"Okeydoke"
Today in history
Today is Friday, Nov. 4, the 308th day of 2005. There are 57 days left in the year.
1879, humorist Will Rogers was born in Oologah, Okla.
1879 Thomas Elkins patents refrigeration apparatus.
1880, the first cash register was patented by James and John Ritty of Dayton, Ohio.
1884, Democrat Grover Cleveland was elected to his first term as president, defeating Republican James G. Blaine.
1922, the entrance to King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in Egypt.
1924, Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming was elected the nation's first female governor to serve out the remaining term of her late husband, William B. Ross.
1931 Jazzman Charles "Buddy" Bolden dies in Louisiana.
1932 Rudolph Fisher who publishes the first Black detective novel, "Conjure-Man", dies.
1942, during World War II, Axis forces retreated from El Alamein in North Africa in a major victory for British forces commanded by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson.
1952 The U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of a lower court decision barring segregation in interstate railway travel.
1956, Soviet troops moved in to crush the Hungarian Revolution.
1979, the Iranian hostage crisis began as militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, seizing its occupants. For some of the hostages, it was the start of 444 days of captivity.
1980, Ronald Reagan won the White House as he defeated President Carter by a strong margin.
1991, Ronald Reagan opened his presidential library in Simi Valley, Calif.
1999 Civil Rights leader Daisy Bates dies at the age of 84. She helped desegregate American schools and was the mentor for the nine Black students who walked into Little Rock's all-white Central High School in 1957.
Ten years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli minutes after attending a festive peace rally.
Five years ago: Yugoslavia's parliament approved the country's first communist-free government in more than half a century. President Clinton vetoed a bill that would have criminalized the leaking of government secrets.
One year ago: Following his re-election victory, President Bush pledged to aggressively pursue major changes in Social Security, the tax code and medical malpractice awards. It was announced that Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards, had been diagnosed with breast cancer the day her husband and Senator John Kerry conceded the presidential race.
Missing in Action
1966 BRINCKMANN ROBERT E. NEWARK NJ 31 JULY 1989 REMAINS RETURNED
1966 CONNOLLY VINCENT J. SAN ANTONIO TX DEAD REMAINS RECOVERED 07/17/84
1966 HUNT WILLIAM B. SAND POINT ID
1966 SCUNGIO VINCENT A. NEWCASTLE PA
1969 ALFORD TERRY L. PASADENA TX REMAINS OF OTHER CREW RECOVERED - J
1969 ANDERSON JOHN STEVEN WATERLOO IA 07/73 REM REC
1969 BAUER RICHARD GENE ANCHORAGE AK 07/73 REMAINS RECOVERED
1969 CASTRO ALFONSO R. LOS ANGELES CA 07/73 REMAINS RECOVERED
1969 CAVENDER JAMES R. SANTA PAULA CA REMAINS OF OTHER CREW RECOVERED
1969 HANLEY LARRY J. WALLA WALLA WA
1969 KENNEDY ALAN GORDON FREMONT CA 07/09/73 REMAINS RECOVERED
1969 KLIMO JAMES R. MUSKEGON MI REMAINS OF OTHER CREW RECOVERED
1969 MEDARIS RICK EGGBURTUS JENISON MI 07/09/73 REMAINS RECOVERED
1969 PAYNE JOHN ALLEN NEW YORK NY 07/73 REMAINS RECOVERED
1969 ROACH MARION LEE CENTRAL VALLEY CA 07/73 REMAINS RECOVERED
1969 WARE JOHN A. HERMISTON OR
1970 HUMPHREY LARRY D. ESCAPED CUSTODY TO JOIN VC COLUMBIA EAGLE MUTINEER USA TODAY STORY 20 FEB 86
1970 MC KAY CLYDE W. CA ESCAPED CUSTODY TO JOIN VC
November 3
1965 BOWLES DWIGHT POLLARD STAUNTON VA
1967 EGGER JOHN C. JR. TULSA OK REMAINS IDNETIFIED 15 AUG 94
1967 GRAUERT HANS H. ROCHESTER NY
1967 KRUSI PETER H. SMITHFIELD UT
1969 BROWN WILLIAM T. LA HABRA CA
1969 NORTON MICHAEL R. ESKDALE WV
1969 SHUE DONALD M. KANNAPOLIS NC
1969 WALD GUNTHER H. BERGEN NJ
1970 CARVER ROBERT C AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE 2ND SQ RAAF BOMBING MISSION DA NANG
1970 DAY DENNIS I. BLACKWELL OK "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 DORITY RICHARD C. DOVER-FOXCROFT ME "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 GINN DAVID L. ANDERSON SC "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 HERBERT MICHAEL P. AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
1970 KITCHENS PERRY C. DECATUR GA 11/24/74 REMAINS RECOVERED ID 03/16/77
1970 MANGUS ARLIE R. KITTANNING PA "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 MARTIN JERRY D. BEDFORD IN "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 NORRIS CALVIN A. MONTEREY TN "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 PANTALL JAMES R. CLYMER PA "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 SHEWMAKE JOHN D. SR. ADONA AR "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1970 WOODS DAVID W. FRANKLIN OH "LCU SANK, NO SURV OBS"
1971 DE CAIRE JACK L. ST PETERSBURG FL
The Jerusalem Post
Israel to return to Joint Strike Fighter project
By NATHAN GUTTMAN, HERB KEINON AND JPOST STAFF
WASHINGTON
Israel will return to be a partner in the development of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) the future jet fighter being developed by the US, after the Israeli participation was put on hold following the Chinese arms deal crisis. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld met Friday in Washington and agreed to have Israel return to the project.
A joint statement put out by Israel and the US states that Israel will continue to take part in the project as a "valued" partner and that the US is committed to sell the JSF planes to Israel when the project is completed.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131043725453&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Crowds in Rabin Square commemorate assassination
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Hundreds gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Friday afternoon. Next to the memorial established near the site of the murder, a memorial service was held.
At the cemetery on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem, a memorial service was held Friday afternoon for friends and family of the slain prime minister. Labor ministers and MKs, including Shimon Peres, participat
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131043724945&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Katsav: No pardon for Rabin's assassin
By GREER FAY CASHMAN
President Moshe Katsav declared on Thursday that there was "no forgiveness, no absolution and no pardon" for Yigal Amir, the assassin of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Katsav said Amir "has no right to clemency," adding that there was no reason to feel pity for him. Katsav said he would recommend to the next president not to allow the subject of a reduced sentence for Amir to come up for consideration.
Katsav was speaking at the President's Conference on Israeli Democracy.
He deplored the fact that instead of Rabin Memorial Day evolving into a day of national consensus, each year the commemorations generated more controversy.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131043722744&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Editor's Notes: The anniversary
By DAVID HOROVITZ
And what if Rabin had lived? If the assassin had been intercepted, or his bullets missed their mark?
