Whole Show | First Story »

February 20, 2004

Headlines for February 20, 2004

U.S. To Send Military Team To Haiti

The Pentagon announced Thursday it is sending a military team from Southern Command of up to four people to go to Haiti within the next two days. The U.S. is also withdrawing dozens of Peace Corps personnel attached to the embassy and encouraged other Americans to leave the island. Haiti has suffered nearly two weeks of violence after gangs and leaders of the 1991 coup staged an armed uprising against the elected government of President Aristide. A spokesperson from Southern Command said the military team is going to advise the U.S. embassy on security issues–not to assist the Haitian government. The U.S. has so far rejected pleas from the Aristide government for help to end the violence. Washington is also sending representatives to join an international delegation of senior envoys to press Aristide to reach a political compromise with his foes. On Thursday Aristide said “I am ready to give my life if that is what it takes to defend my country.” Meanwhile Guy Philippe, a former Haitian police chief who now commands the rebels, vowed his forces would take Aristide’s palace if he does not soon resign.

Scientists Accuse Bush of Politicizing Science

A group of scientists including 20 Nobel laureates have signed a petition condemning the White House for putting political pressure on governmental scientists. According to the scientists, the White House censors and suppresses reports by its own scientists, stacks advisory committees and disbands government panels.

Enron CEO Skilling Surrenders, Pleads Not Guilty

In business news former Enron C.E.O. Jeffrey Skilling handed himself over to federal officials. He plead not guilty to all charges against him.

U.S. To Release 5 Europeans From Guantanamo

The U.S. military announced Thursday that it will release five British citizens and a Danish citizen who have been held on Guantanamo Bay for two years.

Brits Plan To Drop Katherine Gun Case

The Guardian of London is reporting the British government is preparing to drop its case against Katherine Gun. Gun is the 29-year-old employee who leaked information to the press about how the US and Britian were spying on diplomats at the United Nations in the lead up to a vote on Iraq.

SF Sues Calif. Over Gay Marriage

The city of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against the state of California charging the state’s laws that bar gay marriage violate language in the state constitution that forbids discrimination.

Creative Commons License The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org. Some of the work(s) that this program incorporates, however, may be separately licensed. For further information or additional permissions, contact us.

Whole Show | First Story »