~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT US AT
rays.list@comcast.net and we'll be happy to send the full article.
=
The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-sport18dec18,0,78605.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Have your passport ready,
U.S. will not accept anything else for entry
By Ken Kaye and Ruth Morris
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 18, 2006
Don't leave home -- and fly to Cancun -- without it.If you're a U.S.citizen, as of Jan. 23, you'll need a passport to re-enterthe country, evenif you're flying to Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas or otherCaribbean nations,places so familiar to Floridians that traveling thereseems like a domestictrip.The new rule for Americans returning from those destinations is adeparturefrom the long-standing policy of accepting driver's licenses,voterregistration cards or birth certificates as valid forms ofidentification.
For now, the change applies only to passengers on commercialand privateflights, but authorities expect to extend it to cruise ships andprivateboats as of January 2008.
=
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600954_pf.html
Educators, Parents Eager for an Edge Opt for IB Classes In Grade Schools
By Ian Shapira
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 17, 2006; A01
Hunting for the best education for her three young children, Traci Pietrafretted about low test scores at her Arlington neighborhood school. Then theprincipal told her about Randolph Elementary's affiliation with one of themost prestigious and rapidly growing brands in education: IB.
International Baccalaureate is best known for a high school diploma programgeared to the university-bound academic elite. But Pietra and her husband,Peter, were sold on the lesser-known elementary version of IB. Both wereattracted to the IB emphasis on global understanding, Pietra said, andadded: "He was like, 'Our kids are going to an Ivy League school, and weneed an education that's going to get them on the right track.' "
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600954_pf.html
Educators, Parents Eager for an Edge Opt for IB Classes In Grade Schools
By Ian Shapira
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 17, 2006; A01
Hunting for the best education for her three young children, Traci Pietrafretted about low test scores at her Arlington neighborhood school. Then theprincipal told her about Randolph Elementary's affiliation with one of themost prestigious and rapidly growing brands in education: IB.
International Baccalaureate is best known for a high school diploma programgeared to the university-bound academic elite. But Pietra and her husband,Peter, were sold on the lesser-known elementary version of IB. Both wereattracted to the IB emphasis on global understanding, Pietra said, andadded: "He was like, 'Our kids are going to an Ivy League school, and weneed an education that's going to get them on the right track.' "
=
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700229_pf.html
Gingrich Says 2008 Bid Depends on Rivals
Associated Press
Monday, December 18, 2006; A06
Newt Gingrich suggested yesterday that he might not run for president in2008 if a rival has all but locked up the Republican nomination by nextfall.
The former House speaker from Georgia said it would not be too late for himto enter the race after Labor Day 2007, if he thinks that no candidate has aclear advantage. He cited Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCainof Arizona and former New York City mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani as thecontenders to watch.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700229_pf.html
Gingrich Says 2008 Bid Depends on Rivals
Associated Press
Monday, December 18, 2006; A06
Newt Gingrich suggested yesterday that he might not run for president in2008 if a rival has all but locked up the Republican nomination by nextfall.
The former House speaker from Georgia said it would not be too late for himto enter the race after Labor Day 2007, if he thinks that no candidate has aclear advantage. He cited Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCainof Arizona and former New York City mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani as thecontenders to watch.
=
The Washington Post
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-sport18dec18,0,78605.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-sport18dec18,0,78605.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
U.S. Sends Home 33 Detainees From Guantanamo Bay
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 18, 2006; A19
Thirty-three detainees who had been held at the U.S. military detentionfacility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were returned to their home countries overthe past week, part of a government effort to reduce the facility'spopulation to a core group of terrorism suspects who could be heldindefinitely.
The Defense Department announced yesterday that it transferred 17 detaineesto their home countries over the weekend: seven to Afghanistan, five toYemen, three to Kazakhstan, one to Libya and one to Bangladesh. Militaryofficials announced Thursday that 16 detainees were sent to Saudi Arabialast week.
=
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700772_pf.html
Results in Iranian Vote Seen as Setback for Ahmadinejad
By Edmund Blair
Reuters
Monday, December 18, 2006; A19
TEHRAN, Dec 17 -- Allies of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad failed todominate elections for a powerful Iranian clerical body and local councils,according to early results Sunday, in what analysts said was a setback tothe hard-line leader's standing.
Friday's elections for the clerical Assembly of Experts and for localcouncils, the first nationwide vote since Ahmadinejad took office in 2005,will not directly impact policy.
