Doc Dan's Internet News Review

Gassed by the Media

2005-09-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

With the rise of gas prices we all saw after the Storm that hit the Gulf last week, could have been avoided. The media had played the situation and information from the gas companies to cause the mass panic and rise in prices.
After talking to some people I know from a oil company, it seems the oil companies had told the media that they had lost 25% of our production, and to ask the people to just reduce their usage appropriately, and there would be no problems. Instead the media went out and told the people of prices rising to three and three-fifty and caused a mass panic nation wide. With the damage we took, it was not enough to do serious damage to our production ability, but it did reduce to a substantial amount the production. When the panic hit, and in some places the lines were six blocks long, it forced the amount of drain more than the oil companies could produce. This then caused the rise in prices.
Even now if people could reduce their use of fuel, we could continue to see a reduction in oil prices. There was never a reason for the rise in price, if the people had known the truth, but the media wanted to feed on the situation, and forced another story, the oil story. With the situation this has caused, the media should be relieved of funds that the government gives them for this action and what they in effect did to the country.
This is as cold a action as I have ever seen the media perform, and we have all seen a lot of it. With the prices they had predicted and then went out and worked to make it happen. A whole new form for self-fulfilled prophecy.

New Orleans Mayor: 'It's Going To Be Awful'

2005-09-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

As crews worked to drain the putrid floodwaters out of New Orleans on Tuesday, authorities warned of the horrors still submerged in the city.
Mayor Ray Nagin told NBC's "Today" program that he did not know how many bodies would be revealed once the waters recede.
"It's going to be awful, and it's going to wake the nation up again," Nagin said.
Rescuers are still finding stranded residents, as well as people who did not want to leave the devastated city, the mayor said.
"We have to convince them to leave," Nagin said. "It's not safe here."
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers patched the ruptured levee along the 17th Street Canal on Monday. Lt. Gen. Carl Strock told CNN it would take up to 80 days to dry parts of the city.
The failures of the levee system after Hurricane Katrina's onslaught left about 80 percent of the city flooded with water up to 20 feet deep - water that became a toxic mix of chemicals, garbage, human waste and human remains.
Lt. Gen. Strock said Tuesday that the Corps was working to minimize the environmental damage to Lake Pontchartrain.
"We will look for real hot spots as we draw the water down, and if we get an area that is particularly toxic we will try to control that instead of dumping it back into the lake," Strock said. "But clearly, the focus is saving lives, and there are still lives to be saved. The quicker we remove the water the better we can do that."
President Bush and Congress pledged separate investigations into the widely panned federal response to Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday as Senate Democrats said the government's share of relief and recovery may top $150 billion, the Washington Post reports today.
"Bureaucracy is not going to stand in the way of getting the job done for the people," Bush said after meeting at the White House with his Cabinet on storm recovery efforts.
"Governments at all levels failed," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said at the Capitol. She announced that the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee would hold hearings, adding, "It is difficult to understand the lack of preparedness and the ineffective initial response to a disaster that had been predicted for years, and for which specific, dire warnings had been given for days."
Stung by criticism, Bush called congressional leaders to the White House for a meeting, their first since the hurricane spread death and destruction on a fearsome scope along the Gulf Coast and left much of New Orleans under several feet of floodwaters, according to the Washington Post's report.
Congress approved $10.5 billion as an initial downpayment for hurricane relief last week, and Senate Democrats were consulting among themselves in advance of the White House meeting. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was possible Democrats would request as much as $50 billion as a next installment.
"I believe that the recovery and relief operations will cost up to and could exceed $150 billion. FEMA alone will likely require $100 billion in additional funding," Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said in a statement issued after he talked with relief officials and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. An aide to Reid, Rebecca Kirszner, added, "Our priorities right now are targeted assistance for health care, housing and education."
Apart from the investigation announced by Sens. Collins and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., the Senate Energy Committee arranged hearings on gasoline prices. The hurricane disrupted oil production and distribution in the Gulf of Mexico, and gasoline prices that had already been rising spiked sharply last week in some areas of the country.
Meanwhile, the military was considering using planes to spray for mosquitoes in areas where standing water could become a breeding ground for the insects, which can carry West Nile virus and other diseases, an official said.
Crews also resumed efforts to recover the bodies of people killed in the storm and its aftermath.
Speaking in Baton Rouge on Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff warned the body recovery process would be "very difficult" and said it would take some time before officials would have a reliable death toll.
"It's going to be an unhappy number," he added.
Currently, state officials report 71 dead.
Recovery teams are searching house to house in New Orleans for hurricane victims, and helicopters are continuing to circle the city in a search for survivors.
The Coast Guard said Monday its air and water crews have rescued more than 22,000 people in states affected by Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans Deputy Police Chief Warren Riley said that thousands of people are insisting on staying in what he called "a hazard." "We are working with them to try to convince them that there is no reason - no jobs, no food - no reason for them to stay."
Floating on a car tire Monday, a man who identified himself as Robert refused to climb into a rescue boat.
"When this thing happened, you got people shooting each other," he said. "The only thing I trusted was my dog. I'm not going to leave him."
In Mississippi, the death toll stands at 161, according to the state's emergency management agency, but that toll is also expected to rise.
In a meeting with President Bush, Sen. Trent Lott demanded more help for Mississippi and called on the president to authorize sending to his state 20,000 trailers he said are "sitting" in Georgia.
"Mississippians are homeless, hungry and hurting," a statement from the Republican senator said.
Meanwhile, the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission said casino companies will find it tougher to persuade their shareholders to again operate offshore floating casinos in his state. Casinos are a substantial source of revenue and jobs for the state.
Former President Bill Clinton on Monday joined a long line of critics who have blasted the federal government for not moving fast enough in the days following Katrina's landfall. He said the government "failed" the people in the coastal communities during that period and called for a federal investigation into the matter after the crisis subsides.
Clinton and former President George H.W. Bush announced the creation of a fund to help Katrina's victims during a visit Monday to evacuees in Houston, Texas.
In other developments:
* A plan to house move about 4,000 evacuees from shelters in Texas to three cruise ships was put on hold Tuesday, because the people were not ready to move, officials said in a statement. The evacuees said that they wanted to focus on finding loved ones instead of being uprooted again, the statement said.
* Residents of suburban Jefferson Parish got their first look at their devastated community Monday. Parts of the parish escaped most of the worst flooding; they are on the other side of the 17th Street Canal from a levee breach that flooded downtown. Farther upriver, suburbs like Metairie and Kenner were less fortunate.
* FEMA has taken over and put on hold an airlift operation Texas initiated to send displaced persons to other states, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement on his Web site Monday. The agency is reviewing how to best handle the influx of evacuees to Texas, which Perry said Sunday had reached 230,000. The American Red Cross, meanwhile, said the largest response to a natural disaster in its history has provided housing for more than 130,000 people in 470 shelters in 12 states.
* Shortly after Donna Brazile made an emotional appeal on CNN Monday for rescuers to find her sister in New Orleans, an official with the Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Service sent a boat to the location she described on air and found Brazile's 46-year-old sister and five others alive. Brazile is a CNN political contributor and the former manager of the 2000 Gore-Lieberman campaign.

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Saudis Storm 'Militant Hideout'

2005-09-07T07:57:00.000-05:00

Saudi security forces have stormed a building where suspected Islamic militants have been holed up in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Dammam. The attack comes after a three-day gun battle that led to the deaths of five alleged militants and four police officers. Ten officers were wounded.
Witnesses said gunfire and blasts could be heard for hours as forces moved in on the villa but all was quiet by noon.
Security officials said the building was now under their control.
Ambulances and civil defense vehicles were seen entering the area, and security forces were said to be checking for any unexploded devices.
"Charred remains" had been found at the site, a statement on state television said without giving details of how many militants might have been killed in the raid.
Residents had been allowed to return to their homes, said a correspondent at the scene for Saudi's Al-Ikhbariyah TV.
Earlier, security forces said three suspected militants and two policemen had been killed in overnight clashes at the scene. The deaths brought to five the number of suspected militants killed in the fighting that began on Sunday. A police officer also died in earlier clashes.
The clashes began when security forces targeted two militants they said were wanted by the authorities. One of the alleged militants was killed in the fighting on Sunday and another died later in hospital, sources said.
Zaid al-Samari, a 31-year-old Saudi, was named in local media reports as one of the two killed. He is thought be on a list of 36 most wanted people sought in relation to several attacks in the kingdom since May 2003.
The U.S. temporarily shut its consulate in neighboring Dhahran city as a result of the stand-off in Dammam. Both cities lie on the east coast close to huge oilfields.
The Saudi security forces have been engaged in a campaign against Islamic militants for the last two years. Last month, the interior ministry said a man believed to be the leader of al-Qaeda in the kingdom was killed during a police raid in Medina.
Saleh Awfi, one of the country's most wanted men, reportedly died in a shoot-out with forces after a series of raids in three cities, including the capital Riyadh.
Since May 2003, militants have frequently targeted Westerners and Arab residents in suicide bombings and kidnappings. More than 140 people have been killed and more than 100 militants have died in the government's crackdown.

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Putin Rejects Third Term Talk

2005-09-07T07:56:00.000-05:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied planning to change the Russian constitution to stay in office for a third term.
Speaking to journalists in Moscow, he said Russia needed stability, and the best way to ensure that is by leaving the constitution unchanged.
Putin has repeatedly said he will step down at the next presidential elections in 2008. Even so, there had been speculation that a way might be found for him to stay on.
Recent polls suggest more than 60% of Russians would like him to stand for a third term.
BBC News' Russia analyst Steven Eke says that whatever has gone wrong in Russia on Putin's watch, ordinary Russians blame his ministers, or parliament, but not the president himself.
Putin's critics say that, well into his second term, he has failed to fulfil pledges to reform housing, healthcare, education and the army.
"I plan to leave the Kremlin in 2008, but I have no plans to leave Russia. And this is also a stabilizing factor," the Russian president was quoted as saying.
At the meeting with journalists, Putin also denied that a new generation of oligarchs was emerging among state bureaucrats.
"They do not own shares in these companies and do not earn dividends or salaries there," he said.
Still, he admitted that corruption is a serious problem saying, "... all countries with transitional economies and unstable political systems suffer from corruption".

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Oil Shock Threatens Key Economies

2005-09-07T07:55:00.000-05:00

High world oil prices are here to stay and price shocks pose threats to key economies, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development reports today.
Britain and Germany's prospects for 2005 are less favorable as a result, the OECD said in its latest interim report; but even after Hurricane Katrina's impact, the U.S. economy should expand fast, the economic think-tank said.
Its growth forecast for Britain is down from 2.4% to 1.9%, but U.S. growth is still predicted to reach 3.6% this year.
Germany's growth outlook has weakened from 1.2% to 1% since the Paris-based OECD last published its forecasts in May.
This was largely because of the soaring cost of oil, which has risen by about $20 a barrel since then, the OECD said. Its chief economist, Jean-Philippe Cotis, told a news conference that the price of oil was not far from the level reached at the end of the 1970s.
"There is a major shock, and there is no evidence it has reached its conclusion," he said.
However, not all the countries covered by the latest OECD report have had their growth figures revised downwards.
Italy's economy, which had been predicted to shrink, is now expected to grow slightly, while France and Japan are also now seen as likely to enjoy higher growth. The OECD said the cause of the disparity was the fact that different countries are at different stages of their business cycle.
The U.S., benefiting from broad-based expansion and stable inflation, is better placed to cope with adversity than Britain, where household consumption has faltered of late and core inflation is rising, it said.
Japan's economy had also been experiencing strong momentum before the latest shocks, with the labor market "healing" and the recovery taking hold, the report added.
However, the OECD said it is hard to assess the effect of Hurricane Katrina at this stage and U.S. growth might be "somewhat more subdued" in the second half of 2005.
Cotis said the U.S. Federal Reserve should continue to raise interest rates, "although possibly at a more mesaured pace than hitherto".
On the other hand, the European Central Bank had "no urgent need" to tighten rates and should maintain "a very accommodative stance", he added.

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Hariri Murder Investigation Could Topple Lebanon and Syria Leaders

2005-09-07T07:54:00.000-05:00

The arrest last week of four Lebanese generals on charges of murder, attempted murder and terrorism is an unprecedented event in the Middle East: high-ranking officers have been arrested before - often on trumped-up charges after a quarrel with their political masters - but this time the arrests are the result of painstaking detective work by international investigators.
Even more significantly, it is entirely possible the arrests will lead to the downfall of not one Arab president but two: Emile Lahoud of Lebanon and Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
The murder and terrorism charges arise from the Valentine's Day massacre almost eight months ago, when Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, was blown up in his car along with at least 20 other people as he drove along the Beirut seafront.
Instead of investigating thoroughly, the Lebanese security forces, who at the time were effectively under the control of Syria, blatantly destroyed evidence. In response to that, the United Nations Security Council sent its own team of investigators, headed by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, and last week's arrests were made by the Lebanese police at his instigation.
We do not yet know what evidence Mehlis has compiled, nor what the generals have to say in their defense, but if they are eventually convicted, the political implications will be stunning.
The four men now in jail awaiting trial are Major General Jamil al-Sayyid, the former head of general security, Major General Ali Hajj, the former chief of police, Brigadier General Raymond Azar, the former head of military intelligence, and Mustafa Hamdan, head of the presidential guard.
To anyone familiar with the way things worked in Lebanon before the Syrian troops withdrew last April, it is obvious that these four security chiefs did not casually get together and decide among themselves that it would be a good idea to assassinate Rafik Hariri; if they were involved, they were acting under orders.
Technically, they were all under the command of the Syrian-backed president, Emile Lahoud, but Lahoud was not really in charge. The generals were agents of Syrian policy in Lebanon, and on all important matters took their instructions from Damascus, not the presidential palace in Beirut.
Nevertheless, Mustafa Hamdan was Lahoud's right-hand man. Lahoud has publicly defended him, and in most democratic systems that would be enough to trigger the president's resignation.
The situation in Lebanon, however, is more complicated, partly because Lahoud seems determined to cling on but also because Lahoud is a Christian and there are fears that his departure would upset the delicate political balance of power between the country's religious factions.
Even so, it is difficult to see how Lahoud can survive until his term ends in 2007, especially if the newly elected government carries out its threat to have no further dealings with the president.
So far, the Syrian aspects of the murder investigation have not really come into play, but that will change on Saturday when Mehlis - after a good deal of procrastination from Damascus - will travel to Syria to question five officials there.
The officials, who are described as witnesses, include Ghazi Kanaan, the interior minister, Rustom Ghazaleh, the former head of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon, and his two chief assistants, Mohammed Khallouf and Jameh Jameh.
The fifth Syrian "witness" has not been named, giving rise to speculation that the person in question is the president, Bashar al-Assad, himself. This is a logical assumption to make because of a conversation - or an altercation - that took place last year between Assad and Hariri last year.
During the 10-minute meeting, Assad allegedly threatened physical harm against Hariri and the Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, saying he "would rather break Lebanon over the heads of Hariri and Jumblatt than see his word in Lebanon broken". In the light of what happened to Hariri a few months later, it is not unreasonable for the U.N. to want to hear Assad's side of the story.
Looking a little beyond the interrogations on Saturday, it is not difficult to imagine a scenario where Mehlis asks the Syrian authorities to arrest one or more of their security chiefs and hand them over for trial alongside the Lebanese generals. He might even attempt to summon Assad as a witness in the case. Syria would then have to decide whether to comply - and failure to do so would be a breach of Security Council resolution 1595, which set up the Hariri investigation.
This would dramatically shift the investigation from straightforward detective work into the realms of international politics, creating a situation reminiscent of the standoff with Libya over the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, which rumbled on for more than a decade.
It is possible, of course, that at this point diplomacy would take over from detection and some sort of compromise might be worked out in order to avoid a confrontation - though in the present climate of American politics, that is extremely unlikely.
Elements in the U.S. have been trying to "get" Syria for years - over its support for Palestinian factions and Hezbollah, over its now-abandoned military presence in Lebanon and more recently over cross-border activity in Iraq.
One way or another, Syria has managed to fend off all these attacks with its regime relatively unscathed, but the Hariri case has presented a fresh opportunity. If there is a silver bullet in Mehlis' briefcase when he delivers his final report to the U.N., the Americans will surely not hesitate to use it.

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Think Tank: Iran Could Make Nuclear Weapons In 5 Years

2005-09-07T07:51:00.000-05:00

Iran could develop nuclear bomb-making capability within five years, but a longer timeframe is more likely, a leading thinktank said today.
A report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies found that international political opposition to Tehran pushing ahead with its nuclear program made it probable that a 10-15 year timescale was more realistic.
"In a purely technical basis, Iran has a number of obstacles it needs to overcome before it can produce enough material for a nuclear weapon," the report's editor, Gary Samore, told the BBC. "We estimate that if they threw all their effort into solving the problems they might be able to produce enough weapons grade uranium to produce a single weapon within five years.
"But Tehran is acting in a political way to limit international opposition to its activities. It is more likely that Iran would try to accumulate production capability over a much longer period of time, 10 or 15 years, before it makes a decision about whether it wants to produce nuclear weapons," he said.
The evaluation comes two weeks before the United Nations atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), discusses whether to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council, possibly prompting sanctions against Iran.
Iran resumed sensitive nuclear work last month, bringing two years of talks about its atomic program with the European Union trio of Britain, France and Germany close to collapse.
Despite denials from Tehran, the E.U. and the United States suspect Iran wants to use a civilian nuclear program as a cover for developing atomic weapons.
"When you talk to Iranians, there seems to be a consensus that Iran needs to have a latent nuclear weapons capability; in other words, an option," Samore said. "But there is much less agreement about whether it makes sense for Iran to produce nuclear weapons."
He said the E.U.'s efforts over the past two years had had some success in limiting Iran's nuclear ambitions before the election in June of a conservative government triggered a harder nuclear stance.
"What remains to be seen is whether the threat of referral to the U.N. Security Council will be enough to persuade Tehran to keep some limits on its program," Samore said.

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Student Hero's Save 7 - Witness Disgraceful Scene

2005-09-07T07:44:00.000-05:00

A trio of Duke University sophomores say they drove to New Orleans late last week, posed as journalists to slip inside the hurricane-soaked city twice, and evacuated seven people who weren't receiving help from authorities.The group, led by South Carolina native Sonny Byrd, say they also managed to drive all the way to the New Orleans Convention Center, where they encountered scenes early Saturday evening that they say were disgraceful."We found it absolutely incredible that the authorities had no way to get there for four or five days, that they didn't go in and help these people, and we made it in a two-wheel-drive Hyundai," said Hans Buder, who made the trip with his roommate Byrd and another student, David Hankla.Buder's account -- told by cell phone Sunday evening as the trio neared Montgomery, Ala., on their way home -- chronicled a three-day odyssey that began when the students, angered by the news reports they were seeing on CNN, loaded up their car with bottled water and headed for the Gulf coast to see if they could lend a hand.The trio say they left Durham about 6 p.m. Thursday and reached Montgomery about 12 hours later. After catching 1½ hours of sleep, they reached the coast at Mobile. From there, they traveled through the Mississippi cities of Biloxi and Gulfport.They say they elected to keep going because it seemed like Mississippi authorities had things well in hand.Pushing on, they passed through Slidell, La., and tried to get into New Orleans by a couple of routes. Each time, police and National Guard troops turned them away. By 2 p.m. they'd wound up in Baton Rouge.Stopping first at a Red Cross shelter and then at offices of a Baton Rouge TV station, WAFB, they eventually made their way to the campus of Louisiana State University. By 8 p.m. Friday they were working as volunteers in an emergency assistance area set up inside LSU's indoor track arena.The students worked until about 2 a.m. Saturday, then slept on the floor of a dorm room. When they awoke, they went back to the TV station, which was hosting what Buder termed "a distribution center" for supplies.At 2 p.m., the trio decided to head for New Orleans, Buder said. After looking around, they swiped an Associated Press identification and one of the TV station's crew shirts, and found a Kinko's where they could make copies of the ID.They were stopped again by authorities at the edge of New Orleans, but this time were able to make it through."We waved the press pass, and they looked at each other, the two guards, and waved us on in," Buder said.Inside the city, they found a surreal environment."It was wild," Buder said. "It really felt like it was 'Independence Day,' the movie."The trio dodged downed trees and power lines until they happened upon Magazine Street, which runs in a semi-circle around the city parallel to and about four blocks north of the Mississippi River.They stopped to give water to a 15-year-old boy sitting beside the road holding a sign that said "Need Water/Food," then went to the convention center.The evacuation was basically complete by the time they arrived, at about 6:30 or 6:45 p.m. What the trio saw there horrified them."The only way I can describe this, it was the epicenter," Buder said. "Inside there were National Guard running around, there was feces, people had urinated, soiled the carpet. There were dead bodies. The smell will never leave me."Buder said the students saw four or five bodies. National Guard troopers seemed to be checking the second and third floors of the building to try to secure the site."Anyone who knows that area, if you had a bus, it would take you no more than 20 minutes to drive in with a bus and get these people out," Buder said. "They sat there for four or five days with no food, no water, babies getting raped in the bathrooms, there were murders, nobody was doing anything for these people. And we just drove right in, really disgraceful. I don't want to get too fired up with the rhetoric, but some blame needs to be placed somewhere."By about 7 p.m., the students made their way back to the boy on Magazine Street. He directed them to some people "who really needed to get out." The resulting evacuation began at a house at the corner of Magazine and Peniston streets.The first group included three women and a man. The students climbed into the front seats of the four-door Hyundai, and the evacuees filled the back seat. They left the city and headed back to Baton Rouge. There they deposited the man at the LSU medical center and took the women to dinner. The women later found shelter with relatives, and the students got about four hours' sleep inside the LSU chapel.At 6:30 a.m. Sunday, they made their second run into New Orleans, returning to the house at Magazine and Peniston streets. This time they picked up three men and headed back to Baton Rouge. Two of the men were the husbands of two of the women evacuated the night before. The students reunited them with their wives and put the two families on a bus for Texas.Buder is from Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; Byrd is from Rock Hill, S.C.; and Hankla is from Washington, D.C.

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SENATOR MURKOWSKI TO SPEARHEAD ALASKA FISHING INDUSTRY RELIEF FOR KATRINA VICTIMS

2005-09-03T04:56:00.000-05:00

ALASKA SEAFOOD INDUSTRY DEVELOPING PRIVATE RELIEF EFFORT FOR GULF COAST

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced today that she is working with the Alaska seafood industry to develop a private relief effort aimed specifically at helping fishermen and fishing communities along the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.
“We are still in the preliminary stages but have received a strong response from Alaska fishermen’s groups and seafood processors, said Murkowski. “Alaskans know how difficult it is to recover from a devastating natural disaster, and sincerely want to help.”
The Senator said there are several steps under consideration, among them the immediate shipment of supplemental food supplies and a longer term effort to collect and distribute essential fishing and processing equipment.
Former Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation executive director Marc Jones, an experienced emergency response administrator and retired senior U.S. Naval Special Operations Officer has agreed to manage and coordinate the effort, Murkowski said.
“I expect to have more to report in a few days. At this point we are still working with our industry to determine what we can do, and with fishing industry and State officials on the Gulf Coast to see what is needed, estimate key time frames, and review transportation and distribution options. We anticipate this will occur in conjunction with the work of national relief organizations and government agencies,” said the Senator. “Recovering from Katrina will take a significant amount of time for all involved, and it will be important to re-start key local industries as soon as possible. As with Alaskan fishermen, Gulf Coast fishermen provide a vital part of America’s seafood. It is vital that all Americans have access to this source of safe, healthy food. The Alaskan fishing industry wants to help however it can.”
Specific details on the fishing relief effort will be released as soon as possible.

Bush: Rescue Results 'Not Acceptable'; Mayor: Feds Should 'Get Off Their Asses'

2005-09-03T04:45:00.000-05:00

As President Bush toured the Gulf Coast on Friday to survey damage from Hurricane Katrina, residents of New Orleans, including the mayor, said conditions were horrible and getting worse.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin lashed out at state and federal authorities saying they were "thinking small" in the face of the massive crisis. Nagin said he needs military troops to provide security and 500 buses to take people stranded by Hurricane Katrina out of the city.
"I keep hearing that it's coming. This is coming. That is coming. My answer to that is B.S. Where is the beef?" the mayor said, adding that it is time for national leaders to "get off their asses."
Thousands of people have been stranded at the Ernest Morial Convention Center with little help and surrounded by corpses, trash and human waste.
"We've got small children and sick and elderly people dying every day, small children being raped and killed, people running around with guns -- I'm scared for my life, my wife and my 5-year-old daughter's life," said evacuee Alan Gould. We don't even want to live here anymore."
A National Guard helicopter began to drop food and water to the refugees Thursday afternoon.
Federal Emergency Management Director Michael Brown said that federal officials were unaware of the crowds at the convention center until Thursday, despite the fact that city officials had been telling people for days to gather there.
"When we found out about the convention center yesterday, we started diverting supplies to get them fed, too. And now we're finding literally as we do evacuation, that more and more people are beginning to manifest, show themselves in areas we didn't they were there so we're doing everything we can to get there," he said in an interview with CNN Friday.
An effort to evacuate patients and staff from downtown's Charity Hospital had to be suspended after a sniper opened fire on rescuers. The hospital was caring for about 200 patients with no power or water, and the only food left was a couple of cans of vegetables and some graham crackers.
"Any patients who are critically ill at this point, have either died - and there have been a few that have literally died in the parking deck waiting to be taken out by choppers - or they are still having their bags - air pumped into their lungs by handbag as doctors and hospital officials sat there pushing air into their lungs," said CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who got into the hospital Thursday night.
President Bush arrived in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday to inspect the storm damage. He sad the federal government would "restore order in the city of New Orleans," where violence has hampered rescue efforts.
Before leaving Washington, Bush told reporters that millions of tons of food and water were on the way to - but the results of the relief effort "are not acceptable."
Bush will take an aerial tour of Mobile and nearby Biloxi, Mississippi. He then plans to view Louisiana hurricane damage from the air, flying over the city of New Orleans. He is scheduled to make a statement at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans before returning to Washington Friday night.
Overnight, police snipers were stationed on the roof of their precinct, trying to protect it from gunmen roaming through the city, CNN reported.
One New Orleans police sergeant compared the situation to Somalia and said officers were outnumbered and outgunned by gangs in trucks.
"It's a war zone, and they're not treating it like one," he said, referring to the federal government.
The officer hitched a ride to Baton Rouge Friday morning, after working 60 hours straight in the flooded city. He has not decided whether he will return. He broke down in tears when he described the deaths of his fellow officers, saying many had drowned doing their jobs. Other officers have turned in their badges as the situation continues to deteriorate.
In one incident, the sergeant said gunmen fired rifles and AK-47s at the helicopters flying overhead. He said he saw bodies riddled with bullet holes, and the top of one man's head completely shot off.
Lt. Gen. Steven Blum of the National Guard said that as many as 2,600 National Guard troops were expected to arrive in Louisiana Friday to join the nearly 2,000 who went in Thursday.
In other developments:
* The Houston Astrodome in Texas, where thousands of refugees had been bused over the past couple of days, stopped accepting refugees late Thursday. However, authorities later decided to process evacuees at the Astrodome and house them in the nearby Reliant Arena, said Patrick Trahan, city spokesman. Other New Orleans refugees are being taken to Huntsville, Texas, along with San Antonio and Dallas, he said.
* Offers of support have poured in from all over the world in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many countries have offered their condolences and made donations to the Red Cross, including Britain, Japan, Australia and Sri Lanka, which is still recovering from last year's tsunami.
* At Louis Armstrong airport, a field hospital set up by FEMA was overwhelmed with patients. Equipment normally used to move luggage was instead ferrying patients to a treatment center and to planes and buses for evacuation. "I do not have the words in my vocabulary to describe what is happening here," said Ozro Henderson, a medical team commander with FEMA. "Catastrophe and disaster don't explain it."
* In Washington, the Senate approved a $10.5 billion disaster relief request from the Bush administration. The House is expected to do the same when it takes up the matter Friday.

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Editor Comment: The costal region of this area had defenses set up for a Category 3 hurricane, but Katrina was a category 5. Add on to this, poorly designed state emergency procedures have added to this situation. There are many factors that have effected this storm area, and many of them from before the storm had hit. The amount of gangs and looters are slowing down any rescue procedures by drawing away troops and police to fight the crimes of Rape, theft, murder, and other activities. There are just too many factors to blame any one group here.

New Orleans Mayor Issues Desperate S.O.S.

