MINNEAPOLIS — The family of a 13-year-old cancer patient who fled Minnesota with his mother because they objected to chemotherapy are using the Internet to raise money for expenses that could mount as he restarts the therapy today.
Attorney Calvin Johnson said Wednesday he understands the Hauser family has health insurance, but he set up a Web site — dannyhauser.com — because insurance would not cover legal bills and alternative medicines for Daniel Hauser’s illness.
Daniel has Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He received a single treatment of chemotherapy in February, but stopped after enduring the harsh side effects. The family preferred natural healing practices.
The Hausers have eight children, and the family is feeling financial and emotional pressure, the attorney said.
"Things are really, really tight for this family,” Johnson said.
He said he had no estimate of the family’s legal or medical bills. Money raised by the Web site will go to the family but will not be tax-deductible.
by the associated press
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
Afghan officials receive criticism
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan government quietly dumped more than 1,000 Shiite texts and other books from Iran into a river after a local governor complained that their content insulted the country’s Sunni majority.
The move appeared to be an attempt by President Hamid Karzai’s U.S.-backed government to smooth over a potential thorn in relations between the Muslim sects.
But the government was facing condemnation Wednesday from Shiite leaders after news leaked a month after the dumping.
"It is a humiliation for all Shiites,” said Mohammad Akbari, a prominent Shiite member of parliament. He said a joint commission of Sunni and Shiite leaders should have reviewed any complaints about the books.
The dispute highlights the tension between Sunnis and Shiites in Afghanistan despite efforts to preach tolerance.
Shiites were persecuted under the largely Sunni Taliban regime that ruled the country until the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Since then, the two sects have settled into an uneasy coexistence, with the post-Taliban constitution giving Shiites the right to create some laws that apply only to them.
by the associated press
The move appeared to be an attempt by President Hamid Karzai’s U.S.-backed government to smooth over a potential thorn in relations between the Muslim sects.
But the government was facing condemnation Wednesday from Shiite leaders after news leaked a month after the dumping.
"It is a humiliation for all Shiites,” said Mohammad Akbari, a prominent Shiite member of parliament. He said a joint commission of Sunni and Shiite leaders should have reviewed any complaints about the books.
The dispute highlights the tension between Sunnis and Shiites in Afghanistan despite efforts to preach tolerance.
Shiites were persecuted under the largely Sunni Taliban regime that ruled the country until the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Since then, the two sects have settled into an uneasy coexistence, with the post-Taliban constitution giving Shiites the right to create some laws that apply only to them.
by the associated press
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
U.S. Troops could stay in Iraq 10 years
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is prepared to leave fighting forces in Iraq for as long as a decade despite an agreement between the United States and Iraq that would bring all American troops home by 2012, the top U.S. Army officer said Tuesday.
Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, said the world remains dangerous and unpredictable, and the Pentagon must plan for extended U.S. combat and stability operations in two wars.
He spoke to a dozen journalists and policy analysts from Washington-based think-tanks. He said his planning envisions combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for a decade as part of a sustained U.S. commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism in the Middle East.
Casey’s calculations about force levels are related to his attempt to ease the brutal deployment calendar that he said would "bring the Army to its knees.”
Casey would not specify how many combat units would be split between Iraq and Afghanistan. He said U.S. ground commander Gen. Ray Odierno is leading a study to determine how far U.S. forces could be cut back in Iraq and still be effective.
President Barack Obama plans to bring U.S. combat forces home from Iraq in 2010, and the United States and Iraq have agreed that all American forces would leave by 2012.
The United States currently has about 139,000 troops in Iraq and 52,000 in Afghanistan.
Obama campaigned on ending the Iraq war quickly and refocusing U.S. resources on what he called the more important fight in Afghanistan.
by the associated press
Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, said the world remains dangerous and unpredictable, and the Pentagon must plan for extended U.S. combat and stability operations in two wars.
He spoke to a dozen journalists and policy analysts from Washington-based think-tanks. He said his planning envisions combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for a decade as part of a sustained U.S. commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism in the Middle East.
Casey’s calculations about force levels are related to his attempt to ease the brutal deployment calendar that he said would "bring the Army to its knees.”
Casey would not specify how many combat units would be split between Iraq and Afghanistan. He said U.S. ground commander Gen. Ray Odierno is leading a study to determine how far U.S. forces could be cut back in Iraq and still be effective.
President Barack Obama plans to bring U.S. combat forces home from Iraq in 2010, and the United States and Iraq have agreed that all American forces would leave by 2012.
The United States currently has about 139,000 troops in Iraq and 52,000 in Afghanistan.
Obama campaigned on ending the Iraq war quickly and refocusing U.S. resources on what he called the more important fight in Afghanistan.
by the associated press
Roland Burris Fundraising vow is caught on tape
CHICAGO — A transcript of a secretly recorded phone call between the brother of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and U.S. Sen. Roland Burris was released in federal court Tuesday, a call in which Burris, then seeking the Senate seat, was recorded offering the Blagojevich campaign a campaign check.