Some of those closest to the murdered prime minister insist to this day that, for all Arafat's subsequent fostering of terrorism and rejection of peace, with Rabin it would have worked. When Rabin spoke to him, Arafat was a different man, they say. Barak's big mistake was that he tried to dictate terms to the Palestinian leader. Rabin, by contrast, did not talk down to him.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131043720497&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Rivlin: I'd let Sharon appoint his horse
By GIL HOFFMAN
With just three days left before Monday's fateful Knesset vote on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's cabinet appointments, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said that he would not try to force Sharon to split the vote on the ministers and prevent his government from falling.
Knesset legal advisers indicated on Thursday that Rivlin had a right to demand that Sharon separate the vote on appointing acting finance minister Ehud Olmert in a permanent capacity from the appointments of Roni Bar-On and Ze'ev Boim. The Olmert vote is key because Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz has ruled that if Olmert is not appointed by Wednesday, the position will not be able to be filled under the current government.
"I am not the one toppling the government," Rivlin said. "The government is taking a big risk by bringing the appointments in one bloc, but common sense says that there is no reason to confront the government and interfere. Sharon can decide his ministers. Even Caligula appointed his horse as a senator, but he many have been wiser than Sharon."
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1131043722347&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
The Scotsman
Blair's blunder over MI5 demand to hold suspects for 90 days
JAMES KIRKUP
WESTMINSTER EDITOR
Key points
• Home Secretary Charles Clarke admits MI5 did not ask for 90-day terror law
• Prime Minister claimed security services requested detention period
• Commons vote postponed on bill now seen as a test of Blair's authority
Key quote
"It is the police who, through their professionalism, came to the view that 90 days is right. The security service aren't committed to a 90-day figure, as such." - Charles Clarke
Story in full CHARLES Clarke, the Home Secretary, has admitted that MI5 did not request a new law allowing terror suspects be detained without charge for up to 90 days - directly contradicting Tony Blair, the Prime Minister.
Mr Clarke's admission, confirming advice first revealed in The Scotsman last month, came as government insiders admitted he is increasingly at odds with Mr Blair over whether to water down the controversial 90-day plan.
The battle comes as Mr Blair turns his 90-day proposal into a litmus test of his authority - after postponing a Commons vote on the issue on Wednesday through fear it would be defeated.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2191412005
Clarke admits MI5 did not ask for 90-day terror law
JAMES KIRKUP
WESTMINSTER EDITOR
Key points
• The Home Secretary admits MI5 did not ask for 90-day terror law
• Ministers claim they are following advice of police and security services
• Tony Blair already postponed Commons vote on issue
Key quote
"It is the police who, through their professionalism, came to the view that 90 days is right. The security service aren't committed to a 90-day figure, as such." - Charles Clarke
Story in full
CHARLES Clarke, the Home Secretary, has admitted that MI5 did not request a new law allowing terror suspects be detained without charge for up to 90 days - directly contradicting Tony Blair, the Prime Minister.
Mr Clarke's admission, confirming advice first revealed in The Scotsman last month, came as government insiders admitted he is increasingly at odds with Mr Blair over whether to water down the controversial 90-day plan.
The battle comes as Mr Blair turns his 90-day proposal into a litmus test of his authority - after postponing a Commons vote on the issue on Wednesday through fear it would be defeated.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2191412005
Galloway ally's U-turn on payments
GETHIN CHAMBERLAIN
CHIEF NEWS CORRESPONDENT
Key points
• Galloway's claims of innocence in cash-for-oil are undermined
• Spokesman for the under-fire MP confirms that he recieved payments
• Ron McKay denies that monies recieved were anything to do with oil, however
Key quote
"I'm not going to be used as a stick to beat George Galloway with." - Ron McKay
Story in full
GEORGE Galloway's attempts to clear his name over the oil-for-food scandal suffered another setback yesterday when his spokesman confirmed that he had received payments from a businessman identified as a beneficiary of the scheme.
Ron McKay said he had received $15,666 from Fawaz Zureikat, an associate of Mr Galloway, in August 2000.
Mr McKay had previously questioned the allegation, levelled against him by US investigators, telling one newspaper that the payment did not "ring any bells".
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2192382005
McCartney sisters snub awards ceremony
LAURA ROBERTS
THE McCartney sisters, whose brother was murdered by members of the IRA, walked out of an awards ceremony celebrating the women of the year yesterday when they realised they would be sharing a stage with Baroness Thatcher.
Catherine and Claire McCartney attended the 50th Women of the Year reception in London, but left when they discovered that the former prime minister had also won an award.
Claire and Catherine were due to accept an outstanding achievement award at the ceremony at London's Guildhall, on behalf of all their sisters and Robert McCartney's fiancée, Bridgeen Hagan.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2191922005
New war on waist as doctors target 'killer' tummies
LOUISE GRAY
BEER bellies are more dangerous than overall middle-age spread, according to a new study that has found waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a better way of assessing heart attack risk than a person's relative height and weight.
Until now, doctors have used body mass index (BMI), a person's weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared, to judge if someone is overweight.
A BMI of 20 to 25 is considered normal, 30 overweight and more than 30 obese.
But a global study of more than 27,000 people found waist girth divided by hip circumference more accurately predicted who would suffer heart attacks.
According to researchers, the danger point was more than 0.85 for women and more than 0.9 for men. This is because fat stored around the waist is more likely to affect lipids in the blood and clog up arteries than fat stored around the thighs and hips.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2192792005
Your job may be giving you asthma
LOUISE GRAY
PATIENTS with breathing problems are to be checked for workplace asthma, the fastest growing occupational hazard in the United Kingdom, it was announced yesterday.
Every year, 750,000 British employees who have asthma find that their work environment triggers their symptoms, according to the campaign group Asthma UK.
A further 3,000 people develop occupational asthma, caused directly by work, because of substances they are exposed to while doing their jobs.
Now, the Scottish Executive has issued doctors with new guidelines on how to spot the problem and treat patients.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2192402005
The Boston Globe
Portsmouth lawyer in the midst of Supreme Court nominations
By Shir Haberman, Portsmouth Herald November 4, 2005
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. --Portsmouth lawyer Steve Tober has been working hard over the past two months. As chairman of the American Bar Associations Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Tober has been playing a huge role in helping to put together non-partisan, non-ideological evaluations of President Bush's Supreme Court nominees.
Those evaluations are submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tober has already -- and will continue to -- testify before Congress on his committee's findings. He voiced his support for John Roberts as chief justice of the Supreme Court before Congress in October.
"I took over the chairmanship on Aug. 10 and began working on Supreme Court nominees when John Roberts was proposed as the courts chief justice on Sept. 5," Tober said. "We've been working virtually non-stop since them."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2005/11/04/portsmouth_lawyer_in_the_midst_of_supreme_court_nominations/
Bank of America opens call center in Boston
November 4, 2005
BOSTON --Bank of America Corp. on Friday opened a new call center in the city's Dorchester section that will employ 230 workers.
