NATO apologizes for its handling of Korans in Afghanistan;
Dominique Strauss-Kahn is being questioned again; the US government will
purchase more biobased products; and a voting rights group is suing
Colorado’s Secretary of State. Elsewhere, Stephen Colbert returns to the
airwaves, and Chris Brown and Rihanna plan to collaborate on two songs.
CRUCIAL:
NATO Commander Apologizes for Koran Disposal in Afghanistan
http://nyti.ms/xONOgk
NATO forces at an Afghan military base have improperly disposed of Korans,
which has led to mass protests in the region. The exact way the holy text
was mishandled is not clear, but rumors have spread that the western troops
burned them. General John Allen has apologized to Hamid Karzai and the
Afghani people for the mistake. Over 2,000 people have been protesting,
allegedly screaming, “Death to America.”
Deal reached on $170 billion Greek bailout http://wapo.st/xpMRoz
Europe has reached a deal to save the Greek economy. The deal hopes to bring
down Greek debt to stable levels by the year 2020. Private bondholders will
take a larger loss than expected, and European nations will charge less
interest than they would have. The deal calls for further austerity cuts for
Greece, which has prompted many demonstrations. Experts admit that this deal
will cause the recession to worsen in the short run, but say that it is
necessary. Currently, 49% of Greeks under the age of 25 are unemployed. For
this deal to pass, the legislatures of Germany, The Netherlands and Finland
would have to approve of the aid given.
Former French presidential hopeful Strauss-Kahn questioned in French
prostitution probe http://wapo.st/xLUGVY
French police are investigating whether former IMF chief Dominique
Strauss-Kahn has connections to a prostitution ring. The police have spoken
to prostitutes who claim they have had intercourse with Strauss-Kahn in both
Paris and Washington DC. Strauss-Kahn was a frontrunner for the French
presidency until he was accused of sexual assault in New York City.
Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers say that he had no idea that some of the women he
slept with were in fact prostitutes.
Congressman: Iraq War’s end gives al-Qaeda opening in Syria
http://usat.ly/A891lX
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) says that the end of the Iraq war is making it
harder for the United States to stop the flow of al-Qaeda members into
Syria. It is the US’s belief that some of the uprising against Bashar Assad
is being provoked by the terrorist group centered in Iraq. By fighting the
Assad Regime, al-Qaeda can portray itself as an enemy of autocratic Arab
regimes and win the hearts and minds of people in the region.
Government to buy more biobased products http://usat.ly/wmBDiE
In an attempt to both cut dependence on foreign petroleum and increase
purchases of goods from American farmers, Obama is having the federal
government increase their purchases of biobased products by 50%. Among the
items they will buy are, “products such as hand soap derived from soybeans,
furniture from sunflower hull wood or disposable spoons from potatoes.” This
directive is being supported by Tom Vilsack, the current Secretary of
Agriculture and former Governor of Iowa.
Catholic Hospitals Expand, Religious Strings Attached http://nyti.ms/wtmZ3s
In recent years, many small independent hospitals have merged with larger
more financially stable hospital networks. In practice that means many,
previously secular, hospitals are falling under the umbrella of Catholic
hospitals. This means that there are some operations that go against
Catholic doctrine and as a result, hospitals are no longer able to perform
them. Many hospitals are no longer offering elective abortions while others
are no longer tying women’s tubes following caesarian sections. Some
hospital networks are leaving the Catholic church, but the vast majority are
limiting the procedures done.
Voters’ rights group sues Gessler, Colorado clerks in U.S. District Court
http://bit.ly/xAI7wQ
The Citizen Center, a non-partisan, non-profit voter group in Colorado is
suing the Secretary of State over provisions that make it possible to
connect voters with the ballots they cast. Ballots in the state are made
public and then information on those ballots can be cross-referenced with
other information which would reveal whom people voted for. This goes
against the constitution which requires private and anonymous ballots.
ENTERTAINMENT:
Stephen Colbert Addresses Absence with Nod to ‘Tough as Nails’
Mother, http://ti.me/wSG5JA
Magic Johnson to launch TV network via Comcast, http://lat.ms/x874f7
Lindsay Lohan To Host ‘SNL’ For First Time Since
2006, http://on.mtv.com/AciBwg
Chris Brown, Rihanna Collaborate on 2 Song Remixes, http://abcn.ws/A9h3Gm
NYC Art Sale To Feature Munch’s ‘The Scream,’ http://huff.to/wST5g8
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Aaron Ghitelman Bio: Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
