This edition features stories on U.S. Soldiers building their own fire truck to protect their base, Romanian soldiers providing security to a bridge across the Euphrates and a counsel meeting between Coalition Forces and Iraqi politicians to discuss rebuilding efforts in Ramadi.
As you will hear, he announced his official presidential campaign website.
A member of the Syrian parliament, Muhammad Habash, confirmed on Tuesday that his country was actively preparing for war with Israel, expected to break out in the summer, Israel Radio reported.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Habash said it was no secret that the Syrian military was arming itself for the upcoming confrontation with the IDF.
He also claimed that the Israeli government was the one that wanted the war so that it could survive politically.
Sh-Amnesty International and the UN is already preparing to condemn Israel for retaliating.
This edition features stories on U.S. and Iraqi soldiers performing security at Camp Ramadi, Soldiers helping with supply support, training troops with the Third Army and Soldiers working with ammunitions. Hosted by Pfc. Chris Urbano.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison Tuesday for lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation.
Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, stood calmly before a packed courtroom as a federal judge said the evidence overwhelmingly proved his guilt.
"People who occupy these types of positions, where they have the welfare and security of nation in their hands, have a special obligation to not do anything that might create a problem," U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said.
Libby was convicted in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.
He was also fined $250,000 and 2 years probation upon being released from prison.
One of the true travesties of justice. He was convicted because he could remember the order of conversations he had 2 years previous. He was not convicted for outing a CIA agent (which was non-scandal to begin with). It was simply whom he spoke to first.
Here's to hoping Fred wins the presidential elections and can pardon Libby.
Bush Defends Missile Defense Shield
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - President Bush and the Czech Republic's leaders on Tuesday defended plans to base part of a U.S. missile shield here despite fierce opposition from Russia.
"The people of the Czech Republic don't have to choose between being a friend of the United States or a friend with Russia," Bush said in his stop at this former Soviet satellite. "You can be both. We don't believe in a zero-sum world."
Bush, in the Czech Republic as part of an eight-day trip to Europe, spoke as Russia's opposition to the proposed defense system mounts. Russia believes the shield in Eastern Europe is meant for it, and says it has no choice to boost its own military potential in response.
Bush dismissed those concerns. He said he will make his case directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit.
"My message will be Vladimir - I call him Vladimir - that you shouldn't fear a missile defense system," Bush said. "As a matter of fact, why don't you cooperate with us on a missile defense system. Why don't you participate with the United States."
Bush Criticizes Democracy In Russia And China
We are also applying that lesson to our relationships with Russia and China. The United States has strong working relationships with these countries. Our friendship with them is complex. In the areas where we share mutual interests, we work together. In other areas, we have strong disagreements. For example, China’s leaders believe that they can continue to open the nation’s economy without also opening its political system. In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development. Part of a good relationship is the ability to talk openly about our disagreements. So the United States will continue to build our relationships with these countries – and we will do it without abandoning our principles or our values.
Tony Blair has stepped into the Russian missiles row by bluntly warning Vladimir Putin that he must decide whether he wants a 'constructive relationship' with the West.
The Prime Minister spoke out hours after the Russian president threatened to aim missiles at Europe if the U.S. presses ahead with plans to build a missile shield near Russia's borders.
Mr Blair insisted that the shield posed no threat to Russia but was intended to provide protection against 'rogue states' such as Iran or North Korea.
His official spokesman said the system was in the wrong location and had too few interceptor missiles to defend against an attack from Russia.
ThisIsLondon.co.uk posted a graphic on how would the missile defense shield work against Russia. I don't think it was the proper thing to do with all the crying Putin has been doing lately. But here it is.
(click to enlarge)
Japanese scientists have created a android that can walk, talk, and feel. It responds to touch.
Here's the video. It's in Japanese but you can still get the idea.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money-laundering in a long- running bribery investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa.
The indictment handed up in federal court in Alexandria., Va., Monday is 94 pages long and lists 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 235 years. He is charged with racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Jefferson is accused of soliciting bribes for himself and his family, and also for bribing a Nigerian official.
