Transcripts For LINKTV Democracy Now 20140624

With kurdish leaders in iraq, United Nations reports or than 1000 iraqis had been killed so far this month. Will the u. S. Lawns launch military strikes . E will speak to Phyllis Bennis then we will look at the once secret Justice Department memo justifying u. S. Government drone strikes against u. S. Citizens. For the first time the court has ordered the government to disclose a memo it has wanted to keep secret. The memo lays out the governments eagle justification , constitutional analysis, for killing a u. S. Citizen. Then water is a human rights. Tell detroit attorney caps back on. That is the cry of residents in detroit appealing to the United Nations over the citys move to shut off the water of thousands of residents. Parents had to run to find out how theyre going to pay their water bill. All of that and more coming up. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. A federal court has released a heavily redacted memo that outlines the Obama Administrations legal rationale for killing u. S. Citizens overseas. During the three month span in 2011, u. S. Drones killed four american citizens, including muslim cleric Anwar Alawlaki and weeks later, his denverborn 16yearold son abdulrahman in yemen. The legal memo kept secret by the administration until now concludes the 2001 authorization for use of military force gave u. S. Government the authority to target Anwar Alawlaki, who the administration claims had joined al qaeda. The memo was authored by former obama Justice Department official david barron who was confirmed to the First Circuit court of appeals last month. We will discuss the militants release in detail ash the memos released later in the broadcast. In iraq, sunni militants have solidified their control over the western border, including crossing points with syria and jordan. The expansion came as secretary of state john kerry at a surprise visit to baghdad monday. Speaking in washington, the state Department Spokesperson laid out the details of what the administration called its intense and sustained support for iraq. First, there are going to be advisers working with the iraqis to help shore up their ability to fight isil and we will be enhancing our intelligence sharing through joint version centers and we will continue to supply a steady stream of sophisticated munitions. They will be working with iraqs best units to help them fight isil. The United Nations reports at least 1075 people have been killed in iraq this month, most of them civilians. More after the headlines. In news from nigeria, the Associated Press reports islamic militants have kidnapped 60 more girls and women and 31 boys from northeastern villages. When this is confirmed the objections while Security Forces have denied them. The militant group au courant has carried out near constant attacks in the region including the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in april. Israel has bombed a number of targets in syria in retaliation for crossborder attack that killed a teenager in the israelioccupied go on heights. Syria says the israeli strikes have killed four people in what it called the flagrant violation of syrian sovereignty. Syria, as israel faces International Scrutiny for its raids on the occupied west bank in response to the disappearance of three israeli teenagers. Israel has accused hamas of kidnapping the teens and has detained 361 palestinians and killed at least four in an ongoing crackdown. Speaking on monday, the u. N. Political chief called for restraint. The rising death toll as the result of this kerry operations in the west bank is alarming. We condemn all killing of civilians and call for an investigation into any such deaths. Reportedly, the Israeli Cabinet also voted to impose harsher conditions on detainees affiliated with hanas who are in israeli custody. As the search for the missing youth continues, we call for restraint in caring of the Security Operations in strict compliance with International Law and avoiding punishing individuals for offenses they have not personally committed. Syria has completed the handover of its chemical weapons stock aisles to western powers under a deal reached last year to avert possible u. S. Airstrikes. The organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons says all 1300 tons of syrias declared supply has been carried out of the country by ship and will be destroyed. Anhanistan is facing election crisis amidst allegations of fraud in the president ial runoff. A top election official resigned monday after president ial Abdullah Abdullah released audio recordings which he claimed showed the official orchestrating the stuffing of the ballot boxes. The official denied the tapes are real but said he would resign for the sake of national unity. Deadliesteen the month this year for u. S. Troops. N afghanistan with nine killed egypts president says he will not intervene in the sentencing of three al jazeera journalists between three to seven years in prison. Even as International Outcry spreads. Peter greste, mohamed fahmy, and Baher Mohamed were convicted of terrorism charges including spreading false news in support of the muslim brotherhood, deemed by the government a terrorist group. Peter grestes father reacted to the sentencing. Time, not a very dark only for our family, but for journalism generally. , shocked, andted dismayed at this finding. We are not usually a family of superlatives, but have to say this morning, my vocabulary fails to convey just how shattered we are. A correction on the sentences, the three al jazeera journalists were sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison. The sentencing came one day after secretary of state john kerry