In the News: Apr-02

Body armor questioned - 2 Apr 2008 at 2:55pm - WASHINGTON -- The Army can't be sure some of its body armor met safety standards, partly because it didn't do proper paperwork on initial testing of the protective vests, a Defense Department audit said.

U.S. troop cut in Iraq to continue - 2 Apr 2008 at 2:31pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon will keep pulling troops out of Iraq through July despite an increase in violence, but then will halt withdrawals to assess the security situation, the top U.S. military officer said on Wednesday.

Iraq violence still a problem, says U.S. envoy - 2 Apr 2008 at 2:02pm - One week before his testimony before Congress, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said Wednesday that Iraq has dramatically improved over the past year but that violence which has occurred in recent weeks still remains a problem.

The fact that the violence which has occurred in recent weeks was instigated by the government is especially problematic.

Pentagon lauds Iraq leadership - 2 Apr 2008 at 1:52pm - WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon's top military official on Wednesday praised Iraq's government for going after militiamen in the southern city of Basra.

How does going after militiamen in Basra further the goal of political reconcilation?

States sue EPA over global warning - 2 Apr 2008 at 11:40am - BOSTON -- A group of state attorneys general is taking the EPA back to court to try to force it to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that rebuked the Bush administration for inaction on global warming.

Pentagon may close post-9/11 intelligence unit - 2 Apr 2008 at 10:13am - A plan to reorganize Pentagon intelligence activities proposes closing a controversial office that was criticized for improperly storing information on peace activists and others whose actions posed no threat. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is considering a recommendation to shut down the Counterintelligence Field Activity office and put some of its operations under the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Bush sets out to salvage legacy on world stage - 2 Apr 2008 at 9:13am - BUCHAREST (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush sought to salvage his legacy on the world stage on Wednesday by defending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and appealing to Russia to drop opposition to a missile defense shield.

For purposes of salvaging his legacy, it would probably be best for him to mention Iraq as infrequently as possible.

Thought for the day:
Money doesn't always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars. -Hobart Brown