Alex Bellah

National: Sen. Larry Craig

Summary: Idaho Sen. Larry Craig (Republican) denied in his arrest interview of trying to engage in gay behavior in the Minneapolis/St Paul airport last June. He has said that he was in the bathroom for normal reasons and was reaching for something on the ground when a police badge slipped under the stall right next to him. The officer that arrested Craig said that there was nothing normal about this behavior and that at one point Craig tried to touch his foot with his own. The officer also said that he told Craig that he would not send him to jail if he would cooperate. Craig has also been known to have aligned himself in groups that oppose gay rights. In Sen. Larry Craig’s hearing he pleaded guilty, but is now saying that doing so was a mistake. Many other people who belong to the Republican Party have told Craig that he needs to resign, but Sen. Larry Craig has still yet to do so.

Opinion: As a republican I believe that Sen. Larry Craig is not only letting down the state of Idaho but the entire Republican Party. I belie that he is upset that he got caught and is ashamed to admit that he has done wrong. I believe that we the people have the right to ask him to resign, and the least he could do is listen to our wisdom.


International: GreeceFiry

Summary: After a week of blazing fires, Greece still seems to be burning. On August 24 a heat wave struck the country, this is what is believed to have started the fires. This massive fire has killed 64 people and burned almost 500,000 acres. Many villages have been destroyed and some are still trying to with hold the fire. The government has set up a money aid for all the victims who have lost their homes and/or farms. Most everyone has received $4,400 and the government is planning on giving them all $13,600 more as a first step to the aid program. The fire has not only destroyed villages but has also damaged parts of the 2,800 year old Heritage sight of Ancient Olympia. The firefighters are not sure on how much longer it will take to contain all the flames, but they hope it will be soon.

Opinion: I believe that their government is on the right track on helping their people with the money aid. I also believe that other countries should be taking part in this and trying to help out as much as possible. I believe that we as the United States should send supplies and people to help control the chaos.


National: Katrina 2 years later

Summary: Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in fall of 2005. Since then many people have been struggling to put the city back together. Many families that have moved back to the city have said that prices are high and that they do not believe that the city will ever be the same. White House recovery czar Don Powell has said that $96 billion of the $114 billion promised has been already poured into rebuilding the city of New Orleans. Because of the damages caused by Katrina, the city of New Orleans has been noted that it is two fragile in ground and structure to ever be the same again.

Opinion: I believe that we should put more effort in to helping rebuild the city of New Orleans. I believe a lot has been done already but so much more could be done also. We have already put in and promised a lot of money, but we as a country should do a lot more. We should get volunteers to go down and help in any way possible. It is almost like we have forgotten what has happened to so many innocent people.


International: Pakistani Forces Found

Summary: 100 Pakistan military forces were said to have been kidnapped, but several hours later on Thursday after the report had come in that these troops had been kidnapped and were missing, they were able to track them down. They found out that these forces had just been in some villages getting shelter form the heavy pour down of rain. They were on a 25 mile trip from the capital, Wana to Lahhad when they got caught in the storm. An army spokesperson said that everyone is doing fine and they are all safe.

Opinion: I believe that something happened to these forces than what they are really saying. Why would they change their story if something did not happen? I believe that also any armed forces should make sure they have all their facts straight before rushing to conclusions and sending out news that troops or anyone for that matter is missing or in trouble. All that does is cause chaos.