met with egypts new president , the former army chief and outlined plans for full resumption of military ties in the coming months. On monday, john kerry released a statement calling the verdict draconian and urging egypt to consider all available remedies, including pardons. The statement did not mention u. S. Military aid including 575 Million Dollars released in recent days and plans to send a longdelayed shipment of apache helicopters. Australia has protested the sentencing of peter greste, an australian citizen, by summoning a top egyptian diplomat. President obama has called for paid family leave and greater flexibility to improve conditions for working parents. Obama repeated the call at the white house summit on monday after initial remarks in his weekly address on saturday. Many jobs dont offer adequate leave to care for a new baby or an ailing parent, so workers cannot afford to be there when their family needs them the most. That is wrong. It puts us way behind the times. Only three countries in the world report that they dont offer paid maternity leave. Free. The United States is one of them. It is time to change that. The Supreme Court has largely upheld the Obama Administration omits on Greenhouse Gas emissions that are warming the planet. In a seven to two decision, the court ruled the Environmental Protection agency could regulate power plants and other statiory sources of Greenhouse Gas emissions as long as they are already requiring permits for other types of pollution. Majority,r the Justice Antonin Scalia said the ruling allows the epa to regulate 83 of such emissions, compared to the 86 the agency sought to regulate. In south africa, platinum miners have agreed to end a historic fivemonth long strike in return for increased wages. A miners union said it accepted a plan to raise wages by about 94 a month, roughly 20 rise, ending what has reportedly been the longest strike in South African history. Ining a Previous Strike 2012, police opened fire on platinumt the marikana mine, killing 34 people. In brazil, antiworld cup protests are continuing across the country even amidst celebrations over brazils latest triumph on the field. On monday, demonstrators marched to protest mass expenditures and displacement caused by the event. Construction workers demanded higher pay as brazil spends an estimated 11. 5 million on the most expensive world cup on record. In rio de janeiro, hundreds of people marched past reveling fans to denounce Police Violence against residents of the favela neighborhoods. This is a protest against the top and state violence. Have been in my area, five people have been martyred by stagehands. This idea the upp are pacifiers is a farce. Those who live in my area in the of in the favelas know it is a continual policy about controlling the people. In less than two years, more than five and people have been killed in my neighborhood. Brazil has spent more than 11. 5 billion on the world cup. In london, critics of austerity are vowing to stage more estimatedfter an 50,000 people marched this past weekend. The Peoples Assembly has called for people in britain to rise up and defend education, health and welfare in the face of austerity measures introduced by the government. Among the protesters was comedian russell brand. Revolution is required. The implementation of the ideas of a safe. Democracy would be nice, actually, where people are represented. I believe the people of this country want to focus their hatred and anger on other people that dont have willful power. It is quite clear the people who have wealth and power of the people who need to change. That was russell brand. Headah brooks, the former of Rupert Murdochs newspaper unit in britain has been acquitted of phone hacking a bribery in a trial that rocked murdochs media empire. Her former deputy who served as editor of news of the world tabloid before becoming Communications Director for british by minister david cameron, has been found guilty of one count of phone hacking. The scandal led murdoch to shut down the tabloid in 2011. In california, state auditors report has found dozens of prisoners were illegally sterilized. Out of 100 44 surgical sterilizations performed in were performed9 without the legal requirements for consent. In some cases, doctors failed to sign paperwork certifying the prisoner understood the impact of the procedure. In others, they falsified paperwork to make it appear as if a statemandated waiting poeriod had passed. It is the latest chapter in an unfolding scandal in california after former prisoners reported being coerced into sterilization. A planned parenthood petition over the alleged censoring of a movie ad i nbc has received about 11,000 signatures. Planned parenthood launched the petition following reports nbc refused to run a trailer for the romantic comedy obvious child because it mentions the word abortion. The petition reads in part to see our interview with the director of obvious child, you can go to democracynow. Org. