Politics,Elections and Democracy

Awards, honors, and decorations for President McCain

2008-04-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

John McCain the Next President of USA

Military

Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Distinguished Flying Cross .
National Order of Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam)

Civilian

On May 24 , 1999 , McCain shared the Profile in Courage Award with fellow Senator Russ Feingold for their work in trying to enact campaign finance reform .
In December 2004, McCain became an Honorary Patron of the University Philosophical Society at Trinity College Dublin .
On September 28 , 2005 , The Eisenhower Institute awarded McCain the Eisenhower Leadership Prize. prize recognizes individuals whose lifetime accomplishments reflect Dwight D. Eisenhower ’s legacy of integrity and leadership.
On December 5 , 2006 , McCain was awarded the Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award by the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs .
On February 13 , 2007 , the World Leadership Forum presented McCain with the Policymaker of the Year Award. The award is given internationally to someone who has "created, inspired or strongly influenced important policy or legislation".

The Next Presesident of United States of America is Senator John McCain

2008-04-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

Americans say hello to your New Predsident
President of United States Of America John McCain
My assumption is made on the following facts:

Hilary is a women Americans are no sissy mamma's boy to accept her.
Obama is lets face it black Americans are not stupid enough to elect a Black President.
McCain is a Vietnam War Veteran,and all Americans love Wars

A little info about Mccain:
from wikipedia

Preceded bySilver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal

Republican candidate for President of the United States


Election date November 4, 2008
Running mate	None He wins
Opponent(s)	None He wins
Incumbent	George W. Bush (R)
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1987 Serving with Jon Kyl
Preceded by	Barry Goldwater
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 1st district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	John Jacob Rhodes Jr.
Succeeded by	John Jacob Rhodes III

Born	August 29, 1936 (1936-08-29) (age 71) Coco Solo Naval Air Station, Panama Canal Zone
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Carol Shepp (m. 1965, div. 1980) Cindy Hensley McCain (m. 1980)
Children	Douglas (b. ~1960), Andrew (b. ~1962), Sidney (b. 1966), Meghan (b. 1984), John Sidney IV "Jack" (b. 1986), James (b. 1988), Bridget (b. 1991)
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy
Profession	Naval aviator, Politician
Net Worth	$23–36 million (USD)^[1]
Religion	Christian: Episcopalian (to 1990s) Baptist (by 2000s)
Military service
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1958–1981
Rank	Captain
Unit	USS Forrestal (CV-59) USS Oriskany (CV-34)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Rolling Thunder
Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Purple Heart Prisoner of War Medal

John McCain series

Early life and military career · (Memoir)
House and Senate career, 1982–1999
2000 presidential campaign
Senate career, 2001–present
2008 presidential campaign · Proposals
Cultural and political image

and in 1973. and were the first pair of father/son Four-Star after closely contested battles in several early primary states. In the 2008 presidential election cycle, McCain staged a comeback after his campaign stumbled in mid-2007, and by the end of John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is the senior United States Senator from Arizonapresumptive Republican Party nominee for President of the United States in the upcoming 2008 election. McCain's grandfatherfatheradmirals in the United States Navy. McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. He became a naval aviator, flying attack aircraft from carriers. During the Vietnam War in 1967, he narrowly escaped death in the Forrestal fire. On his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam later in 1967, he was shot down, badly injured, and captured as a prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese. He spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war, including periods of torture, before he was released in accordance with the Paris Peace Accords McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 1st congressional district in 1982. After serving two terms, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, winning reelection in 1992, 1998, and 2004. While generally adhering to conservative principles, McCain has established a reputation as a political maverick for his willingness to disagree with his party on several key issues. Surviving the Keating Five scandal of the 1980s, he made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns, eventually co-sponsoring the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002.McCain lost the Republican nomination in the 2000 presidential election to George W. BushJanuary 2008, he was the Republican front-runner once again. Following victories in early February and the withdrawal of his closest competitors, McCain gained enough delegates to solidify his status as the presumptive nominee on March 4, 2008.

Pope tells of youth under Nazis

2008-04-20T01:15:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict urged the young people to cherish their freedoms

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out for the first time about growing up under the "monster" of Nazism.

Speaking at a youth rally in New York, he said his teenage years had been "marred by a sinister regime".

The Pope was a Hitler Youth member as a teen, usual for young Germans at the time, and was conscripted by the German army near the end of World War II.

Earlier, during a Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan he again condemned paedophile Catholic priests.

Pope Benedict's tour of the US is his first visit to the country since being elected head of the Catholic Church - it was the third anniversary of his elevation to the papacy on Saturday and the event was formally commemorated with the Mass at St Patrick's.

Prisoner of war

Later in the day he addressed a cheering crowd of 30,000 young people on the field of St Joseph's Seminary, in the New York suburb of Yonkers.

Let us thank God that so many people of your generation are able to enjoy the liberties which have arisen from the extension of democracy and respect for human rights

Pope Benedict XVI

As a teenager, the pope was forced to join the Hitler Youth and he was conscripted into the German army towards the end of World War II, serving briefly in an anti-aircraft corps.

He deserted the German army towards the end of the war and was briefly held as a prisoner of war by the Allies in 1945.

After his release he studied theology and became a priest.

'Banished God'

The Pope told the crowd his own years as a teenager had been "marred by a sinister regime that thought it had all the answers".

"Its influence grew, infiltrating schools and civic bodies, as well as politics and even religion, before it was fully recognised for the monster it was," he said.

"It banished God and thus became impervious to anything true and good.

"Let us thank God that so many people of your generation are able to enjoy the liberties which have arisen from the extension of democracy and respect for human rights."

Pope Benedict XVI on life in Germany as a teenager

The earlier Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan marked the third anniversary of his election as leader of the Roman Catholic church.

Pope Benedict was greeted by the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, and the cathedral was filled with priests, deacons and members of religious orders.

A choir sang as the Pope walked down the large cathedral's central aisle. The congregation rose and applauded and some people leaned over to touch his robe or kiss his Fisherman's Ring.

"I join you in praying that this will be a time of purification for each and every particular Church and religious community, a time for healing," the Pope said in his sermon, referring to the scandal of sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy.

"I also encourage you to co-operate with your bishops who continue to work to effectively resolve this issue."

'Christian morality'

More than 4,000 US Catholic clergy have been accused of sexually abusing minors since 1950.

The Church has paid out more than $2bn (£1bn) in compensation and legal fees, most of it since the scandal erupted in 2002.

POPE'S ITINERARY

15 Apr: Arrived at Andrews Air Force Base

16 Apr: White House luncheon; talks with Mr Bush. Meeting with US bishops and prayer service in Washington (evening)

17 Apr: Washington Mass; addressed Catholic University; interfaith meeting

18 Apr: Addresses UN

19 Apr: New York Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral

20 Apr: Ground Zero visit; Yankee Stadium Mass

Latinos welcome Pope's words

Speaking out on the issue again during the Mass at St Patrick's, the Pope said the scandal had not only caused much damage to the victims of paedophile abuse, but had diminished the reputation of the church in US society.