About 100 workers at the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank's Dorchester National Helpline call center began work in the 51,000-square-foot facility this week, with the rest to be hired next year.
About 200 of the workers will coordinate with two other Bank of America sites to assist bank employees nationwide in handling policy, procedural, legal and technical issues.
Another 30 workers in Dorchester will be assigned to a unit of Bank of America that monitors tax compliance and tries to detect money laundering.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/04/bank_of_america_opens_call_center_in_boston/
Chalabi returns to court Washington elite
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi, center, escorted by bodyguards, leaves a press conference after he presented his candidature for the upcoming Dec. 15 parliamentary election, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday Nov. 2, 2005. Chalabi launched his campaign for the parliamentary election, calling for a post-election national unity government and stepping up the fight against terrorism and corruption. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
By Barry Schweid, AP Diplomatic Writer November 4, 2005
WASHINGTON --Face-to-face meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and probably other senior Bush administration officials await Ahmed Chalabi as the Iraqi deputy prime minister pursues political rehabilitation in Washington.
While some Senate Democrats want to probe the role of the Iraq National Congress, an exile group headed by Chalabi, in drumming up support for the war that deposed Saddam Hussein, he is about to receive high-profile attention from the Bush administration.
Chalabi, who begins his eight-day visit on Tuesday, is due to see Rice on Wednesday and make a speech that day at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank that provides personnel and considerable support to the administration.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/11/04/chalabi_back_to_court_washington_elite/
Annan rebuffs Iran over Israel remark
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan speaks at the Time Global Health Summit in New York November 3, 2005. Annan canceled his forthcoming trip to Tehran after the Iranian president's call to "wipe Israel off the map," the United Nations said on Friday.. (REUTERS/Chip East)
By Evelyn Leopold November 4, 2005
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has canceled his forthcoming trip to Tehran after the Iranian president's call to "wipe Israel off the map," the United Nations said on Friday.
Annan had planned to visit the Iranian capital in mid-November during a swing through the Middle East beginning next week, presumably to talk about Iran's nuclear policy.
But since the trip was arranged, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad drew international condemnation for his remarks on October 26.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/11/04/annan_cancels_iran_trip_after_anti_israel_remark/
Zanzibar president appeals for peace
A young muslim boy, dressed for the holiday, runs through the narrow alleys of Stone Town, Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Zanzibar. Muslims across the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)
By Alexandra Zavis, Associated Press Writer November 4, 2005
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania --The winner of Zanzibar's disputed election appealed for peace Friday as the Indian Ocean archipelago celebrated the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan after days of political violence.
"The people of Zanzibar made their choice and God blessed their choice," President Amani Abeid Karume said in his first public address since being sworn in Wednesday for a second and final term. "There is no good reason for people not to respect the law."
Karume's main rival, Seif Shariff Hamad, says the Oct. 30 election was stolen. Hamad's supporters in the Civic United Front party fought running battles with police for four days before, during and after the poll in opposition strongholds in this semiautonomous part of Tanzania. At least two people were killed and scores were injured and arrested.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2005/11/04/zanzibar_president_appeals_for_peace/
Gay rights referendum fails to inspire big-money campaigns
By David Sharp, Associated Press Writer November 4, 2005
PORTLAND, Maine --With the election now days away, the campaigns supporting and opposing Maine's gay rights law agree on one thing: grass-roots efforts to get out the vote this weekend will play a key role in the outcome on Tuesday.
Three groups that led the referendum effort to scuttle the law are handing out 125,000 leaflets and posting 10,000 signs in yards.
Maine Won't Discriminate, which opposes the referendum, has been concentrating on door-to-door campaigning, mailings and phone calls.
Despite polls showing 2-to-1 support for the law signed by Gov. John Baldacci, both campaigns think the race is closer than that.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/11/04/gay_rights_referendum_fails_to_inspire_big_money_campaigns/
BBC
Protesters mass to confront Bush
Protesters rally in Argentina at the Summit of the Americas
Thousands of protesters chanting "Get out Bush" have thronged the streets of Mar del Plata, an Argentine beach town hosting the Summit of the Americas.
The US president and 33 other regional leaders are in town to discuss free trade and poverty, amid tight security.
George W Bush is expected to face vocal opposition over plans to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez, a key opponent, told protesters: "Here, in Mar del Plata, FTAA will be buried!"
Addressing the rally in a football stadium, Mr Chavez called for help to beat the US-backed free trade proposal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4407300.stm
French riots spread beyond Paris
The violence that has wracked Paris suburbs over the past week has spread to new areas and outside the French capital for the first time.
Youths burned buildings and more than 500 vehicles in the eighth consecutive night of rioting. Nearly 80 arrests were made in Paris.
Cars were torched in the eastern city of Dijon, and sporadic unrest broke out in southern and western France.
The unrest was sparked by the deaths of two teenagers of African origin.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has pledged to restore order following criticism of the government's failure to end violence.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4405620.stm
Battle ahead at Americas summit
More than 8,000 police officers are guarding the venue
Leaders from 34 nations have begun arriving in Argentina for the fourth two-day Summit of the Americas.
They are meeting in the coastal resort of Mar del Plata amid much uncertainty about what can be achieved on the summit's main aim of job creation.
There are deep divisions over free trade, with the US championing it as the best way to relieve poverty.
President George W Bush is among those attending the talks. He is expected to be targeted by left-wing protesters.
Thousands of people are due to stage a protest rally that will be addressed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Argentine former football legend Diego Maradona and Bolivian left-wing presidential candidate Evo Morales will also take part in Friday's demonstration.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4403202.stm
Argentine summit police poisoned
Thousands of police have been deployed for the summit
At least 70 Argentine police officers on duty at a regional summit to be attended by US President George W Bush have suffered food poisoning.
They all ate lasagne at a hotel in the resort town of Mar del Plata. The officers were briefly taken to hospital and were given time off to recover.
The police were among more than 8,000 officers guarding the summit.
Left-wing groups have announced protests against Mr Bush on Friday - but said they would be peaceful.
Argentine Interior Minister Anibal Fernandez has called for improvements in food safety monitoring at the venue.
He also suggested that the water the officers drank might have been the cause of the infection.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4402026.stm
Chinese billionaires on the rise
China's building boom has enriched property developers
The number of Chinese billionaires has more than doubled in the past year, according to a survey.
Forbes Asia magazine's annual Chinese rich list found that there are now 10 US dollar billionaires in China compared with three a year ago.
China's economy has been expanding rapidly, boosting the personal wealth of the country's leading entrepreneurs.
Businessman Larry Rong Zhijian remains China's richest man, with an estimated fortune of $1.64bn (£929m).
