Warren Richey

Court Orders al Marri Receive Due Process

[audio:http://dissentradio.com/radio/07_06_15_richey.mp3]

Warren Richey, reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, discusses the recent ruling by the fourth circuit court that Ali Saleh al Marri, who has been held in a military dungeon for four years, after being arrested in Peoria, IL on accusations that he was an al Qaeda agent preparing to wage “computer warfare” against Wall Street.

MP3 here.

Warren Richey is the Miami and Washington staff reporter for the Christian Science Monitor.

We Have Always Been At War With Eastasia

Fred Kaplan, writing in Slate, opines:

“It’s time to start thinking cold-bloodedly about what we might yet eke out of Iraq. An intriguing possibility is on display in Anbar province, where U.S. troops have formed an alliance with Sunni insurgents for the common purpose of killing al-Qaida jihadists.

“These insurgents were killing American soldiers just a few months ago. They may resume doing so, once this operation is complete. Such is the nature of coalition warfare, especially when our original coalition partners have largely pulled out of the war.”

I’ve been saving this link for the proper occasion, and it looks like I’ve found it. Yes, we have always been at war with Eastasia.  Isn’t that right, comrade?

The Problem with All U.S. Military Interventions

I recently came across an excellent letter to the editor published in Liberty magazine back in 1990. The writer was criticizing a Liberty article which argued that “lesser interactions” like the invasion of Grenada do not add to the domestic power of the government. He gave four effects to consider:

1. Increases in the popularity of the President, making it more likely that he will get his way in elections and on Capitol Hill.
2. Building a core of flag-waving, my-country-right-or-wrong “super-patriots” that make a flag burning amendment and other liberty restrictions more likely.
3. Hardening the citizens to such actions by the government, whether in foreign lands or here at home.
4. Diverting public scrutiny from other situations, which the government can then handle outside the public eye.

What was true in 1990 is still true in 2007.

Raje Hage

Lebanon on the Brink of Disaster

[audio:http://dissentradio.com/radio/07_06_14_hage.mp3]

Raje Hage, a friend of the show from Beirut, explains his view of the situation in Lebanon, some history, last year’s war, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, Israel, the Redirection and his hopes for some form of unity government.

MP3 here.

Raje Hage is an Antiwar.com fan from Beirut, Lebanon.

Dilip Hiro

Nuclear Power, Weapons and the Future of the Middle East

[audio:http://dissentradio.com/charles/awdiliphiro061207.mp3]

Journalist and author Dilip Hiro, discusses Iran’s nuclear program, Israel’s nuclear weapons,  North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, the logic of nuclear deterrence.

MP3 here. (34:08)

Born in the Indian sub-continent, Dilip Hiro was educated in India, Britain and America, where he received a master’s degree at Virginia Polytechnic & State University. He then settled in London in the mid-1960s, and became a full-time writer, journalist and commentator. He has published 28 books.