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(CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI ended 2009 much as he began it -- with a major gaffe that angered Jews.
He started the year by welcoming a Holocaust-denying bishop back into the fold, and ended it by putting the controversial World War II-era Pope Pius XII one step closer to sainthood. Both caused uproars.
"It seems that the pope doesn't always know what's going out under his name, or the impact of what's going out under his name, which is very strange to observe because John Paul II was so media-savvy," said Ruth Ellen Gruber, a Jewish journalist and author who has long been based in Rome.
The Pius XII episode "seems to be yet again a case where they didn't estimate what the response would be," Gruber said.
In both cases the pope quickly found himself having to explain and clarify.
He lifted the decades-old excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson in January, part of an effort to reconcile an ultra-conservative movement with the Vatican. Three other bishops associated with the Society of St. Pius X were un-excommunicated at the same time.
The excommunications were not related to Williamson's Holocaust denial. But it was Williamson who caused outrage, not only among Jews but also among German Catholic bishops and politicians, because the bishop had been filmed denying that the Nazis systematically set out to murder Jews in the Holocaust.
The video was freely available on YouTube -- and by March, the pope was admitting the Vatican should have Googled Williamson before letting him back into the church.
The excommunication's remission caused "a discussion more heated than any we have seen for a long time," Benedict XVI wrote in an open letter to bishops in March.
"I have been told that consulting the information available on the Internet would have made it possible to perceive the problem early on," the pope acknowledged. "I have learned the lesson that in the future in the Holy See we will have to pay greater attention to that source of news."
He made his first visit as pope to Israel in the wake of the controversy -- a visit planned long before the Williamson uproar erupted -- and delivered a clear message: "Every effort must be made to fight anti-Semitism wherever it is found."
But fresh controversy blew up this month when he issued a decree proclaiming the "heroic virtues" of Pope Pius XII.
Pius, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, is perhaps the most controversial pope of modern times, accused by detractors of not speaking out against the Nazi persecution of Jews. (John Cornwell titled his book about Pius XII "Hitler's Pope," just to make his point perfectly clear.)
Israel Meir Lau, a former chief rabbi of Israel and himself a Holocaust survivor, said it would "shame" the Vatican to declare Pius XII a saint.
"Especially not now, when many survivors are still alive. It will hurt them deeply to know that the man who could save [them], could do much more and did not do it," he said. "It is not a good education for generations to come."
Even as the Holocaust was going on, the United States was pushing Pius XII to act.
"At the time of the Holocaust, questions about Pius XII's public silence were raised by Myron Taylor, the U.S. representative to the Vatican, and Taylor's assistant, Harold Tittman, who requested that the Holy See speak out on the issue," the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said Monday.
"The opening of the post-1939 archival material is essential to a proper assessment of Pius XII. Only then will a sound and accurate portrait of his moral leadership during the Holocaust be possible," the museum argued.
Benedict's spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, called Pius XII an "important pope that we know was guiding the church in very difficult times."
The Vatican has long argued that Pius did more behind the scenes to help Jews than he gets credit for -- but has not produced proof.
It
|
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"Who is in trouble for praising Pope Pius?"
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"denying that the Nazis systematically set out to murder Jews in the Holocaust.",
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question: Who was angry with Benedict in January?, answer: Jews. | question: What did Pius do?, answer: not speaking out against the Nazi persecution of Jews. | question: What is Pius accused of?, answer: denying that the Nazis systematically set out to murder Jews in the Holocaust. | question: What is Pius accused of by critics?, answer: detractors of not speaking out against the Nazi persecution of Jews. | question: Who angered Jews?, answer: Pope | question: Who is in trouble for praise of World War II-era Pope Pius XII?, answer: Benedict XVI | question: Who is in trouble for praising Pope Pius?, answer: Benedict XVI
|
(CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI is expected to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury on Saturday, the first meeting between the religious leaders since a Catholic overture to disaffected Anglicans that some commentators compared to a hostile takeover on Wall Street.
Rowan Williams, the nominal head of the world Anglican Communion, threw down a theological gauntlet to the pope in a highly challenging speech in Rome in the run-up to their meeting.
He laid out a series of questions suggesting that decades of hard-won apparent reconciliation between the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations might have weak foundations.
He also proposed that a truly universal Christian church might have to be structured more like the Anglican Communion -- with no central authority laying down the law -- than like the Catholic Church, with the pope on his throne.
"Is there a mechanism in the church that has the clear right to determine for all where the limits of Christian identity might be found?" Williams asked. "Is the integrity of the church ultimately dependent on a single identifiable ministry of unity to which all local ministries are accountable?"
The meeting comes in the wake of a Vatican move that some say will shatter more than 40 years of efforts to reconcile the Catholic and Anglican churches.
The Vatican announced in October that it had worked out a way for Anglicans who are dissatisfied with their church to switch allegiance en masse to Rome.
The process will enable groups of Anglicans to become Catholic and recognize the pope as their leader, yet have parishes that retain Anglican rites, Vatican officials said. The move comes some 450 years after King Henry VIII broke from Rome and created the Church of England, forerunner of the Anglican Communion.
The number of Anglicans wishing to join the Catholic Church has increased in recent years as the Anglican Church has welcomed the ordination of women and openly gay clergy, said Cardinal William Joseph Levada, the head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in announcing the move in October.
Williams was said to have been taken by surprise by the move, which critics described as an end run around a long-established Catholic-Anglican dialogue.
"The Catholic Church is responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion," Levada said.
Levada said "hundreds" of Anglicans around the world have expressed their desire to join the Catholic Church. Among them are 50 Anglican bishops, said Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
Catholic and Anglican theology and rites are broadly similar, but Anglicans have long allowed priests to marry and have children.
In recent decades, the Anglican Communion has allowed women to become priests. The Episcopal Church, the United States branch of the Anglican Communion, has ordained an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, and appears to be on the verge of ordaining more.
Those developments have caused controversy within the communion, with more conservative parishes setting up alternative structures of authority.
Pope Benedict hinted clearly when he last met Williams in Rome almost exactly three years ago to the day that Rome did not look kindly on the Anglican moves.
"Recent developments, especially concerning the ordained ministry and certain moral teachings, have affected not only internal relations within the Anglican Communion but also relations between the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church," the pope said in November 2006.
"We believe that these matters, which are presently under discussion within the Anglican Communion, are of vital importance to the preaching of the gospel in its integrity, and that your current discussions will shape the future of our relations," he added.
There are about 77 million Anglicans worldwide, and about 1.1 billion Roman Catholics.
|
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question: who has welcomed ordination of women, openly gay clergy?, answer: the Anglican Church | question: who is going to meet?, answer: the Archbishop of Canterbury | question: The Anglican church has welcomed two things, what are they, answer: the ordination of women and openly gay clergy, | question: who has recently opened door to disillusioned Anglicans wanting to join Catholic Church?, answer: Benedict XVI | question: Who is to meet with Anglican head to discuss ideologies, answer: Pope
|
(CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI refused Wednesday to soften the Vatican's ban on condom use as he arrived in Africa for his first visit to the continent as pope.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya, left, walks with Pope Benedict XVI at the airport in Yaounde, Tuesday.
He landed in Cameroon, the first stop on a trip that will also take him to Angola.
Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit harder by AIDS and HIV than any other region of the world, according to the United Nations and World Health Organization. There has been fierce debate between those who advocate the use of condoms to help stop the spread of the epidemic and those who oppose it.
The pontiff reiterated the Vatican's policy on condom use as he flew from Rome to Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, CNN Vatican analyst John Allen said.
Pope Benedict has always made it clear he intends to uphold the traditional Catholic teaching on artificial contraception -- a "clear moral prohibition" -- Allen said. But his remarks Tuesday were among the first times he stated the policy explicitly since he became pope nearly four years ago.
He has, however, assembled a panel of scientists and theologians to consider the narrow question of whether to allow condoms for married couples, one of whom has HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
It is still not clear how the pope will rule on the matter, said Allen, who is also a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.
The Catholic Church has long been on the front line of HIV care, he said, adding that it is probably the largest private provider of HIV care in the world.
More than 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, according to a 2008 UNAIDS/WHO report. Nine out of 10 children with HIV in the world live in the region, which has 11.4 million orphans because of AIDS, the report said, and 1.5 million people there died of the disease in 2007.
|
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question: What made him choose Cameroon?, answer: AIDS and HIV | question: Who is visiting Cameroon?, answer: Pope | question: What did he do in Africa?, answer: reiterated the Vatican's policy on condom use | question: What is he visiting?, answer: Africa | question: Where did AIDS and HIV hit the hardest?, answer: Sub-Saharan Africa | question: What is the current AIDS and HIV rate?, answer: Nine out of 10 children | question: What is the name of the Pope?, answer: Benedict XVI | question: Where did he arrive?, answer: Africa
|
(CNN) -- Pope John Paul II used to beat himself with a belt and sleep on a bare floor to bring himself closer to Christ, a book published Wednesday says.
The late pope had a particular belt for self-flagellation and brought it with him to his summer residence, according to the book, "Why he is a Saint: The True story of John Paul II."
"As some members of his own entourage were able to hear with their own ears, both in Poland and in the Vatican, Karol Wojtyla flagellated himself," the book says, using the name the pope was given at birth.
"In the closet, among the cloaks, a particular pant-belt hung from a hook, which he utilized as a whip and one which he always had brought to Castel Gandolfo," the book says.
The book was written by a Vatican insider, Slawomir Oder, with Italian journalist Saverio Gaeta of the Catholic weekly Christian Family. Oder is head of the Vatican committee investigating whether John Paul II should be declared a saint. John Paul died in 2005.
The evil albino monk in Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" may be the best-known example of self-flagellation these days, but the practice is not unusual in Catholicism -- or nearly as extreme as it is shown in the movie.
"When members or former members [of Opus Dei] see the monk go at it in the movie, they just burst out laughing, it's so nutty," said the Rev. Michael Barrett, a priest of the Catholic Opus Dei sect.
In actual Catholic self-flagellation, "there is no blood, no injury, nothing to harm a person's health, nothing traumatic. If it caused any harm, the Church would not allow it," he wrote on Opus Dei's Web site when the movie came out in 2006.
"This voluntarily accepted discomfort is a way of joining oneself to Jesus Christ and the sufferings he voluntarily accepted in order to redeem us from sin. 'The Da Vinci Code's' masochist monk, who loves pain for its own sake, has nothing to do with real Christian mortification," Barrett said.
Mother Teresa is among famous Catholics who self-flagellated in some way, Barrett said.
Catholics are not alone in choosing to inflict pain on themselves for religion reasons. Some Shiite Muslims lash themselves until they bleed when marking the mourning period of Ashura, while fasting is practiced by people in several religions, including Jews on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.
David Gibson, a journalist who worked for Vatican Radio when John Paul II was pope, pointed out that the pontiff wrote an apostolic letter -- essentially a papal position paper -- on suffering in 1984.
"Christ did not conceal from his listeners the need for suffering. He said very clearly: 'If any man would come after me ... let him take up his cross daily,' " the pope wrote, quoting the Gospel of Luke.
Jesus, the pope wrote, "suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the Redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the Redemption was accomplished.
"In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ," says the letter, Salvifici Doloris, On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering.
"John Paul was a product of a very Old World Polish Catholicism," said Gibson, who now writes on religion for Politics Daily.
"He was a very disciplined man and a very rigorous man in his personal spirituality," he said.
The authors of the new book clearly approve of any whipping the pope did of himself, he added.
"Even though it's going to weird people out, it's obviously seen by his postulators as a sign of his holiness," he said, using the technical term for the person
|
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question: what Pope used to beat himself?, answer: John Paul II | question: who "a particular pant-belt" to beat himself, book says?, answer: Pope | question: who says "Why he is a Saint: The True story of John Paul II"?, answer: Slawomir Oder, | question: what did he do, answer: used to beat himself with a belt and sleep on a bare floor | question: what pope is this, answer: John Paul II | question: when John Paul wrot a apostolic letter on suffering?, answer: 1984.
|
(CNN) -- Portugal declared three days of national mourning Monday amid fears the death toll from devastating floods and mudslides on the island of Madeira could rise above 42.
Search teams have been working to find more victims after floodwaters caused by heavy rains swamped the capital Funchal, unleashing a torrent of mud that swept away homes, roads and trees. At least 120 people were injured.
Rescuers were trying to drain a two-story undergound car park at a shopping center where many people are thought to have become trapped.
Rescuers feared were that when rains started on Saturday many people may have rushed to retrieve their cars, but ended up trapped in the car park, CNN's Portuguese affiliate, RTP state TV, reported.
Flags were flying at half staff on government buildings in Lisbon in respect of the victims. European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso was due there later Monday to give a news conference describing what assistance the European Union can offer to Portugal.
Madeira-born footballer Cristiano Ronaldo also paid tribute to the victims as his team Real Madrid played Villarreal on Sunday. He lifted his jersey after scoring a goal to reveal a white T-shirt with "Madeira" written on it.
Ronaldo wrote on his blog later that he was "incredulous, shocked and dismayed" by the disaster, and offered his assistance.
The mayor of Funchal, Miguel Alburquerque, has warned it was "very probable" the toll will rise.
"Our main concern is for the damaged and flooded homes, the cars buried and swept away by water, where we fear we will find new bodies," he told the Jornal de Madeira newspaper, according to Agence France-Presse.
Rescuers were still hunting for other people believed missing in the deluge as efforts to clear up got under way.
Authorities said about 250 people had been evacuated to military bases and other safe locations.
Pedro Barbosa of the Civil Protection Agency told CNN all the damage occurred in just a few hours Saturday morning due to "very concentrated, very intense" rains that sparked flooding and mudslides.
The mudslides and flooding damaged roads and homes in Funchal, and in Ribeira Brava, which are both on the southern portion of the Atlantic island.
Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal, is a popular resort destination. There have been no reports of any dead or missing tourists.
Barbosa said Saturday's heavy rains were the worst in Madeira since 1993, when a storm killed eight people.
Madeira is one of the Madeira Islands, an archipelago about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) southwest of the Portuguese mainland.
CNN's Al Goodman contributed to this report.
|
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question: How many were injured?, answer: At least 120 | question: Who paid tribute to the victims?, answer: Cristiano Ronaldo | question: What number of people were injured?, answer: 120 | question: What number of people were killed?, answer: could rise above 42. | question: What did Portugal announce?, answer: three days of national mourning | question: Who paid tribute to victims?, answer: Cristiano Ronaldo | question: Who also paid tribute to victims?, answer: Cristiano Ronaldo | question: Who announced three days of mourning?, answer: Portugal | question: What island had floods?, answer: Madeira
|
(CNN) -- Portugal have confirmed that captain Cristiano Ronaldo will not be fit for the World Cup playoffs against Bosnia-Herzegovina, thus ending a growing club-versus-country row.
The Portuguese Football Federation had insisted that the world's most expensive player travel home to be assessed, despite his Spanish club Real Madrid insisting that he could not play due to his ongoing ankle problems.
Coach Carlos Queiroz had selected the forward in his squad for Saturday's match in Lisbon and the return leg in Zenica four days later despite the objections of the Spanish club.
Real at first refused to release the 24-year-old, having sent him to see Dutch specialist Niek van Dijk, but relented on Tuesday to allow the Portuguese medics to make their own verdict.
"After clinical evaluation and imaging, it was concluded that the player is not physically able to integrate the preparation stage of the national team for these games," read a statement on the Portuguese FF's Web site on Tuesday night.
"The Portuguese Football Federation wish the player a good and quick recovery."
Ronaldo has been sidelined since October 10, when he aggravated an ankle problem playing for Portugal in a qualifier that he had suffered on club duty the previous month.
Real do not expect him to be fit for at least another two weeks, but Portugal had hoped he could help them qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Queiroz defended his decision to make Ronaldo travel home to be assessed.
"Based on the rules and principles governing clubs and associations, we have put Cristiano in the squad," he said.
"I was coach of Real. The club deserves respect. I know the medical team, president and CE,. I have every respect for that club. This fact cannot compel me to put any club below or above the others. All clubs and players deserve equal treatment."
|
[
"Who will not be fit for the Wold Cup playoffs?",
"Who traveled to Portugal?",
"Which coach selected Ronaldo?",
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"Who is the coach who selected Cristiano Ronaldo?"
] |
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question: Who will not be fit for the Wold Cup playoffs?, answer: captain Cristiano Ronaldo | question: Who traveled to Portugal?, answer: Cristiano Ronaldo | question: Which coach selected Ronaldo?, answer: Carlos Queiroz | question: How many years old is Cristiano Ronaldo?, answer: 24-year-old, | question: who selected him?, answer: Coach Carlos Queiroz | question: Of which team is Cristiano Ronaldo the star?, answer: Spanish club Real Madrid | question: Who is the coach who selected Cristiano Ronaldo?, answer: Carlos Queiroz
|
(CNN) -- Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been unveiled as Real Madrid's new number 9, in front of 80,000 passionate fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, after his world record $130 million move from Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo is paraded in front of 80,000 passionate supporters at a packed Bernabeu stadium.
The event marked the culmination of a two-year pursuit of the player by the Spanish club, which defied the global downturn with exorbitant spending to capture the man voted the world's best footballer by world governing body FIFA.
"I have made my childhood dream a reality -- to play for Real Madrid," Ronaldo told the packed stands.
"I am just so happy to be here," he said to a rapturous reception from the gathered thousands. "I really didn't expect a jam-packed stadium -- this is truly impressive." Watch tens of thousands greet Ronaldo »
Ronaldo is the fourth major signing of the close season by Real, as the club, fueled by the financial muscle of returning president and property magnate Florentino Perez, aims to recapture the glory that has seen them win more European Cups than any other side.
The transfer of Brazil's Kaka and defender Raul Albiol was followed by the arrival of French striker Karim Benzema from Lyon on Thursday, as Perez assembles a second wave of "galacticos," following his previous success with big-names such as David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane.
Benzema's transfer fee is reported to be in the region of $60 million, taking Madrid's spending to an astonishing $300 million this in recent months.
Perez claimed Monday's event "might not have a precedent." "We are very satisfied to know that you made the firm decision to play for Real Madrid," Perez said.
He told Ronaldo what to expect from his new adoring fans, adding: "They will ask of you the very best, but will also give you their all."
The attendance at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium swamped the estimated 55,000 that watched Kaka's unveiling last Tuesday, and is believed to be the biggest turnout for a presentation since a reported 75,000 saw the arrival of Diego Maradona at Napoli from Barcelona in 1984. Watch fans line up before Ronaldo's unveiling »
Earlier, Ronaldo successfully completed his medical with Madrid after landing in the Spanish capital just after midday.
Carlos Diez, Real Madrid's medical chief, told teh club's Web site: "(Ronaldo) is in perfect condition and very eager to start the season as soon as possible."
Ronaldo had already undergone initial medical tests with the Spanish giants while on holiday in Portugal last month, which the player claimed at the time had gone "perfectly".
Diez added: "He has an extraordinary cardiac and lung capacity. We have complemented everything that we already did in Portugal and done all the specific tests.
"Now we will be able to start working using an individual plan in order to improve his performance. For him (Ronaldo), it's a dream, and this dream starts to convert into reality from now."
The number nine jersey was recently vacated by Argentine striker Javier Saviola who joined Portuguese side Benfica last month.
|
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question: What club has unveiled Cristiano Ronaldo as the new No. 9?, answer: Real Madrid's | question: who was unveiled as real madrids new no. 9?, answer: Portugal | question: Who is unveiled as Real Madrid's new No.9?, answer: Cristiano Ronaldo | question: who paid manchester united a world records?, answer: Real Madrid's | question: Who paraded in front of thousands of supporters?, answer: Cristiano Ronaldo | question: How many supporter were at the Santiago Berbabeu?, answer: 80,000 | question: How much did Real Madrid pay Manchester United?, answer: $130 million
|
(CNN) -- Portugal will face Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place in Euro 2012 after the pair were drawn together in the playoffs to reach the finals in Poland and Ukraine next year.
Portugal, coached by former international midfielder Paulo Bento, qualifed for the 2010 World Cup finals courtesy of a playoff success against Safet Susic's Bosnia Herzegovina, and the Euro 2004 hosts and finalists will have to repeat the feat over two legs.
Portugal will have home advantage for the second leg on November 15, with the first leg set to take place on November 11 or 12.
Three other ties were drawn at the ceremony in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, with Croatia set to face Turkey in a repeat of the Euro 2008 quarterfinal.
Denmark seal Euro 2012 spot after beating Portugal
Turkey, now coached by Dutchman Guus Hiddink, claimed a penalty shootout victory when the two sides met in Vienna four years ago before losing to Germany in the semifinals.
Estonia will have to overcome Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland if they are to qualify for their first major soccer championship.
Ireland will be making their sixth appearance in a major tournament playoff, having missed out on last year's World Cup when a controversial William Gallas goal, after an apparent handball from Thierry Henry, condemned them to defeat against France.
The final playoff pits Euro 1996 runners-up Czech Republic against Montenegro, who are bidding to reach their first tournament since gaining independence in 2006.
There are 12 teams already assured of their place in the competition, with co-hosts Poland and Ukraine being joined by reigning world and European champions Spain and 1988 winners Netherlands.
The other eight teams who have already qualified are Germany, England, Italy, Russia, France, Greece, Denmark and Sweden.
The draw for the group stage of the four-yearly tournament will be made on December 2, ahead of the competition's first match on June 8 2012.
|
[
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"What country will Croatia play?",
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"Montenegro will play against who?",
"Turkey will play who in Thursday's playoff draw?",
"who is paired in Thursday's playoff draw?"
] |
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"Bosnia and Herzegovina",
"a place in Euro 2012",
"Turkey",
"Poland and Ukraine",
"Portugal",
"Czech Republic",
"Croatia",
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] |
question: What country will Portugal face?, answer: Bosnia and Herzegovina | question: What is Portugal trying to qualify for?, answer: a place in Euro 2012 | question: What country will Croatia play?, answer: Turkey | question: Where will Portugal face Bosnia Herzegovina?, answer: Poland and Ukraine | question: who will face Bosnia Herzegovina for a place at Euro 2012?, answer: Portugal | question: Montenegro will play against who?, answer: Czech Republic | question: Turkey will play who in Thursday's playoff draw?, answer: Croatia | question: who is paired in Thursday's playoff draw?, answer: Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
(CNN) -- Portuguese football coach Jose Mourinho caused outcry this week when he substituted Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari due to his low-energy levels -- which were a result of fasting.
Muntari is a practicing Muslim who, like many of the same faith around the world, is currently not eating during the hours of daylight to mark the Ramadan holy period.
The midfielder is not the only high-profile player who will be fasting, check out Fanzone's First XI of Islamic stars..
|
[
"What religion is the Ghanaian midfielder?",
"Who else is a high-profile jihadist?",
"Who did Jose Mourinho substitute?",
"Who did Mourinho substitute for?"
] |
[
"Muslim",
"Sulley Muntari",
"Sulley Muntari",
"midfielder Sulley Muntari"
] |
question: What religion is the Ghanaian midfielder?, answer: Muslim | question: Who else is a high-profile jihadist?, answer: Sulley Muntari | question: Who did Jose Mourinho substitute?, answer: Sulley Muntari | question: Who did Mourinho substitute for?, answer: midfielder Sulley Muntari
|
(CNN) -- Portuguese football coach Jose Mourinho, ever the headline creator, has caused further outcry this week after he substituted Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari from his Inter Milan side during their Italian Serie A clash with Bari.
Inter midfielder Sulley Muntari was substitued Jose Mourinho for his low-energy levels as a result of fasting.
Taking a tired player from the field of play was hardly breaking news, at least it wasn't until Mourinho revealed the move had been prompted because the player's perceived "low-energy levels" were as a result of fasting.
Muntari is a practicing Muslim who, like many of the same faith around the world, is currently not eating during the hours of daylight to mark the Ramadan holy period .Should fasting footballers be dropped by their managers? Sound Off below.
A discipline that clearly irked Mourinho who said in a post-match press conference: "Muntari had some problems related to Ramadan, perhaps with this heat it's not good for him to be doing this (fasting). Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match."
Muslim leaders in Italy have criticized the opinions of the coach known as the "Special One", but Mourinho did not rule out the possibility of dropping the player for the Milan derby between arch rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan this weekend for the same reason.
Click here to see our gallery of the top 10 Muslim football stars »
Elsewhere in Italy, fellow Muslim and Siena striker Abdelkader Ghezzal added to the debate by revealing he cannot fast and play at the same time.
"I've always observed Ramadan but I have had to change my habits for health reasons from the first year that I became a professional. Before that I played at Crotone [while fasting] but after two weeks I felt ill and had to stop."
Egypt's Under-20 football squad passed up the chance to break the Ramadan fast to help them prepare for the forthcoming World Youth Championship which they host at the end of September.
The Egyptian Football Association confirmed that the Dar al-Ifta, the country's institution which clarifies religious principles and issues edicts, had given specific permission for the players to legitimately avoid fasting.
It is not just Ramadan which has caused issues between Muslim players and their clubs.
The beliefs of Sevilla striker Freddie Kanoute have conflicted with the demands of his professional career.
Kanoute taped over the logo of the Sevilla club's shirt sponsors - internet gaming company 888.com -- in 2006 because he said Islam forbade the promotion of gambling.
So is Mourinho right to take account of how religious practices may affect his players' performance? Is it wrong to drop a fasting footballer whose energy levels may be lower than his teammates?
Should Mourinho contemplate that a player of faith may perform better in a period of self-enforced discipline? Were the Egyptian players right to carry on fasting even though they were given permission to break the fast?
If Kanoute right to bring his religious beliefs into his place of work? And can sport and religion ever be separated in a satisfactory way?Let us know your thoughts in the Sound Off box below.
|
[
"Where is Sulley Montari from?",
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"Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari"
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question: Where is Sulley Montari from?, answer: Ghanaian | question: Who turned down the opportunity to break the fast?, answer: Egypt's Under-20 football squad | question: What opportunity did Egypt's national youth team turn down?, answer: chance to break the Ramadan fast to help them prepare for the forthcoming World | question: Where is Sulley Muntari from?, answer: Ghanaian | question: What is the name of the maanger?, answer: Jose Mourinho | question: Who did Jose Mourinho substitute?, answer: Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari | question: Who was subtituted in the game?, answer: Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari
|
(CNN) -- Powered by the same energy produced by a toaster, this weekend 39 solar-powered cars are preparing to race across the Australian outback reaching speeds in excess of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) along the way.
Setting off from Darwin on Saturday, many of the cars taking part in the biennial, 3,021-kilometer (1,877-mile) Veolia World Solar Challenge to Adelaide look more like ping-pong tables on wheels rather than conventional cars.
However, the spirit of adventure and quest for more energy efficiency is what drives the teams of volunteers, university students and organizers.
"We think about it in terms of the land-based version of ocean yacht racing," says Chris Selwood, the event director.
"Really it's about how much you can do with how little. We're looking for the ultimate efficiency in electric cars."
This year is the 11th race and Selwood is happy to point out that while most of the cars don't resemble anything else that will be rumbling down the Australian highways this weekend, some of the innovations pioneered by the vehicles over the years have made it into the mainstream.
Energy-efficient, "low-rolling resistance" tires that are on the market now were used by Michelin in World Solar Challenge events of the early 1990s, and since the inaugural event in 1987 the electric motors have improved in efficiency by at least 30%, says Selwood.
Some of the motors being used by teams have been engineered to work at 98% efficiency in turning electricity into motor power.
"That could drive a washing machine, ceiling fan or even electric vehicle," says Selwood. "There are many uses for a motor like that in our daily lives across a range of applications."
For the top teams, though, the aim is to get to Adelaide first and worry about the legacy of the technology later.
Nuon Solar Team's Nuna6 car is one of the favorites to win this year's competition.
As winners of the events from 2001 to 2007, Nuon Solar Team, made up of students from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, hope to claim back the crown they lost in 2009 to Japan's Tokai University's team.
To aid their attempt, Nuna6 is made of a carbon fiber also used by some Formula 1 cars, making it 10% lighter than its predecessor in 2009.
And like Formula 1, strategy is expected to be important in giving each team the edge. Each team has to extract enough power from a battery with just 5 kilowatt hours of capacity (10% of the power competitors are anticipated to need to complete the race), while also judging when to charge it up for the next day.
"The biggest challenge is to drive non-stop, but we've got a good chance," says Nuon Solar Team's Nadine Rodewijk.
For others, making a solar car more appealing to the public is a greater priority than seeing the checkered flag first.
To highlight that solar cars are getting closer to the real thing, Bochum University in Germany's SolarWorldGT has shunned the sleek, aerodynamic design seen by Nuna6 and others in favor of something more recognizable with two doors and two seats.
That the SolarWorldGT can still effectively compete the race is thanks in part to improvements in solar and motor technology in recent years, and a new competition rule that has reduced the solar panel capacity allowed on each car by 25% compared to 2009.
"They've got to use that energy wisely to get up hills and get out from under clouds," says Selwood.
"By keeping some reins on some of these keys factors, we're seeing some very clever ways in addressing them."
But for all the goodwill and innovation on offer, when the rubber hits the road it will still be a race.
"Our aim as a team is to win," says Nadine Rodewijk from Nuon Solar Team. "Although personally, for each of us, it's about the experience and adventure, learning and preparing for the future.
|
[
"which speed will reach cars",
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[
"in excess of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour)",
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question: which speed will reach cars, answer: in excess of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) | question: what is highlighted, answer: that solar cars are getting closer to the real thing, | question: what powered car race, answer: solar-powered | question: how many teams are compeiting, answer: 39
|
(CNN) -- Prague has not been nicknamed "Zlata Praha" or "Golden Prague" for no good reason. The well-deserved eponym is a tribute to this city that mixes architecture, history, art and beauty like no other.
While not forgetting its more somber communist past, Prague has been one of the first East European cities to get a luxurious makeover. Designer shopping malls, exclusive restaurants and trendy nightclubs abound.
But it is the mystical atmosphere of a Prague of past eras that leaves many visitors craving to come back. Largely untouched by the ravages of WWII, Prague is arguably the only European city with so many century-old buildings left intact for people to enjoy.
All more impressive than the others, these are the historical sites you should not miss in Prague.
Wenceslas Square: In 1348, King Charles IV of Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) founded the town of Prague. The King built several open areas for markets, including Wenceslas Square, previously known as the Horse Market.
Named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech state, the square is the largest in the city and was at the center of much of Prague's history, including the Nazi occupation, the Soviet invasion, and the Velvet Revolution.
In 1969, Prague student Jan Palach set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square to protest the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. And in 1989, during the Velvet Revolution that overthrew the Communist regime, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered here to protest.
Today the square has become one of the trendiest and busiest in the country. Lining Wenceslas Square are fashion stores, cafes, bars and kiosks. Above the square is Prague's Museum of Natural History, which was shot at by Communist troops when they mistook it for the Parliament building.
Prague Castle: Kings, Roman Emperors and Presidents have lived in this legendary castle that overlooks the city. The castle is the largest medieval castle complex in Europe and arguable Prague's prime tourist attraction. First built in the 9th century, Prague Castle has survived wars, fires and opposing political powers.
The castle complex consists of the Saint Virtus Cathedral, viewing towers, a monastery, museums and art galleries. The Czech crown jewels are also held here.
After Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, the castle became the seat of the President of the new Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge: This magnificent 14th century gothic bridge over Prague's Vltava river is lined with a series of large stone statues that represent important religious figures and icons.
Its construction started in 1357 under King Charles IV and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. Until the 19th century, the bridge was the only way to cross between the Old Town and adjacent areas, also known as the "Lesser Town."
During the day, thousands of people traverse the bridge to watch the views of the city and enjoy the numerous street performers.
Dancing House: A masterpiece of modern architecture, Dancing House was named after dancing duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Dancing House is also sometimes nicknamed "Drunk House" for its wavy curves.
The building was constructed between 1992 and 1996 by Czech architect Vlado Milunc and world-renowned Canadian architect Frank Gehry. The top floor houses one of the city's most exclusive restaurants, Celeste.
Old Town Square: Located in the heart of the Old Town, this square included Prague's gothic Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. The church's towers are 80 meters high and topped by small golden spires.
Another fixture of the Old Town Square is the baroque-style St. Nicholas Church.
In the center of the square is a large statue of Jan Hus, a Catholic priest who was burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic Church for heresy in 1415.
But the most popular attraction for visitors of the square is the famous Astronomical Clock.
Astronomical Clock: Built in 1410, the Astronomical Clock still functions and provides accurate data on a number of astrological events, such as the
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[
"What is Pragues nickname because the city mixes history and beauty?",
"What is largely untouched by WWII?",
"Have Prague's many century-old buildings been left intact during WWII ?"
] |
[
"\"Zlata Praha\" or \"Golden Prague\"",
"Prague",
"Largely untouched by the ravages of"
] |
question: What is Pragues nickname because the city mixes history and beauty?, answer: "Zlata Praha" or "Golden Prague" | question: What is largely untouched by WWII?, answer: Prague | question: Have Prague's many century-old buildings been left intact during WWII ?, answer: Largely untouched by the ravages of
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(CNN) -- Preakness Stakes favorite Rachel Alexandra lived up to her billing Saturday, thundering past an all-male field of competitors and becoming the first filly to win the Triple-Crown's second jewel since 1924.
Saturday's victory for Rachel Alexandra, who raced from the 13th and furthest stall, was the filly's fifth straight win.
"She's the greatest horse I've ever been on in my life," jockey Calvin Borel said after the race. "She did not handle the track 110 percent and still won."
Long-shot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird fell short in his improbable bid to compete for horse-racing's Triple Crown, but showed his Derby victory was no fluke -- charging hard to finish second.
Musket Man finished third.
Rachel Alexandra's win was historic for multiple reasons and capped a run of five straight victories that included a blowout of the field in the all-filly Kentucky Oaks.
She became the first horse to win from the race's 13th stall -- the furthest from the inside of the track.
Borel became the first jockey to ride a winner in the Kentucky Derby -- he steered 50-1 underdog Mine That Bird to the win -- and then choose to ride another horse in the Preakness. Watch why Preakness was viewed as battle of sexes »
She ran at the front of the mile-and-one-sixteenth race for almost the entire time.
Mike Smith, Mine That Bird's jockey on Saturday, said Borel gave him advice on how to run the undersized champion on Saturday. The two chatted after a finish in which less than a single horse-length separated the two.
"I said if I'd had that rail trip, it might have been a different outcome," said Smith, who'd hoped to take Mine That Bird to the inside of the track just as Borel did in the May 2 Derby. "They knew I was going to do it so everybody was just sticking on it."
|
[
"Who is the Jockey?",
"Which jockey is the first to ride separate horses to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness?",
"Which filly is the first to witn the Triple-Crown's second jewel since 1924?",
"Calvin Borel said what of his horse Rachel Alexandra?",
"What did jocket Calvin Borel say about Rachel Alexandra?",
"Who won the Triple-Crown?"