2005-09-02T04:04:00.000-05:00

Fights and fires broke out, corpses lay out in the open, and rescue helicopters and law enforcement officers were shot at as flood-stricken New Orleans slipped toward anarchy Thursday.
“This is a desperate SOS,” Mayor Ray Nagin said.
While a mass evacuation got under way at the city's Superdome, where thousands of restless people were waiting for help, there was desperation and mounting anger at a separate refuge, the city's convention center, where storm victims grew increasingly hungry and thirsty and pleaded for relief.
New Orleans' Charity Hospital halted efforts to evacuate its patients after it came under sniper fire, according to Dr. Tyler Curiel, who witnessed the incidents.
Curiel and his National Guard escorts, were returning to the hospital after dropping off patients at nearby Tulane Medical Center, when someone started shooting at their convoy of Humvees.
"We were coming in from a parking deck at Tulane Medical Center, and a guy in a white shirt started firing at us," Curiel said. "The National Guard (troops), wearing flak jackets, tried to get a bead on this guy."
The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. ET). About an hour later, another gunman opened fire at the back of Charity Hospital.
"We got back to Charity Hospital with food from Tulane and we said, 'OK the snipers are behind us, let's move on,'" Curiel said. "We started loading patients (for transport) and 20 minutes later, shots rang out."
The National Guard soldiers told staff to get away from the windows, and evacuations were halted.
Charity Hospital has no electricity, no water and the only food available is couple of cans of vegetables and graham crackers.
Evacuations by boat were halted after armed looters threatened medics, and overturned one of their boats. The sniper attacks were the latest incidents of violence that have disrupted efforts to help people in the flooded city.
Many people had dogs and they cannot take them on the bus. A police officer took one from a little boy, who cried until he vomited. “Snowball, snowball,” he cried. The policeman told a reporter he didn’t know what would happen to the dog.
Other parts of the city saw similar desperation. “We need help,” Polly Boudreaux, clerk of the St. Bernard Parish Council, told WAFB-TV in a phone interview in which she broke down crying. “We've just been absolutely devastated,” she said, and many residents still need to be rescued. Little outside aid has reached the parish, she added. “We are not seeing it.”
Doctors at two desperately crippled hospitals with 360 patients called The Associated Press pleading for rescue, saying they were nearly out of food and power and had been forced to move patients to higher floors to escape looters.
“We have been trying to call the mayor’s office, we have been trying to call the governor’s office. ... We have tried to use any inside pressure we can. We are turning to you. Please help us,” said Dr. Norman McSwain, chief of trauma surgery at Charity Hospital.
Officials said thousands more National Guardsmen were being sent to the city, and Congress planned a special session Thursday night to approve emergency aid. But across the city, residents complained that aid was not arriving and a local official blamed the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“This is a national disgrace,” said Terry Ebbert, head of New Orleans’ emergency operations. “FEMA has been here three days, yet there is no command and control,” Ebbert said. “We can send massive amounts of aid to tsunami victims but we can’t bail out the city of New Orleans.""We have got a mayor who has been pushing and asking but we’re not getting supplies,” he said. He said the evacuation was almost entirely a Louisiana operation. “This is not a FEMA operation. I haven’t seen a single FEMA guy.”
Outside the convention center, people complained that they were evacuated, taken to the convention hall by bus, dropped off and given nothing, NBC News reports.
At least seven bodies were scattered outside, and hungry people broke through the steel doors to a food service entrance and began pushing out pallets of water and juice and whatever else they could find.
CNN's Chris Lawrence described "many, many" bodies, inside and outside the facility on New Orleans' Riverwalk.
"There are multiple people dying at the convention center," Lawrence said. "There was an old woman, dead in a wheelchair with a blanket draped over her, pushed up against a wall. Horrible, horrible conditions. We saw a man who went into a seizure, literally dying right in front of us."
In a statement Thursday, Nagin said that "the convention center is unsanitary and unsafe and we are running out of supplies for (15,000 to 20,000) people." He said the city would allow people to march up the Crescent City Connection to the Westbank Expressway in an effort to find help.
People were "being forced to live like animals," CNN's Lawrence said, surrounded by piles of trash and feces. He said thousands of people were just laying in the ground outside the building -- many old, or sick, or caring for infants and small children.
An old man in a chaise lounge lay dead in a grassy median as hungry babies wailed around him. Around the corner, an elderly woman lay dead in her wheelchair, covered with a blanket, and another body lay beside her wrapped in a sheet.
“I don’t treat my dog like that,” Daniel Edwards said as he pointed at the woman in the wheelchair. “I buried my dog. You can do everything for other countries but you can’t do nothing for your own people," he said. "You can go overseas with the military but you can’t get them down here,” he told an MSNBC News reporter.
The street outside the center, above the floodwaters, smelled of urine and feces, and was choked with dirty diapers, old bottles and garbage.
“We are out here like pure animals. We don’t have help,” said the Rev. Isaac Clark, 68.
People there, some holding crying babies or elderly barely able to stand up, shouted for help as TV news crews passed by.
Video from the scene showed a group chanting 'we want help, we want help,' as mothers tried to console their tired and hungry children.
More people were arriving at the center, walking south along Canal Street. The route north to the Superdome is blocked by chest-deep water.
The convention center was used as a secondary shelter when the Louisiana Superdome was overwhelmed.
As reports indicated a mounting death toll in New Orleans, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu said that "we understand there are thousands of dead people" in Louisiana, according to media reports.
A Louisiana National Guard official told CNN Thursday morning that between 50,000 and 60,000 people had converged at evacuation points near the Superdome hoping to get on one of the buses out of town.
"It's no longer just evacuees from the Superdome, as citizens who were holed up in high-rise office buildings and hotels saw buses moving into the dome, they realized this is an evacuation point," Lt. Col. Pete Schneider of the Louisiana National Guard said.
Desperation was evident as the buses rolled out. State Sen. Robert Marionneaux recounted a story about a woman near the Superdome who handed her 2-month-old baby to someone who had managed to get on a bus to Houston, begging her to take care of the baby. CNN could not independently verify his account.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff denied reports that rescue efforts in New Orleans had been halted for security reasons Thursday, saying those operations "are continuing in full force."
"We are going to continue to increase the tempo of that program until we've cleared people out of the Superdome and we've cleared people out of New Orleans," he said. Chertoff said that the Coast Guard has rescued about 3,000 people from flooded areas in New Orleans and the surrounding parishes.
Houston has offered to house about 25,000 people in the Astrodome. San Antonio, Texas, has agreed to take another 25,000 people, officials said Thursday. Schneider said that officials were looking for additional locations.
Widespread looting and random gunfire have been reported across New Orleans. Police told CNN that groups of armed men roamed the streets overnight.
Officers told CNN they lacked manpower and steady communications to properly do their jobs - and that they needed help to prevent the widespread looting and violence now prevalent in the city. A police officer working in downtown New Orleans said police were siphoning gas from abandoned vehicles in an effort to keep their squad cars running.
The officer said police are "on their own" for food and water, scrounging up what they can from anybody who is generous enough to give them some - and that they have no communication whatsoever. Police also told CNN they were removing ammunition from looted gunshops in an effort to get it off the streets.
The Pentagon said that by next week 24,000 troops would be on the ground to assist in recovery efforts, including 8,600 National Guard members by Friday who could be put to work in law enforcement.
President Bush, in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America," said that their should be "zero tolerance of people breaking the law during an emergency such as this." He promised a rapid federal response to the disaster.
Also Thursday, President Bush urged Americans to "open their hearts and their wallets" to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, as he launched a private fund-raising effort led by former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, the Washington Post reports.
Flanked by the two former presidents -- one his predecessor and the other his father -- Bush also appealed for patience with the federal relief effort in the face of growing frustration among stranded New Orleans residents pleading for food, water and transportation out of the flooded city.
He said National Guard troops are flowing into New Orleans to help maintain law and order, and he announced new measures to deal with disruptions in fuel supplies in the face of surging gasoline prices.
Bush's assurances came as Congress prepared to reconvene from its August recess to pass emergency legislation to fund relief efforts for victims of Katrina, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused billions of dollars in damage along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Mobile, Ala. Congress normally reconvenes after Labor Day. The Senate returns tonight and the House reconvenes Friday, congressional leaders said. Bush reportedly will ask lawmakers to approve $10.5 billion in emergency funding, the Washington Post reports.
The breadth of the brutality of Hurricane Katrina became clearer as more death toll figures began to filter in from Mississippi's coastal region. Authorities said at least 185 people died in Monday's Category 4 storm.
In Hancock County alone, Sheriff Eddie Jennings put the death toll at 85, with 60 people dead in Pearlington, 22 in Waveland, two in Bay St. Louis and one body that had washed up on the beach.
In neighboring Harrison County, which is home to Gulfport and Biloxi, authorities reported 100 bodies had been found, an emergency official in the state capital, Jackson, said.
Electricity was out for more than 2.3 million people in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.
Meanwhile, Katrina's effect on oil supplies and gas prices spread nationwide, prompting the White House to tap the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. News of disruptions in the gas supply sparked runs on stations and a sharp spike in prices, with some drivers in Atlanta, Georgia, facing prices above $5 a gallon.
The operators of two key pipelines that carry fuel out of the region announced Thursday that they were resuming limited operations.
In New Orleans, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was using helicopters to drop 15,000-pound sandbags into breaches in the city's levee system -- the first step in trying to control the flooding that submerged most of the city. The flow of water into New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain finally abated, Corps officials said. But engineers won't begin trying to pump out the water until the breaches are plugged.

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Poland Hails 'Birth of Freedom', Solidarity

2005-09-02T04:02:00.000-05:00

It might not have been a public holiday - but it was a national day of celebration in Poland. Gdansk, the home of the Solidarity movement, was particularly festive.
Thousands of people crammed into Solidarity Square beside the main gate of the shipyard to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the birth of the movement. Crowds filled the streets leading to the square. Among them were pensioners, families with children's strollers and scouts.
Many wore armbands in the national colours of red and white. Others brought flags with Solidarity written in its famous red letters.
Under a clear blue sky they listened to an open-air Mass led by Pope John Paul II's former private secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz.
The overwhelming majority of Poles look to the Roman Catholic Church for moral and spiritual guidance. And under communism, the Church was one of the few places they could go to hear the truth. The Church and in particular the Polish pope, played a vital role in galvanizing support for Solidarity.
Above the huge stage in the square a banner quoted John Paul II. It read: "Solidarity opened the gates to freedom."
Thirty world leaders joined the crowds at the Mass. Among them were the presidents of Germany, Ukraine and the European Union. Also present were the British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker.
Earlier, the leaders paid tribute to Solidarity at an international conference across town.
The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, was applauded when he repeated the strikers' slogan: "Without Solidarity there is no freedom".
Lech Walesa, the leader of the Gdansk strike in August 1980, received a standing ovation. He said Solidarity had started the process which destroyed the old order when the world was divided into two camps.
Historian Timothy Garton Ash, who was in Gdansk for the strike in 1980 said: "With hindsight we can see it was the beginning of the end of communism in Europe and the Cold War."
Within months of its founding in 1980, the Solidarity trade union became a national political movement with 10 million members.
It was a threat the communist authorities could not bear, and in December 1981 they declared martial law and jailed its leaders; but, under Walesa's leadership, Solidarity survived underground and went on to negotiate the end of communism in Poland in 1989.
There was some dissent in the city amid the celebrations. A small group of present-day Solidarity trade union members protested inside the shipyard against the official ceremonies. Above its historic main gate they posted their demands for greater social justice, just as the original strikers had done in 1980. A banner they put up read: "The Gdansk shipyard has been robbed and destroyed, although it celebrates today."
The transformation to capitalism has often been painful here. Under communism, unemployment officially did not exist. Now it stands at 18%, the highest rate in the European Union. After the shipyard went bankrupt and sold several years ago, the workforce has shrunk from over 20,000 to just 3,000.
But Wednesday, most minds were concentrated on Solidarity's historic achievement.
"I think Solidarity greatly changed history - especially here in this part of Europe," said 30-year-old scientist Stanislawa. "It was the first step to finish communism. So for me it is very important."

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More Bombings Rock Southern Thailand

2005-09-02T04:01:00.000-05:00

A senior Thai military commander has appealed for calm after a string of bombings in the southern provinces.
Lt. Gen. Kwanchart Klaharn urged against panic after three people were killed in a wave of attacks from early Wednesday.
Nearly 900 people have died since the beginning of last year, in violence thought to be fuelled by disenchantment within the strong Islamic community. Amid the increasing violence, about 130 Muslims have abandoned their homes in the south, to seek refuge in Malaysia.
Although shootings and bombings have become daily occurrences in the insurgency-hit region, there have been an unusually high number of attacks in recent days.
Exact details of the latest incidents are still not clear, but it is thought a total of three people died and more than 20 were injured.
In the resort town of Sungai Kolok, on the Malaysian border, there were a series of explosions late on Wednesday. The bomb blasts, at a karaoke bar and two hotels, were triggered by mobile phones, according to local police.
Bombs were also set off in Pattani province, damaging a bridge, and police in nearby Narathiwat province were targeted as they escorted a group of teachers to school. There are further reports of attacks in Narathiwat on Thursday, when a bomb hit a busy downtown area.
Malaysian police said on Thursday that they had detained 131 Thai Muslims, including women and children, who had fled across the border to escape the continuing violence.
"They came in without travel documents and we have handed them over to the immigration department for further action," Zulkifli Abdullah, the police chief in Kelantan state told the French news agency AFP. Zulkifli said the group had been sheltering in mosques near the border area.
One of the detainees, identified as Salleh, told the official Bernama news agency that the group had decided to flee to Malaysia after the Thai army killed the leader of their village in Narathiwat province on Tuesday.
Zulkifli said on Thursday that Malaysian police had tightened security at all border points with Thailand.
A Malaysian marine police official is also reported as saying his team would keep a 24-hour watch along the narrow river separating the two nations. The authorities are anxious to stop a larger influx of Thai Muslims into the country.

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Mass Funerals For Iraq Stampede Victims

2005-09-02T03:59:00.000-05:00

Large crowds have been attending mass funerals in the Iraqi capital Baghdad for some of those killed in Wednesday's stampede during a Shia ceremony.
Friends and relatives of some victims are still searching for their loved ones, as bodies continue to be recovered from the River Tigris. More than 960 people died in the stampede, apparently triggered by rumors of an imminent suicide attack.
Shia leaders accuse Sunni Arab militants of starting the rumors.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari - himself a Shia - apparently accepted this theory, and called for tough action.
"The coming period will witness a strategic development in confronting terror and terrorists. And we will hit hard those murderers, radical militants and Saddamists," he said.
In Baghdad's main Shia district, Sadr City, people cried in anguish and beat their chests in grief. Funeral tents were set up in the district, but many of the dead were taken to the holy city of Najaf for final burial.
Security was tight on the Baghdad-Najaf road, which was choked with coffins loaded onto minivans and coaches.
Prime Minister Jaffari, meanwhile, visited the Kadhimiya hospital, where many victims were taken, accompanied by Iraq's defense and health ministers.
BBC News correspondent Jon Brain, reporting from Baghdad, said the mood is turning from shock to anger, with many Shia people blaming the government for what they see as a failure of organization over the procession. Cabinet ministers fell out over the stampede but the prime minister has rejected calls for sackings.
Community leaders are calling for calm, fearful that Wednesday's tragedy could stoke further violence.
The stampede was the largest single loss of life in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion more than two years ago. It occurred after mortars were fired on crowds near the Kadhimiya mosque - the burial place of a venerated Shia religious leader. At least seven died and more than 30 were wounded.
About one million pilgrims were said to have converged at the Kadhimiya mosque when the crush happened.
Many of the dead were women, children, or elderly, who drowned when railings along a bridge over the River Tigris gave way under pressure. In addition to the dead, more than 800 people were injured in the incident.
Health officials said on Thursday that bodies were still being retrieved from the river. Dozens of tents have been set up in predominantly Shia areas of Baghdad to house the dead.
Distraught Iraqis continue to search for their missing relatives among lines of corpses laid out in hospitals and makeshift morgues.
Three days of mourning have been declared.

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London Bomber Video Aired By Al-Jazeera

2005-09-02T03:54:00.000-05:00

One of the four bombers behind the July 7 London subway attacks which killed 52 people has appeared in a video on Arab television.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, described himself as 'a soldier' and spoke of his motives on a tape on al-Jazeera. Khan said the UK government had committed atrocities against Muslims and he was inspired by Osama bin Laden.
In a second video, al-Qaeda's Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed responsibility for the blasts and threatened new attacks.
It is not clear when or where either tape was filmed, or whether Khan was aware the interview with Ayman al-Zawahri would be edited onto the same tape, said BBC home affairs correspondent Margaret Gilmore.
The eldest of the four bombers, Khan was responsible for the Edgware Road Circle Line explosion which killed six people and injured 120. On the tape, he says bombings in London and in Madrid were the fault of "Western citizens" and the public should no longer feel safe as they would be targeted again.
In a West Yorkshire accent, he said: "Our words are dead until we give them life with our blood. I and thousands like me have forsaken everything for what we believe."
He said the public was responsible for the atrocities perpetuated against his "people" across the world because they supported democratically elected governments who carried them out.
"Until we feel security, you will be our targets," he said. "Until you stop the bombing, gassing, imprisonment and torture of my people we will not stop this fight. We are at war and I am a soldier. Now you too will taste the reality of this situation."
On the tape, he wears a red-and-white checked keffiyeh - an Arabic headscarf - and a dark green hooded jacket. He has a trimmed beard and sits against a wall lined with striped red and beige carpet.
In a separate recording, al-Zawahri said the London attacks were a "slap" to the policies of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Speaking in Arabic, he said the bombings were proof al-Qaeda had moved the battle to "the enemy's land".
BBC News political editor Nick Robinson said the tape's message would "chill people to the marrow".
"To hear a fellow countryman in the familiar accent of North Yorkshire - a man who gave much of his life to teaching under privileged children - to say ever so calmly 'This is why I am a soldier in the name of Islam, this is why I regard you all as legitimate targets in my war', will shock and horrify people."
Scotland Yard has confirmed it is aware of the tape. The British Foreign Office has said it will not comment on any aspects of the video.
A relative of one of those killed in the London attacks has said it was no surprise al-Qaeda appeared to be claiming responsibility. Chris Agwu, a cousin of Ojara Ikeagwu, who died in the King's Cross bomb said of the claim of responsibility: "I had that suspicion anyway."

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Editor Comment: When a coward call themselves a “Soldier” then they do nothing but to show their own self worthlessness. Anyone that would give Mohammad Sidique Khan any respect, is just as worthless as he and his fellow cowards are.

Iraq War More Costly Than Vietnam

2005-09-02T03:46:00.000-05:00

The monthly cost to the U.S. of the war in Iraq is now greater than the average monthly cost of the Vietnam War, a report by two anti-war groups says.
The report put costs in Iraq at $500 million (£278 million) a month more than in Vietnam, adjusted for inflation. This makes Iraq the most expensive U.S. war in the past 60 years, they say.
The report by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and Foreign Policy in Focus (FPIF), called "The Iraq Quagmire", calculates the cost of current military operations in Iraq at $5.6 billion (£3.1 billion) every month. By comparison, the eight-year campaign in Vietnam cost on average $5.1 billion (£2.8 billion) a month.
The IPS and FPIF say this is partly down to differences in the way modern war is waged. Although there are fewer troops in Iraq than Vietnam, they are paid more and weapons are more expensive, the report says.
"Broken down per person in the U.S., the cost so far is $277 per person, making the Iraq War the most expensive military effort in the past 60 years," it concludes. Co-author Erik Leaver told the BBC costs in Iraq had spiralled since 2003 because the U.S. had not been well-prepared.
"We have deployed now roughly one million troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the numbers just keep going up and up," he said. "We are going to continue to see costs not only from the fighting now but also from the health care of these soldiers and veterans when they come home."
However, Thomas Donnelly, a defense expert with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, believes the eventual result of the Iraq war is more important than its cost in dollars.
"The more valued criticism is whether the Bush administration is winning the war and prosecuting it in a successful way," he said. "So what price victory? I would say that $5 billion a month is certainly something I would be willing to pay."
Donnelly said the relative cost of operations in Iraq, at 2% of America's annual GDP, was less than either the Vietnam conflict at 12% or World War II at 40%.
"Although the costs of war have grown... the American economy is exponentially larger than it was in the Vietnam War years," Donnelly said. "When it [the Iraq war] is compared to the overall size of the American economy, it's really a drop in the bucket, certainly by historical standards."

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Editor Comment: What needs to be remembered, and is usually missed by the modern reporters is that the money in this war is not so much single or double fold, but triple fold. In Nam we used money for the troops and war, then used money for the treatment of injured civilians. In the Iraq war we are using the money not only for those goals, but also to rebuild and stabilize the country. If anything President Bush was too quick into the rebuilding and slow in stabilizing, which should have had more of predominance before we started rebuilding. But it is always easier to look back than it is to look forward.

How Katrina Disaster Will Affect Entire U.S.

2005-09-02T03:37:00.000-05:00

Americans outside Louisiana and Mississippi who thought the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina had failed to affect their lives are in for a series of nasty shocks.
The aftermath of the disaster that flooded most of New Orleans and left hundreds, perhaps thousands dead is now expected to hit important sectors of the U.S. economy.
Experts believe the impact will be short-lived and will not tip the country into recession. Growth of 3.5% to 4% is still expected this year; but while the effects last, consumers face further big hikes in gasoline prices, shortages in the supermarkets and the prospect of bankruptcies in the airline industry.
In the areas that bore the brunt of the storm, relief experts say reconstruction efforts could take longer than in previous emergencies, with the most impoverished inhabitants likely to be last in the queue for resources.
Insurers reckon Hurricane Katrina will turn out to be the costliest U.S. storm in history, with the predicted total of $25 billion (£14 billion) overtaking the $21 billion of insured losses inflicted by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
More than 91% of oil production and 83% of gas production in the Gulf of Mexico region has been shut down because of damage to rigs and refineries caused by the hurricane. The region is an important energy hub and normally makes up a quarter of U.S. oil and gas production.
World oil prices were already riding high because of increased demand, but Katrina's devastation has added an old-fashioned supply shock of the kind that sent prices rocketing in 1974, 1979 and 1990. As a result, U.S. motorists are already facing gasoline at $3 a gallon and may have to pay as much as $4 before long - a huge rise compared with an average price of just $1.86 a year ago.
Katrina has laid waste to the vital Gulf Coast ports, which are major gateways for U.S. agricultural exports, particularly corn and soybeans. The U.S. exports a quarter of all the grain it produces, and roughly 60% of that leaves the country through New Orleans and other neighboring ports.
The region contains five of the top 12 U.S. ports, including South Louisiana, the country's top port by cargo volume. Imports arriving at Gulf ports include steel, rubber, coffee and fresh fruit.
Freight transport companies are estimated to be losing $3-4 million a day while the ports are closed. The coastline is in complete disarray, with barges and containers scattered up to a quarter of a mile inland.
There is no adequate substitute for the Mississippi River as a shipping route, so cargos may have to go by road and rail instead, pushing up costs.
Consumers across large areas of the U.S. face higher prices or even shortages of a wide range of household goods: Chiquita bananas and Folgers coffee are just two of the brand names affected.
At the same time, manufacturers who increasingly rely on "just-in-time" provision of components can expect disruption to their assembly lines.
Tourists spent $5 billion in New Orleans last year, representing half of Louisiana's tourism income. Now visitors are switching to other destinations. Businessmen, too, are going elsewhere, as conventions are being moved to cities such as Atlanta.
Mississippi's gambling industry has been hard-hit, with the state's 12 floating casinos either heavily damaged or destroyed.
The collapse of New Orleans' tourism has taken its toll on the airline industry, which has been forced to cancel dozens of flights to the city's stricken Louis Armstrong airport. Only humanitarian flights are landing there at present.
Although the flight disruption means a significant loss of revenue, the biggest financial impact on airlines is likely to be from soaring fuel prices because of the oil shutdowns. Daily jet fuel production is down by 13% and the price has gone up by 19%.
With many U.S. airlines already in trouble, particularly Atlanta-based Delta, energy analysts think the latest fuel price rise could be the final straw that pushes some carriers into bankruptcy.
The White House says President George W. Bush plans to ask Congress to approve extra money to pay for reconstruction. He is expected to seek a special funding bill to pay for disaster relief and recovery, but with the U.S. budget deficit still the subject of political controversy, getting substantial sums out of Congress could prove tricky.
Economists predict that the financial boost from rebuilding the storm-damaged areas will go some way to offsetting the negative impact caused by lost production. However, past natural disasters in the U.S. have generally hit suburban areas, not an entire city center as in the case of New Orleans.
Disaster relief experts are predicting that it could take five years to repair the damage, as entire districts have to be restored from scratch. And poorer residents who lack insurance look set to be neglected, since low-income housing is usually a low priority for redevelopers.

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THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP PRESS CONFERENCE WREST POINT CASINO, HOBART

2005-09-02T03:33:00.000-05:00

PRIME MINISTER: Well ladies and gentlemen I’ve called this news conference to announce that in addition to the offer of emergency assistance that Australia has already made to the Federal Emergency Management Authority in the United States, the Government proposes to donate $10 million to the American Red Cross appeal. This money will go directly to the American Red Cross and will be used for emergency relief by the American Red Cross for the tens of thousands, many of them quite poor people who have been left destitute by this terrible natural disaster.Given the extraordinary generosity of the United States when other countries are in need and given the very close relations between Australia and the United States, and given also the scale of this disaster, we believe it is a very valuable gesture and a marker of our concern for the scale of the human misery that has come from this disaster. I indicated this morning that we had offered to send an emergency team of up to 20 people to the United States. We’ve made that offer to the relevant authority and we’re waiting to hear back as to when that offer might be taken up. I can only repeat that the thoughts of many Australians are with their friends in the United States. I’ve received a briefing in relation to consular cases involving Australians and every effort is being made by the Australian Embassy and Consular staff in Washington. They’ve sent people to the South to the States affected to make contact as they can with Australians. As of now I’ve not heard of any Australian casualties or any Australians are missing. Obviously they’re in some discomfort and inconvenience, as indeed are thousands of Americans and in the difficult situation of evacuating people from New Orleans and the scale of the disaster being greater than originally thought, it could be a little time before all of them are fully cared for. But we’re confident that will happen.

LAUNCH OF AUSTRALIA-ANTARCTIC AIRLINK

2005-09-02T03:27:00.000-05:00

I am very pleased to officially launch the Australian Government’s direct air connection between Hobart and Antarctica.The Australian Antarctic Airlink will be funded by $46.3 million over four years as part of the Australian Government’s $3.2 billion commitment to the environment and heritage.Australia is responsible for 42 per cent of Antarctica. An area measuring almost 6 million square kilometres. The direct air link is crucial to the proper discharge of Australia’s responsibilities in the Antarctic.The proposed long-range jet aircraft between Australia and Antarctica will make a significant contribution to science and to our understanding of the global climate system. Hobart is the logical take-off point for Antarctica with its already striving Antarctic community, and as the home of Antarctic shipping, other support services and the Australian Government’s Antarctic division.There will be major and continuing benefits for Tasmania as Australia’s recognised home of Antarctic research.The establishment of the Antarctic Airlink will bring growing numbers of researchers through Hobart, with a growing contribution to the Tasmanian economy.The Antarctic Airlink will more efficiently transport scientists, enable a speedier delivery of information and provide the capability of enhanced surveillance of our Southern Ocean fisheries and emergency medical evacuation should the need arise. As an international leader in Antarctic research, Australia’s scientists are involved in cutting edge work in understanding the global climate system, Southern Ocean ecosystems and biodiversity and the impacts of human activities in Antarctica.The Australian adventurer Sir Hubert Wilkins was the first person to fly over the Antarctic continent in 1928 but it was Sir Douglas Mawson who first saw the potential for aerial exploration.The Australian Government’s decision last year to heritage list Mawson’s Huts at Commonwealth Bay signalled to the world our proud pioneering history in Antarctica.The launch of the Antarctic Airlink represents a new and exciting era in Australia’s Antarctic aviation history. The decision to fund this important project demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to its Antarctic programme, to maintaining our outstanding international reputation and to continuing our world-class research.The Australian Government’s Antarctic division leads Australia’s Antarctic programme. It has already undertaken site trials for the airstrip near Casey Station. Final preparations will be completed in the coming summer season with trial flights proposed in the 2006-2007 summer before the full service in 2007-2008.The intercontinental connection will complement the intra-continental air service that began last season.

2 September 2005

Delivering Real-Time Collaboration for Improved Productivity Is Easier than Ever

2005-09-02T03:22:00.000-05:00

Developer controls and new sample code for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 help partners incorporate presence and real-time collaboration features into business applications.

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 25, 2005: In today’s expanding global economy it is becoming more and more critical for companies to adopt business-savvy communications tools to remain competitive. Today’s workforce needs to communicate instantly and efficiently with geographically dispersed coworkers, partners and colleagues to make sharp decisions that place them ahead of the curve. Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 is designed to help relieve the stress associated with disparate workforces by enabling companies to incorporate real-time collaboration functionality into productivity and line-of-business applications.
A key goal in the design of Live Communications Server is to create a platform upon which partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) can build integrated communications solutions. Today, Microsoft is introducing controls and sample code that make it easy to embed Live Communications Server’s presence and real-time collaboration features into custom applications, providing richer functionality. Live Communications Server can help eliminate the inefficiencies that come from disconnected workforces by enabling workers to see if someone is online and available while staying within the application in which they are working.
“We want to provide partners and ISVs with the tools they need to add real-time communication features into applications, making it possible for information workers to launch real-time collaboration sessions from within the tasks in which they are currently working,” says Zig Serafin, general manager, Real-Time Collaboration Group at Microsoft. “With these controls and sample code for Live Communications Server, we are making it easier for developers to build presence and real-time collaboration functionality into applications that today’s workforces use most and that work seamlessly across various networks and internal and cross-company business processes. And - thanks to the rich federation capabilities of Live Communications Server – partners can build solutions that work securely across networks and connect to public IM and presence services.”

Presence Controls Simplify Collaboration

Presence Controls for Microsoft Office Communicator, previously called Real-Time Collaboration Presence Toolkit, enable developers using Microsoft Visual Studio to easily insert presence icons into applications to provide the status information of contacts. In addition, the context menu within the icons enables integration with Microsoft Office Communicator 2005, allowing users in the application to launch Communicator's IM conversation or telephone call window.
To consult with two colleagues working in separate remote locations, for example, there is no longer the need for the participants to search for phone numbers and place calls to have an audio conference. While working in the current application, a team member is able to see their contact list, with an icon providing information on each coworker’s availability. Right-clicking on the icon next to the name of the desired contact enables the worker to choose the preferred type of conference to use.

Role Agent and Customer Alerting Application Enable Quick and Effective Cross-Team Communication

Role Agent for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 provides a sample implementation of role-based instant messaging and presence. The sample gives developers a way to assign a role name, such as “customer service representative,” to a group of people in order to create a public-facing entity that represents the presence of any individual currently in that role. Requests for an instant messaging session with the role can be dispatched to any or all of the available members in the group.
It might be difficult to benefit from presence awareness when you don’t know the name of the person you want to contact or that person doesn’t appear in an application. Perhaps they are part of a team that is known by function such as accounting or human resources, and therefore that team becomes a collective resource that can help you solve your problem immediately.
Also, in some cases, the members of a team change regularly, or perhaps the names of the individuals who are available to answer a question or provide real-time assistance should not be exposed. With the Role Agent, a role name can be used to represent a dynamic roster of individuals who are part of that role in the Active Directory group. Also, additional “bot” functionality can be written into the Role Agent application, enabling users to communicate with individuals and determine the best way to direct a task. This added functionality enables a team to be more efficient by quickly locating individuals who can perform the next task in a project or immediately answer a pressing question.
Customer Alerting Application Sample for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 demonstrates how to build an application that enables team members to determine whether other team members are online and send an instant notification to those members. The application is integrated with Active Directory and Live Communications Server.
Imagine working on a team with another team toward a common goal. Both teams need to finalize the documents for the project, and yet it is possible that not all members of one team are familiar with those of the other team -- and thus do not have a way to look them up and check their availability. With Custom Alerting embedded in the application, each member of both teams can be quickly identified, with their online availability known instantly.

U.S. Food And Product Recalls

2005-09-02T03:16:00.000-05:00

The following recalls have been announced by the U.S. government:* About 18,510 pounds of barbecue beans with beef made by Allison's Gourmet Kitchens Ltd., of Moore, Okla., and distributed to delicatessens in Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas have been recalled because they may be contaminated with listeria.
The beans were produced from July 26 to Aug. 10. They contain a use-by date of Sept. 6, 13, 20 or 21 and the establishment number 27404 inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection seal. Each case bears the code 04075. The firm recalled about 4,925 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken and beef products on Aug. 23.
Symptoms of listeria include fever and upset stomach and, if infection spreads to the nervous system, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. Pregnant women, older people and those with weakened immune systems are at risk.
Company testing turned up the problem with the products. There have been no reports of illness associated with the products. For questions about the recall, contact the company in the U.S. at (405) 794-2530. The Agriculture Department's meat and poultry hotline is (888) 674-6854.
* About 12,900 red sunglasses/ toddler cap sets imported by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts LLC were recalled because the paint on the sunglasses contains high levels of lead. There have been no illnesses or injuries reported. The glasses were sold with blue caps embroidered with either the Mickey Mouse or Stitch cartoon character. No other sunglasses/cap sets are included in the recall. The Disneyland Resort in California, The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disney's Vero Beach Resort in Florida and the Disney Cruise Line sold the product from November 2004 to June 2005. For more information, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at: http://www.cpsc.gov.
* About 120,000 toy sunglasses, manufactured by American Greetings Corp. have been recalled because the lenses on the sunglasses can separate from the frames and pose a choking hazard. There have been no injuries reported. These sunglasses are decorated with characters from the children's show "Sesame Street" and sold in packages of four. Discount, toy, drug, party, grocery and gift stores nationwide sold the products from December 2003 to August 2005. For more information, visit: http://www.cpsc.gov on the Internet.

http://FreeInternetPress.com

United Nations Reform

2005-09-02T03:06:00.000-05:00

Kristen Silverberg, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
On-The-Record Briefing
Washington, DC
August 31, 2005

MR. CASEY: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to briefing two of our day here. I think, as you know, we've got our new Assistant Secretary for International Organizations Affairs, Kristen Silverberg, with us today. Also, should point out that we have accompanying her Mr. John Simon, who is the Senior Director for Relief, Stabilization and Development at the National Security Council. They're here to talk to you today a little bit about the broad process of our UN reform priorities and agenda, but with a very specific focus, looking at the upcoming high-level event that will be taking place September 14-16 at UN headquarters in New York. There are some very significant documents that are being discussed related to that, talking about issues ranging from security, including counterterrorism measures, human rights and, of course, development issues. And we want to give you a chance to hear a little bit about what our agenda is for that meeting, some of the conversations that have been going forward over the last few months and give you a chance to talk a little bit further about that. So with that, let me turn it over to you, Kristen.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY SILVERBERG: Thanks. Thank you. I'll start by just giving a general overview about the high-level event and then happy to take any of your questions. As you know, the 60th Session of the General Assembly convenes in September. This is a special year because in the run-up to the event, the UN is convening a high-level event attended at the head of state level. And the Secretary General has laid out a very ambitious four-part agenda for that event: development and the importance of poverty reduction; security and counterterrorism; democracy and human rights; and then UN reform. We are very much looking forward to this high-level event as a good opportunity to show some concrete progress, to get agreement on each of these various issues. So I'll just run through them quickly and then we can follow up. On development, as you know, many of the issues under discussion at the high-level event were also the subject of much discussion at Gleneagles. The outcome at the G-8 was a big success for us, something we are very proud to be a part of it, something we know the UK was very proud to be a part of as well, because that document strongly reaffirmed that development is to be done in partnership with developing states, that we should focus on creating the kind of enabling environment that makes aid effective. In the high-level event, our efforts will be focused at reaffirming that approach, at broadening participation in that approach, trying to get agreement from a number of other member-states. On security and counterterrorism there are some very important opportunities. The President will be signing the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. This is important because it's the first convention signed since 9/11. I mean, it helps states cooperate on preventing and prosecuting, extraditing people who possess unlawfully nuclear devices. We will also be calling on states to make progress on the Comprehension Convention on International Terrorism, which rejects terrorism in all of its forms. On democracy and human rights we'll be celebrating an accomplishment, achievement of one of the President's agenda items. The President will appear with other participants in the UN Democracy Fund, which he called for last year. The Secretary General has now followed through and established that fund. We have a number of contributions, including U.S. contributions to it, and so that's an important thing we want to honor. We also are pushing very hard on a human rights council to replace the discredited Human Rights Commission. That's an important part of our UN reform agenda and we're very optimistic we're going to get some real progress forward on that piece. And finally, on the other pieces of UN reform specifically, we're making some good progress on management and budget reforms. It's very important to make sure that UN programs are accountable and effective, to make sure that UN staff abides by the highest ethical standards. So we feel very good about that. And we're also promoting a new peace building commission to help coordinate both UN activities in the field and to make our peace building efforts more effective. I'll just say a quick word about the process. President Ping sent out his first draft of an outcome document on June 3rd. The U.S. engaged immediately on the process. We provide written comments. We met, of course, with President Ping and his facilitators. We provided written comments on June 25th, on July 5th, on July 15th, on July 25th. Ambassador Anne Patterson gave an extensive speech, a widely publicized speech, on August 2nd. We provided further written comments this week, including through a number -- the formal negotiation process didn't start until Monday. Beginning with the convening of that formal negotiation, Ambassador Bolton put a number of specific amendments on the table.

THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP, Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-01T19:56:00.000-05:00

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTERTHE HON JOHN HOWARD MPINTERVIEW WITH ALAN JONESRADIO 2GB, SYDNEY
2 September 2005

JONES: I have our Prime Minister, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard on the line from Tasmania. PM good morning.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Alan.

JONES: PM there's a letter to one of the newspapers today which I thought was most apposite. It said I am watching the unfolding hurricane drama in the US. Why is it that whenever any major disaster happens anywhere else in the world the US offers money, manpower and resources yet I see no mention of even one country saying can we help you America.

PRIME MINISTER: Well Australia will help...

JONES: Right.

PRIME MINISTER: And I have already instructed my officials to put together a proposal to send an emergency team to the United States, we must discuss this in advance with the Americans because it's no good people arriving and there being no coordination and so forth and nothing for them to do. The most practical way in which we can help is to send people with expertise. If there is other assistance we can usefully give that will be considered. I do not take the view, the selfish view that well America can help everybody else out but in her hours of need...

JONES: Good on you.

PRIME MINISTER: People should ignore her.

JONES: Have you spoke to George Bush?

PRIME MINISTER: No I haven’t. Look I’ve sent him a personal note. He’s got more on his plate at the moment and I’ve said some things publicly. I’ve sent him a personal note and he’s got an enormous amount on his plate and he’s very hand to the helm as far as his own people are concerned. And frankly the best thing a good friend can do for him at the moment is just to…

JONES: Get out of his way.

PRIME MINISTER: Get out of his way and let him get on with the job. But I want to send practical help, that’s the best thing that we can do. We’ve had experience at this and I’ve asked my department, I spoke to them yesterday and they’re talking to Emergency Management Australia, to AusAid and all the other agencies, and see what we can put together and when we have that proposal and I’ll talk to them later this morning we’ll then continue our discussions with the Americans.

JONES: He is apparently going to visit that region today. I mean there are reports coming out of America which say that this is a greater tragedy than September 11.

PRIME MINISTER: Oh well we don’t know the loss of life and the rebuilding challenge is much, much greater, and September 11 was shocking for a whole lot of other reasons. The violent murder of people, this is a natural disaster. But the scale of it is huge and we must prepare ourselves for at least a short term adverse impact on the price of oil because it’s had an effect on the domestic oil supplies in the United States, it could render them useless or unavailable for at least a period of weeks and because they will then have to…. or release some supplies from their strategic reserve. But it could have a further adverse effect. Now how long that will last, I don’t think any of us know, but the economic consequences of this in the short term could be quite adverse, certainly for the United States.

JONES: Yes. I mean when you talk about rehabilitation costs of about $39 billion. PM talk of Australians, have you got anything that you can say about that?

PRIME MINISTER: I have had no information so far suggesting that Australians are missing, so far. But the situation is so chaotic that, that situation could change. But as of now I have not been told that any Australians are missing.

JONES: It’s frightening isn’t it from a human dimension to just think of hundreds of thousands of people with nothing.

PRIME MINISTER: No absolutely nothing, and it’s a reminder that even in the wealthiest country of the world the caprice of nature humbles them. It’s quite frightening and our thoughts and sympathies should be with America. And this idea well there’re the most powerful, wealthiest country in the world, when something like this strikes the poor and the vulnerable are the same all around the world.

JONES: Good on you, good on you, good to talk to you, and thank you for your time PM.

ONE IN TEN CHILDREN HAS A MENTAL DISORDER

2005-09-01T03:51:00.000-05:00

Wednesday 31 August 2005
National Statistics (National)

In 2004, one in ten children and young people aged 5-16 had a clinically recognisable mental disorder, according to a new survey* by the Office for National Statistics. The 2004 figures confirm the findings from the first national survey of children's mental health in 1999 which recorded the same proportion of children and young people with a mental disorder.
In 2004, four per cent of children had an emotional disorder (anxiety or depression), six per cent had a conduct disorder, two per cent had a hyperkinetic disorder, and one per cent had a less common disorder (including autism, tics, eating disorders and selective mutism). Some children (two per cent) had more than one type of disorder.
* The main aims of the survey were to examine whether there were any changes between 1999 and 2004 in the prevalence of the three main categories of mental disorder: conduct disorders, emotional disorders and hyperkinetic disorders; to describe the characteristics and behaviour patterns of children and young people in each main disorder category and subgroups within those categories; and to look in more detail at children with autistic spectrum disorder.
* The survey was carried out for the Department of Health and the Scottish Executive.
*Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain Palgrave Macmillan Price £50 ISBN 1 4039 8637 1
Available free on the National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14116
Other key findings from the 2004 survey include:
Boys were more likely to have a mental disorder than girls. Among 5-10 year olds, 10 per cent of boys and five per cent of girls had a mental disorder. Among 11-16 year olds, the proportions were 13 per cent for boys and 10 per cent for girls.
* The prevalence of mental disorders was greater among children and young people in certain family-types, such as:
* in lone parent families (16 per cent) compared with two-parent families (eight per cent);
* in reconstituted families (14 per cent) compared with those containing no stepchildren (nine per cent);
* in families whose interviewed parent had no educational qualifications (17 per cent) compared with those who had a degree level qualification (four per cent);
* in families with neither parent working (20 per cent) compared with those in which both parents worked (eight per cent);
* in families with a gross weekly household income of less than £100 (16 per cent) compared with those with an income of £600 or more (five per cent);
* in families where the household reference person was in a routine occupational group, such as unskilled manual workers (15 per cent) compared with those with a reference person in the higher professional group, for example, doctors and lawyers (four per cent);
* living in the social or privately rented sector (17 per cent and 14 per cent) compared with those who owned their accommodation (seven per cent);
* living in low income, high unemployment areas (15 per cent) compared with affluent areas (seven per cent).
These variations show a similar pattern to those observed in the previous survey in 1999.
Several new topics were introduced in the 2004 survey:
Medication
The use of psychotropic drugs was largely confined to children with a hyperkinetic disorder of whom 43 per cent were taking some kind of medication, mainly Methylphenidate. Only seven per cent of the children with an emotional disorder and nine per cent of those with a conduct disorder were taking some form of medication and many of these had a hyperkinetic disorder as well. The very limited use of medication for children with non-hyperkinetic disorders suggests that clinicians are mainly using non-pharmacological approaches with these families.
* Absence from school
Children with mental disorders were much more likely than other children to have had time off school: 17 per cent of those with emotional disorders, 14 per cent of those with conduct disorders and 11 per cent of those with hyperkinetic disorders had been away from school for over 15 days in the previous term. Among other children, the proportion was just five per cent.
* Social aptitude
Parents were asked to assess the child's social aptitude to provide a measure of his or her ability to empathise with others. Children in all three of the main disorder groups had much lower scores than other children on this scale indicating poor ability to empathise.
* Social networks and social support
The 2004 survey showed that the relationship between availability of social support and mental health, which is well established for adults, also existed for young people. For example, 42 per cent of children and young people with emotional disorders and 54 per cent of those with conduct or hyperkinetic disorders scored in the bottom quartile on a scale measuring the extent of the network of family and friends to whom the child felt close.
The 2004 survey also provided more detailed information about the characteristics of children with autistic spectrum disorder.
* One per cent of children aged 5-16 had autistic spectrum disorder. The majority of these children were boys, 82 per cent.
* Unlike children with the more common disorders, autistic children tended to have more highly qualified parents than other children: 46 per cent had parents with qualifications above GCSE compared with 35 per cent of other children. Similarly, autistic children were less likely to live in low income families: only nine per cent compared with 20 per cent of other children lived in households with a gross weekly income of less than £200 per week.
* Autistic children were, however, similar to children with other types of disorder in that a relatively high proportion lived in families in which neither parent worked (30 per cent compared with 14 per cent of other children). The unusual combination of high educational status and low economic activity rate among the parents of autistic children probably reflects their heavy caring responsibilities.
* The parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder were much more likely than the parents of other children to say that their child's health was fair or bad (24 per cent compared with seven per cent) and almost all the children had a physical complaint as well (89 per cent compared with 54 per cent of other children).
* Just under one third (30 per cent) of autistic children had another clinically recognisable mental disorder: 16 per cent had an emotional disorder, usually an anxiety disorder; and 19 per cent had an additional diagnosis of conduct disorder, often made on the basis of severely challenging behaviour.
* Almost all children with autistic spectrum disorder were reported to have special educational needs (97 per cent compared with 16 per cent of other children).

Commission adopts new Regulation on Lisbon drugs monitoring agency

2005-09-01T03:33:00.000-05:00

Brussels, 31st August 2005

Today, the Commission approved a recast of the original Council Regulation (EEC) N° 302/93 on the establishment of a European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). This Regulation had been updated a number of times to keep pace with developments within the European Union, such as enlargement and the reform of the EU financial Regulations.
The new text boosts the Centre’s role in the area of new patterns of drug use and formalises certain aspects of its structure that have evolved over the years, such as the Reitox Network of Focal Points in the Member States for instance, whose existence and role are now laid down in article 5 of the updated Regulation. Specific reference is also made to Council Decision 2005/387/JHA and the Centre’s role in the preparation of EU action on the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new psychoactive substances.
The new text seeks to bring the EMCDDA’s rules more into line with the Commission’s draft inter-institutional agreement on a framework for all EU agencies (COM(2005)59). It is also designed to enable the EMCDDA to align its work more closely with EU policies on drugs as embodied in the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2005-2008, recently endorsed by the Council.
The Commission’s proposal will be forwarded to the European Parliament and the Council for decision under the co-decision procedure.

Murray, Clinton: Dr. Wood's Resignation Tremendous Loss to FDA, Scientific Integrity,and Women's Health

2005-09-01T03:27:00.000-05:00

Call for Senate Hearing on Plan B in Letter to HELP Committee Chairman Enzi

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) were dismayed to learn that Dr. Susan Wood, Assistant Commissioner for Women’s Health and Director of the Office of Women’s Health, resigned from the FDA today citing concerns about the FDA's process for considering the Plan B application for over-the-counter status.
"The FDA and the American people lost a strong voice for scientific integrity in Dr. Wood. It is deeply disturbing that an agency long recognized for making decisions based on sound science has become so politicized that one of its most widely respected, long-serving veterans would feel disillusioned enough to quit in protest," they said.
Dr. Wood's statement of resignation confirms what Senators Murray and Clinton have contended for two years -- that the science has taken a backseat to politics in the FDA's decisionmaking process for Plan B. "I have spent the last 15 years working to ensure that science informs good health policy decisions. I can no longer serve as staff when scientific and clinical evidence, fully evaluated and recommended for approval by the professional staff here, has been overruled," said Dr. Wood in a statement released today.
"Unfortunately this is just the latest in a long list of examples of the Bush Administration suppressing science when it doesn't fit their political agenda," said the Senators.
Senators Clinton and Murray underscored that today’s resignation only intensifies the need for the Senate to examine the extended delays surrounding the over-the-counter application status of Plan B emergency contraceptives. The Senators sent the following letter to Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Michael Enzi again urging him to uphold his promise to hold a hearing and calling on him to ensure that the work of the HELP Committee and Congress are not undermined by politics and ideology at the FDA.
..........................................................................
August 31, 2005
The Honorable Michael EnziChairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and PensionWashington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Enzi, In light of the FDA’s recently broken promise to issue a decision on the over-the-counter application of Plan B by September 1st, we write to ask that you fulfill the commitment you made in July to investigate the source of the agency’s continued delays.
As U.S. Senators we make a commitment to protect the safety and well-being of the American public and we take this responsibility seriously. It is both disappointing and frustrating that our job has been hindered by the disingenuous actions of HHS and the FDA with regard to Plan B emergency contraceptives.
In a July 13th letter, HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt gave you his word that a decision on Plan B’s over-the-counter application would be made by September 1:
“I have spoken to the FDA, and, based on the feedback I have received, the FDA will act on this application by September 1, 2005.”
Based on Secretary Leavitt’s promise to you that the FDA would deliver a yes or no answer by September 1, we lifted our hold on the President’s nominee to head the agency.
The President now has his FDA administrator, but the American public still does not have an answer on Plan B.
Mr. Chairman, the Secretary has not only broken a promise to you and to Congress, but he broke his promise to the American people.
This process has raised fundamental questions about the FDA’s drug approval practices and the future independence and credibility of the agency.
The Senate HELP Committee has worked diligently to provide the FDA with the resources necessary to review pharmaceutical applications in a timely fashion while still ensuring the safety of the American public. Our Committee has taken seriously our responsibility to write and enact laws like the Prescription Drug Marketing Act to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic delays in bringing safe, effective drugs to consumers. It is critical to the future of the drug approval process that the laws Congress has worked so hard to pass not be undermined by politics and ideology.
Mr. Chairman, you have been very fair and respectful in working with us on our concerns over Plan B. You also made a commitment to us that you would hold bring leaders of the FDA before our Committee if the agency dug in its heels and continued to further delay this application process.
A delay is not a decision, and no amount of semantics can change that. The Secretary can play word games all he wants, but it is time for the FDA to stop playing games with the health and well being of millions of American women.
We ask you now to fulfill your commitment to hold a hearing of the HELP Committee to look into the serious issues of independence and credibility that FDA Administrator Lester Crawford’s continued delays on Plan B have raised about the agency as a whole.
The FDA has known since last July that the application under consideration only allowed over-the-counter access for girls 16 and older. Yet, it waited a year and one month to start a process for determining how to implement such an age restriction. These concerns should have been dealt with within the normal FDA review process, not at the eleventh hour.
The FDA’s only criteria for approval of Plan B should be safety and efficacy, not politics or ideology.
Day-by-day the public’s confidence in the FDA’s ability to make decisions based on scientific evidence of safety and efficacy is eroding. We urge you to honor your promise to hold a hearing and insist that action be brought swiftly on Plan B’s application.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Patty Murray
U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

SNOWE, SCHUMER: TAP THE STRATEGIC OIL RESERVES TO PREVENT GAS PRICE SPIKE IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA

2005-09-01T03:17:00.000-05:00

Gulf Coast Production Disruptions Could Cause Massive Crude Oil Price Spike President Seems to Adopt ‘Wait and See Attitude,’ Senators say – “The Time is Now”

WASHINGTON, D.C: Today U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urged President George W. Bush to deploy the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on oil and gas supplies, sending prices up again to near record highs of $70 per barrel. Schumer and Snowe wrote a letter today calling on the President to act immediately to help relieve Americans of skyrocketing gas prices across the country.
Over the weekend, energy companies evacuated employees on oil production platforms as the storm approached. The evacuations cut a large portion of the gulf's production of 1.5 million barrels a day. In addition, the closure of the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port – the nation’s largest oil importing terminal – has disrupted significant portion of oil imported through the Gulf.
“Americans suffering from skyrocketing prices at the gas pump deserve relief,” said Snowe. “With oil prices sure to rise even further in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, now is the time to utilize our strategic reserves to soften the blow.”
Schumer said, “Oil prices are spiking and gas prices are already too high, Katrina could force supply shortage and price spikes, President Bush must deploy the SPR to avoid this economic disaster. If there was ever a time for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be tapped, it would be now."
The text of the letter is below:
August 30, 2005
The Honorable George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, With the price of crude oil having surged to over a record-breaking $70 per barrel in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s arrival in the Gulf Coast, we urge you to act now to reduce skyrocketing prices at the gasoline pump by releasing a portion of oil contained in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The rising price of gasoline has already placed a financial strain on consumers that threatens the nation’s economic security, and will be severely exacerbated by the disruptions to oil production and refining that have occurred as a result of the hurricane. These price increases are directly linked to a severe physical supply disruption and threaten to have an extreme and prolonged effect on drivers throughout the United States. Accordingly, use of the SPR to counter these effects is more necessary and warranted than ever.
Yesterday, the price of crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) closed above $67 per barrel, and increase of 1.6 percent, after having gone to a record high of $70.80 during trading. The Gulf of Mexico is responsible for over 25% of U.S. oil production, and as a result of Hurricane Katrina oil output has been cut by 3.1 million barrels since Friday. The reduction of production capacity in the Gulf of Mexico and the closure of the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, America’s largest oil importing port, has forced other producers to maximize their activities and left little spare capacity to accommodate other shortages. These factors will undoubtedly continue to place extreme pressure on crude oil prices and will likely force retail gasoline prices will above the already astronomical average of $2.60 per gallon.
Releasing oil from the SPR to increase the supply of oil is a proven way to reduce the price of gasoline and heating oil. In the fall of 2000, the previous Administration announced a swap of 30 million barrels over 30 days, causing crude oil prices to quickly fall by over $6 per barrel and wholesale gasoline prices to fall $0.14 per gallon. The SPR is intended to provide relief at times when working families are struggling to make ends meet, and to counter the price shocks that accompany severe supply disruptions. Now is undoubtedly such a time. Instead of simple consideration, we urge you to take immediate action be releasing oil from the SPR to lower gasoline prices and stabilize oil supplies.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer Olympia Snowe

Booster Seats a Boon for Child Passenger Safety

2005-09-01T03:07:00.000-05:00

Back to School a Good Time to Establish the Habit

DETROIT: Back-to-school season is an ideal time for parents and caregivers to create a habit of making sure young children who have outgrown child safety seats are seated in a back seat of a vehicle and properly restrained in a booster seat.
A recent study commissioned by the National Safety Council's Air Bag and Seat Belt Campaign found that fatalities to children under 12 years old have dropped 18 percent overall since 1996 because more parents are properly restraining children in a back seat. That amounts to hundreds of lives saved a year.
But one area where more needs to be done is for children too big for infant or toddler seats but not yet big enough for safety belts alone to optimally protect them in a crash, says General Motors child safety engineer Artie Martin.
"The data show 4- to-8-year olds not riding in booster seats were up to three times as likely to have an abdominal injury in a crash when compared to children in booster seats," she said. "Safety belts should lie snug across the hips because their bony structure is much better able to withstand the forces in a crash than the soft tissue of the abdomen."
Safety experts recommend that children should be in a booster seat until they weigh 80 to 100 pounds and are 4'9" in height. According to SafetyBeltSafe USA, here are ways to determine if a child needs a booster seat:
Have the child sit on vehicle seat with his or her back and bottom against vehicle seat back.
Check to see if knees bend at vehicle seat edge and feet touch the floor (optimally).
Fasten safety belt across hips and shoulders. Check to be sure lap belt stays on hips and shoulder belt lies on the collarbone or shoulder.
The child should be able to maintain that position for the entire ride.
"This information is important to not only in the daily transport of children, but also for field trips and carpooling," said Martin. "Adults who volunteer to transport additional children should arrange to borrow appropriate booster seats if they do not have enough for each child they transport."
Parents and caregivers interested in learning more and helping other parents learn more about booster seat use can download a customizable letter and PowerPoint presentation at GMAbility.com/safety to send to their children's schools or pediatricians.

A Slam-Dunk! U.S. Department of State Partners with the NBA and Reebok to Promote Youth Basketball in Africa

2005-09-01T03:04:00.000-05:00

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
August 31, 2005

A Slam-Dunk! U.S. Department of State Partners with the NBA and Reebok to Promote Youth Basketball in Africa
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) along with U.S. embassies in Algeria, Nigeria and Senegal have partnered with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its corporate partner Reebok to sponsor basketball clinics for young boys and girls in Africa. Twelve thousand youth in Nigeria, Senegal and Algeria will receive a pair of new basketball shoes through this public-private partnership. ECA Sports Envoys, NBA player Jim Jackson from the Phoenix Suns and Cynthia Cooper, former Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) player for the Houston Comets, will conduct 3 days of basketball clinics in Senegal September 2-5. These clinics, for youth ages 7-17, will include technique drills and team building activities, as well as providing an opportunity for the African youth to engage in dialogue with American players and coaches. In addition to support from the Senegalese Basketball Federation, the Sports Envoys will be joined by an NBA delegation that includes Senegalese NBA player Mamadou N'diaye, and coaches from the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks. Legendary Georgetown coach and Turner Network Television analyst John Thompson will also attend. These clinics provide an opportunity for young people to discover how success in sports can be transformed into the development of life skills and achievements in the classroom, emphasizing the values of teamwork, respect, and leadership. The first basketball clinic took place August 12-14 in Abuja, Nigeria featuring NBA player and Nigerian native Obinna Ekezie. The third, and final clinic will take place in Algiers, Algeria in October 2005.

THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP DOORSTOP INTERVIEW

2005-09-01T02:56:00.000-05:00

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTERTHE HON JOHN HOWARD MPDOORSTOP INTERVIEWLONGFORD RSL, LONGFORD
1 September 2005

PRIME MINISTER: Could I start by expressing on behalf of all Australians our concern and distress and compassion for the people of many parts of the United States, particularly the people of New Orleans. The damage from Katrina has been horrific, hundreds perhaps more lives have been lost and massive damage has been done to property, and I have sent the personal message of sympathy to President Bush, and I want publicly to express on behalf of all Australians our sense of concern and our feeling for the people who have lost so much and been affected by this terrible natural disaster. Might I also on a sombre note express my sympathy to the people of Iraq for the terrible tragedy that could’ve claimed up to a thousand lives. This country has suffered so much from terrorism and from violence and from evil. I can only say on behalf of all Australians that we feel for and with the people of Iraq in this latest tragedy.

JOURNALIST: Will Australia be sending money or aid to America?

PRIME MINISTER: We are looking at ways of providing assistance, yes.

JOURNALIST: Given the fear and intimidation in Iraq now, will Australia rethink its strategy there?

PRIME MINISTER: We certainly won’t be changing our commitment to a free and democratic Iraq. The worst thing that the world could do now would be to turn its back on Iraq. The worst thing the coalition could do now would be to give in to terrorism. I draw your attention to the remarks made by the former Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, at the conference in Sydney yesterday when he said that the… those who argue for negotiation with terrorists are only encouraging the terrorists to commit more acts of terror, and I agree with him, and he’s a person who’s experienced the impact of terrorism at first hand.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

2005-09-01T02:50:00.000-05:00

Prime Minister of Australia
1 September 2005

On 16 September this year, Papua New Guinea will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its independence. The Governor-General will represent Australia at the celebrations.To mark this momentous occasion in Papua New Guinea’s history and Australia’s role in bringing independence to fruition, I am pleased to announce the following Australian contribution towards the anniversary celebrations.The Australian Government will fund the refurbishment of the National Library of Papua New Guinea located in Port Moresby. The library was Australia’s original gift to Papua New Guinea on independence in 1975. The refurbishment will include the maintenance of the building’s infrastructure to ensure the continuing protection of the library’s collection of rich and rare material on the early development of Papua New Guinea. We will also help increase linkages between the National Library and similar institutions in Australia. This will reflect Australia’s strong support for Papua New Guinea’s growth as a nation as well as the closeness and importance of our bilateral relationship.Australia will also provide financial assistance for an exhibition rugby league match to be played in Port Moresby on Sunday 18 September. The match will be between the Papua New Guinea national team (The Kumuls) and an Australian Prime Minister’s XIII comprised of players from those National Rugby League (NRL) teams that are not involved in the September NRL finals series. The Australian team will be coached by rugby league legend Mal Meninga, with another great of the game, Brad Fittler, as his assistant. In addition to the match, team members will use their visit to spread key messages about the importance of combating HIV/AIDS and violence against women in Papua New Guinea. I have asked the Hon Mal Brough MP, Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, to represent me at the match. Australia and Papua New Guinea have been close friends for many years. Australia’s contribution towards Papua New Guinea’s 30th anniversary celebrations reflects that friendship and the confidence that it will continue long into the future.

Beslan School Massacre One Year Later

2005-09-01T02:46:00.000-05:00

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC

The American people join in deep sympathy with Russia in remembering the children, their families, teachers and the many others who died at the hands of the terrorists who carried out the brutal attack in Beslan one year ago. The evil acts at Beslan and other equally incomprehensible ones that have claimed scores of innocent lives around the globe challenge the civilized world to unite in efforts to stop terrorism everywhere. The United States stands ready to cooperate with the Russian people in the ongoing struggle against terrorism.

Contacting Foreign Nationals Possibly Affected by Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-01T02:44:00.000-05:00

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
August 31, 2005

We would like to advise concerned family members of foreign nationals residing or traveling in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina to try to reach their family members by phone, email or other available means. If they cannot reach their family members directly, we recommend they contact their embassy in Washington, DC for assistance. Reports from the region indicate that some phone lines are working but experiencing heavy call volume, so family members should be encouraged to keep trying. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) and the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) both have web sites available that contain information on the current conditions in the region.

U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva Solar Energy Project

2005-09-01T02:41:00.000-05:00

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
August 31, 2005

The largest solar energy project ever installed at a U.S. government building overseas was inaugurated this morning, August 31, 2005, at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. The ribbon-cutting event was hosted by Ambassador Kevin E. Moley, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva; Ambassador Pamela Pitzer Willeford, U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland; and General Charles E. Williams, Director and Chief Operating Officer of the State Department's Overseas Buildings Operations. "We see this as the flagship project for the State Department's efforts to make United States embassies worldwide 'greener' and more self-sufficient," said General Williams. The U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva now has one of the largest building-integrated photovoltaic solar panel systems in Switzerland, featuring 950 square meters of solar panels on rooftops, along walls, and over windows. The U.S. Mission will send the electricity produced by solar panels directly into Geneva's electricity grid, and the local power utility Services Industriels de Geneve will buy the energy at a preferential rate established to encourage renewable energy production. The reduced energy and air-conditioning costs that will result are expected to result in savings that will pay for the $1.6 million project in less than 10 years.

NASA Assesses Hurricane Katrina Damage

2005-08-31T04:12:00.000-05:00

NASA is marshaling agency resources to assist Gulf Coast-area facilities that suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina. The agency is preparing to provide help for NASA employees and contractors whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Monday's storm hit NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, which is operated by Lockheed Martin. Both facilities are closed during recovery efforts. During the storm, hundreds of people including employees, family members and others took shelter at Stennis. A small contingency of NASA employees and contractors rode out the storm at Michoud. There are no reports of any injuries at NASA facilities. "My heart goes out to all the people affected by this hurricane," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. "I will be visiting Stennis and the Michoud Assembly Facility soon to talk with our people." NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., sustained minor damage and is providing support to Stennis and Michoud. Two helicopter flights from Marshall were delivering communication equipment and other supplies to the facilities today. Initial damage assessments indicate some buildings at Stennis sustained water and roof damage, but the exact extent has not been determined. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is using the center as a staging area for local recovery efforts. The center's Space Shuttle main engine test stands do not appear to be damaged. At Michoud, which makes the Space Shuttle's external fuel tanks, several buildings suffered window and roof damage. It appears that space flight hardware was not damaged, but a preliminary assessment has not been completed. The facility has no electrical power and communication is limited. Debris on roadways is restricting transportation around the facility.

