By:
G. Elena Calero
Mariana Almeida
Solange Vallejo
Iraq and the United States have agreed to set up a joint commission to examine security of US government officials in Iraq due to the controversy regarding the killing of several Iraqi Civilians by Blackwater Securities. Blackwater securities are now under investigation for their questionable actions.
Blackwater claimed that the shootings were done due to a car bombing but the others question their defence because the car bombing was too far away from the incident.
According to Blackwater USA’s website, it is the most comprehensive professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations company in the world.
Stemming from this unfortunate event, the White House had a briefing today on several issues including the Blackwater incident.
When asked about the events Press Secretary Dana Perrino said, “Deputy spokesman Tom Casey at the State Department is making an announcement right about now, if he hasn't already, regarding a joint commission of inquiry that the Iraqis and the United States are going to set up in order to look into what happened and to recommend any sort of policy changes that need to made in the future.”
Perrino says it is too early to make any comment but President Bush regrets the events and he along with his staff will conduct a full investigation and participation by the U.S.
The State Department Tom Casey said, “This..demonstrates that we and the Iraqis are committed to working together, both to address the activities or the response to the specific incident that’s occurred, as well as to look at the broader issues of the operation of personal security details in Iraq.”
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Blackwater Issues Call Joint Commision Investigation
Following the urging of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the U.S. State Department today announced a joint commission with the Iraqi government on investigating the partnership the American military holds with Blackwater USA, an independent security firm accused of killing 10 Iraqi civilians in a firefight Sunday.
The commission will closely examine how American and Iraqi forces have worked with independent security contractors and then provide recommendations based on the findings.
The creation of the commission follows public outcry from the Iraqi government and civilians. Iraqi officials claim the Security firm started a firefight Sunday which resulted in casualties. American officials claim the convoy was under fire form about eight insurgents and that Blackwater officers had no choice but to protect the American envoy and fire back.
The White House is closely monitoring the situation and refused to comment any further, citing the Department of State’s investigation into the matter.
White House Response to Beirut Killings
Lebanon lost an anti-Syrian parliamentarian today in an explosion in a Christian suburb east of Beirut. At least four other people were killed and about 30 people injured.
It’s no surprise that the attack comes as the country prepares to elect a new president. Antoine Ghanem, 64, a deputy in the Lebanese Phalange Party, was among those killed in the blast.
Ghanem’s death reduces the ruling majority vote in the Parliament, with pro-government lawmakers holding 68 seats out of 128, compared to the opposition’s 59.
In a White House press briefing today Press Secretary Dana Perino expressed the White House’s response to the killings.
“We strongly condemn the assassination of a Lebanese member of parliament, Antoine Ghanem. He was viciously murdered today in Beirut, along with several other innocent persons,” Perino said.
The White House also clearly expressed their stance. “The United States will continue to stand by those Lebanese who continue to courageously stand up for democracy and independence,” Perino furthered.
Click here for more info:
http://http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/19/lebanon.explosion/?iref=mpstoryview
White House still silent on Blackwater
By Marlene, Tiffany and Jose
Three days after the deadly shooting Sunday in Baghdad in which employees of private security firm Blackwater killed as many as 20 Iraqi civilians, the White House remains tight-lipped on the incident.
Press secretary Dana Perino decline to comment on behalf of Pres. George W. Bush, saying she has not yet discussed the matter with him.
Perino referred all other questions on the shooting to the State Department, which also announced Wednesday the creation of a joint U.S.-Iraqi commission to investigate Sunday’s events.
Blackwater employees opened fire on Iraqi civilians Sunday, allegedly in response to a car bombing that threatened the security of U.S. officials.
“We are in a very dangerous situation over there, and civilians who are working for either the State Department or other agencies need protection,” Perino said
Equally unclear at this point, Perino said, is who will now protect U.S. officials in Iraq, given that Iraqi officials responded to the event – as well as long-time complaints from Iraqis that U.S. contractors routinely open fire on civilians without provocation –by revoking Blackwater’s license to operate in Iraq.
“This company should be punished. We are not going to allow it to kill Iraqis in cold blood. We have frozen all its activities and a joint panel has been formed to investigate the incident,” Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said.
See the press briefing transcript here.
White House Views on Health Care
BY: MICHELLE AREAN, YEDICA LEAL, MARIANA GUERRERO
Wednesday Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary, spoke at a White House press briefing. Of the topics discussed, Universal Healthcare was a hot one.
