The "Is Amy Goodman CIA?" resolution at Pacifica

[Peter Lemkin]

A surprising dearth of material on the web on this not uninteresting issue. An exception follows. But note how Boal proceeds to avoid any substantial discussion of the resolution following the opening couple of paragraphs. That's Counterpunch for you. (By the way, who funds Counterpunch?...)

http://www.counterpunch.org/boal10062009.html

From Farce to Tragedy: The New Crisis at Pacifica

By Iain Boal

On September 17 the Governance Committee of the Pacifica National Board passed a resolution expressly designed to find out whether Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now! program is getting CIA funding through covert channels like the Ford Foundation for suppressing the “truth” about the 9/11 “over-up” The author of the resolution, Chris Condon, made it clear that he wrote a motion on funding disclosure specifically to find out "where the hell Amy Goodman's money is coming from".

Condon’s campaign for reelection to the KPFK Local Station Board in Los Angeles is endorsed by the current interim Executive Director of Pacifica and chair of the Pacifica National Board, Grace Aaron. Despite being thrown out of the Church of Scientology, Aaron still publicly identifies herself as “a follower of the teachings of L Ron Hubbard”.

Some background reading - and one video link - on the issue of Goodman, the Ford Foundation and the CIA:

http://www.educate-yourself.org/cn/amygo...ug05.shtml

http://educate-yourself.org/cn/fordfound...ct05.shtml

http://baltimore.indymedia.org/usermedia....10.04.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfKCBTOe_Kg

http://educate-yourself.org/cn/fordfound...ct05.shtml

http://911review.com/denial/gatekeepers.html

http://www.williambowles.info/media/2005...epers.html

I am a long-time member and listener to Pacifica stations WBAI, KPFK and others. I have long followed the struggles there to survive and internal battles - too complex to get into here/now. PN! and Amy Goodman started as part of WBAI. I know many have accused her of not touching certain topics [such as 9-11] and I'm as disappointed as most about these. My own hunch is that she either personally doesn't feel they are the result of conspiracies or that they would ruin her widespread approval as an alternative news show. I don't discount the possibility that funding issues could be the control mechanism, but have not seen the evidence, but welcome the debate. She has not flinched from hitting hard at the Empire, if only to an extent. Rather than eating our own, I'd suggest those who feel she has not gone far enough simply create their own versions that go further. I'm more worried that the interim head of Pacifica is an ex scientologist. She was just involved in the mass firing of the station manager and program director at WBAI and the slight less radical tone there. I think the funding for DN! should be looked into and I hope it is not coming from controlling strings-attached corporate entities. The debate itself might put a fire under Goodman - who just lost her mother yesterday and is not going to be on the show itself for a few days, due to this. Lou Hill who started Pacifica not long after WW2 was a visionary and the Pacifica network a gem - despite the constant internal struggles and begging for money [because they do not take any advertising]. They were responsible greatly for the ending of the Vietnam War, the struggle for Civil Rights and much more and the expose of much malfeasance in the government and corporate/banking sectors etc. I've had my own critique of Democracy Now for not going 'all the way'; but it goes much further than any other with a large audience and urge caution in not throwing out the baby with the bathwater here. Yes, they don't touch assassinations and false-flag ops. Maybe if they had more calls for doing so from their watcher base, they would. I sense it is caution, but if it is more, I'd be greatly saddened but that much the wiser, and it wouldn't be the first time. Given some of the items DN! has covered, I find it hard to believe they are backed by the DP bunch. If so, it is a VERY clever operation and not very limited modified hangout. WBAI is now split [as it was many years back] into two factions - those who want the more radical viewpoint and those who want a more left liberal voice (and greater listener ratings). At the same time corporate America wants to buy or steal the licenses. WBAI and KPFK both have the strongest signals in their respective areas, and are in the middle of the dial. Many attempts have been made by the Right to get those licenses. Care must be taken to not loose them in a fight over the stations and the network. I personally suspect the PTB would be more involved in that, than in day to day cares about what is covered. Listenership, while a thorn in their side is small and for the most part those who already believe in a very alternative viewpoint. There are currently elections going on to the Pacifica and local boards and one of several places for the currently out-of-power at WBAI to speak is http://www.wbixradio.org There are many others.

Pacifica's Mission Statement: Pacifica's Mission Statement

(a) To establish a Foundation organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member of the Foundation. [*]

(b) To establish and operate for educational purposes, in such manner that the facilities involved shall be as nearly self-sustaining as possible, one or more radio broadcasting stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and subject in their operation to the regulatory actions of the Commission under the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended.

© In radio broadcasting operations to encourage and provide outlets for the creative skills and energies of the community; to conduct classes and workshops in the writing and producing of drama; to establish awards and scholarships for creative writing; to offer performance facilities to amateur instrumentalists, choral groups, orchestral groups and music students; and to promote and aid other creative activities which will serve the cultural welfare of the community.

(d) In radio broadcasting operations to engage in any activity that shall contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all of such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the purposes of this corporation to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms.

(e) In radio broadcasting operations to promote the full distribution of public information; to obtain access to sources of news not commonly brought together in the same medium; and to employ such varied sources in the public presentation of accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community.

NB! At this time DN! while born of Pacifica is independent.