President Commemorates 60th Anniversary of V-J Day

2005-08-31T04:08:00.000-05:00

Office of the Press Secretary
August 30, 2005

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's good to be back in California. Good to be here at North Island. This is the birthplace of naval aviation, and I want to thank you for making this son of a naval aviator feel right at home. (Applause.)
This morning our hearts and prayers are with our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast who have suffered so much from Hurricane Katrina. These are trying times for the people of these communities. We know that many are anxious to return to their homes. It's not possible at this moment. Right now our priority is on saving lives, and we are still in the midst of search and rescue operations. I urge everyone in the affected areas to continue to follow instructions from state and local authorities.
The federal, state and local governments are working side-by-side to do all we can to help people get back on their feet, and we have got a lot of work to do. Our teams and equipment are in place and we're beginning to move in the help that people need. Americans who wish to help can call 1-800-HELPNOW, or log on to RedCross.org, or get in touch with the Salvation Army. The good folks in Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama and other affected areas are going to need the help and compassion and prayers of our fellow citizens.
As we deliver relief to our citizens to the south, our troops are defending all our citizens from threats abroad. In the war on terror, all of you gathered here today are playing a critical role. Our naval aviators are displaying their fantastic skill in bringing justice to our enemies. Our sailors on Navy ships are patrolling the high seas. You're maintaining those ships and keeping them ready for battle. You're serving on special operations teams that are hunting the Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan. And our Marine units are bringing the terrorists to justice in Iraq.
However you are serving, each of you is defending our nation and bringing honor to the uniform, and your Commander-in-Chief, and your country is proud of your service. (Applause.)
I'm also proud to stand with those whose achievements we commemorate today, the military veterans of World War II. (Applause.) In war, America called you from your farms and your schools and your factories to defeat two of the most ruthless armies the world has known. In victory, America counted on you to extend a helping hand, to lift up a defeated foe. And in a lasting peace that has been your greatest legacy, America confirmed the power of freedom to transform the bitterest of enemies into the closest of friends.
Your victory came at great cost. And many of the heroes who fought by your side would not live to make the return journey home. More than 400,000 Americans gave their lives in that war, and some of them are buried a few miles from here at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. At a funeral sermon delivered after a battle that had taken the lives of thousands of Americans, a rabbi said, "Out of this, and from this suffering and sorrow of those who mourn this, will come, we promise, the birth of a new freedom for the sons of men everywhere."
Today, your hair is whitened. Your steps have slowed. Yet you have seen in your lifetime the rabbi's promise come true. The freedom that was born of your sacrifice has lifted millions of God's children across the Earth. This freedom is your monument to your fallen friends, your gift to their children and grandchildren, and your sacred bond with generations of patriots past and present who have worn the nation's uniform.
As we look into your faces, we see the same quiet resolve that defeated our enemies. And we count it a privilege to be the citizens of the country that you served. We pray that your comrades you have lost found peace with their Creator, and we honor your sacrifice by recommitting ourselves to the great ideals for which you fought and bled.
I'm honored today to be traveling with the First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush. (Applause.) I want to thank Admiral Zortman, the Commander of the Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, for his introduction. And thank you for your service, Admiral.
I'm proud to be here today with a man who is doing an excellent job for the United States military, the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. (Applause.) On V-J Day in 1945, Secretary Rumsfeld was selling newspapers at the Coronado Ferry, Coronado, California. He went on to be a Navy pilot. And today, he's a trusted advisor in my Cabinet. Mr. Secretary, proud to have you here. (Applause.)
I want to thank the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Duncan Hunter. Congressman Hunter is with us today. (Applause.) Congressman Duncan Hunter is, today, here with his dad, Robert Hunter, who served in World War II. And he has a son who is a proud Marine in Iraq. (Applause.)
I want to thank Secretary Tom Johnson of the California Department of Veteran Affairs. I want to thank Mayor Tom Smisek and his wife, Peggy. He's the mayor of Coronado. I appreciate you, Mr. Mayor. I want to thank Vice Admiral Barry Costello, Rear Admiral Mike Miller, Read Admiral Len Hering, Captain Tim Alexander. I want to thank Command Master Chief Mick Fulton, Chief Petty Officer Swisher. I want to thank all the men and women who wear the uniform for greeting us today. (Applause.)
We're proud to be in the company of Medal of Honor recipients -- Robert Modrzejewski, Jay Vargas, Red Millett, John Finn, John McGinty. Thank you for coming. Thank you for your courage. (Applause.)
Finally, I want to thank Sybil Stockdale, the wife of Admiral James Stockdale, for being with us today. (Applause.)
Sixty years ago this Friday, General Douglas MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. With Japan's surrender, the last of our enemies in World War II was defeated, and a World War that began for America in the Pacific came to an end in the Pacific. As we mark this anniversary, we are again a nation at war. Once again, war came to our shores with a surprise attack that killed thousands in cold blood. Once again, we face determined enemies who follow a ruthless ideology that despises everything America stands for. Once again, America and our allies are waging a global campaign with forces deployed on virtually every continent. And once again, we will not rest until victory is America's and our freedom is secure. (Applause.)
In the midst of this struggle, we have confidence in our cause because we know that America has faced down brutal enemies before. We have confidence in our cause because we've seen the power of freedom to overcome the darkness of tyranny and terror. And we have confidence in our cause because we know the character and courage of those who wear the uniform of the United States military. (Applause.)
Fifty years ago we saw that character and that courage in men such as Leon Stone, who was a young Navy sailor aboard the battleship West Virginia, supporting the Marines at Iwo Jima. We saw that courage in men such as Jim Simpson, who was one of those Marines. They didn't know each other, but they came together to fight for America's security. They came together to join a mighty force that defeated the Japanese empire. Jim Simpson and Leon Stone did finally meet one day when Leon's son and Jim's daughter got married.
And today, their grandson, Captain Randy Stone, carries on a proud family tradition. Captain Stone is a Marine officer now serving in Iraq. He knows that he and his generation are doing the same vital work in this war on terror that his grandparents did in World War II. He also knows how this struggle will end. Randy says, "I know we will win because I see it in the eyes of the Marines every morning. In their eyes is the sparkle of victory." (Applause.)
Captain Stone proudly wears the uniform just as his grandfathers did at Iwo Jima. He's guided by the same convictions they carried into battle. He shares the same willingness to serve a cause greater than himself. Many of you grew up with dads and granddads who have similar stories about their World War II service. They're the modest sons of a peaceful country. And a grateful nation thanks them for their sacrifice that preserved our freedom and our way of life. (Applause.)
The men and women who served in World War II belonged to a generation that kept its faith even when liberty's ultimate triumph was far from clear. When America was attacked at Pearl Harbor, our country was just emerging from a depression. More than half a dozen nations had large armies than we did. In Asia and Europe, country after country had fallen before the disciplined armies of the militaristic regimes. These events led many to conclude that freedom had seen its day, and that the future belonged to the hard men in Berlin and Tokyo.
Franklin Roosevelt refused to accept that democracy was finished. His optimism reflected his belief that the enemy's will to power could not withstand our will to live in freedom. He told the American people that our liberty depended on the success of liberty in other lands. And he called on Americans to defend that liberty, and millions answered the call. Within four years, America would recover from the devastation of Pearl Harbor. Within four years, we would fight and win a world war on two fronts.
Our victory in Asia was a particular triumph for the United States Navy. After Pearl Harbor our Pacific Fleet was nearly destroyed and the enemy appeared invincible. Those were dark days for freedom, but the darkness would not long prevail. From the daring first attack on Japanese soil led by Jimmy Doolittle and launched from the deck of the USS Hornet, to the Battle of Midway, to the flag-raising of Iwo Jima, our troops in the Pacific gave Americans back home reason to believe that President Roosevelt was right, that democracy was the most unconquerable of all forms of human society.
President Roosevelt was guided in victory in World War II by certain timeless principles. First, President Roosevelt believed that free nations could muster the resolve to defend themselves. In his day that belief was sorely tested by a ruthless and determined enemy. Our troops in the Pacific found themselves up against a ferocity they had never before encountered -- kamikaze pilots on suicidal missions, soldiers who fought to the last man, commanders animated by a fanatical belief that their nation was ordained to rule the Asian continent. This enemy took many lives and left many grieving families. Yet, in the end, they were no match for the forces of the United States and our allies. In the end they were defeated by Americans who only months before had been farmers and bank clerks and factory hands. And in the end, the victorious children of democracy would help their defeated enemies rebuild, and bring the taste of freedom to millions.
One of the first to recognize this truth was a member of Japan's surrender delegation aboard the USS Missouri. He went to the ceremony expecting to hear how the allies intended to take their vengeance on the defeated. Instead he heard General MacArthur speak about a future of freedom for Japan, and he realized the true source of America's military might. He wrote, "We weren't beaten on the battlefield by the dint of superior arms; we were defeated in the spiritual conquest by virtue of a nobler idea." (Applause.) In World War II, wherever our troops raised the flag of victory, they would also sow the seeds of liberty, and as a result, the world is better off. (Applause.)
Secondly, President Roosevelt believed that the call to freedom is universal. Many of our closest allies did not agree with him about this, and the political map of Asia seemed to confirm their skepticism. At the beginning of the war, the Pacific had only two democracies: Australia and New Zealand. Even in nations where the rule was not harsh, the best that most Asian people could expect was benevolent colonialism. The Japanese claimed they were ridding the continent of foreign colonialism. But millions of Chinese and Burmese and other Asian people soon learned that Tokyo had simply replaced Western colonialism with a version that was often more harsh and repressive.
President Roosevelt, and later President Truman, wisely resolved that we would not make that mistake in our treatment of a defeated Japan. They understood that the sacrifices of allied forces would mean nothing unless we used our victory to help the Japanese people transform their nation from tyranny to freedom. There were many doubters. American and Japanese experts claimed that the Japanese weren't ready for democracy.
In a letter to a friend back home, one of our soldiers on the ground offered a different view. Sergeant Richard Leonard's brother had been killed in fighting the Japanese, but after being stationed in Japan and meeting Japanese people, he found he could not hate them. He wrote, "Sure, we've got to occupy their country and watch them. But at the same time, we've got to help them and do everything possible to reconstruct them as a peace-loving nation." Sergeant Leonard was right. And America did just what he thought we should do. And as we look at what he and his generation accomplished in Japan, we know it is a mistake to believe that some people are not fit for equality and freedom our Creator intended for all. (Applause.)
Third, President Roosevelt believed that free nations are peaceful nations that would not threaten America. He knew that it was the lack of democracy in Japan that allowed an unelected group of militarists to take control of the state, threaten our neighbors, attack America, and plunge an entire region into war. And he knew that the best way to bring peace and stability to the region was by bringing freedom to Japan.
Democracy takes different forms in different cultures. Japanese democracy would be different from American democracy. The Japanese constitution would guarantee the universal freedoms that are the foundation of all genuine democracies, while, at the same time, reflecting the unique traditions and needs of the Japanese people. It allowed for both an electoral democracy and a heredity monarchy. It set Japan on the path to a free society.
With every step toward freedom, the Japanese economy flourished. With every step toward freedom, the Japanese became a model for others in the region. With every step toward freedom, the Japanese became a valued member of the world community, a force for peace and stability in the region, and a trusted and reliable ally of the United States of America.
I've experienced this transformation in a very personal way. During World War II, my dad was one of the Navy's youngest pilots and was shot down over the Pacific. At the same time, an official named Joonya Koizumi served in Japan's legislative assembly. Today, their sons serve as the elected leaders of two free nations. Prime Minister Koizumi is a respected leader and one of my best friends in the international community. Our two democracies are among the world's closest allies. And all Americans are safer and more secure because the Japanese people are free. (Applause.)
Today we must not forget the lessons of the past, and the lesson of this experience is clear: The most powerful weapon in the arsenal of democracy is the spirit of liberty. In the 20th century, the spirit of liberty worked to spread freedom from Japan and Germany to Eastern Europe and Latin America and Southeast Asia and Africa. And the spirit of liberty is at work today. Across the broader Middle East, we can see freedom's power to transform nations and deliver hope to people who have not known it. In Afghanistan and Iraq and Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories, people have gone to the polls and chosen their leaders in free elections. Their example is inspiring millions across that region to claim their liberty, as well -- and they will have it. (Applause.)
In Iraq, people have come together to write a constitution that guarantees freedom for all Iraqi citizens. The document they have produced protects fundamental human freedoms, including freedom for women, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of conscience, and freedom of expression. This constitution is the result of democratic debate and compromise, and the Iraqi citizens can be proud of what they have accomplished. (Applause.)
As freedom advances across a troubled part of the world, it is once again opposed by fanatical adherence of a murderous ideology. And once again, the stakes are high. Now, as then, our enemies have made their fight a test of American credibility and resolve. Now, as then, they are trying to intimidate free people and break our will. And now, as then, they will fail. (Applause.)
They will fail because the terrorists of our century are making the same mistake that the followers of other totalitarian ideologies made in the last century. They believe that democracies are inherently weak and corrupt and can be brought to their knees. They looked at our response after the hostage crisis in Iran, the bombings of the Marine barracks in Lebanon, the first World Trade Center attack, the killing of American soldiers in Somalia, the destruction of two U.S. embassies in Africa, and the attack on the USS Cole. They concluded that free societies lack the courage and character to defend themselves against a determined enemy. Hear the words of Osama bin Laden that explain why he believed he could get away with the attacks of September the 11th, 2001: "We've seen in the last decade the decline of the American government and the weakness of the American soldier, who is ready to wage cold wars and unprepared to fight long wars... After a few blows they ran in defeat... [They forgot] about being a world leader..." End quote.
After September the 11th, 2001, we've taught the terrorists a very different lesson. America will not run in defeat, and we will not forget our responsibilities. We have brought down two murderous regimes. We're driving terrorists from their sanctuaries. We're putting the terrorists on the run all across the world. (Applause.)
The terrorists and insurgents are now waging a brutal campaign of terror in Iraq. They kill innocent men and women and children in the hopes of intimidating Iraqis. They're trying to scare them away from democracy. They're trying to break the will of the American people. Their goal is to turn Iraq into a failed state like Afghanistan was under the Taliban. If Zarqawi and bin Laden gain control of Iraq, they would create a new training ground for future terrorist attacks; they'd seize oil fields to fund their ambitions; they could recruit more terrorists by claiming an historic victory over the United States and our coalition.
Our goal is clear, as well. We will defeat the terrorists. We'll build a free Iraq that will fight terrorists instead of giving them aid and sanctuary. A free Iraq will offer people throughout the Middle East a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology being peddled by the terrorists. A free Iraq will show that when America gives its word, America keeps its word.
That choice -- this is the choice we face: Do we return to the pre-September the 11th mind-set of isolation and retreat, or do we continue to take the fight to the enemy and support our allies in the broader Middle East? I've made my decision: We will stay on the offensive. We will stand with the people of Iraq, and we will prevail. (Applause.)
We will prevail because this generation is determined to meet the threats of our time. We will prevail because this generation wants to leave a more hopeful world for our children and grandchildren. We will prevail because the desire to live in freedom is embedded in the soul of every man, woman and child on this Earth. And we will prevail because our freedom is defended by the greatest force for liberation that humankind has ever known, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. (Applause.)
In this war, some of our best citizens have made the ultimate sacrifice. We mourn the lose of every life. We pray for their loved ones. And we will honor their sacrifice by completing the mission and laying the foundation for peace. (Applause.)
Sixty years ago, American forces made the same type of sacrifice and helped liberate two continents, and made our world a more peaceful place. The men and women of World War II brought honor to the uniform, and to our flag, and to our country. With each passing day their ranks thin, but the peace they built endures. And we will never let the new enemies of a new century destroy with cowardice what these Americans built with courage. (Applause.)
Sixty years after V-J Day, our military veterans can take heart from the example they see right here in San Diego. Those of you who wear the nation's uniform today are every bit as selfless and dedicated to liberty as the generations that came before. And when we will look at you we know our freedom is in good hands. (Applause.)
It is men and women like you who keep us free. It is the spirit of liberty that keeps you strong, and it is the history that gives us confidence to know that in the vital work of spreading liberty, America, and those of us who love freedom will prevail.
May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. (Applause.)

CRACKDOWN ON VIOLENT PORNOGRAPHY

2005-08-31T04:01:00.000-05:00

Tuesday 30 August 2005
Home Office (National) UK

Home Office Minister Paul Goggins today announced that the Government intends to ban possession of extreme pornographic material, and published a consultation paper inviting views on the proposals.
Under the Government's proposals, it would be an offence to possess images depicting scenes of serious sexual violence and other obscene material. All the categories of material proposed for banning are already illegal to publish in the UK under the Obscene Publications Act (OPA) 1959. However, the global nature of the Internet means obscene material can now be published electronically in the UK from abroad. It is hoped that creating a new offence of possession of violent and abusive pornography will send a clear message about this material, make it easier to combat and may reduce demand for it.
The consultation invites views on whether there is a need for legislation in this area; the different ways the law could be amended, the categories of material which should be proscribed and the potential penalties for possessing such pornography. Under the new proposals possessing images electronically would be no different from possessing actual photographs, as with current laws on possession of child pornography.

Paul Goggins said:

"This is material which is extremely offensive to the vast majority of people, and it should have no place in our society. The fact that it is available over the Internet should in no way legitimise it. These forms of violent and abusive pornography go far beyond what we allow to be shown in films or even sold in licensed sex shops in the U.K., so they should not be available online either.
"I am inviting views on whether legislation in this area is required, and if so, what the proscribed material and penalties should be."
Liz Longhurst, whose daughter Jane was murdered in 2003 by a man obsessed with violent sexual pornography, said:
"I welcome the news that the Home Office is consulting on making it an offence to possess violent internet pornography. Over the last eighteen months I have worked hard to change the climate of public opinion through the Jane Longhurst Campaign by raising public awareness of the issue.
"With the help of many friends, including MPs Martin Salter and David Lepper, we have lobbied the Government and collected over 35,000 signatures for our petition and I am hopeful of reaching a target of 100,000 signatures by Spring 2006. I would be grateful for any help with the petition, which can be downloaded from http://www.martinsalter.com/pdf/jane-longhurst-petition.pdf
ACPO spokesman on sexual violent crime and Metropolitan Police Commander Dave Johnston said:
"The police service welcomes this Home Office consultation. The Internet is being targeted more and more by those who create sites that specialise in sexual violence and other types of extreme perversion. The investigation into such matters proves to be very difficult due to the fact that many of the sites are abroad and outside the jurisdiction of United Kingdom law enforcement agencies. Opportunities for prosecution only exist when links to such sites are found in this country.
"The creation of new offences to deal with these matters would assist greatly in preventing the spread of such material."
Scottish Executive Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"Violent pornography is abhorrent. As we have always made clear, the Scottish Executive is committed to tackling abuse and discrimination wherever it appears in our society. We have already increased the penalties for possession and distribution of child pornography. And if it is found that the law can be strengthened to cut violent pornography from our society, then we will take action."
Although Scottish laws are different to those in England and Wales, many of the issues involved relate to the internet and are not limited by geographical borders. The consultation is therefore being carried out jointly by the Home Office and the Scottish Executive's Ministry for Justice. If following consultation there is a need to legislate, the Scottish Executive will do so separately in Scotland.
Any new law would not be intended to target those who accidentally come into contact with obscene pornography; nor would it target the mainstream entertainment industry which works within current obscenity laws. Responses are invited to the consultation by 2nd December 2005.

General Motors, GM Foundation & GMAC to Help Hurricane Victims in Southern U.S

2005-08-31T03:58:00.000-05:00

Vehicles, Cash and Matching Funds to American Red Cross

DETROIT: General Motors today announced that the GM Foundation and GMAC will make a combined immediate cash donation of $400,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund in support of relief work in parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The GM Foundation has pledged up to an additional $250,000 in matching funds for contributions made to the Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund by GM and GMAC employees through the company’s Global Aid Disaster Relief website (www.gmability.com).
In addition to financial support, the GM family will provide additional relief support and aid to storm victims:
GM is making available more than 25 cars and trucks for use by the American Red Cross in relief efforts throughout the affected areas. These vehicles, along with three Hummer H2s donated to the Red Cross last year and the 10 other vehicles already in use following last month’s strike of Hurricane Dennis in Pensacola, are offered to the Red Cross for use in transporting volunteers, food, water and medical supplies.
OnStar has opened up its full range of services for its customers based in or traveling in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. All OnStar customers in these states are getting immediate assistance with routing requests, hotel reservations, weather updates, gas station directions, contacting relatives and emergency communication with public safety providers.
The GM facility in Shreveport, Louisiana, is working with the local American Red Cross chapter to collect needed supplies of bedding for the many evacuees entering the area and expected to remain for an extended period of time.
GMAC will work closely with all its impacted customers in auto finance, insurance and mortgage units. Customers are urged to contact customer service or their branch offices where they will be assisted on a case-by-case basis.
Reports of fatalities, injuries and property destruction continue to mount following the storm that struck yesterday and earlier last week.
“It may be days or weeks before the full extent of the destruction from Hurricane Katrina is known, but in the meantime, GM, the GM Foundation and GMAC will act now to help the American Red Cross bring relief to the victims of this devastating storm,” said Rod Gillum, GM Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, and Chairman of the GM Foundation. “We invite GM and GMAC employees everywhere to continue their proven tradition of supporting disaster relief efforts by contributing online to the Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund.”

FORD MOTOR CREDIT OFFERS PAYMENT DEFERRALS TO HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS

2005-08-31T03:56:00.000-05:00

DEARBORN , Mich. , August 30, 2005: Ford Motor Credit Company is offering customers affected by Hurricane Katrina the opportunity to defer up to two vehicle payments.
Under the Disaster Relief Program, Ford Credit, Jaguar Credit, Land Rover Capital Group, Mazda American Credit, PRIMUS Financial Services and Volvo Car Finance customers have the opportunity to defer these monthly payments without paying extension fees. The program is open to customers living in counties in that FEMA has declared federal disaster areas as a result of the storm.
"Customers living in the path of the storm have enough to worry about ," said A.J. Wagner, President of Ford Motor Credit North America. "This program provides customers some breathing room while they rebuild."
Ford Motor Credit customers who are eligible for the Disaster Relief Program should receive letters next week with instructions on how to register. Customers must register within 60 days to qualify. Deferred payments are due at the end of the contract term. Customers who have not received a letter, but believe they qualify, may call the toll-free number listed for their brand to register.
Ford Credit: 1-800-723-4016
Jaguar Credit: 1-800-945-7000
Land Rover Capital Group: 1-877-507-2264
Mazda American Credit: 1-800-945-4000
PRIMUS Financial Services: 1-800-945-4000
Volvo Car Finance: 1-800-770-8234

FTC Issues Statement on Closure of Federated/May Investigation

2005-08-31T03:50:00.000-05:00

Commission: Transaction Will Have “No Adverse Effects on Consumers as a Whole”

The Federal Trade Commission today issued a statement that explained its reason for closing the investigation of the $17 billion acquisition by Federated Department Stores, Inc. (Federated) of the May Department Stores Company (May) and allowing the deal to proceed. Federated owns or operates 456 department stores nationwide – under the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s name – and May owns or operates 491 department stores throughout the United States under names including Marshall Field’s, Lord & Taylor, Filene’s and Kaufman’s, Hecht’s and Strawbridge, Foley’s, Famous Barr, and Robinson-May.
The Commission – writing with Chairman Majoras recused – has issued the statement in accordance with its policy to help provide transparency for decisions in high-visibility matters. According to the statement, which can be found on the FTC’s Web site as a link to this press release, the Commission “conducted an exhaustive six-month investigation” of the proposed transaction, because the combination of the two chains, each of which is the product of multiple earlier combinations, “will create by far the largest chain of so-called ‘traditional’ or ‘conventional’ department stores in the country.” In addition, the transaction will create high levels of concentration among conventional department stores in many parts of the country, and thus facially appeared to raise issues of competitive concerns.
According to the statement, however, “When an industry is changing rapidly . . . it is necessary to take account of fundamental changes in the structure of the market.” The statement details the rapid evolution of retail markets in the United States to demonstrate that suburban shopping malls “have largely replaced downtown shopping destinations.”
The statement next examines evidence on pricing patterns, which it says “provides the most compelling, objective demonstration that . . . conventional department stores are not in a distinct market.” They face competition from multiple retail formats for the merchandise they sell. Accordingly, the Commission states, department stores must consider prices and selections at a wide range of other retailers when they make inventory and pricing decisions.
Equally compelling, the statement continues, is that Federated and May, like other department store chains, set prices that are uniform over broad geographic areas – typically multi-state regions. This fact distinguishes this transaction from, for example, Staples proposed merger with Office Depot in 1997, where a narrow “office superstore” market definition was bolstered by proof of differential prices, depending on the number of superstores in a particular city.
Next, the statement discusses how the Commission defined the geographic market in which to examine the proposed acquisition, and finds that the market “is at least as large as an MSA, within which there are many alternatives to discipline prices.” The Commission was aware, however, that many of the products now sold in department stores have non-price attributes that are also important to consumers. Accordingly, staff carefully reviewed the investigative record for any potential effects in non-price competition, such as reductions in merchandise assortment or new product introductions. None were found.
The statement notes that selected divestitures may take place following the transaction, but states the FTC does not need to take action, in light of the broad relevant markets it found. In concluding its statement, the Commission says that, “. . .We recognize that many individual consumers mourn the gradual disappearance of individual department stores in their hometowns . . . These changes, however, have been ongoing for many years. We have not been able to uncover any evidence that this particular merger will have any adverse effect on consumers as a whole.”
The Commission vote approving issuance of the statement was 3-0, with Chairman Majoras recused

Want To Help?

2005-08-31T03:47:00.000-05:00

The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists these organizations for those seeking to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina:
DONATE CASH
American Red Cross (800) HELP NOW (435-7669) English; (800) 257-7575 Spanish.
Operation Blessing (800) 436-6348.
America's Second Harvest (800) 344-8070.
TO DONATE CASH OR VOLUNTEER
Adventist Community Services (800) 381-7171.
Catholic Charities, USA (703) 549-1390.
Christian Disaster Response (941) 956-5183 or (941) 551-9554.
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (800) 848-5818.
Church World Service (800) 297-1516.
Convoy of Hope (417) 823-8998.
Lutheran Disaster Response (800) 638-3522.
Mennonite Disaster Service (717) 859-2210.
Nazarene Disaster Response (888) 256-5886.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (800) 872-3283.
Salvation Army (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief (800) 462-8657, ext. 6440.
United Methodist Committee on Relief (800) 554-8583.

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68 Dead, Death Toll And Floodwaters Rise In Katrina's Wake

2005-08-31T03:39:00.000-05:00

Authorities along the Gulf Coast used boats and helicopters to reach residents stranded by Hurricane Katrina and search for survivors on Tuesday, as New Orleans residents fought to stem the flow of water rushing into the low-lying city.
The storm ripped ashore in Louisiana Monday morning with winds topping 140 mph before scourging Mississippi and Alabama.
The storm is blamed for at least 68 deaths -- mostly in Mississippi -- but officials stressed that that's just an early estimate and the number is likely to be much higher.
"We know we've had some loss of life. We really don't know how much. There are credible accounts of 50 to 80 in Harrison County. Those are not confirmed, but they're credible," Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Tuesday.
"And I hate to say it, I think there are going to be more."
While Louisiana officials have not confirmed any deaths there, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said there have been reports of bodies floating in the floodwaters. Two storm-related traffic fatalities were reported in Alabama.
Katrina caused widespread flooding across the region, and floodwaters were still rising Tuesday in New Orleans after a hole opened in a levee protecting the city. Water poured into New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain after a two-block-long breach opened overnight in a section of a levee that protects the low-lying city.
Nagin had said that about 80 percent of the city was flooded and that some areas were under 20 feet of water.
CNN's John Zarrella, in a hotel on Canal Street, said the water level was "much higher" than it had been during the height of Katrina's onslaught, rising all morning Tuesday and topping the sandbags meant to keep the water out of the building.
"Water has now filled the basement of the hotel," he said. "All of the entrances to our hotel are completely surrounded, and the water is slowly creeping up the side of the building. Yesterday, during the hurricane, the water was nowhere near this high."
In the city's 9th Ward neighborhood, rescue efforts continued throughout the night, with authorities in boats plucking residents from submerged homes after water topped another levee.
Monitoring the rescue efforts, CNN's Adaora Udoji said authorities had ferried at least 500 people from their homes, flooded with as much as six feet of water. Some residents reported water rose so fast they did not have time to grab their shoes.
A 50-inch water main break left the city without drinkable water, and the massive power outages caused by the storm are likely to take at least three or four weeks to repair.
Nagin said both the city's airports were under water, the Southern Yacht Club had burned to the ground, an oil tanker had run aground and was leaking, there were gas leaks throughout the city and Interstate 10's twin spans heading east over the lake were "completely destroyed."
The FAA hopes to open one runway at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport for emergency flights.
In Mississippi, streets and homes were flooded as far as six miles inland. Gov. Barbour plans to make a helicopter tour of the hardest hit areas today.
In Biloxi, a 25-foot storm surge crashed in from the Gulf of Mexico on Monday and inundated structures there. Up to 30 people are believed to have been killed when one apartment complex on the beach collapsed in the storm.
One man in Biloxi told CNN affiliate WKRG-TV he believed his wife was killed after she was ripped from his grasp when their home split in half.
"I held her hand as tight as I could," the unidentified man said. "She told me, 'You can't hold me.' She told me to take care of the kids and the grandkids ... we ain't got nowhere to go. I'm lost. That's all I had."
"This is our tsunami," Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway told the Biloxi Sun Herald newspaper, referring to the December 26, 2004, tsunami that killed more than 226,000 people in the Indian Ocean region.
Debris littered the streets and the ground floors of several structures. Cement trash cans used as barriers in front of buildings were strewn about like cardboard boxes, and paper scraps hung from the highest branches of the trees still standing.
Standing in front of the once-luxurious Beau Rivage casino, CNN's Miles O'Brien said at least a dozen gaming places were closed and damaged from Katrina -- costing the state $500,000 a day in lost tax revenues.
Charles Curtis, a Biloxi resident who works in a casino that is now split in half, said he and his wife stood on top of their refrigerator as the water rose around them.
"The Back Bay of Biloxi came through our front door," he said, referring to the shallow, marshy strip that borders the north of the city. "We were ready to punch a hole through the ceiling if we had to" escape, Curtis said.
In Mobile, Alabama, the storm pushed water from Mobile Bay into downtown, submerging large sections of the city, and officials imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew.
An oil drilling platform broke away from its moorings and lodged under a bridge that carries U.S. Highway 98 over the Mobile River.
The Alabama National Guard activated 450 troops to secure Mobile. Two other Alabama battalions, or about 800 troops, were activated to assist in Mississippi.
President Bush was returning to Washington two days ahead of schedule to help oversee Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, the White House announced.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is preparing to house "at least tens of thousands of victims ... for literally months on end," the agency's director, Michael Brown, said Monday night. Veteran FEMA staffers who have surveyed the destruction are reporting some of the worst damage they have ever seen, he said.
Louisiana and Mississippi officials urged evacuees as well as those stranded by flooding from the storm to stay put.
"It's too dangerous to come home," said Blanco, who ordered state police to block re-entry routes to all but emergency workers.
The American Red Cross said it is launching the largest relief operation in its history. More than 75,000 people are being housed in nearly 240 shelters across the region, and Red Cross President Marty Evans told CNN, "We expect that to grow" as people who can't return home seek somewhere to stay.
More than 1.7 million homes and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida were without electricity, according to utility companies serving the region.
Katrina was downgraded to a tropical depression Tuesday. As of the 11 a.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center, Katrina was about 25 miles south of Clarksville, Tennessee, moving north-northeast at 21 mph.
On Katrina's way north Monday night through Mississippi, its outer bands spawned tornados in Georgia. Three twisters were reported there, one in central Peach County and two in the northwest counties of Carroll and Paulding. One person in Carroll County was critically injured.

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Editor Comment: Updates as I am working on the site this morning, has the death toll is higher than this report, and still rising. Mississippi has claimed over one hundred and rising as they are able to access more areas. Louisiana has said they have found over 65 dead and more expected. Alabama has stated that they have over 50 and the count is still going on.
Rescue operations are still working and moving across these states as they are able too, but the conditions are still not favorable yet for effective actions. The high water, currents and the massive amount of area the storm hit are all factors that are causing hindrances in finding the dead and survivors of this storm.

U.K. To Ban Violent Internet Porn

2005-08-31T03:38:00.000-05:00

Proposed new laws could make the United Kingdom the first western country to make viewing or downloading violent pornography on the Internet illegal, the British government said on Tuesday.
Following the publication of a consultation paper, Britain's Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said the proposals would create a new criminal offence of possession of violent and abusive pornography.
"This is material which is extremely offensive to the vast majority of people, and it should have no place in our society," Goggins told the U.K.'s Press Association. "The fact that it is available over the Internet should in no way legitimize it. These forms of violent and abusive pornography go far beyond what we allow to be shown in films or even sold in licensed sex shops in the U.K., so they should not be available online either."
Other forms of pornographic material in the U.K. are subject to the Obscene Publications Act; but Internet pornography is unregulated, allowing Web users to access sites published outside the U.K. The majority of obscene material online is published in the U.S., according to the Internet Watch Foundation, an industry watchdog.
Minister Goggins said the new legislation would ban possession of images portraying necrophilia, bestiality or or serious sexual violence. Anyone guilty of a punishable offense would face up to three years in prison.
The proposals follow a public campaign calling for restrictions on extreme Internet pornography that was launched in response to the murder of Jane Longhurst in 2003. The 31-year-old teacher was killed by a man obsessed with viewing violent pornography Web sites.
"We know from that particular case, the horrendous case of Jane Longhurst ... that these images do have an impact, do feed the fantasies in certain individuals," said Goggins. "We believe it's our responsibility to prevent that from happening."
Interested parties have until Dec. 2 to comment on the consultation paper. It would then be drafted into a bill and would have to pass through Parliament before taking effect.
Chris Evans of Internet Freedom, a pressure group, said users should be free to choose what they see. "There is no evidence that watching violent images causes people to carry out violent acts," Evans said in an interview with BBC TV.
Metropolitan Police Commander Dave Johnston said the proposals would help stop the spread of Web sites specializing in "extreme perversion." "The Internet is being targeted more and more by those who create sites that specialize in sexual violence and other types of extreme perversion," Johnston told the Press Association.
"The investigation into such matters proves to be very difficult due to the fact that many of the sites are abroad and outside the jurisdiction of U.K. law enforcement agencies. The creation of new offenses to deal with these matters would assist greatly in preventing the spread of such material."

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New Paris Fire Kills 7 Immigrants, 4 Were Children

2005-08-31T03:36:00.000-05:00

A fire has killed seven people - including four children - in a building housing African immigrants in Paris, just days after a similar lethal blaze. Officials say about 12 families from Ivory Coast were living there in deplorable conditions. The blaze happened in the central Marais area.
On Friday, 17 West Africans died in another Paris apartment block fire, and a similar blaze killed 24 in April.
The government has now ordered a review of housing policy for immigrants.
President Jacques Chirac expressed sadness at the latest fire and ordered an inquiry.
The fire broke out at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Monday and firefighters took 90 minutes to control it.
A child who jumped from a window in the building died in a hospital. Six other bodies were found in the ruins.
Friday's deadly fire - also in a building used by African immigrants - provoked street protests in Paris. Fourteen of the 17 who died in that blaze were children.
Members of the African community took to the streets over the weekend, urging the authorities to provide better housing for immigrants. They were joined by left-wing activists and pressure groups who accused French leaders of neglect.
Some 100 firefighters and 30 vehicles were used to control the latest fire, which is said to have started in the lower part of the building - reportedly an old squat. Fourteen people were injured, three of them seriously, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire is not known.
Pierre Aidenbaum, the mayor of the third district, said he had been dealing with the building "for many years now, telling the police headquarters about the living conditions, because I considered the conditions to be totally unacceptable". He said the building's 40 residents were to have been relocated in September to allow for renovation work.
In all three lethal blazes that hit African immigrants the flames spread quickly from the stairwell to the dilapidated wooden interiors of the apartments, the French news agency AFP reports.
According to the French lobby group Right to Housing, only 60,000 apartments or houses are being built in the public sector each year - half the amount needed, the BBC News reports. The group accuses the authorities of failing to requisition empty private accommodation to house those on the waiting lists.
Paris City Hall says that in the past four years it has identified 1,000 private apartment blocks to refurbish or replace. It says it has already renovated some 300 of them, twenty times as many as in the preceding period.
Reacting to the latest fire, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said, "We must close down all these squats and all these buildings, to prevent such tragedies."