The son of former Chinese vice premier Rong Yiren is chairman of Hong Kong-based investment firm China International Trust and Investment Corporation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4406922.stm
Nigeria to aid Ivorian stalemate
By James Copnall
BBC News, Abidjan
Mr Obasanjo (r) received a warm welcome from Mr Gbagbo (l)
Nigeria's president has arrived in Ivory Coast to help find a new prime minister for the country.
Olusegun Obasanjo, who is chairman of the African Union, will meet all the players in the Ivorian crisis.
The new prime minister must be acceptable to all parties and will be charged with leading the country towards free and fair elections.
Polls were due to be held on Sunday but the country is still divided after rebels took the north three years ago.
A recent United Nations resolution allowed Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to remain in power for a year after the elections' postponement, and urged that a new prime minister be appointed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4406190.stm
Far-right claims Russian holiday
Some far-right demonstrators in Moscow gave Nazi salutes
More than 1,000 ultra-nationalists have marched through central Moscow to mark a new national holiday that has left many Russians bewildered.
The Day of People's Unity was created last year after the parliament scrapped the 7 November public holiday marking the 1917 Bolshevik uprising.
The new 4 November holiday marks the end of Polish occupation in 1612.
The Moscow demonstrators used the occasion to chant "Russia against occupiers!" and "Russia for Russians!"
Correspondents say polls show only 8% could name the new holiday, while more than 60% opposed dropping Revolution Day.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4406526.stm
Art auction success to help Indigenous communities
A Sydney art auction last night raised nearly $850,000 to build swimming pools in two Northern Territory communities.
All 45 pieces were sold, with one of the larger paintings selling for $140,000.
Paul Sweeney from the Papunya Tula Arts Centre in Alice Springs says it is a brilliant result and the money will go towards building pools in Maningrida and Kintore.
Mr Sweeney says it is important Aboriginal children have access to the benefits of swimming pools.
"Apart from being somewhere the kids can go in the middle of summer when it's over 40 degrees for a swim after school, it'll also be contributing to the health of the community, which is a very important issue as well," he said.
Mr Sweeney says it means the communities of Maningrida and Kintore are a step closer to building the pools.
"We will need a little bit over $1 million for each community to build the pool so if you divide that up we've gone sort of over halfway, which is a pretty big contribution," he said.
http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1497501.htm
Chavez gets rare chance to spar with Bush
Venezuela's leader attempts to turn Americas summit into a showdown
Updated: 3:56 a.m. ET Nov. 4, 2005
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina - Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, emboldened by thousands of anti-American protesters, is getting a rare chance to stand up to his adversary, George Bush, with promises to keep the president from reviving talks on a free trade area stretching from Alaska to Argentina.
The two men arrived in Argentina for the fourth Summit of the Americas on Thursday, the same day Venezuela staged a mock U.S. invasion of its own territory. The event is the latest exercise intended to prepare soldiers and civilian volunteers for what Chavez says is a possible attack by American troops.
U.S. officials deny any such plan, but Chavez says it’s best to be ready — just in case.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9920785/
The Cheney Observer
Govt announces tax sops aimed at Dabhol sale transaction
Our Bureau
New Delhi , Nov. 2
THE Government has announced a series of tax sops aimed at the GE and Bechtel's equity sale transaction of their Dabhol power project holdings to the special purpose vehicle promoted by NTPC Ltd and GAIL (India) Ltd.
According to a Taxation Laws (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated by the President late Monday evening, the income received by a foreign company from its Indian subsidiary for settlement of dues in connection with the revival of an existing power project taken over by an Indian player has been exempt from tax.
The provisions, thereby, provide for an income tax exemption to the money repatriated by the Indian subsidiaries of GE and Bechtel Corporation to their parent companies for the income received by them from the Indian lenders by selling their 85 per cent joint stake in the erstwhile Dabhol Power Company.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/03/stories/2005110302620900.htm
Shanghai group may set IPO next year
Leo Zhang
CHINA Pacif ic Insurance (Group) Co, the nation's fourth biggest insurer, may launch an initial public offering overseas as early as next year to raise funds for expansion, a company source said yesterday.
The Shanghai-based insurer is likely to stick with its plan to initially list the group, the source said, downplaying speculation its life unit may go public first after agreeing to sell a stake to private equity firm Carlyle Group Inc.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2005/11/04/210366/Shanghai_group_may_set_IPO_next_year.htm
Prosecutor Narrows Focus on Rove Role in C.I.A. Leak
By DAVID JOHNSTON and RICHARD W. STEVENSON
Published: November 4, 2005
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 - The prosecutor in the C.I.A. leak case has narrowed his investigation of Karl Rove, the senior White House adviser, to whether he tried to conceal from the grand jury a conversation with a Time magazine reporter in the week before an intelligence officer's identity was made public more than two years ago, lawyers in the case said Thursday.
Haraz N. Ghanbari/Associated Press
I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, pleaded not guilty in federal court today.
The special counsel, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, has centered on what are believed to be his final inquiries in the matter as to whether Mr. Rove was fully forthcoming about the belated discovery of an internal e-mail message that confirmed his conversation with the Time reporter, Matthew Cooper, to whom Mr. Rove had mentioned the C.I.A. officer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/04/politics/04rove.html
Texas County Official Won't Prosecute Rove
The Associated Press
Thursday, November 3, 2005; 9:57 PM
KERRVILLE, Texas -- A Texas county official said Thursday he would not prosecute presidential adviser Karl Rove after investigating whether he voted illegally in the state.
Kerr County Attorney Rex Emerson said he made the decision after reviewing a report from the county sheriff, who examined documents from Texas, Washington and Florida and interviewed several witnesses.
"The facts indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Rove are Texans living in Washington, D.C., during Mr. Rove's service to the federal government," Emerson said in a statement.
Emerson said there was no evidence of dual voting or falsified applications involving Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, and his wife, Darby.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110302012.html
Plame leaks, Scooter's in trouble
Independent Angles
By Simon Waxman
November 04, 2005
The still-unfolding scandal involving the leaked identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame is, to say the least, a curious one. "Plamegate," as some are calling it, has so dominated the press and the Washington agenda that even Harriet Miers' withdrawal from consideration for the vacant position on the Supreme Court only minimally registered amid the ink spilled and hot air blown over the investigation.
The ruckus and brouhaha came to a head last Friday when Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements.
http://www.jhunewsletter.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/04/436aae9c97780
Buckley Column Criticizes Outing of Plame
By E&P Staff
Published: November 03, 2005 3:45 PM ET
NEW YORK A number of conservative columnists have pulled their punches when it comes to criticizing the Bush administration's outing of Valerie Plame. William F. Buckley Jr. is not one of them.
In his current column, Buckley writes: "(T)he sacredness of the law against betraying a clandestine soldier of the republic cannot be slighted."
The Universal Press Syndicate pundit adds that even if Plame has lived in Washington since 1997, "it does not mean that her outing was without consequence. We do not know what dealings she might have been engaging in which are now interrupted or even made impossible. We do not know whether the countries in which she worked before 1997 could accost her, if she were to visit any of them, confronting her with signed papers that gave untruthful reasons for her previous stay... ."