But turnout of about 60 percent and Ahmadinejad's close identification withsome candidates, particularly in Tehran, suggested a voter shift toward moremoderate policies and away from the president's often-confrontationalpositions.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700772_pf.html
Results in Iranian Vote Seen as Setback for Ahmadinejad
By Edmund Blair
Reuters
Monday, December 18, 2006; A19
TEHRAN, Dec 17 -- Allies of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad failed todominate elections for a powerful Iranian clerical body and local councils,according to early results Sunday, in what analysts said was a setback tothe hard-line leader's standing.
Friday's elections for the clerical Assembly of Experts and for localcouncils, the first nationwide vote since Ahmadinejad took office in 2005,will not directly impact policy.
But turnout of about 60 percent and Ahmadinejad's close identification withsome candidates, particularly in Tehran, suggested a voter shift toward moremoderate policies and away from the president's often-confrontationalpositions.
=
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700772_pf.html
Results in Iranian Vote Seen as Setback for Ahmadinejad
By Edmund Blair
Reuters
Monday, December 18, 2006; A19
TEHRAN, Dec 17 -- Allies of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad failed todominate elections for a powerful Iranian clerical body and local councils,according to early results Sunday, in what analysts said was a setback tothe hard-line leader's standing.
Friday's elections for the clerical Assembly of Experts and for localcouncils, the first nationwide vote since Ahmadinejad took office in 2005,will not directly impact policy.
But turnout of about 60 percent and Ahmadinejad's close identification withsome candidates, particularly in Tehran, suggested a voter shift toward moremoderate policies and away from the president's often-confrontationalpositions.
Results in Iranian Vote Seen as Setback for Ahmadinejad
By Edmund Blair
Reuters
Monday, December 18, 2006; A19
TEHRAN, Dec 17 -- Allies of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad failed todominate elections for a powerful Iranian clerical body and local councils,according to early results Sunday, in what analysts said was a setback tothe hard-line leader's standing.
Friday's elections for the clerical Assembly of Experts and for localcouncils, the first nationwide vote since Ahmadinejad took office in 2005,will not directly impact policy.
But turnout of about 60 percent and Ahmadinejad's close identification withsome candidates, particularly in Tehran, suggested a voter shift toward moremoderate policies and away from the president's often-confrontationalpositions.
=
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700973_pf.html
A New Mideast, or Wishful Thinking?
By Fred Hiatt
Monday, December 18, 2006; A25
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice obviously thinks that former secretaryof state James Baker just doesn't get how the Mideast has changed since helast plied the peacemaking shuttle 15 years ago.
That's one thing that becomes clear when you listen to her talk for anylength of time, as she did during a visit to The Post last week. Of courseshe makes it clear in characteristic Rice fashion: polite, correct, notpersonal -- but also forceful and eloquent and unmistakable.
Start with democracy, a word conspicuously deemphasized by Baker andco-chair Lee Hamilton in their Iraq Study Group report. They want Rice totalk with Iran and with Syria, which is busy undermining democracy inLebanon. They speak more broadly for the burgeoning Washington consensusthat the promotion of democracy in the Middle East was a dangerous pipedream best abandoned before any more damage is done.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700973_pf.html
A New Mideast, or Wishful Thinking?
By Fred Hiatt
Monday, December 18, 2006; A25
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice obviously thinks that former secretaryof state James Baker just doesn't get how the Mideast has changed since helast plied the peacemaking shuttle 15 years ago.
That's one thing that becomes clear when you listen to her talk for anylength of time, as she did during a visit to The Post last week. Of courseshe makes it clear in characteristic Rice fashion: polite, correct, notpersonal -- but also forceful and eloquent and unmistakable.
Start with democracy, a word conspicuously deemphasized by Baker andco-chair Lee Hamilton in their Iraq Study Group report. They want Rice totalk with Iran and with Syria, which is busy undermining democracy inLebanon. They speak more broadly for the burgeoning Washington consensusthat the promotion of democracy in the Middle East was a dangerous pipedream best abandoned before any more damage is done.
=
The New York Times
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121701127_pf.html
Conservatives' Grip on Key Virginia Court Is at Risk
By Jerry Markon and Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, December 18, 2006; A01
A growing list of vacancies on the federal appeals court in Richmond isheightening concern among Republicans that one of the nation's mostconservative and influential courts could soon come under moderate or evenliberal control, Republicans and legal scholars say.