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Fuel cells might get hydrogen from water, organic material

2005-08-31T03:05:00.000-05:00

August 31, 2005

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.: A novel technique for producing hydrogen from water and organic material has been found recently at Purdue University, a discovery that could help speed the creation of viable hydrogen storage technology.
Though the method has not yet been evaluated for economic feasibility on a large scale, chemist Mahdi Abu-Omar said it could offer solutions to several problems facing developers of fuel cells, which are looked upon as a potential replacement to fossil-fuel burning engines in automobiles. The technique requires only water, a catalyst based on the metal rhenium (REE-nee-um) and an organic liquid called an organosilane, which can be stored and transported easily.
"We have discovered a catalyst that can produce ready quantities of hydrogen without the need for extreme cold temperatures or high pressures, which are often required in other production and storage methods," said Abu-Omar, an associate professor of chemistry in Purdue's College of Science. "It is possible that this technique could lead to fuel cells that are safe, efficient and not dependent on fossil fuels as their energy source."
Abu-Omar's research team, which includes Purdue's Elon A. Ison and Rex A. Corbin, published their findings today (Wednesday, Aug. 31) in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Hydrogen is the most plentiful element on Earth and, once isolated, is a clean-burning fuel that produces neither greenhouse gases nor toxic emissions. Because hydrogen can be used for electricity production, transportation and other energy needs, many see a changeover to a "hydrogen economy" from our oil-based one as the solution to global energy problems. But before hydrogen can be used as fuel, it must be extracted from other substances that are often fossil fuels, and then stored safely in sufficient quantities. If these problems can be solved, hydrogen-powered generators, known as fuel cells, might replace internal combustion engines everywhere from electrical plants to cars.
Abu-Omar and his colleagues were not concentrating on these problems when they began studying organosilanes, a group of organic molecules that have been slightly modified in the laboratory. But as commonly happens in science, he said, a project often takes researchers in different directions than originally anticipated.
"Initially, we were concerned with finding useful catalysts to convert these silicon-based fluids into silanols, another type of substance that is valuable in the chemical industry," he said. "It's the sort of work chemists do all the time, and it's usually of interest only to other chemists. But sometimes the byproducts of conversions are as interesting as what you wanted in the first place."
Abu-Omar's team took a compound based on rhenium, a comparatively rare metal often obtained while mining copper, and added it to the organosilane in the presence of water. Over the course of an hour, the organosilane changed completely into silanol, leaving the water and rhenium catalyst unchanged. But the team also noticed there was a gas bubbling from the mixture.
"It turned out to be pure hydrogen," Abu-Omar said. "The reaction is not only efficient at creating silanol, but it also generates hydrogen at a high rate in proportion to the amount of water."
The team estimates that about 7 gallons each of water and organosilane could combine to produce 6 1/2 pounds of hydrogen, which could power a car for approximately 240 miles.
"The big question is, of course, whether it would be economically viable to create organosilane fuels in the quantities necessary to power a world full of cars," Abu-Omar said. "As of right now, there simply isn't enough demand to make more than small volumes of this liquid, and while it's a relatively easy process, it's not dirt cheap either."
But, Abu-Omar speculated, producing organosilanes in larger quantities would bring the price down, and the byproduct – silanol – also could be recycled or sold to lessen the overall cost.
"On today's chemical market, silanol is even more expensive than organosilanes are, but their value would of course decline as well if there were suddenly millions of gallons of them on the market," he said. "These are the sorts of questions that economists would have to look at, and we have other questions of our own, such as whether these reactions can be carried out on naturally occurring hydrogen sources."
Abu-Omar said this question might prove to be the more relevant one as investigations continue.
"I think the big point here is that hydrogen can be produced from water and a form of organic matter," he said. "If this rhenium-based catalyst can do the trick on organosilanes, perhaps we can find other catalysts that can generate hydrogen from garbage, or from biomass left over from the harvest."
The current findings, he said, demand that the method be scrutinized more carefully.
"For now, we've demonstrated the initial premise that we can produce and store hydrogen on demand with this method," he said. "It's a great start, but we need to know more about the economic and ecological price of doing this on a larger scale."
Abu-Omar is affiliated with Purdue's new Energy Center in Discovery Park. The center will focus on developing economically and environmentally sound energy sources, and on helping to change policies and perceptions about the way we use energy. More than 75 campus experts in disciplines from engineering, science, agriculture and liberal arts will contribute to the effort.

http://www.eurekalert.org/

Cassini findings suggest complex story of venting at the south pole of Enceladus

2005-08-31T02:59:00.000-05:00

Cassini Finds Enceladus Tiger Stripes Are Really Cubs 08.30.05 -- The Cassini spacecraft has discovered the long, cracked features dubbed "tiger stripes" on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus are very young -- between 10 and 1,000 years young.

Evidence is mounting that the atmosphere of Enceladus, first detected by the Cassini Magnetometer instrument, is the result of venting from ground fractures close to the moon’s south pole. New findings from the close flyby of Enceladus by Cassini this past July add to the emerging picture of a small icy body, unusual in its past and present level of activity, and very different from all other icy Saturnian moons.
Within a minute of closest approach to Enceladus on July 14th, 2005, two instruments aboard the Cassini spacecraft detected material coming from the surface of the moon. The Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) measured a large peak in the abundance of water vapor at approximately 35 seconds before closest approach to Enceladus, as it flew over the south polar region at an altitude of 270 kilometers (168 miles).
The High Rate Detector (HRD) of the Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) observed a peak in the number of fine, powder-sized icy particles coming from the surface approximately a minute before reaching closest approach at an altitude of 460 kilometers (286 miles).
The character of these detections is very similar to the venting of vapor and fine, icy particles from the surfaces of comets when they are warmed by sunlight as they near the Sun. On Enceladus, however, it is believed that internal heat, possibly from tidal forces, is responsible for the activity. The close but different occurrences of the two detections are yielding important clues to the location of the vents and even the venting process.
“And so the plot thickens,” said Dr. Carolyn Porco, Imaging Team leader at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo. “Enceladus is surprisingly warm, internally fractured and active, and we’re not sure how it comes to be that its South pole is the warmest, most active place. The fact that Enceladus is so alive, and Mimas, the moon next door and roughly the same size, is so dead, is really testing our understanding of the internal workings of planetary satellites. But we’re not complaining. We like it this way.”
Acting on the timing information, the Cassini imaging team examined images of Enceladus acquired during the same July flyby, tracing the ground track of the spacecraft across the south pole during the encounter. They noted that the maximum water vapor abundance detected by INMS occurred when Cassini was directly over one of the mid-latitude tectonic gashes that circumscribe the south polar region, suggesting at first the sub-spacecraft fracture as being the source of the vapor detected by INMS.
However, the mid-latitude fracture system is not presently a source of anomalous heat on Enceladus. Previously reported, combined results from the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) and the Imaging Science instrument (ISS) instead indicated that an array of narrow linear cracks straddling the south pole, called ‘tiger stripes’, is the site of at least some of greatest concentrations of anomalous heat at the surface, and that mid-latitude regions are normal and cooler.
Furthermore, analysis of the timings of the INMS and CDA observations seems to indicate that the vapor and fine material are originating from the hot polar cap region, some distance away from the spacecraft’s flight path, and that the two processes – production of water vapor and ejection of fine material – are connected, as they are in a comet.
Recent numerical simulations by members of the CDA team at the University of Potsdam, Germany, aimed at reproducing the timing of the CDA observations, have shown that the majority of the icy grains originate from a source at the moon's south pole that is distributed along the surface, like the cracks seen in the images, and not from globally distributed impacts by Saturn-system dust particles as had been previously assumed. If this is the case, then the sharpness of the peak detected in the water vapor abundances by INMS is better explained by passage of the spacecraft through the edge of a cloud of vapor that hovers over the south pole, and not through a sub-spacecraft source as suggested by the images.
The CDA analyses also shed light on the origin of the broad, diffuse E ring through which Enceladus orbits. “This new finding might explain why Enceladus is so efficient in replenishing the E ring with fresh particles,” said Dr. Frank Spahn of the University of Potsdam.
To arrive at a more complete and accurate picture of the surface environment on Enceladus will require scientists from the various Cassini instrument teams to combine their findings… something that will happen in the days ahead.
“The exploration of the mysteries of Enceladus with Cassini's combined set of instrumentation,” said Dr. Hunter Waite, team leader of the INMS investigation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, “clearly demonstrates the virtue of exploring a system as complex as Saturn’s using a very well-equipped flagship like Cassini.”
Cassini will encounter Enceladus again at very close range in March, 2008.

http://www.eurekalert.org/

KENNEDY STATEMENT ON BUSH SPEECH ON IRAQ

2005-08-31T02:56:00.000-05:00

August 30, 2005

"All Americans join President Bush in honoring the ultimate sacrifices, including the veterans of World War II and the men and women fighting on the ground in Iraq. Unlike World War II, our soldiers in Iraq are in need of a policy that is worthy of their sacrifice. Bush speaks of America keeping its word, yet he fails to provide the words all Americans, especially our men in women in uniform, deserve to hear: that he will change course and put in place a plan to end the violence, better protect this country by ensuring a stable Iraq, and allow our troops to return home with dignity and honor."

TWO CHAFEE-SPONSORED BILLS APPROVED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

2005-08-31T02:33:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Two bills sponsored by U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
were unanimously approved today by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works. The bills will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
The Water Infrastructure Financing Act, S. 1400, will reauthorize the Clean Water and
Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF), to provide critical new resources for
the nation’s water infrastructure needs. This bipartisan measure targets aging
infrastructure in our cities and towns, with funding to be reauthorized for the clean water
and drinking water SRFs at $35 billion over the next five years.
The SRF Program’s Primary purpose is to make funds available to water systems to
finance drinking water and waste water infrastructure improvements. Under the
respective programs, EPA awards capitalization grants to states, which in turn provide
low-cost loans and other types of assistance to public water systems to finance the costs
of infrastructure projects needed to achieve or maintain compliance with national
standards. States are also authorized to set aside a portion of their grants to fund a range
of activities, including source water protection, capacity development, and operator
certification.
“In addition to providing vital new funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water
SRFs, S. 1400 begins to address some of our nation’s most difficult water quality
concerns by placing greater emphasis on watershed planning, assistance for small and
disadvantaged communities, and innovation and technological advancement in the
drinking water and clean water fields. I am pleased to support this bipartisan legislation
and look forward to working with my colleagues on and off the Committee to ensure its
swift passage through the Senate and Congress,” Senator Chafee said.
LINCOLN CHAFEE
U.S. SENATOR
RHODE ISLAND
Additionally, the committee also approved S.1410, the Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Act of 2005. The Chafee-sponsored legislation would reauthorize funding
for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Program at its current level of $5
million through fiscal year 2007, and then increase funding to $8 million in fiscal year
2008 and $10 million annually for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. Since its inception in
2000, the program has provided grants to over 100 projects in the Caribbean, Latin
America, and the United States to encourage habitat protection, education, research,
monitoring, and capacity building for long-term protection of neotropical migratory birds.
In addition to the funding increases, the bill would expand the project eligibility to
Canada and would also create a new Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.
Provisions are also included to allow for greater participation in the program, by reducing
the non-federal match requirement for projects from three non-federal dollars for every
federal dollar down to one-to-one.
“S. 1410 will assist in addressing persistent threats to neotropical migratory birds during
their breeding and migration in North America as well as their migration and overwintering
in Latin America and the Caribbean,” Senator Chafee said.

Election Results in Guinea-Bissau

2005-08-31T02:30:00.000-05:00

The United States congratulates President-elect Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira on his victory in the Presidential runoff election of July 24, 2005. The runoff election results were confirmed on August 19 by the Supreme Court of Justice of Guinea-Bissau. We, along with the United Nations, Economic Community of West African States, and others in the international community, call on all parties to accept the ruling of the Supreme Court so that Guinea-Bissau can move forward to a more peaceful and prosperous future. We look forward to working with President-elect Vieira and his administration to pursue the common interests of our two countries.

Katrina Causes Oil Prices To Hit $70 A Barrel

2005-08-30T04:03:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Katrina is going to slam American consumers who do not live anywhere near the eye of the storm, in the form of higher prices for gas and heating oil, analysts predicted Monday.
Crude oil surged to a record above $70 a barrel in New York after the hurricane forced oil companies to evacuate platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, where more than a quarter of U.S. oil is produced. Prices then slipped back after hitting the high.
Oil prices jumped on worries that the hurricane would disrupt the already delicate balance between oil supply and demand in the United States.
Natural gas, heating oil and gasoline climbed to all-time highs as well.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with President Bush to Arizona today that the administration is considering releasing some oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help ease the shortfall of supplies caused by the hurricane. No decision has yet been made, he said.
Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman released a statement saying the department was "mindful that the affected region contributes a significant amount of our oil, gas, and refined product supply."
Bodman said the Petroleum Reserve "can be used to lend petroleum to refineries if they experience shortages and are therefore unable to maintain their production. Should circumstances warrant, the President also can direct that petroleum be withdrawn from the SPR and sold.
"Over the next few days, we will continue to gain more information on the specific needs and then be able to make a better determination on how we can help," the statement said.
Last year, the government released more than 5 million barrels from the reserve following supply disruptions after Hurricane Ivan. Ivan, which struck roughly the same region, hit production for a long time, analysts noted. The emergency stockpile includes more than 700 million barrels of crude oil stored underground in Louisiana and Texas.
Almost 50 percent of the daily average output from the Gulf Coast was halted Sunday because of Katrina as oil companies evacuated workers and shut down more than 600,000 barrels of daily production in the area.
Analysts predicted there would be short-term spikes in gas prices because of worries that one or two major refineries could be down for an extended period. The U.S. produces 5.3 million barrels of crude oil a day.
Gasoline for September delivery surged 12 percent, to $2.15 a gallon in New York. Prices are 83 percent higher than a year ago.
Heating oil for September delivery jumped 7.3 percent to $1.97 a gallon. Heating oil is 72 percent higher than a year ago.

http://FreeInternetPress.com

Venezuela Seeks Action Against Robertson

2005-08-30T03:54:00.000-05:00

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says his government will take legal action against the U.S. TV evangelist who called for U.S. agents to kill him. Chavez said Venezuela might even seek to extradite Pat Robertson. He also warned he would complain to the United Nations if the U.S. failed to take action.
Robertson has apologized for his comments, which came amid already tense U.S.-Venezuela relations.
On Sunday, U.S. civil rights leader Jesse Jackson lent support to Chavez. On a visit to Venezuela, Jackson denounced Robertson's assassination call as immoral and illegal, and called on the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the matter.
The U.S. State Department called Robertson's comments "inappropriate" shortly after the evangelist made them.
"I announce that my government is going to take legal action in the United States... to call for the assassination of a head of state is an act of terrorism," President Chavez said in a televised speech. "If the U.S. government does not take action that it must take, we will go to the United Nations and the Organization of American States to denounce the U.S. government," he said.
Chavez, who has frequently charged that the U.S. are plotting to kill him, said Robertson was "crazy" and "a public menace".
On Sunday, Rev Jackson said the U.S. and Venezuela should work out their differences through diplomacy.
Robertson's comments came amid tense relations between Caracas and Washington. President Chavez is a regular critic of the Bush administration, which regards the left-wing leader as a possible source of instability in the region.
The Venezuelan leader has said that U.S. President George W. Bush will be to blame if he is attacked.
A week ago, Pat Robertson told viewers of his influential TV show, the 700 Club, that the U.S. should act on Chavez's recurrent complaints that the U.S. was allegedly trying to assassinate him.
The two nations have recently broken off co-operation on combating illegal drugs, though America still buys Venezuelan oil. The nation is the world's fifth-largest producer.

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Editor Comment: It should be remembered that Jessi Jackson is the same person that gave support to protecting a religious terrorist cult in Arizona. This group had practiced the action that anyone that disagreed with their belief should be killed, and had murdered two families, and failed on two other attempts, one in which the leader’s son was killed when the bomb he was readying blew up enroute to where they were going to place it at the house of the family of the city council member. Luckily this happened on the highway while it was not busy so only the son and driver were killed.
Due to Jessi Jackson’s involvement, the family was moved to Chicago. After the cult was moved, the FBI, US Marshal, and National Guard moved into the compound and found such peace loving equipment as one 105mm Howitzer, numerous heavy machine guns, many small arms (military) and ammunition as well as different types of explosives.

Katrina Still Blowing, Drenching Gulf Coast

2005-08-30T03:51:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Katrina weakened slightly as it pummeled the Gulf Coast Monday, but the powerful storm still had plenty of punch as it swept through Mississippi with maximum sustained winds of 95 mph.
The weather service reported that "extensive and life-threatening storm surge flooding" was occurring along the Louisiana and Mississippi coast.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour told reporters that Katrina "came in on Mississippi like a ton of bricks." When asked what was his greatest fear, Barbour replied grimly "that there are a lot of dead people down there."
The storm passed just east of New Orleans, straining the system of levees and pumping stations that protect the low-lying city. About 70 percent of the city sits below sea level. The National Weather Service reported that water had overtopped levees in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes.
The Lower 9th Ward, on the east side of New Orleans was under five to six feet of rising water after three pumps failed, according to WGNO reporter Susan Roesgen, who is with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. She said New Orleans police had received more than 100 reports of people trapped on their roofs.
The Associated Press reported that entire neighborhoods along the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain were flooded, and residents had scrambled onto the roofs of their shotgun-style houses.
"I'm not doing too good right now," Chris Robinson told the AP via cell phone from his home east of the city's downtown. "The water's rising pretty fast. I got a hammer and an ax and a crowbar, but I'm holding off on breaking through the roof until the last minute. Tell someone to come get me please. I want to live."
CNN's John Zarrella reported wind howling through the streets and water "like waves on the ocean. "Up through the manhole covers, water is pouring through the manhole covers," he said. "It can't take it."
Police and emergency workers should be able to enter the area and evaluate the situation by 2 p.m. (3 p.m. ET), according to Col. Terry Ebbert, director of homeland security for New Orleans.
"We'll have several hours of daylight to ... make an assessment and get out into those areas we're capable of getting into before the hours of darkness to take care of those people who are able to survive," Ebbert said.
Authorities in Gulfport, Mississippi, told CNN's Gary Tuchman that 10 feet of water covered downtown streets.
"Because the water is so deep, boats are floating up the street," Tuchman said. "There is extensive damage here. This is essentially right now like hell on earth. There is intense damage," he said. "We are watching the dismantling of a beautiful town."
CNN's Rob Marciano reported extensive damage in Biloxi, east of Gulfport. "Just a few minutes ago, the wind, surely over 100 mph, peeled roofs off, hurling 6-by-8 sheets of plywood into our parking lot, blowing out the windows of SUVs," he said.
Farther east, Mobile Bay spilled into downtown Mobile, Alabama, as the outer bands of the storm lashed the city. A curfew was imposed until dawn Tuesday, and remain in effect from dusk until dawn until further notice.
A 20-foot storm surge is forecast as Katrina pushes inland.
At 3 p.m. ET, Katrina was centered about 20 miles west-southwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the National Hurricane Center said. The NHC said the storm had degraded to Category 1 status on the Safir-Simpson scale with maximum sustained winds near 95 mph. Hurricane force winds extended for 125 miles.
Katrina came ashore Monday morning in southeastern Louisiana with winds topping 140 mph.
The National Weather Service said it had received many reports of "total structural failure" in the New Orleans metro area. It did not elaborate, but video from the city showed crumbled walls in one neighborhood.
About 10,000 people, who were unable to evacuate the city, took shelter in the Louisiana Superdome -- the cavernous football stadium that is usually home to the New Orleans Saints. Reporter Ed Reams from affiliate WDSU told CNN that Katrina ripped away a large section of the building's roof.
"I can see daylight straight up from inside the Superdome," Reams reported. National Guard troops moved people to the other side of the dome. Others were moving beneath the concrete-reinforced terrace level.
Outside, CNN's Jeanne Meserve said that Teflon membrane that covers the top of the dome "has been shredded." "It's hanging off the top of the Superdome," she said.
In other developments:
* President Bush on Monday thanked the governors of states affected by Hurricane Katrina for mobilizing assets in advance of the storm's arrival and called on people who fled their homes not to return until the authorities say it's time. "I urge the citizens in the region to continue to listen to the local authorities. Don't abandon your shelters until you're given permission by the authorities," he said.
* Alabama Gov. Bob Riley has dispatched some 160 National Guard troops to Mobile and Baldwin counties to assist local, county and state emergency agencies battle Hurricane Katrina. They are now helping with sandbagging and other disaster response operations, officials said.
* The Federal Emergency Management Agency went into disaster mode Monday as it prepared for Katrina's aftermath. FEMA has emergency responders in place around New Orleans ready to move in once the storm passes.
* Crude oil futures topped $70 early Monday as Katrina forced oil workers to evacuate rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and threatened a major U.S. tanker port. The price of a barrel of crude soared in electronic trading in New York and on Asian markets, rising nearly $4 over Friday afternoon's close as the storm churned toward New Orleans, a main hub that accounts for a quarter of U.S. oil and gas production.
* The U.S. Coast Guard said it has received reports that Katrina has set adrift one, and possibly two, unmanned off-shore oil drilling units in the Gulf of Mexico.
* Three residents of a New Orleans nursing home died Sunday while being evacuated to Baton Rouge, said Don Moreau, chief of operations for the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office. The 23 residents were supposed to stay at a church, where one of the bodies was found. The other body was found on a school bus and a third person died at a hospital, Moreau said. The others suffered from various forms of dehydration and exhaustion, he said.
* The latest damage estimates by insurance industry analysts project that total insured damage from Hurricane Katrina could be between $10 billion and $25 billion dollars. The upper end of that range would make Katrina the costliest U.S. hurricane on record.
* A hurricane warning is in effect for the north-central gulf coast from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Alabama/Florida border. Tropical storm warning is in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Indian Pass, Florida, and West from Morgan City to Cameron, Louisiana.

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France, Belgium Issue Lists Of Unsafe Airlines

2005-08-30T03:48:00.000-05:00

France and Belgium have published separate blacklists of airlines banned from their territory on safety grounds.
The lists were posted on the websites of the French civil aviation authority (DGAC) and Belgium's Transport Ministry on Monday.
Switzerland has also promised to provide its own list on Thursday.
The moves follow a plane crash in Venezuela on August 16, in which 152 French passengers died on their way home to the island of Martinique.
Meanwhile on Saturday, at a meeting of the European Civil Aviation Conference in Bucharest, experts called for a Europe-wide definition of common criteria for blacklists.
Airlines blacklisted on the French List are: Air Koryo, North Korea; Air Saint-Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island; International Air Service, Liberia; Air Mozambique (LAM), including its subsidiary Transairways; and Phuket Airlines, Thailand.
Airlines blacklisted on Belgium's List are: Africa Airlines, Central African Republic; Air Memphis, Egypt; Air Van Airlines, Armenia; Central Air Express, Democratic Republic of Congo; ICTTPW, Libya; International Air Tours, Ltd., Nigeria; Johnsons Air Ltd., Ghana; Silverback Cargo Freighters, Rwanda; and South Airlines, Ukraine.
The European Commission reached a deal in February to allow the creation of E.U.-wide blacklists of unsafe airlines by the end of the year; but correspondents say it is unclear whether agreement on the blacklists is possible, with Italy calling for just a list of safe companies.
The French and Belgium lists were mutually exclusive, though several names of airlines coincided with those on a list published in the U.K.
In addition to the list of banned airlines, the DGAC site also published a list of authorized companies including charter airlines.
French Transport Minister Dominique Perben said last week that by the end of the year passengers taking charter or tour group flights would have the right to be told which company was operating the flight. Checks on aircraft making stopovers at French airports will also be stepped up.
Switzerland has already revealed the names of some banned airlines, but said it would publish a full list on September 1.
On Wednesday night, 235 passengers of a Tunisian charter plane flying from Paris to the Tunisian island of Djerba refused to re-board a plane which was forced to return to Orly airport for checks shortly after take-off.
That incident came a week after the Venezuela crash, which involved a Colombian-owned plane.
August 2005 has been marked by a string of major plane disasters. In less then two weeks, three planes have crashed in Greece, Venezuela and Peru - all three of them operated by minor airlines. More than 300 people have lost their lives in the three accidents.
The issue of blacklisting came to prominence when 148 people - most of them French - died in January 2004 in a crash involving an airline which had been banned from Swiss airspace, a fact which the passengers had no way of knowing.

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Arab League: Iraq Charter A 'Recipe For Chaos'

2005-08-30T03:43:00.000-05:00

Parts of the Iraqi draft constitution are a "recipe for chaos", Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa has said. He said in an interview that the Arab League shared Sunni Muslim concerns over federalism and the fact the charter does not identify Iraq as an Arab country.
The U.S. and Britain have played down Sunni leaders' rejection of the text, which is scheduled for a referendum vote of the Iraq public on October 15.
About 2,000 Sunnis in Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit took to the streets to voice their opposition to the plan. Many waved pictures of the former Iraqi leader, and a statement was read out denouncing the constitution as a "Jewish" document that would divide Iraq along sectarian lines.
In Baghdad, thousands of Shias gathered to show their support for the draft constitution, which offers a measure of autonomy for millions of Shias in the oil-rich south.
Shia and Kurdish negotiators have endorsed the document, but negotiators from the Sunni minority refused to put their names to it. They fear the proposals would lead to the break-up of the country into a Kurdish north and Shia south, depriving the Sunnis of access to the country's oil resources.
Moussa told the BBC's World Today program: "I share the concerns of many Iraqis about the lack of consensus on the constitution." He said he was concerned that the draft text denies Iraq's "Arab identity".
"I do not believe in this division between Shia and Sunni and Muslims and Christians and Arabs and Kurds," he said. "I don't buy this and I find in this a true recipe for chaos and perhaps a catastrophe in Iraq and around it."
The text of the draft constitution says Iraq is "part of the Islamic world and its Arab people are part of the Arab nation" - an apparent concession to non-Arab minorities like the Kurds. Plans are being made to distribute copies of the text around the country.
Sunni negotiators wanted the text to say that Iraq as a whole is part of the Arab world.
U.S. President George W. Bush welcomed the completed draft constitution and said the referendum was a chance for Iraqis to "set the foundation for a permanent Iraqi government". "Of course there's disagreement. We're watching a political process unfold, a process that's encouraged debate and compromise," he said.
It is possible the document may never come into force. To be ratified, the constitution has to be approved by a majority of voters across the country - as well as not being rejected by two-thirds of voters in at least three or more of Iraq's 18 provinces. The Sunnis are dominant in four provinces and thus in effect have a power of veto, correspondents say.
Iraq's President Jalal Talabani also called on all Iraqis to support the draft document.
"We hope that this constitution will be accepted by all Iraqis and that it will be for everybody," he said. "For sure there is no book that is perfect and cannot be amended except the holy Koran."
Among the Sunni concerns are provisions in the constitution which exclude former Baath party officials from public office and which pave the way towards federalism. They are concerned that allowing for federalism may lead to the creation of an autonomous Shia area in southern Iraq - like the Kurdish north - but under Iran's influence.
However, the Sunni representatives said they would play an active role in the elections scheduled for December and called on all Sunnis in Iraq to register to vote.

http://FreeInternetPress.com

Editor Comment: A question here should be; Would making Iraq a non-Arab country a way to equalize the population? If it was in fact made a multi-national religious country, then that should give the people of all religions a equal stance with in the country. What will remain the issue here, will be what can they do with this opertunity?

Killer Katrina Leaves 55 Dead, Numbers Will Rise

2005-08-30T03:19:00.000-05:00

The images, both videos and still pictures, on your television screens and the Internet show tremendous damage from New Orleans east through Mississippi and Alabama, and Katrina, though downgraded to a tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center, is still going, still packing 65 mph winds as I write this, and is still dangerous. Yet those images are still just snapshots, the really big picture of Katina's devastation has yet to emerge, but it will and it won't be pretty.
Following is the Associated Press' most recent write-up of Katrina's trail of destruction. It is a very good article, even though there is still much to report as rescuers and others, including survivors, come to grips with what has happened and begin to talk about it, and as areas now inaccessible to rescuers and residents become accessible. Here's the AP's report:
Announcing itself with shrieking, 145-mph winds, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast just outside New Orleans on Monday, submerging entire neighborhoods up to their roofs, swamping Mississippi’s beachfront casinos and killing at least 55 people.
Jim Pollard, spokesman for the Harrison County emergency operations center, said 50 people were killed by Katrina in his county, with the bulk of the deaths at an apartment complex in Biloxi. Three other people were killed by falling trees in Mississippi and two died in a traffic accident in Alabama, authorities said.
Katrina, which was downgraded to a tropical storm Monday evening, was not the apocalyptic storm that New Orleans has been dreading all these years. But it was still a nightmare for the city and a 200-mile stretch of the Gulf Coast.
Some neighborhoods in the Big Easy were submerged up to their roofs. Floodwaters gushed into Mississippi’s flashy beachfront casinos. Sailboats were flung across a highway like toys. Dozens of people had to be rescued from rooftops and attics as the water rose through their homes. And an untold number of people were feared dead.
“I was so happy that the worst-case scenario didn’t unfold, but then when I started looking around, you see buildings collapsed or with holes punched in them and it’s really kind of sad,” New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said.
Katrina barreled into the Gulf Coast just outside New Orleans around daybreak Monday as a monstrous, 145-mph storm, making a right turn at the last minute to spare the Big Easy the doomsday scenario it has long feared. Had Katrina not shifted, hurricane waters could have spilled over levees and swamped the saucer-shaped city in a toxic soup of refinery chemicals, sewage and human bodies.
Because of high water, rescuers could not immediately reach some of the most hard-hit areas in New Orleans and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast. Previously, eleven died in Florida from Katrina.
“Some of them, it was their last night on Earth,” Terry Ebbert, chief of homeland security for New Orleans, said of people who ignored orders to evacuate the city of 480,000 over the weekend. “That’s a hard way to learn a lesson.”
Katrina knocked out power to more than three-quarters of a million people from Louisiana to the Florida’s Panhandle, and authorities said it could be two months before electricity is restored to everyone. Ten major hospitals in New Orleans were running on emergency backup power.
The federal government began rushing baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice into hard-hit areas, along with doctors, nurses and first-aid supplies. The Pentagon sent experts to help with search-and-rescue operations.
Katrina was later downgraded to a tropical storm as it passed through eastern Mississippi, moving north at 21 mph. Winds were still a dangerous 65 mph.
Forecasters said that as the storm moves north through the nation’s midsection over the next few days, it may spawn tornadoes over the Southeast and swamp the Gulf Coast and the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys with a potentially ruinous 8 inches or more of rain.
Oil refiners said damage to their equipment in the Gulf region appeared to be minimal, and oil prices dropped back from the day’s highs above $70 a barrel. But the refiners were still assessing the damage, and the Bush administration said it would consider releasing oil from the nation’s emergency stockpile if necessary.
Katrina had menaced the Gulf Coast over the weekend as a 175-mph, Category 5 monster, the most powerful ranking on the scale; but it weakened to a Category 4 and came ashore around daybreak near the Louisiana bayou town of Buras, passing just east of New Orleans on a path that spared the Big Easy - and its fabled French Quarter - from its full fury.
In nearby coastal St. Bernard Parish, the storm surge swamped an estimated 40,000 homes. In a particularly low-lying neighborhood on the south shore of Lake Ponchartain, a levee on a canal gave way and forced dozens of residents to flee or scramble to the roofs when water rose to their gutters.
“I’ve never encountered anything like it in my life. It just kept rising and rising and rising,” said Bryan Vernon, who spent three hours on his roof, screaming over howling winds for someone to save him and his fiancee.
Across a street that had turned into a river bobbing with garbage cans, trash and old tires, a woman leaned from the second-story window of a brick home and pleaded to be rescued.
“There are three kids in here,” the woman said. “Can you help us?”
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said 200 people have been rescued in boats from rooftops, attics and other locations around the New Orleans area, a scene playing out in Mississippi as well. In some cases, rescuers are sawing through roofs to get to people in attics, and other stranded residents “are swimming to our boats,” Blanco said. In one dramatic rescue, a person was plucked from a roof by a helicopter.
A fire later tore through a yacht club near Lake Ponchartain.
Elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, Mississippi was subjected to both Katrina’s harshest winds and highest recorded storm surges - 22 feet. The storm pushed water up to the second floor of homes, flooded floating casinos, uprooted hundreds of trees and flung sailboats across a highway.
“Let me tell you something, folks: I’ve been out there. It’s complete devastation,” said Gulfport, Miss., Fire Chief Pat Sullivan.
Young children clung to one another in a small blue boat as neighbors shuffled children and elderly residents out of a flooded neighborhood in Gulfport.
“Everything is flooded. Roofs are off and everything,” said Shun Howell, 25, who was trying to leave with her 5-year-old son. “Everything is ruined.”
In Alabama, Katrina’s arrival was marked by the flash and crackle of exploding power transformers. The hurricane toppled huge oak branches on Mobile’s waterfront and broke apart an oil-drilling platform, sending a piece slamming into a major bridge.
Muddy six-foot waves crashed into the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, flooding stately, antebellum mansions and littering them with oak branches.
“There are lots of homes through here worth a million dollars. At least they were yesterday,” said a shirtless Fred Wright. “I’ve been here 25 years, and this is the worst I’ve ever seen the water.”
It was Katrina’s second blow: The hurricane hit the southern tip of Florida as a much weaker storm Thursday and was blamed for 11 deaths. It was the sixth hurricane to hit Florida in just over a year.
Forecasters said New Orleans - which has not been hit directly by a major storm since Category 3 Hurricane Betsy struck in 1965 - got lucky again.
“The real important issue here is that when it got to the metropolitan area, it was weaker,” said National Hurricane Center deputy director Ed Rappaport, who estimated the highest winds in New Orleans were 100 mph.
A 50-foot water main broke in New Orleans, making it unsafe to drink the city’s water without first boiling it. And people made several arrests for looting.
“Scumbags are predators and they always prey on the weak. And we’ll take care of that,” Ebbert said.
At New Orleans’ Superdome, home to up to 9,000 storm refugees, the wind ripped pieces of metal from the roof, leaving two holes that let water drip in. A power outage also knocked out the air conditioning, and the storm refugees sweltered in the heat.
Katrina also shattered scores of windows in high-rise office buildings and on five floors of the Charity Hospital, forcing patients to be moved to lower levels.
In the French Quarter, made up of Napoleonic-era buildings with wrought-iron balconies, the damage was relatively light.
On Jackson Square, two massive oak trees outside the 278-year-old St. Louis Cathedral came out by the roots, ripping out a 30-foot section of ornamental iron fence and straddling a marble statue of Jesus Christ, snapping off the thumb and forefinger of its outstretched hand.
At the hotel Le Richelieu, the winds blew open sets of balcony French doors shortly after dawn. Seventy-three-year-old Josephine Elow pressed her weight against the broken doors as a hotel employee tried to secure them.
“It’s not life-threatening,” she said as rainwater dripped from her face. “God’s got our back.”