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with aaron mate. Welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. The Obama Administration has promised iraq intense and sustained support against a sunni uprising overtaking large parts of the country. John kerry made the pledge monday in a surprise visit to baghdad. He was meeting with kurdish leaders today and said iraqs most critical task is to adopt inclusiveness when it forms a new government by july 1 deadline. He gave new indications that regardless of Political Developments in iraq, the u. S. Is increasingly prepared to launch military strikes against sunni militants. Their very future of iraq depends on choices that will be made in the next days and weeks, in the future of iraq depends primarily on the ability of iraqs leaders to come together and take a stand united against isil, not next week, not next month, but now. Make no mistake, the president has moved the assets into place and has been gaining each day the assurances he needs with respect to potential targeting, and he is reserved the right to himself, as he should, to make a decision at any point in time if he deems it necessary strategically. John kerry spoke as the first of around 300 u. S. Special operation forces, labeled military advisers, took up positions in iraq all stop their deployment came hours after baghdad and washington finalized a new immunity deal for their mission. Iraq out position a longtime troop immunity helped force the withdrawal of u. S. Forces in 2011, but the special forces will be covered while they are temporarily present in connection with the current crisis. The special forces mission includes acting as forward spotters for potential u. S. Airstrikes. Two u. S. Aircraft carriers have already been deployed. In addition am of the Obama Administration has also floated the possibility of attacking isis militants in neighboring syria. All of this comes as isis has expanded its stronghold in the north and west, seizing three border crossings and four nearby towns over the weekend. According to monitors from the United Nations, more than 1075 people have been killed so far this month in iraq. John kerrys visit followed steps or stops in egypt and jordan. He is also expected to touch down in brussels and paris in the coming days. Some argue his travel calendar ignores the most important stop he could make rash tehran. The u. S. And iran are fighting a common him in any and iraq sunni militants. But despite much speculation and Ongoing Nuclear talks, there is little sign the two sides are approaching meaningful engagement on iraq and the threat of regional conflict its inflaming. For more we get a washington, d. C. To speak with Phyllis Bennis, senior fellow at the institute for policy studies. She is the author of several books including, ending the iraq war a primer. Welcome back to democracy now what about the United States and iran, visavis, iraq . This is very much a nixon goes to china moment. President obama should go to tehran. This is a moment where if were serious about what president obama, secretary of state kerry and so many other u. S. Officials have acknowledged, there is no military solution in iraq war in syria for them we have to make that real. We have to figure out how to do the diplomacy. Ais is a moment for the dramatic gesture outside the box to say we need to talk with iran, the other major power, the big Regional Power in the equation to talk about how to bring these horrific exploding levels of violence in both countries to in end. There are some real possibilities. U. S. And iran are already talking to each other. They are underway in the talks over Irans Nuclear program. Those talks seemed to be going well, although, slowly as anticipated. It is likely they will not meet the july 20 deadline and will be extended another six months, which was anticipated in crafting the operative agreement now. As those talks go forward, we should see this, and i hope the Obama Administration would consider seeing this, as a moment to really expand those talks towards what is known in the diplomatic or limit as grand bargain. What that means is going beyond the narrow constraints of talking about the nuclear question to a broader question as tamping down the tensioning going toward normalizations of relations between the United States and iran. This is the moment when i can be possible. Right now in this exploding violent conflict going on on the sectarian bases in iraq and syria, iran and the u. S. Have a lot of the same interests. For someone different reasons, but they come down on the same side. In iraq, it is clear iran on some level like to see malik he and his sectarian shia government stay in power, but iran certainly does not want to see an explosion of this kind of destabilizing violence on its long border with iraq. In syria, both countries have an interest in tamping down the violence, even though they have differences over what the real threat might be. Syria are still supporting the syrian regime. The u. S. Opposes the syrian regime. The both iran and the United States say they are against isis , the leading force in syria that is opposed to the syrian regime. So the u. S. And iran in that context are on the same side. It makes the whole u. S. Policy eric complicated and very sort iscontradicted of of what it trying to do. It is challenging itself, if you will. In a new initiative to take on mightngagement with iran be the beginning of the way to get really bearish nations underway. Say the u. S. And iran have these talks and they go well. What exactly does that cooperation do to counter the situation in iraq with isis taken over large parts of the country and also neighboring syria . I think we have to be very clear that this is not just about isis taken over the country. Lishis a very powerful organization, very disciplined and very violent and very extreme. But it doesnt have the capacity by itself to take over cities, to take over modul or these border crossings to control, as claims are being made, an area of land inside syria the size of indiana im sorry, inside iraq, the size of indiana. It has the capacity because it has allies. Those allies are growing every day because of the sectarian behavior of malikis government right now in iraq. A leaky, a shia leader, is operating in a thoroughly sunniian way, stripping military leaders of their positions, kicking out government members who are sunni is risingthe anger quickly. That