Democrats Complete Platform with Changes to Iran Policy

The Democratic Party has finalized its platform.  They held 1600 town hall meetings around the country in an attempt to include the public in the process. Joining us talk about the platform is Michael Yaki is National Platform Director for the Obama Campaign and the Democratic National Committee. He talks about changes from the Democrats' platform 4 years ago.

PART 2

Progressive groups champion the inclusion of language in the Democratic platform that guarantees health care for all.  But Tim Carpenter, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America, told Pacifica's Nathan Moore that being heard wasn't easy. 

• Weighing the Real Costs of Private Contractors
• Bush Wants Endangered Species Rule Change
• Civilian Costs Already Too Great in South Ossetia
• Despite Some Conservative Gains, Bolivian Elections Renew Morales Mandate

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• NATO Sets its Sights on Georgia-Russia Dispute
• Tens of Thousands Flee Military Offensive in the Southern Philippines
• Violent Attacks Soar Along Pakistani Border Region
• Two of Pakistan's Provincial Assemblies Pass Resolutions for Musharraf to Resign or Face Confidence Vote
• Palestinian Authority Turns Down Offer from Israeli PM

A new government report finds that the use of private contractors in the Iraq War has broken new records. The report says that it costs about the same to hire a private contractor as it does to use a government military employee. But as FSRN's Tanya Snyder reports, some analysts have found hidden costs that aren't included in the government's analysis.

Two days after his sweeping victory in a controversial recall referendum, Bolivian President Evo Morales is busy taking advantage of the renewed mandate. Morales has announced he will kick-start a stalled drive to hold a referendum on a proposed new constitution. But some of his right-wing rivals were strengthened in Sunday's vote as well, and are consolidating conservatives to continue resistance to Morales's wide-sweeping social and economic change agenda. A left-wing reformer, former coca union leader and Bolivia's first indigenous president, Morales is proud of this socialist credentials. But despite the win at the polls, Bolivia remains bitterly divided. Linda Farthing reports from La Paz.

The Bush Administration has proposed new regulatory standards that would weaken the Endangered Species Act. The proposal would sidestep a major oversight mechanism that assures environmental safeguards. Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.