In The News - Jan. 30

System error - January 29, 2006 - A program that was supposed to help the National Security Agency pluck out electronic data crucial to the nation's safety is not up and running more than six years and $1.2 billion after it was launched, according to current and former government officials.


FEMA acknowledges blunders during Katrina - 30 Jan 2006 at 5:24pm - WASHINGTON -- Poor planning and communication plagued FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina, a top agency official said Monday, acknowledging that other federal departments' offers to help rescue storm victims went unheard or were ignored.


Transsexuals 'to get 2 ID cards' - 30 Jan 2006 at 4:36pm - Transsexuals who have yet to have a sex-change operation will be entitled to two ID cards, says Home Office.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, today on whether Hamas can effectively lead Palestine without renouncing violence: "You cannot have a democratic process in which a party that is in government also maintains the right to violence. That isn't fair to those who would be in opposition."

Thank you, Dr. Mushroomcloud. Am I the only one who feels like I've been transported into some other universe every time I hear a member of the Bush administration insisting that "peaceful" governments must disavow ambitions to effect change through violent means?

Poll: Bush faces 'gloomy' electorate - 30 Jan 2006 at 7:53pm - An NBC/WSJ poll shows President Bush faces an electorate that continues to be dissatisfied with his job performance, increasingly wants U.S. soldiers home from Iraq and believes the GOP is associated more with special interests and lobbyists.