In the News - Feb. 24

Germany admits its spies helped US in Iraq war - 24 Feb 2006 at 12:31pm - BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government released a report that said two German spies in Iraq provided the United States with intelligence but rejected allegations it aided the U.S. bombing campaign during the 2003 invasion.


IRS: Charities overstepping into politics - 24 Feb 2006 at 12:27pm - WASHINGTON -- IRS exams found nearly three out of four churches, charities and other civic groups suspected of having violated restraints on political activity in the 2004 election actually did so, the agency said Friday.


Bush Compares Iraqi Conflict to Nascent US Republic - 9:08 AM PST,February 24 2006 - WASHINGTON -- After two days of sectarian violence raged across Iraq, President Bush today warned that Iraq was facing "a moment of choosing," and he acknowledged that the comings days would be "intense."


Bush: U.S. Setting a "Forward Strategy for Freedom" - 24 Feb 2006 at 12:48pm - Saying that U.S. national security "depends on the advance of liberty in other nations," President Bush today offered a broad defense of his goal of spreading democracy worldwide and rejected the notion that his policies are "backfiring" in the Middle East.


US gives visa to top India scientist, apologizes - 24 Feb 2006 at 9:22am - Professor Goverdhan Mehta, 62, an internationally recognized organic chemist, is president of the Paris-based International Council for Science (ICSU) and had been invited to a conference by the University of Florida.


Pentagon cites Iraqi army gains, losses - 24 Feb 2006 at 10:06pm - WASHINGTON -- The number of Iraqi army battalions judged by their American trainers to be capable of fighting the insurgency without U.S. help has slipped from one to none since September, Pentagon officials said Friday.


Marines join special operations community - 24 Feb 2006 at 10:06pm - CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Marine Corps formally entered the world of military special operations Friday by establishing a separate command devoted to small-unit tactics and stealthy reconnaissance.


Bush admin. won't reconsider ports deal - 24 Feb 2006 at 10:04pm - WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said Friday it won't reconsider its approval for a United Arab Emirates company to take over significant operations at six U.S. ports. The former head of the Sept. 11 commission said the deal "never should have happened."


Identity of official to be kept from Libby - 24 Feb 2006 at 10:03pm - WASHINGTON -- Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, charged with perjury in the CIA leak case, cannot be told the identity of another government official who is said to have divulged a CIA operative's identity to reporters, a federal judge ruled Friday.


Chertoff worried Gulf not ready for storms - 24 Feb 2006 at 9:43pm - WASHINGTON -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday he is worried the Gulf Coast may not be ready to withstand another major storm as it struggles to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

Now he worries?