"A society which seems to have forgotten God and to resent even the most elementary demands of Christian morality," he said .

The Vatican official in charge of reviewing sexual abuse claims against clergy worldwide said on Friday that the Church was considering changes to canon law governing the handling of such cases.

The official, Cardinal William Levada, did not specify the changes but said they would make it easier to remove clergy who had sexually abused children.

The sexual abuse scandal has been a recurring theme in the Pope's visit.

Addressing 40,000 people at a Washington stadium earlier in the week, he spoke of the issue before talking privately to a group of people who had been abused by priests.

On Sunday, he will lead prayers at the scene of the 9/11 attacks in New York and then celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium before returning to Rome later on Sunday.

Obama says US cannot ignore race

2008-03-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Mr Obama called on his own history in an ambitious speech

Obama on race issues

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama has sought to tackle the issue of race and defuse a controversy over comments made by his former pastor.

Mr Obama said he understood the history of anger between black and white Americans but that the US could not afford to ignore race issues.

He referred to the uproar over what he called the Rev Jeremiah Wright's "profoundly distorted view" of the US.

Mr Wright said the 9/11 attacks were like "chickens coming home to roost".

After the remarks resurfaced, Mr Obama denounced them as "incendiary" and "completely inexcusable" and said he had not been present when they were made.

Mr Obama is locked in a close race with New York Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, with the significant Pennsylvania primary vote due on 22 April.

The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Philadelphia says this was a bold speech with considerable risks, but one which Barack Obama clearly felt he had little choice but to make to defuse the race issue.

'Racial stalemate'

Speaking in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania city seen as the cradle of US democracy, Mr Obama drew on America's long history of racial inequality - and called on the US to move beyond it.

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community

Barack Obama

"The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races," he said.

As the child of a black father and white mother, he said he understood the passions of both sides in what he called "a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years" - and said he was not so naive as to believe it could be overcome in one election cycle.

However, Mr Obama said, he believed the nation could - if it worked together - move towards healing some of the wounds caused by racial injustice.

OBAMA SPEECH IN FULL

Barack Obama: A More Perfect Union [55KB]

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And while he condemned many of Mr Wright's political views as "not only wrong but divisive", he said it was important to remember that he had grown up at a time of racial segregation.

"I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother," he said.

He recalled that his grandmother had raised him and loved him - but that at times she had used racially-tinged language or stereotypes that made him "cringe".

'Don't walk away'

Mr Obama also said that it should not be news to Americans that anger over racial injustice still finds voice in many black churches.

The row was sparked by sermons given by the Rev Jeremiah Wright

"The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning," he said.

He challenged the nation not to ignore the issue of race "this time" - while acknowledging that white Americans, especially the working class, also had their problems.

"If we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American."

Race has emerged as an issue on several occasions in the battle between Mr Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, but at no time before has Mr Obama addressed it so directly.

Former President Bill Clinton was accused of stirring up racial politics over remarks he made after Mr Obama's victory in South Carolina's primary in January, in which he seemed to try to marginalise Mr Obama as a black candidate winning a state with a heavily black electorate.

In an interview with US network ABC broadcast on Monday, Mr Clinton rejected that criticism, saying the story had been spun out of nothing and that it was a "myth" that the Clinton campaign had engaged in racial politics in the state.

Last week, former vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro resigned from her unpaid advisory post to the Clinton campaign after a row over remarks appearing to suggest Mr Obama had only got where he was because of his race.

'Tragic history'

Mr Wright has resigned from an honorary position on the campaign's African-American Religious Leadership Committee, aides to Mr Obama said.

Before his retirement from Trinity United Church of Christ, in Chicago, the pastor helped Mr Obama affirm his Christian faith, officiated at his wedding and baptised his daughters.

Mr Obama said he had looked to Mr Wright for spiritual, not political, guidance.

In a sermon on the Sunday after the attacks of 11 September 2001, Mr Wright suggested that the US had brought the terror attacks on itself through its own foreign policy.

And in a 2003 sermon, he said blacks should condemn the US because of continuing racial injustice, saying: "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human."

Trinity church said the recent attacks on Mr Wright had been made by "external forces" that want to "vilify us".
source:bbc.co.uk

Obama wins in Mississippi primary

2008-03-12T04:27:00.000-07:00

Mr Obama was backed by nine in 10 black voters, exit polls suggest

Barack Obama has beaten rival Hillary Clinton to win the Democratic primary election in the state of Mississippi.

Mr Obama won 60.7% of the vote to Mrs Clinton's 37.1%, polling strongly among African-American voters.

The result is not decisive but boosts his lead in terms of delegates at the August convention where the party will choose its White House candidate.

With the Republicans' race settled, their presumptive nominee, John McCain has been focusing on fund-raising.

Mr McCain, who is set to secure the Republican nomination at the party's national convention in September after winning the backing of a majority of delegates, is under pressure to build up a campaign war-chest ahead of November's election.

Race issue

Speaking to CNN from Chicago, Mr Obama welcomed the "wonderful support" of voters in Mississippi.

The results followed a day of campaigning dominated by a row over the volatile issue of race, sparked by an interview with Clinton supporter Geraldine Ferraro in which she implied that Mr Obama has only been successful because of his ethnicity.

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," said Ms Ferraro, a vice-presidential candidate for the Democrats in 1984.

Mrs Clinton, senator for New York, said she regretted Ms Ferraro's comments, and did not agree with them.

"It's regrettable that any of our supporters - on both sides, because we both have this experience - say things that kind of veer off into the personal," she told the Associated Press.

"We ought to keep this on the issues."

One of Mr Obama's senior advisers, David Axelrod, has called on Ms Ferraro to be removed from the Clinton campaign.

In a follow-up interview with California newspaper the Daily Breeze, which originally broke the story, Ms Ferraro refused to withdraw her remarks.

"Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white," she said.

Asked about the apparently worsening relations between the rival camps, Mr Obama said his campaign had been "very measured" in how it talked about Mrs Clinton.

"I've been careful to say that I think Senator Clinton is a very capable person and that should she win the nomination, obviously I would support her," he said.

"I'm not sure that we've been getting that same approach from the Clinton campaign."

Pennsylvania beckons

Exit polls of Mississippi voters conducted for AP painted a picture of an electorate divided along racial lines.

Mr Obama won support from nine out of 10 black voters in the state, while Mrs Clinton won about three-quarters of the white vote, the exit polls suggest.

Mrs Clinton did better with groups of white voters that have, in some earlier races, favoured Mr Obama. They include college-educated men, independent voters and those aged under 45.

Clinton campaign spokeswoman Maggie Williams congratulated Mr Obama on his win.

"Now we look forward to campaigning in Pennsylvania and around the country as this campaign continues," she said.

Hillary Clinton has been campaigning hard in Pennsylvania

Former President Bill Clinton planned to campaign for his wife in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, reflecting the state's importance as the next major battleground. It is due to vote on 22 April, with 158 delegates up for grabs.