leads to a kind of alliance of convenience between ordinary sunnis who may hate what isis stands for, but they will stand with them in order to go against the Iraqi Government. Isis is a line with the socalled awakening council, which were the sunni tribal leaders that the u. S. Bought off in the period the socalled surge in iraq and 2006, 2007, in 2008 one a lot of money was nt to convince these guys when a lot of money was spent to convince these guys to fight. Theyre fighting rash isis is fighting with the support of baathists, the nationalist secular people who were opposed to the takeover of the United States of iraq, and who are kicked out of their positions. Back in 2003, the first thing the u. S. Occupation debt was armyntle the iraq in sinhalese mans with guns with no jobs in a way to support their family, very angry. In a dismantle the Iraqi Government and the name of socalled deep application. Tll of those people who los their jobs, they are really, really angry. They are now fighting with isis. That is why isis has been able to make this sweep across northern and western iraq because that is where the sunni heartland is and that is where people are so angry at the sectarian shia government that theyre willing to ally themselves even with this terrible Extremist Organization isis an order to go after the government. That is what could change if the u. S. And iran working together were able to jointly bring pressure to bear on the government of iraq, which is now in this transition moment. They had elections in april. The maliki party did not win a majority, but they won more than others, so they are trying to put together a government. But they are refusing any kind of national unity. They are refusing to build an inclusive government as president obama in so many others have called on. Theres absolutely no indication theyre ready to do that. Until they do, this kind of sectarian tension is only going to grow and only going to become more militarized, more violent. What it can mean if the u. S. And iran, the two most important allies and supporters of the current government, Work Together to bring pressure to bear from including sending no more weapons to the army which is now functioning essentially as a shia militia and that context, the u. S. Iranian alliance, if there were to be such a thing, could play hugely important role. Speaking to nbc news sunday, israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the u. S. To attempt to weaken both sunnis in iraq and shia in iran. He also repeated his warnings that iran stands to develop Nuclear Weapons. What youre seeing in the middle east today in iraq and syria is the historic hatred between radical shiites, in this case led by iran, and radical sunnis led by al qaeda and isis and others. Both of these camps are enemies of the United States. When your enemies are fighting each other, dont strengthen either one of them. Both. The worst outcome that could happen is one of these factions, iran, would come out Nuclear Weapons capabilities. That would be a tragic mistake. It will make Everything Else pale in comparison. That was Benjamin Netanyahu. Phyllis bennis . He has spent the last several years of his campaign, his career, trying to convince the United States that opposition to the story. End of that is all that has happened. It is wrong. There is no way both israeli opposition and the very likely elect powerful netanyahu is wrong. He is wrong when he says the opposition to isis is being led by iran. It is not. Shia being led by the government in iraq supported by the United States. That is the reality on the ground. And this notion that somehow alleviating the possibility of a u. S. Iranian war would be a bad thing, speaks to the bankruptcy of the israeli policy on this. They are saying this while theyre continuing to kill palestinians in the west bank, hoping nobody will call them to account for it because theyre worried about iran. So this is really a political netanyahu. Y there will be massive israeli and saudi opposition to any such agreement between the u. S. And iran. President obama in these last two years of his time in office should use the opportunity to say, i dont make my policies based on lobbies based on what other countries think i should do. I make them on what is best for this country and for the world. What is best for the world is u. S. G everything the can do to tamp down his level of violence and that means an alliance with the most stable country in the region right now, ironically, iran, and the one country that has enough influence in iraq tax and make a difference. You mentioned saudi arabia. Even the u. S. Own diplomatic cables released by wikileaks have acknowledged it is saudi arabia that is the largest source for the funding of the islamist militant groups. So can there be serious engagement with the process in iraq without the u. S. Shift in its policy toward saudi arabia . In the long, i think theres going to have to be a regional shift of u. S. Policy that goes way beyond iraq and the immediate crisis. And that is going to have to include Holding Saudi arabia to account. This isnt an official saudi policy of the government to support organizations like isis, but there are wideranging reports that a number of saudi princes have been involved in the funding and it is clear much of the money is coming from private individuals in saudi arabia and other countries in the gulf as well. A particularly saudi arabia. It is the presence of u. S. Troops and bases in saudi arabia that first gave rise to the extremism of al qaeda. If we look to the pre9 11 period, what al qaeda and Osama Bin Laden were reacting to was not the demand that they raise a shariabased estate in the region, etc. That