I think most of you know that I love music and prefer the stereo to the TV. So let me start off tonight by noting that you can hear an interview with Roberta Flack tonight. From C.I.:
Now Roberta Flack. Micah e-mailed that he wasn't sure of the WBAI program but Ruth says it's Home Fries which airs from nine to ten p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). Joyce Jones will be filling in as host and she will be speaking with Roberta Flack, fresh from the Apollo. So that's Roberta Flack on WBAI tonight (and you can listen online, remember) and that's Danny Schechter giving a presentation, a free presentation, in NYC Wednesday night.
Roberta Flack. If you're a fan (I am), make a point to listen. Of the older songs (from the seventies), I'd choose Flack's version of Janis Ian's "Jesse" which I really love. (I also love the Carly Simon song "Jesse" but this is not the same song.) It's a hard choice because there's so much to love. From the 80s? "Oasis." I love her voice (even on backing vocals, like on Carly Simon's "All I Want Is You"). This is part of the station's women's history month. Just by singing so wonderfully, Roberta Flack qualifies for a spotlight. However, she's also a songwriter herself and, in addition, she's a producer. She had to fight to get her sound. On her huge hit "Feel Like Makin' Love," she's credited with a psuedonym.
I have a lot of her albums (all of them if you count various formats) but the two I listen to most on CD are Killing Me Softly and Softly With These Songs: The Best of Roberta Flack. So I'm excited by the thought of hearing her tonight. If you're a music fan, you may be excited too.
Please visit Mikey Likes It! to get Mike's take on the news of today.
"Scalia: Guantanamo Detainees Have No Rights" (Democracy Now!):
Questions are now being raised as to whether Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should recuse himself from an upcoming case about the U.S. military prison at Guantanano Bay. Newsweek is reporting Scalia recently gave a speech in Switzerland, where he dismissed the idea that the detainees have rights under the U.S. Constitution or international conventions. During the speech Scalia said he was "astounded" at the "hypocritical" reaction in Europe to Guantanamo. Scalia said "War is war, and it has never been the case that when you captured a combatant you have to give them a jury trial in your civil courts." On Tuesday the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in a case that will decide whether the Bush administration can try Guantanamo detainees in special military tribunals. Two years ago Scalia recused himself from a case about the Pledge of Allegiance after he made public comments about the issue.
Whether a judge is or is not impartial, there is supposed to be the appearance of impartiality. He is hearing cases on the Guantanamo prisoners (one tomorrow) and the statements he's made call whether or not a Guantanamo prisoner's case will be heard objectively. Recusual is the only answer. His comments are not in the abstract, they are very concrete.
"Papers: Kissinger Ordered U.S. Support for Argentine Military Junta" (Democracy Now!):
Meanwhile newly declassified documents reveal that then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger ordered immediate U.S. support for the military junta shortly after it seized power in Argentina 30 years ago. According to the minutes of one meeting, Kissinger said "I do want to encourage them. I don't want to give the sense that they’re harassed by the United States." Kissinger said this even though his own top deputy in Latin America was predicting Argentina would face "a fair amount of repression [and] probably a good deal of blood” under the new regime. In addition State Department cables show that U.S. officials had prior knowledge of coup plotting. More than a week before the coup, the commander of the Argentine Navy requested the U.S. embassy recommend public relations firms inside the United States which would work for the future military junta.
Henry Kissiner should have been tossed behind bars long ago. If, indeed, "Only the Good Die Young" (as Billy Joel sang), Henry Kissinger will have a very uncomfortable later-years life. This is the tip of the iceberg with Kissinger. He should have to answer for his crimes in a court of law.
Now tomorrow morning, the Senate Judiciary committee will hold another hearing (whitewash?) on the illegal NSA spying. If you're interested in that, you won't be able to hear it live on NPR; however, as Ruth noted, you can hear it on the radio or online:
Programming notes for next week. First, Larry Bensky and KPFA will be covering Tuesday's **NSA Hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee** I assume that other Pacficia stations will carry this or some coverage of it as well but I have only heard it noted on KPFA. [Dallas note: Houston's KPFT will air the coverage beginning at 8:30 a.m. Central Time.]
And that's it for tonight because I came home this evening and the lock on my door was scratched up as though someone were attempting to get in. I'm dealing with that tonight in several ways. (Such as having the locks changed and something new installed.) So I'm sorry that I'm not offering much. But listen to Roberta Flack. I hope to have everyone out of here by the time that starts so I can just listen and enjoy. As it is now, I keep stopping and walking over to check out the progress.