Democracy Now! Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Today's Headlines

• US Drone Attack Kills 60 in Pakistan
• Defying Ban, Iranian Opposition Calls for Mass Protest
• Obama Defends Public Health Plan, But Signals Willingness to Drop It
• Group: Dem Proposal Could Hurt Low-Income Job Seekers
• US Rules Out Panel’s Call for 40% Emissions Cut
• House to Vote on Climate Bill
• Iraq to Auction Oil Contracts to Foreign Companies
• Kyrgyzstan Reverses Move to Close US Military Base
• Report: Israel Authorizes 300 New Settlement Homes
• US to Return Ambassador to Syria
• Veterans of Kenyan Anti-Colonial Struggle Sue Britain
• 31 Arrested at West Virginia Anti-Coal Protest
• Obama Admin Drafts Safeguards for Transgender Federal Employees
• Study Finds Tenuous Claims in Most “Green” Consumer Products
• DC Transit Officials Were Warned on Subway Cars Before Fatal Crash

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  Pakistani Opposition Politician Imran Khan on US Drone Attacks, the "Massive Human Catastrophe" in the Swat Valley and the Escalation of War in Afghanistan

  At least sixty people have reportedly died in the South Waziristan region of western Pakistan after a US drone attack Tuesday. The attack came as the Pakistani army and air force expanded their military operations from Swat into South Waziristan. We speak with Pakistani opposition figure and cricketing legend Imran Khan, the leader of the political party known as the Movement for Justice. Khan has been an outspoken critic of both US drone attacks as well as the Pakistani military’s offensive against the Taliban. [includes rush transcript]

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  Hamid Dabashi on Iran Protests: "This is Not Another Revolution. This is a Civil Rights Movement"

  In Iran, supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have called for another protest in Tehran today in defiance of the government ban. At least nineteen demonstrators have been killed in the ten days since the election of June 12th. The government continues to detain journalists and activists and has set up a special court for demonstrators. We speak with Columbia University Professor Hamid Dabashi. He writes, “I see the moment we are witnessing as a civil rights movement rather than a push to topple the regime.” [includes rush transcript]

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  Actress Daryl Hannah, Climate Scientist James Hansen Among 30+ Arrested Protesting Mountaintop Removal in West Virginia

  More than thirty people were arrested on Tuesday, including NASA climate scientist James Hansen and actress Daryl Hannah, protesting mountaintop removal in West Virginia. The protesters were charged with obstructing officers and impeding traffic after they sat down in the middle of the road outside of the facility run by Massey Energy. It was the latest protest in a growing civil disobedience campaign against mountaintop removal. We speak with actress Daryl Hannah and community activist Bo Webb. [includes rush transcript]