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American Torture: From the Cold War to Abu Ghraib - Wars Do Not Just Happen

Middle East Panorama show on Resonance FM 104.4 Every Friday 14:00 - 15:00 London Time (GMT) Michael Otterman, an award-winning freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker, reveals in American Torture: From the Cold War to Abu Ghraib (Pluto Press, March 2007) how torture became standard practice in today's 'War on Terror'; an 'alternative set of procedures' and vital tools needed 'to protect the American people and our allies'. (George W. Bush) >> Listen here . The Israeli historian Dr. Moti Golani from Haifa University will be speaking on 'Wars Do Not Just Happen'. The Most prominent and controversial argument that Golani presents seems to be that "peace has not always headed Israel's list of priorities and war has not always headed its neighbours' list of priorities." >> Listen here .

Turkey - Labour News

Middle East Panorama show on Resonance FM 104.4 Every Friday 14:00 - 15:00 London Time (GMT) The Economist magazine: "Turkey's problems are postponed, not solved." “We want neither Sharia [Islamic law] nor another coup, but a democratic Turkey,” say the Kemalists. The Turkish military has carried out no fewer than three coups in recent history-in 1960, 1971 and 1980. "Turkey is NATO's longstanding bulwark in the Middle East," argues Cihan Tugal. However, in 2003 the Turkish parliament refused the US use of Turkish bases for its war against Iraq. On this year's May Day between 600 and 900 people were detained during a rally in Istanbul. >> Interview with Cihan Tugal . Labour News: "The longest and strongest wave of worker protest since the end of World War II is rolling through Egypt." May Day rallies in Turkey and Pakistan.

Drugs in Afghanistan - 'Since You Left'

Middle East Panorama show on Resonance FM 104.4 Every Friday 14:00 - 15:00 London Time (GMT) "Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium and heroin, but its own people are becoming the victims. ..." David Macdonald tells a story about the diversity of drug use in Afghanistan that no one has ever told before. Author David Macdonald has worked as a drugs advisor to the UN. Drugs in Afghanistan - Opium, Outlaws and Scorpion Tales (Pluto Press 2007) breaks down the myths surrounding the cultivation and consumption of drugs, providing a detailed analysis of the history of drug use within the country. He examines the impact of over 25 years of continuous conflict, and shows how poverty and instability has led to an increase in drugs consumption. >> Listen to the interview Since You Left is an autobiographical essay of a Palestinian-Israeli actor Bakri who returns to the grave of his former mentor, the writer and communist Emile Habibi, and attempts – using

Photo of 2007

Photo of the Year by World Press Photo, Spencer Platt, Getty Images, Beirut, Lebanon: Affluent Lebanese drive down the street to look at a destroyed neighborhood August 15, 2006 in southern Beirut, Lebanon. As the United Nations brokered cease fire between Israel and Hezbollah enters its first day, thousands of Lebanese returned to their homes and villages. >> Read article .

'The Myrtle Tree' - 'Birds of War' - 'Iran Hostage Crisis in Context'

Middle East Panorama show on Resonance FM 104.4 Every Friday 14:00 - 15:00 London Time (GMT) The Myrtle Tree by Jad el Hage (Banipal Books, 2007). A Novel of love and Dreams in War-Torn Lebanon. Jad El Hage comments: "The most recent of our wars began in the 1970s and ended by stages in the early 1990s, depending on how one defines 'beginning' and 'end'. This uncertainty characterised the entire conflict. The only certainty is that we killed each other for more than fifteen years." The novel, says Patrick Seale, "conveys with razor-sharp accuracy the sights, sounds, tastes and tragic dilemmas of Lebanon's fratricidal civil war. A must read .' Hear the author . Birds of War: Hawks, Doves and Illegal Eagles is an exhibition of contemporary, visual artwork to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. 11-17 April 2007 at Candid Arts Trust Gallery, London. >> Listen to Tanya Tier >> Listen to Alaa Siraih In The Iran Hostage Cris

The Colonial Drama of Israel & Palestine - Sounds

Middle East Panorama show on Resonance FM 104.4 Every Friday 14:00 - 15:00 London Time (GMT) "We come again to the drama in which we Israelis must play our part opposite Palestinians, Iranians, Lebanese and many others. Who are we performing for, and why are they enjoying it? Why do the Western mind and the Western left dedicate so much time and energy to watching this play, analyzing it and attempting to influence it?" Interview with Matan Kaminer , an Israeli activist who spent some two years in prison for refusing to enlist in the Israeli army. >> Read article Sounds from Tehran (Iran), Izmir (Turkey), Beirut (Lebanon), Douar Tamgrete & Mirleft village (Morocco), Sanandaj City (Iranian Kurdistan) .

"Real Men Go to Tehran" - the Iraqi Communist Party

Middle East Panorama show on Resonance FM 104.4 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14:00 - 15:00 London Time (GMT) "Anyone can go to Baghdad; real men go to Tehran", an administration official was heard saying shortly after the fall of Baghdad. Muhammad Idrees Ahmed, member of Spinwatch and whose regular commentaries appear at http://fanonite.wordpress.com joins Middle East Panorama to speak about 'The Israel Connection', 'The Oil Factor', 'The New Politics of Oil' and 'The Next War'. >> Listen to the interview >> Read article The Iraqi Communist Party has been accused of being a 'Stalinist' party and recently as 'a collaborator with the occupiers'' after the American-led invasion of Iraq. In its 73rd year since its foundation the general secretary of the party's organisation in Britain, Radhwan Alwakeel, and Imed Selmans defend the ICP 'glorious history' and 'its practical position&