Almost two years ago, in August 2005, investigators raided Jefferson's home in Louisiana and found $90,000 in cash stuffed into a box in his freezer.
Jefferson, 63, whose Louisiana district includes New Orleans, has said little about the case publicly but has maintained his innocence. He was re-elected last year despite the looming investigation.
I can't disagree. Much like the Democrat's here in the United States, Putin is trying to convert/revert Russia into a socialist state.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has described himself as the world's only "pure" democrat and attacked the United States and Europe, which have criticized him, for falling short of their own ideals.
In an interview with Western media released on Monday, he rejected Western criticism that he has centralized power in the Kremlin, marginalized the opposition and increased state control over the media.
Asked whether he agreed with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's description of him as an "impeccable democrat", Putin replied laughing:
"Of course I am an absolute, pure democrat. But you know the problem? It's not even a problem, it's a real tragedy. The thing is that I am the only one, there just aren't any others in the world."
Putin said the West's record on democracy was less than perfect.
I think it's safe to say it appears that Putin has some mental issues plaguing him.
Time for more blockquotes:
"Let's look what happens in North America -- sheer horror: torture, the homeless, Guantanamo, keeping people in custody without trial or investigation," Putin said in the interview ahead of this week's summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial nations.
"Look what's going on in Europe: the harsh treatment of demonstrators, the use of rubber bullets, tear gas in one capital or another, the killing of demonstrators in the streets."
This is coming from someone who crushes any protests against the government, murders critics of the government, and squashes free speech.
Iraqi soldiers have killed a senior Al-Qaeda leader in a clash inside one of Baghdad's historic Sunni quarters, military spokesman Brigadier General Qassim Atta said Monday.
"He was from Al-Qaeda, they called him the 'Governor of Adhamiyah'," Atta told AFP. "He was killed during clashes with the 11th Division's first brigade this morning, and 11 of his aides were arrested."
Adhamiyah is a Sunni enclave in north Baghdad, a cluster of streets around an historic mosque surrounded by a US-built concrete security barriers and hostile Shiite districts roamed by militia fighters.
Atta said the alleged Al-Qaeda chieftain was an Iraqi citizen known as Abu Abdullah al-Adhab -- "Abu Abdullah with the crippled arm."
Abdullah's death is the second reported killing of an Al-Qaeda street captain since last week, when nationalist insurgents in the Sunni suburb of Amiriyah violently turned against Al-Qaeda's Islamists.
Featuring The "Raiders" of the Thundering Third. India Co. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment RCT-1
This edition features stories on Coalition and Iraqi forces securing Baqubah with permanent security, U.S. Soldiers searching for explosives on Baghdad roads and Soldiers enjoying local cuisine while on patrol in Baghdad. Hosted by Pfc. Chris Urbano.
The answer is...NO!
They've published a "Green Mountain Manifesto" subtitled "Why and How Tiny Vermont Might Help Save America From Itself by Seceding from the Union." They hope to put the question before citizens at Town Meeting Day next March, eventually persuading the state Legislature to declare independence, returning Vermont to the status it held from 1777 to 1791.
Whether it's likely is another question.
But the idea has found plenty of sympathetic ears in Vermont, a left-leaning state that said yes to civil unions, no to slavery (before any other) and last year elected a socialist to the U.S. Senate.
About 300 people turned out for a 2005 secession convention in the Statehouse, and plans for a second one are in the works. A poll this year by the University of Vermont's Center for Rural Studies found that 13 percent of those surveyed support secession, up from 8 percent a year before.
[...]
The Vermont movement, which is being pushed by several different groups, has been bubbling up for years but has gained new traction in the wake of disenchantment over the Iraq war, rising oil prices and the formation of the pro-secession groups.
Ok. Who cares? Is there anything in Vermont that would adversely affect the United States should they secede? I can't think of anything right now. Maybe the price of maple syrup will go up a little, but I can accept that. I surely will not miss their congress-critters.