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Detainee child sues Australian government

2005-08-29T04:03:00.000-05:00

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A 10-year-old Iranian boy who says he suffers a psychological disorder after being detained for two years in razor-wire immigration detention centres is suing the Australian government.
Shayan Badraie says he developed traumatic stress disorder while detained with his parents in the Woomera outback immigration centre in South Australia state and Sydney's Villawood detention centre between 2000 and 2002.
"This case is not about the policy of mandatory detention," Badraie's lawyer Andrew Morrison told the New South Wales Supreme Court in Sydney on Monday at the start of his legal action.
"It is about the way in which it was carried out and the permanent injury inflicted on a young child by a regime which failed to provide for his medical needs," Morrison said.
Australia is a nation built on migrants but its policy of mandatory detention of illegal immigrants, regarded as among the toughest in the world, has helped conservative Prime Minister John Howard's government win four straight elections.
Australia's strict policy includes detaining illegal arrivals, illegal workers and people who overstay their visas in razor-wire camps, often for years while their cases are heard. Human rights groups have strongly criticised the camps.
Morrison said Badraie witnessed traumatic incidents in detention such as a riot and a detainee threatening to stab himself in the chest with a broken mirror, local media reported.
As a result of these traumas, Badraie suffered from anxiety, nightmares, was unable to eat and commonly drew detention centre fences, but did not gain adequate medical treatment, he said.
Badraie and his family were granted refugee status in 2002.
Morrison told the court that Badraie remained withdrawn after his release and has trouble eating, sleeping and socialising with his classmates at his western Sydney school.
The child is seeking damages from the Australian government's immigration department and the company that then managed its immigration detention centres.
The Australian government released the last 42 children from detention centres in July after an internal revolt against Howard's tough stance.
Australia's conservative government has been embarrassed this year by a string of immigration bungles, including the wrongful detention and deportation of two mentally ill Australian women.

Editor Comment: This is basically a so bad so sad story. If the family of this kid had come over legally then they would not be in this position. The kid should be suing his parents not Australia. So much of this pass the buck attitude has been going around the world, and this sort of incident is what comes from it. Blame those actually to blame; the parents.

Abu Sayyaf behind Basilan ferry explosions--military chief

2005-08-29T03:55:00.000-05:00

Joel Francis Guinto, INQ7.net: THE ABU Sayyaf is behind the bombing of a passenger ferry in Basilan province over the weekend that left 30 people injured, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Generoso Senga said Monday.
"That is the consensus of all investigative agencies that are handling the case. That is the initial conclusion," Senga told reporters at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.
When asked how investigators arrived at such a conclusion, Senga said, "[It was] based on the existing threat and the capability of the group to conduct such an atrocity."
Investigators however have not determined if the Abu Sayyaf staged the blasts with the help of the Southeast Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Senga said.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao announced the formation of a joint police and military task force to investigate the ferry explosion and hunt down its perpetrators.
"Definitely it was a terrorist attack," Lomibao said, although he said he was not sure who did it after investigators briefed him at the explosion site in Lamitan town Monday morning.
Senga said the military remained on white alert, the lowest among the alert levels, but advised the public to remain vigilant amid a "continuing threat" of terrorist attacks.
"Metro Manila and other parts of the country are safe but what we are saying is [that] there are continuing threats and that's why we are calling for eternal vigilance from our military forces and police forces and we are asking the help of the citizenry so that we can be assisted in our endeavors," Senga said.
"There are terrorist threats in all parts of the world that is why we should remain vigilant and intensify intelligence operations," Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., said in a separate interview at the military general headquarters.
Senga and Cruz also reiterated the need to pass an anti-terrorism bill to boost the government's counter-terrorism campaign.
The military chief said the ferry blast in Basilan was the latest in the Abu Sayyaf group's efforts to divert the military's attention from pursuit operations against its chief, Khadaffy Janjalani, in Central Mindanao.
The military also blamed the Abu Sayyaf for explosions earlier this month in the cities of Cotabato, Koronadal, and Zamboanga, where at least 29 people injured.
The Abu Sayyaf had also been suspected of bombing a passenger ferry in Manila Bay and key Mindanao cities in February 2004 and 2005 respectively, which killed over 100 people and injured 100 others.

Area parents of fallen soldiers take issue with war protesters

2005-08-29T03:44:00.000-05:00

LINDA HALSTEAD-ACHARYA, The Billings Gazette: Judy Childers of Powell, Wyo., had her fill of the new media two years ago when her son Shane was killed in Iraq. She and her husband, Joe, granted dozens of interviews - to local media, The New York Times and major television stations.
She thought that was all behind her until Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey also died in the war, spawned a camp of war protesters outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Sheehan has vowed to remain there until Bush meets with her.
"As sick as I am of talking to the media, I said the other day I wish one of them would call," Childers said, when contacted by The Gazette.
Childers wants to let the nation know that not all mothers of fallen soldiers side with Sheehan.
"There needs to be another voice," she said. "The media has put the spotlight on her."
Childers is not alone. In fact, her words are echoed - sometimes even verbatim - by other area mothers who have lost their sons to war.
Of the seven Montana soldiers and six Wyoming soldiers who have died in the conflict, five have ties to the Eastern Montana/Northern Wyoming region.
Many of the parents spoke about a cause greater than their own personal loss.
To describe their feelings about Sheehan, they use words like disgust, disgrace, dishonor and sadness, yet they all support her right to protest.
"I feel she is disgracing her son's memory," Childers said.
The protest became too personal for Childers when she learned that her own son's photograph and a cross bearing his name was part of a display at Camp Casey near Crawford. At her request, son-in-law Richard Brown, stationed with the Army at Fort Hood, drove up to Crawford to remove the "mementos." He retrieved the cross and was told that the photo would be taken down or covered up. When he returned a day later, nothing had changed, Childers said.
"I really don't care what she (Sheehan) does with her son's memory, but it really burns me that she uses that picture and (Shane's) name for her cause, because that's not what he stood for," she said. "I felt she should have asked us for our permission."
When Childers remembers Shane, she remembers the boy who, since the age of 5, wanted to be a Marine.
"He loved the Marine Corps. That was his life," she said.
Shane was 30 years old when he became the first ground casualty in Iraq. He died of gunshot wounds to the stomach after his platoon took enemy fire. The war was less than 24 hours old.
Joe Childers is also upset by the protest.
"One of the first things when Shane was killed was we hoped there wouldn't be any more or many more," he said. "They (protesters) seem to think they're saving lives by withdrawing the troops. I think if that would happen, it would be further from the truth."
* * * *
David and Karen Witt of Sand Springs lost their son Owen on May 24, 2004, when his armored vehicle rolled in a ditch in Ad Dwar, Iraq. He was the second soldier from Montana to die in the war. They'd like him to be remembered for his way of making people laugh.
The Witts, too, support President Bush and the war in Iraq. Like Sheehan, Karen said she would like to meet with the president, but she'd have a different message to offer.
"I'd tell him I'd pray for him a lot and I'd give him a big hug," she said. "I'd tell him I didn't hold it against him that my son was killed."
When Karen thinks about Sheehan, she wonders if she will be remembered something like Jane Fonda, who was disparaged for visiting North Vietnam during the Vietnam WAr.
"I don't want to be remembered like that myself," she said.
Instead of marching in the streets, Karen would like to see protesters direct their efforts to visiting veterans, writing members of Congress or even doing "some hard praying."
"The media feeds on it (protest)," she said. "It makes everyone upset and doesn't accomplish anything."
The evolving headlines - reports questioning the president and the lead-up to war - also haven't changed Karen's resolve. If a person listens to enough conspiracy theories, she said, he or she could believe anything.
Instead, Karen turns her thoughts to the wounded.
"They'll have a lot tougher time than those who haven't come back," she said.
David Witt said the protesters are not only making it more dangerous for soldiers in Iraq, they're endangering people at home.
"(They're) just showing the terrorists we have a weakness here, the same as in Vietnam," he said. "People made fools of themselves then and they're still doing it."
* * * *
Ross and Glenda Holleyman's son Aaron died a year ago when his vehicle struck an explosive in Khutayiah. The Holleymans now live in Carthage, Miss., but Aaron graduated from high school in Glasgow, where they lived in the mid-1990s.
Glenda cherishes hearing from those who were touched by Aaron in Iraq.
"When they would interrogate prisoners, they asked for Aaron," Glenda said, quoting a friend of his. "He treated them like human beings."
Glenda describes herself as "not a vocal person," but the past few weeks have made her reconsider. She's given thought to writing a letter to Fox News to speak her mind.
"I got fired up about this stuff in Texas and the men in politics saying we shouldn't be over there in (Iraq)," she said.
At first, Glenda paid little attention to Sheehan's protest, allowing it as an expression of a mother's grief. But, as the days wore on and Camp Casey swelled, her frustration grew.
"I feel bad for her. I know she's grieving, but it got drug out," she said. "I got frustrated because there were so many people jumping on the bandwagon."
Holleyman believes Sheehan is doing her son and her country a disservice.
"Sometimes we may have an opinion, but that doesn't mean we have to express it," she said. "But if you say it, say it and be done with it."
Glenda questions why Sheehan has made such an issue of speaking face-to-face with Bush, especially since Sheehan has already spoken with him once. Glenda herself has not spoken to the president, but she's confident he is aware of her loss.
"I know he knows. He doesn't know Aaron by name or me by name, but every time a soldier gets killed, he knows and he grieves," she said. "I believe he does that every time we lose a soldier."
Ross has weighed their loss from every angle. He said he becomes wary when someone's personal loss changes their convictions. That's a sign someone is thinking with their emotions, he said, and that's a narrow perspective he'd rather avoid.
"If the cost of your investment is so great that it makes you change your mind about what it has cost you, you were making the wrong decision in the beginning," he said.
* * * *
Robbie McNary's mother did not live to hear about her son's death in Iraq. But McNary's widow, Annette, shares her grief with their three children and Robbie's father. They remember Robbie as a man with a sense of humor who was a friend to all.
"In his eyes, nobody was a stranger," she said in a interview soon after his death in a combat-related accident on March 31, 2005. "They were just somebody he didn't know yet and he would get to know them."
Since Robbie's death, his Lewistown family has not wavered in its support of the war. If anything, their convictions are stronger. That's why Sheehan's actions trouble them.
"It embarrasses me that she would do that," Annette said. "She's making a mockery of everything her son was working for - and my husband. It's almost like making the reason he died not a reason anymore."
McNary's older son, Ryan, is stationed in Kansas. He doesn't expect to be sent to Iraq, but he tells his mother that he'd rather be doing his part there than sitting in Kansas. Annette doesn't share his sentiment.
"But I'd rather us be over there helping them than them being over here playing in our backyard," she said.
* * * *
The anguish is still so raw for Debbie and Al Bloem of Belgrade that Debbie hasn't followed Sheehan's story in detail. Their son Nicholas, 20, died Aug. 3, just about the time Sheehan set up camp. He, along with 13 fellow Marines, was killed when the amphibious assault vehicle they were riding in was struck by a roadside bomb south of Haditha. He was days away from coming home and planned to enroll at Montana State University in Bozeman.
The Bloems question why the words of grieving parents should be given so much import.
"There's nothing special about us," Al said. "We gave all - that's what sets us apart."
Debbie says Sheehan is entitled to say whatever she wants, but she wonders about the wisdom of following a grieving mother.
"In my grief, I could say anything," she said. "Just because of my grief, maybe people should be careful about following me."
Al does not understand how withdrawing American troops from Iraq would change things for the better.
"That's where I break company with Cindy and those who rally around her," he said. "I think she's terribly mistaken and dangerously mistaken in her position."
The way he sees it, the enemy brought the fight to America and the nation should not wait for another attack.
Debbie believes the protesters send confusing messages to the men and women fighting in Iraq, messages that could sap their courage. She urges people to weigh the war in terms of principle instead of personal loss.
Earlier this week, she felt compelled to write a letter to her local newspaper.
"I do not ask that we continue this fight so that my son's death will not be in vain," she wrote. "But for the sake of our maturity and integrity as a country, for the sake of the innocents of Iraq, for the sake of the hope of democracy in the Arab world and I believe the resulting deflation of the threat of terrorism, take courage and continue the fight. Please, you who read this, stand with those of us with so much more to lose."

DR of Congo: UN mission launches new military operation in troubled east

2005-08-29T03:43:00.000-05:00

26 August 2005: The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a new military operation in the troubled eastern Ituri region of the vast country, deploying five fighting companies with aerial support to force a rebel Rwandan militia to fulfil its pledges to disarm and return home.
Referring to the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Lieutenant-Colonel Thierry Provendier said at the weekly news conference yesterday: “The South and North Kivu brigades continue to carry out actions aimed at persuading the FDLR to honour the commitments it made in Rome in March,” adding that they were maintaining pressure on the aggressors who were still dangerous to the region.
The South Kivu Brigade was deployed in the territories of Walungu and Kabare, as well as in Shabunda, where a South African company was also controlling the area, the military spokesman for the UN Mission in DRC (MONUC) said.
In North Kivu, MONUC reconnaissance activities had located the FDLR camps as it worked on security for the 9,238 voter registration centres across the vast country, for which it worked along with the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) to provide security, he said.
MONUC would deploy nine brigades in the east before the scheduled elections next March and April, expected to be the largest elections the UN has ever assisted, Lt. Col. Provendier said. Responding to new tactical imperatives and the concerns of the population, a Senegalese company was on its way to Ituri from Kisangani to strengthen MONUC’s rapid reaction capacity, he said.
MONUC Deputy Spokeswoman Rachel Eklou-Assogbavi noted that the centres for voter identification and registration in the Kivus and in Maniema Province opened on the scheduled dates and have been operating without incident so far.
Meanwhile, MONUC and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) joined in firmly condemning the incidents of Monday and Tuesday which led to the death of a local notable, she said.
MONUC chief William Lacy Swing today was ending a two-day visit to Kigali, Rwanda, where he attended a meeting of the Tripartite Commission comprising representatives of the DRC, Ugandan and Rwandan Governments, Ms. Eklou-Assogbavi said.

Statement by the Prime Minister on the Gaza withdrawal

2005-08-29T03:41:00.000-05:00

August 23, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin today issued the following statement welcoming Israel’s successful evacuation of settlers from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank:"The Government of Canada fully supports the significant decision taken by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the Government of Israel to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. We are pleased that the evacuation of settlers was carried out in a relatively peaceful manner. "Canadians are impressed by the professionalism, discipline and restraint demonstrated by the Israeli Defence Forces and police forces involved in the removal of settlers. This is a painful moment for the people of Israel but necessary if the parties are to return to the Quartet's Roadmap process and resume negotiations for a comprehensive settlement."We are pleased that the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority have coordinated certain practical aspects of the withdrawal, proving to the world that they can work together. It is also encouraging that the Israeli government has evacuated the settlers peacefully while the Palestinian Authority has maintained order among the Palestinian population."This represents a historic opportunity for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his people to make progress toward the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. We are hopeful that both parties will work toward this goal by respecting their commitments under the Roadmap."

Top Official Warned Blair Iraq War Angered British Muslims

2005-08-29T03:31:00.000-05:00

A top official in Britain's Foreign Office's warned Downing Street that the Iraq war was fuelling Muslim extremism in Britain a year before the July 7 bombings.
Despite repeated denials by Prime Minister Tony Blair, who's official residence is at No. 10 Downing Street, that the war made Britain a target for terrorists, a letter from Michael Jay, the Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, to the cabinet secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull makes the connection clear.
The letter, dated May 18, 2004, and obtained by The Observer newspaper, says British foreign policy was a "recurring theme" in the Muslim community, "especially in the context of the Middle East peace process and Iraq".
"Colleagues have flagged up some of the potential underlying causes of extremism that can affect the Muslim community, such as discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion," the letter says. "But another recurring theme is the issue of British foreign policy, especially in the context of the Middle East peace process and Iraq.
"Experience of both ministers and officials ... suggests that ... British foreign policy and the perception of its negative effect on Muslims globally plays a significant role in creating a feeling of anger and impotence among especially the younger generation of British Muslims."
The letter continues: "This seems to be a key driver behind recruitment by extremist organizations (e.g. recruitment drives by groups such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir and al Muhajiroon). The FCO has a relevant and crucial role to play in the wider context of engagement with British Muslims on policy issues, and more broadly, in convincing young Muslims that they have a legitimate and credible voice, including on foreign policy issues, through an active participation in the democratic process."
Al Muhajiroon, formed by Omar Bakri Mohammed, the radical preacher who fled Britain after the July 7 bombings, was a recruiting organization for young Islamic extremists in Britain.
Attached to the letter is a strategy document, also obtained by The Observer, which reveals further concerns. It says Britain is now viewed as a "crusader state", on a par with America as a potential target. "Muslim resentment towards the West is worse than ever," the document, "Building Bridges with Mainstream Islam", says.
"This was previously focused on the U.S., but the war in Iraq has meant the U.K. is now seen in similar terms - both are now seen by many Muslims as "Crusader states".
"Though we are moving on from a conflict to a reconstruction phase in Iraq, there are no signs of any moderation of this resentment. Our work on engaging with Islam has therefore been knocked back. Mr O'Brien [then a Foreign Office minister] has expressed his concern."
However, all mention of the Iraq connection to extremism was removed from "core scripts" - briefing papers given to ministers to defend the government's position on Iraq and terror.
The document begins: "We do not see the Muslim community as a threat. Muslims have always made, and continue to make, a valuable contribution to society."
The lines to be used by ministers include measures designed to address Muslim concerns, such as the introduction of religious hatred legislation and tackling educational underachievement among Muslims. But there is nothing to address the concerns raised by Jay eight months earlier.
The documents reveal deep divisions at the heart of government over home-grown religious extremism and its connections to British intervention in Iraq.
The Prime Minister has consistently said that the bombers were motivated not by a sense of injustice but by a "perverted and poisonous misinterpretation of Islam". Although Iraq was clearly used as a pretext by extremists, he said he believed it was ideology that drove them to kill. To press home the point, Downing Street issued a list of atrocities carried out before intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq. The claim was later undermined by the MI5, which said that Iraq was the "dominant issue" for Islamic extremists in Britain.
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, also rowed back from his comments immediately after the bombings that there was no connection with Iraq and the terror threat after it became clear that the British public remained unconvinced.
Jay's letter shows that the Foreign Office was convinced that foreign policy played a key role in radicalizing young Muslims.
The letter outlines a list of 11 "work streams" to discourage extremism. They included delegations to the Islamic world, ministerial briefings for key members of the Muslim community and receptions to mark key Muslim festivals.
It is not known how Turnbull responded to the letter, although it is clear that, by January, there was a significant difference between what was being said within the Foreign Office and what ministers were officially being permitted to say in speeches.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten last night called on the government to come clean about the link between extremism among British Muslims and anger about Iraq: "For the government to deny a link between the war in Iraq and dismay among the Muslim community is ridiculous. But to try to cover it up, when senior civil servants have recognized the seriousness of the resentment, is even worse."

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Editor Comment: It should be noted that the Extremists have been using anything they can get hold of to use as a cry for some sort of Jihad ever since the War on Terrorism has started. In fact, many of the Major media outlets have gone as far, by their actions, to encourage this view by supporting these claims. With the IAEA’s own reports that they were only allowed to remove and dispose Mustard gas components in their three week period of disposal work in Iraq, this left a large quantity of components to be counted and removed. With this information, Blair and Bush seeing the reports from the UK and Russia about the meetings with Al-Quada to sell some of these components, made the choice to attack. The question now should be what happened to these components that the IAEA saw but were not allowed to dispose of? Not about the hurt feelings of terrorists.

Suicide Bomber Wounds 21 In Israel

2005-08-29T03:28:00.000-05:00

Twenty-one people were wounded Sunday, two seriously, in a suicide bombing at a central bus station in the southern Israeli town of Beersheba, Israeli officials said.
The bombing occurred about 8:30 a.m. outside a bus station during the morning rush hour when a man detonated a bomb he was wearing.
Security guards at the bus station were approaching him to check him out, thinking he looked suspicious, when the explosion occurred, police said.
"Israel has taken the necessary steps to advance the peace process," said an official in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office, referring to the Israeli withdrawal from settlements in Gaza and the West Bank. "The Palestinians have not. Without such steps, there will be no progress."
Hours after the bomb blast, the Israeli cabinet voted 18-2 for the deployment of Egyptian troops along the Gaza border, another step toward ending Israel's decades-long military presence in Gaza.
The two people that were seriously wounded in Sunday's blast were the security guards nearest the bomber, police said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which took place three days after Israeli troops killed five Palestinians. The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad has vowed retribution for that incident.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called a "terrorist attack" and called for "calm and restraint in spite of the Israeli provocations, the most recent being the killing of five Palestinians," in a statement carried by Wafa, the official news agency of the Palestinian Authority.
"The president is also calling on the Israeli side to keep the calm and the ceasefire and stop the military actions against the Palestinians, as the ceasefire and calm is in the interests of both sides and in the interest of peace," the statement said.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the attack, said Saeb Erakat, chief Palestinian negotiator. He called upon all to "exert maximum effort in order to maintain the truce" between Israelis and Palestinians.

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Katrina Winds At 175 MPH As Hurricane Nears Coast

2005-08-29T03:26:00.000-05:00

The mayor ordered an immediate evacuation Sunday for all of New Orleans, a city sitting below sea level with 485,000 inhabitants, as Hurricane Katrina bore down with wind revving up to nearly 175 mph and threats of a massive storm surge.
Acknowledging that large numbers of people, many of them stranded tourists, would be unable to leave before the eye of the storm strikes land sometime Monday morning, the city set up 10 places of last resort including the Superdome.
``This is a once in a lifetime event,'' Mayor Ray Nagin said. ``The city of New Orleans has never seen a hurricane of this magnitude hit it directly.''
The mayor said a direct hit by Katrina's storm surge would likely top the levees that protect the city from the surrounding water of Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi River and marshes. The bowl-shaped city must pump water out even during normal times, and the hurricane threatens electricity that runs the pumps.
``We are facing a storm that most of us have long feared,'' Nagin said.
A hurricane warning was in effect for the north-central Gulf Coast from Morgan City, La., to the Alabama-Florida border, meaning hurricane conditions were expected within 24 hours, the hurricane center said. Tropical storm warnings extended east to Indian Pass, Fla., and west to Cameron, La., a spread of about 480 miles.
``Katrina is comparable in intensity to Hurricane Camille of 1969 ... only larger,'' specialist Richard Pasch said at the hurricane center. ``Hurricanes rarely sustain such extreme winds for much time. However, we see no obvious large-scale effects to cause a substantial weakening the system, and it is expected that the hurricane will be of Category 4 or 5 intensity when it reaches the coast.''
Storm surges of up to 28 feet topped by waves up to 30 feet were possible in some areas, hurricane center meteorologist Chris Sisko said. Camille has the record for storm surges at 24 feet.
As much as 15 inches of rain also was possible.
President Bush urged people living in the path of Katrina to take the storm extremely seriously and follow orders to evacuate to higher ground. A day after declaring an emergency for Louisiana, Bush declared an emergency for the state of Mississippi and pledged federal support.
``We cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast communities,'' Bush told reporters on his ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Rain started falling on extreme southeastern Louisiana by midday Sunday as the storm moved across the Gulf of Mexico toward land. Highways in Mississippi and Louisiana were jammed as people headed away from Katrina's expected landfall. All lanes were limited to northbound traffic on Interstates 55 and 59 in the two states.
Beyond the Gulf Coast, Katrina was ``unmitigated bad news for consumers'' because it had shut down offshore production of at least 1 million barrels of oil daily and threatened refinery and import operations around New Orleans, said Peter Beutel, an oil analyst in New Canaan, Conn. He said crude oil could top $70 a barrel by Monday or Tuesday.
If Katrina maintains its strength, it would be only the fourth Category 5 hurricane on record to strike the United States.
``I'm really scared. I've been through hurricanes, but this one scares me,'' Linda Young, 38, said as she filled her gas tank at one New Orleans station. ``I think everybody needs to get out.''
``Have God on your side, definitely have God on your side. ... It's very frightening,'' said Nancy Noble, sitting in snail's-pace traffic on Interstate 10 heading for Natchez, Mississippi. She and three others were packed in a car with a puppy and their essential papers.
The Superdome was already taking in people with special problems Sunday morning. People on walkers, some with oxygen tanks, began checking in when it opened about 8 a.m.
At 11 a.m. EDT, the National Hurricane Center said Katrina's maximum sustained wind speed had stepped up to nearly 175 mph, with higher gusts. The hurricane's eye was about 225 miles south-southeast of the mouth of Mississippi River.
The storm was moving west-northwest at nearly 12 mph and was expected to turn north-northwest. Forecasters said the weather would start getting rough late Sunday and the eye would strike land early Monday but they could not say when.
The mayor said people who opted to go to the Superdome should take enough food and supplies to last three to five days. He said police and firefighters would fan out throughout the city telling residents to get out and that police would have the authority to commandeer any vehicle or building that could be used for evacuation or shelter.
Hotels were exempted from the evacuation order because airlines had canceled all flights out.
Tina and Bryan Steven of Forest Lake, Minn., sat glumly on a sidewalk Sunday morning outside their hotel in the French Quarter.
``We're choosing the best of two evils,'' Bryan Steven said. ``It's either be stuck in the hotel or stuck on the road.''
Robyn Menzel arrived in the Jackson, Miss., area about 8 a.m. Sunday with a two-car group from New Orleans, a trip of about 150 miles she said took an hour longer than usual.
``They were broadcasting that this was serious and they needed everybody to leave now,'' said Menzel, ``We left about 4:40 a.m. and it was pretty bad just getting out of New Orleans.''
Only three Category 5 hurricanes - the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale - have hit the United States since record-keeping began. The last was 1992's Hurricane Andrew, which leveled parts of South Florida, killed 43 people and caused $31 billion in damage. The others were the 1935 Labor Day hurricane that hit the Florida Keys and killed 600 people and Hurricane Camille, which devastated the Mississippi coast in 1969, killing 256.
Katrina's landfall could still come in Mississippi and affect Alabama and Florida, but it looked likely to come ashore Monday morning on the southeastern Louisiana coast, said Ed Rappaport, deputy director of the hurricane center in Miami. That put New Orleans squarely in the crosshairs.
``If it came ashore with the intensity it has now and went to the New Orleans area, it would be the strongest we've had in recorded history there,'' Rappaport said in a telephone interview Sunday morning. ``We're hoping of course there'll be a slight tapering off at least of the winds, but we can't plan on that. So whichever area gets hit, this is going to be a once in a lifetime event for them.''
Mandatory evacuations were ordered all along the Mississippi coast, where casinos were closed Sunday. National Guard units had already been deployed, state officials said.
Residents of several barrier islands in the western Florida Panhandle also were urged to evacuate Sunday.
``The water is already up to the back of homes on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key,'' said Escambia County, Fla., spokeswoman Sonya Smith.
Katrina had been blamed for nine deaths in South Florida. It was the sixth hurricane to hit Florida in just over a year.
Some Alabama coastal residents also headed inland Sunday morning.
``It's scary,'' said Joyce Allen, a building inspector at Alabama's coastal Dauphin Island. She covered office computers at town hall and left the barrier island, which she said already had some flooding.

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The Downside Of African Oil

2005-08-29T03:25:00.000-05:00

The capital of the ancient Kalabari kingdom is vivid testimony to the downside of Africa's oil.
A gutted local government building stands by the central square, near a smashed statue of the town's founding king. Soldiers patrol the streets.
These are scars from a three-month occupation last year by a private militia accused of rapes and random killings, and dozens of villages in the oil-rich Niger River delta have suffered similar violence.
``We are in a state of emergency,'' said the head of Buguma's Council of Chiefs, 62-year-old Mangibo Amachree. Soldiers are keeping the peace for now, and Amachree prays they will stay until the 2007 presidential election, which already is raising fears of more fighting.
Often, oil money is a driving force in heating long-standing political rivalries to the boiling point.
Buguma's unrest is at least partly over royalties that Amachree says are paid to King Theophilus Princewill by Shell, the major oil producer in Kalabari. Four rival militias, one calling itself ``the Germans,'' another ``the Italians,'' have fought over who should be king and therefore get the royalties.
In London, Shell spokesman Simon Buerk said the company has never paid royalties to local potentates, but ``homage payments'' are allowed - limited to $1,000 per project since 2003. A Shell report said it spent $100,000 on such payments last year in Nigeria.
President Olusegun Obasanjo also has angered Nigerians by approving fuel price hikes to reflect high global oil prices, drawing strike threats from labor unions. Most Nigerians see cheap fuel as the only benefit they ever got in a country with no welfare system and where more than 70 percent of the people live on less than $1 a day.
Nigeria is the world's seventh-biggest oil producer, exporting nearly half of the 2.4 million barrels it pumps every day to the United States. Africa's biggest oil power, home to more than 250 ethnic groups, is only one example of how oil can be a curse on the continent.
The development group Catholic Relief Services and a World Bank watchdog office said in a report on Chad, which began exporting oil last year, that adding oil to repressive, corrupt and poor countries too often results in simply more repression and corruption.
Equatorial Guinea, Africa's fifth-largest oil producer, is known for human rights abuses and mismanagement, and its oil wealth is believed to have attracted foreign coup plotters. It sentenced 24 European and African mercenaries to lengthy prison terms last year for scheming to oust the tiny nation's leader.
In Nigeria, disputes over oil have been causing bloodshed for years. This was brought to the fore in 1995, when writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists from his Ogoni tribe were executed under the brutal regime of then dictator Gen. Sani Abacha.
They were hanged for the murder of four political rivals, but Saro-Wiwa's supporters say he was really targeted because he led protests against environmental damage by Shell. The company, Nigeria's largest oil producer, is still negotiating its return to that area.
Hundreds of people were killed in Rivers state last year in fighting between two ethnic Ijaw militias, one led by secessionist Moujahid Dokubo-Asari and the other by a man who describes himself as a vigilante leader, Ateke Tom.
Conflict involving other militias continues near Buguma. Soldiers were sent recently to the similarly named Bukuma village after eight people were killed by a youth militia called D12, local residents said.
School attendance has halved in Buguma since fighting broke out in February 2004. Fishermen's catches are reduced because they no longer dare venture far out into the delta's rivers and creeks, where attacks have become common.
Ayachi Emesiobi hid in her home when militia fighters allegedly allied with Tom came calling. Her mother, Monima Atiboba, opened the door. They ``called her out and shot her,'' said Emesiobi, 29. ``I heard it - one shot.'' When she went outside, her mother lay dead.
School shut down during the three months of occupation and girls were raped. Classes resumed after Dokubo-Asari's Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force and an allied local militia chased out the invaders. Three days later, the army ran off Dokubo-Asari's fighters.
In his hometown of Okrika, next to the major oil city of Port Harcourt in Rivers state, Tom said reports of summary killings in Buguma by his group were ``lies.'' He denied having anything to do with Buguma's three-month occupation, although he acknowledged participating in a brief raid there after Dokubo-Asari set up a camp. Any civilians killed would have been hit by stray bullets, he said.
A year after that fighting, Dokubo-Asari and Tom signed a peace agreement and gave up thousands of weapons - including assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers - in a disarmament deal backed by Nigeria's president.
Tom and Dokubo-Asari say they are now allies, and both warn of more trouble, saying they have been threatened by new militias that they claim are backed by the Rivers state government.
``Things are going wrong,'' Tom said. ``These things can provoke us.''

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Katrina Now Category 5, Winds Of 161 - 175 MPH

2005-08-29T03:22:00.000-05:00

AT 10 PM CDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATEDNEAR LATITUDE 27.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.4 WEST OR ABOUT 105 MILESSOUTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ABOUT 170 MILESSOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA.
KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH...AND A TURNTO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS. ON THEFORECAST TRACK THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE WILL BE VERY NEAR THENORTHERN GULF COAST MONDAY MORNING. HOWEVER...CONDITIONS AREALREADY DETERIORATING ALONG PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL ANDNORTHEASTERN GULF COAST...AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN THROUGH THE NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 160 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATRINAIS A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOMEFLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY PRIOR TO LANDFALL...AND KATRINAIS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AT EITHER CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVEINTENSITY. WINDS AFFECTING THE UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGSWILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN THOSE NEAR GROUND LEVEL.
KATRINA REMAINS A VERY LARGE HURRICANE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTENDOUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCEWINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES. A WIND GUST TO 90 MPH WASRECENTLY REPORTED FROM SOUTHWEST PASS LOUISIANA.
ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 904 MB...26.70 INCHES. ANAIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WILL BE REACHING THECENTER OF KATRINA VERY SHORTLY.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDELEVELS...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 28 FEET...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERINGWAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL.SOME LEVEES IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA COULD BE OVERTOPPED. SIGNIFICANTSTORM SURGE FLOODING WILL OCCUR ELSEWHERE ALONG THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERNGULF OF MEXICO COAST.
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH OF KATRINA ACROSS THE GULFCOAST AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHESARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKESREGION TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING OVER SOUTHEASTERNLOUISIANA...SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHERN ALABAMA...AND OVER THE FLORIDAPANHANDLE TONIGHT.
REPEATING THE 10 PM CDT POSITION...27.6 N... 89.4 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINEDWINDS...160 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 904 MB.
INTERMEDIATE ADVISORIES WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTERAT MIDNIGHT CDT AND 2 A.M. CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT4 A.M. CDT.

