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	• NEWS >> ATW January 15, 2004 Yearly Script Program Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN/WELCOME Hi and welcome to Assignment: The World for the week of January 15th 2004. I’m Elissa Marra. In our top story this week…Saddam Hussein gets a new and unwelcome title. #1—IRAQ The former dictator of Iraq is now officially a prisoner of war. Some Iraqis reacted angrily to the news. Hussein may be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of his fellow countrymen. Many Iraqis are eager to have him put on trial for those alleged murders but his designation as a P-O-W may change that. That status sets the rules for Hussein’s treatment, interrogation, and the charges he may eventually face. The US says it still intends to turn him over to Iraqi courts for trial. Elsewhere in Iraq, US and other coalition troops continue to search for weapons and terrorists. A large overnight raid netted 14 Iraqis suspected of attacks on coalition forces. Troops from Denmark and Iceland discovered a cache of 36 shells buried in the Iraqi desert. The shells may have been used in the war fought between Iran and Iraq during the 1980s. Preliminary tests indicate they contain a chemical agent that would blister the skin of any person nearby. Interrogate (v) To question formally ATW FACT The United States Supreme Court is one of the three branches of government established by the Constitution. Its 9 members are asked to decide an average of 8000 cases each year, from which they choose a much smaller number to hear. Source: NY Times INTRO REST OF THE NEWS In the rest of the news this week… -An important court test in the war on terror… -Protests and barriers grow in Israel… -and controversial goals in outer space. #2—SUPREME COURT How far can the government go in the war on terror? The United States Supreme Court will hear the case of Yaser Esam Hamdi sometime this April. Hamdi who was born in the US to Saudi parents, was captured during fighting in Afghanistan. He has been held since then without being charged and without any chance to communicate with the outside world. The government argues that Hamdi doesn’t share the rights due to all US citizens. As a suspect in terrorism, the government says he can be held indefinitely. Hamdi’s father filed a civil liberties case on his son’s behalf, a case the Supreme Court has now agreed to hear. The eventual ruling on Hamdi and other American arrested in the war on terrorism could set limits on how the government fights that war. The court’s ruling is expected by July. Indefinite (adj) lacking precise limits, uncertain, undecided #3— — ISRAEL An estimated 120-thousand people gathered Sunday to protest the idea of land for peace. The protest in Tel Aviv was sparked by the possibility that Israel would evacuate certain settlements. The land in question is claimed by Palestinians as key in their struggle to establish an independent state. Many of those in the crowd are members of the same party as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the most recent leader to propose evacuating settlements. Palestinians had their own reasons for protest. Those came in the form of huge concrete segments that were hoisted into position Monday. They’re part of what is now a 90 mile long security barrier separating Israel from Palestinian settlements. Israel claims it needs the controversial barrier to keep out suicide bombers.. Evacuate (v) to withdraw or depart from #4— MOON/MARS The “Man in the Moon” could soon be us. President Bush will soon unveil a program that would establish a colony on the moon by the year 20-13 and have a manned mission to Mars by 20-20. The President’s proposal faces a number of large hurdles, not the least of which is its cost. Some estimate the bill for such plans would be more than 240-billion dollars. Scientists are far from unanimous about the necessary technology for the missions. Some say years of research are still needed on subjects including deep space radiation, the effects of long term weightlessness, and nuclear powered rockets. Critics say the proposal is, at best, badly timed coming as it does while the US has budget deficits and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Weightless (adj) experiencing little or no gravitational force POP QUIZ #1 In our story about Israel, what did we tell you a controversial plan would trade for peace? Was it… 1. Weapons 2. Land 3. Money And the answer is…number 2. More than 100-thousand people protested proposals to trade land for an agreement that would lead to peace. OLD CLUE #1— SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS And now it’s time for the answers to our clues in the news… Our first clue is the location of Monterrey, Mexico, the site of the Summit of the Americas. The two day meeting involved the leaders of all 34 members of the Organization of American States, the countries of North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Among the key topics discussed were fighting terrorism and corruption, building free trade, and improving life for the many people living below the poverty line. Mexico’s president also took the occasion to press for the free movement of workers between the US, Mexico and Canada. OLD CLUE #2—JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER Our newsmaker was Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. He is the 11th person to serve as Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO. De Hoop Scheffer is a career diplomat who comes from the Netherlands. His main priorities in the first part of his four year term will be to ease the entry of the 7 latest countries to join NATO. He wants to improve the dialogue between North America and Europe. But he said NATO’s single largest challenge will be to stabilize Afghanistan. He says NATO cannot afford to fail there. OLD CLUE #3—NORTH KOREA And finally, unscramble our third clue and you have North Korea. US delegates were given a tour Sunday of North Korea’s nuclear plant. It was a small step forward in what continues to be a standoff between North Korea and the US. North Korea recently offered to freeze its nuclear weapons program if the US agreed to drop some sanctions. While other nations in the region favor the proposal, the US is insisting that North Korea begin to dismantle its nuclear weapons before any concessions are made. THIS WEEK IN WORLD HISTORY This week in world history… on January 15th, 1971, the rebuilt Aswan Dam formally opened on the Nile