came later. Their first position was their opposition to the u. S. Troop presence in saudi arabia, infidels in their holy land. And that is what was the focus. That basis has allowed the saudi toernment in enormous leeway not only violate massive human rights in their own country, to play this incredibly destabilizing role in the region, including the support of these extremist sunni terrorist organizations like isis and isil. The question of what the u. S. Used to do includes telling the saudis until they stop allowing saudi weapons, which are ultimately u. S. Weapons sold to the saudis, we are not going to sell them anymore weapons. The u. S. Has announced two years ago a 60 billion arms sale to saudi arabia, the largest single arms sale in history. It is not going to be easy for any government, president obama or any future in administration, to tackle that when the producers of those weapons in this country and their ceos make such a killing on those kinds of sales. It reminds me of the iraniraq war. U. S. Supporting both sides. Kerry there in iraq . He was just in egypt where he also guaranteed the resumption of more military aid to egypt and jordan, the same thing. This is a huge problem that the u. S. Is trying to buy the loyalty of air rulers by promising the more and more arms, despite any Human Rights Violations in egypt which we have been hearing about the outrageous sentencing of the al jazeera journalists for seven to 10 years of peace for doing their job with no evidence provided. Not a word was said while kerry was in cairo. The next day when he is in jordan he says, by the way, we did not like with the Egyptian Government did. It in the meantime, theyre continuing to release 500 million of military aid. This is giving impunity to all of these rulers and making it much harder to hold anyone accountable in the middle east. Glenn beck admitted last week on fox news he was mistaken about the war. I hate to say these things it pains me to say these first of all, we start with this. Progressives, liberals, whoever on the other side, i will admit i was wrong about the war in iraq. I really thought we could bring peace and justice and freedom and all that stuff. You didnt. You are right. People have to want it and earn it themselves. That was glenn beck. Phyllis bennis . Is all very nice he is painted to say this, but it is not the same of the pain of so many millions of iraqi families who have lost members who have had family members killed, injured, forced to leave their homes. The apology is a little too little and little too late. I want to ask you quickly about the situation in israel and the occupied territories. Israel conducting rates are at the west bank, resting over 360 palestinians, killing at least four. Your response to what is happening there . Is a horrific scene of collective punishment. Three teenagers have disappeared. No one knows where they are. The assertion is made they have been kidnapped. That hamas is responsible and therefore israel has taken the position and some officials have acknowledged h their doing this to weakenamas and destroy the unity government that created, that has nothing to do with the missing boys. No one knows where they are. More than 360 people at been arrested. Now five people have been killed from the information im getting in raids across the west bank. People even now in ramallah, the central Palestinian Government and a government led by mahmoud abbas, people have been saying theyre now facing these raids by the israelis for the first time. The situation in hebrom is a must a complete lockdown is almost a complete lockdown. Israeli raids have been going on day and night. Whathen nothing to do with may or may not even be a kidnapping. These boys are missing. The notion their kidnapped is not even yet a certainty. Finally, the significance of the Presbyterian Church divesting from three companies motorola, hewlettpackard, caterpillar that were doing business in the occupied territories . Finally, a word of good news. This is an indication of the massive shift in discourse in this country and around the world on the question of recognition of the illegality and for the churches are especially, the immorality of israels occupation. This was a long fought decision in the Presbyterian Church. Two years ago they narrowly defeated a motion, although they passed a powerful motion to boycott settlement produced goods, they narrowly defeated a very similar motion on divesting from these corporations that are making such an illegal profit from occupation. And they now have said, we cant do this anymore. We have tried to engage with these companies and show them the error of their ways, if you will, and that not listen to us so we have no choice because as ith committed he, it is our obligation to act on our faith. It is one more indication that divestmentott initiated in 2005 as having an enormous impact. It is not yet having sufficient impact to change israeli policy but it is going in a massively important direction in showing the change in u. S. Public opinion and eventually, that has got to have an impact on u. S. Policy. Phyllis bennis, thank you for being with us, author of many books including, ending the iraq war a primer. When we come back, we will take a look at the drone memo that has just been released by the Obama Administration, justifying the killing of u. S. Citizens in drone strikes. Stay with us. [music break] this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with aaron mate. During a three month span in 2011, u. S. Drones killed four american citizens overseas. On september 30, cleric Anwar Alawlaki and samir khan were killed in a drone strike. Two weeks later, another u. S. Drone killed anwars 16yearold son abdulrahman. Years, thet 2. 