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Quote of the day. "If you don't have an idea that materializes and changes a person's life, then what have you got? You have talk, you have research, you have telephone calls, you have meetings, but you don't have a change in the community." Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, 1921-2009. (USA Today)
Health care. Obama Faces 'Scare Tactics' Head-On “President Obama began a personal effort Tuesday to reclaim momentum for his health-care initiative with a direct rebuttal of what he called 'scare tactics,' rumors, and misrepresentations.” At N.H. forum, Obama hits back at ‘wild’ criticism of health bill “President Obama tried to counter what he called 'wild misrepresentations' about his proposed healthcare overhaul - his most concerted effort yet tin a debate recently dominated by critics’ aggressive assault.” At last, a Republican takes on Palin over health-care claims "'It does us no good to incite fear in people by saying that there's these end-of-life provisions, these death panels,' Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told an Anchorage health-care forum on Tuesday. 'Quite honestly, I'm so offended at that terminology because it absolutely isn't (in the bill). There is no reason to gin up fear in the American public by saying things that are not included in the bill.'" Many seniors aren't sure healthcare system needs repair “Seniors are an influential group of voters who bring a unique perspective to the topic: They already have guaranteed healthcare under Medicare, and they also are the heaviest users of medical services.”
Health care in the UK. 'Evil and Orwellian' – America's right turns its fire on NHS “The National Health Service has become the butt of increasingly outlandish political attacks in the U.S. as Republicans and conservative campaigners rail against Britain's 'socialist' system as part of a tussle to defeat Barack Obama's proposals for broader government involvement in healthcare.”
Immigration. Napolitano Focuses on Immigration Enforcement “A day after President Obama announced that legislation to overhaul immigration laws would have to wait until next year, the secretary of homeland security played down the need for change in a speech here and took a tough stance on enforcing current immigration laws.” Border security not an isolated issue, Napolitano says “One day after President Obama concluded a summit in Mexico, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday that securing the Southwest border required targeting several issues at the same time: illegal immigration, drug trafficking and violence in Mexico.”
Firing U.S. attorneys. Karl Rove took active role in U.S. attorney's firing, documents show “Karl Rove and other officials in George W. Bush's White House played an active role in the firing of the top federal prosecutor in New Mexico, according to documents released Tuesday that also show Bush political aides tried to influence Justice Department officials on other matters.” Probe shows Rove played key role in firing U.S. attorneys “Karl Rove and other top officials in the George W. Bush White House were deeply involved in pushing for the ouster of several U.S. attorneys, notably including one in New Mexico, according to testimony and e-mails that the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee released Tuesday.”
Death penalty. N. Carolina takes aim at racial bias in death penalty cases “North Carolina on Tuesday became only the second state — the other is Kentucky — with a law that allows murder suspects and death-row inmates to try to prove racial bias was behind a prosecutor's decision to seek the death penalty or a jury's decision to impose it.”
Afghanistan. U.S. troops enter Taliban stronghold “U.S. troops backed by fighter jets have entered a strategic Taliban-held town in southern Afghanistan, to gain control of the area before next week's presidential elections.” U.S. Ambassador Seeks More Money for Afghanistan Reconstruction “The United States will not meet its goals in Afghanistan without a major increase in planned spending on development and civilian reconstruction next year, the U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told the State Department.” Western airstrikes kill fewer Afghan civilians “Fewer civilians were killed by airstrikes in Afghanistan last month even as U.S. and NATO forces pushed deep into Taliban territory, driving clashes and Western casualties sharply higher.”
Burma-Suu Kyi. Challenge against Aung San Suu Kyi term “Lawyers for Aung San Suu Kyi said they would appeal against the 18-month sentence imposed for breaking the terms of her house arrest as world leaders stepped up criticism of the Burmese regime.” China calls on West to respect Suu Kyi sentence “China urged the international community to respect the extended house arrest imposed on the Burmese democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, which has provoked fury from western governments, promises of new sanctions and growing demands for an arms embargo on Burma’s junta.”
Pakistan. Article Points to Risk of Seizure of Pakistani Nuclear Materials “Pakistan’s nuclear facilities have come under attack from the Taliban and other groups, and there is a 'genuine' risk that militants could seize weapons or bomb-making material, an article published in a West Point research group’s newsletter said.”
Iraq. Shiites in Iraq Show Restraint as Sunnis Keep Attacking “Shiite clerics and politicians have been successfully urging their followers not to retaliate against a fierce campaign of sectarian bombings, in which Shiites have accounted for most of the 566 Iraqis killed since American troops pulled out of Iraq’s cities on June 30.”
Iran. Iran admits 4,000 detentions “Authorities in Iran say 4,000 people were detained in protests that followed June's disputed presidential election - many more than previously stated.” Inquiry urged into Iran rape claims “One of the defeated reformist candidates in Iran's disputed presidential election is calling for an investigation into claims that anti-government protesters were raped while in custody.”
Palestine. Abbas emerges stronger from Fatah gathering “Over the last week, however, a more forceful Abbas stepped forward. After cajoling the aging leaders of his Fatah movement to hold its first convention in two decades and put their jobs on the line, he fended off an assault by younger activists on his own record.”
Israel. Israel Is Wary of Calm Days That May End in Turmoil “Israel is flourishing this summer, and one might imagine its people and leaders to be breathing a sigh of relief after nearly a decade of violence and unease. That, however, is far from the case. On every front, Israel is worried that it is living a false calm that could explode at any moment."
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