Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corp. Interviews Peter Bergen on Pakistan

Communications — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:25:00 -0400

New America in the News:

ELEANOR HALL: The latest US intelligence report released in Washington this morning noted that al-Qaeda has found a safe haven in Pakistan to regenerate...

But at the same time, the Bush administration has renewed its support for Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf, as Alison Caldwell reports.

ALISON CALDWELL: Pakistan's suspended Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has become a symbol of resistance to President General Pervez Musharraf and his eight-year rule.

He was due to speak at the gathering of lawyers and their families outside court in the capital Islamabad, but shortly before he arrived a suicide bomber struck...

ALISON CALDWELL: Hours later in Washington, the Bush administration again indicated its support for General Pervez Musharraf.

At a briefing on the latest intelligence report, White House Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend said there was no doubt Musharraf was serious about eradicating extremism...

ALISON CALDWELL: The new intelligence report notes al-Qaeda's regrouping on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Terrorism expert and author Peter Bergen.

PETER BERGEN: One of the first pieces of evidence for that regrouping is the attack in London of July 7th 2005 that was organised by two people who trained with al-Qaeda on the Afghan-Pakistan border, made suicide videotapes with al-Qaeda's video production arm, which is again on the Afghan-Pakistan border. And so for at least the last two years it's clear that al-Qaeda has reorganised itself to the extent that it can attack thousands of miles from its base on the Afghan-Pakistan border in a major European city...

For the complete interview, please visit the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website.

Afshin Molavi on Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Iran, Iraq

Communications — Mon, 28 May 2007 09:50:00 -0400

New America in the News:

TONY JONES: The American military has displayed pictures of 42 prisoners it rescued from a desert hide-out in Iraq, believed to be an Al Qaeda base. Some of the prisoners have reported they'd been kidnapped and held at the camp for up to four months. Tom Iggulden reports.

TOM IGGULDEN: This modest hide-out held 42 prisoners until American troops raided it today, after a tip-off from locals...

TOM IGGULDEN: Further south, in Baghdad, there was more violence in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City, where American forces are still trying to quell local militia groups. Several raids over the weekend were supported by an air strike, angering local residents. But the US military is doing some grieving of its own after 12 American soldiers were killed over the weekend, putting May on track to be the deadliest month for the US effort in Iraq this year..

TOM IGGULDEN: But the Bush Administration is still looking for the right strategy to get the outcome it wants. Tonight, as Lateline goes to air, a historic meeting between the US and Iran is taking place, to try to find common ground on stabilising Iraq. It's the first public diplomacy between the two for 25 years. And some have their doubts about how effective it can be.

AFSHIN MOLAVI, NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION: Iran does not want to see a thriving, successful, prosperous, pro-American Iraq. There is almost an an unwritten policy in Tehran of promoting managed chaos within Iraq...

For the complete transcript, please visit the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. Interviews Terry Tamminen on Carbon Trading

Communications — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:53:00 -0400

New America in the News:

PETER CAVE: When Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair signed a landmark transatlantic agreement to combat climate change last year, it wasn't with his Iraq War partner, US President George Bush, but with California's Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who runs the world's fifth largest economy.

The Governator has dumbfounded conservationists and conservatives alike with laws to slash greenhouse emissions by 80 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050.

One of the men responsible is the Governor's Special Adviser, Terry Tamminen...

Terry Tamminen spoke to David Mark.

DAVID MARK: Terry Tamminen why has a Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger been the one to lead the way with legislation to combat climate change?

TERRY TAMMINEN: Well I think, first of all it comes from his European background. He's got a much broader perspective than many American leaders or politicians.

Secondly, he's got four kids of his own so he tends to think about things in longer terms and the future. And he wants to leave them a sustainable California.

And I think the last point I'd make is that he sees tremendous opportunity here. This is the chance of solving climate change by developing our renewable energy sources like wind and solar and new technologies.

This is very exciting; it's about building a 21st Century economy.

DAVID MARK: Well you just mentioned renewables, but the suite of legislation goes beyond just energy production in California doesn't it?

TERRY TAMMINEN: Well it does. And of course we're trying to lower all of our greenhouse gas emissions, but really you do that by saving energy in the first instance. I mean you can reduce your greenhouse gases literally overnight by changing out inefficient, incandescent light bulbs for example for compact fluorescents or by putting in more energy-efficient appliance or getting a more energy-efficient car.

And then of course there's longer-term things but all of this is like picking up hundred dollar bills off the sidewalk.

DAVID MARK: There's been an enormous amount of discussion in Australia about the idea of introducing a carbon trading scheme here. Is that focus too narrow?

TERRY TAMMINEN: Well I think if it's the only thing you're talking about it is too narrow. Because remember that emissions come from a lot of different sources, not all of them lend themselves to being closely monitored and then allowing that sort of trading of pollution credits.

So things like the carbon emissions that come from your cars might need some sort of regulation or just get more energy efficiency.

But the major emitters, the smokestacks that you think of the electricity generators and other industries, those do lend themselves to being capped and then allowing trading as a flexible way of complying to get your greenhouse gas reductions...

For the complete article, please visit the Australian Broadcasting Corporation website.