5 Obama Administration is kept secret its legal rationale for killing american citizens overseas. That changed on monday when a federal court released a heavily redacted 41 page memo that authorization2001 to use military force gave the Us Government the authority to target Anwar Alawlaki, who the Obama Administration claims to have joined al qaeda. The Justice Department memo states the memo goes on to say the u. S. Could use legal force against your citizen when highlevel government officials are determined to capture operation is infeasible and that the targeted person is engaged in activities that pose a continued and imminent threat to u. S. Persons or interests. The memo also states u. S. Constitution would not require the government to provide further process such as advance notice or a Court Hearing before carrying out a Deadly Strike on a u. S. Citizen. The memo was written on july 16, 2010, months after the first known u. S. Attempt to kill Anwar Alawlaki. On capitol hill, senator ron wyden praised the release of the memo but said it raises many questions. He asked the memo was authored by former obama Justice Department official david barron. Last month from the Senate Confirmed his nomination to the First Circuit court of appeals. Earlier this year, federal appeals Court Ordered the memos disclosure in response to lawsuits filed by the American Civil Liberties union in the New York Times. To discuss the memo, were joined by hina shamsi. Welcome to democracy now so you got what you wanted, you got the memo. What do you find most significant inside it . Longis memo is release is overdue. It is critically and portman for transparency. But as we see from reading the memo itself, it is by far from enough. A couple of things are most important. One is with what is in the memo and two what is not in the memo. With respect to what is in the memo, the Justice Department for the co justification for the killing of u. S. Citizen is the 2001 authorization for use of military force which has to be read alongside the International Law that regulates when the u. S. And any other country is or is not in an Armed Conflict. One of the key things that this memo does is it says some of the limitations on when an Armed Conflict exists dont have to apply. So it says that the things we think of and that the more recognized certain level of duration of hostilities, a certain level of intensity of hostilities, those dont have to be present. In essence, a recent way any kind of territorial limitation or temporal limitation for wind or exist. This has been one of the things we and others have been concerned about which is the Obama Administration broad interpretation of Authority Even when that does not exist. Can you talk about what the memo says about imminence . That is a key issue, whether it is in imminent threat. That is one of the surprising aspects because the concept of imminence or what we have heard of earlier as a continuing imminent threat, is barely discussed in it, at least in the versions that have been made public. This is critically important for a couple of reasons. First of all, the white paper that was earlier released, leaked, that talked about the administrations definition of the continuing imminent threat said the threat did not have to include specific evidence of a plot that was actually about to take place in the immediate future. The real world meaning of imminence is read away. The memo, at least in the parts disclosed, does not discuss his controversial, novel interpretation nor does it discuss how that education could possibly be lawful. Can you talk about the reduction in the footnotes . Why is this so significant . There are multiple reductions. The largest we know from reading the courts opinion with respect to the factual basis for the administrations determination that it could carry out this killing. Theres also a set of redactions in the footnotes that appear to be about the legal justifications. To key aspects here. One, without knowing the factual basis for why these coins are lawful, we dont know whether they are in fact lawful. Repeatedly, the memos authors say that the legal conclusions are based on factual representations made by the cia, the department of defense, in the intelligence community. It also says that Senior Intelligence officials can make the determination about whether fax are justified to permit killing. This shows you just how dangerous it is, not to have any independent judicial review before or after the fact my which is what the administration has argued and with this memo seeks to justify. Are there secret laws . I think there are still secret interpretations of the law. One of the aspects we have long thought existed are multiple legal memos. We know from Senate Intelligence committee disclosures there are approximately 11 legal memos governing the targeted killing program and dr. Apparently relate to citizens and the other relate to noncitizens. This is a body of legal interpretation by the administration about when they can exercise perhaps the most consequential authority of all, the killing of people, including some citizens. And we do not yet have access to this body of information. This is one of the things the court has sent back to the district court, additional review of additional secret memos that we are seeking the release of. The administration does not have to wait as it did here to be ordered by a court to release information that should be public. You can go ahead and follow through on promises of transparency and provide the legal interpretations as well as basic information about noncitizens. Thousands of noncitizens have been killed in this program and yet we do not know