’s election and coordinated an international monitoring Project of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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Omar Khadr, First Military Commission Trial Under Obama
Last week the first military tribunal opened under the Obama administration. It is the case of Omar Khadr, the Canadian citizen, military prosecutors say that Omar Kadr threw a grenade that killed a US Special Forces medic in Afghanistan and helped build roadside bombs to use against American soldiers. We look at why the Obama Administration is putting a detainee on trial who was 15 when he was captured and whether the self – incriminating statements he has made can be used as evidence. Unless the Prime Minister acts to request repatriation, Khadr could face conviction by a jury of U.S. military officers based on evidence extracted by torture.
Attorney Jonathan Hafetz:
- International law is very clear on how you treat child soldiers. In 2001, military commissions were struck down by the Supreme Court, in 2006 in the Hamdan Case, Congress created them again.
- The hope was that Obama was going to close this chapter and end military commissions.
- Obama suspended military commissions for 4 months and brought it back.
- You have huge issues in Khadr’s case. He was a child soldier. He was accused of killing an American soldier in a fire fight. Number one, the US doesn’t seem to have any credible evidence not derived from torture or other abuse that Khadr actually killed the serviceman.
- Even if they had evidence that Khadr was responsible for the death of this serviceman, it’s not a war crime. It’s part of war but not a war crime. The US government’s theory of war is totally distorted.
- On the day of the first war crimes trial of a juvenile in US history, the day its starts and new rules are handed out, I don’t think they had enough copies to give to all the council.
Guest – Jonathan Hafetz, attorney with the ACLU’s National Security Project.
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