Day: September 25, 2009

Terror attack was planned for 9/11/09

September 25, 2009

An Afghan immigrant wanted to carry out a New York City terror attack involving hydrogen peroxide bombs on commuter trains to possibly coincide with the Sept. 11 anniversary before federal authorities foiled the plan, a U.S. prosecutor said Friday.

U.S. prosecutor Tim Neff told a federal judge that Najibullah Zazi “was in the throes of making a bomb and attempting to perfect his formulation.”

“The evidence suggests a chilling, disturbing sequence of events showing the defendant was intent on making a bomb and being in New York on 9/11, for purposes of perhaps using such items,” Neff declared.

Justice Ginsburg released from hospital

September 25, 2009

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had cancer surgery earlier this year, made a quick return to work Friday after feeling ill at the office and spending the night in a Washington hospital as a precaution.

The 76-year-old justice was released from Washington Hospital Center in the morning and was at her desk by early afternoon, the court said.

Ginsburg became lightheaded in her office Thursday afternoon after receiving treatment for anemia. Although she was found to be stable after an examination, the court said she was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Ginsburg underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in February followed by a round of chemotherapy.

A common side effect of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is anemia.

Obama, allies demand inspection of Iran nuke plant

September 25, 2009

President Barack Obama and the leaders of France and Britain declared Friday that the revelation of a previously secret Iranian nuclear facility puts heavy new pressure on Tehran to quickly disclose all its nuclear efforts — including any moves toward weapons development — “or be held accountable.”

A defiant Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad retorted that his nation was keeping nothing from international inspectors and needn’t “inform Mr. Obama’s administration of every facility that we have.”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iran has until December to comply or face new sanctions. Before that, on Oct. 1, the Iranians are to meet with the U.S. and five other major powers to discuss a range of issues including Iran’s nuclear program.

The scary politics of fear

September 25, 2009

A standard ploy in political strategy says “if you want to win a battle, use whatever means necessary to scare the hell out of voters.”

It is a tactic that has worked well for political operatives on both sides of the fence. Lee Atwater used Willie Horton to scare voters in 1988 and put George H.W. Bush in office. James Carville used fears about the economy to beat Bush in 1992 and give us eight years of Bill Clinton.

George W. Bush played fear of terrorism for full effect but he used the fear card too much and voter anger gave Democrats control of Congress in 2006 and the Presidency in 2008.

McChrystal: Situation in Afghanistan ‘worse than expected’

September 25, 2009

The American general sent to Afghanistan to turn the war around says the situation he found was worse than expected and he doesn’t think the war can be won by simply throwing more firepower at the enemy.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal tells 60 Minutes this Sunday that civilian casualties are higher than he wanted is a key issue in whether or not the United States wins or loses the war.

On the violence, McChrystal said the situation is Iraq is worse now than when he arrived in country several months ago.

“They’re probably a little worse. I think that in some areas that the breadth of the violence, the geographic spread of violence, is a little more than I would have gathered.”

The interview with McChrystal will be broadcast Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Feds urged to spend more on national parks

September 25, 2009

Spending on national parks should be increased by at least $700 million over the next seven years, an independent panel urged Congress on Thursday .

The additional spending should bring increased tourism, promote enjoyment of the outdoors and help preserve national treasures for future generations, the panel said.

The bipartisan National Parks Second Century Commission also urged President Barack Obama to appoint a panel charged with promoting the parks and raising private money in time for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016. It also called for an expansion of the National Park Service’s mission, making education an explicit part of the agency for the first time.

Justice Ginsburg hospitalized

September 25, 2009

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the 76-year-old Supreme Court justice who underwent pancreatic cancer surgery earlier this year, fell ill at work after a treatment for anemia and was hospitalized overnight.

Ginsburg was taken to Washington Hospital Center at 7:45 p.m. EDT Thursday and would remain there for the night as a precaution, a statement from the court said.

Earlier in the day, Ginsburg had received an iron sucrose infusion to treat an iron deficiency anemia that had been discovered in July.

About an hour later, she “developed lightheadedness and fatigue,” the statement said. She was found to have a slightly low blood pressure, which the court said can occur after the type of treatment she received.

Iran accused of building secret nuclear facility

September 25, 2009

President Barack Obama and the leaders of France and Britain will accuse Iran on Friday of building a secret facility to produce nuclear fuel, The New York Times reported.

Senior administration officials told the Times that the three leaders would make the announcement in Pittsburgh before the opening of the G-20 economic summit. Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy will demand Tehran open the covert facility up to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran has kept the facility, 100 miles southwest of Tehran, hidden from international weapons inspectors for years, but the U.S. has long known of its existence, the Times said.

Obama decided to go public with the revelation after Iran learned that Western intelligence agencies were aware of the project.

Officials told the Times that the plant could be in operation by next year.

Kirk named as interim replacement for Kennedy

September 25, 2009

Massachusetts on Thursday named a Democratic replacement to fill the late Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat, giving President Barack Obama a vital extra vote in his health care reform battle.

Governor Deval Patrick named Paul Kirk, 71, as an interim replacement to Kennedy, whose death last month left the Senate one vote short of a critical 60 votes needed to block any Republican efforts to stall debate on a health care bill.

The additional Senate vote is more needed than ever, as Obama fights to push health reform through a skeptical US Congress.

“This appointment is a profound honor,” said Kirk, making clear that his appointment was only temporary until new elections could be held.

Divorce, American style

September 25, 2009

It’s easy to see why bookkeeper Linda Mortimer moved to the Florida Keys 20 years ago: the impossibly blue water, the year-round sunshine, a lifestyle so laid-back that every day is like a Jimmy Buffett lyric.

What Mortimer didn’t anticipate was falling in love — and then getting divorced less than two years after taking her wedding vows.

“I discovered after we got married that my husband had been divorced four times,” said Mortimer, as she finished a noontime burger while sitting at the bar at the Ocean View, a local party spot and Mortimer’s place of employment.

“I was his No. 5. He didn’t understand why I got so upset.”