Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

VIKTOR YANUKOVYCH SAYS HE WILL RESIGN AS UKRAINE'S PRIME MINISTER


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

The death toll from the Indonesian quakes and tsunamis is nearing 150,000
said a U.N. humanitarian chief.


Log on to www.cbsnews.com for details.

-- Indonesia’s health ministry raises quake, tsunami death toll to more than 94,000, bringing regional toll to more than 155,000.

Watch CNN or log on to http://CNN.com for the latest news.

-- White House: Former Presidents Clinton and Bush to lead nationwide charitable fund-raising effort for tsunami victims.

Watch CNN or log on to http://CNN.com for the latest news.
More Americans watch CNN. More Americans trust CNN.

Baghdad Governor Assassinated
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/...ain541815.shtml
CBS News Online

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2...tent_405831.htm

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq

this hasn't been confirmed yet by DOD

30,000 trained terrorists operating in Iraq, intelligence chief says


Cairo — As many as 30,000 well-trained terrorists are actively operating throughout Iraq at the behest of former regime leaders based in Syria, Iraq's intelligence chief said in Wednesday's edition of a pan-Arab newspaper.

full story:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...y/International

http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=6517

Al-Zarqawi captured in Iraq
1/5/2005 7:00:00 AM GMT
By AlClick


The real name of Al-Zarqawi, 38, Jordanian is Ahmad al-Khalayleh

Abu Mus'ab Al Zarqawi, on whom the U.S. put a bounty of US$10 million, has been arrested in the Iraqi city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday citing Kurdish media.

According to Al-Bayane’s correspondent in Iraq, the report on Al Zarqawi’s arrest was also reported by the Kurdish media, the first to announce Saddam’s seizure.

However, no official report on arresting Al Zarqawi, declared by the U.S. occupation authorities as its "target number one" in Iraq has yet emerged.

The real name of Al-Zarqawi, 38, Jordanian is Ahmad al-Khalayleh.

Al Zarqawi’s armed group's has divided Iraq into several emirates. It’s independent subdivisions at a strength of 50 to 500 fighter operate in Fallujah, Al-Qaim, Diala, and Samarra.

The overall number of the group’s fighters is 1,500, including Iraqis and citizens of other Arab countries.

Al Zarqawi group also includes demolition experts and missile men.

The U.S. occupation forces have been accusing the group of using several houses across Iraqi cities as weapons stores.

The group seeks hampering Iraq’s upcoming elections, scheduled for Jan. 30.

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

MURDER CONVICTIONS AGAINST ANDREA YATES HAVE BEEN OVERTURNED


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

-- Texas court reverses murder convictions of Andrea Yates, the woman found guilty of drowning her 5 children in bathtub.

A Texas appeals court has overturned Andrea Yates' murder convictions in the
drowning of her children.

Log on to www.cbsnews.com for details.

Well that should overshadow anything that goes on today on The Hill. How fortuneate to have captured him right at this time, huh?

His capture was reported two days ago internationally, the Repubs just wanted to wait to release this to overshadow election concerns.

Has a challenge to the Electoral certification ever happened before?

I just read in another post that it has happened once before... 1877.
This will be a truely historic day.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...63&sid=96378798

Senior Democrats Urge DNC Chairman to Stay

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...63&sid=96378798

Democrats Force Debate on Election Mishaps

Another convenient capture? Yeah, Repukes want to distract once again from the GREAT NEWS on the Hill. However, we must keep the drum beating. Even if they caught this guy, they still made a mess in Iraq--an unnecessary one.

This still hasn't been confirmed by the State Department or DOD

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

SEVEN U.S. SOLDIERS KILLED BY ROADSIDE BOMB IN BAGHDAD


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

The same day that Kerry is in Baghadad!

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

CONGRESS CERTIFIES BUSH RE-ELECTION, DESPITE DEMOCRATS' PROTEST OVER OHIO VOTE


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

A 79-YEAR-OLD REPUTED KU KLUX KLANSMAN IS CHARGED WITH MURDER IN THE 1964 SLAYING OF THREE CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

__________________________________
NEWS ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal


Jan. 7, 2005

U.S. nonfarm employers added 157,000 jobs to their payrolls in December, below the 175,000 economists had been expecting. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.4%.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1105103...0319962,00.html

Sweden shuts down 2 nuclear plants, GB measures winspeed 50m/s, in Scandinavia, at least 9 dead, floods greatest in 40 years.

Latest News:
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm

Sun 9 Jan 2005
9:21am (UK)
Ten Killed by Storms
"PA"

At least ten people were killed and hundreds of thousands were without power when a storm with hurricane-strength winds swept through northern Europe late yesterday and early today.

Key bridges and airports were temporarily closed, while rail and ferry traffic was suspended.

In Sweden, at least six people were killed, including two whose cars were struck by falling tree branches, police and rescue officials said.