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President Discusses Hurricane Katrina, Congratulates Iraqis on Draft Constitution

2005-08-29T03:19:00.000-05:00

Office of the Press Secretary
August 28, 2005

Prairie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas

THE PRESIDENT: This morning I spoke with FEMA Undersecretary Mike Brown and emergency management teams not only at the federal level but at the state level about the -- Hurricane Katrina. I've also spoken to Governor Blanco of Louisiana, Governor Barbour of Mississippi, Governor Bush of Florida, and Governor Riley of Alabama. I want to thank all the folks at the federal level and the state level and the local level who have taken this storm seriously. I appreciate the efforts of the governors to prepare their citizenry for this upcoming storm.
Yesterday, I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, and this morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Mississippi. These declarations will allow federal agencies to coordinate all disaster relief efforts with state and local officials. We will do everything in our power to help the people in the communities affected by this storm.
Hurricane Katrina is now designated a category five hurricane. We cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast communities. I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety of their families first by moving to safe ground. Please listen carefully to instructions provided by state and local officials.
On another matter, today Iraqi political leaders completed the process for drafting a permanent constitution. Their example is an inspiration to all who share the universal values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. The negotiators and drafters of this document braved the intimidation of terrorists and they mourn the cowardly assassination of friends and colleagues involved in the process of drafting the constitution.
Their efforts follow the bravery of the Iraqis who voted by the millions to elect a transitional government in January. The example of those voters remains a humbling testament to the power of free people to shape and define their own destiny. We honor their courage and sacrifice, and we are determined to see the Iraqis fully secure their democratic gains.
The Iraqi people have once again demonstrated to the world that they are up to the historic challenges before them. The document they have produced contains far-reaching protections for fundamental human freedoms, including religion, assembly, conscience and expression. It vests sovereignty in the people to be expressed by secret ballot and regular elections. It declares that all Iraqis are equal before the law without regard to gender, ethnicity and religion. This is a document of which the Iraqis and the rest of the world can be proud.
The local process now advances to another important stage for a new and free Iraq. In coming months, Iraqis will discuss and debate the draft constitution. On October the 15th, they will vote for a national referendum to decide whether to ratify the constitution and set the foundation for a permanent Iraqi government. If the referendum succeeds, Iraqis will elect a new government to serve under the new constitution on December the 15th, and that government will take office before the end of the year.
This course is going to be difficult largely because the terrorists have chosen to wage war against a future of freedom. They are waging war against peace in Iraq. As democracy in Iraq takes root, the enemies of freedom, the terrorists, will become more desperate, more despicable, and more vicious.
Just last week, the terrorists called for the death of anyone, including women and the elderly, who supports the democratic process in Iraq. They have deliberately targeted children receiving candy from soldiers. They have targeted election workers registering Iraqis to vote. They have targeted hospital workers who are caring for the wounded. We can expect such atrocities to increase in the coming months because the enemy knows that its greatest defeat lies in the expression of free people, and freely enacted laws, and at the ballot box.
We will stand with the Iraqi people. It's in our interest to stand with the Iraqi people. It's in our interest to lay the foundation of peace. We'll help them confront this barbarism, and we will triumph over the terrorist's dark ideology of hatred and fear.
There have been disagreements amongst the Iraqis about this particular constitution. Of course there's disagreements. We're watching a political process unfold, a process that has encouraged debate and compromise; a constitution that was written in a -- in a society in which people recognize that -- that there had to be give and take.
I want our folks to remember our own constitution was not unanimously received. Some delegates at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 refused to sign it, and the draft was vigorously debated in every state, and the outcome was not assured until all the votes were counted.
We recognize that there's a split amongst the Sunnis, for example, in Iraq. And I suspect that when you get down to it, you'll find a Shiia who disagrees with the constitution and Shiia who support the constitution, and perhaps some Kurds who are concerned about the constitution. In other words, we're watching a political process unfold. Some Sunnis have expressed reservations about various provisions of the constitution, and that's their right as free individuals living in a free society. There are strong beliefs among other Sunnis that this constitution is good for all Iraqis and that it adequately reflects compromises suitable to all groups.
It's important that all Iraqis now actively engage in the constitutional process by debating the merits of this important document and making an informed decision on October the 15th.
On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Iraq on completing the next step in their transition from dictatorship to democracy. And I want to remind the American people, as the democracy unfolds in Iraq, not only will it help make America more secure, but it will affect the broader Middle East. Democracies don't war with their neighbors; democracies don't become safe haven for terrorists who want to destroy innocent life. We have hard work ahead of us, but we're on the -- we're making good progress toward making sure this world of ours is more peaceful for generations to come.
Thank you very much.

SQUALL HITS LASER RACES IN TEES BAY

2005-08-29T03:17:00.000-05:00

Sunday 28 August 2005
Maritime And Coastguard Agency (National) UK

Humber Coastguard have been involved in the co-ordination of a significant incident today, when a heavy squall ran through Tees Bay upsetting many small boats and their occupants into the water who were taking part in the Laser World Qualifiers - a prestigious world and European qualifier. This is a class of international yachts in which Great Britain have consistently won sailing medals.
It began at just before 12.30 p.m. this afternoon when the Laser Safety Control point contacted the Coastguard to inform them that the weather had increased significantly, and a large number of the Lasers had overturned and urgent assistance was required.
The Tees, Hartlepool and Redcar RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboats were immediately asked to launch, and it then became apparent that a number of the individuals were struggling to cope on board their vessels in the prevailing weather, and officials at the Laser Control Point advised the Coastguard that several boats had been abandoned and the crew were sitting on top of the upturned vessels and were awaiting assistance. The breadth of the area being covered extended up to five miles out to sea and at least two miles across.
Once they were upon scene, lifeboat crews reported to the Coastguard that several masts were broken and a search pattern was organised to take into account the myriad number of vessels who had been taking part in the trails and races. Redcar Coastguard Rescue Team were mobilised to the shoreline to begin collecting any casualties.
Other vessels including the race organisers rigid inflatable boat also began to assist the Coastguard who organised a pattern of search. Any vessel which was upturned or abandoned, but had its crew accounted for was taped as a marker other search units. Cleveland Police were also informed of the ongoing activities, and the race organisers began to tally the rescue crew with their shore side list. A Police helicopter also came into the area to assist in spotting anyone still in the water.
By 1.49 p.m all people involved had been accounted for, and there were at least twenty at the boathouse who had been brought ashore. The abandoned, dismasted and upturned boats were then gathered in by various craft including the safety boat and brought to the marina for collection.

Mike Green, Humber Coastguard Watch Manager said:

"This was an awkward incident due to the number of Lasers involved. Race control are to be commended on the speed with which they requested assistance and for an excellent tally system which enabled all personnel to be quickly accounted for. The squally weather played havoc with a well organised race but fortunately except for one person who was taken to hospital there are few reported casualties. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution response to this incident was extremely rapid and efficient; and they are now recovering any abandoned Lasers."

EU PRESIDENCY STATEMENT WELCOMING THE PUBLICATION OF IRAQ'S CONSTITUTION

2005-08-29T03:15:00.000-05:00

Sunday 28 August 2005
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (National) UK

The United Kingdom, as Presidency of the EU, today welcomes the publication of Iraq's constitution.
The Presidency congratulates the Iraqi people on reaching this important milestone in the political process.
Drafting Iraq's constitution has been difficult. There have been compromises on all sides. But representatives from across Iraq 's diverse community have now produced a constitution which we hope will set the foundations for a democratic Iraq.
The European Union encourages all Iraqis to play a part in the next stage of the political process by voting on the draft constitution in the October referendum. Broad public support for the constitution will help ensure a stable future for Iraq.
The Iraqis have succeeded in drafting this constitution despite the action of terrorists who are trying to destroy the country's desire for a peaceful future.
The EU will continue to offer its full support to the Iraqi people, including in assisting in the run-up to October's referendum and the national elections in December.

EPA RECOGNIZES FORD ATLANTA ASSEMBLY PLANT’S ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS

2005-08-29T03:11:00.000-05:00

Ford Atlanta Assembly Plant is the first automotive OEM recognized by the EPA in its National Environmental Performance Track program for protecting the environment and public health.
Ford Atlanta Assembly Plant has committed to reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by more than 24 tons and water usage by nearly 14 million gallons.

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 24: The Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday recognized Ford Motor Company’s Atlanta Assembly Plant for exceeding regulatory requirements, working closely with the community and excelling in protecting the environment and public health as part of the EPA’s Performance Track program.
According to EPA Regional Administrator James I. Palmer, JR., "The EPA is delighted that Ford has become a member of our national Performance Track Program. As Regional Administrator for the eight southeastern states in EPA Region 4, I am especially pleased that the Atlanta Assembly Plant was selected for this distinct recognition. This is a tremendous and exciting accomplishment, and I look forward to working with Ford to bring its other manufacturing and distribution facilities into the Performance Track Program."
Performance Track is a voluntary program designed to encourage pollution prevention at the source. Ford’s Atlanta Assembly Plant submitted its application in April 2005 and has committed to reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by more than 24 tons and water usage by nearly 14 million gallons. It is the first of Ford's facilities to join the program. Consideration will be given for additional plant participation.
“It is rewarding to have the Atlanta Assembly Plant's hard work and commitment to the environment recognized by the EPA. We are proud of the level of environmental awareness and responsibility shown by the men and women of Ford Motor Company,” said Sue Cischke, vice president Environmental and Safety Engineering.
According to the EPA, since the program's inception in June 2000, Performance Track membership has produced solid environmental results. To date, Performance Track members have collectively reduced their water use by 1.3 billion gallons and their generation of solid waste by nearly 600,000 tons. They have also increased their use of reused or recycled materials by nearly 77,000 tons, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 67,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

FBI ANNOUNCES TWO ARRESTS IN MYTOB AND ZOTOB COMPUTER WORM INVESTIGATION

2005-08-29T03:09:00.000-05:00

Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
August 26, 2005

Washington, D.C.: Working with law enforcement authorities in Morocco and Turkey, the FBI today announced the arrests of two individuals believed to be responsible for the creation and distribution of the "Mytob" and "Zotob" computer worms that were unleashed less than two weeks ago and disrupted services on computer networks of a variety of companies including major U.S. news organizations.
With the help of Moroccan authorities, Ministry of Interior Turkish National Police , and valuable assistance from Microsoft Corporation, these individuals were arrested yesterday without incident. Arrested in Morocco was Farid Essebar, 18, a Moroccan national born in Russia who went by the screen moniker "Diabl0." Arrested in Turkey was Atilla Ekici, aka "Coder," a 21-year old resident of Turkey. Both individuals will be subject to local prosecutions.
FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Louis M. Reigel III said, "In today's world of sophisticated technology, cyber criminals need very few tools to carry out their crimes. With a few strokes on a keyboard and a click of a mouse, malicious computer code can instantly spread across computer networks all over the world causing significant damage and dollar loss. In the FBI, we confront this problem by teaming our highly skilled cyber investigators with other domestic and international law enforcement agencies as well as private sector companies including Microsoft and various members of the anti-virus community. The swift resolution of this matter is the direct result of effective coordination and serves as a good example of what we can achieve when we work together."
Microsoft Senior Vice President and General Counsel Brad Smith said , " "We congratulate the Turkish and Moroccan authorities and the FBI for finding and apprehending the alleged distributors of the Zotob and Rbot worms so quickly. These arrests demonstrate the value of public-private collaboration - the first-class investigative work by the authorities and ‘round-the-clock technical and investigative support provided by our Internet Crime Investigations Team here at Microsoft. The results show clearly that cyber criminals will be identified, apprehended and held accountable for their actions."
W32.Zotob is a worm that targets Windows 2000 and XP-based computers. The worm opens a back door and exploits the Microsoft Windows Plug and Play Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039).
Information concerning the worm and its removal can be located on the Microsoft Website at: www.microsoft.com/security/incident/zotob.mspx
The investigation is continuing and t he FBI will assist appropriate authorities with respect to the institution and prosecution of any charges.
To protect against various computer infections, PC users should adopt a maintenance mindset to help keep their devices safe, and practice good security behaviors. These include using an Internet firewall, diligently installing security updates, using up-to-date antivirus software, as well as using newer and more secure software that has been engineered to better protect against emerging online threats.

European Commission adopts €3.5 million for disaster preparedness in the Caribbean

2005-08-29T03:07:00.000-05:00

Brussels, 26 August 2005

The Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) launched its 5th DIPECHO (for Disaster Preparedness ECHO) Action Plan for the Caribbean. €3.5 million will be allocated for disaster preparedness in the region. The main objective is to increase the capability of vulnerable populations living in areas most affected by recurrent natural hazards to cope with the effects of natural disasters.
“The 2004 hurricane season and the beginning of the 2005 season have once again tragically demonstrated the region’s exposure to natural disasters, mainly hurricanes and floods. If we want help these populations to face and cope, our preparedness work must continue. The relevance of our approach has been confirmed by an external evaluation. This 5th action plan continues our efforts and focuses on the most vulnerable groups,” explains Mr Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
The Action Plan includes supporting strategies that enable local communities and institutions to better prepare for and mitigate against natural disasters by enhancing their capacities to cope.
The financing will focus on the strengthening of capacity/training at the local level, with the direct participation of beneficiary communities. For example: organisation and training of local emergency committees; simulations and workshops at the community level aimed at the elaboration of an emergency plan; training and equipping of community disaster response teams.
Furthermore, activities supported under the new DIPECHO Action Plan will include the following:
The setting of early warning systems;
Small scale infrastructure mitigation works aimed at reducing physical vulnerability of beneficiaries, like protection walls along riverbanks, drainage works, reforestation;
Map-making and computerisation of data connected with the study of risks, vulnerability and the development of emergency plans;
Research and dissemination of technical studies, workshops and their results in order to increase knowledge on risk reduction issues.
Countries targeted:
Belize, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname and Eastern Caribbean islands.
The Caribbean region has been included in DIPECHO’s programme since 1998. Since then, four Action Plans have been implemented with the help of NGOs, UN agencies and other regional partners, for a total amount of 8.5 million euros.

Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of StorageTek by Sun Microsystems

2005-08-29T03:04:00.000-05:00

Brussels, 26 August 2005

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Storage Technology Corp. (“StorageTek”), the US storage solutions company, by Sun Microsystems Inc. (“SUN”), the US network computing products and services company. After examining the operation carefully, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it and has therefore approved the concentration.
SUN’s business is focussed on providing network computing products and services comprising, inter alia, computer systems, network storage systems, and support services. StorageTek provides a range of data storage solutions for the management, retrieval and protection of business critical information.
The Commission’s investigation showed that the horizontal overlaps between the activities of SUN and StorageTek are limited and that the combined entity would continue to face several strong competitors with significant market shares. Moreover, since SUN is largely a re-seller of StorageTek’s products, the transaction would have no significant effect in the areas of overlaps.
The Commission also examined possible effects in enterprise storage solutions. It concluded that the merger would not give rise to competition concerns since the new entity would have all the economic incentives to continue selling its products through OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture) channels as well as to continue selling third party storage products on an OEM basis. The Commission ultimately took the view that the proposed transaction would not materially affect the choice of purchasers, regardless of the IT environment in which they operate their storage solutions.

Novel compounds show promise as safer, more potent insecticides

2005-08-29T03:01:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 — Research teams at Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd., Bayer CropScience and DuPont have developed two new classes of broad-spectrum insecticides that show promise as a safer and more effective way to fight pest insects that damage food crops. The insecticides, which represent the first synthetic compounds designed to activate a novel insecticide target called the ryanodine receptor, may also help tackle the growing problem of insecticide resistance, the researchers say. They described their studies today at the 230th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.
Many of the most widely used insecticides today act on only a handful of exploited targets, including the organophosphates, which block acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that helps control nerve activity. Some experts are concerned that these older, less-selective insecticides could pose heath risks and there’s a growing effort underway to find safer replacements.
Targeting the ryanodine receptor may offer a promising alternative, researchers say. Ryanodine, a natural alkaloid discovered years ago in a species of tropical plant, has been used to study muscle physiology in a wide variety of organisms, including insects and mammals. Ryanodine receptors regulate muscle and nerve activities by modifying levels of internal calcium in these cells. These receptors exist in both mammals and insects but have distinct differences. Researchers have known that ryanodine itself has insecticidal properties, but no synthetic molecules had previously been identified that potently and selectively target these receptors in insects, until now.
Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd., based in Japan, and Bayer CropScience AG in Germany have jointly developed Flubendiamide, the first example of the phthalic acid diamides, a novel class of insecticides that activate the ryanodine receptor. The insecticide is highly effective against many different species of caterpillars, says Masanori Tohnishi, a senior research scientist at Nihon Nohyaku. In early tests, the compound showed high activity against the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), which is known to cause serious damage to cotton, tobacco and other crops, the researchers say. The compound did not have any measurable effect on mammalian ryanodine receptors, according to Peter Lümmen, Ph.D., a research scientist at Bayer CropScience.
DuPont, based in Wilmington, Del., is developing another group of compounds that target the ryanodine receptor. Called anthranilic diamides, these novel compounds show excellent control of pest insects with exceptional mammalian safety, according to the researchers. They were the first to demonstrate the mode of action of these ryanodine receptor-active molecules, says Daniel Cordova, a researcher at DuPont Crop Protection.
Both classes of compounds are believed to have high potency, the researchers say, although they are structurally different. Both insecticides are still in developmental stages.
The research team at DuPont says they have cloned ryanodine receptors from several insect species and that these receptors may help provide a better understanding of their role in calcium signaling, which could lead to new insights into human diseases.
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress, with a multidisciplinary membership of more than 158,000 chemists and chemical engineers. It publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

http://www.eurekalert.org/

Coffee is number one source of antioxidants

2005-08-29T02:57:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28: Coffee provides more than just a morning jolt; that steaming cup of java is also the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Scranton (Pa.). Their study was described today at the 230th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close," says study leader Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the university. Although fruits and vegetables are generally promoted as good sources of antioxidants, the new finding is surprising because it represents the first time that coffee has been shown to be the primary source from which most Americans get their antioxidants, Vinson says. Both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant levels, he adds.
He cautions that high antioxidant levels in foods and beverages don't necessarily translate into levels found in the body. The potential health benefits of these antioxidants ultimately depends on how they are absorbed and utilized in the body, a process that is still poorly understood, says Vinson, whose study was primarily funded by the American Cocoa Research Institute.
The news follows a growing number of reports touting the potential health benefits of drinking coffee. It also comes at an appropriate time: Coffee consumption is on the rise in the United States and over half of Americans drink it everyday, according to the National Coffee Association.
Antioxidants in general have been linked to a number of potential health benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer. For the current study, Vinson and his associates analyzed the antioxidant content of more than 100 different food items, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, oils and common beverages. The data was compared to an existing U.S. Department of Agriculture database on the contribution of each type of food item to the average estimated U.S. per capita consumption.
Coffee came out on top, on the combined basis of both antioxidants per serving size and frequency of consumption, Vinson says. Java easily outranked such popular antioxidant sources as tea, milk, chocolate and cranberries, he says. Of all the foods and beverages studied, dates actually have the most antioxidants of all based solely on serving size, according to Vinson. But since dates are not consumed at anywhere near the level of coffee, the blue ribbon goes to our favorite morning pick-me-up as the number one source of antioxidants, he says.
Besides keeping you alert and awake, coffee has been linked to an increasing number of potential health benefits, including protection against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson's disease, according to some recently published studies. But there's also a downside: Java can make you jittery and cause stomach pains, while some studies have tied it to elevated blood pressure and heart rates. More research is needed, particularly human studies, to firmly establish its health benefits, Vinson says.
While the findings would seem to encourage people to go out and drink more coffee, Vinson emphasizes moderation. "One to two cups a day appear to be beneficial," he says. If you don't like coffee, consider drinking black tea, which is the second most consumed antioxidant source in the U.S. diet, Vinson says. Bananas, dry beans and corn placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
But don't forget about fresh fruits and veggies, the researcher cautions. "Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view due to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fiber," Vinson says. Dates, cranberries and red grapes are among the top fruits for antioxidants on the basis of concentration (antioxidants per serving size), he says.
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress, with a multidisciplinary membership of more than 158,000 chemists and chemical engineers. It publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

http://www.eurekalert.org/

New Images Reveal Different Magma Pools Form the Ocean's Crust

2005-08-29T02:54:00.000-05:00

For the first time, scientists have produced images of the oceanic crust and found that the upper and lower layers of the crust are likely formed from different magma pools. The images begin to answer some lingering questions about where new ocean crust comes from and whether it is all formed the same way.Geophysicists Robert Detrick and Juan-Pablo Canales of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and colleagues used reflected seismic, or sound, waves to successfully image the structure of the lower crust across the flanks of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a spreading plate boundary off the Pacific Northwest coast. Their study, co-authored by researchers at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, appears in the August 25, 2005 issue of Nature.By recording the reflection of seismic waves off the lower crust at the crust-mantle boundary, a technique common in oil exploration, the researchers found evidence strongly suggesting that the base of the crust forms much differently than its overlying layers. “Seismic reflection is a powerful tool to image the sub-surface detailed structure of the Earth down to several kilometers or miles below the surface," study co-author Canales said. “Scientists studying the formation of the ocean crust have been debating over the past decade whether all of the crust is formed from magma that accumulates in a single pool or lens a mile or two deep, or if it forms from multiple magma sills at different levels.”Detrick, Canales and colleagues analyzed about 1,500 kilometers (935 miles) of data collected on the Juan de Fuca Ridge off the coast of Washington, Oregon and northern California. The images are the first of their kind showing solidified magma lenses and sills, narrow lateral intrusions of magma, embedded in the boundary between the mantle and the overlying crust, a region known as the Moho transition zone. The existence of these magma lenses near a mid-ocean ridge suggests that the lower oceanic crust is formed from several smaller sources of magma rather than a single large pool located in the middle of the crust. Unlike continental crust, which is very old and thick, oceanic crust averages 6-7 kilometers (3-4 miles) thick and is constantly being recycled at tectonic plate boundaries on the seafloor. Crust is destroyed at subduction zones, where plates come together, and created at mid-ocean ridges, where plates are pulling apart, like the Juan de Fuca Ridge. At these ridges, also known as seafloor spreading centers, molten rock, or magma, rises from deep within the earth and solidifies to become new crust. But the exact source of that magma—particularly the magma that forms the lower layers of the crust—was not well understood until now.Previously, geophysicists knew that the topmost layer of the crust cooled from molten rock supplied by a single pool, or lens, of magma located in the crust’s middle layers. What was not known was whether the lower crust, which lies just above the mantle, solidified from the same melt lens or from many smaller magma bodies in the deeper crust-mantle transition zone. The new study found evidence of multiple pockets of molten rock now frozen, lending strong support to the latter theory.Geophysical studies along mid-ocean ridges to date using seismic reflection have been able to image only one single crustal melt lens, supporting the first model of crustal formation. However, other remote-sensing geophysical methods that are used to infer the mechanical properties of the crust indicate that magma must also accumulate at deeper levels, in particular at the base of the crust or the Moho transition zone.The multiple-lens model comes from field observations at ophiolites where the remnants of the multiple melt sills can be mapped. Ophiolites are slabs of oceanic crust long ago thrust up onto dry land and are easily accessible to geologists seeking clues to what new crust might look like. “It is exciting that different observational approaches, marine seismology and ophiolite studies, that look at the same problem at different spatial and resolution scales are converging towards a unified geological and geophysical model of how the ocean crust is formed," Canales said.

http://www.eurekalert.org/

Progress Report on Renewing The Violence Against Women Act

2005-08-29T02:49:00.000-05:00

The Senate Judiciary Committee held an important hearing on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2005 on Tuesday, July 19, 2005.
Witnesses testifying in support of the legislation included actress/director/producer Salma Hayek and former NBA player and coach M.L. Carr, who currently serves as President and CEO of youth foundation WARM2Kids.
The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill after the August recess.

SUMMARY OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 2005
Senate Bill Number: S. 1197

Senate Bill Introduced: Senators Biden, Hatch and Specter introduced the bill on June 8, 2005.

Committee Referral: The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, and a hearing on the bill is scheduled for July 19, 2005.
Current Co-sponsor List: (47) If your Senators are not listed below please feel free to contact them at: www.senate.gov and ask them to cosponsor S. 1197, The Violence Against Women Act of 2005.
ALASKA: Stevens (R-AK)
ALABAMA:
ARKANSAS: Pryor (D-AR)
ARIZONA:
CALIFORNIA: Boxer (D-CA), Feinstein (D-CA) -THANK YOU CALIFORNIA!
COLORADO: Salazar (D-CO)
CONNECTICUT: Dodd (D-CT), Lieberman (D-CT) - THANK YOU CONNECTICUT!
DELAWARE: Biden (D-DE), Carper (D-DE) - THANK YOU DELAWARE!
FLORIDA:
GEORGIA:
HAWAII: Inouye (D-HI)
IDAHO: Crapo (R-ID)
IOWA: Grassley (R-IA), Sen Harkin (D-IA) - THANK YOU IOWA!
ILLINOIS: Durbin (D-IL), Sen Obama (D-IL) - THANK YOU ILLINOIS!
INDIANA: Bayh (D-IN)
KANSAS:
KENTUCKY:
LOUISIANA: Landrieu (D-LA)
MAINE: Collins (R-ME), Sen Snowe (R-ME) - THANK YOU MAINE!
MARYLAND: Mikulski (D-MD), Sen Sarbanes (D-MD) - THANK YOU MARYLAND!
MASSACHUSETTS: Kennedy (D-MA), Kerry (D-MA) -THANK YOU MASSACHUSETTS!
MICHIGAN: Stabenow (D-MI), Levin (D-MI) - THANK YOU MICHIGAN!
MINNESOTA: Dayton (D-MN)
MISSISSIPPI: Cochoran (R-MS)
MISSOURI:
MONTANA:
NEBRASKA: Nelson (D-NE)
NEVADA:
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
NEW JERSEY: Lautenberg (D-NJ), Corzine (D-NJ) - THANK YOU NEW JERSEY!
NEW MEXICO: Bingaman (D-NM)
NEW YORK: Clinton (D-NY), Schumer (D-NY) - THANK YOU NEW YORK!
NORTH CAROLINA:
NORTH DAKOTA: Dorgan (D-ND)
OHIO: DeWine (R-OH)
OKLAHOMA:
OREGON:
PENNSYLVANIA: Specter (R-PA)
RHODE ISLAND: Chafee (R-RI), Sen Reed (D-RI) - THANK YOU RHODE ISLAND!
SOUTH CAROLINA:
SOUTH DAKOTA: Johnson (D-SD)
TENNESSEE:
TEXAS: Hutchison (R-TX)
UTAH: Hatch (R-UT)
VERMONT: Leahy (D-VT), Jeffords (I-VT) - THANK YOU VERMONT!
VIRGINIA:
WASHINGTON: Cantwell (D-WA), Murray (D-WA) - THANK YOU WASHINGTON!
WISCONSIN: Kohl (D-WI)
WEST VIRGINIA: Byrd (D-WV), Rockefeller (D-WV) - THANK YOU WEST VIRGINIA!
WYOMING:
In order for a bill to become a law it must be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Here is the House version of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005:
House Bill Number: H.R. 2876
House Bill Introduced: Representative Mark Green (R-WI) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives on June 14, 2005.
Committee Referral: The bill has been referred to several House Committees: Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Ways and Means.
Current Co-sponsor List: (88) If your Representative is not listed below please contact them at: www.house.gov and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 2876, The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005.
(In the order they were added to bill. A * next to the name means the Representative is an original cosponsor):
Rep Conyers*, Rep Pryce*, Rep Brown-Waite*, Rep Solis*, Rep Reichert*, Rep Hart*, Rep Boustany*, Rep Michaud*, Rep Foley, Mark*, Rep Poe*, Rep Maloney*, Rep Capito*, Rep DeLauro*, Rep Capps*, Rep Slaughter*, Rep Kelly, Rep Udall, Rep Bass, Rep Bonner, Rep Van Hollen, Rep Emerson, Rep Larsen, Rep Harman, Rep Granger, Rep Bachus, Rep Filner, Rep McCaul, Rep Moran, Rep Sessions, Rep Case, Rep Costa, Rep McCarthy, Rep Wilson, Heather, Rep Kennedy, Mark R., Rep Hyde, Rep Davis, Jo Ann, Rep Engel, Rep Latham, Rep Conaway, Rep Baca, Joe, Rep Smith, Christopher H., Rep McDermott, Jim, Rep LaHood, Rep Shays, Rep Schiff, Rep Meehan, Rep Kennedy, Rep Chandler, Rep Forbes, Rep Jindal, Rep Spratt, Rep Herseth, Rep Rahall, Rep Langevin, Rep Wilson, Joe, Rep Green, Al, Rep Moran, Rep Andrews, Rep Rothman, Rep Levin, Rep Holt, Rep Bradley, Rep Mollohan, Rep Kind, Rep Kirk, Rep Skelton, Rep Inslee, Rep Carnahan, Rep Christensen, Rep Clay, Wm, Rep Markey, Rep Boucher, Rep Cummings, Rep Gilchrest, Rep Allen, Thomas H., Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Rep Musgrave, Rep Ferguson, Rep Owens, Rep Cleaver, Rep Gibbons, Rep Davis, Artur, Rep Leach, Rep Ford, Harold E., Jr, Rep Frank, Rep Lowey, Rep Berkley.

Mikulski, Sarbanes Issue Statement On Walter Reed Move To Bethesda

2005-08-29T02:26:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Paul S. Sarbanes (both D-MD) released the following statement today following the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission’s decision to move the Walter Reed Medical Facility to Bethesda, Maryland:
"We welcome the BRAC Commission’s support for the Pentagon’s plan to create a modernized joint operational medical facility in Bethesda. Locating the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda also promotes partnering with the nearby Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, our military medical school and the National Institutes of Health.
"Maryland is happy and proud to have this opportunity to provide world-class medical care for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.
"Our federal, state and local officials will continue to work together to ensure a smooth transition for those currently receiving medical care at the Walter Reed facilities in Washington, DC."
Final BRAC recommendations will now go to President Bush for approval.

Congratulations to Iraqi People on Draft Constitution

2005-08-29T02:25:00.000-05:00

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC
August 28, 2005

The United States congratulates the Iraqi people on completing the process of drafting a constitution. This event marks another critical step forward along the pathway to a free, prosperous, and democratic Iraq. Both the process for producing the document and the text of the draft constitution show a shared commitment to a common future and identity for all Iraqis. Citizens of democracies around the globe recognize a vital element of free societies is to resolve disparate views through political compromise. We see this fact of democracy emerging in Iraq today. We also see in Iraq's draft constitution a foundation for a democratic system in which all voices may be heard, human rights are protected, rule of law is respected, and women are full political partners. All Iraqis now have the opportunity in October to vote on a new constitution. We will continue to stand by the Iraqi people as they make important choices about their future.