Under the Democratic Party's system of proportional representation, Mr Obama picked up at least 17 of the 33 delegates on offer in Mississippi. Mrs Clinton gained 11 delegates, while five more are still to be awarded.

Mr Obama currently leads the fight for delegates with 1,579 to Mrs Clinton's 1,473, according to AP.

The successful candidate needs 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination.

Meanwhile, Mr McCain, who has raised less in election funds than either of his Democratic opponents, is touring the country as he seeks to fill his campaign coffers.

The Arizona senator will visit Boston, Pennsylvania and Chicago this week.
source:bbc.co.uk

15 year old British teen raped, killed on Goa beach

2008-03-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

The family of a 15-year-old British girl found dead on Anjuna beach in Goa is claiming she was raped and murdered and the autopsy report confirms this. But the police, they allege, are maintaining it was a case of drowning despite all the evidence. The body of Scarlet Keeling was found by the police at 7.15 am on February 18 – and the case has been unreported till now.

The incident is yet another body blow for Indian tourism.

Scarlet’s autopsy report — seen exclusively by Hindustan Times — details five large bruises on her shins, head and forearm that occurred before she died. The report establishes that her lungs were not full of salt water, rather there was sand in her mouth and trachea. Reports suggest she also had sexual intercourse. The family, however, contends that this proves that Scarlet was raped and suffocated on the beach.

“The police told us Scarlet had drowned and that there were no marks on her body,” said Fiona MacKeown, Scarlet’s mother. “Now, we want a second autopsy.”

Advising the family is Vikram Varma, a Supreme Court lawyer, who says that there is overwhelming evidence that Scarlet was raped and murdered. “There is clear ambiguity in the police behaviour and investigation,” Varma said.

Superintendent of Goa (North) Police, Bosco George, said that the police is now looking into both the possibility of murder and drowning, adding that it is premature to say whether it was a homicidal or an accidental death.

“The police is not here to protect us as tourists and make Goa safe,” MacKeown said. “They are just here to make money. There must be more awareness of the dangers that exist in this beautiful place.”

Baghdad bomb kills five US troops

2008-03-10T21:20:00.001-07:00

Attacks on US soldiers had dropped since last summer's troop surge

Five US soldiers have been killed by a suicide bomber while on patrol in Baghdad, the US army has said.

Three other troops and an Iraqi interpreter were also injured in the blast, an army statement said.

The attack is one of the deadliest against US forces in the Iraqi capital since last summer's US troop surge.

It came hours after a leader of a Sunni tribal alliance fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed in a suicide bomb attack at his home in northern Iraq.

Thaer Ghadban al-Karkhi died when a woman detonated an explosives vest as he answered the door at his home in Baquba. His daughter and two guards also died.

Mr al-Karkhi was a member of the mainly Sunni Arab Awakening councils, allied with the US military against al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Sunni militias have been credited with helping to bring down the level of violence in Iraq in recent months.

Most vulnerable

The US military told the BBC that the attack on its troops took place in the Mansour district of the capital.

"Five soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the Iraqi and American people," said Col Allen Batschelet, chief of staff of US forces in Baghdad.

"We remain resolute in our resolve to protect the people of Iraq and kill or capture those who would bring them harm."

The strike takes the number of US troops killed since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 close to 4,000, says the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad.

RECENT US TROOP DEATHS

9 February: Four killed by roadside bomb north-west of Baghdad

28 January: Five killed by roadside bomb in Mosul

9 January: Six killed entering a booby-trapped house north-east of Baghdad

As the invasion's five-year anniversary approaches, many Baghdad neighbourhoods have witnessed security improvements, with the number of attacks on American soldiers significantly down from last year.

The bomber had targeted the US military at their most vulnerable, as military patrols around the Iraqi capital are often conducted in armoured vehicles, our correspondent says.

But the US troops cannot function unless they get out of their armoured vehicles and engage with the people, he adds.

source:bbc.co.uk

Scandal-hit NY governor 'sorry'

2008-03-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

Eliot Spitzer said he had violated his obligations to his family

Eliot Spitzer's apology

New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer has apologised amid allegations of involvement in a prostitution ring.

The married father-of-three said he had acted in a way that violated his obligations to his family.

Gov Spitzer, a Democrat, apologised to his family and the public, whom he said he should have served better.

He made no reference to allegations published by The New York Times, which said he had been involved with a high-priced prostitution service.

"I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself," the first-term governor told a packed press conference at his Manhattan office.

"I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family," he added, as his wife of two decades, Silda, stood by his side.

He declined to answer questions as to whether he would resign but said he would report back "in short order".

Exclusive operation

Last week, four people were arrested in connection with the alleged prostitution ring, the New York Times reported.

As part of the investigation, a federal wire-tap on a Washington hotel last month had recorded Mr Spitzer allegedly arranging to meet a prostitute, the newspaper added.

Mr Spitzer, 48, had abruptly cancelled Monday afternoon appointments to meet senior advisors about the allegations, the Times reported.

According to court papers, the investigation involves an exclusive prostitution ring called the Emperor's Club VIP, which operated in cities across the US, as well as in London and Paris.

More than 50 prostitutes were employed by the ring, charging fees ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said last week.

The BBC's Matthew Price in New York says things do not look good for Mr Spitzer at the moment.

Although he has not confirmed that the allegations are true, Mr Spitzer looked deeply uncomfortable as he spoke to the media and appeared to agree with the tenor of much of the reporting, our correspondent says.

He will need the help of his many influential connections within the Democratic Party if he is to hope to survive the scandal and make a comeback, our correspondent adds.

Political fallout

The Republican minority leader of the New York state assembly, James Tedisco, called for Mr Spitzer to resign "immediately".

"Today's news that Eliot Spitzer was likely involved with a prostitution ring and his refusal to deny it leads to an inescapable conclusion: he has disgraced his office and the entire state of New York," Mr Tedisco said.

The Republican Governors' Association also reacted quickly to the allegations, calling for Mr Spitzer to step down.

"Eliot Spitzer campaigned on ethics reform; unfortunately the governor of New York has egregiously failed his constituents," said the group's executive director Nick Ayers.

"The governor of New York should immediately resign from office and allow the people of New York to pursue honest leadership."

Clinton ally

The scandal could prove embarrassing for New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who is competing with rival Barack Obama to be the Democratic Party's choice to run for president.

Mr Spitzer has promised to support Mrs Clinton's presidential bid

A close ally of Mrs Clinton, Mr Spitzer has pledged to support her campaign.

He is one of the 796 super-delegates - party leaders and elected officials - who will vote on which candidate to back at the Democrats' national convention in August.

Mr Spitzer was elected governor in November 2006, promising ethical reform in New York.

As New York's attorney general, he had become known as the Sheriff of Wall Street for his relentless pursuit of financial wrong-doing.

His successes in that battle led Time Magazine to name him "Crusader of the Year" in 2002.

Mr Spitzer had also taken a firm line against prostitution in New York.

source:bbc.co.uk

Pakistani parties to share power

2008-03-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

Nawaz Sharif (l) and Asif Ali Zardari were winners in February's elections

The leaders of the two parties that won Pakistan's elections have signed an agreement on a coalition government.