In Denmark, one motorist was killed when a tree crashed onto his car in Odense, 105 miles west of the capital, Copenhagen. Three others were killed by debris and falling trees.

Meteorologists described the storm as one of the worst to hit Scandinavia in years. The winds were clocked in some areas at more than 75 mph.

Ferry traffic between Sweden, Denmark and Germany was heavily disrupted, with dozens of delays and cancellations, while floods inundated parts of Britain and left one ferry stranded.

In the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, winds damaged houses and forced train and ferry links and highway bridges to shut down.

Two 20-year-old men whose kayak capsized on a lake near the town of Landwedel were missing, police said.

Airports in Copenhagen and Malmoe, Sweden’s third largest city, were closed Saturday night with many inbound flights rerouted to Stockholm, among them one carrying Sweden’s Queen Silvia who was on her way to Malmoe to attend a memorial service for people killed in the Asian tsunami.

Five of Sweden’s eleven nuclear reactors were closed temporarily when salt water was blown into electricity distribution plants.

“Power supply has not been affected so far because of the weekend, but there may be problems on Monday when work starts again,” said Jan-Erik Olsson, press spokesman for the Sydkraft utility company.

Many roads in southern Sweden were flooded, and citizens were urged to stay indoors. Bridges between the island of Funen, where Odense sits, and Zealand, where Copenhagen is located, were closed. Also temporarily closed was the bridge linking Copenhagen and Malmoe.

In southern Sweden, virtually all trains were cancelled, and more than 410,000 households were without power this morning, authorities said. In Denmark, about 60,000 households lost electricity.

In Malmoe, a game in Sweden’s top hockey league was stopped during the third period after the strong wind caused the roof of the arena to sway.

In neighbouring Finland, sea levels reached record highs, cutting off several roads on the southern and south-western coasts, but no major damage was reported. Several ships stayed in port after meteorologists issued storm warnings.

Also, rescue teams piled thousands of sandbags and large bales of recycled paper on the waterfront in downtown Helsinki near the president’s palace where the sea rose 5ft above normal levels onto the streets and market place.

There were more than 100 flood warnings across England, Scotland and Wales, and thousands of homes had no electricity in central and southern England.

Carlisle, in north-west England, was deluged by water when the River Eden burst its banks and cut off roads. Police asked boat owners to help them reach residents, and military helicopters were called in to evacuate at least 15 people from flooded homes.

“We’ve rescued a 90-year-old man. We’ve had a family including a young baby rescued out of an upstairs window,” said Royal Air Force spokesman Mike Mulford.

Some 43 passengers and 57 crew were forced to spend the night on the P&O European Highlander ferry, which ran aground off the south-west coast of Scotland after a stormy crossing from Northern Ireland.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...p/europeweather

At least eight killed as storm pounds north
Europe

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...bmarine_aground

US nuclear sub runs aground in Pacific, 20 sailors injured

Coalition bombs wrong house in Mosul


http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/09/...main/index.html

Congress expects the White House to request as much as $100 billion Read more at this site

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?t...storyID=7280190

Bomb Destroys U.S. Tank, Kills Two Soldiers in Iraq
Mon Jan 10, 2005 08:14 AM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A roadside bomb destroyed a U.S. tank in Baghdad Monday, killing two American soldiers and wounding four, the U.S. military said.

The blast came as insurgents stepped up attacks ahead of Iraqi elections due on Jan. 30.

The attack in southwest Baghdad raised to at least 1,067 the number of U.S. troops killed since the start of the war that toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Roadside bombs are one of the leading killers of U.S. troops in Iraq. They are hidden in everything from soda cans to animal carcasses.

I'd like to read: White House expects Congress to denial request

What if Congress said sorry Mr President we have no more money

All troops must return home now!

now look here Congress we the people (the taxpayers) have spoken - no more money for silly wars. If you approve you are fired!

Ukraine to bring troops home from Iraq
To Read more visit My Webpage

Simple math problem:

22 Million Iraqis. 78 Billion spent so far; another 100 Billion on request.

How much would it cost to offer each Iraqi the money in cash instead of cluster bombs?

REPORT: PRESIDENT BUSH HAS PICKED JUDGE MICHAEL CHERTOFF AS NEW SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

__________________________________
NEWS ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal


Jan. 11, 2005

Bush has selected Michael Chertoff, a federal appeals-court judge who helped craft the nation's legal response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, as the new head of the Homeland Security Department.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1105453...2422739,00.html

__________________________________
NEWS ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal


Jan. 12, 2005

The U.S. trade gap widened beyond economists' expectations to a record $60.3 billion in November as oil imports continued to climb, while sales of U.S. goods and services overseas fell for the first time in five months.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1105535...4423951,00.html

__________________________________
NEWS ALERT
from The Wall Street Journal


Jan. 12, 2005

The Supreme Court ruled that federal judges have been improperly adding time to criminals' sentences. The high court stopped short of striking down the federal-sentencing system but the decision calls into question longtime sentencing rules.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1105543...9624070,00.html

