Just POlitics

U.S. bilked of million

NewsMax reports that a million dollars in U.S. funds in Iraq have been used to give bribes and deals to the French and Chinese:

According to a May 2004 U.S. Defense Department report to the inspector general and obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, a former financier and close associate of Saddam Hussein, Nadhmi Auchi, has "engaged in unlawful activities" such as bribing "foreign governments and individuals prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom to turn opinion against the American-led mission to remove Saddam Hussein."

In addition, the report noted that Auchi arranged "for significant theft from the UN Oil-for-Food Program to smuggle weapons and dual-use technology into Iraq in violation of UN and other International Export Control Regimes."

But the U.S. liberation of Iraq has done little to put Auchi out of business. According to the official DoD report, during the U.S. occupation Auchi has organized "an elaborate scheme to take over and control the post-war cellular phone system in Iraq."

Syria’s dilemma

Syria has come under increased pressure from the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon and the Syrian-based leaders of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad bombing of a Tel Aviv nightclub.

Syria has long been the safe haven to numerous terrorists. Now, the U.S. has recalled its ambassador and the world is abandoning Syria as Lebanon protesters continue to put pressure on Syria to remove their troops from Lebanon.

Syrian-backed Prime Minister Omar Karami of Lebanon said on Monday his government was resigning. "Out of concern that the government does not become an obstacle to the good of the country, I announce the resignation of the government I had the honor to lead," Karami told parliament in Beirut.

"We want to see free and fair elections take place this spring," said U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, David Satterfield.

"It's important that steps take place on the ground prior to those elections including the beginning of the implementation of Resolution 1559."

The U.N. Resolution 1559 requires the withdrawal of Syrian troops and spies from Lebanon.

In another action it seems that Syria’s worries have led to support against Iraqi terrorists. Iraqi officials told the Associated Press that Syrian officials had captured Hassan in northeastern Syria and handed him over to them. The officials said Hassan and 29 other members of Iraq's Baath Party were seized in Hasakah, about 30 miles from the Iraqi border, and turned over to Iraqi authorities. They did not say precisely when Hassan was captured, only that he was detained after the Feb. 14 assassination in Beirut of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafiq Hariri.

Stem Cell fight

Rep. Charles Bass, New Hampshire Republican, will offer a proposal to repeal stem cell policy. Bass’s proposed legislation would open federal funding under the national Institute of Health to any developed stem cell line as opposed to those already developed when President Bush authorized stem cell funding.

A Senate companion bill is sponsored by Sens. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, and Tom Harkin, Iowa Democrat.

Opposition from the religious right is expected.

"We will be up on the Hill stopping Mr. Bass' bill," said Connie Mackey, vice president for governmental relations at the Family Research Council. "We are preparing what we can to stop him in that effort."

Talon News shut down

Talon News founder Bobby Eberle of Pearland, Texas, has shut down his website for further review. Eberle has another Web site called GOPUSA.com, which touts the Republican Party and conservative causes.

Talon News said in its message that the Web site would be redesigned and "a top-to-bottom review of staff and volunteer contributors" would be performed.

"The recent public focus on Talon News, while much of it malicious, has indeed brought some constructive elements to the surface," the message said.

Poll watching

Only a slight majority of Republicans (52 percent) say the United Nations plays a necessary role in world affairs, compared with 74 percent of Democrats. The poll sample of 1,008 adults was conducted Feb. 7-10.