Democracy Now! Thursday, May 21, 2009

Today's Headlines

• 60 Killed in Multiple Iraq Bombings
• 8 Afghan Civilians Killed in NATO Attack
• Report: Afghan Insurgents Demand Timetable for US Withdrawal
• Senate Votes Down Gitmo Closure Funding
• Obama Considers “Preventive Detention” for Indefinite Jailings
• Court Rules US Can Hold Prisoners Without Charge
• Blackwater Contractors Flee Afghanistan to Avoid Charges
• Probe: US Gave KBR $83M in Bonuses Despite Electrocutions
• Gaza War Crimes Probe to Hold Public Hearings
• US Pledges $110M for Pakistani Refugees
• Bolivia, US Hold First Talks Since Ambassador Row
• 4 Arrested in Synagogue, Air Base Bombing Plot
• Judges, Attorneys Back Troy Davis Appeal

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  Massive Casualties Feared in Nigerian Military Attack on Niger Delta Villages

  The Nigerian military has been accused of killing hundreds, maybe thousands, of civilians in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The military offensive began eight days ago but has received little international attention. We go to Nigeria to speak with Denzil Amagbe Kentebe of the Ijaw National Congress. We’re also joined by Sandy Cioffi, director of the new documentary Sweet Crude about the Niger Delta. The village of Oporoza, where much of the film was shot, has just been burned down. [includes rush transcript]

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  Teaching Pioneer Deborah Meier on Obama's Education Policy and the Future of Charter Schools

  As part of the Obama administration’s education plan, Education Secretary Arne Duncan has urged states to consider partnerships with successful charter school operators. We speak to Deborah Meier, who has spent nearly four decades working in public education as a teacher, principal, writer and public advocate. She is considered to be the founder of the small schools movement and founded a number of public elementary and secondary schools in New York and Boston that serve predominantly low-income African American and Latino students. [includes rush transcript]

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  "Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging": New Documentary Chronicles Life of Dance Legend Known as the "Ambassador of Lindy Hop"

  The legendary swing dancer Frankie Manning, known as the Ambassador of the Lindy Hop, died last month at the age of ninety-four. During a career spanning eight decades, Frankie Manning’s influence on the dance floor was felt around the world. A new documentary, Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging, looks at his life and legacy. [includes rush transcript]