Karl Rove’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal was brought up. It was said that Rove’s column pointed out the different policies that the President has proposed in order to help us reach his goals. Rove pointed out that if you add all of the proposals together, they don’t really add up to universal health care coverage.
This is contradicting, being that Senator Clinton has just offered a universal health care plan in Iowa.
It was then pointed out that the President, through the HHS Secretary, said he'd be willing to meet with Congress to try to reach this goal. Perino was then asked if it’s possible to achieve this without some sort of requirement for individual heath care coverage.
“Universal coverage -- that has a different connotation; that is what people think of in terms of government-run health care. That is not what this administration supports,” Perrino said. “What we do support is making sure that everyone has access to affordable health care.”
She also cleared up that what Rove had pointed out in his op-ed in the Wall Street Journal was simply the different policy proposals that the President has proposed.
Though Senator Hilarry Clinton’s health care plan was referenced to repeatedly, Perrino refused to comment on it.
“I'm not commenting on her plan. I'm not. Universal health care has been around for -- the concept has been around for a long time. I'm not commenting on Hillary Clinton's plan. It's a really nice try, but I'm not going to do it,” Perrino said.
President Bush's health care proposals:
Link to White House Press Briefing by Dana Perino
Audio of White House Press Briefing by Dana Perino
Wednesday Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary, spoke at a White House press briefing. Of the topics discussed, Universal Healthcare was a hot one.
Karl Rove’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal was brought up. It was said that Rove’s column pointed out the different policies that the President has proposed in order to help us reach his goals. Rove pointed out that if you add all of the proposals together, they don’t really add up to universal health care coverage.
This is contradicting, being that Senator Clinton has just offered a universal health care plan in Iowa.
It was then pointed out that the President, through the HHS Secretary, said he'd be willing to meet with Congress to try to reach this goal. Perino was then asked if it’s possible to achieve this without some sort of requirement for individual heath care coverage.
“Universal coverage -- that has a different connotation; that is what people think of in terms of government-run health care. That is not what this administration supports,” Perrino said. “What we do support is making sure that everyone has access to affordable health care.”
She also cleared up that what Rove had pointed out in his op-ed in the Wall Street Journal was simply the different policy proposals that the President has proposed.
Though Senator Hilarry Clinton’s health care plan was referenced to repeatedly, Perrino refused to comment on it.
“I'm not commenting on her plan. I'm not. Universal health care has been around for -- the concept has been around for a long time. I'm not commenting on Hillary Clinton's plan. It's a really nice try, but I'm not going to do it,” Perrino said.
President Bush's health care proposals:
- The President Has Proposed Replacing Our Current Health Insurance Tax System With A Standard Deduction For Health Insurance. For the millions of Americans who have no health insurance, the standard deduction would help put a basic private health insurance plan within reach. Under the President's proposal, families purchasing health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on $15,000 of income. Single Americans purchasing health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on $7,500 of income.
- The President's Proposal Will Rein In Health Costs By Promoting High Value Coverage. By replacing the current unfair system with a standard deduction for health insurance, the President's proposal will give working families and individuals an incentive to purchase coverage – and the same tax advantages for purchasing that insurance – and encourage them to evaluate which health insurance policies represent the highest value for quality care
- The Affordable Choices Initiative Will Encourage States To Innovate. State participation will be voluntary, and States will design their own programs, subject to Federal approval.
States could offer direct premium assistance to low-income or hard-to-insure populations to purchase private health insurance.
States could establish high-risk pools, or expand existing high-risk pools, for very sick individuals who are deemed uninsurable in the non-group market.
States could help facilitate pooling of individuals and small businesses and organize their access to private health plans.
For more of the president's proposals, visit www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthcare.
Link to White House Press Briefing by Dana Perino
Audio of White House Press Briefing by Dana Perino
Bush wants wiretapping made permanent
BY: Scott and Chester
The president called for congress to make the Foriegn Intelligence wire tap law permanent and to expand its eavesdropping power.
White house press secretary Dana Perino said today that though Democrats are concerned about ambiguities and loopholes in the law the president wants to go ahead with his plan.
we'd be willing to take a look at it. But as I said, we don't believe anything needs to be changed, but we're willing to listen to them if they can think of something that will help.
Many officials on the Hill believe that the law overstretches its boundaries. House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi believes the new law goes too far and ougth to further restricted, not expanded, to protect America's right to privacy. President Bush disagrees.