A number of prominent Republican appointees have left or announced plans toleave the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which has played a keyrole in terrorism cases and has long been known for forceful conservativerulings and judicial personalities.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121701127_pf.html
Conservatives' Grip on Key Virginia Court Is at Risk
By Jerry Markon and Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, December 18, 2006; A01
A growing list of vacancies on the federal appeals court in Richmond isheightening concern among Republicans that one of the nation's mostconservative and influential courts could soon come under moderate or evenliberal control, Republicans and legal scholars say.
A number of prominent Republican appointees have left or announced plans toleave the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which has played a keyrole in terrorism cases and has long been known for forceful conservativerulings and judicial personalities.
=
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700970_pf.html
The Israel Quandary
By Robert D. Novak
Monday, December 18, 2006; A25
Meeting privately with the Baker-Hamilton commission before its report onIraq was released, George W. Bush did not seem pleased. So when a Republicanmember said he believed it was imperative to get moving on the stalledIsrael-Palestine peace process, a negative response from the president wasexpected. Instead, he replied: "I do, too."
Those three little words posed questions. Was Bush merely indulging JamesBaker and the Iraq Study Group's other wise men? Or, after not pursuingMiddle East peace the past six years, had he concluded that it is necessaryto stabilize the region, including Israel? The consensus of commissionmembers was that the president was sincere, assessing linkage between Iraqand Israel.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700970_pf.html
The Israel Quandary
By Robert D. Novak
Monday, December 18, 2006; A25
Meeting privately with the Baker-Hamilton commission before its report onIraq was released, George W. Bush did not seem pleased. So when a Republicanmember said he believed it was imperative to get moving on the stalledIsrael-Palestine peace process, a negative response from the president wasexpected. Instead, he replied: "I do, too."
Those three little words posed questions. Was Bush merely indulging JamesBaker and the Iraq Study Group's other wise men? Or, after not pursuingMiddle East peace the past six years, had he concluded that it is necessaryto stabilize the region, including Israel? The consensus of commissionmembers was that the president was sincere, assessing linkage between Iraqand Israel.
=
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/opinion/18mon1.html?pagewanted=print
December 18, 2006
Editorial
Swift Raids
When federal immigration officials raided six plants owned by Swift &Company, the world's second largest beef and pork processor, last Tuesday,they brought Spanish translators. They knew exactly what kind of worker isfound in low-paying, strenuous jobs in this country: recent Latino arrivalswith limited skills and, in many cases, no legal papers. Nearly 1,300people - almost 10 percent of Swift's work force - were taken away in whatthe government said was the largest but not the last assault on theunderground immigrant economy.
The raids have led some people to heap scorn on Swift and, of course, on theillegal immigrants, particularly the dozens of detainees who have beencharged with identity theft and other crimes. But doing so misses the biggerpicture. Swift and its workers are merely Exhibit A in an immigration systemthat is failing in all of its parts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/opinion/18mon1.html?pagewanted=print
December 18, 2006
Editorial
Swift Raids
When federal immigration officials raided six plants owned by Swift &Company, the world's second largest beef and pork processor, last Tuesday,they brought Spanish translators. They knew exactly what kind of worker isfound in low-paying, strenuous jobs in this country: recent Latino arrivalswith limited skills and, in many cases, no legal papers. Nearly 1,300people - almost 10 percent of Swift's work force - were taken away in whatthe government said was the largest but not the last assault on theunderground immigrant economy.
The raids have led some people to heap scorn on Swift and, of course, on theillegal immigrants, particularly the dozens of detainees who have beencharged with identity theft and other crimes. But doing so misses the biggerpicture. Swift and its workers are merely Exhibit A in an immigration systemthat is failing in all of its parts.
=
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/opinion/18connable.html?pagewanted=print
December 18, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
A War That Abhors a Vacuum
By BEN CONNABLE
Washington
THE niceties are up for debate: phased or partial withdrawal from Iraq would entail pulling troops back to their bases across the country, or leapfrogging backward to the nearest international border, or redeploying to bases in nearby countries.