Asif Ali Zardari, widower of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif called on President Pervez Musharraf to convene parliament immediately.

February's parliamentary elections delivered a crushing defeat to parties loyal to President Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Musharraf has urged the incoming government to leave politics aside and concentrate on good governance.

The coalition deal will bring together the Pakistan People's Party, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination, and the PML(N) party of Mr Sharif.

'Blow to Musharraf'

Mr Sharif has consistently called for the president to step down in the wake of the elections, which were regarded as a key step in Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule.

The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, says the deal will be seen as a further blow to Mr Musharraf who will face a parliament dominated by his adversaries.

Two issues had dominated the talks: The PML(N) party's insistence that judges sacked by Mr Musharraf in November be reinstated, and the PPP's desire for Mr Sharif's party to formally sign up to the cabinet.

Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif told a news conference that both matters had been settled.

All the sacked judges will be reinstated via a parliamentary resolution passed within 30 days of forming a new government.

That appears to mean that the chief justice will get back his job, in defiance of Mr Musharraf's strong objections, our correspondent says.

In return Nawaz Sharif has agreed that his party will join the cabinet - even though he does not recognise the president's right to rule.

The PPP said it would proceed cautiously when it came to dealing with the president.

But most analysts see this as a step either to the reduction of his powers - or a confrontation between the new parliament and the presidency.

Benazir Bhutto was killed in a suicide attack in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on 27 December, causing the elections to be delayed

Musharraf opponents get MPs boost

2008-03-07T05:35:00.000-08:00

The PPP of late former PM Benazir Bhutto fared well in the polls

Eleven Pakistani MPs have reportedly joined the main parties opposed to President Pervez Musharraf that could form a coalition government.

Seven independent MPs joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) while four MPs joined its ally, the PML-N, the election commission said.

Final figures for last month's polls show the coalition lacks the majority needed to impeach Mr Musharraf.

Pakistan's army chief has urged the president and coalition to co-operate.

Gen Ashfaq Kayani also said the army would "stay out of the political process".

He told a meeting of top commanders on Thursday that the powerful military "fully stands behind the democratic process and is committed to... support the elected government".

International pressure forced President Musharraf to give up his dual role as army chief to Gen Kayani last year.

February's parliamentary elections - regarded as a key step in Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule - delivered a crushing defeat to parties loyal to President Musharraf.

Threat to Musharraf

The election commission on Thursday night finalised its tally from the election, announcing the results for 331 of the 342 seats in the national assembly.

Militants have been attacking the military with suicide bombs

The commission also completed its proportional allocation of seats to women and minorities.

The 11 seats that have yet to be declared are subject to legal challenges and other delays.

Final figures released by the commission show the PPP of assassinated former PM Benazir Bhutto has 120 seats, making it the largest party in parliament.

The PML-N, or Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, led by another former PM, Nawaz Sharif, is second with 90 seats.

The proposed coalition of the two parties and their smaller allies would still lack the two-thirds majority required should they wish to impeach President Musharraf.

However, they command enough support to undermine his authority in parliament.

Coalition leaders have threatened to curtail the president's powers, though it is unclear how far they will go.

Presidential promise

Mr Musharraf was re-elected as president last year in a parliamentary vote boycotted by the opposition as unconstitutional.

Speaking on Friday, the president said he would back any future government, as long as it did not provoke unrest.

"Durable, stable governments should be formed in the centre and provinces for five years, and if peace is maintained, I assure that I will fully support the coalition that is being formed," Mr Musharraf told Reuters news agency.

The PPP has yet to name its candidate for prime minister, though the post is expected to go to Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a party stalwart.

Ms Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, is ineligible to run for PM but he retains great influence as party leader.

Ms Bhutto was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack in the city of Rawalpindi in December.

The new government's most pressing concern is likely to be an Islamist insurgency that has claimed scores of lives in bomb attacks in the last week alone.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan has been a key US ally in the "war on terror" and Washington hopes the new government will continue to work with it.

Source:bbc.co.uk

Eight killed at Jerusalem school

2008-03-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

The gunman entered the school's dining room and opened fire

Eight people have been killed and nine wounded by a Palestinian gunman who infiltrated a Jewish seminary in West Jerusalem, Israeli officials say.

Witnesses said the gunman went into the library at the Mercaz Harav seminary in the city's Kiryat Moshe quarter and opened fire.

The assailant, who Israeli police said was a resident of East Jerusalem, was shot dead by an Israeli army officer.

The attack is the worst of its kind in Israel for a number of years.

The White House has led international condemnation but the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas called the attack "heroic" while not claiming responsibility.

When we got in... we saw young, 15-, 16-year-old guys lying on the floor with their Bibles in their hands - all dead on the floor

However, the 15-strong UN Security Council failed to agree on a resolution condemning the attack because of reservations from temporary member Libya, which sought to link it to Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip.

A previously unknown group called the "Jalil Freedom Battalions - the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh and Gaza" claims to have carried it out, according to Lebanese Hezbollah media.

The fact that the school is at the heart of the settler movement in the occupied West Bank may have been the reason why it was targeted, BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports.

Many of its students are on special courses that combine religious study with service in combat units in the Israeli army, he notes.

There will be an Israeli response to this attack, our Middle East editor adds - the question is how severe it will be.

'Horrific'

The gunman entered the library at the Mercaz Harav seminary on Thursday evening, where about 80 students were gathered, and fired an AK-47 rifle for several minutes, witnesses say.

MERCAZ HARAV SEMINARY

Founded in 1924 by influential Rabbi Avraham Hacohen Kook

One of the students, Yitzhak Dadon, reportedly shot the gunman twice before he was finally killed by an off-duty Israeli army officer, who had gone to the school after hearing gunfire.

"I shot him twice in the head," he told the Reuters news agency.

"He started to sway and then someone else with a rifle fired at him, and he died."

Another man told the BBC that there had been "terrible scenes" inside the building afterwards.

"When we got in... we saw young, 15-, 16-year-old guys lying on the floor with their Bibles in their hands - all dead..." he said.

Jerusalem police commander Aharon Franco confirmed there had been only one gunman and said he had hidden his weapon in a cardboard box.

Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah leader and military commander, was killed in a car bomb in Damascus on 12 February.

'Aimed at the heart'

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said that "terrorists [were] trying to destroy the chances of peace" but peace talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would continue.

DEADLY ATTACKS IN ISRAEL

4 Feb 2008: One dies, Dimona suicide bombing

29 Apr 2007: Three die, Eilat suicide bombing

17 Apr 2006: Nine die, 40 wounded, suicide bombing near old bus station in Tel Aviv

30 Mar 2006: Four die, Kedumim suicide bombing

29 Dec 2005: Thee die, suicide bombing near Tulkarm

5 Dec 2005: Five die, Netanya suicide bombing

26 Oct 2005: Six die, Hadera market suicide bombing

12 July 2005: Two die, Netanya suicide bombing

25 Feb 2005: Five die, 50 hurt, suicide bombing outside Tel Aviv nightclub

13 Jan 2005: Six die, suicide bombing at Karni crossing

Mr Abbas condemned the attack in a statement saying he "condemns all attacks that target civilians, whether they are Palestinian or Israeli".