"The threat from al Qaida is not going to expire in 135 days," Bush said. "So I call on congress to make the protect america act permanent."
The law came in this past August when the President signed legislation that expanded the government's authority to easdrop on international phone calls and email messages of American citizens.
Here is what one constitutional lawyer has to say.
The president called for congress to make the Foriegn Intelligence wire tap law permanent and to expand its eavesdropping power.
White house press secretary Dana Perino said today that though Democrats are concerned about ambiguities and loopholes in the law the president wants to go ahead with his plan.
we'd be willing to take a look at it. But as I said, we don't believe anything needs to be changed, but we're willing to listen to them if they can think of something that will help.
Many officials on the Hill believe that the law overstretches its boundaries. House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi believes the new law goes too far and ougth to further restricted, not expanded, to protect America's right to privacy. President Bush disagrees.
"The threat from al Qaida is not going to expire in 135 days," Bush said. "So I call on congress to make the protect america act permanent."
The law came in this past August when the President signed legislation that expanded the government's authority to easdrop on international phone calls and email messages of American citizens.
Here is what one constitutional lawyer has to say.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Senator Johnson Returns to Senate (Group: Kendall Lifestyle)
U.S. Senate members welcomed back Democratic Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota on Wednesday. Sen. Johnson was on leave recovering from a life-threatening brain hemorrhage since December 13, 2006. His sudden illness caused political drama over whether this would cause the Democrats to lose control of the Senate.
Senator John Thune, Johnson’s home-state Republican colleague, gave the welcoming speech calling this day a milestone in Sen. Johnson’s recovery.
“Nearly every single individual said they were praying for him. I believe it was those prayers that brought him back,” he said. “We have put our political parties aside to come together for the people of South Dakota.”
Sen. Johnson must now decide whether he will run for re-election, although he seemed ready to return to work. “It’s great to be home,” he said earlier Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson is already at work: Johnson Announces Support for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill today. http://johnson.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=281802
Senators adopted a resolution (S Res 306) extending “their warmest welcome” and expressing “their personal happiness at his return” and “their very best wishes for his continued health.”
Johnson responded with a brief set of remarks in return.
The senator said, “My ability to think is paramount, so I hope now as I return to my office people will focus on their work more quickly than I walk these days,” Johnson said. “This has been a long and humbling journey, a journey that has taken longer than some people have liked — and I count myself among them.”
Senator John Thune, Johnson’s home-state Republican colleague, gave the welcoming speech calling this day a milestone in Sen. Johnson’s recovery.
“Nearly every single individual said they were praying for him. I believe it was those prayers that brought him back,” he said. “We have put our political parties aside to come together for the people of South Dakota.”
Sen. Johnson must now decide whether he will run for re-election, although he seemed ready to return to work. “It’s great to be home,” he said earlier Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson is already at work: Johnson Announces Support for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill today. http://johnson.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=281802
Senators adopted a resolution (S Res 306) extending “their warmest welcome” and expressing “their personal happiness at his return” and “their very best wishes for his continued health.”
Johnson responded with a brief set of remarks in return.
The senator said, “My ability to think is paramount, so I hope now as I return to my office people will focus on their work more quickly than I walk these days,” Johnson said. “This has been a long and humbling journey, a journey that has taken longer than some people have liked — and I count myself among them.”
Johnson's back!
By: Mauricio Melinu, Dara Bramson, Javier CorreosoSenator Tim Johnson (D-SD) returned to the Senate following a nine month leave of absence due to a life threatening brain hemorrhage.
His return was a relief to the Democratic majority in the senate, which would have lost control, had Johnson not been able to return.
Johnson spent four months recovering in the hospital and additionally underwent nine months of rehabilitation.
"On a human level, everybody hopes and prays for Johnson’s recovery," wrote Eleanor Clift of Newsweek. "But this is Washington, and with the Senate poised to do real damage to Bush and his war party, not everybody’s prayers will be answered."
Fellow Senator John Thune (R-SD) gave a lengthy, heartfelt speech welcoming Johnson’s return to Capitol Hill, followed by words from Senator Johnson speaking from his wheelchair.
“It must already be clear to you that my speech is not 100 percent,” said Johnson. “But my thoughts are clear and my mind is sharp and I’m here to be a voice for South Dakota in the Senate.”
According to Eleanor Clift of Newsweek, Johnson was the only member of Congress with a child in the military. His son served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Pictures of Johnson's Return, courtesy of his office:
http://johnson.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=281772
Johnson welcomed back to senate
By: Lalinda De La Fuente, Ana Sanchez, Jennifer Rodriguez
After hours of emergency brain surgery, two months of physical, speech and occupational therapy and four months of recuperation, Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota is welcomed back to the Senate.