Italy 'Did Deal To Free Hostages'

2005-08-26T03:42:00.000-05:00

The Italian Red Cross treated four Iraqi insurgents to secure the release of two Italian women held hostage last year, a Red Cross official has said.
Maurizio Scelli, the outgoing head of the Italian Red Cross, said the deal had been kept secret from the U.S.
"Had the Americans known about it, this could have damaged the subtle strategy," Scelli told Italy's Rai radio after speaking to a newspaper.
Two aid workers, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, were held for three weeks.
Scelli - who first revealed the story to the Italian daily La Stampa - said Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's right-man man, Gianni Letta, was aware of the deal.
"He acknowledged it and - albeit with a thousand recommendations - he told me to go ahead with it," Scelli said.
Berlusconi's office has not commented on the report. Italy has always denied paying a ransom for "the two Simonas".
Scelli said he did not know the identities of the insurgents his agency had treated.
"We collected them in the place we had been told and then took them to hospital with a series of precautions for them to be admitted into the hospital as quickly as possible and without any hindrance," he told Rai. He added that U.S. checkpoints were among the hindrances he was referring to.
An Italian secret service agent, Nicola Calipari, was killed by U.S. gunfire at a checkpoint in Iraq in March as he escorted another Italian hostage to freedom. The U.S. and Italy disagreed about the circumstances of the killing, briefly straining relations between the allies.
Scelli said Calipari had been consulted about the deal to free Ms. Torretta and Ms. Pari. The two women stunned Italy by defending the Iraqi insurgency on their release, saying there was a difference between guerrillas and freedom fighters.

http://FreeInternetPress.com

Sectarian Violence Flares In Iraq

2005-08-26T03:38:00.000-05:00

Fighters believed to be members of Saddam Hussein's former regime killed 13 Iraqi police, 27 civilians and an American security-force member in a concerted attack in a west Baghdad neighborhood, first luring police within range by slaughtering five members of an Iraqi household, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Thursday.
The Baghdad attack, in which witnesses said up to 40 masked insurgents armed with grenade-launchers and AK-47 assault rifles openly walked the streets, came late Wednesday, as political violence and sectarian tensions flared across Iraq on the eve of a decision on Iraq's new constitution.
Two days of sudden clashes between government-allied Shiite fighters and a rival Shiite militia subsided in the south of Iraq by midday Thursday, after appeals for calm by Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari and militant Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr.
Laith Kubba, a spokesman for Jafari, said the constitution would be submitted to the National Assembly on Thursday in its final form, after three days of final negotiations spurred largely by objections from Iraq's Sunni Arab minority.
"The assembly will then rubber-stamp it" with a vote no later than Sunday, Kubba said, making clear the extent to which faction leaders, rather than parliament members or parliament's constitutional committee, are deciding the charter.
Iraqis then will vote in a referendum to ratify the constitution on Oct. 15. Political leaders' negotiations on the charter had gone as far as far as they could, Kubba said. "They've just exhausted it -- they've spent hours debating this," he said.
The main disputes have been over federalism. A federal system called for in the constitution -- as demanded by members of the Shiite Muslim majority and the Kurdish ethnic minority -- would formalize the self-rule of the Kurdish north and allow the Shiite south and any other areas to also create their own federal regions. Sunni Arabs and followers Sadr, the Shiite cleric and key figure in the Shiite clashes, largely oppose federalism.
Kubba linked both the Sunni Arab insurgent attack in Baghad and the Shiite-on-Shiite violence in the south to the constitution, saying disputes over the charter had aggravated tensions in the south.
The Baghdad attack, Kubba said, was a "stage-managed operation" meant to overshadow progress on the constitution. "They wanted the writing on the wall, that they are still there."
The Baghdad attack opened with insurgents killing five people inside a west Baghdad home, according to Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, a U.S. military spokesman. When police responded to the scene, insurgents attacked them with a series of car bombs, Lynch said.
Residents reported hours of explosions and gunfire.
In the south, fighting among rival Shiite forces eased Thursday, after spreading to central Iraq earlier in the day. The easing of tensions came after Sadr directed his followers to lay down their AK-47s.
"I call upon all the believers to save the blood of the Muslims and to return to their homes," Sadr told reporters at his home in the Shiite holy city of Najaf. Some 3,000 followers surrounded Sadr's house as he spoke, many of them armed with grenade-launchers and automatic rifles. They vowed to defend him.
The clashes broke out Wednesday when Sadr's offices in Najaf were attacked and burned by rival groups.
The fighting, which quickly spread to other urban centers in south-central Iraq, underscored the deep rifts within the Shiite community, which accounts for 60 percent of the population and claimed the biggest share of parliamentary seats in the Jan. 30 elections that were largely boycotted by Sunni Muslims. The fighting pits followers of Sadr against the armed wing of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, a Shiite religious party that won a leading role in government in the January vote.
While militias are illegal under Iraq's interim constitution, Shiite and Kurdish factions still command thousands of fighters loyal to them.
The southern city of Basra also was calmer Thursday following Sadr's appeal, after street battles with mortars, grenade-launchers and automatic rifles a day earlier between Sadr's followers and those of the Badr organization. At least one policeman and one Sadr follower were reported killed there in fighting early Wednesday; there was no figure on casualties later in the day.
In Baqubah, Sadr's black-clad forces fought with those of the Supreme Council on Thursday, said Ahmed Karim, spokesman for the joint coordination center for Iraqi and U.S. forces there.
Baqubah police officers said four Sadr fighters were killed in clashes in which Sadr's followers fought members of the Iraqi army, police and U.S. forces.
American military spokesmen in Baghdad said they had no immediate information on those clashes.
Karim said U.S. helicopters were patrolling over the city and that American forces had made an unspecified number of arrests. Baqubah's people took shelter inside their homes. Sunni mosques in the city blared messages calling on Sadr's forces "to continue fighting those who want to divide Iraq," Karim said.
Eight miles north of Baqubah, gunmen opened fire on five men believed to be fighters of the Supreme Council's Badr organization, killing five of them, Karim claimed. At least seven people died in Wednesday's clashes.
"I will not forget this attack on the office . . . but Iraq is passing through a critical and difficult period that requires unity," Sadr said.
Sadr also called on Abdul-Aziz Hakim, leader of the rival Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, to condemn "what his followers have done." The Supreme Council is now the leading party in Iraq's Shiite-led interim government.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari appeared on state television shortly after midnight to condemn the violence.
"Peace must reign," said Jafari, a member of another Shiite party in the governing coalition. "This language of violence cannot be permitted in the new Iraq."

http://FreeInternetPress.com

At Least 17 Killed In Paris Apartment Fire

2005-08-26T03:35:00.000-05:00

At least 17 people, including six children, have died in a fire in a seven-storey building in south Paris, the French fire service has said.
Some 30 people were injured in the blaze, which broke out in the city's 13th district in the early hours.
More than 200 firefighters helped many of the 130 people in the apartment block to escape. The building housed African immigrant families.
In April, 24 people died in a fire at a Paris hotel also housing immigrants.
Friday's fire broke out in a stairwell in the dilapidated building at around 12:17 a.m. (2217 GMT Thursday). Some 210 firemen from 22 stations around the city were called to the scene, managing to bring the blaze under control after about two hours. The building was reportedly used by charitable organisations to house immigrants.
Local residents said many of those living in the apartment block were from Senegal and Mali.
"I heard children cry, families scream," Oumar Cisse told journalists after he was evacuated from the building. "Some children were yelling for their mothers and fathers."
Fire fighters said six children, including a baby, were among the dead. The injured were being treated in hospitals across the French capital.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at the scene in the early hours, his ministry said.
The cause of the blaze is unknown but a criminal investigation is under way.

http://FreeInternetPress.com

Two Die As Hurricane Katrina Hits Florida

2005-08-26T03:34:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Katrina has hit south-east Florida, killing at least two people and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without electricity.
One man died when a tree was blown onto the car in which he was sitting after strong winds and rain struck the Fort Lauderdale area at 7 p.m. (2300 GMT).
Earlier, motorists stocked up at gas stations and emergency shelters were opened as the storm closed in.
Flooding is forecast, with up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) of rain expected to fall.
Katrina hit the densely populated coastline between Hallandale Beach and North Miami Beach, said the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Skies darkened as winds reaching 130 kilometeres per hour (80 mph) whipped up seas to an estimated 4.5 meters (15 feet) high, toppled street signs and knocked down trees and power lines.
Some 400,000 customers were without electricity, said Florida Power & Light.
Earlier, residents in the area most at risk, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, stocked up on food, water and fuel.
Motorists flocked to petrol stations to stock up on fuel and cigarettes, the Associated Press news agency reported.
"People go out and fill their tanks to the brim, but they don't leave. They buckle down," gas station attendant Chris Bonhorst said.
Authorities urged people in mobile homes or low-lying areas to evacuate to safer ground.
"The entire south part of the peninsula is at risk for flooding," said Ed Rappaport, the National Hurricane Center's deputy director.
Thirteen years ago this week, the maximum-strength Category Five Hurricane Andrew hit the same area of Florida - the most costly hurricane to hit the U.S.
Katrina, however, is only expected to be a Category One hurricane.
The U.S. National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami upgraded Katrina from a tropical storm to a hurricane around 3:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) on Thursday.
Most areas will see 15 to 30 centimeters (six to 12 inches) of rain before Katrina reaches the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. The storm could then turn north towards Florida's Panhandle, probably hitting early next week.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who cancelled a business trip to Peru to return to the state ahead of the storm, warned there could be gasoline shortages in isolated areas.
People in coastal communities were warned to beware "large and dangerous battering waves". Schools and businesses in southeast Florida closed and cruise lines rerouted their ships as seaports shut down.
Parts of the Bahamas saw heavy showers and powerful waves from Katrina on Wednesday but no major damage was reported.
The Florida Panhandle, on the north of the state, has already been battered by Hurricane Dennis and Tropical Storm Cindy this year.
The Atlantic hurricane season began on 1 June and continues until November 30.

http://FreeInternetPress.com

Typhoon Mawar Batters Central Japan

2005-08-26T03:32:00.000-05:00

A powerful typhoon has struck near Japan's capital, Tokyo, killing one person and injuring at least two.
Typhoon Mawar brought winds of 108 kilometer per hour (67 mph) and heavy rain, triggering flood warnings for the Tokyo region. A large number of flights, express trains and ferry services in and out of the capital were cancelled.
The prefectures of Chiba and Shizuoka, on the east and west of Tokyo, were worst hit with thousands of households left without power.
Some 27 million people live in Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures.
A 55-year-old man died after falling from the roof of his house and at least two other men were injured in Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, police said.
More than 3,500 households lost power in Chiba, just east of Tokyo.
Hundreds of families were evacuated as rising water levels flooded homes and trigged seven landslides in the two prefectures. Typhoon Mawar hit Chiba city at around 4:30 a.m. on Friday (1930 GMT Thursday), the Meteorological Agency said.
The storm was heading northeast at 25 kilometers per hour (15 mph) and was expected to head back out to the Pacific Ocean, becoming a tropical depression early on Saturday, the agency added.
"Since the typhoon's moving speed is slow, there are concerns that heavy rains and winds might occur in the areas where the typhoon stays," a spokesman for the Japan Meteorological Agency told Agence France-Presse.
Residents were warned to expect as much as 35 centimeters (14 inches) of rainfall within 24 hours.
The cancellation of dozens of flights affected some 7,000 passengers on Thursday, airlines said.
Japanese television reports showed fishing boats returning to port as giant waves hit the coastline before the typhoon struck.
Japan is hit by two to three typhoons each year, but as many as 10 - the last of which alone killed 90 people - struck the country in 2004.

http://FreeInternetPress.com

Women's Equality Day, 2005

2005-08-26T03:26:00.000-05:00

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted, guaranteeing American women the right to vote. The passage of this amendment was the culmination of a long struggle that reached back to the founding of the country and was furthered by the 1848 women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. By celebrating Women's Equality Day, we commemorate the adoption of this amendment and honor the visionary women who fought tirelessly for women's suffrage.
Led by women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott, the suffragists stood up against injustice and persevered until, as Susan B. Anthony wrote, the handful who first took a stand for suffrage grew into an army. The efforts of these pioneers helped secure for American women the right to vote.
Since the adoption of the 19th Amendment, women have continued to make great contributions to our Nation. Women today are leaders in medicine, law, journalism, business, government, and other professions. They are doctors and mothers, teachers and lawyers, homemakers and pilots, artists and entrepreneurs. Women also are serving with great honor in our Armed Forces as we fight a war on terror and defend our freedoms. The hard work of American women is essential to the strength and vitality of our country.
One hundred and fifty seven years after the Seneca Falls Convention, we continue to work so that all people can enjoy their God given rights. This Women's Equality Day, as we celebrate the 85th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we honor the perseverance, leadership, and achievements of the suffragists and all of America's women, and we renew our commitment to equal justice and dignity for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2005, as Women's Equality Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH

Delivering Real-Time Collaboration for Improved Productivity Is Easier than Ever

2005-08-26T03:23:00.000-05:00

Developer controls and new sample code for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 help partners incorporate presence and real-time collaboration features into business applications.

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 25, 2005: In today’s expanding global economy it is becoming more and more critical for companies to adopt business-savvy communications tools to remain competitive. Today’s workforce needs to communicate instantly and efficiently with geographically dispersed coworkers, partners and colleagues to make sharp decisions that place them ahead of the curve. Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 is designed to help relieve the stress associated with disparate workforces by enabling companies to incorporate real-time collaboration functionality into productivity and line-of-business applications.
A key goal in the design of Live Communications Server is to create a platform upon which partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) can build integrated communications solutions. Today, Microsoft is introducing controls and sample code that make it easy to embed Live Communications Server’s presence and real-time collaboration features into custom applications, providing richer functionality. Live Communications Server can help eliminate the inefficiencies that come from disconnected workforces by enabling workers to see if someone is online and available while staying within the application in which they are working.
“We want to provide partners and ISVs with the tools they need to add real-time communication features into applications, making it possible for information workers to launch real-time collaboration sessions from within the tasks in which they are currently working,” says Zig Serafin, general manager, Real-Time Collaboration Group at Microsoft. “With these controls and sample code for Live Communications Server, we are making it easier for developers to build presence and real-time collaboration functionality into applications that today’s workforces use most and that work seamlessly across various networks and internal and cross-company business processes. And - thanks to the rich federation capabilities of Live Communications Server – partners can build solutions that work securely across networks and connect to public IM and presence services.”
Presence Controls Simplify Collaboration
Presence Controls for Microsoft Office Communicator, previously called Real-Time Collaboration Presence Toolkit, enable developers using Microsoft Visual Studio to easily insert presence icons into applications to provide the status information of contacts. In addition, the context menu within the icons enables integration with Microsoft Office Communicator 2005, allowing users in the application to launch Communicator's IM conversation or telephone call window.
To consult with two colleagues working in separate remote locations, for example, there is no longer the need for the participants to search for phone numbers and place calls to have an audio conference. While working in the current application, a team member is able to see their contact list, with an icon providing information on each coworker’s availability. Right-clicking on the icon next to the name of the desired contact enables the worker to choose the preferred type of conference to use.
Role Agent and Customer Alerting Application Enable Quick and Effective Cross-Team Communication
Role Agent for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 provides a sample implementation of role-based instant messaging and presence. The sample gives developers a way to assign a role name, such as “customer service representative,” to a group of people in order to create a public-facing entity that represents the presence of any individual currently in that role. Requests for an instant messaging session with the role can be dispatched to any or all of the available members in the group.
It might be difficult to benefit from presence awareness when you don’t know the name of the person you want to contact or that person doesn’t appear in an application. Perhaps they are part of a team that is known by function such as accounting or human resources, and therefore that team becomes a collective resource that can help you solve your problem immediately.
Also, in some cases, the members of a team change regularly, or perhaps the names of the individuals who are available to answer a question or provide real-time assistance should not be exposed. With the Role Agent, a role name can be used to represent a dynamic roster of individuals who are part of that role in the Active Directory group. Also, additional “bot” functionality can be written into the Role Agent application, enabling users to communicate with individuals and determine the best way to direct a task. This added functionality enables a team to be more efficient by quickly locating individuals who can perform the next task in a project or immediately answer a pressing question.
Customer Alerting Application Sample for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 demonstrates how to build an application that enables team members to determine whether other team members are online and send an instant notification to those members. The application is integrated with Active Directory and Live Communications Server.
Imagine working on a team with another team toward a common goal. Both teams need to finalize the documents for the project, and yet it is possible that not all members of one team are familiar with those of the other team -- and thus do not have a way to look them up and check their availability. With Custom Alerting embedded in the application, each member of both teams can be quickly identified, with their online availability known instantly.

SUICIDE IS MORE COMMON ON MONDAYS - HEALTH STATISTICS QUARTERLY AUTUMN 2005

2005-08-26T03:18:00.000-05:00

Thursday 25 August 2005
National Statistics (National) UK

Coverage United Kingdom Theme Health and Care

Monday is the most common day for committing suicide, according to new research on deaths from suicide and drug-related poisoning by day of the week in England and Wales between 1993 - 2002, published today* by the Office for National Statistics.
However the single day on which the largest number of suicides occurred was 1 January 2000, a Saturday. Both these findings suggest that suicide is related to the effect of beginning a new time period. The study also found that, among males, accidental drug-related poisoning deaths and those due to drug abuse and dependence increased over the week and peaked on Saturday.
Health Statistics Quarterly 27 contains new and up-to-date statistics on births, deaths and other health-related topics. In this issue there are new statistics on: infant and perinatal mortality in England and Wales in 2004 by health area; unexplained deaths in infancy in England and Wales in 2004; and death registrations in England and Wales in 2004 by area of residence.
There are feature articles on: geographical variations in fatal poisoning due to antidepressant drugs in England and Wales between 1993 - 2003; mortality from suicide and drug-related poisoning by day of the week in England and Wales between 1993 - 2002; and an investigation into sudden infant deaths and unascertained infant deaths in England and Wales between 1995 - 2003.
Health Statistics Quarterly 27, autumn 2005 Palgrave Macmillan Price £25.00 ISBN 1 4039 9550 8 Available free on the National Statistics website: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=6725
New statistics in this issue:
Unexplained deaths in infancy, England and Wales, 2004
This report replaces the previous annual reports on sudden infant deaths. Unexplained infant deaths comprise both sudden infant deaths and those for which the cause remained unknown or unascertained after a full investigation (known as unascertained infant deaths). Key findings include:
* Between 2003 and 2004 the unexplained infant death rate decreased by 15 per cent (from 0.48 to.0.41 deaths per 1,000 live births
* The sudden infant death rate increased slightly, from 0.29 to 0.30 deaths per 1,000 live births while the rate for unascertained deaths decreased by 42 per cent, from 0.19 to 0.11 deaths per 1,000 live births.
* This is the first increase in the sudden infant death rate since 1996 and may reflect greater use of this term since September 2004, when the Kennedy Report on sudden unexpected deaths in infancy made recommendations on the terms to be used in certifying unexpected deaths.
* In 2004, the unexplained infant death rate was highest for babies of mothers aged under 20 at the time of the child's birth (0.95 per 1,000 live births). The rate fell with increasing age of mother although there was a slight increase in rate for mothers aged 35 and over.
* The unexplained infant death rate in 2004 for babies of mothers born in England and Wales was 0.46 per 1,000 live births compared to 0.41 per 1,000 for all babies. The rate for babies of mothers born outside England and Wales was half the rate for all babies.
For more information on this topic see the feature article in this issue of Health Statistics Quarterly on an investigation into sudden infant deaths and unascertained infant deaths in England and Wales, 1995 - 2003.
Infant and perinatal mortality, 2004: health areas, England and Wales
This report gives provisional statistics on infant deaths registered in 2004 and live births and stillbirths occurring in 2004 in England and Wales, for each Government Office Region and Strategic Health Authority in England and Local Health Board in Wales. Key findings include:
* There were 3,532 stillbirths and 1,722 deaths at ages under seven days registered in England and Wales in 2004. The stillbirth rate decreased to 5.5 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths in 2004, from 5.7 in 2003, while the perinatal rate (stillbirths and deaths at ages under seven days combined) fell to 8.2 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths, from 8.5 in 2003. This follows successive rises in both rates in 2002 and 2003.
* The neonatal mortality rates (deaths under 28 days) fell to 3.5 per 1,000 live births in 2004, from 3.6 in 2003. This is the first decrease in the rate since 2001. The postneonatal mortality rate (deaths between 28 days and one year) fell to 1.6 per 1,000 live births, from 1.7 in 2003.
* There were 3,272 infant deaths (at ages under one year) registered in England and Wales in 2004, giving an infant mortality rate of 5.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. This is the lowest rate ever recorded in England and Wales.
* There was considerable variation in the infant mortality rate across the health authorities: Birmingham and the Black Country had the highest infant mortality rate among the Strategic Health Authorities in England (7.5 deaths per 1,000 live births) while Hampshire and the Isle of Wight had the lowest (3.3 deaths per 1,000 live births). The highest infant mortality rate among the Local Health Boards in Wales was in Ceredigion at 11.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
This issue of Health Statistics Quarterly also contains a new report on death registrations in England and Wales in 2004 by area of residence and an annual update on previously published mortality statistics: injury and poisoning, England and Wales, 2003.
Some feature articles in this issue:
Mortality from suicide and drug poisoning, by day of the week in England and Wales, 1993 - 2002 by Helen Johnson, Anita Brock, Clare Griffiths and Cleo Rooney
This article describes the pattern of deaths from suicide and drug- related poisonings by day of the week over a ten year period. It found:
* More suicides occurred on Monday than on any other day, but the single day on which the largest number of suicides took place was 1 January 2000, a Saturday.
* Among males, accidental drug-related poisoning deaths and those due to drug abuse and dependence increased over the week and peaked on Saturday.
* Suicides related to drug poisoning, like all suicides, were most common on a Monday.
Geographical variations in fatal poisoning due to antidepressant drugs in England and Wales, 1993 - 2003 by Oliver Morgan, Clare Griffith and Allan Baker
During the period 1993 - 2003, death rates due to antidepressant poisoning in England and Wales varied by area:
* Both the prescribing of antidepressants and death rates due to poisoning by them tended to be higher in the north of England. The lowest prescribing rates were all in London.
* Antidepressant poisoning deaths increased by 16 per cent with every million prescriptions. However, this only explained a small amount of the variation in fatal antidepressant poisoning between Strategic Health Authorities.
* Higher area deprivation was strongly associated with higher rates of fatal antidepressant poisoning: the mortality rate in wards with highest levels of deprivation was more than three times that in the least deprived.
Investigation into sudden infant deaths and unascertained deaths in England and Wales, 1993 - 2003 by Tania Corbin
This article examines whether there was a link between the decline in the sudden infant death rate in England and Wales (from 0.61 per 1,000 live births in 1995 to 0.29 in 2003) and the increase over the same period in the rate attributed to unknown or unascertained causes (from 0.02 to 0.19 per 1,000 live births). It concludes that:
* changes in coroner's use of inquests and in their verdicts for sudden infant deaths and unascertained deaths suggest that it is becoming more difficult to distinguish between these two causes of death.
* there were similarities in the patterns of mortality by age at death, birth weight, mother's age and father's social group for sudden infant deaths and unascertained deaths. However some differences in patterns existed for parent's marital status, sex and region of residence.
Based on this evidence, the article suggests including both groups in any analysis of unexplained infant deaths.

FTC Stops Fraudulent Sales of Business Directory Listings Canadian Scammers Targeted Small U.S. Businesses

2005-08-26T03:16:00.000-05:00

Canadian defendants accused of fraudulently selling business directory listings have been banned from the business directory industry to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission. The primary defendants are paying $165,000 in consumer redress. The FTC alleged the defendants called small U.S. businesses saying they wanted to “renew” the company’s directory listings when, in fact, no prior relationship existed. One individual defendant is subject to a default judgment of almost $9 million. Today the FTC also is announcing a new consumer education brochure, entitled: Business Directory Scams Try to ‘Give You the Business’.
The defendants, Datatech Communications Inc.; 9102-3127 Quebec, Inc. (doing business as I-Point Media); Elias Bakomichalis; Gregory MacNeil; and Robert Brewer are based in Montreal, Canada. They targeted American consumers exclusively, contacting small businesses and representing that they were calling to “renew” the businesses’ directory listings. Some employees who talked with the defendants agreed to the “renewal” because they thought they were merely continuing an existing business relationship. When invoices for $299 were forwarded to their accounts payable departments, however, the businesses allegedly found that they were billed for “purchasing” a directory listing, and that the company had never purchased such a listing before. The defendants routinely denied requests to cancel the directory listings and harassed customers who refused to pay, according to the FTC, saying their credit rating would be damaged and sometimes referring their accounts to collections.
As part of a default judgment against Brewer and a settlement against the others, the defendants are banned from the business directory industry and from assisting others involved in the industry. They also are prohibited from misrepresenting any future sales they make and required to disclose: their identity when they make outbound sales calls; that the purpose of thecall is to make a sale; and the nature of what they are selling. They must stop all collections related to the business directory sales. Finally, the defendants (except Brewer) will pay $165,000 in consumer redress, which is based on their ability to pay. They are also subject to a suspended judgment of $9.1 million, the total amount of consumer injury in this case, which they will be responsible for if it is later found they misrepresented their financial status. The FTC received a default judgement against Brewer for $8,986,759. Finally, both orders contain standard record-keeping provisions to ensure the defendants’ compliance with their terms.
The FTC amended its complaint to dismiss charges against 9106-3925 Quebec Inc. Canadian authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into the defendants’ deceptive practices, and have taken action against the defendants for unpaid income and payroll taxes. This case represents successful cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian authorities, especially Canada’s Competition Bureau.
In its new brochure, Business Directory Scams Try to ‘Give You the Business,’ the FTC notes that businesses, churches, and fraternal and charitable organizations lose millions of dollars a year to bogus firms that mislead them into paying for unordered and unwanted directory listings. The FTC offers tips to avoid these scams, including asking the caller for a previous edition of the directory and contacting the listed advertisers. The brochure is available on the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/directoryalrt.htm.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the stipulated final order was 4-0. On August 11, 2005, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division entered the stipulated final order for permanent injunction; the order of dismissal for 9106-3925 Quebec Inc.; and the default judgment against Brewer.

Mergers: Commission approves takeover of Guidant Corporation by Johnson & Johnson, subject to conditions

2005-08-26T03:13:00.000-05:00

Brussels, 25 August 2005

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the planned $ 24 billion (around € 18 billion) acquisition by US healthcare group Johnson & Johnson (J&J) of its competitor Guidant, a US company specialised in cardiovascular medical products, subject to conditions. In particular the parties must divest either J&J or Guidant Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting products (“EVH”), plus Guidant’s EEA endovascular business and J&J’s EEA Steerable Guidewires business. The Commission decision follows an in-depth investigation into the takeover (see IP/05/471). In light of the commitments given by J&J, the Commission has concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or a significant part of it.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said “I wanted to ensure that consumers would not have to pay higher prices for the life-saving medical devices produced by these two companies and that any changes to the competitive structure in these markets would not be to the detriment of consumer welfare. I am therefore satisfied that the commitments given by J&J allow the Commission to approve this merger”.
Both J&J and Guidant are active worldwide in the development, production and sale of vascular medical devices. Their products are used to treat vascular diseases; both in the heart (coronary arteries) and in peripheral parts of the human body (e.g. carotid, renal, femoral arteries). The firms are direct competitors in respect of a number of products and are both among a limited number of leading companies on the market for these products in Europe and worldwide. The Commission opened an in-depth market investigation because it had serious concerns that the proposed transaction, as notified, would have impeded effective competition within the EEA.
The investigation focused on three major areas: coronary drug eluting stents (DES) and accessories, endovascular stents and accessories used in peripheral arteries, and devices used in cardiac surgery.
Coronary drug eluting stents are expandable wire tubes coated with a drug which are placed in an occluded coronary artery in order to remove the plaque and support the walls of the vessel. In this fast-growing market, there are currently only two major suppliers world-wide, J&J and Boston Scientific, plus a number of imminent entrants, including Guidant. In its investigation the Commission had to assess whether by eliminating Guidant as a potential competitor, the merger would remove the major competitive constraint in the DES market.
The investigation has revealed that, while Guidant would likely have been one of the key players in the market for DES, other new entrants, primarily Medtronic and Abbott, will also be likely to exert a significant competitive constraint, compensating for the loss of competition resulting from J&J’s acquisition of Guidant.
However, in the case of stents used in peripheral parts of the body, the Commission found that the merger would give rise to competition concerns in the EEA given that both J&J and Guidant are among the leading suppliers in Europe, the market is very concentrated and there are high entry barriers. The Commission also found that the combination of J&J’s and Guidant’s interests would have impeded competition in two small markets for cardio-vascular devices (coronary guidewires and endoscopic vessel harvesting systems in cardiac surgery). The commitments offered by J&J mean that competition will not be significantly affected by the transaction.
J&J is a US company and a global healthcare leader. Guidant, a US company (founded in 1994 as a spin-off from the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly) is one of the leading cardiovascular devices’ suppliers.

Avian Influenza: Commission asks Member States to step up surveillance

2005-08-26T03:10:00.000-05:00

Brussels, 25 August 2005

The European Commission today convened in Brussels a meting of EU veterinary experts from all Member States to discuss the avian influenza situation in Asia and Russia (Siberia) and which steps should be taken in order to increase vigilance against the disease spreading to the EU. The Commission has asked the Member States to step up surveillance and will make financing available in order to facilitate this effort. A number of actions were agreed at the meeting, including a review of contingency plans and increased vigilance to ensure that existing measures such as import bans are fully enforced. However, a generalised ban on keeping poultry outdoors was not considered proportionate to the current risk of disease introduction through migratory birds.
Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: “We clearly want to do our utmost to prevent the spread of this devastating epidemic to the EU. We will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that the most appropriate risk-reducing measures are in place.”
The expert group discussed the current avian influenza situation in Asia, including Russia (Siberia), and agreed that there is cause for serious concern. However, there is not enough information available to determine to what extent the spread of the disease might have been caused by wild birds. There was an extensive discussion on the possibility of the disease spreading into the EU via migratory birds. Taking into account existing knowledge of the migratory routes of the species of birds that might pose a risk of spreading the virus, the group concluded that the immediate risk is probably remote or low, depending on the area of the EU. However, a number of risk-reducing actions were agreed, as outlined below.
The EU started intensive surveillance of domestic and wild birds already in 2003. The expert group reviewed the surveillance measures which were put in place at that time in the Member States and which have been adjusted every year since then. It recommended that all Member States, urgently review and intensify the surveillance programmes already planned for 2005/06 by increasing sampling of migratory waterfowl along the flyways that could pose a risk of disease introduction. There should be improved cooperation between the Member States, co-ordinated by the Commission.
An additional meeting of the experts has been scheduled for early September, at which the Commission will coordinate the intensified surveillance, for which Community funding is available.
All Member States have measures in place, as required by EU law, to ensure that if avian influenza should occur, it would be detected and rapidly eradicated in poultry flocks. The key to limiting the extent of any outbreak is early detection and rapid action.
The expert group noted the specific preventative measures implemented or announced in the poultry sector of some Member States in response to the outbreak in Russia, but considered a general ban on keeping poultry outdoors to be a disproportionate measure at this time. However, bio-security measures (eg disinfection of vehicles moving between farms) implemented at farm level should be reviewed in all Member States and be reinforced wherever necessary based on a case-by-case risk assessment. This assessment should consider the migratory routes of waterfowl and situations where wild birds might get in close contact with domestic birds (eg at ponds). In at risk situations, vaccination might also be considered.
The expert group also recommended that Member States should introduce additional awareness programmes encouraging farmers to improve bio-security measures; review and update the contingency plans for avian flu already in place according to EU legislation and ensure that existing measures and controls at the EU’s external borders are fully applied as regards both commercial consignments and personal imports by individuals and particularly regarding pet birds. In the contingency plans, the need to provide adequate protection for poultry workers at risk of infection should be fully considered. Finally, proper and reliable information on poultry products should be provided to consumers to prevent any lack of consumer confidence.

New understanding of human sacrifice in early Peru

2005-08-26T03:05:00.000-05:00

A study published in the August/October issue of Current Anthropology, reports on new archaeological evidence regarding the identities of human sacrifice victims of the Moche society of Peru.
The Moche was a complex society whose influence extended over most of the North coast of Peru between AD 200 and 650. They are widely known for their life-like mold-made ceramics, beautiful metallurgy, mud brick pyramids, and iconographic depictions of one-on-one combat between Moche warriors. In recent years archaeologists had uncovered evidence of the sacrifice of adult males at a number of Moche pyramids. What has remained unclear until now is who these sacrificial victims were. Largely due to the nature of iconographic depictions of Moche combat most scholars have speculated that the sacrifices were largely rituals among local Moche elites, the primary goal of which was to provide human victims for sacrificial ceremonies.
However, this newly published study by Richard Sutter and Rosa Cortez compares genetically influenced tooth cusp and root traits for the Moche sacrificial victims from a pyramid at the Moche capital with those of other North Coast populations. The findings of this archaeological comparison indicate that the sacrificial victims were not local Moche elite. Instead they were likely warriors captured from nearby valleys. When this result is considered in light of other archaeological and skeletal lines of evidence it suggests that the Moche populations in each valley were characterized by territorial conflict and competition with one another.

http://www.eurekalert.org/

Health care providers should cut out painful procedure during birth

2005-08-26T03:02:00.000-05:00

Rates of episiotomy being practiced during childbirth are high, despite recommendations by prominent obstetric, midwifery, and nursing bodies to restrict the use of this procedure.
Dr. Ian Graham, a leading researcher on the topic, and his team studied rates of episiotomy around the world. They discovered that episiotomy rates vary by country as well by region. The data showed overall high rates of episiotomy, with the highest rates often found in parts of South and Central America and Asia . Among English-speaking countries, the rate is highest in the US , although there is a decreasing trend.
Rates range from as low as 9.7% in Sweden to 100% in Taiwan. In the United States, rates vary by region where in the Northeast, 38% of deliveries used episiotomy, but in the West only 27% used the practice. Rates also vary by provider within the same institutional system. A previous study in England found a large variance among midwives in the same hospital, suggesting that providers are not being guided solely by clinical indications and guidelines recommending the restrictive use of episiotomy.
Episiotomy, an invasive procedure which involves cutting a woman's birth canal at the time of delivery, has long been thought to be beneficial because it can facilitate birth, prevent perineal trauma, prevent urinary incontinence later in life, and be less painful than experiencing a spontaneous perineal tear or laceration. However, over the last two decades, research has shown that avoiding episiotomy can mean less perineal trauma, less need for suturing, and fewer complications postpartum.

http://www.eurekalert.org/