US President George W Bush condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" and UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said news of the killings was "shocking".

"They are an arrow aimed at the heart of the peace process so recently revived," Mr Miliband added.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also criticised the "deliberate killing and injuring of civilians" in what he called a "savage attack".

Hamas praise

In the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, gunmen fired into the air after news broke about the attack.

This heroic attack in Jerusalem is a normal response to the crimes of the occupier and its murder of civilians

Sami Abu Zuhri
Hamas spokesman

A loudspeaker in Gaza City reportedly broadcast the message: "This is God's vengeance"

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group "blesses the heroic operation in Jerusalem" calling it as a "natural reaction" to Israeli attacks.

Last week, Israeli forces launched a raid into northern Gaza in which more than 120 Palestinians - including many civilians - were killed.

Shortly after the Jerusalem shooting, the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said four of its fighters had been killed in an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.

Israel says the recent military offensive has been designed to stamp out frequent rocket fire by Palestinian militants.

Rocket attacks have hit deeper into southern Israel, reaching Ashkelon, the closest large city to the Gaza Strip.

Source:news.bbc.co.uk

Ship owner to sue over attacks by anti-whaling activists

2008-03-06T03:36:00.000-08:00

Japanese whaling ship owner Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha is set to take legal steps with the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) over alleged trespassing and forcible obstruction of business by the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, company officials said.

The company is considering which of three attacks by activists this year to make the subject of its complaint.

In January, butyric acid, which produces a foul smell, was hurled at the No. 2 Yushinmaru whaling research vessel, and Australian and British activists boarded the ship. Then on Jan. 18, butyric acid was thrown at the No. 3 Yushinmaru. In a third attack on Monday, activists hurled over 100 bottles containing butyric acid at the Nisshinmaru scientific whaling ship, injuring three people including JCG officers.

The JCG has already begun an investigation into Monday's attack on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business and inflicting bodily injury.

Obama gets letter from Obama

2008-03-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

FUKUI--The Obama municipal government in Fukui Prefecture has received a letter from U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama, the municipal government announced Tuesday.

In the letter, Obama said he appreciated the support he received from the people of Obama and praised the city's rich culture, deep tradition and natural beauty.

"I am touched by your friendly gesture," he wrote.

"We share more than a common name; we share a common planet and common responsibilities," he wrote.

According to the municipal government, the letter, which was typed and dated from Washington D.C., Feb. 21, was sent by airmail to Mayor Toshio Murakami on Monday.

"The letter will help citizens of Obama feel much closer to [Barack] Obama," Murakami said.
(Mar. 5, 2008)

Four Marines to get court-martial in Japan rape case: US

2008-03-06T03:19:00.000-08:00



Civic group members are seen during a protest in front of the headquarters of the US Marines at Kita Nakagusuku village

TOKYO (AFP) — Four US Marines will face court-martial in Japan over allegations they gang-raped a local woman, the US military said, even though Japanese prosecutors dropped the case.

The alleged gang-rape was one of a string of incidents linked to US troops this year that has triggered outrage in Japan, one of Washington's closest allies.

One of the Marines will face a court-martial in late April and another from early May, according to the public affairs office of the Iwakuni base near the western city of Hiroshima.

The dates were yet to be set for the two others, according to the office, saying the military would disclose more information later.

The court-martial decision was first reported late Wednesday by Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

The woman, who was 19 at the time of the incident in October, said that the four Marines raped her in a car and then stole her money.

But Japanese prosecutors decided not to press charges against the men. Japanese press reports said police found that the woman, now 20, changed her account and was believed to have consented to sex with one man.

The US military decided to court-martial the men amid resentment by the Japanese public over a string of criminal allegations against American soldiers.

Japanese prosecutors last week dropped the case of another US Marine accused of raping a 14-year-old girl on the southern island of Okinawa, home to more than half the US forces in the country.

The girl did not want to continue the case, which received intense media attention.

The US military said the 38-year-old Marine was taken into custody for potential disciplinary action.

The incidents overshadowed a visit last week by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who offered an apology over the alleged rape of the 14-year-old.

The US military also put all troops and their relatives in Okinawa and Iwakuni under a sweeping curfew for nearly two weeks.

More than 40,000 US troops are based in Japan under a security treaty with the close US ally, which has been officially pacifist since World War II.

US ELECTIONS 2008

2008-02-02T01:23:00.000-08:00

SOURCE

Friday February 1, 2008

Post shuns Clinton for Obama

The New York Post delivers a qualified endorsement of Barack Obama, snubbing hometown US senator Hillary Clinton.

McCain v the Republican machine

Comment: SOMETHING started happening in Republican Party circles in Washington on Wednesday that many people had hoped they would never have to deal with.

Double exit from White House race

THE shape of the presidential campaigns has changed dramatically after John Edwards pulled out of the Democratic race, and Rudy Giuliani endorsed his friend John McCain after giving up in the Republican contest.

Super Tuesday 101

How is a US presidential nominee selected, why is Super Tuesday important, and what if there are no clear winners afterwards?

Young, black and gifted

Audio slideshow: How they campaign in America's deep South.

Kennedys endorse Obama

Clan backs Obama for president.

What is a primary?

Slideshow: Explaining the US system.

It's McCain

Bruce Wolpe: Republican nominee almost certainly set.

Presidential Primaries

Obama's win deals blow to Clinton

The race to become Democrat nominee for president has become a choice between "the past and the future", Barack Obama said after storming home to win the South Carolina primary.

Nevada gives Clinton boost

Hillary Clinton has received a crucial psychological boost in her quest to become Democratic nominee for president.

The Frontrunners

HILLARY CLINTON

Love fired up my wild Bill: Hillary

Hillary Clinton admits her husband's hard-charging campaign tactics have gone overboard.

JOHN McCAIN

Ascendant McCain leaves rivals trailing

John McCain has become the frontrunner in a Republican nominee race that could be decided as soon as next week.

BARACK OBAMA

Obama fights Clinton lies

Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama says he is ready to fight back against Bill Clinton's "troubling" untruths.

Obama echoes King in unity plea
Troops warned on Obama email
Kerry backs Obama bid
In defeat, Obama supporters say 'yes we can'
Obama magic draws record crowds
Obama's big win turns hope to glory
Obama sharpens Clinton attacks
Oprah unleashes her latest bestseller
Audio and photos: Obama's Iowa victory speech
Slideshow: Why I quit my job for Obama
Audio analysis: Obama's pledge for change
Link: Obama's campaign website

MITT ROMNEY

McCain and Romney vie for Florida

Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney are eclipsing Rudy Giuliani in Florida's Republican race.

MIKE HUCKABEE

Norris gets a piece of the political action

When Mike Huckabee took the stage after winning the Republican Iowa caucuses, the cameras zoomed in to cut his wife out of the frame. But actor Chuck Norris was still in the picture over Mr Huckabee's left shoulder.