But whatever the final prescription, the debate must include a sober look at the street-level impact of withdrawal. What will become of Iraqi villages, towns and cities as we pull out? Although past is not necessarily prologue, recent experience in Anbar Province may be instructive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/opinion/18connable.html?pagewanted=print
December 18, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
A War That Abhors a Vacuum
By BEN CONNABLE
Washington
THE niceties are up for debate: phased or partial withdrawal from Iraq would entail pulling troops back to their bases across the country, or leapfrogging backward to the nearest international border, or redeploying to bases in nearby countries.
But whatever the final prescription, the debate must include a sober look at the street-level impact of withdrawal. What will become of Iraqi villages, towns and cities as we pull out? Although past is not necessarily prologue, recent experience in Anbar Province may be instructive.
=
The New York Times
http://select.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/opinion/18herbert.html
December 18, 2006
Op-Ed Columnist
Out of Sight
By BOB HERBERT
Baker, La.
There are hundreds of children in the trailer camp that is run by FEMA and known as Renaissance Village, but they won't be having much of a Christmas. They're trapped here in a demoralizing, overcrowded environment with adults who are mostly broke, jobless and at the end of their emotional tethers. Many of the kids aren't even going to school.
"This is a terrible environment for children," said Anita Gentris, who lost everything in the flood that followed Hurricane Katrina and is living in one of the 200-square-foot travel trailers with her 10-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son. "My daughter is having bad dreams. And my son, he's a very angry child right now. He cries. He throws things.
"I'm desperately trying to find permanent housing."
http://select.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/opinion/18herbert.html
December 18, 2006
Op-Ed Columnist
Out of Sight
By BOB HERBERT
Baker, La.
There are hundreds of children in the trailer camp that is run by FEMA and known as Renaissance Village, but they won't be having much of a Christmas. They're trapped here in a demoralizing, overcrowded environment with adults who are mostly broke, jobless and at the end of their emotional tethers. Many of the kids aren't even going to school.
"This is a terrible environment for children," said Anita Gentris, who lost everything in the flood that followed Hurricane Katrina and is living in one of the 200-square-foot travel trailers with her 10-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son. "My daughter is having bad dreams. And my son, he's a very angry child right now. He cries. He throws things.
"I'm desperately trying to find permanent housing."
=
Forwarded from Susan Frishkorn
Tri-County - chances@attglobal.net
Showdown looms over domestic spying
New Congress may demand Bush seek warrants, but will he yield?
The Associated Press
Updated: 4:44 p.m. CT Dec 16, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO - Federal agents continue to eavesdrop on Americans' electronic communications without warrants a year after President Bush confirmed the practice, and experts say a new Congress' efforts to limit the program could trigger a constitutional showdown.
High-ranking Democrats set to take control of both chambers are mulling ways to curb the program Bush secretly authorized a month after the Sept. 11 attacks. The White House argues the Constitution gives the president wartime powers to eavesdrop that he wouldn't have during times of peace.
"As a practical matter, the president can do whatever he wants as long as he has the capacity and executive branch officials to do it," said Carl Tobias, a legal scholar at the University of Richmond in Virginia.
Tri-County - chances@attglobal.net
Showdown looms over domestic spying
New Congress may demand Bush seek warrants, but will he yield?
The Associated Press
Updated: 4:44 p.m. CT Dec 16, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO - Federal agents continue to eavesdrop on Americans' electronic communications without warrants a year after President Bush confirmed the practice, and experts say a new Congress' efforts to limit the program could trigger a constitutional showdown.
High-ranking Democrats set to take control of both chambers are mulling ways to curb the program Bush secretly authorized a month after the Sept. 11 attacks. The White House argues the Constitution gives the president wartime powers to eavesdrop that he wouldn't have during times of peace.
"As a practical matter, the president can do whatever he wants as long as he has the capacity and executive branch officials to do it," said Carl Tobias, a legal scholar at the University of Richmond in Virginia.
=
CQPolitics.com
The CQPolitics Interview: Dennis Kucinich
By Marie Horrigan
Congressional Quarterly
By Marie Horrigan
Congressional Quarterly
Friday 15 December 2006
"People aren't looking for the Democrats to be better managers of the war, theywant the Democrats to end the war and to bring our troops home."
- Dennis Kucinich
Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio this week became the second officeholder to announce a bidfor the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. And since the other candidate is retiring IowaGov. Tom Vilsack, Kucinich is the first member of Congress to officially enter the Democrats'presidential sweepstakes.
