Evening News for Thursday, June 7, 2007

US NATIONAL REPORT

Do Tell - Don't Ask, Don't Tell

During the Democratic debate in New Hampshire, the candidates all seemed willing to embrace the idea of allowing gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly in the military. Republicans, however, during their New Hampshire debate and when not preoccupied advocating nuking Iran, all seemed unwilling to do away with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Even Mitt Romney, becoming famous for his ability to stand on both sides of every issue, a onetime vocal critic of "don't ask, don't tell"; said he would now leave the policy unchanged.

The New York Times' Robin Toner noted:

Among the Democrats, the willingness to change course tracks a substantial change in public attitudes on several gay rights questions over the past decade. According to the Pew Research Center, 52 percent of Americans favored allowing gays to serve openly in the military in 1994, while 45 percent opposed it. By 2006, that majority had grown to 60 percent, while 32 percent opposed the idea.

In a trend that does not bode well for the often anti-gay-obsessed GOP's future prospects, 72 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 support allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Mitt Romney's 2016 candidacy will return to his original position of being critical of "don't ask, don't tell."

Republican Corruption on a Road Leading to a Bridge to Nowhere

Another Republican finds himself having to answer uncomfortable ethical questions. A truly twisted affair about a road too often traveled and that leads to nowhere:

It is no secret that campaign contributions sometimes lead to lucrative official favors. Rarely, though, are the tradeoffs quite as obvious as in the twisted case of Coconut Road.

Why a "twisted case"? That is because the deal involved millions of dollars allocated to a stretch of road in Florida that would greatly benefit a land developing donor for a Congressman - - only the Congressman, Republican Don Young, represents a district in the State of Alaska.

Some might say that Young's $10 million earmark for his land developing contributor in Florida is nothing - - a drop in the bucket, really. He is after all, the same Alaskan Republican who had sought a $200 million bridge to nowhere. Well, it wasn't exactly to nowhere: Gravina Island, Alaska, population 80.

The turmoil occurs at an awkward time for Mr. Young. A corruption scandal involving an Alaskan oil company has rattled the Republican Party in Alaska, and Mr. Young is among the biggest recipients of the company’s campaign donations.

One of his former top aides, Mark Zachares, has pleaded guilty to separate bribery charges involving the lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

And, now, Alaska's U.S. Senator is being probed by the FBI for his role in the bribery scandal. All the corruption and ethical-challenged behavior has the residents of Alaska contemplating a move to a real Democracy - - in Canada.

I'll Take it Both Ways Please

In what appears to be something like an epidemic among Republicans, Mitt Romney the apparent carrier, Republican congressional candidate Jim Ogonowski said the United States was wrong to invade Iraq:
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..[W]e lacked conclusive and irrefutable evidence that someone inside Iraq was actively supporting terror or planning to use weapons of mass destruction against the United States. ...I think it was wrong to invade Iraq."

The Massachusetts candidate then channeled his states former Governor, Mitt Romney, and quickly covered the other side of the Iraq War fence:

But in his first comments about Iraq, Ogonowski was adamant that American troops should not withdraw...

Ogonowski's vow to remain in Iraq until - - well, ... anyway, it is in stark contrast to Mister Bush's newly hired War Czar's position on the issue:

Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, a skeptic of the troop increase in Iraq and President George W. Bush's choice to oversee the war, said withdrawing troops may pressure the Iraqi government to make needed changes.

Under questioning from Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, Lute said the Michigan Democrat may be correct in his long-held assertion that the Iraqi government will only work to end sectarian strife if it has to.

A withdrawal "ought to be considered,'' Lute, 54, said.

No word yet, but it might be safe to bet Lute is going to get the George W. Bush boot.


WORLD REPORT

I Coulda Had a G8

The G-8's leaders supposedly settled on a plan to cut carbon emissions, but critics were quick to point out that there wasn't a lot of "there, there." Turns out the plan doesn't include any binding commitments:

The language of the declaration, however, falls short of an iron-clad agreement and contains no hard targets. It says the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases should "consider seriously" following the European Union, Canada and Japan in seeking to cut emissions.

The critics will probably be accused of being pessimists. After all, the plan does say the biggest polluters should "consider seriously" doing the right thing.

Frayed Nerves

Residents in the tsunami devastated Aceh community in Indonesia, cut the power to a tsunami early warning system after it malfunctioned and went off without cause:

Angry residents in Indonesia's Aceh have disabled a tsunami warning system after a false alarm spread panic in a province still traumatised by the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, an official said on Thursday.

Residents cut power to a siren on a tsunami warning tower in the Lhoknga area near the provincial capital Banda Aceh by smashing an electricity box, Syahnan Sobri, the head of the meteorology and geophysics agency in Aceh said.

A technical glitch prompted the siren to ring for about 30 minutes in Aceh Besar district on Monday, sending residents rushing out of their homes in panic.

Undoubtedly and rightfully a false alarm would be unnerving, but on the bright side the people know the siren works - - just a little too well.

Circle of Violence Continues

The war madness continues in the troubled Palestinian community. Fatah and Hamas renewed their fighting, which is certain to push the Palestinian people ever nearer an all out civil war:

Rival Hamas and Fatah forces clashed in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least one person and injuring 12 others, in the worst flare-up of factional fighting in almost three weeks.

The fighting spread across the southern Gaza town of Rafah as Hamas and Fatah gunmen set up checkpoints and took up positions on rooftops, two days after President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah said Palestinians were standing on the brink of civil war.

Let's hope the madness ends someday.