Post Bush policy in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and the so-called ‘war on terror’ October 30th, 2008 Talk Nation Radio for October 30, 2008 Listen to this week’s show here Post Bush policy in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and the so-called ‘war on terror’ Produced by Dori Smith, WHUS FM 91.7 in Storrs, Ct TRT: 29:44 Download at Pacifica’s Audioport or Archive.org and Radio4all.net Guests: Brandon Roberts of the Working Poor Families Project and journalists Lionel Beehner and Dahr Jamail US air strikes across the Iraq border into Syria and ongoing US attacks in Pakistan. Where is Bush/Cheney doctrine on counter terrorism leading us as they prepare to leave the White House? Lionel Beehner discusses his October 27th piece in the Guardian UK is titled, ‘Striking Out in Syria’ and looks at new trends in Bush/Cheney counter terror war. Would the next president, Barack Obama perhaps, continue this policy that Beehner sees as leading to failure? Dahr Jamail has just finished a manuscript on resistance in the ranks, how US Iraq War veterans are working to save their own lives and shut the war down. He talks about US air strikes on Syria and Iraq. The Iraqi Government, such as it is, is also starting to try to push the USM out, and have impact on status of force agreement. Changes in USM policies may be leading to an escalation of the Iraq War. And on the elections, coverage of one race that could be an upset for an 11 term Representative: Connecticut Republican Rep. Chris Shays is running neck and neck with Democrat Jim Himes in the 4th Congressional District. Lead issues are the economy which Shays has continued to insist is “still strong” and the Iraq War. Shays is also running into trouble over support for the Bush administration’s private accounts for Social Security, otherwise known as privatization. Pollsters at Rassmussen give Democrats a 98.3% chance of winning in this democratic stronghold, they put Barack Obama ahead of Republican John Mccain by 17 points. The Hartford Courant newspaper found Obama leading by 25%, and a recent University of Connecticut poll found students favoring Obama by a 3-to-1 margin. But will heavy support for Obama translate into victory in state Congressional races? The answer could depend on who voters blame for the economic crisis, the failure of US banks and the biggest decline on Wall Street in 60 years. Connecticut has previously ranked at the top in per capita income, but a 2008 report showed the state slipping to number three behind Delaware and Alaska in per capita income and ranking below New York on annual income. In fact, the number of poor working families has grown significantly significantly in Connecticut according to a report released by the Working Families Project. They found a sharp increase in the overall number of working poor, and one out of four families with children now fall into the low-income category. 19 percent of the state’s children now live in low-income working families. Brandon Roberts of the Working Poor Families Project hopes all of the candidates running for office this year will study their latest report showing a sharp increase in working poor in America. He hopes the people running this year’s political campaigns will study his organization’s report for clues about what types of policy to implement when they get into office. (Roberts interview) The Bush administration’s record has been affecting the status of Republicans in Connecticut. Rassmussen polls show that while Connecticut voters see higher taxes as a negative overall, a majority, 58%, felt that raising taxes on higher income Americans would be a help in dealing with the current economic crisis. A position that favors Barack Obama. A July poll by Quinnipiac University found voters extremely worried about rising fuel prices, next in line was concern over the cost of food and health care, then concern about having enough retirement funds. And voters here do tie Iraq War spending to the economic crisis. These and other concerns have put Republican Christopher Shays at risk of losing his 4th district seat after 11 terms. The 4th district includes wealthier voters in suburban Greenwich and working class and poor voters in the cities of Bridgeport and Stamford. Some of the nation’s most poor can be found living in close proximity with billionaire hedge fund managers. Democratic challenger Jim Himes has been running neck and neck with Chris Shays, who has run into problems over his support for the Bush administration’s plan to create private accounts for Social Security: Himes has been targeting working class voters, has won the support of major unions, and has credentials as someone who has also worked in the financial district has been helping him too. Polls taken during the 2006 Congressional race in Connecticut indicate a deep mistrust for the Bush administration’s private accounts plan, and that voters here may never support privatization. On his web site Democratic challenger Jim Himes says he is against the private accounts, and that by taking even one-third of Social Security funds to create private savings accounts, Chris Shay’s plan would signal the start of a Republican privatization strategy. Himes joined another Connecticut Democrat, State Representative Rosa Delauro of the Third Congressional District, to call attention to his opposition to privatizing Social Security. Includes clips from The Real News network, October 15, 2008, Pakistani Lashkars join fight against Taliban. Tariq Amin-Khan : Pakistani government is playing with fire by arming more tribes with modern weapons. http://therealnews.com Contacts: Lionel Beehner Dahr Jamail Brandon Roberts, Working Poor Families Project