] |
[
"Calvin Borel",
"Calvin Borel",
"Rachel Alexandra",
"\"She's the greatest",
"\"She's the greatest horse I've ever been on in my life,\"",
"Rachel Alexandra"
] |
question: Who is the Jockey?, answer: Calvin Borel | question: Which jockey is the first to ride separate horses to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness?, answer: Calvin Borel | question: Which filly is the first to witn the Triple-Crown's second jewel since 1924?, answer: Rachel Alexandra | question: Calvin Borel said what of his horse Rachel Alexandra?, answer: "She's the greatest | question: What did jocket Calvin Borel say about Rachel Alexandra?, answer: "She's the greatest horse I've ever been on in my life," | question: Who won the Triple-Crown?, answer: Rachel Alexandra
|
(CNN) -- Preliminary results of an investigation show that Tuesday's massive power outage in Florida was caused by human error, Florida Power and Light President Armando Olivera said Friday.
A field engineer was diagnosing a switch that had malfunctioned at FPL's Flagami substation in west Miami.
Without authorization, the engineer disabled two levels of relay protection, Olivera said.
"This was done contrary to FPL's standard procedures and established practices," he said.
Standard procedures do not allow the simultaneous removal of both levels of protection.
"We don't know why the employee took it upon himself to disable both sets of relays," he added.
A fault occurred during the diagnostic process, and because both levels of relay protection had been removed, the fault caused an outage ultimately affecting 26 transmission lines and 38 substations, Olivera said. Find out more about power grids and blackouts »
One of the substations affected serves three of the generation units at Turkey Point -- a natural gas unit and both of the plant's nuclear units.
Both the nuclear units automatically shut down due to an under-voltage condition, he said. Also affected were two other generation plants in FPL's system. The total impact to the system was a loss of 3,400 megawatts of generating capacity.
The error affected 584,000 FPL customers, Olivera said. Another 500,000 non-FPL customers also lost power.
That translates to about 3 million people. See photos of the blackout's impact »
The employee has been suspended with pay as the investigation continues, he added.
"The employee realized something had gone wrong, but I think it's fair to say the employee didn't recognize the extent or magnitude of the problem," Olivera said.
The affected region ranged from Miami to Tampa, through Orlando and east to Brevard County, home to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. See a map of the affected areas » E-mail to a friend
|
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"What was the number of people that lost power yesterday",
"What happened to the employee?",
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"what did the employee do that caused him to get into trouble",
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"massive power outage",
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question: What did the field engineer disable?, answer: two levels of relay protection, | question: What was the number of people that lost power yesterday, answer: about 3 million | question: What happened to the employee?, answer: suspended with pay | question: When did the power cut happen?, answer: Tuesday's | question: Will the suspended employee still be paid, answer: with pay as the investigation continues, | question: what happenend on tuesday to 3 million people, answer: massive power outage | question: what did the employee do that caused him to get into trouble, answer: Without authorization, the engineer disabled two levels of relay protection, | question: What did Florida power and light say, answer: was caused by human error,
|
(CNN) -- Premier League big-spenders Manchester City are set to fine record signing Robinho for his training ground walk-out in Tenerife last week.
Manchester City have confirmed Robinho will be fined following his Tenerife walk-out last week.
The 25-year-old striker made an unscheduled departure, flying home to Brazil without telling City manager Mark Hughes that he had to attend to some "urgent family business".
It was expected that Hughes would fine the £32.5 million ($46m) striker approximately two weeks wages, which would be touching £200,000 ($283.5m), but there have also been suggestions that the City manager would not impose a punishment at all.
However, Hughes has denied that allegation, confirming that Robinho will be punished.
"I've had a talk with Robinho," Hughes told the UK's Press Association. "I have read some of the things that have been said this morning but nothing could be further from the truth.
"I have told Robby about the situation and our intention is to fine him. But there is a disciplinary procedure that has to be gone through and that is what we are doing at the moment. But what I would like to say is that he will be treated no differently to any other member of the squad."
Robinho returned to Manchester from South America at the weekend and trained yesterday. It is expected he will line-up alongside new arrivals Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong when City entertain Newcastle in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
|
[
"What is the reason for the Robinho fine?",
"What did Manchester City confirm?",
"What is Robinho's team?",
"Who returned to his native Brazil?",
"What position did Mark Hughes hold?",
"Who is fining Robinho?",
"What was Robinho's punishment going to be?",
"Where did the player return without permission?",
"Who is Robinho's manager?",
"What did Mark Hughes say?"
] |
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"training ground walk-out in Tenerife last week.",
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"Mark Hughes",
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] |
question: What is the reason for the Robinho fine?, answer: training ground walk-out in Tenerife last week. | question: What did Manchester City confirm?, answer: Robinho will be fined | question: What is Robinho's team?, answer: Manchester City | question: Who returned to his native Brazil?, answer: Robinho | question: What position did Mark Hughes hold?, answer: City manager | question: Who is fining Robinho?, answer: League big-spenders Manchester City | question: What was Robinho's punishment going to be?, answer: fine | question: Where did the player return without permission?, answer: Brazil | question: Who is Robinho's manager?, answer: Mark Hughes | question: What did Mark Hughes say?, answer: he had to attend to some "urgent family business".
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were dancing their way through 10 official inaugural balls after a day of pomp and circumstance that saw his first presidential address and excitement about her inaugural dress.
Michelle Obama, dressed in Jason Wu, and President Obama at the Home State Ball Tuesday night.
The Obamas were serenaded by Beyoncé during their first dance at the Neighborhood Ball Tuesday night.
Beyoncé sang Etta James' "At Last," from her role in the movie "Cadillac Records" as the couple laughed and took their first spin around the dance floor.
Before the dance, Obama addressed the crowd, which erupted in applause when he entered the room.
"First of all, how good-looking is my wife?" Obama joked. Watch the Obamas at the first ball of the night »
All eyes certainly were on Michelle Obama, who had kept her choice of a designer and dress style a secret until the moment she entered the dance floor.
The first lady was clad in a long white gown designed by up-and-coming designer Jason Wu, 26. The gown made especially for the first lady is made of ivory silk chiffon, embellished with organza and Swarovski crystal rhinestones and silver thread embroidery, according to one of Wu's publicists.
Wu told CNN he didn't know that she had chosen his gown until her first ball appearance Tuesday night.
"It's thrilling. ... For a young designer, I couldn't ask for any more than this," said Wu, whose design style combines modern lifestyle dressing and haute couture, according to his Web site.
He designed and delivered the dress at the request of Michelle Obama's aides in December, according to fashion expert Mary Alice Stephenson, contributing editor at Harper's Bazaar.
Wu -- who has been in the business for three years, according to InStyle.com fashion director Joe Berean -- said he intended the gown to stand for everything that she and President Obama are about. Listen to Berean critique Michelle Obama's inauguration outfits »
"It's about hope. It's about newness," he said. "It's all a little dreamlike, and we're making history, and I wanted to really reflect that."
The Neighborhood Ball, a first of its kind and one of the balls open to the public, was the first of 10 official balls that the Obamas were scheduled to attend.
For the new president, the first was particularly important.
"I cut my teeth doing neighborhood work and this campaign was organized neighborhood by neighborhood," he said.
For that reason "this ball is the one that captures best the spirit of this campaign," Obama said.
The Obamas then moved to their second ball -- the Home State Ball, for Illinois and Hawaii -- at the Convention Center.
After greeting the crowd by saying "Aloha," the president thanked many in the crowd who he said were old friends who had been part of the couple's lives for awhile.
"This is a special ball because it represents our roots," he said.
The couple laughed and embraced as they danced. President Obama even let loose after his long day, twirling his wife around in a circle -- a move the crowd cheered. Time: See the glamour of past balls
Next, the Obamas made their way to the Commander-in-Chief Ball, attended by many members of the military, including wounded veterans.
"It is wonderful to be surrounded by some of the very best and bravest Americans," Obama said. "Your courage, your grace and your patriotism inspire us all."
Obama told the crowd that there is "no greater honor or responsibility than serving as your commander in chief." Watch the Obamas as the Commander-in-Chief Ball »
Obama then introduced members of the military from Illinois stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. After thanking them, Obama took time for lighter banter, polling the members of the military about whether they were Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox baseball
|
[
"What is Michelle Obama wearing?",
"What was the ball for?",
"Who said there is \"no greater honor\" than being commander?",
"what wears Michelle Obama?"
] |
[
"Jason Wu,",
"inaugural",
"Obama",
"white gown designed by up-and-coming designer Jason Wu,"
] |
question: What is Michelle Obama wearing?, answer: Jason Wu, | question: What was the ball for?, answer: inaugural | question: Who said there is "no greater honor" than being commander?, answer: Obama | question: what wears Michelle Obama?, answer: white gown designed by up-and-coming designer Jason Wu,
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama announced recently that about 100 U.S. troops are being deployed to Central Africa to help "apprehend and remove" the elusive Joseph Kony and his top commanders of the Lord's Resistance Army.
It's not the first time the United States has gone in to help put an end to the marauding, murdering gang known as the Lord's Resistance Army -- LRA, for short.
The LRA has butchered, enslaved and displaced people in Uganda and Central Africa for two decades. Although its brand of terrorism doesn't target the United States, Washington has listed it as a terrorist group. The U.S. decision to help go after Kony is a strategic -- as well as a humanitarian -- one. Africa is a frontier for terrorism. Uganda is fighting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia -- which helps the United States -- so in turn, the U.S. is helping Uganda fight the LRA.
The Lord's Resistance Army began in northern Uganda in 1987 as an opposition force to leader Yoweri Museveni. Kony sees himself as a prophet who has said he wants to rule by following the Ten Commandments.
Instead, he has ruled -- and thrived -- by breaking a lot of those commandments. The Ugandan army -- with the help of the U.S. military -- has tried for years to take him and his leadership out. The International Criminal Court has had a warrant out for him since 2005.
The Lord's Resistance Army replenishes its ranks by abducting villagers -- men, women and children -- brainwashing them and forcing them to fight. Or to serve as sex slaves for commanders. LRA members survive by staying on the move constantly and stealing food and provisions. Last month, according to researchers, an LRA band raided a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo soon after the World Food Programme had distributed food supplies there.
So what is LRA leader Kony's secret? How has he evaded justice to operate his band of marauders and murderers with impunity for decades?
Here are five reasons some experts give:
1. He uses terror strategically.
You've probably seen photos of children whose noses or ears were cut off -- because they didn't obey the LRA's orders. He's forced children he's abducted to kill their siblings or parents. (More: Woman recalls harrowing tale of captivity)
"They use very carefully thought-through strategies to have the biggest impact," said Tim Allen, a professor at the London School of Economics and co-author of "The Lord's Resistance Army: Myth and Reality."
"In northern Uganda in 2004," Allen said, "they took some 20-odd women with their babies out of the displacement camp, laid them on the ground with their babies on their backs and smashed their brains in."
And they did it at the edge of the camp -- so that everyone in the camp would see.
"They didn't do that very often," Allen said. "But you don't have to do that sort of thing very often to have a large impact on a lot of people."
2. Kony exploits regional politics and borders.
He got support from the Sudanese government for years. And the LRA uses borders as a defense: It hasn't been in Uganda for years. That's made it hard for the Ugandan army to pursue Kony. The militia is split and is constantly moving between the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and southern Sudan.
3. Uganda's efforts to get Kony have flagged.
Uganda's army has been stretched to the hilt, fighting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia as part of an African Union force.
4. Kony is a smart strategist.
His band travels in small groups, and they're a moving target. And he has informants -- with cell phones. The last time the U.S. military helped Uganda go after Kony, in 2008, it used a traditional air and ground assault. Kony and his leaders escaped, then massacred hundreds of people in revenge. This time, the United States is bringing Special Forces (and probably other intelligence agents
|
[
"Who leads this group?",
"Where has Lord's Resistance Army terrorized people?"
] |
[
"Joseph Kony",
"Uganda and Central Africa"
] |
question: Who leads this group?, answer: Joseph Kony | question: Where has Lord's Resistance Army terrorized people?, answer: Uganda and Central Africa
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama headed to the Czech Republic on Wednesday night to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and sign an arms control agreement that reduces the nuclear stockpiles of both nations.
The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) to be signed Thursday by the two leaders builds on a previous agreement that expired in December.
Obama has called the treaty the "the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades" and said it would cut the nuclear weapons of the United States and Russia by about a third.
After meeting with Medvedev and attending the signing ceremony in Prague, the Czech Republic capital, Obama will have dinner with heads of government from 11 countries -- Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The highlight of the two-day trip is the new treaty with Russia, which is another step in nuclear arms relations between the former Cold War adversaries. Its signing comes two days after the Obama administration announced a new U.S. nuclear weapons policy and four days before Obama convenes a summit of 47 nations on nuclear security issues.
"It significantly reduces missiles and launchers," Obama said of the new treaty, which lasts for 10 years. "It puts in place a strong and effective verification regime. And it maintains the flexibility that we need to protect and advance our national security, and to guarantee our unwavering commitment to the security of our allies."
Obama has made nuclear non-proliferation a major priority of his presidency, prompting criticism from conservatives who fear the president will weaken the U.S. nuclear deterrent against possible attack.
"We believe that preventing nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation should begin by directly confronting the two leading proliferators and supporters of terrorism, Iran and North Korea," according to a statement issued Tuesday by Arizona's two Republican U.S. senators, John McCain and Jon Kyl. "The Obama Administration's policies, thus far, have failed to do that and this failure has sent exactly the wrong message to other would be proliferators and supporters of terrorism."
According to information released by the White House, the new treaty limits both nations to "significantly fewer strategic arms within seven years" of its signing. One of the limits: 1,550 warheads.
"Warheads on deployed ICBMs (Intercontinental ballistic missiles) and deployed SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) count toward this limit and each deployed heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armaments counts as one warhead toward this limit," the White House said.
There also are limits on launchers.
The treaty also lays out a "verification regime" that includes on-site inspections, data exchanges and notifications, the White House said.
"The treaty does not contain any constraints on testing, development or deployment of current or planned U.S. missile defense programs or current or planned United States long-range conventional strike capabilities," according to the White House.
Obama said the agreement is part of the U.S. effort to "reset" the U.S. relationship with Russia.
"With this agreement, the United States and Russia -- the two largest nuclear powers in the world -- also send a clear signal that we intend to lead," the president said. "By upholding our own commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we strengthen our global efforts to stop the spread of these weapons, and to ensure that other nations meet their own responsibilities."
Negotiators have been working since April 2009 to wrap up the "follow-on" to the 1991 START agreement. Talks were difficult, with disagreements over verification, including on-site inspection of missiles that carry nuclear warheads.
A U.S. official with knowledge of the talks earlier said that negotiators had found "innovative" ways to verify what each side has. Verification will be a top issue politically because the U.S. Senate and the Russian parliament will each have to ratify any agreement.
Russian officials at one point objected to the Obama administration's plans to build a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe. Specifically, they were angered by news leaks from Romania that it had agreed to allow missile interceptors
|
[
"What will the Treaty limit?",
"What did Obama say?",
"What does the treaty do?",
"It is the most comprehensive arms control agreement in what time?",
"Who will the president have dinner with?",
"How many country heads will be there?"
] |
[
"both nations to \"significantly fewer strategic arms within seven years\"",
"\"the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades\"",
"builds on a previous agreement that expired in December.",
"nearly two decades\"",
"heads of government from 11 countries",
"11"
] |
question: What will the Treaty limit?, answer: both nations to "significantly fewer strategic arms within seven years" | question: What did Obama say?, answer: "the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades" | question: What does the treaty do?, answer: builds on a previous agreement that expired in December. | question: It is the most comprehensive arms control agreement in what time?, answer: nearly two decades" | question: Who will the president have dinner with?, answer: heads of government from 11 countries | question: How many country heads will be there?, answer: 11
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama made a previously unannounced visit Thursday to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, which is dealing with widespread flooding in the region.
Obama made the stop after a speech on health care reform in Portland, Maine, and before two fundraising appearances in Boston.
At the emergency agency's facility, Obama met with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a fellow Democrat and political ally, as well as local officials and workers combating flooding from recent storms. He spoke with workers coordinating the response to the flooding, saying at one point: "Sounds like at least with some sunshine and sandbags, we can hope for the best."
Family needs boat to get to front door
Later, he began his remarks at the fundraising events by thanking the government workers involved in the flood relief effort.
"It is worth reminding people at a time when folks who work in government don't get enough credit (that) when times are tough, when trouble arises, there are all kinds of civil servants out there who work 24/7," Obama said.
Patrick has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard.
The worst flooding has occurred in neighboring Rhode Island, where more than 10,000 people were without power and officials said long-term recovery could take months.
See first-hand stories from the flood zone
A rainstorm soaked Northeastern states Tuesday, worsening the effects of a major storm that struck two weeks ago.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will visit Rhode Island on Friday to inspect flood damage and meet with state and local leaders to discuss response and recovery efforts.
In Connecticut, Gov. Jodi Rell said a state of emergency put in place for the earlier storm remains in effect.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the state.
|
[
"Who did the president thank?",
"How many fundraisers did the president attend?",
"Who met with Massachusetts Gov?",
"Who did the president thank at the fundraiser?",
"When will Napolitano visit Rhode Island?",
"Where did Obama meet the officials?",
"Who will visit Rhode Island on Friday?",
"Who did Obama meet with?"
] |
[
"government workers involved in the flood relief effort.",
"two",
"Barack Obama",
"government workers involved in the flood relief effort.",
"Friday",
"Management Agency,",
"Janet Napolitano",
"Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick,"
] |
question: Who did the president thank?, answer: government workers involved in the flood relief effort. | question: How many fundraisers did the president attend?, answer: two | question: Who met with Massachusetts Gov?, answer: Barack Obama | question: Who did the president thank at the fundraiser?, answer: government workers involved in the flood relief effort. | question: When will Napolitano visit Rhode Island?, answer: Friday | question: Where did Obama meet the officials?, answer: Management Agency, | question: Who will visit Rhode Island on Friday?, answer: Janet Napolitano | question: Who did Obama meet with?, answer: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick,
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday challenged Republicans to "fight as hard for middle-class families as you do for those who are more fortunate," telling a Pennsylvania crowd to push Congress to extend the payroll tax cut enacted a year ago.
Obama met with a family in Scranton, the birthplace of Vice President Joe Biden, then spoke at a nearby high school in what will be a battleground state in next year's presidential election.
Sounding the populist themes of his re-election bid so far, Obama complained that congressional Republicans were out of touch with mainstream American support for his jobs bill that included an extension of the payroll tax cut.
He noted Senate Republicans previously blocked debate on the plan, saying that "their actions lately don't reflect who we are as a people."
A loud cheer erupted when Obama described the Democratic proposal to extend and expand the reduced payroll tax rate by saying: "It is paid for by asking our wealthiest citizens to pay their fair share."
Noting the hard-line Republican opposition in deficit reduction negotiations to any tax increases for the wealthy, Obama urged the audience to ask its elected representatives "are you willing to fight as hard for middle-class families as you do for those who are more fortunate?"
"Send your senators a message," Obama said to cheers. "Tell them don't be a grinch. Don't be a grinch. Don't vote to raise taxes on working American during the holidays."
Economists say the payroll tax cut -- part of a congressional spending deal negotiated last December -- has contributed to the nation's economic recovery.
Congressional Republicans have indicated support for extending the lower payroll tax rate for another year, but differ with Obama and Democrats on covering the more than $200 billion price tag.
A Democratic bill under consideration by the Senate would assess a 3.25% tax on income above $1 million a year to cover the cost.
Republicans reject any tax increases and offered their alternative later Wednesday, calling for a freeze of federal salaries, reducing the federal workforce and preventing millionaires from getting food stamps and unemployment benefits.
"Republicans will put aside their misgivings and support this extension, not because we believe as the President does that another short-term stimulus will turn this economy around ... but because we know it will give some relief to struggling workers out there who continue to need it nearly three years into this presidency," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Wednesday on the Senate floor.
The Democratic surtax would hit wealthy Americans who create jobs, McConnell added, arguing such a strategy made no sense.
The debate, he said, is about "whether we should help those who are struggling in a bad economy by punishing the private sector businesses that the American people are counting on to help turn this economy around."
The White House pushed back against the Republican argument.
Spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters traveling with Obama to Pennsylvania that the White House was open to Republican ideas on the legislation. At the same time, Earnest noted that Republicans have defended Bush-era tax cuts for millionaires but now raised questions about helping ease the tax burden of working-class Americans.
On Tuesday, the new chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Alan Krueger, told reporters that the proposed surtax on incomes above $1 million "would hit very few small businesses."
"The vast majority -- one figure I saw was 99% of individuals with small business income -- would not be affected by this," Krueger said.
According to the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 121 million families have benefited from the payroll tax break, with an increase in take-home pay of $934 for the average worker.
Moody's Analytics estimated in August that letting the tax cut expire would reduce growth by as much as 0.5%. It called extending the cut one of the "most straightforward" ways to "reduce some of the coming fiscal restraint."
The Democrats' bill would extend and expand last year's tax
|
[
"What do republicans propose?",
"What are Republicans proposing?",
"What do democrats propose?"
] |
[
"helping ease the tax burden of working-class Americans.",
"surtax on incomes above $1 million",
"to extend and expand the reduced payroll tax rate"
] |
question: What do republicans propose?, answer: helping ease the tax burden of working-class Americans. | question: What are Republicans proposing?, answer: surtax on incomes above $1 million | question: What do democrats propose?, answer: to extend and expand the reduced payroll tax rate
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama used the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to renew his pitch for alternative energy Wednesday, arguing that the unfolding environmental disaster "gives you a sense of where we're going" without comprehensive reform.
The federal government is "going to bring every resource necessary to put a stop" to the spill, the president said during a visit to a solar panel manufacturing facility in Fremont, California. "We will not rest until this well is shut, the environment is repaired, and the cleanup is complete."
But, he added, "a lot of damage has been done already. The spill in the Gulf, which is just heartbreaking, only underscores the necessity" of seeking alternative fuel sources.
A failure to enact comprehensive energy reform, he argued, would pose a threat to national security and the economy, as well as the environment.
Obama's remarks came two weeks after Sens. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, and Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, introduced a sweeping energy and climate change bill intended to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while reshaping the energy sector.
The House passed its own energy bill last year, and Obama has said he backs the efforts by Kerry and Lieberman to move the issue forward in the Senate. The president asked for Senate GOP cooperation on the issue during a closed-door meeting Tuesday with Republicans on Capitol Hill.
However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, has indicated he wants immigration reform to take priority, and the politics of midterm congressional elections in November raises questions about the the possibility of gaining final approval this year of such major legislation as energy reform.
Reid's position caused a potential Republican co-sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, to drop out of the talks with Lieberman and Kerry on drafting the proposal.
The proposal addresses a range of energy issues, including expanded nuclear power production, incentives for the coal industry to seek cleaner methods, money to develop alternative energy sources and programs to help U.S. industry in the transition to a low-carbon system.
On climate change, the measure seeks escalating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in coming decades that match the levels set as goals by the Obama administration and contained in the House bill. Among other things, the proposal calls for emissions reductions from 2005 levels of 17 percent by 2020, 42 percent by 2030 and 83 percent by 2050.
The Senate proposal includes expanded offshore oil drilling as part of a strategy to increase domestic production. However, provisions strengthening the ability of states to prevent more drilling off their coasts were added in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
CNN's Tom Cohen and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.
|
[
"What raises doubts about bill's future?",
"What was Obama promoting in California?",
"What did Bill include?",
"What did key senetors introduce?",
"What did Reid's emphasis on immigration reform do?"
] |
[
"politics of midterm congressional elections",
"alternative energy",
"expanded offshore oil drilling as part of a strategy to increase domestic production. However, provisions strengthening the ability of states to prevent more drilling off their coasts were added in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.",
"a sweeping energy and climate change bill",
"caused a potential Republican co-sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, to drop out of the talks"
] |
question: What raises doubts about bill's future?, answer: politics of midterm congressional elections | question: What was Obama promoting in California?, answer: alternative energy | question: What did Bill include?, answer: expanded offshore oil drilling as part of a strategy to increase domestic production. However, provisions strengthening the ability of states to prevent more drilling off their coasts were added in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. | question: What did key senetors introduce?, answer: a sweeping energy and climate change bill | question: What did Reid's emphasis on immigration reform do?, answer: caused a potential Republican co-sponsor, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, to drop out of the talks
|
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama will make his first overseas trip since taking office at the end of this month, visiting England, France, Germany and the Czech Republic, the White House said Thursday.
President Obama wil travel with first lady Michelle Obama to four European nations in the coming weeks.
The trip is scheduled from March 31-April 5.
Obama, who will be joined by first lady Michelle Obama, will first visit London, where he will attend a summit with other world leaders.
He is to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 3.
Obama will also attend NATO summit meetings in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, then travel to Prague, Czech Republic, to meet with Czech leaders and leaders of other European Union nations.
His first trip outside the United States was to Canada last month.
|
[
"Where will the NATO meetings be held?",
"Who is going to London?",
"When is the trip scheduled?",
"What will he join in France and Germany?",
"What org will join Obama in France and Germany?",
"Where does Obama head first?",
"Dates scheduled for the trip?"
] |
[
"Strasbourg, France,",
"Barack Obama",
"March 31-April 5.",
"NATO summit meetings",
"NATO",
"London,",
"March 31-April 5."
] |
question: Where will the NATO meetings be held?, answer: Strasbourg, France, | question: Who is going to London?, answer: Barack Obama | question: When is the trip scheduled?, answer: March 31-April 5. | question: What will he join in France and Germany?, answer: NATO summit meetings | question: What org will join Obama in France and Germany?, answer: NATO | question: Where does Obama head first?, answer: London, | question: Dates scheduled for the trip?, answer: March 31-April 5.
|
(CNN) -- President Bush blasted the Democratic-controlled Congress on Tuesday for having "the worst record in 20 years."
"Congress is not getting its work done," Bush said, flanked by members of the Republican House leadership. "The House of Representatives has wasted valuable time on a constant stream of investigations, and the Senate has wasted valuable time on an endless series of failed votes to pull our troops out of Iraq."
Bush criticized Congress for not being able to send "a single appropriations bill" to him.
"They haven't seen a bill they could not solve without shoving a tax hike into it," he said.
Democrats quickly fired back. Jim Manley, senior aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said, "Taking advice from President Bush about fiscal responsibility and getting things done for the American people is like taking hunting lessons from Dick Cheney. Neither is a very good idea."
Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Illinois, issued a statement saying, "President Bush's rally this morning reminds us that congressional Republicans remain ready and willing to rubber-stamp the Bush agenda: No to children's health care; no to a new direction in Iraq; and no to investing in America's future. The White House and congressional Republicans want to continue the status quo."
Bush said the Senate was "wasting valuable time" by taking up the children's health insurance bill, which he had earlier vetoed. Watch Bush describe what he thinks Congress is doing wrong »
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued a statement calling Bush "the biggest obstacle" to extending health coverage to "10 million low-income, working-class American children."
Hoyer said GOP House leaders need to "stop posing for pictures, and sit down with Democrats and Republicans in Congress who are working together to extend coverage to our children."
The State Children's Health Insurance Program measure passed in the House last week would expand the program by nearly $35 billion over five years, the same as the measure Bush vetoed on October 3. Bush had proposed adding $5 billion to the program, and said the version he vetoed would have encouraged families to leave the private insurance market for the federally funded, state-run program.
Democratic leaders said the new version addresses Republican objections by tightening restrictions on illegal immigrants receiving SCHIP benefits; capping the income levels of families that qualify for the program; and preventing adults from receiving benefits.
The program currently covers about 6 million children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor, but who can't afford private insurance. Democrats want to extend the program to another 4 million, paying for it with a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tax on cigarettes.
Bush said Congress knows the current version of the children's health bill "does not have a chance," to get enough votes to override another veto.
Hoyer accused Bush of breaking a promise he made in 2004 to extend coverage under the SCHIP program. "Now, Congress must do what the president said he would do," he said in his statement.
The Senate could vote on the bill as early as Tuesday.
Bush also threatened to veto a "three-bill pileup."
"There are now reports that Congressional leaders may be considering combining the Veterans and Department of Defense appropriations bills, and then add a bloated labor, health and education spending bill to both of them," he said.
"Congress should pass each bill one at a time in a fiscally responsible manner," he said.
Bush also urged Congress to send him a "clean defense appropriations bill and a war supplemental bill."
"They ought to get me a bill that funds among other things bullets and body armor," he said.
Bush also criticized Congress for trying to "hold hostage" funding for troops.
"It would be irresponsible to not give our troops the resources they need to get their job done because Congress was
|
[
"Who fires back?",
"Does Bush oppose a children's health insurance bill?",
"What body is wasting valuable time",
"What is the Senate wasting?",
"Who said the Senate was wasting valuable time?",
"Who's funding is being held hostage",
"What is Congress holding hostage?",
"Who said Bush's words ring hollow?",
"Who's \"holding hostage\" funds for troops?",
"What was Congress doing with the funds for troops?",
"Where is the money going?",
"Who does Bush accuse of gridlock",
"What did the Democrats say about Bush's words?",
"Who did Bush accuse of gridlock?",
"what bush said according to the congress?",
"Who's \"wasting valuable time\" with children's health insurance bill?"
] |
[
"Democrats",
"vetoed.",
"\"The House of Representatives",
"valuable time",
"Bush",
"for troops.",
"funding for troops.",
"House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer,",
"Congress",
"\"hold hostage\"",
"State Children's Health Insurance Program",
"Congress",
"fiscal responsibility and getting things done for the American people is like taking hunting lessons from Dick Cheney. Neither is a very good idea.\"",
"Democratic-controlled Congress",
"\"Congress is not getting its work done,\"",
"House of Representatives"
] |
question: Who fires back?, answer: Democrats | question: Does Bush oppose a children's health insurance bill?, answer: vetoed. | question: What body is wasting valuable time, answer: "The House of Representatives | question: What is the Senate wasting?, answer: valuable time | question: Who said the Senate was wasting valuable time?, answer: Bush | question: Who's funding is being held hostage, answer: for troops. | question: What is Congress holding hostage?, answer: funding for troops. | question: Who said Bush's words ring hollow?, answer: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, | question: Who's "holding hostage" funds for troops?, answer: Congress | question: What was Congress doing with the funds for troops?, answer: "hold hostage" | question: Where is the money going?, answer: State Children's Health Insurance Program | question: Who does Bush accuse of gridlock, answer: Congress | question: What did the Democrats say about Bush's words?, answer: fiscal responsibility and getting things done for the American people is like taking hunting lessons from Dick Cheney. Neither is a very good idea." | question: Who did Bush accuse of gridlock?, answer: Democratic-controlled Congress | question: what bush said according to the congress?, answer: "Congress is not getting its work done," | question: Who's "wasting valuable time" with children's health insurance bill?, answer: House of Representatives
|
(CNN) -- President Bush had a "relaxed" and "friendly" meeting with President-elect Barack Obama after he and first lady Laura Bush welcomed their successors to their future home Monday, a White House spokesman said.
President Bush and Laura Bush welcome Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House on Monday.
"The president and the president-elect had a long meeting, described by the president as good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement. "The president enjoyed his visit with the president-elect, and he again pledged a smooth transition to the next administration."
Perino said the two discussed national and international issues but did not provide specifics of the conversation. Bush also gave Obama a tour of the White House's living quarters, including the Lincoln bedroom.
Bush and Obama held a private meeting in the Oval Office, while the first lady gave incoming first lady Michelle Obama a tour of the residence.
The president and president-elect walked together along the Colonnade by the Rose Garden before entering the Oval Office together. They briefly waved to reporters along the way.
Obama and Bush were not expected to speak on camera after their meeting.
The two met in the Oval Office for just over an hour. When President George H.W. Bush hosted President-elect Bill Clinton after the 1992 election, the two talked for nearly two hours.
Monday's meeting was a historic formality, but it was also a time for serious talks. It marked the first time Obama has visited the Oval Office. Watch Bush welcome Obama to the White House »
Bush and Obama "had a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation's many critical economic and security challenges," said Stephanie Cutter, spokeswoman for Obama's transition team.
"President-elect Obama thanked President Bush for his commitment to a smooth transition, and for his and first lady Laura Bush's gracious hospitality in welcoming the Obamas to the White House," Cutter said.
A day earlier, a leader of Obama's transition team said the president and president-elect were expected to discuss "a broad range of issues," focusing on the economy.
"It's clear that we need to stabilize the economy, to deal with the financial meltdown that's now spreading across the rest of the economy. The auto industry is really, really back on its heels," transition team leader John Podesta told CNN's "Late Edition" on Sunday.
Podesta said Obama will push Congress to enact "at least part" of an economic package before he takes office in January, but said the problems Americans face need short- and long-term approaches.
The president and president-elect also were expected to talk about national security and the war in Iraq. Go inside the Oval Office
Despite the negative tone of the campaign season -- in which Obama frequently campaigned against what he called Bush's "failed policies" -- Bush has pledged to do everything he can to make sure they have a smooth transition. iReport.com: What's your message for Obama?
"When I called President-elect Obama to congratulate him on his historic victory, I told him that he can count on my complete cooperation as he makes his transition to the White House. Ensuring that this transition is seamless is a top priority for the rest of my time in office," Bush said in his radio address this weekend.
Podesta said cooperation with Bush administration officials has been "excellent" since Tuesday's election. Watch more on the transition to power »
Obama said he was "gratified by the invitation" to meet with the president and his wife.
"I'm sure that, in addition to taking a tour of the White House, there's going to be a substantive conversation between myself and the president," he said at a news conference Friday.
"I'm going to go in there with a spirit of bipartisanship and a sense that both the president and various leaders in Congress all recognize the
|
[
"Who did President Bush meet with?",
"What did they disucss?",
"Who gave Michelle a tour?",
"What did Bush call the meeting?",
"What did Bush say about the meeting with Obama?",
"What did Laura Bush do while President Bush met with Obama?",
"What are they expected to talk about?",
"What were Bush and Obama expected to discuss?",
"When did Bush and Obama have a \"constructive\" meeting?",
"What did President Bush say about the meeting?",
"Who gave Michelle Obama a tour?"