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001433870
In WSJ op-ed, Toensing revisited familiar Plame falsehoods
In a November 3 Wall Street Journal op-ed (subscription required), Republican attorney Victoria Toensing criticized the CIA's role in the controversy surrounding outed CIA operative Valerie Plame and repeated a variety of falsehoods and distortions regarding Plame and her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV.
Falsehood: The Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that Plame suggested Wilson for the Niger mission
Toensing wrote: "The assignment was given, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee, at Ms. Plame's suggestion." However, the committee's "Report on the U.S. Intelligence Community's Prewar Intelligence Assessments on Iraq" reached no official conclusion regarding Plame's role in Wilson's selection. Additionally, several intelligence officials have disputed reports that Plame selected Wilson for the mission.
Falsehood: Wilson's NY Times op-ed "did not jibe" with what he reported to the CIA
Toensing wrote: "Congressional oversight committees should want to know who at the CIA permitted the publication of the article, which, it has been reported, did not jibe with the thrust of Mr. Wilson's oral briefing." As Media Matters has noted, Wilson's report to the CIA is still classified, but much of its contents were laid out in the Senate Intelligence Committee report. As Media Matters has noted, the descriptions contained in the committee's report indicate that the findings and version of events Wilson disclosed to the CIA did not contradict those detailed in his July 6, 2003, op-ed in The New York Times, in which he described his mission to Niger and concluded that "some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat."
Falsehood: Public knowledge of Plame's name was somehow significant
Toensing claimed that "if the CIA truly, truly, truly had wanted Ms. Plame's identity to be secret, it never would have permitted her spouse to write the op-ed. Did no one at Langley think that her identity could be compromised if her spouse wrote a piece discussing a foreign mission about a volatile political issue that focused on her expertise?" This argument, however, is based on faulty logic. When Wilson's July 6, 2003, op-ed was published, the only people who knew she worked for the CIA were those people authorized to know that information (and, allegedly, a number of reporters who learned it from administration officials).
http://mediamatters.org/items/200511030013
Bechtel's Government Business Launches Federal Telecoms Entity
Thursday November 3, 10:15 am ET
Move represents further focus on growing federal telecoms market potential
FREDERICK, Md., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel Systems and Infrastructure, Inc. (BSII), President Tom Hash today announced the launching of Federal Telecoms, a new entity in Bechtel's government business organization. Federal Telecoms joins BSII's three other market sectors: Energy & Environment, Defense & Space, and BInfra, whose focus is North American civil infrastructure.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051103/sfth069.html?.v=30
The ACLU is asking a judge to overturn a decision by Missouri social services denying a woman's request to be a foster parent because she is a lesbian...
November 3, 2005
KANSAS CITY, MO - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked a Jackson County Circuit Court judge to overturn the Missouri Department of Social Services decision that denied a woman's application to become a foster parent because she is a lesbian. The denial came in spite of an administrative judge's opinion that she was "exceptionally" qualified.
"All we want is the chance to open our home and our hearts to a child," said Lisa Johnston, who along with her partner Dawn Roginski had hoped to foster a special-needs child before her application was denied. "When we learned that we'd never be given that chance because we're lesbians, we were heartbroken."
http://web.morons.org/article.jsp?sectionid=9&id=6596
Chief Justice Roberts backs out of patent case
WASHINGTON Chief Justice John Roberts has removed himself from a patent infringement case because of a conflict, acknowledging he made a mistake in taking part in the early stages of the appeal.
Roberts didn't explain why he recused himself from the case, which justices announced on Monday that they would review.
His former law firm filed the appeal on behalf of Burlington-based Laboratory Corporation. The company is accused of infringing on the patent for a test that helps predict strokes, heart attacks and dementia.
http://www.wwaytv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=4067538&nav=menu70_2
Guests for White House dinner
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Guests at the White House dinner Wednesday in honor of Britain's Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, as released by the office of the first lady:
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall
Dr. Kenneth Z. Altshuler, Stanton Sharp Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and Mrs. Ruth Altshuler
The Honorable Katharine Armstrong, and Mr. Ben Love (Guest)
Mr. Michael Beschloss, historian, and Mrs. Afsaneh Beschloss, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Rock Creek Group
The Honorable Nancy G. Brinker, Founding Chairman, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and Dr. Richard Merkin, Heritage Provider Network (Guest)
Mr. Tom Brokaw, Special Correspondent, NBC News, and Mrs. Meredith Brokaw
The Honorable George Herbert Walker Bush, and Mrs. Barbara Bush
Miss Jenna Bush, and Mr. Henry Hager (Guest)
Mr. Marvin P. Bush, Managing Partner, Winston Partners, and Mrs. Margaret Bush
Mr. Neil Bush, Chairman, Ignite! Learning, and Mrs. Maria Bush
The Reverend Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, Pastor, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, and Mrs. Suzette Caldwell
Mr. Joseph Canizaro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, First Bank and Trust, Chairman, Donum Dei Foundation, and Mrs. Sue Ellen Canizaro
The Honorable Andrew H. Card, Jr., Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, and The Reverend Kathleene B. Card, Trinity United Methodist Church
Ms. Elizabeth L. Cheney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State
Mr. Philip J. Perry, General Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Ms. Mary Cheney, and Ms. Heather Poe (Guest)
The Honorable Richard Cheney, Vice President of the United States, and The Honorable Lynne V. Cheney
Mr. Andrew Cosslett, Chair, Duchy Originals, Chief Executive Officer, Intercontinental Hotels Group, and Mrs. Louise Cosslett, Windsor, Berkshire, UK
Mr. Harlan R. Crow, Crow Holdings, and Mrs. Kathy Crow
Mr. Oscar de la Renta, Designer, and Mrs. Anne de la Renta, Vice-Chairman, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dr. David Donald, Lincoln Historian and Professor Emeritus, Harvard University, and Dr. Jennifer Groh, Professor of Psychology, Dartmouth College (Daughter-in-law)
Mr. Llwyd Ecclestone, Jr., Chairman, Ecclestone Organization, and Mrs. Diana Ecclestone
The Honorable Donald B. Ensenat, Chief of Protocol, United States, and Mrs. Taylor Ensenat
The Honorable Donald L. Evans, Chief Executive Office, Financial Services Forum, and Mrs. Susan Evans
The Honorable William S. Farish, Former American Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Mrs. Sarah Farish
Mr. Bradford M. Freeman, General Partner, Freeman Spogli & Co., and Ms. Penelope S. Royall, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services (Guest)
The Honorable Bill Frist, United States Senator (R-Tenn.), and Mrs. Karyn Frist
Sir Fred Goodwin, Group Chief Executive, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, and Lady Joyce Goodwin, Edinburgh, Scotland
Mr. Kelsey Grammer, Actor, and Mrs. Camille Donatacci Grammer
