Democracy Now! Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Today's Headlines

• Israeli Attack Intensifies; Tanks Enter Khan Yunis
• Israel Bombs UN School, Three Killed
• Doctor: Most Palestinian Casualties Are Civilians
• Red Cross: Gaza Is a “Full-Blown" Humanitarian Crisis
• Bush Refuses to Call for Ceasefire
• Poll: Americans Divided Over Israeli Attack
• Obama Taps Leon Panetta to Head CIA
• Bush Critic Picked to Head Office of Legal Counsel
• Canvassing Board: Al Franken Won Minn. Recount; Coleman to Sue
• Video: Police Shoot Dead Unarmed Black Man on Oakland Train Platform

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  Israeli F-16 Attack Kills Father of Palestinian Journalist; Israel Bombs UN School, Killing Three

  The UN says around a quarter of the dead are civilians, but that figure only counts women and children, excluding adult males. Today, we will look at one of those men killed. I am joined by Fares Akram. He is the Gaza correspondent for The Independent of London. His father was killed in an Israeli F-16 attack on Saturday. His wife is nine months pregnant. We also speak with UNRWA’s Christopher Gunness on the Israeli bombing of an UN school that killed three people. [includes rush transcript]

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  Prominent Austin Activist Admits He Infiltrated RNC Protest Groups as FBI Informant

  An Austin-based activist named Brandon Darby has revealed he worked as an FBI informant in the eighteen months leading up to the Republican National Convention. Darby has admitted to wearing recording devices at planning meetings and wearing a transmitter embedded in his belt during the convention. He is expected to testify on behalf of the government later this month in the trial of two Texas activists who were arrested at the RNC on charges of making and possessing Molotov cocktails. [includes rush transcript]

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  New Trouble for an Obama Nominee: Admiral Dennis Blair Aided Perpetrators of 1999 Church Killings in East Timor

  Investigative journalist Allan Nairn reveals Admiral Dennis Blair played a critical role in backing the Indonesian occupation of East Timor during the 1990s. At the height of a wave of ruthless attacks on Timorese that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands, Blair personally informed top Indonesian general, Wiranto, of unwavering US support. He continued to support the Indonesian military until international outcry forced the Clinton administration to withdraw its military and diplomatic backing. [includes rush transcript]