OTHER CANDIDATES

Edwards drops out

Democratic candidate John Edwards abandons his populist presidential bid, leaving the race to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Video| Photos | Audio

Obama's pledge for change

Audio slideshow: But can he convince the voters?

Hillary Clinton's race

Audio slideshow: Anne Davies on her presidential chances.

Ready for service

Audio slideshow: John McCain, former POW, presidential candidate.

The Mormon candidate

Audio slideshow: Mitt Romney and the religion factor.

Huckabee's folksy appeal

Audio slideshow: Funny name, serious presidential contender.

From around the web

Questions for Clinton

Columbia Journalism Review: Eight questions to put Hillary Clinton on the spot.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

YouTube: Sometimes it seems like the candidates are all singing from the same songbook.

A President like my father

New York Times: Caroline Kennedy endorses Barack Obama.

Two against one

New York Times: It’s odd that the first woman with a shot at becoming president is so dependent on her husband, says Maureen Dowd.

South poll

The New York Times: Why the Democrats do it hard in the South.

God-o-meter

BeliefNet: Measuring God-talk in the elections.

Foxed by Fox News

Huffington Post: They report - even if they know it's false.

Questions for Obama

Columbia Journalism Review: Posing sticky questions for the candidates.

Mormon v. Baptist

The New Yorker: The Constitution sternly forbids theological sucker punches, so what gives?

Golden Rule of Politics

Time: American voters have a guiding rule for religious politics.

Senator Barack Obama

2008-02-02T00:58:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama

Junior Senator from Illinois
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3 , 2005 Serving with Richard Durbin
Preceded by	Peter Fitzgerald
Member of the Illinois State Senate from the 13th district
In office 1997 – 2004
Succeeded by	Kwame Raoul

Born	August 4 , 1961 (age 46) (1961-08-04) Honolulu , Hawaii , U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Michelle Obama
Alma mater	Columbia University , Harvard Law School
Religion	Christian (United Church of Christ )
Signature

Barack Hussein Obama (born August 4 , 1961 ) is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election .^[2]^[3] The U.S. Senate Historical Office lists him as the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history , the third to have been popularly elected, and the only African American currently serving in the Senate.^[4]

Obama was born in Honolulu to a Kenyan father and an American mother. He lived most of his early life in the U.S. state of Hawaii . From ages six to ten, he lived in Jakarta , Indonesia with his mother and Indonesian stepfather. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School , Obama worked as a community organizer , university lecturer , and civil rights lawyer before running for public office and serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. After an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.

The following year, while still an Illinois state legislator , Obama delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July.^[5] He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote.^[6] As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress , Obama co-sponsored legislation for controlling conventional weapons and for promoting transparency in public life; in addition, he made official trips to Eastern Europe , the Middle East , and Africa . In the 110th, and current, Congress , he has sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud , climate change , nuclear terrorism , and care for returned U.S. military personnel.

Since announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama has emphasized ending the Iraq War , increasing energy independence , and providing universal health care as major priorities.^[7] He married in 1992 and has two daughters. He has written two bestselling books: a memoir of his youth titled Dreams from My Father, and The Audacity of Hope, a personal commentary on U.S. politics.^[8]

Early life and career

Obama was born on August 4 , 1961 in Honolulu , Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. (born in Nyanza Province , Kenya , of Luo ethnicity) and Ann Dunham (born in Wichita , Kansas ).^[9] Throughout his early years, he was commonly known at home and school as "Barry".^[10] Obama's parents met while both were attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa , where his father was enrolled as a foreign student .^[11] They separated when he was two years old and later divorced.^[12] His father went to Harvard University to pursue Ph.D. studies, then returned to Kenya, where he died in an auto accident in 1982.^[13] His mother married another foreign student, Lolo Soetoro, and the family moved to Soetoro's home country of Indonesia in 1967.^[14] Obama attended local schools in Jakarta from ages 6 to 10, where classes were taught in the Indonesian language .^[15]^[16] He then returned to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents, Madelyn and Stanley Dunham, while attending Punahou School from the fifth grade until his graduation in 1979.^[17] Obama's mother died of ovarian cancer a few months after the publication of his 1995 memoir , Dreams from My Father.^[18]

In the memoir, Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's American middle class family. His knowledge about his African father, who returned once for a brief visit in 1971, came mainly through family stories and photographs.^[13] Of his early childhood, Obama writes: "That my father looked nothing like the people around me—that he was black as pitch, my mother white as milk—barely registered in my mind."^[19] The book describes his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage.^[20] He wrote that he used alcohol , marijuana , and cocaine during his teenage years to "push questions of who I was out of my mind".^[21]

After high school, Obama moved to Los Angeles , where he studied at Occidental College for two years.^[22] He then transferred to Columbia University in New York City , where he majored in political science with a specialization in international relations .^[23] Obama received his B.A. degree in 1983, then worked at Business International Corporation and NYPIRG before moving to Chicago to take a job as a community organizer .^[24] As Director of the Developing Communities Project, he worked with low-income residents in Chicago's Roseland community and the Altgeld Gardens public housing development.^[25] He entered Harvard Law School in 1988.^[26] In 1990, The New York Times reported his election as the Harvard Law Review's^[27] He completed his "first black president in its 104-year history".J.D. degree magna cum laude in 1991.^[28] On returning to Chicago, Obama directed a voter registration drive .^[28] As an associate attorney with Miner, Barnhill & Galland from 1993 to 1996, he represented community organizers, discrimination claims, and voting rights cases.^[29] He was a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004.^[30]

State legislature

In 1996, Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate to serve the state's 13th District in the south-side Chicago neighborhood of Hyde Park .^[31] In 2000, he made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by four-term incumbent candidate Bobby Rush .^[32] He was reelected to the Illinois Senate in 1998 and 2002, officially resigning in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.^[33] As a state legislator, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws.^[34] He sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform , and promoted increased subsidies for child care .^[35] Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.^[35] During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, he won the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police , whose president credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting death penalty reforms.^[36] He was criticized by rival pro-choice candidates in the Democratic primary and by his Republican pro-life opponent in the general election for a series of "present" or "no" votes on late-term abortion and parental notification issues.^[37]

Keynote address at 2004 Democratic National Convention

Obama wrote and delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston , Massachusetts , while still serving as a state legislator .^[38] After describing his maternal grandfather's experiences as a World War II veteran and a beneficiary of the New Deal's FHA and G.I. Bill programs, Obama said:

No, people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better. And they want that choice.