He also is the first repeat candidate for the party's 2004 White House field. Kucinich did notgain serious political traction that year - earning less than 4 percent of the overall primary vote- and his candidacy was largely seen as a symbolic effort to represent the liberal activist wing ofthe party.
=
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/world/middleeast/18justice.html?ei=5094&en=8bbe0ca95f0b352c&hp=&ex=1166418000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print
December 18, 2006
Former U.S. Detainee in Iraq Recalls Torment
By MICHAEL MOSS
One night in mid-April, the steel door clanked shut on detainee No. 200343at Camp Cropper, the United States military's maximum-security detentionsite in Baghdad.
American guards arrived at the man's cell periodically over the next severaldays, shackled his hands and feet, blindfolded him and took him to a paddedroom for interrogation, the detainee said. After an hour or two, he wasreturned to his cell, fatigued but unable to sleep.
The fluorescent lights in his cell were never turned off, he said. At mosthours, heavy metal or country music blared in the corridor. He said he wasrousted at random times without explanation and made to stand in his cell.Even lying down, he said, he was kept from covering his face to block outthe light, noise and cold. And when he was released after 97 days he wasexhausted, depressed and scared.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/world/middleeast/18justice.html?ei=5094&en=8bbe0ca95f0b352c&hp=&ex=1166418000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print
December 18, 2006
Former U.S. Detainee in Iraq Recalls Torment
By MICHAEL MOSS
One night in mid-April, the steel door clanked shut on detainee No. 200343at Camp Cropper, the United States military's maximum-security detentionsite in Baghdad.
American guards arrived at the man's cell periodically over the next severaldays, shackled his hands and feet, blindfolded him and took him to a paddedroom for interrogation, the detainee said. After an hour or two, he wasreturned to his cell, fatigued but unable to sleep.
The fluorescent lights in his cell were never turned off, he said. At mosthours, heavy metal or country music blared in the corridor. He said he wasrousted at random times without explanation and made to stand in his cell.Even lying down, he said, he was kept from covering his face to block outthe light, noise and cold. And when he was released after 97 days he wasexhausted, depressed and scared.
=
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700091_pf.html
Battling Palestinian Factions Agree to End Hostilities
By Scott Wilson
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, December 18, 2006; A18
JERUSALEM, Dec. 17 -- After a day of partisan bloodshed, rival Palestinianfactions agreed Sunday to stop hostilities that appeared to be pushing theterritories toward a broad civil conflict.
The agreement had the potential to end several days of fighting between thegoverning Hamas party and the Fatah movement. Running gun battles earlierSunday in the Gaza Strip left at least two Palestinians dead.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700091_pf.html
Battling Palestinian Factions Agree to End Hostilities
By Scott Wilson
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, December 18, 2006; A18
JERUSALEM, Dec. 17 -- After a day of partisan bloodshed, rival Palestinianfactions agreed Sunday to stop hostilities that appeared to be pushing theterritories toward a broad civil conflict.
The agreement had the potential to end several days of fighting between thegoverning Hamas party and the Fatah movement. Running gun battles earlierSunday in the Gaza Strip left at least two Palestinians dead.
=
Forwarded from Susan Frishkorn
Tri-County - chances@attglobal.net
Colin Powell: US losing Iraq war
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said overstretched US troops are losing the conflict in Iraq.
Mr Powell told CBS News that bolstering troop numbers would be unlikely to reverse the "grave and deteriorating situation" in the country.
President Bush is trying to shape a new strategy for Iraq, with officials suggesting more soldiers may be sent.
Mr Powell's comments come a day before the new defence secretary, Robert Gates, is to be sworn in.
During his confirmation hearings, Mr Gates also conceded that the US was not winning in Iraq and faced a "regional conflagration" unless the downward spiral was reversed.
Tri-County - chances@attglobal.net
Colin Powell: US losing Iraq war
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said overstretched US troops are losing the conflict in Iraq.
Mr Powell told CBS News that bolstering troop numbers would be unlikely to reverse the "grave and deteriorating situation" in the country.
President Bush is trying to shape a new strategy for Iraq, with officials suggesting more soldiers may be sent.
Mr Powell's comments come a day before the new defence secretary, Robert Gates, is to be sworn in.
During his confirmation hearings, Mr Gates also conceded that the US was not winning in Iraq and faced a "regional conflagration" unless the downward spiral was reversed.
[Send your comments about articles to Rays.List@Comcast.net]
#####
No comments:
Post a Comment