] |
[
"President-elect Barack Obama",
"national and international issues",
"President Bush and Laura Bush",
"\"relaxed\" and \"friendly\"",
"good, constructive, relaxed and friendly,\"",
"a tour of the residence.",
"national security and the war in Iraq.",
"\"had a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation's many critical economic",
"Monday,",
"good, constructive, relaxed and friendly,\"",
"President Bush and Laura Bush"
] |
question: Who did President Bush meet with?, answer: President-elect Barack Obama | question: What did they disucss?, answer: national and international issues | question: Who gave Michelle a tour?, answer: President Bush and Laura Bush | question: What did Bush call the meeting?, answer: "relaxed" and "friendly" | question: What did Bush say about the meeting with Obama?, answer: good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," | question: What did Laura Bush do while President Bush met with Obama?, answer: a tour of the residence. | question: What are they expected to talk about?, answer: national security and the war in Iraq. | question: What were Bush and Obama expected to discuss?, answer: "had a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation's many critical economic | question: When did Bush and Obama have a "constructive" meeting?, answer: Monday, | question: What did President Bush say about the meeting?, answer: good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," | question: Who gave Michelle Obama a tour?, answer: President Bush and Laura Bush
|
(CNN) -- President Bush had a "relaxed" and "friendly" meeting with President-elect Barack Obama after he and first lady Laura Bush welcomed their successors to their future home Monday, a White House spokesman said.
President Bush and Laura Bush welcome Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House on Monday.
"The president and the president-elect had a long meeting, described by the president as good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement. "The president enjoyed his visit with the president-elect, and he again pledged a smooth transition to the next administration."
Perino said the two discussed national and international issues but did not provide specifics of the conversation. Bush also gave Obama a tour of the White House's living quarters, including the Lincoln bedroom.
Bush and Obama held a private meeting in the Oval Office, while the first lady gave incoming first lady Michelle Obama a tour of the residence.
The president and president-elect walked together along the Colonnade by the Rose Garden before entering the Oval Office together. They briefly waved to reporters along the way.
Obama and Bush were not expected to speak on camera after their meeting.
The two met in the Oval Office for just over an hour. When President George H.W. Bush hosted President-elect Bill Clinton after the 1992 election, the two talked for nearly two hours.
Monday's meeting was a historic formality, but it was also a time for serious talks. It marked the first time Obama has visited the Oval Office. Watch Bush welcome Obama to the White House »
Bush and Obama "had a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation's many critical economic and security challenges," said Stephanie Cutter, spokeswoman for Obama's transition team.
"President-elect Obama thanked President Bush for his commitment to a smooth transition, and for his and first lady Laura Bush's gracious hospitality in welcoming the Obamas to the White House," Cutter said.
A day earlier, a leader of Obama's transition team said the president and president-elect were expected to discuss "a broad range of issues," focusing on the economy.
"It's clear that we need to stabilize the economy, to deal with the financial meltdown that's now spreading across the rest of the economy. The auto industry is really, really back on its heels," transition team leader John Podesta told CNN's "Late Edition" on Sunday.
Podesta said Obama will push Congress to enact "at least part" of an economic package before he takes office in January, but said the problems Americans face need short- and long-term approaches.
The president and president-elect also were expected to talk about national security and the war in Iraq. Go inside the Oval Office
Despite the negative tone of the campaign season -- in which Obama frequently campaigned against what he called Bush's "failed policies" -- Bush has pledged to do everything he can to make sure they have a smooth transition. iReport.com: What's your message for Obama?
"When I called President-elect Obama to congratulate him on his historic victory, I told him that he can count on my complete cooperation as he makes his transition to the White House. Ensuring that this transition is seamless is a top priority for the rest of my time in office," Bush said in his radio address this weekend.
Podesta said cooperation with Bush administration officials has been "excellent" since Tuesday's election. Watch more on the transition to power »
Obama said he was "gratified by the invitation" to meet with the president and his wife.
"I'm sure that, in addition to taking a tour of the White House, there's going to be a substantive conversation between myself and the president," he said at a news conference Friday.
"I'm going to go in there with a spirit of bipartisanship and a sense that both the president and various leaders in Congress all
|
[
"Who did Bush meet with?",
"What did Laura Bush do?",
"Who gave Michelle Obama a tour?",
"What did Bush and Obama disucss?",
"What did President Bush call the meeting?",
"What did Obama call Bush's policies?",
"What did Bush discuss?",
"Obama campaigned against what?"
] |
[
"President-elect Barack Obama",
"welcomed their successors to their future home",
"the first lady",
"importance of working together throughout the transition of government",
"good, constructive, relaxed and friendly,\"",
"\"failed policies\"",
"national and international issues",
"Bush's \"failed policies\""
] |
question: Who did Bush meet with?, answer: President-elect Barack Obama | question: What did Laura Bush do?, answer: welcomed their successors to their future home | question: Who gave Michelle Obama a tour?, answer: the first lady | question: What did Bush and Obama disucss?, answer: importance of working together throughout the transition of government | question: What did President Bush call the meeting?, answer: good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," | question: What did Obama call Bush's policies?, answer: "failed policies" | question: What did Bush discuss?, answer: national and international issues | question: Obama campaigned against what?, answer: Bush's "failed policies"
|
(CNN) -- President Bush is "a disgrace, frankly," film director Oliver Stone said Wednesday, two days before the release of his biopic on the 43rd U.S. president.
Director Oliver Stone says he believes the timing was right for his upcoming film, "W."
Stone, who has endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for president, seems to thrive on controversy, and his latest foray into filmmaking, "W.," will likely hold true to form.
In an interview with CNN's Kiran Chetry, Stone discussed the rationale behind the release date, his troubles securing financing for the film, and why he thinks President Bush's relationship with his father, President George H.W. Bush, played a role in the decision to invade Iraq.
Kiran Chetry: We had a chance to see the screening of this movie and I want to ask you a little bit about the timing. This is coming out three weeks before our 2008 presidential election. Why did you want to it come out now?
Oliver Stone: Those events are beyond my control. We made the movie as fast as we could starting last May. If I couldn't have completed it, it would have come out in January perhaps for the inauguration. It's not about this election. It's about the last eight years with one man, George W. Bush. It's his story, how he became the man that he is, how we elected him -- basically, if you start to think about it, where we are now as a country. Watch Stone discuss why he finds Bush "fascinating" »
Chetry: Is it an anti-war movie?
Stone: Of course it's an anti-war movie, because I happen to be an anti-war person. That's not to say I'm a pacifist. I believe you fight for the right reasons. This man has us in three wars right now -- Iraq, Afghanistan, and basically, the war on terror. We have a foreign policy which is a very preventive one, a pre-emptive one. It's a Bush doctrine. It's a very dangerous place. Whoever wins the election, Obama or McCain, I think is going to live in the shadow of the events of these last eight years. This man ... will be around, his influence will be felt for 20 years, 40 years.
Chetry: What did you want viewers of your movie to come away with?
Stone: ... I can't control that. We made the movie to make people think, to make themselves feel, to walk in the shoes of George Bush and to understand him. This is not a job done with malice. This is a fair portrait of the man. I think it's empathetic. You care for him and your feelings for him. An activist said, "I never thought I could feel something for George Bush. I came out of this movie feeling compassionate for him, and even more important, feeling compassion for our country and where we are now."
Chetry: You had trouble getting financing because people felt it was too, I guess, sympathetic for the president.
Stone: Not for that reason. No, I think that the issues that we had with the American corporations were essentially that it was an inconvenient subject. They thought, he's gone from office, and they don't want to know, and he's controversial, and blah, blah, blah. These are corporations -- large corporations. They're not going to take risks like this. So, the movie business you've got to make movies with risks, and unfortunately, America's moving away from that in all forms, not just movies.
Chetry: It's very interesting. You had a soliloquy, a great monologue, by the character playing Vice President Dick Cheney ... about the rationale for Iraq. It was very detailed and it's safe to say you didn't have Dick Cheney's cooperation. Where did you compile some of these scenes, some of these dialogues from those scenes?
Stone: [Writer] Stanley Weiser
|
[
"Who produced the movie?",
"Who says he is anti-war?",
"Who does bush have a rivalry with?",
"What does the Director insist?",
"What is the movie called?",
"What man does W present?"
] |
[
"Oliver Stone",
"Oliver Stone",
"his father, President George H.W.",
"timing was right for his upcoming film, \"W.\"",
"\"W.\"",
"President"
] |
question: Who produced the movie?, answer: Oliver Stone | question: Who says he is anti-war?, answer: Oliver Stone | question: Who does bush have a rivalry with?, answer: his father, President George H.W. | question: What does the Director insist?, answer: timing was right for his upcoming film, "W." | question: What is the movie called?, answer: "W." | question: What man does W present?, answer: President
|
(CNN) -- President Bush spoke live via satellite to the Republican National Convention Tuesday night. Here is the text of the speech:
President Bush says John McCain is "ready to lead" the United States.
Bush: Good evening. As you know, my duties have me here in Washington tonight to oversee the federal government's efforts to help citizens recover from Hurricane Gustav. We are thankful that the damage in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast was less than many had feared.
I commend the governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas for their sure-handed response and seamless coordination with the federal government. I thank all of the wonderful volunteers who stepped forward to help their brothers and sisters in need. We know that there is still risk even after the storm has passed. So I ask citizens across the region to listen closely to local officials and follow their instructions before returning to their homes. All of us are keeping the people of the Gulf Coast in our thoughts and prayers.
As you gather tonight in Saint Paul, I want to share some thoughts about our nominee -- a great American, and the next president of the United States, John McCain. Watch Bush's speech »
Before I do so, I want to say hello to two people in the hall with you tonight. I could have no finer examples of character, decency, and integrity than my mom and dad.
I know what it takes to be president. In these past eight years, I've sat at the Resolute Desk and reviewed the daily intelligence briefings, the threat assessments and the reports from our commanders on the front lines. I've stood in the ruins of buildings knocked down by killers, and promised the survivors I would never let them down. I know the hard choices that fall solely to a president.
John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation. From the day of his commissioning, John McCain was a respected Naval officer who made decisions on which the lives of others depended. As an elected public servant, he earned the respect of colleagues in both parties as a man to follow when there is a tough call to make.
John McCain's life is a story of service above self. Forty years ago in an enemy prison camp, Lt. Cmdr. McCain was offered release ahead of others who had been held longer. His wounds were so severe that anyone would have understood if he had accepted. John refused. For that selfless decision, he suffered nearly five more years of beatings and isolation. When he was finally released, his arms had been broken, but not his honor.
Fellow citizens: If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain's resolve to do what is best for his country, you can be sure the angry left never will.
As the father of seven sons and daughters, John has the heart of a protector. He and his wonderful wife, Cindy, are adoptive parents. John is a leader who knows that human life is fragile ... that human life is precious ... that human life must be defended.
We have seen John McCain's commitment to principle in our nation's capital. John is a steadfast opponent of wasteful spending. As president, he will stand up to the high-tax crowd in Congress and make the tax relief permanent. He will invest in the energy technologies of tomorrow and lift the ban on drilling for America's offshore oil today.
John is an independent man who thinks for himself. He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. ... No matter what the issue, this man is honest and speaks straight from the heart.
Last year, John McCain's independence and character helped change history. The Democrats had taken control of Congress and were threatening to cut off funds for our troops. In the face of calls for retreat, I ordered a surge of forces into Iraq. Many in Congress said it had no chance of working. Yet one senator above all had faith in our troops and the importance of their mission, and that
|
[
"What did McCain specifically support that Bush praised him for?",
"Who did Bush endorse?",
"What event did Bush talk about?",
"What did Bush praise McCain for?",
"What did Bush say about McCain?"
] |
[
"commitment to principle in our nation's capital. John is a steadfast opponent of wasteful spending. As president, he will stand",
"John McCain",
"Hurricane Gustav.",
"is \"ready to lead\" the United States.",
"is \"ready to lead\" the United States."
] |
question: What did McCain specifically support that Bush praised him for?, answer: commitment to principle in our nation's capital. John is a steadfast opponent of wasteful spending. As president, he will stand | question: Who did Bush endorse?, answer: John McCain | question: What event did Bush talk about?, answer: Hurricane Gustav. | question: What did Bush praise McCain for?, answer: is "ready to lead" the United States. | question: What did Bush say about McCain?, answer: is "ready to lead" the United States.
|
(CNN) -- President Hugo Chavez on Thursday ordered the nationalization of the Banco de Venezuela "to put it at the service of Venezuela" after denying approval for its sale.
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela says the banks owners aren't interested in selling but he's buying anyway.
The leftist president said in a televised address to the nation that he heard "a few months ago" that the bank's Spanish owner -- Grupo de Santander -- was planning to sell the bank, which was privatized a few years ago, to a Venezuelan banker.
The banker had asked the Venezuelan government for permission needed to complete the deal, Chavez said.
"I sent a message to the Spaniards: No. And to the Venezuelan banker: No," Chavez said. "Now the government wants to buy the bank, wants to recover it, because it's called the Bank of Venezuela, to put it at the service of Venezuela."
Chavez said he was told Wednesday that the owners now were no longer interested in selling.
"So now I am telling them I am interested in buying. We are going to nationalize the Banco de Venezuela."
In a written statement issued Friday, Banco de Santander said it had planned to sell the bank to a Venezuelan private investors group, but "found afterward that the Venezuelan government was interested in [acquiring] Banco de Venezuela, and conversations are under way to that effect."
|
[
"who asked for permission first",
"What did he ask for permission for?",
"what will the Bank now be",
"What did Chavez do?",
"What happens to the bank now?"
] |
[
"The banker",
"to complete the deal,",
"put it at the service of Venezuela.\"",
"ordered the nationalization of the Banco de Venezuela",
"nationalization"
] |
question: who asked for permission first, answer: The banker | question: What did he ask for permission for?, answer: to complete the deal, | question: what will the Bank now be, answer: put it at the service of Venezuela." | question: What did Chavez do?, answer: ordered the nationalization of the Banco de Venezuela | question: What happens to the bank now?, answer: nationalization
|
(CNN) -- President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday held their first face-to-face meeting since each took power, confronting a range of potentially divisive issues.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama visit at the White House on Monday.
At a pivotal moment in the Middle East peace process, the two leaders met at the White House to discuss, among other things, the endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran.
The issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions became an increasingly urgent one in recent months. Netanyahu wants a time limit for negotiations relating to such ambitions, with the threat of military action if no resolution is reached. Obama is seen as unlikely to provide a timetable.
Both Israel and the United States believe Iran is seeking nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy program; Tehran denies the accusation. Israeli leaders have pointed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for the end of Israel as a Jewish state and argue that quick action is needed.
At an Oval Office news conference, Obama again refused to commit to an "artificial deadline" for Iranian negotiations. But he also warned that he would not allow such talks to be used as an excuse for delay while Iran develops a nuclear arsenal. Obama said he expects to accelerate such talks after the June Iranian elections.
"I firmly believe it is in Iran's interest not to develop nuclear weapons, because it would trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and be profoundly destabilizing in all sorts of ways," Obama said.
It "is important ... to be mindful of the fact that we're not going to have talks forever. We're not going to create a situation in which the talks become an excuse for inaction while Iran proceeds with developing ... and deploying a nuclear weapon."
He said the United States is not "foreclosing a range of steps, including much stronger international sanctions, in assuring that Iran understands that we are serious."
Netanyahu emphasized that although "the common goal is peace ... the common threat we face are terrorist threats and organizations that seek to undermine [that] peace and threaten both our peoples."
The prime minister called Iran the biggest threat to peace in the region.
"If Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, it could give a nuclear umbrella to terrorists, or worse, could actually give [them] nuclear weapons. And that would put us all in great peril," he said.
The divide between the two leaders -- Obama is considered to have a more conciliatory approach to the Arab world than Netanyahu -- was dramatically illustrated shortly before their meeting by Israel's decision to begin construction at the West Bank outpost of Maskiyot.
A number of families evacuated from Gaza are now being resettled in Maskiyot; several are living in temporary housing. A government spokesman said the construction's start date and the timing of Netanyahu's trip are a coincidence.
Obama wants such outposts dismantled, along with an immediate freeze on settlement expansion. Netanyahu wants to allow natural growth in Jewish settlements in the West Bank -- for example, allowing children who grow up in a settlement to build a home alongside that of their parents.
Obama also supports the idea of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. Netanyahu has not endorsed the idea, arguing that Israel needs security guarantees and a clear Palestinian partner for peace talks.
"I want to make it clear that we don't want to govern the Palestinians. ... [If] Israel's security conditions are met and there's recognition of Israel's legitimacy -- its permanent legitimacy -- then I think we can envision an arrangement where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in dignity, security and in peace," Netanyahu said.
Pressed on the question of a two-state solution, the prime minister said he thinks "the terminology will take care of itself if we have the substantive understanding."
Netanyahu and his Cabinet were sworn in March 31. A day later, Israel's new hard-line foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, distanced himself from the Annapolis process
|
[
"who met for first time?",
"What illustrates the divide between the two?",
"Who will discuss approach to Mideast peace?",
"what illustrated the divide between two?",
"Who discuss approach to Mideast peace?",
"What did they touch on?",
"Who will meet for first time as national leaders?",
"what did the two leaders discuss?",
"What illustates the divide?"
] |
[
"President",
"meeting by Israel's decision to begin construction at the West Bank outpost of Maskiyot.",
"Obama",
"Israel's decision to begin construction at the West Bank outpost of Maskiyot.",
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama",
"to discuss, among other things, the endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran.",
"Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu",
"among other things, the endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran.",
"endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran."
] |
question: who met for first time?, answer: President | question: What illustrates the divide between the two?, answer: meeting by Israel's decision to begin construction at the West Bank outpost of Maskiyot. | question: Who will discuss approach to Mideast peace?, answer: Obama | question: what illustrated the divide between two?, answer: Israel's decision to begin construction at the West Bank outpost of Maskiyot. | question: Who discuss approach to Mideast peace?, answer: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama | question: What did they touch on?, answer: to discuss, among other things, the endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran. | question: Who will meet for first time as national leaders?, answer: Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | question: what did the two leaders discuss?, answer: among other things, the endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran. | question: What illustates the divide?, answer: endorsement of a two-state Palestinian solution and relations with Iran.
|
(CNN) -- President Obama authorized the killing of an American citizen because he had declared war on the United States and encouraged others to bring harm to America. Whatever Anwar al-Awlaki's wrongs -- and there were many -- when America kills its own without a trial, it not only demeans itself but it hands over a propaganda victory to its enemies.
Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's leader since the death of Osama bin Laden, will chide this great country again for abandoning its values and principles. The White House's authorization of this killing also tells American Muslims that a precedent has been set by their government to kill American citizens abroad without trial if they oppose their country.
This cannot be right -- and is counterproductive to defeating terrorism in the long term because it demolishes the very values that America stands for: the rule of law and trial by jury.
It is abandoning these very same principles of human dignity, underpinned by free and fair trials that led to al-Awlaki's decisive shift after being released from a Yemeni prison in 2007: From being anti-American rabble-rouser, he went to advocating direct violence against the United States. Prison experiences in the Arab world -- being arrested and detained without legal representation and exposed to the worst forms of torture at the hands of fellow Muslims -- change nonviolent extremists to violent extremists. Al-Awlaki's transformation from extremism to violence comes in this context.
His alleged links to 9/11 terrorists were not as significant as some argue. If he was known to be involved in the 9/11 attacks, why was he a guest of the Pentagon, of all places, in 2002?
Al-Awlaki is not alone. Before him, al-Zawahiri was tortured in Egyptian prisons, and during his trial in 1982, he addressed a gallery of Western journalists in English and declared, "So where is democracy? Where is freedom? Where is human rights? Where is justice? We will never forget!"
Without a doubt, al-Awlaki and al-Zawahiri were already radicalized before prison, but the tipping point toward violence came with their prison experiences. And before al-Zawahiri, the intellectual framework for al-Qaeda's destructive worldview was put in place by Syed Qutb in Mazra Tora in prison in Nasser's Egypt. Again, it was torture and the absence of humane treatment that led to Qutb declaring war on the Egyptian government. Qutb's prison writings have inspired every jihadist movement around the globe.
This same movement sees al-Awlaki as a lightweight, not least because he never set foot on the battlefield and his scholarly credentials are open to question. In Egypt or Pakistan, al-Awlaki is not well-known. Little wonder, then, that Al Jazeera Arabic is not as excited by al-Awlaki's killing as Western media outlets.
Al-Awlaki was important among Muslims in the West -- from Yemen, he used the Internet to reach this constituency. But even before the launch of his blog in 2008, al-Awlaki was popular among Muslims in England, Canada and America because of his audiotapes about the history of early Muslim personalities. These tapes were, and many still are, in circulation in mosques and bookshops.
Al-Awlaki could have been discredited before his prison experiences or, now, his perceived martyrdom. By killing al-Awlaki, his message gains new life as words from an American Muslim martyr, the first to join the iconography of underground Muslim culture since Malcolm X.
An easier, cheaper and more effective way of discrediting al-Awlaki and countering his message would have been to disclose his three arrests for the solicitation of prostitutes in San Diego and the Washington, D.C., area between 1996 and 1997. He had even pleaded guilty to the 1997 charge, and was subsequently sentenced to three years' probation and a fine. Among his socially conservative Muslim following in Europe and America, immediately after 9/11, such information would have been dynamite.
The United States cannot kill its way out of terrorism. Just as with the Cold War, the challenge from Islamist extremism and jihadist violence urgently
|
[
"Which person was killed?",
"What action demolishes American values?",
"Which country ordered the killing?",
"What demolishes American values",
"What can the United States not kill its way out of?",
"What cannot the United States kill its way out of",
"Who could have been discredited before being radicalized?"
] |
[
"American citizen",
"authorized the killing of an",
"United States",
"The White House's authorization of this killing",
"terrorism.",
"terrorism.",
"Al-Awlaki"
] |
question: Which person was killed?, answer: American citizen | question: What action demolishes American values?, answer: authorized the killing of an | question: Which country ordered the killing?, answer: United States | question: What demolishes American values, answer: The White House's authorization of this killing | question: What can the United States not kill its way out of?, answer: terrorism. | question: What cannot the United States kill its way out of, answer: terrorism. | question: Who could have been discredited before being radicalized?, answer: Al-Awlaki
|
(CNN) -- President Obama built his push for a sweeping overhaul of the health care system on the premise that reform is essential for economic recovery.
President Obama has said overhauling health care is a key part of economic recovery.
But with some economists saying the recession shows signs of ending, will that weaken Obama's argument?
"If the economy is picking up, then more people are going to get jobs and more people are going to have health insurance, and so they are going to be less concerned with health care reform because they will figure, 'I'm taken care of,' " said Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
But Julian Epstein, a Democratic strategist, said a recovering economy will help Obama's push for health care legislation because "it will be a huge shot in the arm for Obama's political capital."
"It lessens people's anxieties that are being stirred up by the opponents of health care reform. It gives credibility to the argument that government has an appropriate role to play in solving the nation's problems," Epstein said.
Obama ran on a campaign to fix the health care system, and since taking office, the president repeatedly has tried to show how this overhaul fits into his broader economic strategy.
In a speech in June before the American Medical Association, Obama warned that inaction could have dire consequences.
"Make no mistake: The cost of our health care is a threat to our economy. It is an escalating burden on our families and businesses. It is a ticking time bomb for the federal budget. And it is unsustainable for the United States of America," he said.
While the president has said health care is his top domestic priority this year, the public seems to disagree.
Eighty-three percent of people are satisfied with their current health care, and 74 percent are satisfied with their health insurance, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released last week.
"Health care reform has not been the top priority for voters. No. 1 is jobs. No. 2 is the deficit and government spending. Health care is third," said Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst.
But Diana Owen, an associate professor of political science and director of American studies at Georgetown University, said the public isn't as concerned about the economics-driven case to overhaul health care.
"I personally think that the vast majority of the public doesn't get that connection between the economy and health care. I think they're seeing it more as a personal issue -- something that could affect them, their families, their friends," she said, noting that because people have an emotional involvement in the debate, the public is not likely to let it drop.
That personal anxiety has manifested itself at town hall meetings across the country, where, angry protesters and other citizens have showed up to voice their doubts to their lawmakers. Voters have asked their lawmakers what reform means for them -- and how they can be assured that Obama's proposals are good ideas.
The August congressional recess, however, could end up being a blessing in disguise for Democrats, Epstein said.
"It may persuade enough of them that they do need to be more moderate and incremental in the approach, and they may actually come up with a package that is even more popular than what would have otherwise been, had they tried to get the bill through before August," he said.
If the economy recovers, plenty of Republicans and even a few Democrats will remind voters that Obama was wrong about the importance of reform to economic recovery, Schneider said. "What will Obama say? That the recovery cannot be sustained over the long term without health care reform."
Obama sent a similar message in his radio address last weekend, citing the slightly better than expected job numbers as "a sign that we've begun to put the brakes on this recession and that the worst may be behind us."
"But we must do more
|
[
"Who points to some signs economy is recovering?",
"What economists say?",
"Who points to signs that the economy may be recovering?",
"Who says that health care and the economy go hand in hand?",
"What President Obama said?",
"What goes hand in hand?"
] |
[
"Julian Epstein, a Democratic strategist,",
"the recession shows signs of ending,",
"economists",
"President Obama",
"overhauling health care is a key part of economic recovery.",
"economy and health care."
] |
question: Who points to some signs economy is recovering?, answer: Julian Epstein, a Democratic strategist, | question: What economists say?, answer: the recession shows signs of ending, | question: Who points to signs that the economy may be recovering?, answer: economists | question: Who says that health care and the economy go hand in hand?, answer: President Obama | question: What President Obama said?, answer: overhauling health care is a key part of economic recovery. | question: What goes hand in hand?, answer: economy and health care.
|
(CNN) -- President Obama delivered the commencement address Friday to the U.S. Naval Academy's graduating class, speaking to an audience of 30,000 that included a former presidential candidate and proud parent of one of the graduates in attendance.
Jack McCain shakes hands with President Obama at Friday's commencement ceremony.
John Sidney McCain IV, more commonly known as Jack, on Friday became the fourth McCain to graduate from the Annapolis, Maryland, service academy and the fourth with the same name.
"America, look at these young men and women. Look at these sailors and Marines. Here are the values that we cherish. Here are the ideals that endure," Obama told the crowd.
About midday at the academy's commissioning and graduation ceremony, McCain received a Bachelor of Science degree, taking the oath of office and being commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy 103 years after his great-grandfather did the same. Watch Obama hug John McCain's son »
With parents John and Cindy McCain watching, he shook hands with the president and then walked back into the crowd to applause and more hugs.
Joe McCain told CNN that his brother plans to join his father and great-grandfather as naval aviators.
"His grandfather, JSM Jr., was in submarines, commanding three different boats in World War II," he said.
That grandfather later became Adm. McCain and was commander of the Pacific Theater during the Vietnam War, when Jack's father, now Arizona Sen. John McCain, was being held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi.
In an interview last year with GoMids.com, Jack McCain reflected on the advice his father gave him on the day he arrived at the Naval Academy.
"My dad told me there is one thing McCains are good at, and that is not giving in to pressure, and honor -- keeping our honor regardless of what happens," Jack McCain said. "He then said, 'Don't lie, cheat or steal -- anything else is fair game.' "
John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, frequently poked fun at his record at the Naval Academy while on the campaign trail, pointing out that he "stood fifth from the bottom" of his class and racked up dozens of demerits.
At a campaign event last October, McCain joked that Jack needed a "DNA check" because he had yet to receive a single demerit. (Jack McCain told GoMids.com that he did accumulate some demerits -- for wearing flip-flops outside and forgetting to shave).
McCain told Fox News on Thursday that his son is graduating "in better class standing than I had, which wasn't hard to do."
"I'm very proud of him," he said.
Meghan McCain, Jack's older sister, sent a message on Twitter Friday saying her younger brother, Jimmy, could not attend because he is serving overseas. McCain told Fox News he is returning home this weekend.
In his remarks to the students, Obama made a vow that he would not send them to war unless it is "absolutely necessary."
"It's a promise that as long as I am your commander in chief, I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy, the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support that you need to get the job done," he said.
"This includes the job of bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end and pursuing a new comprehensive strategy to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Obama also promised additional assistance to military families, vowing that "we will be with you every step of the way, increasing your pay, increasing child care and helping families deal with the stress and separation of war." And he said new laws will help ensure that veterans are well taken care of.
Obama's commencement address was his third and final of the year. He was also commencement speaker at Arizona State University and the University of Notre Dame.
|
[
"Where is he the fourth McCain to graduate from",
"Who shook Obama's hand?",
"What will McCains son do",
"Whose son graduated?",
"What did Obama deliver"
] |
[
"Annapolis, Maryland, service academy",
"Jack McCain",
"graduate from the Annapolis, Maryland, service academy",
"John and Cindy McCain",
"commencement address"
] |
question: Where is he the fourth McCain to graduate from, answer: Annapolis, Maryland, service academy | question: Who shook Obama's hand?, answer: Jack McCain | question: What will McCains son do, answer: graduate from the Annapolis, Maryland, service academy | question: Whose son graduated?, answer: John and Cindy McCain | question: What did Obama deliver, answer: commencement address
|
(CNN) -- President Obama delivered the commencement address Friday to the U.S. Naval Academy's graduating class, speaking to an audience of 30,000 that included a former presidential candidate and proud parent of one of the graduates in attendance.
Jack McCain shakes hands with President Obama at Friday's commencement ceremony.
John Sidney McCain IV, more commonly known as Jack, on Friday became the fourth McCain to graduate from the Annapolis, Maryland, service academy and the fourth with the same name.
"America, look at these young men and women. Look at these sailors and Marines. Here are the values that we cherish. Here are the ideals that endure," Obama told the crowd.
About midday at the academy's commissioning and graduation ceremony, McCain received a Bachelor of Science degree, taking the oath of office and being commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy 103 years after his great-grandfather did the same. Watch Obama hug John McCain's son »
With parents John and Cindy McCain watching, he shook hands with the president and then walked back into the crowd to applause and more hugs.
Joe McCain told CNN that his brother plans to join his father and great-grandfather as naval aviators.
"His grandfather, JSM Jr., was in submarines, commanding three different boats in World War II," he said.
That grandfather later became Adm. McCain and was commander of the Pacific Theater during the Vietnam War, when Jack's father, now Arizona Sen. John McCain, was being held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi.
In an interview last year with GoMids.com, Jack McCain reflected on the advice his father gave him on the day he arrived at the Naval Academy.
"My dad told me there is one thing McCains are good at, and that is not giving in to pressure, and honor -- keeping our honor regardless of what happens," Jack McCain said. "He then said, 'Don't lie, cheat or steal -- anything else is fair game.' "
John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, frequently poked fun at his record at the Naval Academy while on the campaign trail, pointing out that he "stood fifth from the bottom" of his class and racked up dozens of demerits.
At a campaign event last October, McCain joked that Jack needed a "DNA check" because he had yet to receive a single demerit. (Jack McCain told GoMids.com that he did accumulate some demerits -- for wearing flip-flops outside and forgetting to shave).
McCain told Fox News on Thursday that his son is graduating "in better class standing than I had, which wasn't hard to do."
"I'm very proud of him," he said.
Meghan McCain, Jack's older sister, sent a message on Twitter Friday saying her younger brother, Jimmy, could not attend because he is serving overseas. McCain told Fox News he is returning home this weekend.
In his remarks to the students, Obama made a vow that he would not send them to war unless it is "absolutely necessary."
"It's a promise that as long as I am your commander in chief, I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy, the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support that you need to get the job done," he said.
"This includes the job of bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end and pursuing a new comprehensive strategy to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Obama also promised additional assistance to military families, vowing that "we will be with you every step of the way, increasing your pay, increasing child care and helping families deal with the stress and separation of war." And he said new laws will help ensure that veterans are well taken care of.
Obama's commencement address was his third and final of the year. He was also commencement speaker at Arizona State University and the University of Notre Dame.
|
[
"how many McCain graduate from Naval Academy?",
"Who vows to not send McCain's son to war unless it is \"absolutely necessary?\"",
"Where did he graduate?",
"Obama Shakes hands with who?",
"When did the son graduate?",
"Who is the son of Sen. John McCain?",
"How many McCains have graduated from Naval Academy?"
] |
[
"fourth",
"Obama",
"Annapolis, Maryland, service academy",
"Jack McCain",
"Friday",
"Sidney",
"fourth"
] |
question: how many McCain graduate from Naval Academy?, answer: fourth | question: Who vows to not send McCain's son to war unless it is "absolutely necessary?", answer: Obama | question: Where did he graduate?, answer: Annapolis, Maryland, service academy | question: Obama Shakes hands with who?, answer: Jack McCain | question: When did the son graduate?, answer: Friday | question: Who is the son of Sen. John McCain?, answer: Sidney | question: How many McCains have graduated from Naval Academy?, answer: fourth
|
(CNN) -- President Obama has repeatedly stated, "We are tougher than the times we live in." Although the president may not have intended to signal a whole new approach to our future, the line has Churchillian implications. Speaking of tough times, he could call on Americans to recognize we face at least a decade of rough sledding, ask us to face the challenges and express confidence that we shall prevail.
The tough times approach differs radically from the prevailing wisdom that if we merely did X, Y or Z, we would be rolling in clover again. All we need to do is cut deficits, reduce taxes some more and lighten up on regulations, and the nation will be back on the right course.
Others foresee the bottoming out of the housing market, within two years or so, as the turning point to recovery. Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff argues that intentionally inflating the dollar is the "the only practical way to shorten the coming period of painful deleveraging and slow growth."
In general, politicians prefer President Reagan's manner, which was oozing with optimism. And they are leery of sounding like President Carter, who spoke of malaise and called for sacrifices.
But times have changed. The American people must be prepared for what is coming, or they will lash out with even more anger against failed promises. Take the most elementary issue: Nobody reasonable, on the right or the left, denies that we lived beyond our means for decades, financing our indulgence by taking loans from the Chinese, Japanese and British, among others, as well as hocking the assets of our future generations. Now the time has come that we must pay back, and that means reducing the deficit.
Such payback means, by definition, that while we once could float a lifestyle that cost, say, 120% of what we earned, now we shall have to do with lifestyle that costs, say, 80% of our income, with the rest going to pay down what we owe.
After decades of indulgence and accumulating debt, our accounts cannot be settled in a few years. According to a report in NPR, using recent Congressional Budget Office projections, the debt could reach $13 trillion in 10 years. Even if we get the "grand bargain" and $2 trillion to $4 trillion is cut, that means the 10-year deficit could still remain between $9 trillion and $11 trillion. True, we do not have to bring it down to zero, but we still have quite a burden with which to contend.
If we must pay for that deficit by raising taxes, we will have less money. If we must cut services, such as health care, to pay down the debt, people will have to buy these services themselves. And we should pay down our personal debt for our own future and that of our children.
That means for the next decade or even longer, Americans will have to do with less, from buying new clothes to going on vacations.
I am hardly the only one who foresees a "lost decade." A recent Atlantic magazine article argues that even by 2011, 2012, even 2014, the employment rate may decline very little and describes the current economic climate as "a trauma that will remain heavy for quite some time."
Heidi Shierholtz of the Economic Policy Institute predicts that "many factors are pushing against a quick recovery. ... Things will come back. But it's going to take a long time."