officially that number of noncitizens, their identity, or the legal justifications. Is there nation of the 16yearold boy that was born in denver, who was out looking in the desert for his dad and was killed two weeks after his father was killed . There is no mention of. Bdulrahman yet no idea where his father was because he was killed hundreds of miles away. I think that is an important part of what remains on disclosed undisclosed. The memo says in effort will be made to keep the casualties to a minimum and those are policy pronouncements that the Obama Administration and senior it ministration officials have made over and over again. Yet we know from independent reporting and independent investigations from human rights groups, at least hundreds of people who are civilian i standers have died in this program and we have no basis find a way of understanding what the reasons were that they were killed and certainly none of these people have been afforded any recognition, let alone compensation, by our government for wrongful killings. You mentioned noncitizens. So much of the debate has been around whether the americans have the right to be killed without due process. As there any indication that noncitizens have these rights or any acknowledgment in the u. S. Government that noncitizens have these rights . Of course, noncitizens and citizens have the same rights under International Law, and we believe those rights are reflected in the human rights provisions of our constitution. The administration has taken policy positions about what standards would be applicable to noncitizens. But here again we go back to the lack of transparency. Apparently, there are seven memos that relate to the killings of noncitizens, although, the administration has not confirmed that. As much and as necessary as it is to know what standards applied to citizens, we also equally need to know what standards apply to noncitizens. Where do you go from here . First, aspects of this case are going to go back to the court in new york and were going to continue fighting for the release of additional information, legal memos, factual basis. We have a second lawsuit and the District Of Columbia where we are seeking information not just about citizens, but noncitizens and the use of drones strikes with respect to noncitizens, but again i think what is important is that the and ministration does not have to wait for the aclu or the New York Times or anyone else. They can act and follow through on its promises of transparency and should do so. Thank you for being with us, hina shamsi, director of the America Civil Liberty Union National Security project. Would we come back, Something Like 1500 to 3000 water a week aren detroit having their water shut off. Stay with us. [music break] this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with aaron mate. In detroit have appealed to the United Nations over the citys move to shut off the water of thousands of residents. The Detroit Water Authority says half of it 323,000 accounts article england. It has begun turning off the taps of those who do not pay bills that total above 150 or that are 60 days late. And smart, up to 3000 accounts holders of had their taps shut off per week. The Detroit Water Authority theres an estimated 5 billion in debt and is been the subject of talks to privatize. After this, saying they did potablehe most families. When they come to shut off the water and parents had to run to try to find how theyre going to pay their water bill. Another woman is pregnant. She is a two year old. She has a twoyearold. She is holding a bill for 400 in her hand, begging, dont turn off my water. A pregnant woman with a 400 bill. Shutting her water off and shes pregnant. Shame on you. That was ann rall of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization. In a submission to the United Nations special rockridge were on the human right to Safe Drinking Water and sanitation, activists say detroit is trying to push through a private takeover of its water system at the expense of basic rights. The group food and water watch said the poverty rate in detroit is approximately 40 and people ive seen their water bills within the last decade. Most of the residents are African American and two thirds of those impacted by the water shut off involves family with children. The detroit water and Sewerage Department or dwsd, has defended its actions saying the water shutoffs are necessary for alleviating the departments debts. This is the Public Affairs specialist at the view dwsd. Were trying to work with people to get on payment plans or get been paid and it has worked. Increased or lowered our debt little bit. For more, we go to detroit, michigan where were joined by maureen taylor, the state chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization. In ottawa, canada, were joined by meera karunananthan, in International Water campaigner for the blue planet project. Her group filed as a mission to the United Nations special arbiter regarding the right to Drinking Water in detroit. We invited detroits emergency manager kevyn orr to our program but his office declined our request. Tell us what is happening on the ground. People must be scratching their heads around the United States and around the world here this. How many people are having their water cutoffs in detroit every week . We are getting conflicting information. And good morning to you. We are told anywhere from 3000 per month to 3000 per week. Detroitstorical for the water and Sewerage Department to not give its residents information. At our offices and michigan welfare rights, we are getting 30 to 40 calls an hour where people are saying, i either have a water bill and im afraid that my water is about