Democracy NOW! Friday, August 14, 2009

* Gates: Afghan Occupation to Take “A Few Years” * 30 Killed in Iraq Violence * Honduras Rejects OAS Delegation; 5,000 March in Capital * Morales Warns of Militant Activity Following Letter Bombs * HRW: Israel Killed 11 Palestinian Civilians Waving White Flags in Gaza Assault * Dozens Killed, Thousands Displaced in Yemen Clashes * Sen. Webb in Burma for Junta Talks * US Immigration Detains Pakistani Journalist Fleeing Threats * Leaked Memo Details White House, Drug Industry Secret Deal * Single-Payer Advocates Call for Boycott of Whole Foods * Michigan Prison Evaluated as Potential Gitmo Site * Jazz Drummer Rashied Ali Dies at 76; Guitar Pioneer Les Paul Dies at 94 # Exclusive: Youssef Megahed Speaks Out from Prison; Florida Student Was Acquitted in Jury Trial But Now Faces Deportation on Same Charges Florida student Youssef Megahed was arrested by federal immigration agents in April just three days after a jury acquitted him on federal explosives charges. He now faces deportation on the same charges. But this time, he won’t be tried by a jury of his peers, but by an immigration judge. Youssef Megahed speaks to us from prison in a Democracy Now! exclusive. [includes rush transcript] # Juror-new-web Juror in Megahed's Federal Trial Joins Voices Speaking Out for His Release Three days before Youssef Megahed’s immigration trial, his father, mother, sister and two brothers are being granted US citizenship. We speak to Youssef’s father, Samir Megahed; his immigration lawyer, Charles Kuck; and Gary Meringer, a juror in the criminal trial against Megahed who is speaking out in his support. After Megahed’s re-arrest, Meringer and three other jurors issued a statement saying, “It strikes us as fundamentally wrong that the government has put Mr. Megahed back in jail for suspicion of the same activities that he was acquitted of in the criminal case.” [includes rush transcript] # Obama-pills-web "You Do Not Cut Deals with the System that Has to Be Replaced": Ralph Nader on Secret White House Agreements with the Drug Industry The Obama administration admitted last week it promised to oppose proposals to let the government negotiate drug prices and extract additional savings from drug companies. In return, drug companies reportedly pledged to reduce costs by up to $80 billion. The White House has tried to back off the reported agreements, but the drug industry says it expects the White House to uphold its pledge. We speak to former presidential candidate and longtime consumer advocate Ralph Nader. [includes rush transcript]