Frustration to such shortfalls is mounting. A recent Bloomberg poll found that 72% of the people who responded think the country is on the wrong course economically. The president's approval rating is tanking, but that of Congress is even lower. A New York Times/CBS poll found that only a paltry 12% of respondents approved of Congress.
As I see it, "Washington" can do relatively little to spare Americans at least 10 years of austerity. But, public leaders can prepare people for what is coming and make a virtue out of doing with less, of paying back what we owe
|
[
"How long will the sacrifice need to last?",
"What is Obama quoted as saying about the times?"
] |
[
"for the next decade or even longer,",
"\"We are tougher than the"
] |
question: How long will the sacrifice need to last?, answer: for the next decade or even longer, | question: What is Obama quoted as saying about the times?, answer: "We are tougher than the
|
(CNN) -- President Obama introduced a health care plan that he says will bridge the gap between the House and Senate bills passed last year. His proposal is similar to the Senate bill, with a few nods to the House plan.
Here are some of the highlights of his plan, according to the White House.
Basics
The president says his health care proposal will help more than 31 million uninsured Americans get coverage. Obama says his plan includes the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in history.
It establishes a health insurance market that would provide the same insurance choices that members of Congress have. Health insurance exchanges, as proposed in the Senate bill, would be created to make it easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to purchase less expensive coverage.
There is no public option, an idea strongly backed by liberal Democrats but fiercely opposed both by Republicans and key Democratic moderates.
Like the House and Senate plans, Obama's proposal would bar insurers from charging higher premiums based on a person's gender or medical history or denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
Key differences
Obama's plan eliminates the controversial proposal added to the Senate bill that exempts Nebraska from paying increased Medicaid expenses. It also provides additional federal financing to all of the states for the Medicaid expansion.
The president's proposal closes the Medicare prescription drug "doughnut hole." Under current Medicare limits, seniors must pick up the costs once their drug costs reach $2,830 and pay all costs out of pocket until they reach $4,550, at which point Medicare coverage kicks back in.
Obama's proposal eases the "doughnut hole" in the short term by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who reach the limit in 2010. The plan closes the doughnut hole completely by 2020.
The plan also establishes a Health Insurance Rate Authority to provide an additional level of oversight of insurance premium increase at the federal level, giving the government new authority to block excessive rate hikes by health insurance companies.
Tax credits
The president's proposal increases federal subsidies to help people buy insurance.
New health insurance subsidies would be provided to families making up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
Compared to the Senate bill, Obama's proposal lowers premiums for families making between $44,000 and $66,000, according to the White House. Compared to the House bill, it lowers premiums for families making between $55,000 and $88,000.
Obama's plan also provides more cost-sharing assistance than the House and Senate bills for families with incomes below $55,000. For families making about $55,000, the president's proposal matches the assistance in the Senate bill.
Penalties and fees
The House and Senate bills both require payments from individuals who choose not to get health care coverage. Obama's plan lowers the maximum penalty for individuals.
Obama's plan also provides $40 billion in tax credits for small businesses to help them provide health care options for their employees.
Like the Senate bill, the president's proposal does not mandate that employers provide insurance.
Under Obama's plan, companies with more than 50 employees would be required to pay a fee of $2,000 per worker if the company does not provide coverage and any of that company's workers receives federal health care subsidies. The first 30 workers would be subtracted from the payment calculation. As with the individual requirement, this represents a compromise between the House and Senate plans.
Obama's proposal delays the $67 billion assessment on health insurers, pushing it to 2014, when exchanges and the new health insurance market will be set up.
The president's proposal also increases the revenue drawn from the pharmaceutical industry to $23 billion over the next three years -- $10 billion more than the Senate bill. It delays the implementation of these fees to 2011.
Waste, fraud and abuse
The president's proposal includes a number of provisions to help eliminate waste and fight fraud.
Some of those provisions include establishing Medicare and Medicaid sanctions databases, increasing access to the health care integrity and protection data bank,
|
[
"what does the white house release?",
"What happened in the Senate last year?",
"Where is the public option?",
"there are public option?",
"When was a similar plan passed?",
"What is the President's Proposal?"
] |
[
"a health care plan",
"bills passed",
"There is no",
"no",
"last year.",
"a health care plan"
] |
question: what does the white house release?, answer: a health care plan | question: What happened in the Senate last year?, answer: bills passed | question: Where is the public option?, answer: There is no | question: there are public option?, answer: no | question: When was a similar plan passed?, answer: last year. | question: What is the President's Proposal?, answer: a health care plan
|
(CNN) -- President Obama is expected to sign the final health care legislation into law this week, but while the action wraps up on Capitol Hill, the heated debate over reform shows no sign of cooling down.
With lawmakers back in their districts for the spring work period, the conversation just moves to a different platform.
For Democrats, the two-week recess is an opportunity to highlight the immediate benefits of a law the public is not yet sold on. Democrats say the health care law provides all Americans with the opportunity to receive health care and prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to those who need it most.
For Republicans, it's a chance to rally support behind their efforts to repeal what they decry as a "takeover" of the health care system that will saddle future generations of Americans with debt.
What's the one thing you want to ask your representatives?
Republicans have made "repeal and replace" their battle cry, and Obama has said he welcomes the fight.
At an event in Iowa City, Iowa, last week, the president scoffed at the Republicans' strategy, saying, "My attitude is -- Go for it."
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann last week introduced a bill to repeal the health care legislation, as did other Republican lawmakers.
"We need to work together, whether we're Republicans, independents, Democrats, we all have to work together for whatever is in the best interest of the American people. And repeal most certainly is in the best interest of the people because this bill will lead to economic harm if it's left in place," Bachmann told CBS' "Face the Nation."
But Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said he doesn't think efforts to knock down the legislation stand much chance.
"They may want to push forward on a repeal of health care, to tell small businesses you're not going to get tax credits to pay for insurance, to tell families you now can't keep children on your policy until [they]'re 26, to tell folks that you're now subject to these abuses of the insurance industry. I think they'd be unwise to do it. I think the American public will reject it," he told CBS.
Despite the opposing messages, both sides say the public supports them. Republicans say the public opposes the president's plan, but Democrats insist that people will eventually accept the plan now that it is finalized.
And so far, both sides have a point.
Most Americans disapprove of the health care reform law, but that does not translate into majority support for the "repeal and replace" strategy, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Monday.
CNN Poll: Americans divided over repealing health care law
Meanwhile, polls from both CBS and Quinnipiac University suggest that there has been a slight uptick in approval of the legislation following the vote.
Another survey, a ABC/Washington Post poll released Sunday, indicated that the public's overall view of the health care plan has held steady, with 46 percent supporting it and 50 percent opposed. The percentage of people who said they strongly support the health care legislation, however, increased by 10 points since February, while the percentage who strongly opposed it stayed about the same.
"We'll find out in November who won or lost this battle," Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, told CBS.
"What I do next is, I'm trying to replace those who voted for this bill. I want to repeal it. And I want to replace it with some real reform that puts patients in charge of their health care again," he said.
Echoing DeMint, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he was looking forward to an election in November "about whether this health care bill is a real fix or a phony political document trying to grow the government."
Calling the legislation a "giant Ponzi scheme," the Republican senator vowed that the fight "won't wind up just being in Washington."
Following a week of
|
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"What did the poll show?",
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"How long was the lawmaker's spring recess?",
"What do Republicans want to do?"
] |
[
"Most Americans disapprove of the health care reform law,",
"two-week",
"two-week",
"to repeal the health care legislation,"
] |
question: What did the poll show?, answer: Most Americans disapprove of the health care reform law, | question: How long is the spring recess?, answer: two-week | question: How long was the lawmaker's spring recess?, answer: two-week | question: What do Republicans want to do?, answer: to repeal the health care legislation,
|
(CNN) -- President Obama is not shy about showing off his jump shot on the basketball court, but on Tuesday night, it was his baseball skills that were put to the test.
President Obama throws out the first pitch at the 2009 All-Star Game onTuesday in St Louis, Missouri.
Obama, clad in a Chicago White Sox jacket and blue jeans, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in St. Louis, Missouri.
His low pitch barely reached home plate and the mitt of St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols.
Obama became the fifth president to throw out the first pitch at an All-Star Game, but the first in 33 years. He is following in the footsteps of Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford.
Asked about plans to practice before the game, Obama said Tuesday, "I want to loosen up my arm a little bit."
"The last time I threw a pitch was at the American League championship series, and I just wanted to keep it high," the president said of his opening pitch at the 2005 Chicago White Sox-Anaheim Angels game.
Aiming high is a good strategy, says St. Louis Cardinals scout Matt Blood, but it takes more than on-point aim to make the perfect pitch.
"Throw it with some force, don't lob it in there. Try to get a good downhill plane. Try to keep it in the strike zone," said Blood, who will be at the game Tuesday.
HLN sports anchor Larry Smith, who has thrown out a few first pitches, says Obama has to be careful to "not try to overpower it."
"There's no speed gun on this. Just make it a nice solid throw to the catcher," Smith said. "The one thing he doesn't want to do is bounce it home. Mr. Obama is pretty athletic, so I think he'll ace this."
Overpowering it shouldn't be an issue for the president, who joked Tuesday that he'd be surprised if his 2005 pitch exceeded 30 miles per hour.
The president also needs to make sure he uses his whole arm, Blood said.
"You'll see a lot of people throw kind of out front. Their elbow will start out front and they'll never get their arm back behind their body, and won't get a full arm swing. It will be real short, and not very rhythmic," he said.
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Bouton said Obama's at the top of his game, and he can "afford to take a few chances."
"He should toss it a little further to the left. The righties are down by 15 runs in the ninth, they've got no team leadership. They're fighting with each other in the opposing dugout," he joked.
All kidding aside, Obama should "just go with his instincts, like any good athlete," Bouton said. "You don't want to throw the ball into the ground or behind you, that's for sure."
Obama also doesn't want to do what Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory did in his opening pitch for the Reds 2007 season. He missed home plate by 30 feet. Video of the Democratic mayor's embarrassing throw has been viewed nearly 2 million times on YouTube.
But the opening pitch isn't always a light-hearted moment. President Bush described his opening pitch at Yankees stadium during the 2001 World Series as "the most nervous moment" of his presidency so far. The game came less than two months after the September 11 terrorists attacks.
Bush wore an FDNY jacket to pay tribute to the New York City Fire Department. He stepped onto the pitchers mound, and before a cheering crowd of nearly 60,000, he threw a strike. The crowded erupted in chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A."
Before the game Tuesday night, Obama and all of the living former presidents will appear in a
|
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"Who is the Mayor of Cincinnati?"
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"Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory",
"Mark Mallory"
] |
question: What does the scout advise?, answer: Aiming high is a good strategy, | question: Who thows opening pitch?, answer: President Obama | question: When was the All-Stars game?, answer: 2009 | question: Who throws opening pitch?, answer: President Obama | question: Who threw th opening pitch at the All-Stars game?, answer: President Obama | question: What does scout advise?, answer: "Throw it with some force, don't lob it in there. Try to get a good downhill plane. Try to keep it in the strike zone," | question: Who had an embarrassing throw?, answer: Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory | question: Who got lots of attention for his embarrassing throw?, answer: Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory | question: Who is the Mayor of Cincinnati?, answer: Mark Mallory
|
(CNN) -- President Obama named Solicitor General Elena Kagan as his nominee to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court.
CNN.com asked legal experts and commentators the significance of Obama's selection, what to expect from Kagan as a Supreme Court justice and what lies ahead in the confirmation hearings.
Patricia Millett, a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in Washington, D.C, who co-chairs its Supreme Court practice. She has practiced extensively before the Supreme Court, where she has briefed approximately 70 cases and argued 28 cases. She spent 11 years appearing before the court as an assistant solicitor general during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations:
While many have said that President Obama's replacement of Justice Stevens will not affect the direction of the court, it must be remembered that Supreme Court nominations are long-term investments for a president. In that regard, Elena Kagan is an excellent investment.
If she follows her predecessor's lead, she will spend four decades serving the nation on the court. While I agree that her arrival is unlikely to shift the court's jurisprudence significantly in the short term, she will likely remain on the court long after some of its leading conservative justices have retired.
Her brilliant intellect, affable personality, persuasiveness in oral and written advocacy and proven ability to build bridges and develop common ground among very independent thinkers (such as Harvard Law School faculty) will make her a true judicial leader on the court and will ultimately have a weighty influence on the development of the law throughout her tenure. Even in the short term, her powerful reasoning and consensus-building will likely influence the outcome of some cases.
Remember that 90 percent of the court's decisions are workaday rulings that do not capture headlines, yet that is the field in which the justices' inter-relationships and patterns of dialogue are forged. Finally, like all of the female justices who have preceded her on the court, Elena Kagan has impeccable qualifications and ability.
I sincerely hope that, with her appointment as the court's third sitting female justice and fourth in history, we will find ourselves coming to the point where the female gender of a nominee is no longer a novelty. It is past-due time for the appointment of women on the court to be accepted as a commonplace.
Julian E. Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School in New Jersey:
With a year under his belt, we can now say that Elena Kagan is a quintessential Obamanian pick. Foremost, she has impeccable academic credentials; Obama likes to fill positions with the best and the brightest.
When she appears before the Senate, her knowledge of the law will be impressive and can put senators on the defensive. Furthermore, her positions are difficult to characterize politically. Like Obama, she is somewhat elusive.
Kagan has enough on her record, such as supporting certain expansions of executive power, to concern the left and enough on her record, such as her position on military recruitment on campuses, to anger the right. This will make her more difficult for Republicans to target effectively during the confirmation hearings.
Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow in constitutional studies and editor-in-chief of the Cato Supreme Court Review at the Cato Institute, a libertarian-leaning think tank in Washington, D.C.:
Kagan is not the worst choice, but other short-listers would have been better in various ways. While any Obama nominee would have similar views on hot-button issues like abortion and gay rights, Diane Wood would have been great on antitrust and complex commercial litigation, for example, and Merrick Garland would bring a stronger understanding of administrative law.
Generally, there is no indication that the solicitor general is anything but a standard modern liberal, with all the unfortunate views on the scope of federal power that that entails. Another concern is her mediocre performance in her current position. I question the choice of arguments she made in Citizens United and United States v. Stevens, for example -- in the first case abandoning the court's rationale in the precedent she was
|
[
"What position is Solicitor General Elena Kagan nominated for?",
"who has nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to fill empty Supreme Court seat?",
"Who did Obama nominate to fill the Supreme Court seat?",
"who was nominated to fill empty Supreme Court seat?",
"Who does Obama want to fill the empty Supreme Court seat?"
] |
[
"Supreme Court justice",
"Obama",
"Elena Kagan",
"Solicitor General Elena Kagan",
"Elena Kagan"
] |
question: What position is Solicitor General Elena Kagan nominated for?, answer: Supreme Court justice | question: who has nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to fill empty Supreme Court seat?, answer: Obama | question: Who did Obama nominate to fill the Supreme Court seat?, answer: Elena Kagan | question: who was nominated to fill empty Supreme Court seat?, answer: Solicitor General Elena Kagan | question: Who does Obama want to fill the empty Supreme Court seat?, answer: Elena Kagan
|
(CNN) -- President Obama on Monday strongly praised a decision by the nation's pharmaceutical industry to agree to a deal cutting drug costs for elderly Americans, calling it an example of the kind of compromise required for successful national health care reform.
President Obama says the pharmaceutical industry announcement "marks a major step forward."
The agreement discounts medications for Medicare beneficiaries facing high out-of-pocket expenses when their benefits reach a gap in coverage.
"This is a significant breakthrough on the road to health care reform, one that will make the difference in the lives of many older Americans," Obama said at the White House.
"Today marks a major step forward, but it will only be meaningful if we complete the journey. ... I have to repeat and revive an old saying we had from the campaign: Yes, we can. We are going to get this done."
The nation's top drug manufacturers agreed over the weekend to at least a 50 percent discount for most beneficiaries for brand-name medicines purchased in the so-called "doughnut hole" gap in coverage, Obama noted.
The gap involves medication costs of senior citizens between roughly $2,700 and $6,100 a year that are not covered by the Medicare part D plan.
The deal will be part of an $80 billion reduction in Medicare drug costs for senior citizens over the next 10 years, according to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Montana, who helped negotiate the agreement.
Part of that $80 billion will go to closing the Medicare prescription drug "doughnut hole." Congressional staffers did not have precise estimates, but Finance Committee spokesman Erin Shields said they expect the $80 billion commitment to both cover the Medicare drug gap and leave additional money for other, still unannounced, programs.
The American Association of Retired People, the nation's largest organization of senior citizens, has praised the pharmaceutical industry agreement as a step toward health care reform. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs noted Monday that AARP was opposed to health care reform during the first term of former President Bill Clinton in the early 1990s.
"You've got the pharmaceutical industry and the largest group representing seniors in this country, who 16 years ago weren't at the table but were on the other side of the political debate," Gibbs said of groups expressing support Monday for health care reform. "I think that represents progress and important steps towards real reform."
Overhauling health care is a top priority of Obama's administration, but the initial proposals to reach Congress last week received a rocky reception.
The Congressional Budget Office determined that either of two similar bills written by Senate Democrats would cost more than $1 trillion, which was higher than expected.
Republican opponents immediately slammed the measures, and the Senate Finance Committee delayed scheduled hearings on one of the bills. Hearings by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the other measure began amid intense partisan bickering, with hundreds of amendments proposed by Republican opponents.
At least two more bills are expected from the House of Representatives, and a bipartisan group led by former Senate majority leaders Tom Daschle, Howard Baker and Bob Dole also has offered guidelines for a proposal.
At issue is how best to reduce the cost and increase the reach of the current health care system, which officials say is increasingly draining personal, corporate and government budgets while leaving 46 million Americans without health insurance.
Obama has warned that a failure to act soon will bring far worse economic difficulties than the costs of plans under discussion. Both parties in Congress agree on the need to slow the increase in health care costs while ensuring that all Americans can get health insurance, but they differ sharply on how to proceed.
Democrats generally favor a government-funded "public option" to compete with private insurers. Republicans have said such a step would lead to a government takeover of health care, which they oppose.
Republicans also accuse Obama and Democrats of trying to rush through what they say is flawed legislation in 2009 before the politics of midterm elections in 2010 and the 2012 presidential race
|
[
"By how much have Medicare drug costs been reduced for senior citizens?",
"What group of individuals are effected by the $80 billion reduction in Medicare drugs?",
"how much is the discount?",
"When can some individuals receive a discount on drugs if they are on Medicare?",
"For whom does the deal discount drugs?",
"to which is applied the discount?",
"Who is the president?"
] |
[
"$80 billion",
"elderly Americans,",
"at least a 50 percent",
"their benefits reach a gap in coverage.",
"elderly Americans,",
"Medicare beneficiaries",
"Obama"
] |
question: By how much have Medicare drug costs been reduced for senior citizens?, answer: $80 billion | question: What group of individuals are effected by the $80 billion reduction in Medicare drugs?, answer: elderly Americans, | question: how much is the discount?, answer: at least a 50 percent | question: When can some individuals receive a discount on drugs if they are on Medicare?, answer: their benefits reach a gap in coverage. | question: For whom does the deal discount drugs?, answer: elderly Americans, | question: to which is applied the discount?, answer: Medicare beneficiaries | question: Who is the president?, answer: Obama
|
(CNN) -- President Obama on Saturday urged a thorough investigation into a deadly explosion at a West Virginia coal mine that killed 29 people, hours after rescue efforts at the mine gave way to an operation to recover the dead.
"This has been America's worst mining disaster in forty years, and the toll on all West Virginians has been immeasurable, " Obama said of Monday's blast at the Upper Big Branch mine. "We cannot bring back the men we lost. What we can do, in their memory, is thoroughly investigate this tragedy and demand accountability."
Obama's statement came just hours after rescue efforts came to a grim end after crews found the bodies of the last four miners unaccounted for in the explosion. Twenty-five people were previously announced dead.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who were lost in this tragic accident, and my gratitude goes out to the rescue teams who worked so tirelessly and heroically to search for the missing," Obama said in his statement.
The death toll makes the West Virginia mining disaster the worst in the U.S. since 1972, when 91 miners were killed in a fire at the Sunshine Mine in Kellogg, Idaho.
Of the 29 dead in the West Virginia blast, the bodies of 22 remain inside the mine.
The cause of the blast is unknown, and state and federal officials have pledged a full investigation.
The explosion has prompted renewed questions about mine safety.
Obama said Saturday that "all Americans deserve to work in a place that is safe, and we must take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that all our miners are as safe as possible so that a disaster like this doesn't happen again."
Obama will meet next week with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and a Mine Safety and Health Administration official to hear their initial assessment of what caused the blast, along with their recommendations for steps the federal government should take to improve mine safety.
Richmond, Virginia-based Massey Energy Co., which owns the mine, said in a statement released Friday that it will conduct "extensive" reviews of the mine accident "to ensure that a similar incident doesn't happen again."
It said the mine has had less than one violation per day in inspections by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and added that that rate is "consistent with national averages."
Most of the blast victims were working in an area where long wall cutting was taking place. The technique uses a large grinder to extract the coal and creates large amounts of coal dust and methane gas, both of which are explosive.
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin said Saturday that even though it's not clear what caused the explosion, there needs to be a focus on better ventilation and on sensors to alert mine personnel when gas levels become dangerous.
"There was no way to protect them against this," he said. "You just have to prevent it and make sure it doesn't happen again."
|
[
"What is the death toll?",
"Who calls for thorough investigation into mine blast?",
"Who calls for a thorough investigation into the mine blast?",
"Where were most of the victims working?",
"How many people died in the coal mine explosion?",
"How many miners found dead?"
] |
[
"29",
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"Obama",
"Virginia coal mine",
"29",
"29"
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question: What is the death toll?, answer: 29 | question: Who calls for thorough investigation into mine blast?, answer: Obama | question: Who calls for a thorough investigation into the mine blast?, answer: Obama | question: Where were most of the victims working?, answer: Virginia coal mine | question: How many people died in the coal mine explosion?, answer: 29 | question: How many miners found dead?, answer: 29
|
(CNN) -- President Obama on Thursday called on business leaders from the private sector to generate ideas that will "accelerate job creation" and stimulate investment in the United States.
"While I believe that government has a critical role in creating the conditions for economic growth, ultimately, true economic recovery is only going to come from the private sector," Obama told attendees of the at the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth. More than 100 CEOs, small-business owners, business leaders, mayors and academics attended.
"We don't have enough public dollars to fill the hole of private dollars that was created as a consequence of the crisis. It is only when the private sector starts to reinvest again; only when our businesses start hiring again and people start spending again and families start seeing improvement in their own lives again, that we're going to have the kind of economy that we want," Obama said.
The summit took place amid allegations from members of Obama's own party that the White House and the Democratic congressional leadership are not doing enough to help the unemployed.
Critics called the summit nothing more than a publicity stunt, and some are threatening to organize a march on Washington of jobless Americans if efforts to get more aid fail.
"Obviously, there's something that's not getting through to them," said Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Illinois. "We'll get the American people involved. You know, I can see a day, unless we get some real cooperation and real help, I can really see a day where there will be a jobless march on Washington."
Rush and Reps. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, and Candice Miller, R-Michigan, chair the new congressional Jobs Now Caucus, which is made up of 112 Democrats and 17 Republicans.
Proposals being floated by members of the caucus include redirecting stimulus and TARP money to jobs programs and pressing for a new jobs bill, which they're careful not to call a "stimulus."
The summit also fell on the eve of the release of the government's November unemployment report. The nation is expected to have lost another 114,000 jobs, with unemployment remaining at 10.2 percent, the highest in 26 years, according to a survey by economists.
Yet Obama projected a positive tone as he recounted some of the day's discussions, on topics from clean energy and tax incentives to the export market, and the overlap among them.
"When we were in the infrastructure session, there was a strong emphasis on needing to plan not just for existing road projects, but also, how do we think about the fact that, in the future, we need a cleaner transportation industry?" he said.
"When we were in the clean energy session, there was an emphasis on how do we get small businesses and small contractors to get certified and get the financing needed to move forward and take advantage of these clean energy sector opportunities," he said.
"There's a lot of overlap between all these different breakout sessions that we engaged in," he said. "We're going to have to figure out how to break out of these silos and integrate these strategies if we're going to be able to get the most bang for the buck."
Coinciding with the jobs forum, organized labor and religious leaders in several cities sponsored events featuring unemployed and underemployed people to raise the public profile of the issue.
Events were held in Dayton, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; and Sacramento, California, on Wednesday, and in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday.
CNN's Jessica Yellin and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.
|
[
"what does Obama says about the true economic recovery?",
"Where did Obama say true economic recovery will come from?",
"on what state some threaten to organize the march?",
"the summit occurs amid allegations of what?",
"Who do forum attendees include?"
] |
[
"is only going to come from the private sector,\"",
"the private sector,\"",
"Washington",
"of Obama's own party that the White House and the Democratic congressional leadership are not doing enough to help the unemployed.",
"More than 100 CEOs, small-business owners, business leaders, mayors and academics"
] |
question: what does Obama says about the true economic recovery?, answer: is only going to come from the private sector," | question: Where did Obama say true economic recovery will come from?, answer: the private sector," | question: on what state some threaten to organize the march?, answer: Washington | question: the summit occurs amid allegations of what?, answer: of Obama's own party that the White House and the Democratic congressional leadership are not doing enough to help the unemployed. | question: Who do forum attendees include?, answer: More than 100 CEOs, small-business owners, business leaders, mayors and academics
|
(CNN) -- President Obama said Thursday that watching the arrival of 18 flag-draped cases containing bodies of Americans killed in Afghanistan was a "sobering reminder" of U.S. sacrifice as he prepares to decide on sending more troops there.
At a brief media appearance with visiting Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, Obama was asked whether his unannounced appearance at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the pre-dawn dignified transfer of the bodies would influence his decision on troop levels in Afghanistan.
"Obviously, it was a sobering reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices that our young men and women in uniform are engaging in every single day," the president said.
Obama said the burden of war on U.S. troops and their families will "bear on how I see these conflicts."
"It is something I think about each and every day," he said.
Also in attendance for the transfer of the bodies were Attorney General Eric Holder and Michele Leonhart, acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The bodies included three DEA special agents and 15 U.S. troops who died in Afghanistan this week.
The agents were killed Monday as they returned from a raid on a compound believed to be harboring insurgents tied to drug trafficking. Seven U.S. troops also died when their helicopter went down in western Afghanistan.
The military transport that landed in Delaware also included the bodies of eight U.S. soldiers killed Tuesday when their vehicles were hit by roadside bombs in two incidents in southern Afghanistan.
The soldiers were from the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division, based at Fort Lewis, Washington.
The DEA identified the agents killed Monday as Forrest N. Leamon, 37, of Woodbridge, Virginia; Chad L. Michael, 30, of Quantico, Virginia; and Michael E. Weston, 37, of Washington.
Leamon and Michael were members of the DEA's Foreign-deployed Advisory and Support Teams, and Weston was assigned to the agency's Kabul office.
CNN's Carol Cratty contributed to this report.
|
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"Who were killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan?",
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"who was recently killed?"
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"eight U.S. soldiers",
"18",
"Seven U.S. troops",
"hit by roadside bombs",
"\"sobering reminder\"",
"three DEA special agents and 15 U.S. troops"
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question: Who were killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan?, answer: eight U.S. soldiers | question: How many soldiers die, answer: 18 | question: Who were recently killed in helicopter crash?, answer: Seven U.S. troops | question: What did the US troops die of?, answer: hit by roadside bombs | question: What was on hand of Obama?, answer: "sobering reminder" | question: who was recently killed?, answer: three DEA special agents and 15 U.S. troops
|
(CNN) -- President Obama said Tuesday that the country already is "seeing shovels hit the ground" on the first infrastructure repair project funded through the Transportation Department's share of the $787 billion stimulus bill.
Workers mark where repairs are needed on Maryland Route 650.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "The work begins today in Montgomery County, Maryland, where a work crew is starting on a project to resurface Maryland State Highway 650 -- a very busy road that has not been fully repaired in 17 years."
The resurfacing contract is going to a Pennsylvania-based family-owned company, American Infrastructure, LaHood said.
He said the project will support 60 jobs. "And that's how we're going to get the country back on its feet," LaHood added.
Mark Compton, director of government affairs for American Infrastructure, said his company received $2.1 million in federal funds, by way of the Maryland State Highway Administration.
The money will be used to repave and add safety features to a stretch of the highway.
Compton said the cash infusion is the "catalyst" to create 60 jobs, including bringing back some laid-off employees.
He said he hopes the workers can be retained beyond this six-month project. "We'll continue to bid, so the goal is to get more projects to keep those guys working, so they can roll off that project onto another," Compton said. CNNMoney: Stimulus funds hit the street
Obama and LaHood on Tuesday announced the release of $27 billion in funds from the stimulus package "to help states create a 21st-century infrastructure."
The president said it is part of the "largest new investment in America's infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System."
Obama said another 200 construction projects would be launched over the next few weeks, "fueling growth in an industry that's been hard hit by our economic crisis."
Two weeks ago, Obama signed into law his stimulus plan, known as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
The president has said the plan will create or save up to 3.5 million jobs over the next two years. Four-hundred thousand of those will be infrastructure jobs that include rebuilding roads, bridges and schools.
LaHood has asked the nation's governors to certify projects and provide assurances that funds from the act will be spent for appropriate infrastructure projects.
Obama said transportation projects would be stamped with a special emblem so people can see where their tax dollars are going.
Obama said the investments in highways would create or save 150,000 jobs by the end of 2010. The number of jobs being created or saved in one year is more than the number of jobs the Big Three automakers have lost in manufacturing over the past three years, Obama said.
By investing in roads "that should have been rebuilt long ago," Obama said, "we can save some 14,000 men and women who lose their lives each year due to bad roads and driving conditions."
"Poor roads are a public hazard, and we have a responsibility to fix them," he said. Watch Obama explain how the roads will save lives »
Obama also announced Tuesday that the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve were launching the Consumer and Business Lending Initiative.
When fully implemented, Obama said, the initiative "will generate up to a trillion dollars in new lending for the American people, and this will help unlock our frozen credit markets, which is absolutely essential for economic recovery."
CNNMoney's Aaron Smith contributed to this report.
|
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question: How many jobs will be supported?, answer: 60 | question: How many construction projects are to be launched in the near future?, answer: 200 | question: What did Obama say about investing in roads ?, answer: "largest new investment in America's infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System." | question: According to Obama, what will save lives ?, answer: roads | question: How many further construction projects will be launched?, answer: 200 | question: How many jobs will be saved by the Highway project?, answer: 60 | question: What will create or save 150,000 jobs by end of 2010 /, answer: investments in highways | question: What type of project is it?, answer: infrastructure repair | question: Where is the new highway resurfacing project ?, answer: Montgomery County, Maryland,
|
(CNN) -- President Obama says the new Buffett Rule "is not class warfare," raising once again the question of why he and his party keep rowing back from one of the Democrats' most potent arguments.
They seem to have accepted the Republicans' pejorative definition of economic class warfare as an un-American evil. As Warren Buffet points out, middle-income Americans ought to be protesting a system in which billionaires like him pay a third to a half of the 33% tax rate of Buffet's secretary.
In fact, nonviolent class struggle over income distribution has a long and beneficial history in this country and most other industrial democracies. Starting with the rise of the Populist Party in the late 19th century, continuing into the Progressive Era and the New Deal, grabbing for and getting a bigger slice of the economic pie for wage earners has been a major stabilizing force in American democracy. We are now racing in the direction of income polarization and the political instability that inevitably accompanies the contraction of the middle class and a concentration of wealth within a tiny minority.
Based on the numbers, President Obama ought to be able to win this argument easily. As former President Clinton pointed out in an interview Monday, 10% of the population have taken 90% of the benefits of economic growth. James Carville is probably right that it's time for Obama to fire the White House communications team and carry the economic fight to the Republicans. It could hardly hurt when the voters who are getting their pockets picked are siding with the Republican corporate oligarchs who used to be the Democrats' arch-villains.
In the current journalistic environment only the rich may be greedy without blame, and it is not just Fox, but the mainstream media, as well, that parrots the "class warfare" criticism and puts a negative spin on anything that can be called "populism." For their part, Congressional Democrats seem allergic to their own president's advocacy of a minimally fair tax rate on rich individuals and corporations.
They are also timid about challenging the Republicans on their myth-making propaganda about "job creators." What evidence can House Speaker John Boehner and House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan produce that repealing Bush-era tax rates for couples making more than $250,000 and allowing the top marginal tax rates of 33 percent and 35 percent to revert to 36 percent and 39.6 percent next year would prevent corporations and investors from creating jobs?
What can be deduced is that corporations are content to sit on their $2 trillion in cash reserves as long as tax breaks and lax regulations make reinvestment for growth a less attractive alternative. All MBA students are taught "cash is king," and the banks have taken the slogan so seriously they won't even release to credit markets the $2 trillion in bailout funds given them as a gift outright. The job creators aren't creating anything. They're sitting on every tax-free dollar they can while the sitting is good.
So how did we get to this point? Something is clearly wrong with Kansas and the rest of Middle America when it comes to letting economic self-interest guide their voting.
The decline of the labor movement, which was a powerful instrument of economic education for the masses, surely must have something to do with it. Then there is the impact of more than 30 years of conservative distortion of America's economic vocabulary since Ronald Reagan's election in 1980. He showed his party that making vague promises to preserve the "safety net" was smarter politics than tackling the real problems of Social Security disability, private pension funds and indigent health care. By 1984, the Democratic nominee, Walter Mondale, was ridiculed for trying to make campaign themes of "fairness" and "compassion."
This history gives one pause about urging Obama to argue more openly for fairer distribution of income. Certainly if we are in a class war over money, only one side is fighting. Probably not even Reagan, an ex-New Dealer, expected so complete a turnaround on what used to be called "pocketbook issues."
In interviewing a Republican guest, Mitch
|
[
"Which person says the issue is potent?",
"what is a potent issue",
"Which party runs from class warefare?"
] |
[
"President",
"why he and his party keep rowing back from one of the Democrats' most",
"Republicans'"
] |
question: Which person says the issue is potent?, answer: President | question: what is a potent issue, answer: why he and his party keep rowing back from one of the Democrats' most | question: Which party runs from class warefare?, answer: Republicans'
|
(CNN) -- President Obama should end the legal seminar on the rights of terrorists. He should instruct the lawyers at the State and Justice departments and Pentagon that the debate is over.
The time has come for all to accept that terrorists cannot be treated as criminals. The main reason is that security requires preventing attacks rather than prosecuting the perpetrators after an attack. This is particularly evident when we concern ourselves with terrorists who may acquire weapons of mass destruction.
It also holds for terrorists who are willing to commit suicide attacks: They cannot be tried, and they pay no mind to what might be done to them after their assault. Finally, even terrorists not bent on committing suicide attacks are often "true believers" who are prepared to proceed despite whatever punishments the legal system may throw at them.
