Democracy Now! June 7, 2002

Date: Thursday, June 7, 2002 Bush calls on congress to create a Department of Homeland Security that he said is necessary to quash the thousands of trained killers plotting to attack us.'' We'll talk to investigative reporter Greg Palast and a former foreign service officer about some of the real reasons the government ignored clues leading up to September 11th. Then, creating a culture of resistance: today we'll talk to artists, musicians and activists who say "Not in Our Name" And we'll hear from Jewish musicians making a statement against the Israeli occupation as Palestinians mark the 35th anniversary of the occupation of Palestine. All that and more coming up.9:01-9:06 Headlines: 9:06-9:07 One Minute Music Break MUSIC: The Galerkin Method.6: HALE - The Galerkin Method Www.thegalerkinmethod.com 20: PERSONA NON GRAVITAS - The Galerkin Method 40: NOT IN MY NAME - Saul Williams End: CARMINA B - The Galerkin Method 7:07-9:20 AS BUSH CALLS ON CONGRESS TO CREATE A NEWDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, A LOOK AT SOME OF THE REAL REASONS THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE IGNORED CLUES LEADING UP TO SEPTEMBER 11TH President Bush called on Congress Thursday night to create a Department of Homeland Security that he said is necessary to quash the ?:<-109>thousands of trained killers plotting to attack us.'' His proposal comes as Bush faces the first sustained scrutiny since the September 11th attacks. He and his aides have watched as revelations of FBI and CIA negligence have played out on the front pages of major newspapers. And he has protested as Congress has launched an investigation into the government?:<-110>s handling of terrorist threats. Bush?:<-110>s well-timed address stole the top-headline slot from FBI agent Coleen Rowley, who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday. The agent-turned-whistleblower assailed the FBI as a bureaucracy rife with careerism, "risk aversion," and "endless, needless paperwork." In a letter sent to FBI Chief Robert Mueller on May 21, Rowley bitterly criticized the performance of F.B.I. headquarters in handling the case of Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called 20th hijacker. She complained that headquarters agents stifled attempts by Minneapolis agents to obtain a warrant to examine Moussaoui's laptop computer. Moussaoui's computer was not searched until after the attacks. It contained data about the cockpit layouts of large commercial aircraft and phone numbers like one in Germany for the roommate of Mohamed Atta, the ringleader of the plot. Bush said his Homeland Security Department proposal was the largest overhaul of the federal government since the 1940s. But the plan will not include the FBI and CIA. One of the divisions of the new department will review intelligence from the two agencies, but it will not have access to raw intelligence data, and it will not collect its own. The White House unveiled the proposal as FBI Chief Robert Mueller took his seat before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, to try to explain why the agency missed warning signals before the September attacks. Mueller faced fierce questioning on the stand from the Senate judiciary committee about clues agents say might have prevented the attacks. He answered that computer deficiencies and inadequate procedures, not human error, were to blame for the agency's missteps Well, today we are going to look at some of the other reasons the FBI may have overlooked the clues pointing to September 11th. GUEST: GREG PALAST, investigative reporter who writes for the BBC, the British Guardian and the British Observer. He is the author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy. Contact: www.gregpalast.com/GUEST: MICHAEL SPRINGMAN, former head of the American visa section in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He spent six years in the State Department, from 1986-1992. He was assigned to embassies in Germany and India, as well as Saudi Arabia. 9:20-9:21 One Minute Music Break 9:21-9:40 BUSH CALLS ON CONGRESS TO CREATE A NEWDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CONT?: GUEST: GREG PALAST, investigative reporter who writes for the BBC, the British Guardian and the British Observer. He is the author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy. Contact: www.gregpalast.com/9:40-9:41 One Minute Music Break SONG: ?:<-109>Not in Our Name by Saul Williams 9:40-9:48 ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS RESIST THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION AND BUSH WAR ON TERROR That song written and sung by actor, musician, and spoken word artist Saul Williams. Its called ?:<-109>Not in Our Name and it takes its words from a powerful pledge written by activists and artists across the country: the Not in Our Name8> pledge to resist the war on the world, detentions and round-ups, and police state restrictions. Yesterday thousands of people gathered in cities around the country to take that pledge. They joined people like singer Mos Def, writers Alice Walker, John Edgar Wideman, Eve Ensler, Tony Kushner, and Russell Banks who have signed a statement of conscience against what they see as the growing repression in the US. Last month, 1,500 young people chanted the pledge of resistance at the Palace Theatre in Hollywood. It was the first major concert against the war, featuring hip hop performances from dozens of bands including Ozomatli, Blackalicious, and the Coup. TAPE: SAUL WILLIAMS, actor and musician, reading the Not In Our Name Pledge Of Resistance at the ArtSpeaks concert in L.A. last month GUEST: ROBINA NIAZ, social worker and peace activist from Pakistan IN STUDIO Contact: www.notinourname.net GUEST: MILES SOLAY, student organizer with the Not in Our Name Coalition. Contact: www.notinourname.net, www.artistsnetwork.org 9:48-9:58 JEWISH MUSICIANS AGAINST THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION Well, today we are talking about cultural resistance. And we are joined by two musicians who have chosen to make a political statement as artists, to define themselves as American Jews against the occupation of Palestine. Stefany Anne Golberg and Myla Goldberg (no relation to each other) are members of the Galerkin Method, the band we have been hearing today. This week, which marks the 35th anniversary of the 1967 war and occupation of Palestine, they have chosen to hold an event against the occupation. GUEST: STEFANY ANNE GOLBERG, vocalist and dulcimer player for the Galerkin Method. She organized Saturday?:<-110>s event in Brooklyn, Jewish Musicians Against Israeli Occupation. Contact: www.fluxfactory.org, http://www.galapagosartspace.com/directions.html GUEST: MYLA GOLDBERG, accordian player for the Galerkin Method. She is also the author of the best-selling novel, The Bee Season. 9:58-9:59 Outro and Credits