'2020' report says India, China will be US's economic and political rivals.


http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0114/dailyUpdate.html

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...a/israel_sharon

Report: Sharon Cuts Ties with Abbas

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

FEDERAL HEALTH ADVISERS RECOMMEND AGAINST OVER-THE-COUNTER SALES OF CHOLESTEROL DRUG MEVACOR


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...inians_violence

Top PLO Body Calls for End to Attacks

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

CONDOLEEZZA RICE WINS BACKING OF SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

Breaking News: State Called to Fermi II Plant
By Action News Team
Web produced by Jenny Clark
January 24, 2005

State, Wayne, and Monroe officials were called to the Fermi II nuclear plant in Monroe early Monday evening to investigate what they would only call a "situation".

Authorities told Action News just after 6:00 that they were responding to some kind of situation within the plant.

Stay tuned to Action News for the latest developments in this breaking story.
http://www.detnow.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/a...3494434,00.html

Condi: less than candid! To regain world's trust, Rice should begin by telling truth at home

DURING the senate confirmation hearing for National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to become the first African-American woman to serve as secretary of state, the sound bites were dominated by her exchange with Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. "I personally believe, this is my personal view, that your loyalty to the mission you were given, to sell this war, overwhelmed your respect for the truth," Sen. Boxer stated. This prompted the normally steely-eyed Dr. Rice to demonstrate an uncharacteristic display of outward irritation: "Senator, we can have this conversation in any way that you would like. But I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity." The entertaining tete-a-tete about the past between Boxer and Rice notwithstanding, it was Rice's lack of candor about the present and future that I found most disconcerting. During the hearing, Rice suggested to Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., there were approximately 120,000 trained Iraqi troops, which Biden countered with an estimate of 4,000. How can Rice's estimates differ from Biden's by a factor of 30? I tend to lean toward Biden's number, for three reasons:

• First, the administration's penchant for painting scenarios rosier than reality dictates. Remember "Mission Accomplished!"
• Biden's estimate was based on his most recent trip to Iraq in December.
• The administration defines three weeks as "trained."

Assume for the moment the accuracy of Rice's estimate of 120,000. Would any of us consider three weeks of training sufficient for a police cadet to begin working the streets of New York City? Of course not. How, then, does three weeks of training prepare one for insurgents who want to disrupt Iraq's election by assassinating candidates and election workers?

The more important question at this juncture is: now what?
If the administration is unable or unwilling to answer the "now what" question, it could mean years, perhaps decades, of perdition for our troops. By our own estimation, 120,000 trained Iraqis, even if Dr. Rice's estimate is accurate, does not begin to meet the need. According to the Boston Globe, the Defense Science Board recently reported to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that nation-building efforts in unstable environments, such as in Iraq, require about 20 occupation troops for every 1,000 people. In Iraq that would mean a U.S. stabilization force of 500,000 troops, vastly more than the 150,000 now battling the insurgency. In addition to calling for better planning within the military for postwar operations, the report calls for dramatically greater involvement by the State Department, whose planning for the aftermath of the Iraq war was largely ignored by Rumsfeld and his senior aides. If diplomacy is a key component to getting our troops out of Iraq, it begs the question: How effective can a secretary of state be in the international community when she is not forthcoming with members of her own legislative branch of government? While Rice was battling Boxer for the protection of her integrity, she could not bring herself to say that support for the war by American people, and by Congress, was based on an imminent threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. When it was clear no such weapons existed, the war became about removing a brutal dictator who somehow was complicit in the 9/11 tragedy. Meanwhile, a recent Washington Post-ABC poll found that 58% of Americans now disapprove of the president's handling of the situation in Iraq to 40% who approve. And only 44% now feel the war is worth fighting. This administration, by its own admission, must recapture the global credibility lost as the result of its Iraq policy. It is the secretary of state who will be largely responsible for that monumental task. As Biden stated to Rice at her confirmation hearing, "This isn't about revisiting the past. It's about how you will meet the challenges of the future."

Byron Williams writes a weekly political/social commentary at Byronspeaks.com. Byron serves as pastor of the Resurrection Community Church in Oakland, California.

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 31 DEAD IN U.S. MARINE HELICOPTER CRASH


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

U.S. Marine transport helicopter crashes in western Iraq, as many as 30
believed killed.

Log on to www.cbsnews.com for details.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) A senior Palestinian commander says Israel will hand over four West Bank cities to Palestinian control within 10 days.

Visit Yahoo! News for more details or search for this story on Yahoo! News Search.

A U.S. Marine helicopter transporting troops in Iraq has crashed,
killing dozens, according to preliminary reports. The latest:
http://email.chicagotribune.com/cgi-bin1/D...Io30G2E0FtVa0AQ