In contrast to prevention, law enforcement often springs into action after a criminal has acted: when a body is found, a bank has been robbed or a child has been kidnapped.
By and large, the criminal law approach is retrospective rather than prospective. Law enforcement assumes that punishment serves to deter future crimes -- not to eliminate them, but to keep them at a socially acceptable level. This will not do for the likes of Osama bin Laden.
Nor should terrorists be treated as soldiers, a dignified profession and calling. Soldiers wear uniforms that allow one to tell foes from civilians and thus prevent harming the latter when fighting the former. And the insignias that mark soldiers make it clear which governments they serve, governments that can be held accountable for their conduct -- obligations terrorists refuse to discharge. They cannot have it both ways: flout the rules of war and seek the benefits of these rules as prisoners of war.
Obama surely has the legal training to realize that our minds are big enough to cope with more than two categories, that terrorists are neither fish nor fowl, neither criminals nor soldiers, but a distinct species.
As such, terrorists are not without any rights. They should not be killed if they can be captured without undue risk; they should not be tortured; and their detention should be subject to, say, annual review by an institutional board -- composed of people who have security clearance, not necessarily military officers. Such a board should follow simplified procedures, as parole boards do in prisons, rather than those of civilian courts or military commissions.
Click here for more on this subject from Etzioni
Terrorists should not be entitled to face their accusers, or else we would divulge the sources and methods of our information-gathering about their nefarious acts. And they should not be released until we have strong reasons to hold that they are no longer a danger to us, our allies or anyone else.
The Obama administration's position is so multifaceted that even someone who follows it closely and has considerable training cannot make out what line it is following. Some terrorists are to be tried in civilian courts -- as long as they are not in New York, or maybe only if the civilian courts are located on a military base. Or terrorists may be kept at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or shipped to countries that do not abide by our rules or maybe only to those that do.
No one can build public support and legitimacy for such a cacophony of positions and voices. It is time to settle the matter and tell the government lawyers to move on.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Amitai Etzioni.
|
[
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"who arent soldiers?",
"Who said Obama should set one clear position on treatment of terrorists?",
"what does amitai say?"
] |
[
"terrorists",
"cannot be treated as criminals.",
"terrorists",
"Amitai Etzioni.",
"No one can build public support and legitimacy for such a cacophony of positions and voices. It is time to settle the matter and tell the government lawyers to move on."
] |
question: Who can't be treated as criminals according to Etzioni?, answer: terrorists | question: what does etzioni say about terrorist?, answer: cannot be treated as criminals. | question: who arent soldiers?, answer: terrorists | question: Who said Obama should set one clear position on treatment of terrorists?, answer: Amitai Etzioni. | question: what does amitai say?, answer: No one can build public support and legitimacy for such a cacophony of positions and voices. It is time to settle the matter and tell the government lawyers to move on.
|
(CNN) -- President Obama stepped into office with big approval ratings met with high expectations as he faces a deteriorating economic situation, an unpopular war in Iraq and the Middle East conflict.
The economy has been the main focus of the first week of President Obama's presidency.
In his first week, Obama has focused on the economy, but he's also addressed other campaign promises.
Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst, describes Obama's first week as a "neat balancing act."
As Obama signs executive orders signaling a clear change of direction, he's also working hard to get bipartisan support for his economic stimulus, Schneider said.
"Mr. Obama doesn't have to do that. He could get a stimulus bill passed almost entirely with Democratic votes. But Obama doesn't want to be yet another president who divides the country," he said.
The president has been working the phones with his party and made an unusual trip to Capitol Hill to meet with the opposing party to rally support for his $825 billion economic aid package.
Following a meeting Tuesday with GOP congressman, Obama said he respects the "legitimate philosophical differences" between Democrats and Republicans on how to stimulate the economy.
"I don't expect 100 percent agreement," he said. "But I hope we can put politics aside." Watch more on Obama's economic push »
Throughout the election season, Obama campaigned on his plan to restore economic equilibrium, and in his first public remarks after winning the election, he vowed to "confront this economic crisis head-on."
Obama faces his first test with Congress on Wednesday when the House of Representatives votes on his economic recovery plan. The president has said he hopes to have the plan passed by Congress and on his desk for signing by mid-February.
Obama also has wasted no time in putting his military and diplomatic agendas into action.
In his first week, he already promised to send as many as 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan to boost the U.S. presence on the ground and increase development and reconstruction assistance.
Seeking to demonstrate the Obama administration's early commitment to the country, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met last week with Afghan women legal professionals who were in Washington on a State Department training program on justice reform in Afghanistan.
Obama also has pledged to crack down on militants in neighboring Pakistan.
During the campaign season, Obama received a lot of criticism for saying that if it were necessary to root out terrorists, he would send U.S. forces into Pakistan without the country's approval.
The president has called Afghanistan and Pakistan the "central front in our enduring struggle against terrorism and extremism," and Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that missile strikes in Pakistan will continue to root out al Qaeda members.
"Let me just say, both President Bush and President Obama have made clear that we will go after al Qaeda wherever al Qaeda is. And we will continue to pursue this," Gates said.
As Obama seeks to stabilize the region, his administration has been advocating multilateralism and stressing "smart power" diplomacy by using all the tools of foreign policy available.
Obama dispatched newly appointed Middle East envoy George Mitchell to the region and tapped diplomatic heavyweight Richard Holbrooke as his special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Obama also gave his first formal interview as president to Al-Arabiya, an Arab news channel, sending a message to the region that he wants a dialogue.
"My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy," Obama told the Dubai-based satellite television network. "We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect." Watch how Obama is reaching out to Muslims »
During his run for the White House, Obama pledged to improve ties with the Muslim world, draw down U.S. troops in Iraq and close the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Two days after his inauguration, Obama issued an executive order to close the camp within a year. Another order formally bans torture by requiring that the Army Field Manual
|
[
"What was the cost of the economic stimulus plan?",
"What is the value of the stimulus plan",
"What is the new administration advocating?",
"With which news channel did Obama grant his first formal interview?",
"Which camp did Obama order closed"
] |
[
"$825 billion",
"$825 billion",
"multilateralism and stressing \"smart power\" diplomacy",
"CNN's",
"Guantanamo Bay,"
] |
question: What was the cost of the economic stimulus plan?, answer: $825 billion | question: What is the value of the stimulus plan, answer: $825 billion | question: What is the new administration advocating?, answer: multilateralism and stressing "smart power" diplomacy | question: With which news channel did Obama grant his first formal interview?, answer: CNN's | question: Which camp did Obama order closed, answer: Guantanamo Bay,
|
(CNN) -- President Obama takes his first foreign trip Thursday, but domestic politics will loom large as he tackles the explosive issue of protectionism in a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the leader of the United States' largest trade partner.
Trade will be a major issue when President Obama visits Canada beginning Thursday.
At issue is a controversial so-called "Buy American" provision requiring the use of U.S.-produced iron, steel, and other manufactured goods in public works projects funded by the $787 billion economic stimulus bill.
Several Democratic-leaning unions and domestic steel and iron producers favor the provision; a large number of business and trade organizations are opposed.
Administration officials altered the language in the final version of the stimulus bill to ensure that the provision will not trump existing trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA. Canadian companies will therefore still have the chance to sell products used in stimulus-funded projects.
Canadian government officials, however, are still concerned by what they perceive as rising protectionist sentiment in the United States that could potentially spark a trade war and, in their opinion, deepen the global economic crisis.
Canada has been hit hard by the global downturn. The country's critical manufacturing-based sales dropped 8 percent in December, reflecting roughly equal decreases in both volume and price, according to Statistics Canada, an agency charged with tracking key economic data for officials in Ottawa.
In a recent letter to U.S. Senate leaders, Canada's ambassador to the United States warned that the U.S. was losing the moral authority to pressure other nations not to erect their own trade barriers.
"A rush to protectionist actions could create a downward spiral like the world experienced in the 1930s," wrote Ambassador Michael Wilson. "In the end we got into this economic crisis together. We need to work together to build ourselves out of it."
Some Canadian leaders also cite unresolved concerns over what they perceive to be vague and potentially harmful language in the "Buy American" provision.
Specifically, they are questioning whether NAFTA and World Trade Organization rules will apply to state and city governments receiving stimulus money for local infrastructure projects.
They also cite uncertainty over what rules of origin apply to projects covered under the stimulus bill. A number of components in Canadian products come from countries such as China and India, which are effectively excluded by the "Buy American" provision.
"This is no merely technical question; different parts of many products come from different places, and intricately entwined supply chains could be seriously disturbed if they have to be disentangled, to the detriment of both the U.S. and Canada," the Toronto-based Globe and Mail newspaper editorialized Tuesday.
"Such questions cannot wait for judgments in trade litigation," the Globe and Mail argued. "Canadian governments and businesses ... have to be ready for a long series of many minor battles."
Obama stumbled over Canadian trade issues during last year's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Shortly before the Ohio primary in March, he was extremely critical of NAFTA. Many Rust Belt voters believe the accord has cost countless jobs by accelerating the erosion of the U.S. industrial base.
During a debate with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama agreed that the United States should abandon the treaty if it could not be renegotiated. It was later revealed that one of Obama's economic advisers, Austan Goolsbee, had met with officials at Canada's Chicago, Illinois, consulate and allegedly assured them that Obama's trade rhetoric was more a function of politics than any deeply held policy position.
|
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"What is the big issue referring to?",
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"Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper,"
] |
question: What is the big issue referring to?, answer: of protectionism in | question: who was he meeting?, answer: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, | question: where was he going, answer: Canada | question: Does this interfere with NAFTA?, answer: will not trump existing trade agreements such as | question: What are Canadian officials worried about?, answer: they perceive as rising protectionist sentiment in the United States that could potentially spark a trade war and, in their opinion, deepen the global economic crisis. | question: Who is President Obama meeting in Canada?, answer: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
|
(CNN) -- President Obama told West Point graduates that the United States faces "difficult days ahead" in its fight against insurgents in Afghanistan and said that the threat posed by al Qaeda operatives across the globe "will not go away soon."
Speaking at the U.S. Military Academy commencement in New York, Obama praised the graduates for their achievements and laid out a scenario of military and societal challenges in what is the ninth West Point commencement during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the fight against international terrorism.
"This time of war began in Afghanistan, a place that may seem as far from this peaceful bend in the Hudson River as anywhere on Earth," Obama said, referring to a conflict that started after the al Qaeda terror network attacked the United States on September 11, 2001.
"The war began only because our own cities and civilians were attacked by violent extremists who plotted from that distant place, and it continues only because that plotting persists to this day."
While the United States and its allies battled in Afghanistan, the U.S. military launched an invasion of Iraq in 2003, toppling the Saddam Hussein regime and battling insurgents for years until that war began to wind down in the last couple of years. But the Afghan conflict persists as the United States and its allies battle tenacious militants from the Taliban militant movement.
Obama said as the Iraq war ends, America is "pressing forward in Afghanistan" and faces a "tough fight" against a nimble insurgency.
"From Marja to Kandahar, that is what the Taliban has done through assassination, indiscriminate killing and intimidation," Obama said, referring to the main militant and two southern Afghan battlegrounds. "And any country that has known decades of war will be tested in finding political solutions to its problems, and providing governance that can sustain progress and serve the needs of its people. "
Obama said that even though the nature of the war has changed in the past nine years, it remains just as important as it was after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. He said the United States has helped bring hope and sovereign government to Afghanistan, but "there will be difficult days ahead."
"We toppled the Taliban regime; now we must break the momentum of a Taliban insurgency and train Afghan security forces," he said. "We will adapt, we will persist, and I have no doubt that together with our Afghan and international partners, we will succeed in Afghanistan."
As for al Qaeda's activities, Obama defended the "campaign to disrupt, dismantle and to defeat al Qaeda," saying it's an "international effort that is necessary and just."
While he said there has been "more success in eliminating al Qaeda leaders in recent months than in recent years," the group will continue its recruitment efforts.
"We see that in bombs that go off in Kabul and Karachi. We see it in attempts to blow up an airliner over Detroit or an SUV in Times Square, even as these failed attacks show that pressure on networks like al Qaeda is forcing them to rely on terrorists with less time and space to train," he said. "We see it in al Qaeda's gross distortion of Islam, their disrespect for human life, and their attempts to prey upon fear and hatred and prejudice."
Obama dismissed al Qaeda and its affiliates as "small men on the wrong side of history," but acknowledged that the threat they pose "will not go away soon."
"This is a different kind of war," he said. "There will be no simple moment of surrender to mark the journey's end. No armistice or banner headline."
The president said America's "strength and resilience" will counter people attempting to sow fear.
"Terrorists want to scare us," he said, but "New Yorkers go about their lives unafraid. Extremists want a war between America and Islam, but Muslims are a part of our national life, including those who serve in our Army. Adversaries want to divide us, but
|
[
"What is Obama's challenge for Afghanistan?",
"Where will the US succeed?",
"Where did Obama speak?",
"West point had a guest speaker of whom?"
] |
[
"providing governance that can sustain progress and serve the needs of its people.",
"Afghanistan.\"",
"West Point",
"President"
] |
question: What is Obama's challenge for Afghanistan?, answer: providing governance that can sustain progress and serve the needs of its people. | question: Where will the US succeed?, answer: Afghanistan." | question: Where did Obama speak?, answer: West Point | question: West point had a guest speaker of whom?, answer: President
|
(CNN) -- President Obama took his renewed jobs push beyond the Washington beltway again Tuesday, heading to the politically critical state of New Hampshire for a town hall meeting.
The president used the event to spotlight his call for a $30 billion investment in a new small-business lending fund.
Obama's initiative would recycle $30 billion of the remaining Troubled Asset Relief Program funds into a government lending program offering cheap capital to community banks that boost their small-business lending this year.
This measure will help ensure "small businesses are once again the engine of job growth in America," Obama said in the city of Nashua. It's "absolutely critical that Congress acts" to help pass this and other job creation legislation.
While credit conditions for large businesses have improved over the past year, small companies are still widely reporting problems finding the capital they need to fund their operations.
Since small businesses employ about half of American workers, policymakers worry that the ongoing credit crunch they face is contributing to the nation's high rate of job losses.
Under Obama's plan, banks with assets of less than $10 billion would be able to borrow money from the Treasury at a dividend rate as low as 1 percent if they use the cash to make more small-business loans this year than they did in 2009.
Obama's visit to New Hampshire, several political analysts said, was part of the White House's ongoing effort to recapture sorely needed political momentum. The state, which is home to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, is considered in many ways to be a political bellwether for an administration struggling to maintain the support of independent voters.
More than 40 percent of the state's voters were registered as independents as of last November, according to the New Hampshire secretary of state's office.
Obama easily carried the state in the 2008 general election, but a slight plurality of New Hampshire voters disapproved of his job performance in a December 2009 American Research Group survey.
Tuesday's trip was Obama's second visit to New Hampshire since becoming president. While the town hall participants gave his small-business proposal a warm reception, they also raised questions about a series of other issues, including education, energy independence, government transparency and health care reform.
"We're in the red zone. We've got to punch it through," Obama said about the stalled health care legislation. "I do not quit. We are going to get that done." Obama said supporters of the legislation "have to move methodically and [ensure] the American people understand exactly what's in the bill."
Efforts to pass a comprehensive reform bill have been frozen since Massachusetts GOP Sen.-elect Scott Brown won the seat previously held by Ted Kennedy, who died last August. Brown's victory stripped Democrats of their 60-seat Senate supermajority and gave Republicans enough votes to block most bills.
CNN's Catherine Clifford and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report.
|
[
"What would be lent to community banks?",
"Who carried New Hampshire in the 2008 election?",
"What would the TARP money do?",
"What state did Obama carry in 2008?",
"Who gave a warm reception to the plan?"
] |
[
"$30 billion of the remaining Troubled Asset Relief Program funds",
"Obama",
"a government lending program offering cheap capital to community banks",
"New Hampshire",
"town hall participants"
] |
question: What would be lent to community banks?, answer: $30 billion of the remaining Troubled Asset Relief Program funds | question: Who carried New Hampshire in the 2008 election?, answer: Obama | question: What would the TARP money do?, answer: a government lending program offering cheap capital to community banks | question: What state did Obama carry in 2008?, answer: New Hampshire | question: Who gave a warm reception to the plan?, answer: town hall participants
|
(CNN) -- President Obama visits Mexico with many issues on the table, but reinstating the ban on assault weapons in the U.S. isn't likely to be one on which the two countries can reach agreement.
Mexican federal police officers this week display an arsenal seized near the U.S. border.
Mexican officials say criminals use assault weapons from the U.S. in the violent border region.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's ambassador to the U.S., say reinstating the ban would stop the deadly flow of weapons across the border.
Under the Clinton administration in 1994, Congress banned possession of 19 military-style assault weapons. The ban was allowed to expire 10 years later during the Bush administration.
Earlier this year, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said that Obama would like to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons, noting, "I think that will have a positive impact in Mexico at a minimum." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last month that as a senator, she supported a measure to reinstate it.
And the urban policy section of the White House Web site says Obama and Vice President Joe Biden "support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent."
Obama still supports reinstating the ban, as he did during the presidential campaign, but there are no plans to reintroduce it anytime soon, according to an administration official.
Obama thinks more can be done to stop the illegal flow of weapons to Mexico within existing laws, the official said, noting that the president has taken steps to deploy more law enforcement to curb the illegal flows of drugs, weapons and cash in both directions across the border.
The administration is unaware of any broad-based efforts in Congress to reinstate the ban, the official said.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told CBS on Thursday that reinstating the ban "simply is not part of the plan that we're talking about here." Watch what Napolitano says about drug violence »
The Obama administration says the U.S. shares responsibility for the situation in Mexico, but as far as the ban goes, "there's a lot on our plate," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. Watch what's on the table for Obama's trip to Mexico »
Gun rights advocates stress that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to own firearms without restriction. Gun control supporters interpret the amendment to mean that states shall keep militias but that an individual's right to own firearms may be restricted.
Those who support the assault weapons ban as a way to curb violence cite figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that say American gun sellers supply the Mexican drug cartels with 95 percent to 100 percent of their guns.
But others say that claim cannot be substantiated -- and argue that less that 20 percent of weapons used in crimes in Mexico are traced to the U.S.
Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the National Rifle Association of America, says U.S. rights are not the cause of Mexico's wrongs.
In a commentary on CNN.com, LaPierre wrote that to believe U.S. freedoms are fueling the violence "you have to believe these butchers and beheaders break every Mexican law they want except Mexican gun laws, which they honor -- while they break American gun laws."
"Everything Mexico's murderous thugs are doing is already illegal. At issue is not the absence of law, but the absence of political will to enforce the laws that both nations already possess," he wrote.
On the other side, however, there are those who say loopholes in America's gun laws fuel violence in both Mexico and the United States.
"We need to realize that the Mexican drug cartels are arming themselves here because our gun laws have loopholes so large that criminals and gun traffickers can easily drive gun-laden trucks through them," former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, wrote in a commentary for CNN.com.
"We need to prevent Mexican criminals and the traffickers who supply them from buying guns by changing our gun laws and strengthening U.S. law
|
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question: Which US ban could curtail flow of weapons into Mexico?, answer: on assault | question: what did the officials say, answer: criminals use assault weapons from the U.S. in the violent border region. | question: When was the ban originally instituted?, answer: 1994, | question: what did mexico say, answer: criminals use assault weapons from the U.S. in the violent border region. | question: Who has no immediate plans to reinstate ban?, answer: Obama | question: what weapons are banned?, answer: assault | question: when was the ban, answer: Under the Clinton administration in 1994, | question: When was the ban instituted?, answer: 1994, | question: who will obama meet, answer: Mexican President Felipe Calderon | question: who banned assault weapons?, answer: Congress | question: What may the U.S. do with assault weapons?, answer: reinstating the ban on
|
(CNN) -- President Obama will deliver a eulogy on Sunday for the 29 workers killed in a mine explosion in West Virginia.
Before the service in Beckley, the president and Vice President Joe Biden will meet privately with the miners' relatives.
"All the hard work. All the hardship. All the time spent underground. It was all for their families. For a car in the driveway. For a roof overhead. For a chance to give their kids opportunities they never knew; and enjoy retirement with their wives," Obama will say in his eulogy, according to excerpts that the White House made available.
"It was all in the hopes of something better. These miners lived -- as they died -- in pursuit of the American dream."
The April 5 blast at the Upper Big Branch Mine was the worst U.S. mine disaster since 1972, when 91 miners died in a fire at the Sunshine Mine in Kellogg, Idaho.
Obama ordered a review, saying the mine explosion was due in part to failures by both the management and loopholes in existing laws and regulations.
"We cannot bring back the men we lost. What we can do, in their memory, is thoroughly investigate this tragedy and demand accountability," the president said soon after the explosion.
Obama called Massey Energy Co., the coal producer that owns the mine, a "safety violator" and described the safety record at the mine as "troubled."
Massey Energy later called Obama's criticism "regrettable" and defended its safety record. "We fear that the president has been misinformed about our record and the mining industry in general," the company said.
|
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question: When did the blast happen?, answer: April 5 | question: What has Obama called for?, answer: a review, | question: When did the tragedy happen, answer: April 5 | question: Who has ordered a review into the cause of the explosion, answer: Obama | question: Where did the mine blast occur?, answer: West Virginia. | question: What killed the West Virginia miners, answer: mine explosion | question: What is President Obama attending?, answer: service in Beckley,
|
(CNN) -- President Obama's address to Congress was full of lofty promises to make unprecedented investments in government programs, even as he aims to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term.
President Obama on Tuesday outlined an ambitious agenda to help revive the economy.
But it takes more than a proposal to bring about real change. Will Obama be able to meet his goals?
CNN political analyst David Gergen says the answer will be "one of the greatest political dramas of our time."
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the budget Obama sends to Capitol Hill Thursday will help show how the president plans to tackle his ambitious agenda.
Here's a look at some of Obama's goals, and what experts are saying about them.
Economy
Promise: "To ensure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again, I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system."
Promise: "I held a fiscal summit where I pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of my first term in office."
Promise: "My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time, but we have already identified $2 trillion in savings over the next decade."
Analysis: Democratic strategist Lisa Caputo said so far, Obama is taking the right steps to revive the economy, but the country needs to see his plans put into action. He's already passed a massive stimulus bill, and he has a housing bill and a banking regulatory reform bill in the works.
"He's doing all the right things. Hopefully he'll come forth with a balanced budget. ... He's saying all of the right things. He's got to do them," she said.
Republican strategist and CNN contributor Ed Rollins pointed out that what Obama did was put forth proposals, not an action plan.
"This was a speech about aspirations. There was not a strategy or the details. They may come later, but it's an overly ambitious program, and if he can accomplish just the financial part of it, he'll move the country forward," he said.
The success of Obama's budget goals will fall heavily on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Rollins said.
"Can she control her members? The last two years the Congress has controlled the spending, it's been a Democrat Congress. It's still a Democrat Congress and will be for the foreseeable future. There's a lot of pet projects these people want, there's a lot of entitlements that people aren't willing to cut," he said.
Larry Winget, a personal finance expert, said he agrees with everything that Obama said needs to be done, but said he doesn't agree that the country can borrow or spend its way out of debt.
"If you came to me and said, 'I'm in a financial crisis, I've screwed up everything based on all of my bad decisions, what should I do?' the last thing in the world I would tell you is to go borrow more money or go try to spend something that -- money you don't have on something you don't need," he said.
Winget said instead, the country should work its way out of debt.
"The practical thing would be to put more money in the hands of people, which would always go back to, we need to give bigger ... tax cuts," he said.
Education
Promise: "By 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. That is a goal we can meet."
Promise: "It will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education, from the day they are born to the day they begin a career. That is a promise we have to make to the children of America.
|
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] |
[
"Promise: \"My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time, but we have already identified $2 trillion in savings over the next decade.\"",
"by the end of his first term.",
"Obama's",
"the end of his first term.",
"President"
] |
question: What goals did the president set?, answer: Promise: "My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs. As you can imagine, this is a process that will take some time, but we have already identified $2 trillion in savings over the next decade." | question: When did Obama promise the deficit would be halved?, answer: by the end of his first term. | question: who set high goals for economy, energy, education and health care?, answer: Obama's | question: By when did Obama promise a deficit cut?, answer: the end of his first term. | question: who promises to halve the deficit by 2013?, answer: President
|
(CNN) -- President Obama's decision to grant some benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees is seen by some as his attempt to extend an olive branch to the gay and lesbian community, but critics say it's "too little, too late."
Some critics say President Obama has let the gay community down.
"It seems to me at least to be a nice gesture, but a disappointment," said Richard Kim, a senior editor at The Nation magazine.
The memorandum Obama signed Wednesday is not expected to grant health and retirement benefits to same-sex partners, as that is prohibited under the Defense of Marriage Act.
"It will absolutely be seen as something good -- but I think, for example, it not including full health insurance -- that is going to put a real microscope on that question. You know, why not?" Kim said, adding that the memo applies only to federal employees, so most people will not be affected by it.
Charles Moran, the spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans, said the lack of full benefits in Thursday's memorandum shows a lack of commitment to the gay community.
"That's the part that just shows that the Obama administration really isn't serious about their promises to the gay and lesbian community. Things like the health benefits, things like retirement benefits and coverage for spouses. These are the core issues," Moran said.
"Why start the marathon if you're not serious about ending the race?" he added.
White House officials involved in discussions with gay-rights advocates say that Obama favors extending full health care benefits to same-sex couples but that will take legislation to accomplish.
Moran said Obama has had multiple opportunities to fulfill his promises to the gay and lesbian community -- including by repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and standing against the Justice Department motion filed last week in support of the Defense of Marriage Act.
"Here we are, several months after he's been inaugurated, and we've gotten basically nothing. So it is too little, too late," Moran said.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama will keep his word.
"[Extending benefits to same-sex couples] is a matter of fairness. The president is committed to ensuring that fairness as well as working on and fulfilling other promises that he has made in the campaign around things like 'don't ask, don't tell,' " Gibbs said.
The president has faced sharp criticism over the Justice Department's filing in support of the Defense of Marriage Act, which opposes same-sex marriage. The act used the government's interest in opposing incestuous marriages to support its position against same-sex marriage.
Openly gay Rep. Barney Frank said the Obama administration made a "big mistake" and is calling on the president to clearly explain his views on the matter.
"The wording they used was inappropriate," the Massachusetts Democrat told the Boston Herald in an interview published in the paper's Wednesday edition.
Many gay activists have called on Frank and other gay members of Congress to speak out against the recent Department of Justice brief.
The rancor threatens to disrupt a big Democratic National Committee gay fundraiser in Washington next week.
Vice President Biden is the guest at next Thursday's DNC's LBGT Leadership Council 10th Annual Dinner in Washington. Critics are calling for Frank and other gay congressional leaders to boycott the dinner, for which tickets go for $1,000 to $30,000 a plate.
Activist David Mixner and blogger Andy Towle, two well-known gay rights advocates, announced that they were pulling out, citing disappointment with the Defense of Marriage Act brief. iReport.com: Share your thoughts on Obama and same-sex marriage
The president also rankled gay advocates before his inauguration when he named megachurch pastor the Rev. Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his swearing-in. Warren, in an interview with Belief.net, likened homosexuality to bestiality and incest. He also supported California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in
|
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question: Which benefits where not extended to same sex partners, answer: health and retirement | question: What does Obama favour?, answer: extending full health care benefits to same-sex couples | question: What does Kim say?, answer: "It seems to me at least to be a nice gesture, but a disappointment," | question: Is legislation needed?, answer: that will take | question: what does white house offical say Obama favours, answer: extending full health care benefits to same-sex couples | question: The editor of the Nations said what, answer: "It seems to me at least to be a nice gesture, but a disappointment,"
|
(CNN) -- President Obama's economic stimulus plan cleared its first hurdle, but it was hardly the bipartisan victory he hoped for -- not a single House Republican broke ranks to support it.
The stimulus bill now moves to the Senate, where GOP members want less spending and more tax cuts.
In fact, 11 Democrats also voted against the $819 billion package.
But a win is a win, and so the White House strategy is to take the long view: Maybe the Senate will take out more of the controversial pork projects and tweak the tax cuts to win over more Republicans.
The full Senate will vote on its version next week. Should the Senate and House pass different versions, the two bills would have to be conferenced together. Then both chambers would have to vote on the new conference version in the coming weeks. Watch what's next for the stimulus »
"I do think it is so important that we slow this bill down in order to do it right," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.
Senate GOP sources report that there is a "real split" in the GOP caucus about the best way to proceed in the wake of Wednesday's vote in the House.
The sources say Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, wants a "smaller, narrower" bill. Another group of Republicans including Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is working to craft a larger package that would include more infrastructure spending.
Generally, the sources say, the party is looking for more concessions from the White House on spending.
The Senate has already made some changes in its version of the bill, which is approaching $900 billion.
The Senate Finance Committee added about $70 billion to fix the Alternative Minimum Tax, which was intended to place a tax on the wealthy but now hits many middle class families.
The Senate bill adds more direct money for seniors, with a plan to send $300 checks to social security recipients and disabled veterans. Smaller changes in the Senate version include $108 million to extend worker retraining programs and a provision to block any taxes on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits.
Aides say housing relief is also going to be a big issue for some Republican senators. The main concerns are similar to those of their House counterparts. They want more tax cuts and less spending.
"We look forward to offering amendments to improve this critical legislation and move it back to the package President Obama originally proposed -- 40 percent tax relief, no wasteful spending and a bipartisan approach," McConnell said.
Obama has made it clear that he's not willing to budge on some of the big ticket items, like how the tax cuts are structured.
The version passed in the House is two-thirds spending and one-third tax cuts.
Much of the $550 billion in spending is divided among these areas: $142 billion for education, $111 billion for health care, $90 billion for infrastructure, $72 billion for aid and benefits, $54 billion for energy, $16 billion for science and technology and $13 billion for housing.
Those opposed to the bill say it includes too much wasteful spending, pointing to things like $335 million in funding for education on sexually transmitted diseases and $650 million for digital TV coupons. Watch why some say there's too much pork »
A growing number of Republicans and Democrats say measures such as those don't create jobs.
The Democratic rationale is that healthier Americans will be more productive. And on the millions for digital television coupons, the hope is that money will go to new call centers explaining how the technology works.
"There's something in there for literally every interest. It's a pent-up wish list of spending programs that many around here have wanted to implement for a really long time," said Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota.
Congressional leaders did drop some of the controversial provisions, like one that provided $200 million worth of contraceptives to low-income families
|
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question: Who wants more tax cuts and less spending?, answer: GOP members | question: What party did not support the stimulus bill?, answer: Republican | question: Who did not support the stimulus bill?, answer: House Republican | question: What passed in the House?, answer: Obama's economic stimulus plan | question: What exactly do GOP senators want?, answer: less spending and more tax cuts. | question: What are some of these "big ticket items" Obama refers to?, answer: how the tax cuts are structured. | question: Who has made a push for bipartisan support?, answer: President Obama | question: What did GOP senators want more of?, answer: tax cuts. | question: What do GOP senators want?, answer: less spending and more tax cuts.
|
(CNN) -- President Obama's foreign policy agenda may have "run out of steam" and he must now take risks and provide effective leadership, former U.S. National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski said Friday.
In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Brzezinski said Obama's foreign policy agenda is suffering from gridlock in Washington.
"I have the feeling that because of domestic problems, he has run out of steam, and I don't know really how determined he is to resume what he started doing so well, which is to engage the world constructively," Brzezinski said.
Brzezinski, who is now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the only way to break the stalemate is for Obama to take the lead.
The president can show leadership, he said, by "persuasively going to the country directly, mobilizing the support, taking on some difficult foreign challenge, and prevailing."
Brzezinski cited Iran as an example of key challenges Obama ought to tackle.
Obama should not "abandon it prematurely," he said, noting the complexities of the internal Iranian situation could give the United States "room for maneuver, and perhaps some basis for expecting an eventual partial accommodation."
Brzezinski also cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key challenge because it "revolutionizes, radicalizes the Middle East, and maximizes the number of enemies the United States has."
Asked how he would grade the Obama administration's performance on Iran and the Middle East, he said, "Well, rhetorically, A; in terms of performance, B, B-minus."
Despite the United States' foreign policy problems, Brzezinski said, the nation has the resources to deal with new global security threats in cyberspace, outer space and on the high seas.
Brzezinski also commented on the newly published 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, a legislatively mandated review of the U.S. Department of Defense strategy and priorities.
The review is meant "to assess the threats and challenges that the nation faces," and to "rebalance the department's strategies, capabilities and forces to address today's conflicts and tomorrow's threats," according to the Department of Defense.
Brzezinski warned even though the United States has highly sophisticated technology, it also has to be effective in global diplomacy, adding, "We have neglected that in the course of the last decade."
"I think we have to redefine the nature of the enemy," Brzezinski said, "the global security context in which we find ourselves is now fundamentally different."
Brzezinski, national security adviser during the Carter administration between 1977 and 1981, noted how the new threats differ from those of the Cold War.
"When I was in the White House, the threat was concentrated and very lethal," he said. "You know, the Soviet Union, in case of a central war with the United States, could kill roughly 80 million Americans in six hours."
Today, Brzezinski said, the United States has "a lot of threats, ranging from terrorists to rogue states to unpredictable events. And that makes the defense issue more complex, even though it is somewhat rather less lethal."
He cited the example of cyberattacks.
"Are these hackers, for example, from China working for the Chinese government or are they working for some private business? What are their motives?"
He said it is vital for the United States to have the capability not only to stop hacking, but to retaliate as well.
|
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"Iran"
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question: what can stop stalemate, answer: is for Obama to take the lead. | question: what is given an A, answer: the Obama administration's performance on Iran and the Middle East, | question: who is brzezinski, answer: former U.S. National Security Adviser | question: what should obama tackle, answer: Iran
|
(CNN) -- President Obama's friendly interactions with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has set off a wave of controversy, but analysts said the leaders' next steps will show if relations have truly improved or if Obama was overstepping boundaries.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez presents a book to President Obama at the Summit of the Americas.
Chavez and Obama were both at the Summit of the Americas, which ended Sunday in Trinidad and Tobago.
On the first day, Obama reached out his hand to Chavez and was seen smiling and patting the Venezuelan leader on the shoulder as the two shook hands.
"With this same hand I greeted Bush eight years ago, I want to be your friend," Chavez said, his office reported.
On the second day, as cameras jockeyed for position, Chavez got up and gave Obama a book, "The Open Veins of Latin America," which documents centuries of American abuse in the region. After the exchange, the book skyrocketed to become one of Amazon's best-sellers.
Obama joked about the move at a news conference Sunday, saying while he had meetings with all the leaders involved, "I think it's just that President Chavez is better at positioning the cameras."
