FRONT LINE VOICES - Midday Update for 6-18-24 with Rebecca Myles WBAI News Director
Guests: Caleb Maupin, Journalist and Political Analyst, with the latest on Israeli war against Iran PLUS Lincoln Mitchell on the NYC Mayoral primary race.
IRAN
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei said today the country remains steadfast amid its conflict with Israel and will not surrender to anyone amid pressure, according to the Tasnim news agency.
In a televised address, Khamenei praised the "steadfast, courageous and timey response of the Iranian people" to what he called the foolish and malicious aggression of Israel. He said the nation's resilience reflected the growth of rationality and spirituality in the country. Khamenei also warned that any American military intervention would cause irreparable damage saying "those who know Iran and its history understand that threatening this nation is futile."
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump made a series of post on social media in which he demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender," and appeared to suggest targeting Khamenei personally. The post has fueled speculation that Trump could involve the US military in the conflict. The US has sent more military aircraft and warships to the region.
The aerial conflict, now in its six day, begun by Israel has resulted with nearly 600 people killed in Iran, with more than 1,300 wounded, reported the AP, according figures from a Washington-based Iranian human rights group and 24 killed and hundreds wounded in Israel. The escalation began after Israel launched surprise airstrikes across Iran on Friday, June 13. Israel strikes have hit several nuclear and military sites with Iran firing 400 missiles and hundreds of drones in retaliation. Air raid sirens have repeatedly forces Israelis to run for shelter.
GAZA
Israeli forces opened fire on starving Palestinians as they waited for flour at an aid distribution site in Khan Younis, killing 51 people and wounding at least 200 more.
According to eyewitnesses. soldiers continued firing even after the survivors fled. Scores of dead bodies were left thrown across the ground after Israeli soldiers sprayed the crowd with gunfire, before firing two tank shells. There appears to be a growing correlation between food distribution in Gaza by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the mass slaughter of Palestinians by Israeli forces. Israeli forces killed six people seeking aid at a site in Gaza City on Tuesday and injured more than 30. In a similar attack in Rafah, soldiers opened fire on the crowd killing five people. In total at least 300 people have been killed, and 2,000 injured while trying to collect food, according to Novara Media.
IMMIGRATION RAIDS
Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth authorized last week up to 700 troops to assist federal immigration officials in Florida, Louisiana and Texas in processing detainees at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, according to the Pentagon.
The Pentagon said they would provide logistical and administrative support but would not assist directly in law enforcement activities under title 10. According to AP, Title 10 outlines the scope of the president's power to federalize state National Guard in certain situations such as rebellion.
The Defense secretary was repeatedly questioned during a congressional hearing last week on the necessity of deploying troops in Los Angeles. California has sued the administration over what it says is federal overreach. A group of retired general and former civilian head of military branches have submitted amicus brief on Sunday as the legal fight plays out in federal court.
“While the President is entitled to criticize his opponents in political terms, involving the military in domestic political controversies risks harming the military’s ability to recruit and retain servicemembers and garner broad public support for its budgets and programs, therefore undermining its ability to achieve its core mission of protecting the nation,” said the brief, from six former military generals and admirals and two former branch secretaries.
In a related story, federal agents detained New York City Comptroller Brad Lander inside a Manhattan immigration building yesterday as he attempted to escort a man from his court appearance there. Lander who is running for mayor in next week's Democratic primary, was held inside the building for four hours before he was eventually released without charges after an intervention by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who later held a press conference in Foley Square with Lander.
The City reported Lander was inside 26 Federal Plaza to observe hearings and accompany immigrations leaving routine court appearances. It was his third time observing hearing since masked federal agents began staking out immigration courtrooms last month and targeting immigrants for arrest.
TEXAS
Texas has stopped putting new money toward building a US Mexico border shifting course after installing only a fraction of the hundreds of miles of potential barrier that Republican Gov Greg Abbott set out to construct four years ago, according to the Texas Tribune.
State lawmakers this month approved a new budget that does not include continued funding for the wall which had been a multibillion dollars priority for Abbott as part of the sprawling immigration crackdown. Abbot's office said President Trump's aggressive effort to curb immigration allowed the state to adjust.
The state has completed 65 miles of border wall since construction began. The Texas border with Mexico is 1200 miles long.
https://wbai.org/archive/program/episode/?id=58833
