Black Agenda Radio - 08.07.17

Welcome, to the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. I’m Glen Ford, along with my co-host, Nellie Bailey. Coming up: Anti-war activists have long called for the United States to cut back its military budget, but the United National Anti-War Coalition is demanding specifically, that Washington close down its one thousand military
bases around the planet; and, criminal justice reform activists warn Attorney General Sessions that the last thing the U.S. needs is more prisons.

But first – by almost unanimous votes, both Houses of the U.S. Congress have passed harsh economic sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The lawmakers went a step further, forbidding the administration from removing these sanctions without first getting permission from Congress. President Trump reluctantly signed the bill, although he complained that parts of
it were unconstitutional. Historically, the U.S. Congress has rarely used its powers to curb presidents from making war, but now prevents presidents from moving towards peace by removing sanctions. We spoke with Dr. Gerald Horne, the prolific author and professor of history and African American Studies at the University of Houston.

This year, President Trump submitted tp Congress the biggest military budget in the history of the United States. The Republican-controlled Congress then added on even more money, with the support of the leadership of the Democratic Party. The war budget funds not only nuclear weapons systems that can destroy all human life many times over, but the most massive network of overseas bases that the world has ever seen. UNAC, the United National Anti- War Coalition, has joined with other peace organizations to demand that these bases be shut down – all one thousand of them. Sara Flounders sits on UNAC’s executive committee. She says the United States is attempting to militarily occupy the planet.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions claims that crime has gone up in several U.S. cities because the Obama administration wasn’t imposing harsh enough prison sentences. Marc Mauer, the executive director of The Sentencing Project, in Washington, says Sessions’ “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” approach is counter-productive and socially destructive.

And that it’s for this edition of Black Agenda Radio. Be sure to visit us at BlackAgendaReport.com, where you’ll find a new and provocative issue, each Wednesday. That’s www.BlackAgendaReport.com. It’s the place for news, commentary and analysis, from the Black Left.