"And in all these conversations, here's what I emphasized, that we're not going to agree on every issue, but that, as long as we are respectful of democratic processes, as long as we're respectful of principles of sovereignty for all nations, that we can find areas where we can work in common," he said.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela grew progressively worse under the presidencies of Chavez and George W. Bush.
Chavez -- whose anti-U.S. rhetoric has included calling Bush the "devil" -- announced Saturday he is considering naming an ambassador to the United States, signaling a potential shift in the tense relations between the two nations.
Chavez expelled the American ambassador in September, prompting the United States to expel Venezuela's ambassador.
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, told CNN on Sunday it was "irresponsible" for Obama to have been seen "laughing and joking" with Chavez.
"This is a person who is one of the most anti-American leaders in the entire world," Ensign said on "State of the Union." "He is a brutal dictator, and human rights violations are very, very prevalent in Venezuela. And you have to be careful." Watch criticism of the meeting »
Republican Newt Gingrich joined the criticism Monday, saying enemies of the United States will use Obama's friendly encounter with Chavez as propaganda.
"Everywhere in Latin America, enemies of America are going to use the picture of Chavez smiling and being with the president as proof that Chavez is now legitimate, that he is acceptable," the former House leader said on NBC's "Today" show.
But Democrats such as Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota downplayed the moment, saying, "All the president did was shake his hand like George Bush [did]."
Obama's senior adviser said Sunday the administration isn't worried about how the gesture is perceived.
"I'm not concerned about the message that it sends. I'm concerned about what flows from it. Words and handshakes are nice, but they're not enough," David Axelrod said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Stephen Hayes, a CNN contributor and writer for the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard, said it's not the handshake that irks Republicans but that Obama "seemed to actually be enjoying it."
"Conservatives at least were looking for something from the president who would have said, 'Hey, enough is enough, we want to go forward. We want to put the arguments of the past in the past, but you've got to own up to the arguments you've made,' " Hayes said Monday on CNN.
Jennifer McCoy, director of the Carter Center's Americas Program, said Obama was trying to send a message that he wants to start a new beginning with Latin America.
"
|
[
"Who shouldn't seem too friendly?",
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"what was irresponsible?",
"who shook hands at summit?"
] |
[
"President Obama",
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"for Obama to have been seen \"laughing and joking\" with Chavez.",
"Obama"
] |
question: Who shouldn't seem too friendly?, answer: President Obama | question: What does Obama say?, answer: "I think it's just that President Chavez is better at positioning the cameras." | question: what was irresponsible?, answer: for Obama to have been seen "laughing and joking" with Chavez. | question: who shook hands at summit?, answer: Obama
|
(CNN) -- President Obama's pledge to conquer cancer "in our time" is a great goal, but one of America's top cancer experts isn't sure he'd use the word "cure."
Despite chemotherapy, some breast cancers recur, like a "smoldering fire that flares up," Dr. Otis Brawley said.
"The idea of [calling for] a cure does scare me a little bit because, I don't think that's realistic in some cancers," says Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. "But I like the general overall idea, and I'm thrilled about the focus on health."
Obama's first proposed budget includes $6 billion for cancer research by the National Institutes of Health. That's on top of the additional $10 billion provided by the stimulus package for 2009 and 2010.
But some cancer specialists say that rather than finding a cure, a more realistic scenario is that certain cancers that are fatal today will move into the realm of chronic illnesses.
By chronic disease, doctors mean "the way we think of diabetes or heart disease as chronic diseases, where people could live in peaceful coexistence with cancer, as opposed to the cancer continuing to advance," said Brawley, who also is CNNhealth.com's conditions expert.
Dr. Tony Reid, an oncologist and director of clinical trials at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, shares this view. He sees the long-term management of certain cancers as chronic illness as a "primary intermediate step" as researchers work towards cures.
Prevention efforts, including discouraging smoking, obesity, and environmental hazards, are also important components of the cure, Dr. Andreas Ullrich, medical officer in cancer control at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
How long it will actually take to cure cancer is anyone's guess, but Obama's initiative is encouraging, he said.
"We need this hope," Ullrich said. "We need to invest in our efforts in research, in basic research, and also in social science to understand why people behave in a risky way, and how to prevent people from exposing themselves to cancer risk," he said.
Given that "cancer" encompasses more than 200 diseases, it makes sense that different varieties would require different approaches for saving the lives of their victims.
From Brawley's perspective, a cure happens when the disease has gone away and it's not likely to come back, and the person is likely to grow old and die from something totally unrelated.
Reid put it in terms of years of survival -- with pancreatic cancer, which normally takes lives within six months of diagnosis, you're probably cured if you're still alive five years after surgery, he said. But breast cancer can come back even after 10 years, he said.
About 11 million people living in the United States had a history of some form of cancer as of 2005, according to the latest statistics from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database.
There has been progress, however. For American men, the risk of death for cancer is 20 percent lower than it was 20 years ago, Brawley said.
Rates of new cancer diagnoses and deaths for U.S. men and women simultaneously fell for the first time since reporting began in 1998, according to a report published in November in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. See a map of lung cancer in the U.S. from this report »
Already there are cancers that respond well to drugs for several years. Patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors tend to tolerate the drugs well, for example, Reid said.
"I have many patients who will come back and say, 'Except for the fact that you tell me I have cancer, I don't know it,' " he said.
But after a while, these patients' cancer cells mutate and evolve to become resistant to the drugs, finding ways around almost any drug, Reid said.
Some breast cancer patients take medications for 10 years to prevent
|
[
"where was the money going",
"What will happen to some cancers?",
"How much is the budget?",
"How much is included for cancer research?"
] |
[
"cancer research",
"recur,",
"additional $10 billion",
"$6 billion"
] |
question: where was the money going, answer: cancer research | question: What will happen to some cancers?, answer: recur, | question: How much is the budget?, answer: additional $10 billion | question: How much is included for cancer research?, answer: $6 billion
|
(CNN) -- President Obama's proposed spending freeze could help him recapture the favor of centrist voters, but critics blast the move as nothing more than political posturing.
The president is expected to call for a partial, three-year freeze on discretionary spending in his State of the Union address Wednesday, according to two senior administration officials. The cuts, which Obama will say would save $250 billion, would not apply to national security spending and would not affect major entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security.
The proposal comes as the president's poll numbers dip and concerns about the economy and the federal deficit flare.
It also comes after a shocking election loss for Democrats in Massachusetts, which many have interpreted as an expression of voter frustration with the way Washington is handling the economy.
"I applaud [Obama] for attempting to have some fiscal restraint," Republican strategist Ed Rollins said. "But at the end of the day, he's got to make sure the Democrats are disciplined and they don't have big spending programs alongside of this."
Under Obama's plan, all federal discretionary spending would be frozen at its current level of $447 billion per year. Individual federal agencies would have the power to give some programs increases, while cutting money elsewhere.
Both chambers of Congress would have to approve the freeze when they take up the president's budget for fiscal year 2011, which starts in October. Obama will send his budget plan to Congress after the State of the Union.
Jeffrey Sachs, an economist and director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, said Obama's move doesn't make much sense, following a year of unprecedented government spending and a $787 billion stimulus package.
"A little bit of disarray, it seems. Last year, just spend, throw everything into a stimulus package ... and then this year, just across-the-board freeze. Frankly, the government has to make better choices and better plans than throwing things into a big pot in one year and then freezing across the board the next year," he said.
Obama dismissed the idea of an across-the-board spending freeze during a presidential debate in October 2008.
"It sounds good. It's proposed periodically. It doesn't happen," then-candidate Obama said.
"In fact, an across-the-board spending freeze is a hatchet, and we do need a scalpel because there are some programs that don't work at all. There are some that are underfunded. I want to make sure we're focused on the programs that work."
Republican reaction to Obama's proposal was split, with some senior GOP aides saying it is something they could support, and others saying it did not go nearly far enough.
"Given Washington Democrats' unprecedented spending binge, this is like announcing you're going on a diet after winning a pie-eating contest," said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. "Will the budget still double the debt over five years and triple it over 10? That's the bottom line."
The senior administration officials acknowledged that discretionary spending is only about one-sixth of the entire federal budget, but said the White House believes that cuts need to start somewhere.
The move is Obama's latest step down a path to a more populist message, aimed at reassuring Americans nervous about the slow pace of the economic recovery. The president on Monday proposed nearly doubling the child care tax credit for middle-class families. Obama is expected to talk about efforts to create more jobs and spur the economy in his speech Wednesday.
iReport: Deliver your State of the Union address
The White House has put a greater emphasis on the economy in the days since Democrats lost their 60-seat supermajority in the Senate. Republican Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley in a special election last week to serve the remainder of the late Ted Kennedy's Senate term. Brown capitalized on voter frustrations and captured the independent vote in Massachusetts, a Democratic stronghold.
"I think that
|
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question: What is Obama calling for?, answer: a partial, three-year freeze on discretionary spending | question: what was cnn coverage?, answer: spending freeze | question: Who is to call for partial freeze on discretionary spending?, answer: Obama's | question: What could help put Obama back in the political center?, answer: spending freeze | question: what would help obama to get power again?, answer: spending freeze | question: What could help out Obama?, answer: proposed spending freeze
|
(CNN) -- President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and other top Democrats are heading back to school Tuesday, in hopes of convincing first-time voters from the 2008 election to vote again in 2010.
The president is scheduled to headline a Democratic party rally at the University of Wisconsin in Madison while the vice president is the main attraction at a similar event at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania.
The idea is to fire up "surge" voters and motivate them to go to the polls again in this November's midterm elections. According to national exit polls from 2008, 11 percent of people who cast ballots in the presidential contest said they were first time voters, and seven out of 10 of those new voters said they backed Obama in the election. Many of those people were young voters, and exit polls indicated that two-thirds of people age 18-29 voted for Obama.
In advance to Tuesday's rallies, the president held a conference call with college and university journalists.
"You can't sit it out. You can't suddenly just check in once every 10 years or so, on an exciting presidential election, and then not pay attention during big mid-term elections where we've got a real big choice between Democrats and Republicans," Obama said.
There's no mistake in the locations for the Obama and Biden rallies. In Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, the Democrats face tough odds in holding onto open Senate seats and governorships. Polls also indicate that Republicans have a good chance of grabbing back a bunch of House seats.
Also on the road Tuesday: Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, at a rally at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware; Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland; Labor Secretary Hilda Solis at California State University in Los Angeles; and United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.
Obama's speech at the University of Wisconsin is the first in what Democratic Party officials say will be a series of "Moving America Forward" events by the president over the next couple of weeks.
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question: What percent of voters were first timers in 2008?, answer: 11 | question: where do the democrats face tough odds, answer: Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, | question: Which states are going to be tough for democrats?, answer: Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, | question: Where is the rally being held?, answer: University of Wisconsin in Madison | question: Democrates face tought odds in where, answer: Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, | question: where will obama headline a rally, answer: University of Wisconsin in Madison | question: what percent were first timers casting ballots, answer: 11 | question: what will Obama do in Madison, answer: speech at the University of Wisconsin
|
(CNN) -- President Obama, visiting CIA headquarters Monday, defended his decision to release Bush-era memos on interrogation tactics, saying the country will ultimately be stronger as a result.
President Obama met with CIA workers and Director Leon Panetta, left, in Virginia on Monday.
The president's remarks came in the wake of criticism from a former CIA chief and others that his decision compromised national security and encouraged terrorist groups such as al Qaeda.
Obama also met with CIA Director Leon Panetta, Deputy Director Stephen Kappes and other officials, and talked to employees about the importance of the agency's mission to national security.
The president asserted that he had released the documents primarily because of the "exceptional circumstances that surrounded these memos, particularly the fact that so much of the information was [already] public. ... The covert nature of the information had been compromised." Watch Obama talk about "exceptional circumstances" »
Obama added that he ended the controversial interrogation techniques mentioned in the memos because the United States "is stronger and more secure" when it can deploy both power and the "power of our values, including the rule of law."
"What makes the United States special ... is precisely the fact that we are willing to uphold our values and our ideals even when it's hard, not just when it's easy, even when we are afraid and under threat, not just when it's expedient to do so," he said. Watch Obama talk about the importance of values »
Although abiding by the rule of law can make battling groups such as al Qaeda more difficult, he added, it is ultimately why "we'll defeat our enemies. We're on the better side of history."
Panetta, while introducing the president, promised that the CIA would abide by the president's order barring controversial enhanced interrogation techniques. He also agreed that it was possible to protect the country and its values at the same time.
Obama's visit to the CIA's Langley, Virginia, headquarters came a day after former CIA Director Michael Hayden said the decision to release the four memos undermined the work the agency is doing.
Hayden, President George W. Bush's CIA director from 2006 to 2009, said the release of the memos emboldens terrorist groups such as al Qaeda.
"What we have described for our enemies in the midst of a war are the outer limits that any American would ever go to in terms of interrogating an al Qaeda terrorist. That's very valuable information," Hayden said on "Fox News Sunday."
"By taking techniques off the table, we have made it more difficult in a whole host of circumstances I can imagine, more difficult for CIA officers to defend the nation."
He added, "if you look at what this really comprises, if you look at the documents that have been made public, it says 'top secret' at the top. The definition of top secret is information which, if revealed, would cause grave harm to U.S. security."
Obama said last week that withholding the memos "would only serve to deny facts that have been in the public domain for some time."
"This could contribute to an inaccurate accounting of the past and fuel erroneous and inflammatory assumptions about actions taken by the United States," he said in a statement.
The memos include details on terrorist suspect interrogations such as waterboarding, a technique used to simulate drowning. Obama has called the method torture.
One memo showed that CIA interrogators used waterboarding at least 266 times on two top al Qaeda suspects.
The administration also has come under criticism from human rights organizations after announcing that CIA officials would not be prosecuted for past waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics. Watch for details on the interrogation techniques »
Obama believes "that's not the place that we go," White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
"It's not a time to use our energy ... looking back [with] any sense of anger and retribution."
Attorney
|
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"Panetta,",
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question: Who thinks we can protect the country?, answer: Panetta, | question: Who is emboldening terrorist groups?, answer: release of the memos | question: Who did he tell "We're on the better side of history,"?, answer: Deputy Director Stephen Kappes and other officials, | question: What is possible to protect?, answer: the country and its values
|
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama offered an outline of his economic recovery plan Saturday, and jobs were the top priority.
President-elect Barack Obama talks about his economic plan Saturday on a video on his Web site.
American workers will rebuild the nation's roads and bridges, modernize its schools and create more sources of alternative energy, Obama said in the weekly Democratic address, posted on his Web site.
"The plan will mean 2.5 million more jobs" by 2011, Obama said. His Web site clarified that the plan would "save or create" that many jobs.
"These aren't just steps to pull ourselves out of this immediate crisis," he said. "These are the long-term investments in our economic future that have been ignored for far too long."
Details of the plan are still being worked out by his economic team, Obama said, but he hopes to implement the plan shortly after taking office January 20. Listen to Obama's economic plan »
He referred to figures out this week showing that new home purchases in October were the lowest in 50 years and that 540,000 new unemployment claims had been filed, the most in 16 years. iReport.com: How are you making yourself layoff-proof?
"We must do more to put people back to work and get our economy moving again," he said. More than a million jobs have been lost this year, he said, and "if we don't act swiftly and boldly, most experts now believe that we could lose millions of jobs next year."
The plan will be aimed at jump-starting job creation, Obama said, and laying the foundation for a stronger economy.
"We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges; modernizing schools that are failing our children; and building wind farms and solar panels, fuel-efficient cars and the alternative energy technology that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years head," he said.
He noted that he will need support from both Democrats and Republicans to pass such a plan and said he welcomes suggestions from both sides of the aisle.
"But what is not negotiable is the need for immediate action," he said. "Right now, there are millions of mothers and fathers who are lying awake at night wondering if next week's paycheck will cover next month's bills.
"There are Americans showing up to work in the morning, only to have cleared out their desks by the afternoon. Retirees are watching their life savings disappear, and students are seeing their college dreams deferred. These Americans need help, and they need it now."
Throughout history, he said, Americans have been able to rise above their divisions to work together, he said.
"That is the chance our new beginning now offers us, and that is the challenge we must rise to in the days to come," Obama said. "It is time to act. As the next president of the United States, I will."
|
[
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"What is the savings plan?"
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"Democrats",
"2.5",
"2.5 million more jobs\" by 2011,"
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question: Republicans and and who will need to work together?, answer: Democrats | question: Plan would save or create how many million jobs?, answer: 2.5 | question: What is the savings plan?, answer: 2.5 million more jobs" by 2011,
|
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama spoke with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Saturday about the violence in Gaza, which has left as many as 225 people dead, two transition aides told CNN.
Barack Obama's approach to the Middle East as president will be the subject of much scrutiny.
"The president-elect appreciated the call and the information from Secretary Rice," one aide said, adding that Obama initiated the eight-minute phone call. "He will continue to closely monitor these and other global events."
Israeli airstrikes pounded targets in Hamas-ruled Gaza on Saturday and continued into the night, retaliating against Palestinian militants who have been escalating rocket attacks against southern Israel. The fighting ignited eight days after a six-month Egypt-brokered cease-fire between Hamas and Israel expired.
Obama has pledged to make Middle East peace a priority from the beginning of his presidency. Arabs are calling for a more even-handed approach than the Bush administration, but Israel is expecting Obama to stay true to the pro-Israel posture he showed during the campaign.
But one analyst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cautioned against putting "dangerously high" expectations on the incoming administration.
"I think the tone of American politics will change: You're going to get a serious effort on behalf of the new administration," said Aaron David Miller, a public policy scholar at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Center and a former adviser to six secretaries of state on Arab-Israeli relations.
But, he told CNN, "the fact is that unless the Israelis and Palestinians are prepared -- which they're not right now -- to take the political decisions required to overcome the gaps and to sell an agreement to their respective constituents, there's not much a new president, no matter how bold or charismatic he may be, is going to be able to do about that."
CNN's Ed Henry contributed to this report.
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question: Are Middle East events being closely monitored?, answer: "He will continue to closely monitor these and other global events." | question: What has Obama promised to make a priority?, answer: Obama has pledged to make Middle East peace a priority | question: Who promised to make peace in the region a priority?, answer: Obama | question: How long was the phone call?, answer: eight-minute | question: How long was Obama's call?, answer: eight-minute | question: What did Obama say?, answer: "He will continue to closely monitor these and other global events." | question: What will Obama closely monitor?, answer: these and other global events." | question: What has he promised to do?, answer: make Middle East peace a priority from the beginning of his presidency.
|
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama visited military personnel and their families enjoying Christmas dinner at a Marine Corps base in Hawaii Thursday during his holiday vacation.
President-elect Obama shakes hands with troops having Christmas dinner at a military base in Hawaii.
Obama went to Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay on Oahu where he mingled with Marines and sailors. Obama and the troops also had a traditional dinner including turkey, roast beef, ham and trimmings.
Obama, dressed casually in a blue polo shirt and dark khaki trousers, chatted casually, shook hands and posed for photos with men and women in the dining hall, which had been decorated with Christmas trees and Santa figurines.
Shortly before Obama entered the room, a Marine shouted to the crowd scattered across 25 tables, "You need to take you seats, the president-elect is going to be coming."
Obama, who spent about an hour at the Marine base, worked his way around the room, table by table.
"Just wanted to say, 'Hi, hey guys,'" Obama said at one point while reporters were allowed in the room.
"Hey guys, Merry Christmas," he said to another group.
Obama also highlighted the service of the country's military men and women now overseas in a holiday message to be broadcast on radio this Saturday.
"As we celebrate this joyous time of year, our thoughts turn to the brave men and women who serve our country far from home," he said in the message, which was posted online Wednesday.
"Their extraordinary and selfless sacrifice is an inspiration to us all, and part of the unbroken line of heroism that has made our freedom and prosperity possible for over two centuries." Watch Obama's holiday message »
More than 140,000 soldiers are currently serving in Iraq, as well as roughly 30,000 in Afghanistan.
In the broadcast message, Obama also called on Americans to "renew a sense of common purpose and shared citizenship."
"These are also tough times for many Americans struggling in our sluggish economy," he said.
"Now, more than ever, we must rededicate ourselves to the notion that we share a common destiny as Americans -- that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. ... We must all do our part to serve one another; to seek new ideas and new innovation; and to start a new chapter for our great country."
Obama said that notion "will guide my administration in the New Year. If the American people come together and put their shoulder to the wheel of history, then I know that we can put our people back to work ... and reach the promise of a brighter day."
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question: What does obama call on americans to do, answer: "renew a sense of common purpose and shared citizenship." | question: What does Obama call for?, answer: Americans to "renew a sense of common purpose and shared citizenship." | question: What did Obama praise?, answer: country's military | question: Who did President-elect Barack Obama mingle with, answer: military personnel and their families | question: What did Obama do?, answer: dinner at a Marine Corps base in Hawaii | question: What did Obama call on Americans to do?, answer: "renew a sense of common purpose and shared citizenship." | question: Who mingles with troops?, answer: Barack Obama
|
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama's transition team announced several key appointments to his communications team Saturday.
Robert Gibbs will have one of the most highly visible roles in the Obama administration.
Robert Gibbs, an Obama campaign spokesman who also has acted as spokesman for the transition, will become Obama's press secretary, one of the most highly visible roles in the administration.
Gibbs, an Auburn, Alabama, native who has worked for Sen. Fritz Hollings, the Democratic Senatorial Committee and Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, was communications director and then a senior strategist for the Obama campaign.
Ellen Moran, executive director of EMILY's List, will serve as Obama's communications director.
Moran worked for the AFL-CIO, coordinating "Wal-Mart corporate accountability activities," before returning to EMILY's, an organization dedicated to helping Democratic women get elected to office. It had endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for president. See who's on Obama's short list for cabinet posts »
Dan Pfeiffer, current communications director with the transition team, will be Obama's deputy communications director. He began work with the Obama campaign in January 2007 as traveling press secretary before returning to Chicago, Illinois, to work as communications director.
Unlike Gibbs and Pfeiffer, Moran is not already on Obama's communications team.
"These individuals will fill essential roles, and bring a breadth and depth of experience that can help our administration advance prosperity and security for the American people," Obama said in a written statement.
"This dedicated and impressive group of public servants includes longtime advisors and a talented new addition to our team, and together we will work to serve our country and meet the challenges of this defining moment in history."
On Friday, sources indicated that some of Obama's Cabinet posts were close to being filled.
Two sources close to the transition team said New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner is "on track" to be offered the Treasury secretary post. Watch CNN's Anderson Cooper discuss Obama's choices »
Transition officials told The Associated Press on Saturday that Obama planned to announce Geithner's appointment on Monday, along with that of Lawrence Summers as director of the National Economic Council. Summers is a former president of Harvard University and served as treasury secretary under Bill Clinton.
Two sources said Friday that Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is a serious contender for commerce secretary but that he could be chosen for another senior post.
Geithner has played a large role in the government's efforts to wrangle the credit crisis, which has damaged markets and economies worldwide. Although a number of those efforts have been controversial, Geithner remains a well-regarded figure from Wall Street to Washington.
Geithner began working with the Treasury Department in 1988 in the International Affairs division.
In 1999, he became under-secretary of the Treasury for international affairs.
Geithner would be charged with restoring stability to the financial markets, the banking system and the housing sector through oversight of the controversial $700 billion financial rescue package, of which about half is still available for use at the discretion of the Treasury secretary. Watch CNN's John King discuss the posts with panelists »
The Dow Jones industrial index staged a late rally Friday after traders heard news of Geithner's possible appointment, rising by almost 500 points shortly before the market's closing time.
The two sources close to the transition team said they do not consider Richardson's appointment to the Commerce Department to be a done deal.
Richardson, 61, was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
Currently in his second term as New Mexico's governor, he served as ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration.
Richardson is also considered to be a possibility for the secretary of state post.
Also Friday, Sen. Hillary Clinton's camp shot down reports that she had agreed to accept the secretary of state position.
"We're still in discussions, which are very much on track," said Philippe Reines, Clinton's senior adviser. "Any reports beyond that are premature."
|
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"who will be press secretary?",
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] |
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"Robert Gibbs",
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question: who will be press secretary?, answer: Robert Gibbs | question: Who is the EMILY's List executive director?, answer: Ellen Moran, | question: who will be new communications director?, answer: Ellen Moran, | question: What is the name of the Obama spokesman?, answer: Robert Gibbs | question: Who will be treasury pick?, answer: New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner | question: Who is to be announced as a Treasury pick?, answer: Timothy Geithner
|
(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama, who in 10 days will be sworn in using the Bible of his political hero Abraham Lincoln, visited the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Saturday night with his family.
The Obama family walks down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Saturday.
Obama, wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha made the unannounced stop shortly after 7 p.m. ET.
The family walked up the steps of the memorial on a chilly night in Washington and then visited the museum at the site. On the way out, they stopped at the edge of the reflecting pool.
The parents were seen pointing in the distance to the Capitol and the Washington Monument.
The Obamas spent about a half-hour at the memorial before returning to the Hay-Adams Hotel, where they are staying. Watch the family at the memorial »
Obama will be the first president to use the Lincoln Bible for his inauguration since Lincoln used it in 1861. Inauguration organizers have said Obama's inaugural theme, "A New Birth of Freedom," was inspired by Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Learn more about the Lincoln Memorial »
The president-elect also plans a train trip from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington three days before the inauguration, following the final leg of the train route taken by Lincoln.
|
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question: What will Barack Obama use?, answer: using the Bible of his political | question: What memorial did Obama visit?, answer: Lincoln | question: What did they do at the site?, answer: The family walked up the steps of the memorial on a chilly night in Washington and then visited the museum | question: How long did they spend at the site?, answer: about a half-hour | question: Obama made a stop where on Saturday?, answer: Lincoln Memorial in Washington | question: Whose bible will Obama use?, answer: Abraham Lincoln, | question: What did Obama do?, answer: visited the Lincoln Memorial | question: What day of the week did Obama make a stop?, answer: Saturday | question: What amount of time did they spend at the site?, answer: half-hour | question: When will Obama's inauguration be?, answer: in 10 days | question: Obama will use whose bible at his inauguration?, answer: Abraham Lincoln, | question: Who's bible will be used at the upcoming presidential inauguration?, answer: Abraham Lincoln,
|
(CNN) -- Presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are detailing their plans for solving the country's energy crisis and criticizing each other's proposals this week as they campaign in battleground states.
Here's a look at the candidates' energy proposals:
Overall strategy
McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, has proposed a national energy strategy that would rely on the technological prowess of American industry and science.
McCain has said he would work to reduce carbon emissions 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. He has said he would commit $2 billion annually for 15 years to advance clean coal technology.
He also has pledged to oppose a windfall profits tax on oil companies that, according to his campaign Web site, "will ultimately result in increasing our dependence on foreign oil and hinder investment in domestic exploration."
McCain also believes the U.S. needs to deploy SmartMeter technologies, which collect real-time data on the electricity use of individual homes and businesses.
Meanwhile, Obama laid out his comprehensive energy plan Monday in Lansing, Michigan.
"If I am president, I will immediately direct the full resources of the federal government and the full energy of the private sector to a single, overarching goal -- in 10 years, we will eliminate the need for oil from the entire Middle East and Venezuela," the presumptive Democratic nominee told a crowd.
Obama's plan also would invest $150 billion over the next 10 years and leverage billions more in private capital to build a new energy economy that he said would harness American energy and create 5 million new jobs.
He also called on businesses, government and the American people to meet the goal of reducing U.S. demand for electricity by 15 percent by the end of the next decade and said he would modernize the national utility grid.
Another prominent feature in the plan: Immediately give every working family in America a $1,000 energy rebate and pay for it from oil company profits.
Offshore drilling
McCain: Proposed lifting the ban on offshore drilling as part of his plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil and help combat rising gas prices.
Would let individual states decide whether to explore drilling possibilities.
Opposes drilling in some wilderness areas -- including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- and said those places must be left undisturbed.
Obama: Opposed new offshore drilling, but later shifted to say that he would consider it if it were part of a larger strategy to lower energy costs.
Supports bipartisan energy plan from the Senate that combines alternative energy innovation, financial, nuclear energy and drilling proposals. Effort by five Democrats and five Republicans to break Congress' energy impasse would allow expanded offshore oil exploration and embrace ambitious energy efficiency and efforts to develop alternative fuels.
Believes oil companies should drill on the 68 million acres they have access to but haven't used and would require oil companies that will not drill to give up their leases.
Strategic oil reserves
McCain advocates suspending the purchase of foreign oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve during periods of high prices to reduce demand.
Obama called for tapping into strategic oil reserves as part of his plan to provide relief from high gas prices. (He previously said he was opposed to using the strategic reserves, but on Monday he proposed selling 70 million barrels of oil from the reserves to lower gas prices).
Cars and driving
McCain: Proposed a $300 million award for "the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars."
Called for the suspension of the 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4-cent-a-gallon diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Says the lost revenue would be paid for by money from the general fund.
Obama: Would provide $4 billion in loans and tax credits to American auto plants and manufacturers so that they can retool factories and build fuel-efficient cars; would put 1 million 150-mpg, plug-in hybrids on U.S. roads within six years and would give consumers a $7,000 tax credit to buy fuel-efficient cars.
|
[
"where is the oil coming from",
"which is Obama's plan ?"
] |
[
"Middle East and Venezuela,\"",
"invest $150 billion over the next 10 years and leverage billions more in private capital to build a new energy economy"
] |
question: where is the oil coming from, answer: Middle East and Venezuela," | question: which is Obama's plan ?, answer: invest $150 billion over the next 10 years and leverage billions more in private capital to build a new energy economy
|
(CNN) -- Presidential candidates have been wooing voters in Iowa for months, but who wins Thursday may simply come down to where the caucus-goers live, where they meet and the weather.
Iowa is a mixed bag politically, and one of the most evenly divided states in the nation. But the candidates will likely watch two regions more closely than others.
The central part of the state -- including industrial Des Moines -- is Iowa's most Democratic area.
Western Iowa, on the other hand, is home to the most Republicans -- especially the rural counties in the northwest.
The Mississippi River city of Davenport is expected to be one of the most significant battlegrounds, with Linn County -- dominated by the university town of Cedar Rapids -- also attracting lots of attention from both parties.
Past Iowa caucuses have been nail-biters for the candidates.
Democrat Al Gore won the state by a margin of just 0.3 percent in 2000, while President Bush carried it in 2004 by 0.7 percent. In fact, Bush was the first GOP presidential candidate to carry Iowa in 20 years.
Important endorsement
The support of Iowa's largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register, may also play a role in Thursday's caucuses. The paper's presidential endorsements began in 1988 and have become a highly sought-after prize in Iowa presidential politics.
George W. Bush was the Register's pick in 2000 and went on to win Iowa, the GOP nomination and the White House. Republican presidential hopeful Bob Dole won the state in 1996 and 1988 after receiving the paper's support.
Democratic candidates haven't had as much success with the Register's endorsement. John Edwards finished in second place in Iowa in 2004, while Paul Simon was also a close second in 1988.
The paper endorsed Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary Clinton for their respective parties' nominations.
The candidates have to appeal to voters with strong opinions.
On the Republican side, 37 percent of participants in the 2000 Iowa GOP caucuses identified themselves as members of the religious right and 73 percent described themselves as conservatives.
Meanwhile, 56 percent of the participants in Iowa's 2004 Democratic caucuses described themselves as either very or somewhat liberal. About 37 percent said they were moderates.
The weather
Iowans who take part in the caucuses must traditionally brave freezing temperatures and lots of snow.
Presidential candidates know bad weather may affect how many people turn out, but 1972 was the only time rough winter conditions played a role in the caucuses, according to Drake University's Hugh Winebrenner -- the nation's leading expert on Iowa caucus history.
Caucus-goers that year encountered heavy snowdrifts from a blizzard the previous day.
Temperatures dipped below zero across most of the state. The weather forced about one-fourth of Iowa's 99 counties to postpone their Democratic caucuses up to two days after the scheduled date.
The forecast for Thursday is much better. Temperatures will be in the 20s during the day and dip just below that as the caucuses begin, according to the Des Moines Register. E-mail to a friend
|
[
"Who is affected by this?",
"What part of Iowa is the state's most Democratic area?",
"What may affect how many people turn out?",
"When is this occurring?",
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] |
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"Caucus-goers",
"The central",
"bad weather",
"Thursday",
"the Des Moines Register,"
] |
question: Who is affected by this?, answer: Caucus-goers | question: What part of Iowa is the state's most Democratic area?, answer: The central | question: What may affect how many people turn out?, answer: bad weather | question: When is this occurring?, answer: Thursday | question: What is Iowa's largest newspaper?, answer: the Des Moines Register,
|
(CNN) -- Pressure is growing for world leaders to respond to Syria's brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests.
Earlier this week, the United Nations' Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said more than 5,000 people had been killed in Syria since the uprising began in March.
The Syrian government has issued activists in the restive city of Homs an ultimatum: Cease their protests, or face bombardment, prompting fears of an increase in hostilities.
Human rights activists have called for an international response to the violence -- but some diplomats have warned that any intervention could make the situation worse.
Mousab Azzawi, of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said events in Syria amounted to a "humanitarian crisis," just like that seen in Libya prior to the NATO intervention, and that the situation merited a similar response.
"When the international community went to Libya to protect civilians, were they deceiving [everyone]?" he told CNN's Connect the World.
"Because if the principle of protecting civilians is the motivation of the international community, what happens in Syria is no different from what happened in Libya -- it's the same atrocities, the same tyranny and the same crimes against humanity committed there."
But Oliver Miles, a former British ambassador to Libya, said there was no comparison between the two countries -- or between Syria and Iraq, another high-profile example of international intervention.
"Syria is different in many, many ways. Iraq was invaded by a foreign government, and seven, eight years later, is in ruins," he said.
"Libya was not invaded by a foreign government; in Libya there was an uprising which so far seems to have succeeded in overthrowing a tyranny and is on the way to building something to replace that tyranny.
"Syria bears no resemblance to either of them. Syria is a larger country than Libya, it's a more complicated country than Libya, it doesn't offer any scope for foreign intervention."
Refugees seek shelter in Lebanon
Miles said politicians and diplomats were unlikely to take major action against the Syrian regime without backing from the U.N. -- and that such support was unlikely.
"I think the situation in Syria is absolutely dreadful, and if I could think of a way that the British government, or any other government, or the United Nations could intervene effectively, I would be all for it, but I think intervention would probably make things worse," he told CNN.
"When foreign air forces started to take part in the Libyan struggle back in March, they had a clear mandate from the United Nations, which meant that under international law, what we did could be argued to be legal.
"There is no possibility whatsoever that we will get a mandate from the United Nations to intervene in Syria as things stand at the moment."
But Azzawi said such pragmatic attitudes were making the situation worse, accusing foreign powers who failed to act of "participating in the bloodshed in Syria" by default.
