Democracy Now!:
FBI acusado de interrogar a dos ciudadanos estadounidenses retenidos ilegalmente en Paquistán
La organización Human Rights Watch acusó al FBI de interrogar y amenazar a dos ciudadanos estadounidenses mientras se encontraban detenidos en forma ilegal y eran torturados por los servicios de seguridad paquistaní. Según Human Rights Watch, los detenidos, que son hermanos, fueron secuestrados de su hogar en Karachi en agosto de 2004. Estuvieron detenidos hasta el mes pasado sin haber sido acusados. Durante los ocho meses de su detención, agentes del FBI los cuestionaron y amenazaron en forma sistemática con enviarlos a la prisión de la Bahía de Guantánamo. Asimismo, Human Rights Watch alegó que el FBI no intervino para poner fin a la tortura ni para brindar ayuda consular, que normalmente se ofrece a ciudadanos estadounidenses detenidos. Uno de los hermanos dijo que "los agentes paquistaníes nos golpeaban duramente, nos mantenían despiertos toda la noche o nos colgaban de los pies, antes que los agentes del FBI nos hicieran 10 sesiones de interrogatorios a cada uno."
y:
Defensor de "papas de la libertad" ahora se opone a la Guerra en Irak
También en el Capitolio, surgió un inesperado crítico a la guerra: el republicano Walter Jones.
El congresista de Carolina del Norte expresó recientemente a un diario local que Estados Unidos fue a la guerra "sin justificación alguna". Jones fue noticia internacional hace tres años cuando criticó a Francia por no apoyar la guerra. En marzo de 2003 exigió que tres cafeterías del congreso prohibieran la palabra "francés/a" en el menú. Las "papas francesas" (papas fritas) pronto se convirtieron en las papas de la libertad. A pesar que la prohibición permanece vigente, la opinión actual de Jones sobre la guerra parece ser más cercana a la de Francia que a la del Presidente Bush. Jones afirmó que "sería un error que las personas de este gobierno nos dieran información errónea en forma intencional para ejercer la autoridad de enviar hombres y en algunos casos a mujeres, a Irak. Le deben decir la verdad al Congreso".
Juan selected two items to highlight from Democracy Now!'s Headlines for today's show.
We're highlighting "NEW FEATURE: Democracy Now! is now offering the program's daily news summary translated into Spanish. Los Titulares de Hoy" each day this week to get the word out.
Headlines can be read (via transcript) or listened to in Spanish. If you or someone you know might be interested in this feature, please get the word out on it.
Here, in English, are the two items Juan selected from Headlines:
FBI Accused of Interrogating Two U.S. Citizens Illegally Held in Pakistan
Human Rights Watch is accusing the FBI of interrogating and threatening two U.S. citizens while they being unlawfully detained and tortured by the Pakistani security services. According to Human Rights Watch, the men -- who are brothers -- were abducted from their home in Karachi in August, 2004. They were held until last month without ever been charged. During their eight months of detention, FBI agents repeatedly questioned them and threatened to send them to Guantanamo Bay. In addition, Human Rights Watch alleges that the FBI did not intervene to end the torture of the men or provide consular facilities normally offered to detained U.S. citizens. One of the brothers said "We were beaten severely, kept awake all night or hung upside down by Pakistani agents before each of about 10 interrogation sessions by FBI agents."
and:
Backer of 'Freedom Fries' Now Opposes the War in Iraq
But also on Capitol Hill -- a surprising critic of the war has emerged -- Republican Walter Jones. The Congressman from North Carolina recently told a local newspaper that the US went to war "with no justification." Jones made international headlines three years ago when he lashed out at France for not supporting the war effort. In March 2003 he demanded that three Congressional cafeterias ban the word French from the menus. French fries soon became freedom fries. While the ban is still in force, Jones' current view on the war appears to be closer to France's than President Bush's. Jones said "If we were given misinformation intentionally by people in this administration, to commit the authority to send boys, and in some instances girls, to go into Iraq, that is wrong. Congress must be told the truth."
We will continue highlighting Headlines in Spanish this week. Please pass on the news that the Headlines at Democracy Now! can be listened to read in Spanish.
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