"I know I could give him a check,” Burris said. "Myself.”
But in the same call, Burris tells Robert Blagojevich he is concerned he and Rod Blagojevich will "catch hell.”
"And if I do get appointed that means I bought it,” said Burris, D-Ill.
"And, and God knows number one, I, I wanna help Rod,” Burris says later in the call. "Number two, I also wanna, you know, hope I get a consideration to get that appointment.”
A federal judge on Tuesday gave prosecutors permission to turn over the recorded conversation to the Senate Ethics Committee, which has launched a review of Burris’ conduct prior to his appointment.
Burris’ attorney, Timothy Wright, denied Burris made the offer to be appointed to the Senate seat.
from the oklahoman
"I know I could give him a check,” Burris said. "Myself.”
But in the same call, Burris tells Robert Blagojevich he is concerned he and Rod Blagojevich will "catch hell.”
"And if I do get appointed that means I bought it,” said Burris, D-Ill.
"And, and God knows number one, I, I wanna help Rod,” Burris says later in the call. "Number two, I also wanna, you know, hope I get a consideration to get that appointment.”
A federal judge on Tuesday gave prosecutors permission to turn over the recorded conversation to the Senate Ethics Committee, which has launched a review of Burris’ conduct prior to his appointment.
Burris’ attorney, Timothy Wright, denied Burris made the offer to be appointed to the Senate seat.
from the oklahoman
America after Mexican cartels
NEW YORK — The Mexican drug cartels battling viciously to expand and survive have a powerful incentive: Across the border to the north is a market for illegal drugs unsurpassed for its wealth, diversity and voraciousness.
Homeless heroin addicts in big cities, "meth heads’ in Midwest trailer parks, pop culture and sports stars, teens smoking marijuana with their baby boomer parents in Vermont — in all, 46 percent of Americans 12 and older have indulged in the often destructive national pastime of illicit drug use.
This array of consumers is providing a vast, recession-proof, apparently unending market for the Mexican gangs locked in a drug war that has killed more than 10,780 people since December 2006. No matter how much law enforcement or financial help the U.S. government provides Mexico, the basics of supply and demand prevent it from doing much good.
The latest federal figures show that 114 million Americans have used illegal drugs at some point — and 8 percent of those, or 20 million people, are current users.
"It’s a drug dealer’s dream — sell it in a place where he can make the most money for the risk taken,” said Dr. H. Westley Clark, director of the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
"There’s a tremendous amount of denial until you’re face to face with it,” Clark added. "A substance abuser can be anybody. Everybody is at risk.”
The Mexican cartels are eager to feed this ravenous appetite. Mexico is now a major producer and distributor; its gangs control cocaine networks in many U.S. cities and covertly grow marijuana.
The Mexican government is fighting the cartels and working with U.S. authorities — but all parties are aware of the role played by the U.S. market.
"When the U.S. government turns up the pressure a lot, then is when you see a return to the old formula of saying (to Americans), ‘You also have corruption, you consume the drugs, you’re the biggest drug consumer in the world,’” said Jose Luis Pineyro, a sociologist at Mexico’s Autonomous Metropolitan University.
Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief recently appointed by President Barack Obama as the U.S. drug czar, said the Mexicans "make an excellent point.”
"Our drug abuse causes problems elsewhere — our per capita consumption is very high,” said Kerlikowske, who argues that reducing demand through education and treatment is as vital as border interdictions in quelling Mexico’s drug violence.
by the associated press
Homeless heroin addicts in big cities, "meth heads’ in Midwest trailer parks, pop culture and sports stars, teens smoking marijuana with their baby boomer parents in Vermont — in all, 46 percent of Americans 12 and older have indulged in the often destructive national pastime of illicit drug use.
This array of consumers is providing a vast, recession-proof, apparently unending market for the Mexican gangs locked in a drug war that has killed more than 10,780 people since December 2006. No matter how much law enforcement or financial help the U.S. government provides Mexico, the basics of supply and demand prevent it from doing much good.
The latest federal figures show that 114 million Americans have used illegal drugs at some point — and 8 percent of those, or 20 million people, are current users.
"It’s a drug dealer’s dream — sell it in a place where he can make the most money for the risk taken,” said Dr. H. Westley Clark, director of the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
"There’s a tremendous amount of denial until you’re face to face with it,” Clark added. "A substance abuser can be anybody. Everybody is at risk.”
The Mexican cartels are eager to feed this ravenous appetite. Mexico is now a major producer and distributor; its gangs control cocaine networks in many U.S. cities and covertly grow marijuana.
The Mexican government is fighting the cartels and working with U.S. authorities — but all parties are aware of the role played by the U.S. market.
"When the U.S. government turns up the pressure a lot, then is when you see a return to the old formula of saying (to Americans), ‘You also have corruption, you consume the drugs, you’re the biggest drug consumer in the world,’” said Jose Luis Pineyro, a sociologist at Mexico’s Autonomous Metropolitan University.
Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief recently appointed by President Barack Obama as the U.S. drug czar, said the Mexicans "make an excellent point.”
