Awards, honors, and decorations for President McCain

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

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

1. Hilary is a women Americans are no sissy mamma's boy to accept her.
2. Obama is lets face it black Americans are not stupid enough to elect a Black President.
3. 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

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

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] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

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

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

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

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