Questioning the Bush administration's management of the Iraq War , Obama spoke of an enlisted Marine , Corporal Seamus Ahern from East Moline , Illinois , asking, "Are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us?" He continued:

When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never, ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

Finally, he spoke for national unity:

The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into red states and blue states ; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and yes, we got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.^[39]

The speech was Obama's introduction to most of America. Its enthusiastic reception at the convention and widespread coverage by national media gave him instant celebrity status.^[40] Columnist Jimmy Breslin predicted Obama would run for President. ^[41]

Senate campaign

In 2003, Obama began his run for the U.S. Senate open seat vacated by Peter Fitzgerald . In early opinion polls leading up to the Democratic primary , Obama trailed multimillionaire businessman Blair Hull and Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes .^[42] However, Hull's popularity declined following allegations of domestic abuse .^[42] Obama's candidacy was boosted by an advertising campaign featuring images of the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and the late U.S. Senator Paul Simon ; the support of Simon's daughter; and political endorsements by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.^[43]^[44] Obama received over 52% of the vote in the March 2004 primary, emerging 29% ahead of his nearest Democratic rival.^[45] His opponent in the general election was expected to be Republican primary winner Jack Ryan . However, Ryan withdrew from the race in June 2004, following public disclosure of child custody divorce records containing sexual allegations by Ryan's ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan .^[46] In August 2004, with less than three months to go before election day, Alan Keyes accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination to replace Ryan.^[47] A long-time resident of Maryland , Keyes established legal residency in Illinois with the nomination.^[48] Through three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on stem cell research , abortion , gun control , school vouchers , and tax cuts .^[49] In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes's 27%, the largest electoral victory in Illinois history.^[50]

Senate career

Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 4 , 2005 .^[51] Although a newcomer to Washington, he recruited a team of established, high-level advisers devoted to broad themes that exceeded the usual requirements of an incoming first-term senator.^[52] Obama hired Pete Rouse , a 30-year veteran of national politics and former chief of staff to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle , as his chief of staff, and economist Karen Kornbluh , former deputy chief of staff to Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin , as his policy director.^[53] His key foreign policy advisers include Samantha Power , author on human rights and genocide, and former Clinton administration officials Anthony Lake and Susan Rice .^[54] Obama holds assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations ; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ; and Veterans' Affairs , and he is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus .^[55] Obama has consistently opposed the Iraq War .

109th Congress

Obama took an active role in the Senate's drive for improved border security and immigration reform . In 2005, he co-sponsored the "Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act" introduced by Sen. John McCain (R -AZ ).^[57] He later added three amendments to the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act ", which passed the Senate in May 2006, but failed to gain majority support in the U.S. House of Representatives .^[58] In September 2006, Obama supported a related bill, the Secure Fence Act , authorizing construction of fencing and other security improvements along the Mexico–United States border .^[59] President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law in October 2006, calling it "an important step toward immigration reform."^[60]

Partnering first with Sen. Richard Lugar (R -IN ), and then with Sen. Tom Coburn (R -OK ), Obama successfully introduced two initiatives bearing his name. "Lugar-Obama" expands the Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons , including shoulder-fired missiles and anti-personnel mines .^[61] The "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act " provides for a web site, managed by the Office of Management and Budget , listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract.^[62] In December 2006, President Bush signed into law the "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," marking the first federal legislation to be enacted with Obama as its primary sponsor.^[63]

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In August 2005, he traveled to Russia , Ukraine , and Azerbaijan . The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of conventional weapons , biological weapons , and weapons of mass destruction as a first defense against potential terrorist attacks.^[64] Following meetings with U.S. military in Kuwait and Iraq in January 2006, Obama visited Jordan , Israel , and the Palestinian territories . At a meeting with Palestinian students two weeks before Hamas won the legislative election , Obama warned that "the U.S. will never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel."^[65] He left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to South Africa , Kenya , Djibouti , Ethiopia and Chad . In a nationally televised speech at the University of Nairobi , he spoke forcefully on the influence of ethnic rivalries and corruption in Kenya .^[66] The speech touched off a public debate among rival leaders, some formally challenging Obama's remarks as unfair and improper, others defending his positions.^[67]

110th Congress

In the first month of the newly Democratic-controlled 110th Congress , Obama worked with Russ Feingold (D –WI ) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by lobbyists to members of Congress and require disclosure of bundled campaign contributions under the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act ", which was signed into law in September 2007.^[68] He joined Charles Schumer (D -NY ) in sponsoring S. 453 , a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the 2006 midterm elections .^[69] Obama's energy initiatives scored pluses and minuses with environmentalists , who welcomed his sponsorship with John McCain (R -AZ ) of a climate change bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds by 2050, but were skeptical of his support for a bill promoting liquefied coal production.^[70] Obama also introduced the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act ", a bill to cap troop levels in Iraq, begin phased redeployment, and remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008.^[71]

Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with Kit Bond (R -MO ) an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges , and calling for a review by the Government Accountability Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs.^[72] He sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry,^[73] and joined Chuck Hagel (R -NE ) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism . A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.^[74] Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.^[75] After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was vetoed by President Bush in early October 2007, a move Obama said "shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans."^[76]

Presidential campaign

In February 2007, standing before the Old State Capitol building in Springfield , Illinois , Obama announced his candidacy for the 2008 U.S. presidential election .^[2] Describing his working life in Illinois, and symbolically linking his presidential campaign to Abraham Lincoln's 1858 House Divided speech, Obama said: "That is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America."^[78] Speaking at a Democratic National Committee meeting one week before the February announcement, Obama called for putting an end to negative campaigning . "This can't be about who digs up more skeletons on who, who makes the fewest slip-ups on the campaign trail," he said. "We owe it to the American people to do more than that."^[79]

Obama's campaign raised US$58 million during the first half of 2007, topping all other candidates and exceeding previous records for the first six months of any year before an election year.^[80] Small donors, those contributing in increments of less than $200, accounted for $16.4 million of Obama's record-breaking total, more than for any other Democratic candidate.^[81] His campaign reported adding 108,000 new donors through third quarter fundraising, for a total of 365,000 individual contributors in the first nine months.^[82] Amid concerns for his safety as the first black candidate seen as having a viable chance of being elected president, the U.S. government assigned Secret Service protection to Obama 18 months before the general election.^[83]

With two months remaining before the Iowa Democratic caucuses and New Hampshire Democratic primary, 2008 , and national opinion polls showing him trailing Hillary Clinton , Obama began directly charging his top rival with failing to clearly state her political positions.^[84]Washington Post that as the Democratic nominee he would draw more support than Clinton from Campaigning in Iowa, he told the independent and Republican voters in the general election.^[85] At Iowa's Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner in November 2007, he expanded the theme, saying that his presidency would "bring the country together in a new majority" to seek solutions to long-standing problems.^[86] In January 2008, Obama won the Iowa caucus with 37.58% support, ahead of 29.75% for John Edwards and 29.47% for Clinton.^[87] His Iowa lead was boosted by majority support from a record turnout of voters under 30 years old, most of them first-time caucus goers.^[88] Five days later, Clinton won the New Hampshire primary with 39% of the vote to Obama's 37%.^[89]

On January 26, 2008, Barack Obama easily defeated top rival Hillary Clinton in the South Carolina Democratic primary , in a victory that could reinvigorate his campaign after losing New Hampshire by a slight margin to Hillary Clinton, the New York senator. Fox News says, "Returns showed Clinton leading former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards for second place, but Obama held on to a gaping lead. The final results had Obama with 55%, Clinton with 27% and Edwards with 18%." ^[90] Senator Obama has shown the ability to reach across political divides, recently getting the endorsement of former Reagan speechwriter Jeffrey Hart.