And he said he feared the influence of Syrian military defectors, the Free Syrian Army, on the protests -- unless the fighters were offered international support.
"The numbers of the Free Syrian Army -- without being supported by the international community -- is so small now, and the big risk is when these peaceful demonstrators are tempted by the FSA to hold arms and then we move to a stage of militarizing the uprising, which is a very big risk.
"The people in Syria are trying hard to stick to the principle of peacefulness," he said.
"I don't think that will last forever, but if we have militarization of the uprising, then we will heed to a civil war and I think this is the last thing the international community wants to see in Syria, because any civil war in Syria would be spreading very quickly to the neighboring countries."
CNN's Max Foster contributed to this report
|
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"who is U.N. says more than 5,000?",
"U.N. says how many people had been killed in Syria?",
"Diplomats say intervention could do what?",
"Human rights activists call for what?",
"how many people have died according to the ONU?",
"where did Human rights activists call for an international?",
"when did Diplomats say intervention could make ?"
] |
[
"people",
"5,000",
"make the situation worse.",
"an international response to the violence",
"5,000",
"Syria",
"the situation worse."
] |
question: who is U.N. says more than 5,000?, answer: people | question: U.N. says how many people had been killed in Syria?, answer: 5,000 | question: Diplomats say intervention could do what?, answer: make the situation worse. | question: Human rights activists call for what?, answer: an international response to the violence | question: how many people have died according to the ONU?, answer: 5,000 | question: where did Human rights activists call for an international?, answer: Syria | question: when did Diplomats say intervention could make ?, answer: the situation worse.
|
(CNN) -- Previously missing police records on the 1986 shooting death of the brother of Alabama professor Amy Bishop -- accused of gunning down her colleagues last week -- have been found, and investigators said Tuesday they back a state police report that deemed the shooting an accident.
The Braintree, Massachusetts, police records show that police in 1986 believed they had probable cause to arrest Bishop on some charges in her brother's death. However, no charges were filed in that case.
Bishop is charged with capital murder and three counts of attempted murder in a Friday shooting at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she was a biology professor. She is eligible for the death penalty in Alabama.
Authorities have said Bishop shot her brother, Seth, at the family's Braintree home in December 1986. A state police report on the 1986 incident was released to the news media over the weekend, but Braintree police said their records of the shooting were missing until Tuesday.
Probable cause existed in 1986 for charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of ammunition, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the office of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, District Attorney William Keating.
The statute of limitations has passed on those charges, as well as on a potential charge of "wanton and reckless conduct," the lowest standard for manslaughter in Massachusetts, according to the statement.
The recovered documents don't contradict previously released information about the account of the siblings' mother, who told police she witnessed the shooting and said it was accidental, according to the statement.
The statement did not explain how the records came to be missing or when or how they were found.
The December 6, 1986, shooting of Seth Bishop came under renewed scrutiny after Friday's shooting at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Authorities said Bishop, also known as Amy Bishop Anderson, was attending a faculty meeting in a university building when she shot six colleagues. She was arrested as she was leaving the building.
On Saturday, Braintree Police Chief Paul Frazier told reporters that the department's records pertaining to the 1986 shooting were missing. Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan announced Sunday a search for the documents had been started, which resulted in the find announced Tuesday.
Describing the 1986 shooting on Saturday, Frazier said that Bishop had fled her home with a gun after she shot her brother and had unsuccessfully attempted to pull over a driver in a vehicle. The newly recovered documents do not refer to an incident involving a vehicle.
Frazier also said that police spotted Bishop and arrested her nearby, but she eventually was released.
"I cannot tell you what the thought process was behind our releasing her at the time," he said Saturday about the decades-old case.
A 1987 state police report released over the weekend cited interviews between police and Bishop's parents, in which her mother said the gun discharged accidentally. Braintree police told state police investigators that "indications were that Amy Bishop had been attempting to manipulate the shotgun and had subsequently brought the gun downstairs in an attempt to gain assistance from her mother in disarming the weapon" when it went off, shooting her brother in the chest.
Read the report on the 1986 shooting
But Frazier said Saturday that Officer Ronald Solimini, who was involved in the case 23 years ago, said that Bishop had shot her brother during an argument.
John Polio, who was Braintree police chief in 1986, also said he recalled reports of an argument between the two.
But neither the 1987 state police report nor the newly found documents detail a disagreement between the siblings.
The state report references a disagreement between Bishop and her father, who was not home when the shooting occurred.
In an uncovered December 6, 1986, record, then-police Lt. James Sullivan wrote that Bishop "stated earlier there had been a family 'spat' and she had gone to her room. (Unknown at this time how much earlier this family 'spat' had been)."
Police decided not to file charges, the December 6, 1986
|
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"Who is accused of killing colleagues in Alabama?"
] |
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"Amy Bishop",
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question: who he was accused of killing their colleagues in Alabama, answer: Amy Bishop | question: Who wasn't charged in 1986 shooting?, answer: Amy Bishop | question: What says Police about Amy Bishop?, answer: their records of the shooting were missing until | question: who he was accused of killing three people, trying to kill three others on Friday, answer: Bishop | question: Who is accused of killing colleagues in Alabama?, answer: Amy Bishop
|
(CNN) -- Prince Harry paraded alongside his fellow British servicemen in Scotland Wednesday, as he attended a memorial to service members who have died in Afghanistan.
Prince Harry takes part in a memorial parade and service for troops killed during his tour of Afghanistan.
Harry, 23, serves in the British Army and spent 10 weeks in Afghanistan earlier this year. He was withdrawn unexpectedly in March after news leaked out about his low-key deployment.
The prince appeared in uniform alongside around 200 other sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen at the parade, which took place on Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile. They made their way to St. Giles' Cathedral for a private memorial and thanksgiving service for the fallen service members.
Also attending the service was British Defense Secretary Des Browne, families of the fallen troops, and recovering wounded military personnel.
Harry holds the rank of cornet, equivalent to a second lieutenant. He was deployed to Afghanistan's Helmand province where he served as a forward air controller.
His duties included calling in airstrikes and air support when necessary, guaranteeing the accuracy of bombing on the ground and guarding against incidents of friendly fire.
The parade and memorial service took place on the same day Britain's Ministry of Defense announced the deaths of four British soldiers in Afghanistan, and two days after Browne announced Britain will increase its presence in Afghanistan from 7,800 troops to 8,030 by next spring. Watch Prince Harry at the memorial »
Prince Harry is the younger son of Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and the late Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Last year, the military ruled he could not be sent to Iraq because publicity about the deployment could put him and his unit at risk.
Shortly after the news of the prince's deployment broke, several Islamist Web sites posted messages alerting their "brethren" in Afghanistan to be on the lookout for the royal soldier.
Several members of the British royal family saw combat in the past century. Prince Harry's grandfather, Prince Phillip, served aboard warships in World War II; his great-grandfather -- the future King George VI -- took part in the World War I naval battle of Jutland; and Prince Andrew, Prince Harry's uncle, flew Royal Navy helicopters during Britain's 1982 war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
Prince Harry's brother, Prince William, is also an army officer. But as second in line for the throne, he is specifically barred from combat.
|
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question: Where was the parade that Prince Harry marched in?, answer: memorial to service members who have died in Afghanistan. | question: What army does Harry serve in?, answer: British | question: How long was Harry in Afghanistan for?, answer: 10 weeks | question: What did Harry do in Edinburgh?, answer: paraded alongside his fellow British servicemen | question: How many people marched in Edinburgh?, answer: 200 | question: Who exactly is Harry?, answer: Prince | question: What did Harry do?, answer: paraded alongside his fellow British servicemen | question: Where did Harry Spend 10 weeks this year?, answer: Afghanistan | question: What took place on the same day as the service?, answer: The parade and memorial
|
(CNN) -- Prince William has spoken in depth publicly for the first time about death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, 12 years ago, saying "mummy" is now a hollow word "evoking only memories."
Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a Paris car crash 12 years ago.
Prince William was only 15 and his brother Prince Harry 12 when Diana died in a Paris car crash along with Dodi Fayed in 1997.
The Prince made the comment Thursday during a speech to mark his new role as patron of Britain's Child Bereavement Charity -- a group his mother was once involved with.
The British Press Association reported that he told the launch of the charity's Mother's Day campaign: "My mother Diana was present at your launch 15 years ago, and I am incredibly proud to be able to continue her support for your fantastic charity, by becoming your royal patron.
"What my mother recognized then -- and what I understand now -- is that losing a close family member is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can ever endure.
"Never being able to say the word 'Mummy' again in your life sounds like a small thing. Tell us what you think about Prince William's moving comments
"However, for many, including me, it's now really just a word -- hollow and evoking only memories.
"I can therefore wholeheartedly relate to the Mother's Day campaign as I too have felt -- and still feel -- the emptiness on such a day as Mother's Day." Listen to Prince William discuss his mother. »
The charity wants to raise awareness of the problems suffered by mothers bereaved of a child or children bereaved of their mother.
Based in Buckinghamshire, a region west of London, it educates professionals and supports families after a death.
Writing in Britain's Daily Mail newspaper about his new role, the Prince said the reality of losing a child or parent was "awful."
"Initially, there is a sense of profound shock and disbelief that this could ever happen to you. Real grief often does not hit home until much later.
"For many it is a grief never entirely lost. Life is altered as you know it, and not a day goes past without you thinking about the one you have lost."
Mother's Day in the UK always falls on the fourth weekend of Lent, and this year is on March 22.
Earlier this week France's leading society magazine, Point de Vue, reported that the Prince would marry his long-term girlfriend, Kate Middleton, this summer.
The magazine claimed an official announcement was "imminent."
|
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"What does Prince William say he experiences every Mother's Day?",
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question: What is just a word?, answer: 'Mummy' | question: When did Diana die?, answer: 1997. | question: What is really now just a word?, answer: "mummy" | question: Who died in a Paris car crash?, answer: Diana, Princess of Wales, | question: who was Diana?, answer: Princess of Wales, | question: Who feels "emptiness" every Mother's Day?, answer: Prince William | question: What does he feel every Mother's Day?, answer: the emptiness | question: What does William feel every Mother's Day?, answer: emptiness | question: On what holiday does Prince William report feeling an "emptiness"?, answer: Mother's Day." | question: Diana was the princess of What?, answer: Wales, | question: What does Prince William say he experiences every Mother's Day?, answer: the emptiness on such a day as Mother's Day." | question: What city did Princess Diana die in?, answer: Paris | question: What country was Diana princess of?, answer: Wales, | question: Amount of years that Princess Diana died ago?, answer: 12 | question: Who was Prince William's mother?, answer: Princess of Wales, | question: What killed Diana?, answer: car crash
|
(CNN) -- Professor Peter Furth has ridden his bicycle to work at Northeastern University each day for the past six years. The two-mile trip through the Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts, is usually without incident.
Furth's journey is worlds apart from his former Boston commute, which for 13 years was a battle with drivers who wanted him on the sidewalk.
"I've had motorists that drive a couple of inches from my elbow, trying to scare me," he said.
Furth would catch up with drivers at stoplights and ask them whether they knew how close they'd come to hitting him. Invariably, they would say, "Yes, move over."
It's a cultural thing, he said.
In the town of Cambridge, motorists see bicyclists all over the place and are considerate. In Brookline, only every now and then does someone honk or yell.
In the southern part of Boston, it's not quite war, but the relationship isn't very friendly.
Although the street signs say "Share the road," there's still a long road to travel before that sign reflects the reality, bicyclists say.
Motorists often see bands of bikes on the streets on the final Fridays of each month as cyclists across the nation gather for evening group rides called Critical Mass.
The purpose, advocates say, is to make cars and trucks more aware of bicyclists.
But to some drivers, Critical Mass participants are nothing more than spandex-wearing, stop-sign-running Lance Armstrong wannabes who slow traffic.
'They think they own the road'
It's somewhat symbolic of the tension on the roads.
"The roads were made for cars," KTAR-FM radio guest host John Hook said in Phoenix, Arizona, last month. "And bicyclists share the road, but sometimes they think they own the road."
One caller to the program was a long-haul truck driver who accused many bicycle riders of failing to respect the law and not riding with the flow of traffic.
A caller who identified himself as Jeff said he witnessed an incident in which a pack of bicyclists almost hit a car that had the right of way. Then the riders screamed at the motorist.
"I actually think the bikes are more disrespectful to the cars than the cars are to the bike," Jeff said.
The number of cyclists is increasing.
Although bike sales took a dip during the recession of 2009, more than 18 million were sold each year for the seven previous years, according to the National Sporting Goods Association.
About 27 percent of adults in the United States bike at least once a summer, according a survey released in 2008 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Most bicyclists ride for recreation or exercise, while a small percentage ride to work. In Portland, Oregon, which is ranked second on Bicycling magazine's list of Top 50 Bike Friendly Cities, more than 6 percent of residents commute by bike to work. That's up from 1 percent two decades ago.
See a map of the top 10 bike-friendly cities
Things are looking up, at least in the eyes of cyclists. Many cities are putting in bike lanes and paths.
Google adds bike routes to maps
More than $730 million in federal stimulus funds has been allocated for bike and pedestrian projects, according to AmericaBikes.org.
Washington is getting into the act. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood drew cheers from the cycling world in March when he blogged that the administration was "integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects" and advising state departments of transportation to treat biking and walking "as equals with other transportation modes."
That drew an outcry from industry, which saw the new policy as taking money away from large transportation construction needs.
"Treating bicycles and other non-motorized transportation as equal to motorized transportation would cause an economic catastrophe," Carter Wood, a senior adviser at the National Association of Manufacturers, told The New York Times. "If put it into effect, the
|
[
"How much money in stimilus funds?",
"what is money used for?",
"what is increasing?",
"what is causing the increase"
] |
[
"$730 million",
"bike and pedestrian projects,",
"The number of cyclists",
"$730 million in federal stimulus funds has been allocated for bike and pedestrian projects,"
] |
question: How much money in stimilus funds?, answer: $730 million | question: what is money used for?, answer: bike and pedestrian projects, | question: what is increasing?, answer: The number of cyclists | question: what is causing the increase, answer: $730 million in federal stimulus funds has been allocated for bike and pedestrian projects,
|
(CNN) -- Progressive Catholic groups vented outrage Friday over the decision of a Roman Catholic school in Massachusetts to rescind the admission of an 8-year-old student because his parents are lesbians.
"The idea that a child might be punished because he does not live with his two biologic parents is antithetical to notions of Christian charity and Catholic social justice," said Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats, in a statement Friday.
Other liberal Catholic and gay groups issued similar statements Friday, responding to news reports this week that a child accepted to St. Paul Elementary School in Hingham, Massachusetts, for the fall was told he couldn't enroll after the school learned that his parents are gay.
In addition to pressuring the Massachusetts school to reverse its decision and accept the student, progressive Catholic activists are attempting to do something much more dramatic: get the Archdiocese of Boston, which includes the Hingham school, to set a precedent for how the American church treats students with gay parents.
In March, the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, supported a decision by a Catholic school in Boulder to block two students with gay parents from re-enrolling.
While the Denver archbishop who backed that decision, Charles J. Chaput, may be the most outspokenly conservative bishop in the nation, progressive Catholics think they can get more moderate Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley to speak against Catholic schools rejecting students over their parents' sexual orientation.
"I'm very disappointed in Chaput's actions, but he has a history of politicizing issues," said Chris Korzen, executive director of the progressive Catholics United, which has asked O'Malley to intervene in the Hingham case and to allow the child to attend St. Paul.
"Cardinal O'Malley understands that there's a place to assert church teachings but that it doesn't make sense to discriminate against a child because of his parents' background," Korzen said.
Korzen and other left-leaning Catholics said they were concerned that the Hingham school was following the example of the Denver Archdiocese in the Boulder case.
"While the relationship between the events in Boulder and Hingham [is] not known, Catholic Democrats is concerned that a narrative will develop that legitimizes the exclusion of children of same sex parents from Catholic schools," the group Catholic Democrats, which is based in Boston, said Friday.
Conservative Catholic groups, meanwhile, have been mostly silent on the matter. "I don't really have a strong opinion on this one," said Deal Hudson, a prominent conservative Catholic activist, in an e-mail on Friday. "It's a matter of the individual bishop's discretion."
O'Malley has not publicly weighed in on the case, but the Boston Archdiocese said Thursday that the Hingham school was not acting in compliance with archdiocesan policy.
"The archdiocese does not prohibit children of same-sex parents from attending Catholic schools," said Mary Grassa O'Neill, the archdiocese's secretary for education and superintendent of Catholic schools. "We will work in the coming weeks to develop a policy to eliminate any misunderstandings in the future."
O'Neill said that the Boston Archdiocese met with one of the child's parents on Thursday and that it has offered to help enroll him in another Catholic school in the archdiocese.
The parents of the St. Paul student have insisted on anonymity for them and their son in press reports of the situation.
The Catholic Schools Foundation, a Boston-based group whose board is chaired by O'Malley, said Thursday that it would not support schools that discriminated against students based on their parents' sexual orientation.`
"[N]o school that promotes an exclusionary admissions policy or practice will be considered for support," said the foundation's executive director, Michael Reardon, in a Thursday letter to school administrators. "We believe a policy or practice that denies admissions to students in such a manner as occurred at St. Paul's is at odds with our values as a foundation, the intentions of our donors, and ultimately with Gospel teaching."
Calls to St. Paul Elementary School and church on Friday night were not returned.
|
[
"Which school rescinds the admission?",
"what is the reason massachusetts school rescinds admision of student?",
"who made a similar decision?",
"who made a similar decision recently?",
"Which school recently made a similar decision?",
"what do the Massachusetts school rescinds?"
] |
[
"Roman Catholic",
"his parents are lesbians.",
"Other liberal Catholic and gay groups",
"Other liberal Catholic and gay groups",
"Other liberal Catholic and gay groups",
"the admission of an 8-year-old student because his parents are lesbians."
] |
question: Which school rescinds the admission?, answer: Roman Catholic | question: what is the reason massachusetts school rescinds admision of student?, answer: his parents are lesbians. | question: who made a similar decision?, answer: Other liberal Catholic and gay groups | question: who made a similar decision recently?, answer: Other liberal Catholic and gay groups | question: Which school recently made a similar decision?, answer: Other liberal Catholic and gay groups | question: what do the Massachusetts school rescinds?, answer: the admission of an 8-year-old student because his parents are lesbians.
|
(CNN) -- Prominent Chicago defense lawyer Ed Genson said Friday he intends to resign as attorney for embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the criminal case against the governor.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial is scheduled to start on Monday.
"I never require a client to do what I say but I do require them to at least listen to what I say. ... I wish the governor good luck and godspeed," Genson said in brief remarks to reporters.
Genson would not elaborate on his reasons for withdrawing from the case or any conversations he had with Blagojevich about his leaving the case.
Genson had headed Blagojevich's defense team since soon after the governor was arrested on December 9 on federal corruption charges. Among other allegations, federal prosecutors said the governor tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Obama.
Genson represented Blagojevich during proceedings in the Illinois state House in which legislators voted to impeach the governor. But on January 16, the U.S. attorney's office in the Northern District of Illinois said Genson would not represent Blagojevich in his state Senate impeachment trial. No explanation was given.
Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing and said the House impeachment vote was politically motivated. Watch Blagojevich ask for fair trial »
On Thursday, the outspoken Blagojevich called the Senate trial "a sham" and said the Senate is not allowing him to call witnesses in the trial, which is scheduled to begin Monday.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Genson said his inability to call witnesses or to know the identities of some parties in alleged schemes made it impossible to defend Blagojevich in the impeachment trial.
After Genson announced Friday he would leave Blagojevich's criminal defense effort, another of Blagojevich's attorneys, Sheldon Sorosky, said he was continuing to work on the case.
"I'm on the case, absolutely," Sorosky, whose law firm is separate from Genson's firm, said at an impromptu sidewalk news conference as he was leaving an office building.
"I was aware of Mr. Genson's position, and he's a good friend," said Sorosky. "The governor's a friend, and I understand his position and that's that." iReport.com: Do you trust your political leaders?
Sorosky, who has worked on Blagojevich's defense since the arrest, would not elaborate.
Asked by a reporter if he would recommend to Blagojevich that the talkative governor curtail his public comments, Sorosky said, "You can't tell the governor what to do or not to do."
|
[
"What was for sale?",
"When is the trial set to start?",
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"Who is resigned from the defense team?",
"What kind of a trial is being held on Monday?",
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"When will the trial start?"
] |
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"Monday.",
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"impeachment",
"federal corruption",
"Monday."
] |
question: What was for sale?, answer: U.S. Senate seat | question: When is the trial set to start?, answer: Monday. | question: Who is resigning?, answer: Ed Genson | question: Who is resigned from the defense team?, answer: Ed Genson | question: What kind of a trial is being held on Monday?, answer: impeachment | question: What is Blagojevich accused of?, answer: federal corruption | question: When will the trial start?, answer: Monday.
|
(CNN) -- Prosecutors are investigating police actions during a protest earlier this month in which at least 16 people died, the Office of the General Prosecutor in Kazakhstan said Thursday.
At least 80 people were also injured in the December 16 clashes between police and striking oil workers in the oil town of Zhanaozen, according to state media.
A 20-day state of emergency was declared following the unrest, which also spilled over to a nearby village, where at least one person died as protesters blocked a passenger train in a show of support for the oil workers.
A spokeswoman for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Virginie Coulloudon, said Kazakhstan had told fellow OSCE states Tuesday that the general prosecutor's office had started its own inquiry into police actions.
Kazakh authorities said the internal security department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs had also launched an in-house investigation into claims of firearms use by the police, Coulloudon said.
"The conclusions of this investigation, according to Kazakh sources, should be available within a week," she told CNN via email.
The Kazakh general prosecutor's office said in a statement on its website Thursday that 20 people had been detained over involvement in the unrest in Zhanaozen, with 18 of the arrests ordered by the court.
A criminal case was opened Tuesday into the alleged excessive use of force by police who opened fire, it said, but some of the deaths reported from Zhanaozen were not related to the actions of law enforcement.
The investigation will be headed by a special prosecutor in order to guarantee its objectivity and measures have been adopted to ensure transparency, the statement said.
A separate committee has also been formed, with relatives of those detained among its members, to examine claims of unlawful detention and abuse of detainees, it said.
At least one person is being investigated for giving "false information" to the media about events in Zhanaozen, the prosecutor's office added.
The trouble came as the former Soviet republic celebrated its 20th anniversary of independence and prompted concern that unrest might spread across the oil rich Central Asian nation.
The protest was part of a long-running dispute over low pay and the sacking of some workers.
Video posted to YouTube appeared to show protesters in Zhanaozen fleeing a large square amid gunfire, as police advance with riot shields. An injured person is seen being beaten with a baton by what appears to be a policeman.
The workers' trade union puts the number of dead at 50 to 70 and says as many as 500 were injured, according to European lawmakers.
International rights groups have condemned the violence and subsequent emergency measures imposed by the government, including curbs on communications and freedom of movement, and called for a full investigation.
The U.S. State Department and a group of 48 European lawmakers also expressed concern.
The Kazakh authorities announced Wednesday that 1 million Kazakh tenge ($6,640) would be paid to the families of each of those killed and half that sum to those injured.
Analysts say the Kazakh government is keen to prevent discontent over increasing social inequality, in a country where most ordinary people have not shared in the wealth brought by oil.
Parliamentary and local elections are due to take place next month.
Kazakhstan has often boasted of its stability in a region that has seen its share of conflict. The ninth-largest country in the world by area, it has the largest economy of all the Central Asian states thanks mostly to its natural resources, according to the CIA World Factbook.
CNN's Alla Eshchenko, Sarah Jones and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.
|
[
"who will lead the inquiry?",
"who will head the investigation?",
"how many people died in clashes?",
"how many people died?"
] |
[
"a special prosecutor",
"a special prosecutor",
"16",
"16"
] |
question: who will lead the inquiry?, answer: a special prosecutor | question: who will head the investigation?, answer: a special prosecutor | question: how many people died in clashes?, answer: 16 | question: how many people died?, answer: 16
|
(CNN) -- Prosecutors asked Wednesday for a 25-year sentence for Argentina's last dictator, who is on trial on charges that he violated human rights during his 17-month rule in the early 1980s.
Former Gen. Reynaldo Benito Bignone is accused of torturing 56 people and depriving them of their liberty, as well as committing illegal searches. He ruled Argentina from June 1982 until the nation's return to democracy in December 1983.
More than 100 people have testified at his trial since it started in November, the government's Judicial Information Center said. The trial is expected to last until March.
Also facing the same charges are former intelligence chief Fernando Ezequiel Verplaetsen and ex-military officials Santiago Omar Riveros, Eugenio Guanabens Perello, Carlos Alberto Tepedino and German A. Montenegro.
Prosecutors also asked for 25-year sentences for Verplaetsen and Riveros and a 20-year incarceration for Tepedino, the Judicial Information Center said. They want sentences of 12 years for Perello and two years for Montenegro.
The alleged crimes occurred at the secret Campo de Mayo torture center in Buenos Aires, court papers say. Campo de Mayo was the main torture center during the 1976-83 right-wing dictatorship. Few who were taken there walked out alive.
Up to 30,000 students, labor leaders, intellectuals and leftists who ran afoul of the dictatorship because of their political views disappeared or were held in secret jails and torture centers during the eight-year "Dirty War."
Bignone, 82, has been under house arrest. He faces two other trials: in the abduction and disappearance of doctors and nurses at the Hospital Posada and of two soldiers when he was head of the Military College.
The three-judge panel in the current trial was scheduled to hear testimony Wednesday from two groups representing Argentineans who were victims of the Dirty War.
Trial will resume February 25 with the first defense testimony, the Center for Judicial Information said.
|
[
"when did the trial start?",
"How many witnesses have testified at the trial?",
"Who is accused of torturing 56 people?",
"When is the former General alleged to have committed his crimes?",
"How long is the trial expected to last?",
"When will the trial conclude?"
] |
[
"November,",
"More than 100",
"Gen. Reynaldo Benito Bignone",
"in the early 1980s.",
"until March.",
"March."
] |
question: when did the trial start?, answer: November, | question: How many witnesses have testified at the trial?, answer: More than 100 | question: Who is accused of torturing 56 people?, answer: Gen. Reynaldo Benito Bignone | question: When is the former General alleged to have committed his crimes?, answer: in the early 1980s. | question: How long is the trial expected to last?, answer: until March. | question: When will the trial conclude?, answer: March.
|
(CNN) -- Protests over media freedom continued in Venezuela Tuesday, a day after two student protesters were killed in separate clashes.
Student leaders opposed to cable operators' decision to drop five television channels, including an opposition station, for failure to follow broadcast laws pleaded for an end to the violence at a demonstration in front of the state-run broadcaster.
Also Tuesday, the Interior Ministry designated four investigators to look into the shooting deaths of the two students in the western state of Merida.
The protests stem from the suspension of cable station Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) and five other stations over the weekend. The stations were pulled from the air because they did not broadcast a speech by President Hugo Chavez, as required by national broadcast laws.
Protesters say that the suspension of RCTV, known for its anti-Chavez slant, was provoked by the Chavez government. The Chavez government had already pushed RCTV off of public airwaves in 2007 for similar violations. Then, as now, his opponents saw politics behind the move.
The street protests this week produced confrontations with police and Chavez supporters, but have been more widespread.
Photos from a weekend national baseball series showed many fans in the crowd wearing red bandanas over their mouths in protest.
According to the preliminary investigation, a 16-year-old student was killed during an altercation in Merida Monday night, the state-run Bolivarian News Agency reported. The teen was identified as Yosinio Carrillo Torres.
In a second incident in Merida, just before midnight, another youth, Marcos Rosales Suarez, was shot when a group of unidentified gunmen fired into a crowd of protesters.
"We applied the law," Chavez said in a speech over the weekend. "If they don't follow it, they won't be allowed back on the air."
Many press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have urged Chavez to allow the stations back on the air right away.
"Pulling a television station from cable and satellite distribution because it chooses not to carry every word uttered by a politician would be laughable if this weren't Venezuela," Carlos Lauria, CPJ's senior program coordinator for the Americas, said in a statement. "The action against RCTV is a disturbing sign of the growing censorship imposed by President Hugo Chavez. The authorities must restore all stations to subscription TV immediately."
The Venezuelan embassy in the United States released a statement challenging the way the RCTV incident was being portrayed, citing "distortions in U.S. press coverage."
"Once again an administrative sanction against media outlets that have failed to comply with broadcast laws are painted as measures against the political views expressed in their programming with the goal of attacking the democratic legitimacy of the Venezuelan government," the statement said.
The cable stations were aware of the laws and chose not to follow them, the Venezuelan government said.
"This is not a discriminatory nor arbitrary measure," the statement said.
In other developments in Venezuela, the president of state-owned Banco de Venezuela, Eugenio Vazquez Orellana, announced his resignation Tuesday. The resignation follows two other high-level resignations from Chavez's upper ranks. Over the weekend, Venezuela's vice president and defense minister Ramon Carrizalez, and minister for the environment Yuviri Ortega, also resigned.
|
[
"Whose speech was not broadcast?",
"What do students oppose?",
"Who is the President?",
"What are students opposing?",
"What caused the stations to be dropped?",
"Where are the media freedom protests?",
"Where are protests over media freedom continuing?",
"In what country are the protests happening?",
"Who is dropping 5 TV channels?"
] |
[
"President Hugo Chavez,",
"to cable operators' decision to drop five television channels,",
"Hugo Chavez,",
"cable operators' decision to drop five television channels,",
"failure to follow broadcast laws",
"Venezuela",
"Venezuela",
"Venezuela",
"cable operators'"
] |
question: Whose speech was not broadcast?, answer: President Hugo Chavez, | question: What do students oppose?, answer: to cable operators' decision to drop five television channels, | question: Who is the President?, answer: Hugo Chavez, | question: What are students opposing?, answer: cable operators' decision to drop five television channels, | question: What caused the stations to be dropped?, answer: failure to follow broadcast laws | question: Where are the media freedom protests?, answer: Venezuela | question: Where are protests over media freedom continuing?, answer: Venezuela | question: In what country are the protests happening?, answer: Venezuela | question: Who is dropping 5 TV channels?, answer: cable operators'
|
(CNN) -- Pulitzer Prize-winning author, radio host and activist Studs Terkel died in his Chicago, Illinois, home Friday at the age of 96.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Studs Terkel died at his home Friday at the age of 96.
Terkel had grown frail since the publication last year of his memoir, "Touch and Go," said Gordon Mayer, vice president of the Community Media Workshop, which Terkel had supported.
"I'm still in touch, but I'm ready to go," he said last year at his last public appearance with the workshop, a nonprofit that recognizes Chicago reporters who take risks in covering the city.
"My dad led a long, full, eventful -- sometimes tempestuous -- satisfying life," his son Dan said in a statement.
"The last time I saw him, he was up, about, and mad as hell about the Cubs," workshop President Thom Clark said in the statement.
Terkel, known for his portrayal of ordinary people young and old, rich and poor, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1985 for his remembrances of World War II, "The Good War." iReport.com: Remebering the legacy of Studs Terkel
Terkel was born in New York but moved to Chicago, where his parents ran a small hotel. Terkel would sit in the hotel lobby watching droves of people arguing, fighting, ranting and telling stories.
"That hotel was far more of an education to me than the University of Chicago was," Studs told CNN in 2000.
It seems that beginning would pave the way for Terkel's love of passing on people's oral histories. He could often be found behind a tape recorder talking to the people who would eventually become the basis for his books. Terkel became famous, if not synonymous with oral histories, for his ability to cast a light on the working class.
"Oral history preceded the written word," Terkel told CNN in 2000. "Oral history is having people tell their own stories and bringing it forth.
"That's what history's about: the oral history of the unknowns that make the wheel go 'round. And that's what I'm interested in."
In an interview with Lou Waters on CNN in 1995, Terkel spoke about his book "Coming of Age," which explored the lives of people who have been "scrappers" all of their lives. Inside the book are the stories of people between the ages of 70 and 95, a group he called "the truth tellers."
"Who are the best historians? Who are the storytellers?" Terkel asked. "Who lived through the Great Depression of the '30s, World War II that changed the whole psyche and map of the world, a Cold War, Joe McCarthy, Vietnam, the '60s, that's so often put down today and I think was an exhilarating and hopeful period, and, of course, the computer and technology. Who are the best ones to tell the story? Those who've borne witness to it. And they're our storytellers."
After Terkel's wife died in 1999, he began working on a book about death, eventually called "Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Reflections on Death, Rebirth, and Hunger for a Faith."
"It's about life," Terkel said in 2000 when asked about the project. "How can one talk about life without saying sometime it's going to end? It makes the value of life all the more precious."
|
[
"Who does the author believe makes the best storytellers?",
"What prize did Terkel win?",
"Who did the author think made the best storytellers?",
"What book did Terkel write?",
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"Who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1985?",
"Who is Terkel?"
] |
[
"Those who've borne witness to it.",
"Pulitzer",
"Those who've borne witness to it.",
"\"Coming of Age,\"",
"Terkel",
"Studs Terkel",
"Prize-winning author, radio host and activist"
] |
question: Who does the author believe makes the best storytellers?, answer: Those who've borne witness to it. | question: What prize did Terkel win?, answer: Pulitzer | question: Who did the author think made the best storytellers?, answer: Those who've borne witness to it. | question: What book did Terkel write?, answer: "Coming of Age," | question: Who can be quoted as saying death ""makes the value of life all the more precious"?, answer: Terkel | question: Who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1985?, answer: Studs Terkel | question: Who is Terkel?, answer: Prize-winning author, radio host and activist
|
(CNN) -- Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Thomas Friedman is never short of a word or two.
Thomas L. Friedman: "Incredible opportunities masquerading as insoluble problems."
The celebrated commentator occupies a position in his profession that many of his contemporaries would rival. He gets to go where he wants, when he wants and write about what he thinks, or as he puts it: "I get to be a tourist with an attitude."
Officially, he's The New York Times' foreign affairs columnist -- a position he's held since 1995 -- as well as the author of five books. Through his syndicated column his opinion has become a recognizable American voice on the international stage, and with it has come a sense of responsibility.
"I agonize over every column. Precisely because I know it is going to be read by a lot of people and it's going to be in Google forever," he told CNN. "So there is that sense of responsibility, but at the same time you do have to take the attitude of 'This is what I think. This is why I think it.' I'm not in a popularity contest."
Before his current position, Friedman served in various posts at the New York Times, including chief economic correspondent, chief White House correspondent and bureau chief in Beirut and Israel.
His reporting from Lebanon in 1983 and work in Israel in 1988 won him Pulitzer Prizes for international reporting.
Taking in the world provides never-ending fascination, he says. "I have the best job in the world, I mean, somebody has to have it." He's recently trained his eye on how America can reassert itself by leading the way in green technology, encapsulated in his latest book "Hot, flat and crowded."
