Democracy Now! Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Headlines for November 20, 2007

- Musharraf Releases 3,400 Detained Under Martial Law
- Federal Grand Jury Investigates Blackwater
- U.S. Contracts in Iraq & Afghanistan Double to $20 Billion
- Sen. Obama Takes Lead in Iowa Poll
- Detained AP Photographer to Face Charges in Iraq
- Freedom's Watch Test Markets Language to Sell War With Iran
- U.S. Prison Population Rises Eight-Fold Since 1970
Los Titulares de Hoy: Democracy Now!'s daily news summary translated into Spanish

Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act Raises Fears of New Government Crackdown on Dissent

A little-noticed anti-terrorism bill quietly making its through Congress is raising fears of a new affront on activism and constitutional rights. The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act was passed in an overwhelming 400 to six House vote last month. Critics say it could herald a new government crackdown on dissident activity under the guise of fighting terrorism.


"We Ask the World Not to Help Us" - Acclaimed Lebanese Composer, Singer Marcel Khalife on U.S. interference in Lebanon, War, Censorship and Art

Marcel Khalife - world-renowned Lebanese composer, singer and oud player - joins us in our firehouse studio for an extended conversation on war, censorship, Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, U.S. interference in his country and much more. Khalife is a cultural icon of the Arab world and is sometimes referred to as the Bob Dylan of Lebanon. He has consistently opposed war, performed in bombed-out buildings during the Lebanese civil war, and passionately defended the rights of Palestinians. In 2005 he was named UNESCO's Artist for Peace. [includes rush transcript]