In the News: May-20

Efforts to close Guantanamo at standstill: Gates - 20 May 2008 at 2:53pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Efforts to explore ways of closing the military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay have reached a standstill due to legal and practical problems, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday.

House passes bill to sue OPEC over oil prices - 20 May 2008 at 1:53pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday allowing the Justice Department to sue OPEC members for limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude prices, but the White House threatened to veto the measure.

Military officer: Iran jeopardizing peace in Iraq - 20 May 2008 at 12:38pm - WASHINGTON -- The top uniformed U.S. military officer told Congress Tuesday that Iran is directly jeopardizing peace in Iraq, prompting fresh calls from senators that the U.S. pursue diplomatic talks with Tehran.

US court: Paper money discriminates against blind - 20 May 2008 at 11:36am - WASHINGTON -- The U.S. discriminates against blind people by printing paper money that makes it impossible for them to distinguish among the bills' varying values, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Audit: FBI didn't join harsh terror interrogations - 20 May 2008 at 10:41am - WASHINGTON -- A Justice Department audit of terror interrogations at three military bases overseas concludes that the FBI refused to participate when detainees were questioned under harsh and potentially illegal methods.

White House denies story about attacking Iran - 20 May 2008 at 10:30am - WASHINGTON -- The White House on Tuesday denied a published report in Israel that said President Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term in January.

Iraqi troops welcomed in Sadr City for first time - 20 May 2008 at 2:33pm - BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces entered Baghdad's Sadr City in large numbers on Tuesday for the first time since followers of anti-American cleric Muqtada al Sadr agreed two weeks ago to allow them in..

Thought for the day:
Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock. -Ben Hecht (1893 - 1964)