The Honorable Stephen J. Hadley, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and Mrs. Ann Hadley, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
The Honorable Jane Harman, United States Representative (D-Calif.), and Mr. Brian Frank (Son)
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House (R-Ill.), and Mrs. Jean Hastert
Mr. Wallace Holladay, Jr., President, Holladay Corporation, and Mrs. Winton Holladay
Lieutenant General Russel L. Honore, USA, Commanding General, First U.S. Army, and Mrs. Beverly Honore
Mrs. Caroline Rose Hunt, and Mr. Charles M. Simmons (Guest)
The Honorable Clay Johnson III, Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget, and Mrs. Anne S. Johnson, Director, Arts in Embassies Program, Department of State
Mr. James Kidner, Assistant Private Secretary to The Prince of Wales
Mr. Robert P. Koch, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wine Institute, and Mrs. Doro Koch
Ms. Wendy Kopp, President and Founder, Teach For America
Mr. Richard Barth, Jr., President, District Partnership Division, Edison Schools
Mr. Henry R. Kravis, Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., and Mrs. Marie-Josee Kravis, President, The Museum of Modern Art
The Honorable James C. Langdon, Jr., Attorney, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP, and Mrs. Sandy Langdon
The Honorable Ronald S. Lauder, Chairman, Central European Media Enterprises, Chairman, Clinique Laboratories, and Mrs. Jo Carole Lauder, Chair, Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies
Mr. Charles Leavell, Rolling Stone Keyboardist, Trustee, American Forest Foundation, and Mrs. Rose Leavell
The Honorable Joseph I. Lieberman, United States Senator (D-Conn.), and Mrs. Hadassah Lieberman
Mr. Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist
Ms. Jill C. Hornor
Ms. Amanda MacManus, Assistant Private Secretary to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall
His Excellency Sir David Manning, KCMG, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United States, and Lady Catherine M. Manning, Spouse of the British Ambassador to the United States
Mr. John Marion, Honorary Chairman, Sotheby's North America, and Mrs. Anne Marion, Investor and Art Collector, Fort Worth, Texas
The Honorable Anita McBride, Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady, Office of Mrs. Bush, and The Honorable Timothy J. McBride, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Freddie Mac
Dr. Azar Nafisi, Professor, Johns Hopkins University
General Peter Pace, USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Mrs. Lynne Pace
Mr. Mike Rake, Esq., Chairman, Business in the Community, Chairman KPMG International, UK
Mrs. Nancy Reagan
Mr. Merv Griffin (Guest)
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, and Mr. Gene A. Washington, Director of Football Operations, National Football League (Guest)
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., The Chief Justice of the United States, and Mrs. Jane Sullivan Roberts
The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, and Mrs. Joyce Rumsfeld
Professor Witold Rybczynski, Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Ms. Shirley Hallam
Mrs. Linda Scott, Spouse of Mr. H. Lee Scott, President, Walmart, and Mr. James L. Scott (Brother-in-law of Mr. H. Lee Scott)
Mr. Red Steagall, Poet Laureate of the State of Texas 2006, and Mrs. Gail Steagall
Mr. Robert A.M. Stern, Dean, Yale University School of Architecture, Founder and Senior Partner, Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Ms. Kathryn Stott, Concert Pianist
Mr. Lynn C. Swann, Commentator, ABC Sports Collegiate Football, and Dr. Charena Swann
Mr. H. Patrick Swygert, President, Howard University, and Ms. Patricia Worthy (Guest)
The Honorable Robert Tuttle, American Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Mrs. Maria Tuttle, Spouse of the American Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., Editor in Chief, The American Spectator, and Mrs. Jeanne Hauch Tyrrell
Mr. Tom Watson, Professional Golfer, and Mrs. Hilary Watson
The Honorable Anthony A. Williams, Mayor of the District of Columbia, and Mrs. Diane Williams
Mr. Herman Wouk, Author, and Mrs. Sarah Wouk
---
Source: The White House
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Royal_Visit_Guests.html
New York's jeers mar royal progress to White House
Camilla derided as fashion disaster as couple fail to impress celebrity guests
Stephen Bates in Washington
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall flew into Washington yesterday to be feted by George Bush at the White House, with the jeers of sophisticated New Yorkers still ringing in their ears following the first day of their official tour to the US.
If the prince thinks the British media are disrespectful, he now knows how much worse it could be. The city's press decided alternately that Camilla was either a "dumpy frump fashion disaster" - in Rupert Murdoch's New York Post - or "really trying" too hard by wearing high-heeled shoes, in the New York Times.
http://mathaba.net/0_index.shtml?x=418658
New Orleans mayor seeks aid, loans for shortfall
Thu Nov 3, 2005 8:05 PM ET
By Kevin Krolicki
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans is seeking federal aid and new loans to ride out a $204 million budget shortfall caused by the expected loss of all property tax revenue in the short term, the city's mayor said on Thursday.
"If we project out based on maintaining essential personnel and essential services throughout the year, the amount of money we're borrowing still leaves a gap of about $204 million," Nagin told Reuters in an interview.
"We're not bankrupt. We've been out of cash. We have a liquidity problem. But we have been careful to make sure that we continue to pay our debt service, which would cause all sorts of problems," Nagin said.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-11-04T010533Z_01_FOR403921_RTRUKOC_0_US-HURRICANES-NEWORLEANS-BUDGET.xml&archived=False
Blanco wants New Orleans schools chartered
By KEVIN MCGILL
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Almost all New Orleans public schools, now closed because of Hurricane Katrina, could eventually be reopened by the state as charter schools under proposed legislation to wrest power from the city's fractious school board.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco outlined the proposal Thursday at the same news conference where state education officials released figures showing 68 of 110 New Orleans schools operating before Katrina were "academically unacceptable," based on student testing.
The state already can take over perennially failing schools. Blanco's proposal would allow the state to take over any New Orleans school with a performance score below the current state average and hand it to an independent operator as a charter school. That would make 97 city schools eligible for takeover.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_New_Orleans_Schools.html
Democratic congressmen request Cheney appearance before Congress
WASHINGTON Michigan Representative John Conyers and two other Democratic congressmen want Vice President Dick Cheney to testify about the disclosure of a covert C-I-A officer's identity.
Conyers, of Detroit, joined Maurice Hinchey of New York, Henry Waxman of California in making the request in a letter to Cheney.
The congressmen asked why Cheney's office was gathering information about Valerie Plame, the wife of Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson in 2003. They also asked whether the vice president directed his top aide, the now-indicted Lewis "Scooter" Libby, to speak to the news media about Plame. And they want to know whether Cheney was aware Libby was doing so.
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=4071591&nav=0RbQ
Democratic congressmen ask Cheney to talk
WASHINGTON - Three Democratic congressmen Thursday asked Vice President Dick Cheney to testify on Capitol Hill about the disclosure of a covert CIA officer's identity, saying "there are many wide-ranging questions about your involvement."
