Says chavez is still president , but the opposition is calling for a caretaker government and elections. We host a debate. A victory in the campaign against stop and frisk. Going to the store in coming from the store, theyre going to stop you. They stop about 90 of the people coming in. I dont mind the police being here, but not the harassment. New york police are not allowed to routinely stop pedestrians outside private residential buildings in the bronx. All of that and more coming up. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. At least five people have been killed in u. S. Drone strike in pakistan earlier today. The strike hit a home in north waziristan. It was at least the seventh u. S. Drone strike in less than two weeks. The attack comes as the cia nominee john brennan continues to come under scrutiny for his role in the Obama Administrations drone warfare overseas. In his remarks at the time, brennan had said there was not a single collateral death in the Previous Year of drone attacks. His letter qualified his remarks by saying he had no information to the at the time. It has been revealed the u. S. A massacre at the time convict pakistani concerns directly to the highest levels of the obama white house. The concern centered around a march 2011 strike that killed 42 pakistani, most of them civilians. Vicepresident joe biden met with gun control advocates at the white house on wednesday as part of his task force on tackling gun violence in the United States. In a welcome message to his guests, biden vowed president obama would take meaningful action through executive order if need be. We are here today to deal with the problem that requires immediate action, urgent action. The president and i are determined to take action. This is not an exercise in a photo opportunity just ask you what your opinions are. Were reaching out to all parties on whatever side of this debate you fall. But the president is going to t. There are executive orders, executive action that can be taken. We have not decided what that is yet, that we are compiling it with the help of the attorney general and the rest of the cabinet members as well as legislative action we believe is required. Vice president said to me today with representatives of the National Rifle association as well as gun retailers, including walmart. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has unveiled what hes billed as the toughest gun control legislation in the country in the aftermath of last months newtown massacre in neighboring connecticut. In an impassioned state of the state address on wednesday, cuomo called for tightening the state ban on assault weapons and highcapacity magazines, as well as new measures to restrict gun sales to those with Mental Health issues and criminal records. And i say to you, forget the extremists. It is simple. No one hunts with an assault rifle. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer. And to many innocent people have died already. And the madness now end the madness now. Make this state safer. Save lives. Set an example for the rest of the nation. Let them look at the york and say, this is what you can do. This is what you should do. This is new york, the provincial capital. You show them how we lead. The new york that control measure is expected to be approved in the next week with state republicans saying they wont stand in its way. Alassad governor cuomos beach, an estimated crowd of over 1000 people gathered for protest urging him to reject the drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Cuomo faces a major decision next month when a state moratorium on fracking is set to expire. The demonstrators included legendary folk singer and upstate new york piece singer, who led the crowd and a rendition of the folk classic, this land is your land. From the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters this land was made for you and me this land is your land this land is my land from california to the new york islands from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters this plan was made for you and me pc your joining about 1000 people singing this land is your land. Secretary Labor Hilda Solis has announced resignation at a president obamas second term beginning later this month. She is the first latina had a federal agency and known for her public support of unions,io pushing measures including the employee free choice act, which would have removed barriers to unionizing workers. The statement, aflcio president Richard Trumka praised her tenure saying president obama is reportedly set to nominate his chief of staff, jack lew, to replace Timothy Geithner at the Treasury Department for obamas second term jack lew widner geithner in heading treasury after a stint on wall street, working at the financial giant citicorp between 2006 and 2010. The u. N. Arab league envoy to syria has issued his strongest words to date against the regime of syrian president bashar al assad. Speaking to bbc news, Lakhdar Brahimi appeared to endorse al assads departure from government as part of any political solution in syria. What people are saying, it is a little bit too long. So the change has to be real. I think president assad could for what hislead an people want, rather than resisting it. Afghan president karzai is in the u. S. For talks with president obama on u. S. Troops levels in afghanistan after the withdrawal deadline of 2014. Obama Administration Officials have recently floated troop numbers ranging from zero to 20,000 after combat operations formally come to an end. Karzai kicked off