"Our drug abuse causes problems elsewhere — our per capita consumption is very high,” said Kerlikowske, who argues that reducing demand through education and treatment is as vital as border interdictions in quelling Mexico’s drug violence.
by the associated press
California’s marriage law Ramain's
SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday. It also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay wed.
Demonstrators outside the court yelled "shame on you!” Gay rights activists immediately promised to resume their fight, saying they would go back to voters as early as next year in a bid to repeal the ban.
The 6-1 decision written by Chief Justice Ron George rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California Constitution’s equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature’s approval.
The court said the Californians have a right, through the ballot box, to change their constitution.
"In a sense, petitioners’ and the attorney general’s complaint is that it is just too easy to amend the California Constitution through the initiative process. But it is not a proper function of this court to curtail that process; we are constitutionally bound to uphold it,” the ruling said.
The justices said the 136-page majority ruling does not speak to whether they agree with the voter-approved Proposition 8.
The announcement of the decision set off an outcry among demonstrators who had gathered in front of the San Francisco courthouse awaiting the ruling.
A small group of Proposition 8 supporters also had gathered outside the court to hear the ruling.
by the associated press
Demonstrators outside the court yelled "shame on you!” Gay rights activists immediately promised to resume their fight, saying they would go back to voters as early as next year in a bid to repeal the ban.
The 6-1 decision written by Chief Justice Ron George rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California Constitution’s equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature’s approval.
The court said the Californians have a right, through the ballot box, to change their constitution.
"In a sense, petitioners’ and the attorney general’s complaint is that it is just too easy to amend the California Constitution through the initiative process. But it is not a proper function of this court to curtail that process; we are constitutionally bound to uphold it,” the ruling said.
The justices said the 136-page majority ruling does not speak to whether they agree with the voter-approved Proposition 8.
The announcement of the decision set off an outcry among demonstrators who had gathered in front of the San Francisco courthouse awaiting the ruling.
A small group of Proposition 8 supporters also had gathered outside the court to hear the ruling.
by the associated press
Jim Inhofe was opposed to nomination in 1998
WASHINGTON — In more than 14 years in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Jim Inhofe has yet to vote on a Democratic president’s nominee for the Supreme Court. He was still in the House when the Senate approved former President Bill Clinton’s two nominees, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer.
But the Tulsa Republican has already voted against Sonia Sotomayor, who on Tuesday got the nod from President Barack Obama to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter.
Inhofe was among 29 senators, all Republicans, who opposed Sotomayor’s nomination to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in October 1998.
Inhofe didn’t make a public statement about the nomination back then, but other Republicans had expressed concern about her "judicial activism.” A full Senate vote on her nomination was held up for months after the Judiciary Committee approved it.
On Tuesday, Inhofe said he had "great concern” about recent comments Sotomayor had made about "legislating from the bench.”
"In the months ahead, it will be important for those of us in the U.S. Senate to weigh her qualifications and character as well as her ability to rule fairly without undue influence from her own personal race, gender or political preferences,” he said.
Inhofe called Sotomayor’s personal life story — she was raised by her widowed mother in a public housing project in the Bronx — "truly inspiring” and said he looked forward to examining her judicial philosophy.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, who serves as a member of the Judiciary Committee, which will hold confirmation hearings on Sotomayor, said the federal appellate judge "deserves fair and open hearings and a dignified confirmation process.”
Coburn made clear in a brief statement that he’s looking for a justice "who will interpret the Constitution, not rewrite it based on ideology or personal opinion,” and he said senators’ views should be based on the nominee’s qualifications and "her commitment to interpreting the Constitution.”
from the oklahoman
But the Tulsa Republican has already voted against Sonia Sotomayor, who on Tuesday got the nod from President Barack Obama to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter.
Inhofe was among 29 senators, all Republicans, who opposed Sotomayor’s nomination to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in October 1998.
Inhofe didn’t make a public statement about the nomination back then, but other Republicans had expressed concern about her "judicial activism.” A full Senate vote on her nomination was held up for months after the Judiciary Committee approved it.
On Tuesday, Inhofe said he had "great concern” about recent comments Sotomayor had made about "legislating from the bench.”
"In the months ahead, it will be important for those of us in the U.S. Senate to weigh her qualifications and character as well as her ability to rule fairly without undue influence from her own personal race, gender or political preferences,” he said.
Inhofe called Sotomayor’s personal life story — she was raised by her widowed mother in a public housing project in the Bronx — "truly inspiring” and said he looked forward to examining her judicial philosophy.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, who serves as a member of the Judiciary Committee, which will hold confirmation hearings on Sotomayor, said the federal appellate judge "deserves fair and open hearings and a dignified confirmation process.”
Coburn made clear in a brief statement that he’s looking for a justice "who will interpret the Constitution, not rewrite it based on ideology or personal opinion,” and he said senators’ views should be based on the nominee’s qualifications and "her commitment to interpreting the Constitution.”
from the oklahoman
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