Democracy Now! Friday, April 17, 2009

Today's Headlines

• Obama Releases Bush Torture Memos, Assures No Prosecutions for CIA Interrogators
• Gitmo Prisoner: “Life is Going to Hell”
• Study: Iraqi Women and Children Account for Most Victims of US Air Strikes
• In Mexico, Obama Resists Call to Reimpose Assault Weapons Ban
• Mexicans Protest US Immigration Raids, Deportations
• Cuba Renews Call for US Talks
• 3 Killed in Alleged Morales Assassination Plot
• Russia Announces Formal End to Chechnya Operations
• Israel Rejects Vague US Calls for Peace Talks
• Israel Rejects UN War Crimes Probe
• Report: Somali Pirate to Be Tried in US
• Obama Announces New Transit Funding
• Court Rejects Troy Davis Appeal, Extends Stay of Execution
• Paterson Introduces Gay Marriage Bill
• Trial Begins for Anti-Transgendered Hate-Crime Murder

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  Obama Releases Bush-Era Memos Authorizing Torture Techniques, Rules Out Prosecuting CIA Interrogators who Carried Them Out

  The Obama administration has released four memos from the Bush-era Justice Department that approved and provided the legal basis for the CIA’s use of torture. While President Obama has said he will not pursue prosecutions of CIA employees, he did not explicitly address the question of prosecuting the former Justice Department lawyers who authored the memos. The memos’ release comes as a Spanish court is considering bringing indictments against six Bush-era lawyers. We get analysis from human rights attorney Scott Horton. [includes rush transcript]

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  "Little Guantanamo" - Secretive "CMU" Prisons Designed to Restrict Communication of Jailed Muslims and Activists with Outside World

  With little public scrutiny, the Bush administration opened two secretive prisons in Indiana and Illinois known as Communication Management Units, or CMUs, that are designed to severely restrict prisoner communication with family members, the media and the outside world. Dozens of Muslim men are still being held at the CMUs, as well as other prisoners, including environmental and animal rights activists. We speak with attorneys for two men being held there, as well as a reporter covering the story. [includes rush transcript]

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  Additional Murder Charges Expected in Killing of Oakland Journalist Chauncey Bailey

  We take a look at the latest developments in the case of Chauncey Bailey, the Oakland Post editor who was shot to death in downtown Oakland in August 2007. He had been investigating possible links between a local bakery and several killings in the area when he was gunned down in broad daylight. After his death, a group of reporters banded together to form the Chauncey Bailey Project to continue his investigation and look into any role the bakery may have played in Bailey’s murder and at the role of the police in its investigation. We speak with the executive editor of the Chauncey Bailey Project. [includes rush transcript]