On the role of government in economic affairs, Obama has written: "We should be asking ourselves what mix of policies will lead to a dynamic free market and widespread economic security, entrepreneurial innovation and upward mobility [...] we should be guided by what works."^[92] Speaking before the National Press Club in April 2005, he defended the New Deal social welfare policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt , associating Republican proposals to establish private accounts for Social Security with social Darwinism .^[93] In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina , Obama spoke out against government indifference to growing economic class divisions, calling on both political parties to take action to restore the social safety net for the poor.^[94] Shortly before announcing his presidential campaign, Obama told the health care advocacy group Families USA : "I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country."^[95]

Meeting with Google employees in November 2007, Obama pledged to appoint a Chief Technology Officer to oversee the U.S. government's management of IT resources and promote wider access to government information and decision making.^[96] Reaffirming his commitment to net neutrality legislation, Obama said "once providers start to privilege some applications or web sites over others, then the smaller voices get squeezed out, and we all lose."^[97]^[98] Obama's campaign distinguished his proposals to reward teachers for performance from traditional Campaigning in New Hampshire, he announced an $18 billion plan for investments in early childhood education, math and science education, and expanded summer learning opportunities.merit pay systems, assuring unions that changes would be pursued through the collective bargaining process.^[99]

At the Tax Policy Center in September 2007, he blamed special interests for distorting the U.S. tax code . "We are taxing income from work at nearly twice the level that we're taxing gains for investors," Obama said. "We've lost the balance between work and wealth."^[100] His plan would eliminate taxes for senior citizens with incomes of less than $50,000 a year, repeal tax cuts said to favor the wealthy, close corporate tax loopholes and restrict offshore tax havens , and simplify filing of income tax returns by pre-filling wage and bank information already collected by the IRS .^[101] Announcing his presidential campaign's energy plan in October 2007, Obama said: "Businesses don’t own the sky, the public does, and if we want them to stop polluting it, we have to put a price on all pollution." He proposed a cap and trade auction system to restrict carbon emissions and a 10 year program of investments in new energy sources to reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil.^[102]

Obama was an early opponent of Bush administration policies on Iraq. In the fall of 2002, before the start of the Iraq War , he addressed an anti-war rally in Chicago, saying:

I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda . I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars.^[103]

Speaking to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2006, Obama called for a "phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq" and an opening of diplomatic dialogue with Syria and Iran .^[104] In a March 2007 speech to AIPAC , a pro-Israel lobby , he said that while the U.S. "should take no option, including military action, off the table, sustained and aggressive diplomacy combined with tough sanctions should be our primary means to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons."^[105] Detailing his strategy for fighting global terrorism in August 2007, Obama said "it was a terrible mistake to fail to act" against a 2005 meeting of al-Qaeda leaders that U.S. intelligence had confirmed to be taking place in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas . He said that as president he would not miss a similar opportunity, even without the support of the Pakistani government.^[106]

In a December 2005 Washington Post opinion column, and at the Save Darfur rally in April 2006, Obama called for more assertive action to oppose genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan .^[108] He has divested $180,000 in personal holdings of Sudan-related stock, and has urged divestment from companies doing business in Iran.^[109] In the July-August 2007 issue of Foreign Affairs, Obama called for an outward looking post-Iraq War foreign policy and the renewal of American military, diplomatic, and moral leadership in the world. Saying "we can neither retreat from the world nor try to bully it into submission," he called on Americans to "lead the world, by deed and by example."^[110]

Obama has encouraged Democrats to reach out to evangelicals and other religious people, saying, "if we truly hope to speak to people where they’re at—to communicate our hopes and values in a way that’s relevant to their own—we cannot abandon the field of religious discourse."^[111] In December 2006, he joined Sen. Sam Brownback (R -KS ) at the "Global Summit on AIDS and the Church" organized by church leaders Kay and Rick Warren .^[112] Together with Warren and Brownback, Obama took an HIV test, as he had done in Kenya less than four months earlier.^[113]^[114] Before the conference, 18 He encouraged "others in public life to do the same" to show "there is no shame in going for an HIV test."pro-life groups published an open letter stating, in reference to Obama's support for legal abortion : "In the strongest possible terms, we oppose Rick Warren's decision to ignore Senator Obama's clear pro-death stance and invite him to Saddleback Church anyway."^[115] Addressing over 8,000 United Church of Christ members in June 2007, Obama challenged "so-called leaders of the Christian Right" for being "all too eager to exploit what divides us."^[116]

Personal life

Obama met his future wife, Michelle Robinson , in 1988 when he was employed as a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin .^[117] Assigned for three months as Obama's advisor at the firm, Robinson joined him at group social functions, but declined his initial offers to date .^[118] They began dating later that summer, became engaged in 1991, and were married in October 1992.^[119] The couple's first daughter, Malia Ann, was born in 1999, followed by a second daughter, Natasha ("Sasha"), in 2001.^[120] Applying the proceeds of a $2 million book deal, the family paid off debts in 2005 and moved from a Hyde Park, Chicago condominium to their current $1.6-million house in neighboring Kenwood .^[121] The house purchase and subsequent acquisition of an adjoining strip of land drew media scrutiny in November 2006 because of financial links with controversial Illinois businessman Antoin Rezko .^[122]^[123]

Obama plays basketball , a sport he participated in as a member of his high school's varsity team.^[124]^[125] Before announcing his presidential candidacy, he began a well-publicized effort to quit smoking . "I've never been a heavy smoker," Obama told the Chicago Tribune. "I've quit periodically over the last several years. I've got an ironclad demand from my wife that in the stresses of the campaign I don't succumb. I've been chewing Nicorette strenuously."^[126]Associated Press survey of 2008 presidential candidates' personal tastes, he specified " Replying to an architect " as his alternate career choice and "chili " as his favorite meal to cook.^[127] Asked to name a "hidden talent," Obama answered: "I'm a pretty good poker player."^[128]

A theme of Obama's keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and the title of his 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope, was inspired by his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright .^[129] In Chapter 6 of the book, titled "Faith," Obama writes that he "was not raised in a religious household." He describes his mother, raised by non-religious parents, as detached from religion, yet "in many ways the most spiritually awakened person that I have ever known." He describes his Kenyan father as "raised a Muslim ," but a "confirmed atheist" by the time his parents met, and his Indonesian stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful." The chapter details how Obama, in his twenties, while working with local churches as a community organizer , came to understand "the power of the African American religious tradition to spur social change." Obama writes: "It was because of these newfound understandings—that religious commitment did not require me to suspend critical thinking, disengage from the battle for economic and social justice, or otherwise retreat from the world that I knew and loved—that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized."^[130] He has been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ for over twenty years.

As of March 2007, the Washington Post estimated that Barack Obama was the least wealthy of the major 2008 Presidential candidates, with a net worth of between $1 and $2.5 million, depending on the ultimate sales figures for Obama's book The Audacity of Hope