to be cut off or, my water has already been cut off, what can he do to help us and give us some information. So it is scandalous. And we live in the great lakes. To have water threatened and people told if your bill is 150 or more, youre on a block, a chopping block where your water is going to be turned off, in michigan, it is particularly egregious because i household that has welfare involvement and water is turned off with minor children in the home, means protective services can come in and take the children out and put them in foster care. And in a foster care home, you can earn more money as a Foster Parent and you can is a birth mother. It is just scandalous what is going on in detroit. Scandalous. What can families do if they dont have water . Where did they get clean water . We live in the great lakes, so it is an outraged even have this discussion. That this kind of attack is going on. What we advise people to do is, first of all, we get information on what is the reason why you may be behind on your water bill. We have multiple agencies and organizations that we can send people to get partial payment. We try to encourage people to set up payment plans. But the number of people that are under attack, again, were talking about bluecollar workers in detroit. This is an orchestrated attack by banks and corporations and what nine in an effort to try to enrich themselves. As the Water Department is trying to justify this egregious behavior, we didnt have any choice. Our colleagues in canada suggested perhaps we should go to the u. N. And we jumped at the opportunity. And we are expecting the United Nations to come to detroit and take a look at what is going on and make some kind of declaration about Human Rights Violations. This is an outrage. Meera karunananthan, your group authored the report to the u. N. Can you talk about what this appeal says . The United Nations will look at the facts, look at what is happening in detroit and join us ofdeclaring this violation the human right to water and sanitation. If you listen to the department of water and sewerage in detroit, you would think this is a case of people not paying for were talking about the water and Sanitation Services the people in detroit are entitled to. This is their public water and sanitation utility. The level of cutoffs were is absolutelyoit outrageous. It is a human rights violation. These are not the measures that should be taken by the city to address the problem of underfunding to the water and Sanitation Services. We are calling on the u. S. Government, calling on congress to intervene and calling on the state of michigan to intervene because but the federal government and the state have obligations to ensure the rights of the people in detroit are respected. How much two people pay for water in detroit compared to other parts of the country . Average the National Average is somewhere between 40 and 50 a month. In the city of detroit, it is householdlike 75 per per month. According to the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization that is actually for family of four, theyre paying 450 theyre paying up to 250 per month. And how much do people pay the average monthly income. How much do people make on average the average Household Income is Something Like 25,000. I compared that to our situation in canada where the average Household Income in ottawa is in the range of 90,000 and we pay Something Like 50 a month for our water and sewerage bills. Andrates are exorbitant unaffordable in the city where the poverty rates are as high as they are in the city of detroit. Maureen taylor, i have to ask you, theres been basically no federal aid for detroit. There was a measure to give about 300 million that is been proposed in the private and federal funding. But seeing how banks and companys got big bailouts in detroit left to bleed, it is a city that is 80 africanamerican. Do you think racism is at play here . Racism is always at play. People of color can never escape the shadow of the plantation. But we are moving quickly, not away from that, but were joining this quest of black and white with green. This is about greed. There usedout the fact to be 1. 5 Million People that lived in detroit and just in detroit and what was popular dodge, huge plants. In these factories built something called a middleclass across the country. Just were i live in detroit alone, 400,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared. No one can take that kind of a hit. Where did they go . They went the way of technology. They usehe technology to enhance labor, now replacing labor. So r2d2 roberts now work at these factories. Jobs leftood paying with them. And you people of color. Lets go get them first. You bluecollar workers, lets go get them first. But this is more egregious. A woman and a child living on 420 inin michigan gets assistance, tabulating to 5,040 in year. This no good backstabbing kevinorr through the emergency manager, is getting 1000 an hour. This man makes a thousand dollars in one day and a family just 5,000 a family of two, just 5,000 a year. Folks that have lost jobs, sticking and staying in detroit to try to help to rebuild and repopulate my city and then to say, we are going to turn your water off because you cant pay for it . Not going to tolerate this. We have to leave it there. We will certainly continue to cover this crucial issue. Maureen taylor, state chair of the michigan water Rights Organization and meera karunananthan, International Water campaigner for the blue planet project. That does it for our show. Democracy now is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. Email your comments to outreach democracynow. Org or mail them to democracy now greg the group started