Democracy Now! | Headlines for September 27, 2007

Democracy Now! | Headlines for September 27, 2007
Judge Rules Parts of PATRIOT Act Illegal
A federal judge has ruled two provisions of the USA Patriot Act allowing secret wiretapping and un-substantiated searches are unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken said the Patriot Act’s leeway for surveillance and searches of U.S. citizens violates Fourth Amendment requirements for probable cause. The ruling came on a challenge sought by Portland attorney Brandon Mayfield. Mayfield has sued the U.S. government for falsely accusing of him involvement in the Madrid train bombings of 2004. Mayfield settled the case, but retained the right to challenge the Patriot Act under the terms of his deal.

Relatives of Bolivian Massacre Victims Sue Ex-President
Former Bolivian president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada is being sued in a U.S. court on behalf of relatives of victims of a massacre four years ago. The conflict arose following a decision by the Sanchez de Lozada government to export Bolivia’s natural gas through a port in Chile. When hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in protest, government forces responded with soldiers and tanks, killing 67 of the protesters and wounding more than 400. Sonia Espejos lost her husband in the crackdown.

Sonia Espejos: "They are the only ones who are responsible for what we have to suffer for here in Bolivia but we are not going to allow Gonzalez Sanchez de Lozada to tour the United States."

De Lozada and two former top officials have resided in the US since 2003 after a citizen’s uprising removed them from office.

Report: Bush Believed War Inevitable, Threatened Anti-War Nations Month Before Iraq Invasion
And the Spanish newspaper El Pais is reporting that one month before launching the war on Iraq, President Bush claimed an invasion was inevitable and that he would punish governments not behind it. According to a Spanish government transcript, Bush told then-Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar: “Saddam Husein will not change and will continue playing; the moment has arrived for undoing of him.” Bush also reportedly said he would withdraw financial aid to Angola and freeze a trade agreement with Chile if they did not back the war. In the transcript, Aznar tells Bush he needs help in swaying Spanish public opinion and that he’s worried by Bush’s optimisim. Bush responds: “I am optimistic because I believe I am right. I am at peace with myself.”