his visit on wednesday by meeting a group of senators. The trip has just begun and the meeting over todays the ledge to the days. [indiscernible] afghan president karzai in washington. In india, the identity of the woman who died after being gang raped and mutilated with a metal bar and a moving bus has been publicly revealed. She was 23 years old when she succumbed to her injuries and after nearly two weeks in hospital last month. The five suspects in her rape and murder appeared in court today for a second time. A member of their defense team is drawing ire after also saying he is never heard of a respected lady being raped in india. In an interview with bloomberg news, he said he blamed the attack on the victim and her male companion, who was also injured, the man was wholly responsible because the unmarried pair should not have been out on streets at night. At a recent public event in india, the u. S. Playwright and activist eve ensler appeared to discuss the response to the case. It is a good man her not to in the raping, if the good man her teaching good things do not rise up and train the other men and educate the other men and work with the other men, we will never end violence against women and girls. It has been very moving to travel across india and meeting such loving, tender men who are with us. [indiscernible] we have to look at the roots of this of violence. Inequality, injustice, and a very bad system of government. [indiscernible] back in the u. S. , the insurance giant American International group, or aig, has announced it will not join a shareholders lawsuit against the u. S. Government over the terms of its bailout after news it was considering doing so sparked outrage. Reports emerged this week a hajjis board was weighing whether to take part in a suit by former ceo that alleges the companies 2008 bailout shortchanged investors and violated their fit the minute rights. The news to come just two weeks after aig finally repaid the 182 billion in federal money it received to keep it from collapse, prompting a review from lawmakers who want a ig against trying to soothe taxpayers. The military trial of accused Army WhistleblowerBradley Manning has been postponed until june to wait a prosecution request to use classified information as evidence against him. On wednesday, prosecutors said it will introduce evidence that shows Osama Bin Laden sought out and received some of u. S. Government cables that manning is accused of having released to wikileaks. Prosecutors also said it will present transcripts of an online chat between manning and wikileaks founder julian assange. On wednesday, mannings attorneys renewed their offer for him to plead guilty to passing on the documents to wikileaks if the government drops charges of espionage and aiding the enemy. Mannings offer was objecting to a sentence of up to 20 years instead of the life term he faces behind bars. One of the largest Pension Funds in the country has announced it is divesting from all its holdings in firearms following last months shooting massacre in newtown, connecticut. The california state teachers retirement system voted unanimously wednesday to unload its roughly 12 Million Investment in three Gun Companies including freedom group, the manufacture of the bushmaster semiautomatic rifle that was used in the killing of 20 Young Children and seven adults in the newtown rampage. Pension funds in a number of other states are considering following suit. The website cocker is sparking controversy for posting the names of every licensed gun owner in new york city. The two and half rural list was obtained through a freedom of information law request from the new york police department. It is 446 pages long and appears to include the names of fox news chief, sean hannity, don imus and donald trump. The coggers story also notes the names of 1. 2 million new yorkers licensed to own guns and many of their dresses have been Available Online for over two years. Coggers move comes after the new york paper, the journal news, faced a massive backlash for publishing the names and addresses of gun owners in westchester and rockland counties of new york and posting maps of their locations on line. The newspaper had to hire armed guards to monitor its offices after a torrent of threatening emails and phone calls. In france, the cofounder of the Kurdistan Workers Party or pkk and two other kurdish women actists have been shot dead in paris. There were found dead at a kurdish and permission center. The pkks leaders have recently began talks with the turkish government in a bid to resolve a longstanding conflict. Those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with Juan Gonzalez. Welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. Venezuela has postponed todays president inauguration as hugo chavez remains hospitalized in cuba after complications fromm a fourth cancer operation. The 58yearold chavez who was first elected in 1998, has not been seen in public nor heard from since his surgery on december 11. The postponement of the inauguration has set off a political crisis in venezuela. On wednesday, venezuelas top court ruled that chavez could begin a new term today and be sworn in later before the court. By president Nicolas Maduro who is now in charge of the dayto day government praised the ruling. In the name of the legitimate government of the commander president who was reelected by the venezuelan people, the leader of this model land, the government obeys the decision of the Supreme Court of justice. Their word and their voice is sacred. Opposition politicians in venezuela have argued the line president chavezs swearingen for new term leaves no one legally in charge of venezuela once the current term ends today. Theyve called for the appointment of a caretaker president and new elections. Henrique capriles, who lost octobers president ial election to chavez, took aim at venezuelas judicial system. The Supreme Court decided to recall resolve a problem of the ruling party, so now what to say to the people of venezuela . Excuse me for speaking first person, but im an example of how one must fight the judicial system that does not work. Supporters of chavez have called for huge rally outside the president ial palace in caracas today. Allied leaders from uruguay, bolivia, nicaragua are expected to attend. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports the Obama Administration has embarked on a discreet but concerted weeks long Diplomatic Initiative to open channels of communication with the venezuelan government and the absence of chavez. In 2002, chavez survived a coup that toppled him briefly. He has long asserted that coup was orchestrated by the United States. For more in venezuela, were joined by Michael Shifter, president of the interamerican dialogue and an adjunct professor of latin american politics. From claremont, california, were joined by Miguel Tinker Salas, a professor of pomona college. Born in venezuela, author of, the enduring legacy oil, culture and society in venezuela. His new book forthcoming is called, venezuela what Everyone Needs to know. Michael shifter and Miguel Tinker Salas, we welcome you both to democracy now Michael Shifter, talk about what is not happening today, the inauguration, and what you feel needs to take place, which side you take. Thank you very much. I think it is not a surprise the inauguration is not taking place today. I think president chun is clearly is very ill. I think there are going to be new elections. I think the government basically wants some time to figure out its strategy, to consolidate the authority of nicholas maduro, who is the key figure now and i think will be the candidate of the government in the elections against Henrique Capriles. I dont know if it will take place in a month or two months, but that seems to be the scenario and it strikes me the important thing in the situation are the politics, the top as government controls the executive obviously. The Judicial Branch and also the National Assembly are controlled by chavez. They want an election in october from a Regional Elections in december. Chavez has enormous compassion, generates sympathy among the venezuelan people. The government has the upper hand. As we just heard, Henrique Capriles is beginning to come out and make statements because i think people are getting ready for an election. I think the government probably has the edge, but that is the situation we are in. Miguel tinker salas, you have questioned whether there is a constitutional crisis as much as the press reporting has made out, or whether this is really more a strategy of the opposition and external opponents of the chavez government. Could you talk about that . Sure. If this was any other country, we would not be having this conversation. Those constitutions are very similar to the venezuelan constitution, which clearly states in article 231 a president cannot be inaugurated a for the National Assembly on january 10, he or she can be sworn in and a subsequent time before the Supreme Court. The issue is that a constitutional crisis. Although i think the opposition would like to create a constitutional crisis and were seeing a lot of that and the national and international press. In venezuela, there is a transition, no doubt about it, but the opposition would like to strike while the iron is hot. They see the Chavez Movement possibly week. They have lost to subsequent elections. Theyre looking for an opportunity to expand our base of support. Their challenges, the have cut their nose to spite their face. In the past, they have engaged in a series of undemocratic actions and are risking at this point also drawing on the sympathy vote that chavez will have. I think theyre in a precarious position, but i dont think of a constitutional crisis in venezuela. I think we have a series of positions that are try to precipitate one. Were going to come back to this discussion and talk about what hugo chavez has meant for venezuela for over a decade. Were speaking with Miguel Tinker Salas and Michael Shifter. Stay with us. [music break] this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with Juan Gonzalez. Our guests are Michael Shifter and Miguel Tinker Salas. Michael shifter, you said you expect there will be at some point of the next few months and election for a successor to chavez. Looks likely that way. Before chavez went into the hospital, he anointed Nicolas Maduro, the appointed Vice President , not the elected Vice President , as his preferred successor. The constitution says if he is incapacitated, should be the head of the National Assembly who takes office. Could you talk about these two figures and the differences between them, proceed either by the opposition or even within the chavez camp . I think theyre the two principal figures. Nicholas maspeero is someone who previously was a union leader. Nicholas maduro is someone who was previously the union leader. He is close, strong contacts with the cuban government. Cabello is a military figure. As a very different background than maduro does. But for the purposes they are the leading figures. Chavez was the only figure that cod