The congressmen asked why Cheney's office was gathering information about Valerie Plame, the wife of Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson in 2003; whether the vice president directed his top aide, the now-indicted I. Lewis Libby, to speak to the news media about Plame; and whether Cheney was aware Libby was doing so.
The indictment against Libby says he was told by Cheney on June 12, 2003, that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA's counterproliferation division. That was a month before Plame's identity was disclosed by conservative columnist Robert Novak.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13075040.htm
Americans Assess Reasons for Libby’s Testimony
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States think the statements made by Lewis Libby to a federal grand jury investigating the leak of an undercover Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer’s identity might have been influenced by higher authorities, according to a poll by SurveyUSA. 37 per cent of respondents believe vice-president Dick Cheney’s chief of staff lied because he was told to do so by a superior.
Conversely, 29 per cent of respondents believe Libby offered false testimony knowingly and on his own initiative, 11 per cent believe he accidentally misled the grand jury, and 10 per cent say he did not lie at all.
On Oct. 28, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald announced that Libby had been indicted on one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and two counts of making false statements. According to the indictment, Libby lied to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and a federal grand jury about his conversations regarding the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame with both Time reporter Matthew Cooper and Tim Russert of NBC News.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/9689
Add new comment
The Final Piece the Press Withheld Concerning Closed Sessions of Congress
Posted by Noel Sheppard on November 2, 2005 - 19:12.
As reported by NewsBusters here and here, there was a lot about the closed session held in the Senate on Tuesday that the media chose to ignore. However, now that the damage has been done, and public opinions of this issue have been formed, the Washington Post today decided
to share some of the facts with its readers.
First, the decision to have a closed session is normally made with the consent of both parties:
“The rule's existence was widely known, and closed sessions had been held by bipartisan agreement as recently as 1999, regarding President Bill Clinton's impeachment. But the notion of one party springing the rule on the other party without warning was so alien that senators could not cite a previous example.”
This is a crucial piece of information that was almost universally withheld from the public on Tuesday after the doors of the Senate were closed. Of course, this quite explains why Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) was so angry on camera, basically stating that he had been stabbed in the back by Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev).
http://newsbusters.org/comment/reply/2649
Judge named to hear DeLay case
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- A Democratic judge from San Antonio was named Thursday to hear the conspiracy case against U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas.
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson assigned the case to District Judge Pat Priest, despite concerns that Jefferson had too many ties to DeLay's political committee to be impartial, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Jefferson shared the same campaign treasurer and consultant as DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority, the newspaper said. He received a $25,000 campaign donation from the same wing of the Republican National Committee that figures in the charges against DeLay and his co-defendants.
DeLay is charged with laundering funds in a scheme to get around a Texas law prohibiting corporate campaign contributions in state campaigns.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20051103-20253100-bc-us-delay.xml
Tom DeLay, Indicted Republican, Got Jack Abramoff, Indicted Lobbyist, Access To Norton
Posted by Harry Palms on Thursday November 3, 2005 at 7:01 am MST
"Rep. Tom DeLay's staff tried to help lobbyist Jack Abramoff win access to Interior Secretary Gale Norton, an effort that succeeded after Abramoff's Indian tribe clients began funneling a quarter-million dollars to an environmental group founded by Norton."
*************************************
Tried to? They were emailing back and forth about it the day after Bush nominated her, second-fiddle though she may have been after his first choice had a nanny detonate on her.
Or was that Bernard Kerik? So hard to keep Bush's bad choices in order anymore...
http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=27691
AP: DeLay's Staff Tried to Help Abramoff
By JOHN SOLOMON Thu Nov 3, 3:23 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Investigators have unearthed e-mails showing Rep.
Tom DeLay's office tried to help lobbyist Jack Abramoff get a high-level Bush administration meeting for Indian clients, an effort that succeeded after the tribes began making a quarter-million dollars in donations.
Tribal money went both to a group founded by Interior Secretary Gale Norton, the Cabinet secretary Abramoff was trying to meet, as well as to DeLay's personal charity.
"Do you think you could call that friend and set up a meeting," then-DeLay staffer Tony Rudy wrote to fellow House aide Thomas Pyle in a Dec. 29, 2000, e-mail titled "Gale Norton-Interior Secretary."
President Bush had nominated Norton to the post the day before.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051103/ap_on_re_us/delay_indian_tribes
New Orleans Nagin Talks Race, Guilliani and Politics On NPR
Cities
New Orleans´s Mayor C. Ray Nagin discussed race relations, New Orleans Katrina devastation, poverty social services in New Orleans pre-Katrina and his own stateof mind and political career in a wide-ranging interview with NPR on Wednesday while he was in Washington D.C. testifying before Congress.
Nagin stated that he was concerned that African American natives wre not receiving the same treatment as Mexicans in the Katrina rebuild and the wages earned were much higher (approximately) post Katrina than before the hurricane.
The mayor also acknowledged that New Orleans was not able to take care of the poverty situation that prevailed pre-Katrina and acknowledged that some of the troubled students might be doing better in other school systems since the hurricane.
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=5408
New Orleans city attorney quits
NEW ORLEANS The New Orleans city attorney will become the first member of Mayor Ray Nagin's executive staff to leave in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Sherry Landry, who had held the post for the past two-and-a-half years, said she originally intended to serve until the end of the administration's term in May.
Landry says her resignation will be effective November 30th.
Recent city budget cuts ordered by the mayor eliminated more than half of the city law department's work force, most of them staff attorneys.
http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=4062276
Suit says Halliburton shirked on overtime
5 workers claim Army contract was broken
By L.M. SIXEL
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Halliburton and KBR violated their contracts with the Army when they failed to pay workers in Iraq and Kuwait overtime, a lawsuit filed in a Houston federal court alleges.
The lawsuit, filed by five workers seeking class-action status, claims Halliburton and its subsidiaries shorted 20,000 to 40,000 truck drivers, cooks, mechanics and other workers millions of dollars.
"It appears to us from our investigation and talking to several hundred employees that they were required to work 80 to 100 hours a week simply because it's cheaper to have them work overtime then have (other employees) start a new week," said Ramon Rossi Lopez, a trial lawyer with Lopez, Hodes, Restaino, Milman & Skikos in Newport Beach, Calif.
Houston-based Halliburton declined to discuss the lawsuit.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3434678
Ex-security chief rips Cheney, neo-cons
By IPS
Updated Nov 2, 2005, 09:46 pm
WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) - One week after a top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell issued a blistering attack on foreign policy-making in the George W. Bush administration, Brent Scowcroft, who served as national security adviser under Bush's father, assailed neo-conservatives who persuaded the president to go to war in Iraq.
In an interview with The New Yorker magazine, Scowcroft, whose relations with the Bush administration have been badly strained since he publicly warned against invading Iraq seven months before U.S. troops crossed over from Kuwait, argued that the invasion was counter-productive.