"This has been a long and humbling journey that has taken longer than some people may have liked, and I count myself among them," said Johnson in a short speech given before the Senate.
After suffering a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 13 of 2006, Johnson took an eight-month absence from the Senate causing concern among the Democratic Party.
His death or resignation would have caused GOP Governor Mike Rounds to possibly appoint a republican successor and return the Senate to Republican control.
Senator John Thune (R) of South Dakota gave a speech praising Johnson and welcoming his back to the Senate passing Resolution 306 with a unanimous vote.
"Johnson's experience has made me appreciate the little things," said Thune in his speech.
Support for Johnson is so great that a website called Welcome Back Tim has raised $42,956 for his re-election campaign.
After hours of emergency brain surgery, two months of physical, speech and occupational therapy and four months of recuperation, Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota is welcomed back to the Senate.
"This has been a long and humbling journey that has taken longer than some people may have liked, and I count myself among them," said Johnson in a short speech given before the Senate.
After suffering a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 13 of 2006, Johnson took an eight-month absence from the Senate causing concern among the Democratic Party.
His death or resignation would have caused GOP Governor Mike Rounds to possibly appoint a republican successor and return the Senate to Republican control.
Senator John Thune (R) of South Dakota gave a speech praising Johnson and welcoming his back to the Senate passing Resolution 306 with a unanimous vote.
"Johnson's experience has made me appreciate the little things," said Thune in his speech.
Support for Johnson is so great that a website called Welcome Back Tim has raised $42,956 for his re-election campaign.
Johnson returns to Senate after recovering from brain surgery
BY: Chester, Scott, and JoelVisibily struggling through the words of a speech, a still recovering Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S. Dak.) stood tall as he announced his return to the Senate nine months after an emergency brain surgery left him unable to walk or talk.
"My speech is not 100 percent, but doctors say it will get there, but my thoughts are clear," Johnson said during the Sept. 5 session.
Sen. John Thune (R-S. Dak.) introduced a resolution reinstating Johnson.
"It's good to see you back in the U.S. Senate," Thune said. He acknowledged that though the men come from different political backgrounds, they've worked together on many projects, such as highway bills and water projects.
"By his sheer will and determination, Johnson is back," Thune said.
Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage Dec. 13, 2006, a few days shy of his 60th birthday. He received an emergency surgery the next day.
Johnson was first elected to the senate in 1996.
Sen. Johnson's triumphant return
By: South Beach Group
G. Elena Calero, Mariana Almeida, Solange Vallejo
“Senator Johnson is back,” said South Dakota Sen. John Thume, on the floor of the senate on September 5, 2007. Senator Thume spoke of Sen. Johnson’s 9-month ordeal after he suffered a brain hemorrhage.
Sen. Thume said his recovery has been progressing. He has difficulty speaking, slurring and pronouncing words at a very slow pace. His recovery depends on how fast his brain injury heals.
Congress welcomed Sen. Johnson back to the senate floor. After everyone gave a standing ovation Sen. Thume said, “I know how tough this man is.” The fact that he is back serves Democrats well, because otherwise they would loose the majority. Sen. Johnson mentioned the possibility of returning and running for president in 2008.
On December 12, he felt ill while having a phone interview with reporters. He was conscious while being transported to Washington University Hospital. There, being diagnosed with arterivenous malformation, a condition that causes arteries and veins in the brain to grow abnormally large and sometimes break, he was immediatedly taken to surgery.
Sen. Thume said his recovery has been progressing. He has difficulty speaking, slurring and pronouncing words at a very slow pace. His recovery depends on how fast his brain injury heals.
Congress welcomed Sen. Johnson back to the senate floor. After everyone gave a standing ovation Sen. Thume said, “I know how tough this man is.” The fact that he is back serves Democrats well, because otherwise they would loose the majority. Sen. Johnson mentioned the possibility of returning and running for president in 2008.
On December 12, he felt ill while having a phone interview with reporters. He was conscious while being transported to Washington University Hospital. There, being diagnosed with arterivenous malformation, a condition that causes arteries and veins in the brain to grow abnormally large and sometimes break, he was immediatedly taken to surgery.
Links
His return http://sen.johnson.returns.senate.cnn/
First Appearance www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf9zoewvsu
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