River. At nearly 12-thousand feet long and 364 feet high, it was an architectural marvel. It also provides electricity to all of Egypt as well as making 30 per cent more land available to irrigation and farming. FEATURE INTRO This year’s Olympic competitions will be held in Athens later this year. Athletes around the world are in training…hoping to represent their country in Greece. One swimmer from East Jerusalem hopes to be the first to represent his people as an Olympic swimmer. Wyatt Doremus checks it out. (Wyatt) Before the intefada, Palestinian swimmer Raad Aweisat trained at a YMCA. After the fighting broke out, family and friends came to his aid to build him a new pool. His father with the assistance of neighbors dug a long hole through the back gardens of their neighborhood…and covered it in nylon to keep out the cold. All in an attempt to help a local boy realize his dream….to become the first person to swim for Palestine in the Olympic games. The conditions are less than ideal. (Raad Aweisat, swimmer) “With such conditions, it is possible to deliver something…but if we had a better institution, a better pool, better training facilities, then for sure we’d deliver better and get to the required level.” (Wyatt) His father is also his coach. (Hussein Aweisat, father/coach) “Sport is the best way to peace, and the sport is the relationship between all nations.” (Wyatt) In the spirit of the Olympic games, Raad hopes to compete this summer in Athens. For ATW, I’m Wyatt Doremus. ISN’T IT COOL RESCUED WHALE After five days of being trapped in fishing net, survival for this whale didn’t look promising….that is, not until several volunteers and the Mexican marines came to its rescue. Armed with gardening tools and under the watchful eyes of three other hump back whales the rescuers tried to cut the whale free from the fishing net. After eleven hours the rescuers succeeded in cutting the whale free. ISSUE The 6th amendment to the US constitution ensures every American accused of a crime the right to a speedy and public trial. As we told you earlier, the US Supreme Court will decide later this year if that applies to Yaser Esam Hamdi. Hamdi is a US citizen who was caught while fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Bush administration says Hamdi is still a threat to US citizens. They claim the president has the authority to keep so called “enemy combatants” in custody while fighting continues. The government will also argue that Hamdi’s rights as an American citizen are outweighed by the need to preserve national security. Frank Dunham, who will represent Hamdi before the Supreme Court, says no American citizen should be held without being charged, without a lawyer and without any chance to review the charges against him. Hamdi’s father says no American should be held solely on the basis of government accusations. So, we would like to know what you think… “Does the Constitution apply to Americans with suspected terrorist ties?” Discuss this issue with your classmates after the show and then write to us with your opinions. MAILBAG We received nearly four hundred responses to our issue question…”Was it important for the U-S to capture Saddam?” The vast majority of you, ninety two percent say yes, it was important for the U-S to capture Saddam. Four percent say it doesn’t really matter. Four percent are undecided. Some of you feel the capture of Saddam hasn’t really changed anything. Garth L. of Westminster Station, Vermont writes, “(Since) his capture many deaths and injuries (continue) to occur on both sides. Also social conditions remained unchanged.” Patrick H. of Liverpool, New York adds, “He didn’t give us any information (and) we still have to (build) a new Iraqi government…so we shouldn’t celebrate yet.” The majority of you, however, feel it was very important to catch Saddam Hussein. Patrick I. of Winchester, Virginia writes, “It has effectively secured Iraq, but he isn’t alone in acts of terrorism…our work is most certainly not finished.” Laura L. of Elba, New York adds, “He could give us information about where his followers are…we also could find out plans for an attack.” Kat J. of La Farge, Wisconsin agrees and writes, “He could have hurt people again if he had come back to power. We need to protect the world from dictators who are cruel and heartless.” Robyn E. of Greenfield, Wisconsin adds, “It is a good thing for Iraq because those people now know how it is to live in freedom.” Zach S. of Frederick County, Virginia thinks it is a good thing and asks “How could a self-appointed tyrant be a good thing? I think it was very important to capture Saddam.” Finally, Casey H. of Mequon, Wisconsin feels catching Saddam helps to send a message. Casey writes, “Not just for the information he has or that he should be punished for his crimes…but for the sake of justice and the message it sends to other terrorists. MAILBAG CLOSE We look forward to receiving your responses to our two latest issue questions… “Should Pete Rose get a second chance?” and “Does the Constitution apply to Americans with suspected terrorist ties?” If you would like to receive an Assignment: The World Press card, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You may write to us here at Assignment: The World, Post Office Box three-zero-zero-twenty-one, Rochester, New York… one-4-6-zero-3… or you may contact us at the A-T-W website at http://atwonline.org./ We also read e-mail at atw@wxxi.org. POP QUIZ #2 In our story about the president’s plan for missions to the Moon and to Mars, how much did we tell you those missions might cost? Was it $240 million $24 billion $240 billion And the correct answer is number three establishing a Moon colony and sending a manned mission to Mars could add up to $240 billion dollars. NEW CLUES And now it’s time for next week’s clues in the news… Our first clue a location… 18 Degrees, 31 minutes north latitude 72 Degrees, 19 minutes west longitude Our second clue is a fill-in the blanks. There are two words: I__W__ C__U__U__ES And finally, our third clue is a scrambled letter…two words: GREENY CARTERYES These are clues to stories we think will happen in the coming week. You can find the answers on radio and television newscasts and in newspapers and newsmagazines. We’ll reveal the answers on next week’s show. Good luck! GOOD-BYE And that’s it for this week’s show. From all of us here at Assignment: The World, I’m Elissa Marra. We’ll see you again next week. © 2004 WXXI-TV/ Assignment: The World. All Rights Reserved.