"This was said to be part of the war on terror, but Iraq feeds terrorism," Scowcroft told the magazine, adding that the war risked moving public opinion against any new foreign policy commitments for some time, just as the Vietnam War did during the late-1970s and through the 1980s.
"Vietnam was visceral in the American people," said Scrowcroft, who also served as national security adviser in the mid-1970s under former President Gerald Ford. "This was a really bitter period, and it turned us against foreign-policy adventures deeply. This is not that deep, (but) …we're moving in that direction."
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_2244.shtml
UPDATE 1-Halliburton CFO says KBR IPO "attractive"
Wed Nov 2, 2005 8:55 AM ET
(Adds background, additional comments from CFO)
HOUSTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Oilfield services group Halliburton Co.'s (HAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) planned split-off of its engineering and construction group KBR will likely take place through an initial public offering of the unit, the company's chief financial officer said on Wednesday.
"We see an initial public offering of KBR as the most attractive option at this point," Christopher Gaut told the Merrill Lynch Energy Conference in New York.
Halliburton has restructured its operating units to create a clearer split between its oilfield services businesses and its operations at KBR, which is the biggest private contractor for the U.S. government in Iraq.
"Our restructuring plan is in place, the operating performance has improved and the plans for separation are on track," Gaut said.
In addition to the bullish construction outlook for KBR because of growth in the liquefied natural gas and gas-to-liquids businesses, its work for governments is also likely to increase, Gaut said.
"The government services business has advantages as there's an overall trend toward outsourcing by local, state and national governments, not just (in) the U.S., where we have a very good business, but in the UK," he said.
The company currently operates refueling services for the Royal Navy's nuclear fleet, serves as project manager to construct aircraft carriers and has other large projects there, he said.
http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=newIssuesNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20051102:MTFH68040_2005-11-02_13-55-46_N02317910:1
BEHIND THE HEADLINES
Libby Jewish? Some wonder how
neo-con’s faith impacts leak scandal
By Ron Kampeas
November 2, 2005
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (JTA) — When Joshua Muravchik, perhaps the pre-eminent expert on the interventionist foreign policy that has become known as neo-conservatism, was looking for non-Jewish neo-cons to prove that the movement isn’t pervasively Jewish, he naturally included Lewis Libby.
“Non-Jews figuring prominently in current foreign-policy debates and today called neo-cons include Libby, (John) Bolton, American Enterprise Institute president Christopher DeMuth, and Gary Schmitt of the Project for the New American Century,” Muravchik wrote in Commentary magazine two years ago.
“Go easy on me,” Muravchik laughingly told a reporter this week, after it emerged that the man at the center...
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=15997&intcategoryid=3
Within GOP, Concerns On DeLay
His Lingering Power Upsets Some Critics
November 2, 2005
By JONATHAN WEISMAN, Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- Former House majority leader Tom DeLay's efforts to retain power despite his indictment have angered some rank-and-file Republicans, who say his ethical problems and uncertain status are staining them and destabilizing GOP unity.
Although he was forced to relinquish his leadership post Sept. 28, after the first of two indictments for alleged involvement in money laundering related to the 2002 Texas election, DeLay continues to use an office in the leadership suite, occasionally presides over private meetings with committee chairmen and lobbies members during key floor votes.
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-delay1102.artnov02,0,2473375.story?coll=hc-headlines-nationworld
Sydney Morning Herald
Recession alert over bird flu
Chinese health workers at an inspection check point in Inner Mongolia.
Photo: Elizabeth Dalziel
November 4, 2005 - 3:21PM
New bird flu outbreaks have been reported as the Asian Development Bank warns that a global flu pandemic could kill up to 3 million people in Asia and plunge the world into recession.
The latest Chinese outbreak, discovered on October 26, killed 8,940 chickens and prompted officials to destroy 369,900 other birds in Badaohao, a village in Liaoning province, east of Beijing, the Agriculture Ministry said yesterday.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/recession-alert-over-bird-flu/2005/11/04/1130823386052.html
Foster takes flight despite criticisms
American flight attendants getting hot under the collar over Jodie Foster's new film haven't deterred the Hollywood actor from flying.
Foster's new film Flightplan was boycotted by groups of flight attendants in the United States for portraying the profession in a negative way.
"I love flying," Foster told AAP from Los Angeles, promoting the film which is released in Australia on November 10.
"I don't have any fear of flying at all."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/foster-takes-flight-despite-criticisms/2005/11/04/1130823375724.html
Top five 'the lady is a tramp' films
More heat than a pat-down by Customs ... Gone with the Wind
By Ben Davey and Joanna Cohen
November 3, 2005
Page 1 of 5
CLICK HERE NOW FOR OUR NEW BLOG! GO ON!! SEE YOUR NAME IN CYBER LIGHTS!!!
Each week, film geeks Ben Davey and Joanna Cohen mask their lack of creative ability by writing a column about clever things that others have made. (NB: The links below are all external sites.)
Top five 'The lady is a tramp' films
1. Gilda
2. The Last Seduction
3. Gone With the Wind
4. She Done Him Wrong
5. Ilsa: She-wolf of the SS
1. Gilda (1946)
Synopsis: Johnny Farrell: "Pardon me, but your husband is showing." The most gorgeous tramp of all, Gilda (Rita Hayworth), plays wicked games with the two men in her life - her husband, Ballin Mundson (George Macready), and her man from the past, Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) - employing a handful of Argentinian playboys as her props.
http://smh.com.au/news/filmfondue/top-five-the-lady-is-a-tramp-films/2005/11/03/1130823329404.html
Bush plummets in new poll
November 4, 2005 - 5:05PM
For the first time in his presidency, a majority of Americans have questioned President George W Bush's personal integrity as his approval ratings on key issues fell to new lows in an ABC News/Washington Post poll.
Fewer than half -- 40 per cent -- said Bush was honest and trustworthy. Separately, 67 per cent rated his handling of ethics in government negatively and fewer than half called him a strong leader, another first, according to the poll.
Sixty per cent of Americans disapproved of his overall job performance, which ABC said was "a level unseen since recession chased his father (George Bush) from office." That compared with a 39 per cent approval rating, the poll said.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bush-plummets-in-new-poll/2005/11/04/1130823390651.html
Rioters attack commuter trains
Further serious rioting broke out on the outskirts of Paris early on Friday as gangs of youths challenged authorities' vow to crack down on urban violence that has plagued the French capital for over a week.
Police said some 400 cars were torched, mostly in the Paris region, while 27 buses went up in flames at a depot, although there were fewer overnight clashes between police and "troublemakers" than Thursday, a police spokesman said.
To the west of Paris, the 27 buses in the Trappes depot were burnt in a fire that swept through the building at around 5am (1500 AEDT).
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/rioters-attack-commuter-trains/2005/11/04/1130823390348.html
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