As he admits, the environmental aspect is not the point of the book; really it's a treatise on how America "lost its groove and why we need to get it back by taking the lead in the energy revolution."
One man who will need to take a pivotal role is the incoming U.S. president, Barack Obama, Friedman says.
"I have a lot of high hopes for him. I think we are very lucky to have someone with his raw material as the next president. I think he brings together several things that we haven't had," Friedman told CNN.
Whether Obama can solve the raft of problems he faces is another matter. "Is he ready to be as radical as the moment? Really have the courage of our crisis? At the end of the day it's gonna be Barack Obama and (Chinese President) Hu Jintao. We're not going to get out of this without cooperating and working closely with China," Friedman said.
While presenting a view from the United States, Friedman is still able to do a mea culpa on America's behalf when it comes to the current economic crisis. "We were in the middle of a huge credit bubble which in its own way was a Ponzi scheme. We gave the world financial SARs. We just spread it around the world."
An optimist by nature -- "I do live by the motto that pessimists are usually right, but all the great change in history was done by optimists" -- he's sanguine when it comes to the planet in the current climate of economic depression and environmental urgency.
"What I'm basically arguing is that you can look at the world today that is hot, flat, and crowded and you can have one of two reactions. One reaction is to say 'We're cooked, let's party,'" he said.
"That's not the way I'd look at it. I'd look at it the way John Gardner, the founder of Common Cause, once described. I look at these problems that come from hot, flat and crowded and what I see are incredible opportunities masquerading as insoluble problems."
|
[
"Who said \"We gave the world financial SARS\"?",
"Who is Barack Obama?",
"What did the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author say?",
"What did he say about Obama?",
"What did he say about himself?",
"Who said \"I'm not in a popularity contest\"?",
"Regarding the U.S. and global economic situation, what did they give the world?"
] |
[
"Thomas L. Friedman:",
"incoming U.S. president,",
"\"I get to be a tourist with an attitude.\"",
"\"I have a lot of high hopes for him. I think we are very lucky to have someone with his raw material as the next president. I think",
"\"I get to be a tourist with an attitude.\"",
"Thomas L. Friedman:",
"financial SARs."
] |
question: Who said "We gave the world financial SARS"?, answer: Thomas L. Friedman: | question: Who is Barack Obama?, answer: incoming U.S. president, | question: What did the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author say?, answer: "I get to be a tourist with an attitude." | question: What did he say about Obama?, answer: "I have a lot of high hopes for him. I think we are very lucky to have someone with his raw material as the next president. I think | question: What did he say about himself?, answer: "I get to be a tourist with an attitude." | question: Who said "I'm not in a popularity contest"?, answer: Thomas L. Friedman: | question: Regarding the U.S. and global economic situation, what did they give the world?, answer: financial SARs.
|
(CNN) -- Queen Elizabeth and the royal family cost British taxpayers an average of 66 pence ($1.32) per person last year, Buckingham Palace announced Friday in its annual report of royal finances.
The Queen and the royal family cost Britons a little bit more in the latest financial year.
The total cost of the queen and royal family was 40 million pounds ($80 million) in the past fiscal year, an increase of 2 percent from the year before, according to the Royal Public Finances report.
The man in charge of managing the queen's financial affairs said she has tried to keep costs down, pointing out that the queen's expenses are more than 3 percent lower in real terms than they were in 2001.
"The reduction in the amount of head of state expenditure in real terms reflects the continuous attention the royal household pays to obtaining the best value for money in all areas of expenditure," said Alan Reid, whose official title is "keeper of the privy purse."
Funding for property maintenance at the royal palaces increased by almost 1 million pounds ($2 million) from the year before to 15.3 million pounds ($30.6 million), but it will stay at that level for the next three years, the palace said.
Reid warned that the money is not enough to deal with a backlog of maintenance work.
"This backlog relates to essential maintenance and does not include any allowance for projects such as the redecoration of the state rooms at Buckingham Palace, most of which were last redecorated before the queen's reign," he said.
Available funds are also unlikely for replacing the lead and slate roofs at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle (which would cost an estimated 16 million pounds, or $32 million); replacing heating and electrical wiring and removing asbestos at the palace (2.4 million pounds, or $4.8 million); and replacing Victorian cast iron and lead water mains at the castle (3 million pounds, or $6 million).
Travel was a major expense for the queen and her family over the past year, the reports showed.
The most expensive trip was the queen's six-day state visit to the United States, which cost a total of 414,042 pounds (about $828,000). It cost 316,061 pounds (about $632,000) for Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, to take an eight-day trip to Uganda and Turkey in November for Britain's Foreign Office.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, also had a series of expensive trips as part of his role as the United Kingdom's special representative for international trade and investment. He visited more than 20 countries in that capacity last year, trying to attract investors to Britain and helping British companies improve their prospects overseas.
"This report is provided every year to show transparency in the royal accounts," said CNN royal watcher Richard Quest. "It is often used as an example to show profligacy, for instance with the cost of the royal train, which runs around 20,000 pounds ($40,000) a day."
|
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] |
question: did this figure increase this year?, answer: The Queen and the royal family cost Britons a little bit more in the latest financial | question: How much did the royal family cost British taxpayers per person?, answer: 66 pence ($1.32) | question: Is this an increase over the previous year?, answer: an | question: What does the royal family cost per person per year?, answer: 66 pence ($1.32) | question: What did the accounts reveal?, answer: family cost British taxpayers an average of 66 pence ($1.32) | question: What do the accounts reveal need for?, answer: to keep costs down, | question: How much is the increase compered to last year?, answer: 2 percent | question: How much did the royal family cost taxpayers last year?, answer: 40 million pounds ($80 million)
|
(CNN) -- Queen Latifah has been on the hip-hop scene for so long that she has seen artists come and go and trends change.
Queen Latifah remains one of the few female rap artists who garner attention in the music industry.
But there has been one development that she said has disappointed her tremendously -- the lack of female rap stars.
"There are not enough female rappers out there right now," she said. "The voice of the female is not strong enough in the game at all right now. It's almost nonexistent."
While artists like Beyonce, Ciara and Rihanna have thrived in R&B and pop, high-profile success for female rap artists has been more elusive in recent years.
From the beginning hip-hop has been viewed as a man's world, and discussions of sexism and inequality within the genre have come up often. In fact, many times such disrespect was the subject of the female rappers' tracks.
Today, with the music industry struggling, there is a particular dearth of female rap artists taking center stage.
It was a different hip-hop landscape when Queen Latifah first burst on the scene in the late 1980s.
The all-female rap crew Salt-N-Pepa (whose DJ was also a woman) scored some hits. The arrival of Queen Latifah helped usher in artists such as Monie Love.
Rapper MC Lyte was a teenager when she emerged, along with Queen Latifah, as one of the genre's first female superstars. Check out some of the more successful female hip-hop artists »
MC Lyte said the music industry is so focused these days on the bottom line that there is little emphasis on cultivating female talent.
"When you have this major business that has been kind of taken over by corporate hands, it's like, how necessary is the black woman's perspective?" she said.
"Not unless she is talking about being that kingpin's main girl and she's wearing next to nothing and she's talking about nothing that is really going to nurture the people the way we are known innately as black women being able to do, there's really no space for that type."
Alonzo Williams agrees.
A founding member of the West Coast rap group the World Class Wrecking Crew, which also featured Dr. Dre of the group N.W.A., Williams said many female rappers are finding it hard to navigate today's industry.
"It's a lot of women trying to get into it, but most young women don't know what direction to take," Williams said. "They don't know whether to be a gun moll for a gangster or a mother and they are confused as to what role they should take."
Artists like Queen Latifah and MC Lyte have served as role models to rappers that came after them, Williams said. Having successful women in the industry also allowed for the rise of artists like Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown, who express their sexuality with hardcore lyrics.
But all of the dialogue about misogyny in rap, coupled with music executives' hesitancy to spend money grooming new artists, has left some female rappers floundering, he said.
"It can be hard for women to find an image that is street-marketable as well as radio-marketable," Williams said. "For the most part, men can get away with a whole lot more because of the double standard that exists among the sexes, and so it's difficult for women to find a niche."
Not that the talent isn't out there.
MC Lyte said she has encountered several accomplished female lyricists on the Internet and through her work with Hip Hop Sisters, a network she founded.
And to help women gain more exposure in the industry, Queen Latifah is going to the grass roots, as she returns to her musical roots.
Her new album, "Persona," marks her return to rap after having focused on her singing career for the past few years.
Latifah, along with CoverGirl, for which she serves as a
|
[
"What does rapper MC Lyte say about business model?",
"How many female artists are successful with hip hop music?"
] |
[
"the music industry is so focused these days on the bottom line",
"few"
] |
question: What does rapper MC Lyte say about business model?, answer: the music industry is so focused these days on the bottom line | question: How many female artists are successful with hip hop music?, answer: few
|
(CNN) -- R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass died Wednesday evening, his former publicist said. He was 59.
Pendergrass, known for smash love ballads such as "Turn Off the Lights" and "Love TKO," died after a long illness, according to Lisa Barbaris, who described herself as a close friend and his last publicist.
He died at a hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was born.
His family did not reveal details about his illness, but said it was related to complications from a 1982 car accident, Barbaris said.
"His beloved family surrounded him. The world has lost one of its greatest voices and performers," a statement from Barbaris said.
"His family is devastated. He has three children and, even though it was expected, it still hurts," she said. Gallery: The amazing Teddy Pendergrass
The crooner, who many affectionately knew as just "Teddy," started in music with a group called the Cadillacs in the late 1960s and was still with the group when it merged with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, according to his official Web site.
He started as a drummer, but soon began to sing lead after the group heard his powerful voice.
In 1972, Pendergrass's baritone could be heard on the classic Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes song "If You Don't Know Me by Now."
The song became a No. 1 hit across the country and led Pendergrass to many other hits and accolades.
After going solo, Pendergrass received several Grammy nominations, Billboard's 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award and an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978, Barbaris said.
In 1982, Pendergrass was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed. But Pendergrass returned to the studio in 1984 in his wheelchair to record an album.
Before his death, Pendergrass was working on a musical documenting his life, called "I Am Who I Am."
|
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"Pendergrass died at what age?",
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"What is Pendergrass known for?",
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"what happened in 1982?"
] |
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"car accident,"
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question: The car accident that left Pendergrass in what condition?, answer: died | question: Pendergrass died at what age?, answer: 59. | question: at what age died the singer?, answer: 59. | question: When did the singer die?, answer: Wednesday evening, | question: what was pendergrass known for?, answer: smash love ballads | question: In what year was Pendergrass involved in a car accident?, answer: 1982 | question: What is Pendergrass known for?, answer: smash love ballads | question: When was Pendergrass involved in a car accident?, answer: 1982 | question: what happened in 1982?, answer: car accident,
|
(CNN) -- Radical Islamist fighters seized control of the seat of Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government Monday, raiding the parliament building and demanding that several lawmakers publicly surrender, according to a journalist who witnessed the spectacle.
Members of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament are meeting in the neighboring country of Djibouti.
Al-Shabab fighters took over the parliament building and the presidential palace in Baidoa, in the southwestern part of the country, a day after the Ethiopian troops who had backed up the transitional government left the country.
The insurgents captured five members of parliament and paraded them through the city streets, with hundreds of residents looking on, the reporter said. The five were released after publicly surrendering.
The situation left Somali lawmakers stranded in the neighboring country of Djibouti, where they often convene and where talks on forming a new government are under way.
"We have nowhere to return to," Parliament Speaker Aden Mohamed Nur told fellow lawmakers there.
Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government took office after Ethiopian troops invaded the country at its request in December 2006. The Ethiopian invasion ousted the Islamic Courts Union, an Islamist movement that had claimed control of the capital Mogadishu earlier that year.
Ethiopia's invasion had the blessing of the United States, which accused the Islamic Courts Union of harboring fugitives from al Qaeda. But various Islamist groups -- including the hard-line Al-Shabab, which the United States has designated a terror organization -- rejected the presence of Ethiopian forces and mounted an insurgent campaign against the Ethiopians and the transitional government.
Ethiopia announced on Sunday that all its forces have left Somalia. Last week, as Ethiopian troops began pulling out of the Somali capital, forces from different Islamist groups -- including Al-Shabab -- took control of bases the Ethiopians abandoned around Mogadishu.
The transitional government maintained very little control outside of Baidoa, even with the support of the Ethiopian forces. It has also been wracked by an internal power struggle between Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, who resigned in December.
In Washington, the State Department said U.S. officials are working to independently confirm the reports from Baidoa. But State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said members of one of the major Islamic factions, which signed a peace agreement in October in Djibouti, are already joining the transitional government.
Duguid said the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, another offshoot of the ICU, will choose up to 200 new members of the transitional parliament. Another 75 members will be drawn from other opposition groups, and the expanded parliament is expected to elect a new president soon.
"We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in southern Somalia, which continues to claim innocent lives," Duguid said. "Lasting peace and stability in Somalia can only be established through the reconciliation process underway through the Djibouti Agreement and rejection of extremism."
With Monday's takeover of Baidoa, the transitional government only has control of the presidential palace in the Somali capital of Mogadishu and the road to the airport in the capital city, which it holds with the help of African Union forces.
CNN's Ben Brumfield and journalists Mohamed Amiin Adow and Omar Faruk Osman contributed to this report.
|
[
"Who supported the city of Baidoa as being legitimate?",
"Where is Baidoa located?",
"What is Baidoa?",
"Name of nation involved in the seizures?",
"The town's seizure left the lawmakers stranded where?",
"Who is stranded in Djibouti?",
"Who was trapped in Djibouti because of what happened?",
"Who gained control of Baidoa?",
"Baidoa is headquarters of what backed government?",
"What city did the Islamist fighters seize?",
"Where is the base for Somalia's UN-backed government?",
"Where were the country's lawmakers stranded?",
"who seized control?"
] |
[
"U.N.-backed",
"Somalia's",
"southwestern part of the country,",
"Somalia's",
"neighboring country of Djibouti,",
"Somali lawmakers",
"Somali lawmakers",
"Islamist fighters",
"Somali",
"Baidoa,",
"parliament building",
"Djibouti,",
"Islamist fighters"
] |
question: Who supported the city of Baidoa as being legitimate?, answer: U.N.-backed | question: Where is Baidoa located?, answer: Somalia's | question: What is Baidoa?, answer: southwestern part of the country, | question: Name of nation involved in the seizures?, answer: Somalia's | question: The town's seizure left the lawmakers stranded where?, answer: neighboring country of Djibouti, | question: Who is stranded in Djibouti?, answer: Somali lawmakers | question: Who was trapped in Djibouti because of what happened?, answer: Somali lawmakers | question: Who gained control of Baidoa?, answer: Islamist fighters | question: Baidoa is headquarters of what backed government?, answer: Somali | question: What city did the Islamist fighters seize?, answer: Baidoa, | question: Where is the base for Somalia's UN-backed government?, answer: parliament building | question: Where were the country's lawmakers stranded?, answer: Djibouti, | question: who seized control?, answer: Islamist fighters
|
(CNN) -- Radovan Karadzic's arrest after a decade-long hunt is the equivalent of catching Europe's Osama bin Laden, the U.S. diplomat who brokered peace in Bosnia says.
Radovan Karadzic, seen here in 1995, has been arrested after a decade-long hunt.
Richard Holbrooke, who negotiated the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, led the chorus of congratulations from around the globe telling reporters it was "a historic day."
"One of the worst men in the world, the Osama bin Laden of Europe, has finally been captured. A major, major thug has been removed from the public scene."
"He was at large because the Yugoslav army was protecting him. But this guy in my view was worse than Milosevic [Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic]... he was the intellectual leader," Holbrooke told CNN. Watch Holdbrooke talk about the arrest »
David Miliband, Britain's Foreign Secretary, said it would "pave the way for a brighter, European future for Serbia and the region."
The White House released a statement congratulating the government of Serbia, and thanked the people who arrested Karadzic on a bus in Belgrade for their "professionalism and courage."
Paddy Ashdown, the former international administrator in Bosnia, told the BBC that it was a "longed hoped for day."
"The four years that I was working with NATO to try and catch him were peppered by rumors of where he was -- in this cafe, on that mountain, in this valley." Watch Karadzic's lawyer slam arrest »
Ashdown also told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper that it was a "major breakthrough for the Balkans region."
"Karadzic was accused of being the architect of the worst war crimes that have been perpetrated in Europe since the Nazis.
"It is a major credit to Serbia and at last brings the prospect of justice for Bosnia," Ashdown said.
The arrest brought Serbia's hopes of joining the EU one step closer to realization, EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana lauding the news.
"This ... gives us immense satisfaction. The new government in Belgrade stands for a new Serbia, for a new quality of relations with the EU."
Vuk Jeremic, Serbia's Foreign Minister, said the arrest was proof Serbia was "serious when it comes to her European fate."
However, Serb Radical Party Secretary General Aleksandar Vucic said it was "horrible" news and that the country was "on its way to disappear."
Karadzic, 63, is accused of leading the worst acts of brutality Europe has seen since the Nazi campaigns of World War II.
He is wanted over he deadly siege of Sarajevo, which left an estimated 10,000 people dead, and the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica.
|
[
"What did former U.S. peace broker say?",
"What did former international administrator say?",
"For what reason was Karadzic arrested?",
"What continent is Balkans on?"
] |
[
"Karadzic's arrest after a decade-long hunt is the equivalent of catching Europe's Osama",
"it was a \"longed hoped for day.\"",
"leading the worst acts of brutality Europe has seen since the Nazi campaigns of World War II.",
"Europe"
] |
question: What did former U.S. peace broker say?, answer: Karadzic's arrest after a decade-long hunt is the equivalent of catching Europe's Osama | question: What did former international administrator say?, answer: it was a "longed hoped for day." | question: For what reason was Karadzic arrested?, answer: leading the worst acts of brutality Europe has seen since the Nazi campaigns of World War II. | question: What continent is Balkans on?, answer: Europe
|
(CNN) -- Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer have put Spain on the brink of reaching the Davis Cup final after winning their opening two singles rubbers against France in convincing fashion.
With the red clay of Cordoba suiting the Spanish duo perfectly, world number two Nadal -- showing no ill effects from losing the final of the U.S. Open to Novak Djokovic earlier this week -- set the ball rolling with a crushing 6-3 6-0 6-1 success over Richard Gasquet.
And Ferrer doubled Spain's advantage, brushing aside Gilles Simon 6-1 6-4 6-1, to leave the four-times champions needing just a win in Saturday's doubles rubber to reach the final.
The New Musketeers: France's fantastic four bid for Davis Cup glory
Despite searing heat, Nadal never allowed Gasquet time to get into their match, with the 10-time grand slam winner telling reporters he was delighted with his performance, considering he felt tired.
"That worked out well, I managed to play with a cool head and do what I had to do throughout without losing concentration for a minute," said Nadal.
"There were moments where he helped me in making mistakes, not forcing me to play long points. My service was working well and that made me feel much more comfortable," added the Spanish No.1.
A despondent Gasquet added: "Even a tired Nadal remains an exceptional player. I couldn't find a way past him. It's a defeat that really hurts."
Spain are attempting to reach the final for the third time in four years, and are favorites to take the trophy with two of the world's top five players amongst their ranks.
They are also well on their way to avenging last year's 5-0 whitewash quarterfinal defeat to France
Spanish doubles specialists Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco can now finish the job on Saturday when they go up against Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Meanwhile, defending champions Serbia have a mountain to climb in order to retain their title after losing the opening two singles rubbers of their semifinal against Argentina in front of 15,000 partisan fans in Belgrade.
David Nalbandian set Argentina on their way with a 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-3 success over Victor Troicki, who replaced Djokovic in the opening singles after the world No.1 complained of fatigue and a back injury.
Then, former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro saw off Janko Tipsarevic 7-5 6-3 6-4 to put Argentina within one victory of a place in the final.
Nalbandian told reporters he only knew of Djokovic's absence 30 minutes before the match started. "But I knew yesterday that I had to be prepared to play anyone. We are well prepared, in good form, and ready to write history."
|
[
"What score was in Serbia vs Argentina game?",
"what country lead france after the opening singles",
"Serbia trail who 2-0 after Novak Djokovic withdraws from opener?",
"Spain lead France 2-0 after the opening singles rubbers where?",
"what two men crushed their opponents",
"Which pair crush their opponents for the loss of just 10 games?"
] |
[
"7-5 6-3 6-4",
"Spain",
"Argentina",
"Davis Cup",
"Nadal and David Ferrer",
"Rafael"
] |
question: What score was in Serbia vs Argentina game?, answer: 7-5 6-3 6-4 | question: what country lead france after the opening singles, answer: Spain | question: Serbia trail who 2-0 after Novak Djokovic withdraws from opener?, answer: Argentina | question: Spain lead France 2-0 after the opening singles rubbers where?, answer: Davis Cup | question: what two men crushed their opponents, answer: Nadal and David Ferrer | question: Which pair crush their opponents for the loss of just 10 games?, answer: Rafael
|
(CNN) -- Rafael Nadal ended the Paris Masters run of defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday to help fellow-Spaniard Fernando Verdasco book his spot at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Tsonga needed to retain his title to deny Verdasco a place at the prestigious eight-man tournament later this month, but found Nadal far too consistent and fell to a 7-5 7-5 quarterfinal defeat.
The world number two struggled in his first two matches, saving five match points against Nicolas Almagro before edging out Tommy Robredo, but his form was much improved on Friday.
Tsonga dominated much of the first set with his blistering groundstrokes but could not take advantage of five break points and gradually Nadal took the sting out of his opponent before breaking in the 11th game.
The second set took on a similar pattern, although the errors were more frequent from the home favorite and Nadal again broke at 5-5 thanks to a poor game from Tsonga.
The 23-year-old confidently served out for victory and will now face third seed Novak Djokovic in a superb semifinal showdown on Saturday.
Djokovic was a 6-4 1-6 6-3 winner against Robin Soderling, who would needed to reach the final in Bercy to have a chance of reaching the London finals.
The Swede dominated the second set and created 14 break points on his opponent's serve during the match, but took only three of them.
Serb Djokovic admitted he was not at his best and was relieved to reach the last four after a fifth successive victory over Soderling.
He told Sky Sports: "I'm very pleased to go through, it was a big struggle for me. Mostly I was fighting myself. In the second set I was not moving well and I was letting him control the match but in the end I managed to hold the nerves and focus."
Nadal and Djokovic have met 19 times, with the Spaniard holding a clear lead at 14-5. However, Djokovic won their last encounter in Cincinnati in August for the loss of only five games.
|
[
"Who did Djokovic beat?",
"Who is assured a place in the ATP World Finals?",
"Where will the ATP World Finals be held?",
"Who beat Jo-Willfried Tsonga?",
"Who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?",
"Who will Nadal face in the semifinals?"
] |
[
"Robin Soderling,",
"Fernando Verdasco",
"London.",
"Nadal",
"Nadal",
"Novak Djokovic"
] |
question: Who did Djokovic beat?, answer: Robin Soderling, | question: Who is assured a place in the ATP World Finals?, answer: Fernando Verdasco | question: Where will the ATP World Finals be held?, answer: London. | question: Who beat Jo-Willfried Tsonga?, answer: Nadal | question: Who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?, answer: Nadal | question: Who will Nadal face in the semifinals?, answer: Novak Djokovic
|
(CNN) -- Rafael Nadal must get past big-serving home hope Andy Roddick to have a shot at his first title in 11 months at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
The Spanish fourth seed crushed No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-3 6-2 on Wednesday night to move into the semifinals of the ATP Tour event, which has already seen top-ranked Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray fall by the wayside.
Sixth seed Roddick is hoping to repeat his 2004 victory, with the American in similarly dominant form as he dispatched Nadal's 33rd-seeded compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-3 6-3.
Nadal, twice a losing finalist in the southern American city, also reached the last four at Indian Wells two weeks ago on his return from a knee injury.
"When you play against Andy, it always is a big challenge," he told the ATP Tour Web site.
"His serve, and he's a very good competitor. He's a winner. Gonna be a very tough match, no? I think I have to play my best tennis to try to win."
Roddick, who has not dropped a set so far, will take on a player who will return to No. 3 in the world rankings next week following defending champion Murray's second-round exit.
He reached the final at Indian Wells before losing to Nadal's conqueror Ivan Ljubicic, and was also a semifinalist in Miami in 2008.
"Sometimes when you're not playing well, everything feels a little bit forced. When you play a lot of matches and play a high level, it feels like everything kind of slows down a little bit," he told the ATP site.
"Muscle memory takes over a little bit more, and things kind of just happen. So I think I'm at that stage right now.
"Unfortunately with tennis you have to start every day and it's a new one. You're playing well, but you still have to go out and do it every day."
In Thursday's quarterfinals, fifth seed Robin Soderling of Sweden takes on No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.
Czech 16th seed Tomas Berdych, who knocked out Federer on Wednesday, will play Spanish No. 10 Fernando Verdasco.
Meanwhile, Justine Henin will take on fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters in a battle of the former number ones in the semifinals of the women's event in Miami.
Henin came from behind to oust second seed Caroline Wozniacki, beating the young Dane 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4.
"I was in a lot of trouble in the first set. It wasn't easy for me to find a good balance of aggression and patience," Henin, who was given a wildcard entry, told the WTA Tour Web site.
"It was the kind of match I really needed. Even though I was a bit tired in the end, I was able to win. In terms of my fighting spirit, I proved I can still do it. That was important for me."
Clijsters, the 14th seed, defeated No. 9 Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-3 7-5 as she broke to love in the 11th game and then served out for victory.
"Kim and I grew up together, arrived on the tour at the same time, played well at the same time, retired at the same time, and now we came back at the same time. It's amazing," Clijsters said.
"We have never stopped respecting each other. Never, ever, ever. Even if people talk about it, we never had any problems, Kim and I."
Henin has a 12-11 advantage in matches between the two, and the winner of Thursday night's match will take on either American third seed Venus Williams or France's No. 13 Marion Bartoli.
|
[
"Who faces Andy Roddick in semifinals?",
"What position was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?",
"What is the nationality of Justine Henin?",
"Who was Nadal's compatriot?",
"Who will Rafael Nadal meet in semifinals?",
"Did Nadal beat Tsonga after all?",
"Who will Rafael Nadal face?",
"Who is the American sixth seed?"
] |
[
"Nadal",
"No. 8",
"Belgian",
"Nicolas Almagro",
"Andy Roddick",
"crushed No. 8 Jo-Wilfried",
"Andy Roddick",
"Andy Roddick"
] |
question: Who faces Andy Roddick in semifinals?, answer: Nadal | question: What position was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?, answer: No. 8 | question: What is the nationality of Justine Henin?, answer: Belgian | question: Who was Nadal's compatriot?, answer: Nicolas Almagro | question: Who will Rafael Nadal meet in semifinals?, answer: Andy Roddick | question: Did Nadal beat Tsonga after all?, answer: crushed No. 8 Jo-Wilfried | question: Who will Rafael Nadal face?, answer: Andy Roddick | question: Who is the American sixth seed?, answer: Andy Roddick
|
(CNN) -- Ramping up pressure on Honduras' interim government, the United States has revoked the visa of the beleaguered country's leader, a senior Honduran official told CNN en Espanol on Saturday.
Roberto Micheletti and his supporters say Honduras underwent a constitutional transfer of power, not a coup.
De facto President Roberto Micheletti and 14 supreme court judges had their visas revoked, said Honduran Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez. Lopez said he, too, lost his visa privileges.
The U.S. State Department recently announced that it would pull the visas of members of Honduras' de facto regime.
In recent weeks, the United States has stepped up its call for the current Honduran government to restore ousted President Jose Manuel Zelaya to power. Zelaya was seized by the Honduran military in his pajamas and sent into exile on June 28.
On Wednesday, the board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government agency, voted to cut $11 million in aid to the government in Honduras, senior State Department officials told CNN. Prior to the vote, the board had only suspended the aid, the State Department said.
The Millennium Challenge Account is a program started under the Bush administration to reward good governance.
The agency's cuts followed an announcement last week by the United States that it was terminating all nonhumanitarian aid to Honduras to pressure the interim government to end the political turmoil and accept the terms of an agreement known as the San Jose Accord. The accord calls for Zelaya's return to power.
The political crisis stemmed from Zelaya's plan to hold a referendum that could have changed the constitution and allowed longer term limits. The country's congress had outlawed the vote and the supreme court had ruled it illegal.
Micheletti and his supporters say that Zelaya's removal was a constitutional transfer of power and not a coup. The United Nations has condemned Zelaya's ouster and does not recognize Michiletti's government.
While the United States has called Zelaya's ouster a coup, it has not formally designated it a "military coup," which, under U.S. law, would have triggered a cutoff of all non-humanitarian aid regardless. Senior State Department officials said the Obama administration was reluctant to make the formal designation in order to preserve its flexibility for a diplomatic solution.
A presidential campaign in Honduras kicked off last week. However, the United States said it would not support the outcome of the elections unless Zelaya was restored to power.
CNN en Espanol's Maria Elisa Callejas contributed to this report.
|
[
"Who announced it would pull visas of the regime?",
"Who was ousted on June 28 and sent into exile?",
"Who was ousted on June 28?",
"Who condemned the move?",
"What announced U.S. State department?",
"Who doesn't recognize de facto government?",
"Who had visas revoked?"
] |
[
"The U.S. State Department",
"Zelaya",
"President Jose Manuel Zelaya",
"The United Nations",
"that it would pull the visas of members of Honduras' de facto regime.",
"United Nations",
"President Roberto Micheletti and 14 supreme court judges"
] |
question: Who announced it would pull visas of the regime?, answer: The U.S. State Department | question: Who was ousted on June 28 and sent into exile?, answer: Zelaya | question: Who was ousted on June 28?, answer: President Jose Manuel Zelaya | question: Who condemned the move?, answer: The United Nations | question: What announced U.S. State department?, answer: that it would pull the visas of members of Honduras' de facto regime. | question: Who doesn't recognize de facto government?, answer: United Nations | question: Who had visas revoked?, answer: President Roberto Micheletti and 14 supreme court judges
|
(CNN) -- Randy Pausch, the professor whose "last lecture" became a runaway phenomenon on the Internet and was turned into a best-selling book, died Friday of pancreatic cancer, Carnegie Mellon University announced on its Web site.
Randy Pausch emphasized the joy of life in his "last lecture," originally given in September 2007.
Pausch, 47, a computer science professor, delivered the lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007, a month after being told he had three to six months to live because his cancer had returned.
The lanky, energetic Pausch talked about goals he had accomplished, like experiencing zero gravity and creating Disney attractions, and those he had not, including becoming a professional football player.
He used rejections he was handed when he applied for jobs at Disney to comment on the importance of persistence.
"The brick walls are there for a reason ... to show us how badly we want something," he said. "Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people." Watch what Pausch did for his wife »
Starting with a joke about "a deathbed conversion" -- "I just bought a Macintosh" computer -- the educator went on to say that one of his childhood dreams was to write an entry in the World Book Encyclopedia.
"I guess you can tell the nerds early," he added.
An expert in virtual reality, Pausch did go on to write an encyclopedia entry on the subject.
He discussed his fondness for winning stuffed animals at fairs, showed a slide of them, then -- pretending to be concerned his audience would think the image had been digitally manipulated -- produced them onstage.
Donning silly costume items like a vest with arrows sticking out of it and a Mad Hatter's hat, he described working with students as a way to help other people achieve their dreams.
He also played down his own importance, saying that after he got a Ph.D., his mother took to introducing him as "a doctor, but not the kind who helps people."
The lecture has been viewed more than 3.2 million times since it was posted on YouTube in December.
Pausch co-founded the university's Entertainment Technology Center and was known for developing interdisciplinary courses and research projects that attracted new students to the field of computer science. He also spent his career encouraging computer scientists to collaborate with artists, dramatists and designers, Carnegie Mellon said.
The university's president, Jared Cohon, described Pausch as "a brilliant researcher and gifted teacher."
"His love of teaching, his sense of fun and his brilliance came together in the Alice project, which teaches students computer programming while enabling them to do something fun -- making animated movies and games," Cohon added. "Carnegie Mellon -- and the world -- are better places for having had Randy Pausch in them."
Pausch describes Cohon urging him to talk about having fun in his lecture, and telling him it's difficult because it's like asking a fish to talk about water.
"I don't know how not to have fun," he said. "I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left."
Pausch is survived by his wife, Jai, and three children.
|
[
"Where was Randy Pausch a professor?",
"What year was the \"Last Lecture\" ?",
"What was the purpose of Pausch's lecture?",
"What was Randy Pausch's proffesion?",
"what was randy pausch?",
"when was the last lecture",
"What kind of was professor was Randy Pausch?",
"Who was Randy Pausch?",
"Where was Randy Pausch a computer science professor?",
"what was the lecture about",
"What did Pausch's lecture celebrate?"
] |
[
"Carnegie Mellon University",
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"computer science",
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"Carnegie Mellon University",
"\"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,\"",
"\"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,\""
] |
question: Where was Randy Pausch a professor?, answer: Carnegie Mellon University | question: What year was the "Last Lecture" ?, answer: 2007. | question: What was the purpose of Pausch's lecture?, answer: emphasized the joy of life | question: What was Randy Pausch's proffesion?, answer: professor | question: what was randy pausch?, answer: a computer science professor, | question: when was the last lecture, answer: September 2007. | question: What kind of was professor was Randy Pausch?, answer: computer science | question: Who was Randy Pausch?, answer: professor whose "last lecture" became a runaway phenomenon | question: Where was Randy Pausch a computer science professor?, answer: Carnegie Mellon University | question: what was the lecture about, answer: "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," | question: What did Pausch's lecture celebrate?, answer: "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,"
|
(CNN) -- Rangers restored their four-point lead over Celtic despite conceding the fastest goal in Scottish Premier League history on Sunday.
The Glasgow side went behind after only 12.4 seconds as Hibernian striker Anthony Stokes surpassed the previous mark set by Saulius Mikoliunas for Edinburgh rivals Hearts back in 2006, but bounced back to register a 4-1 away victory.
Scotland striker Kenny Miller scored in each half, while goals from fellow frontmen Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo ensured that third-placed Hibs' unbeaten run of 13 league games came to an end.
Celtic had closed the gap to one point after beating Hamilton Academicals 2-0 on Saturday.
Rangers, meanwhile, expect to have Madjid Bougherra available for Wednesday's home clash with fourth-placed Dundee United, but the Algeria defender will leave for African Nations Cup duty in Angola before next Sunday's Old Firm derby showdown with Celtic.
"That's the way it's looking at the present moment," manager Walter Smith said.
Smith will also be without United States winger DaMarcus Beasley for the next few weeks after he suffered an injury in training before the Hibs game.
"He has a tear in his thigh. I'm not sure how long that will keep him out -- two or three weeks maybe," Smith said.
"It's disappointing in the sense that he is just back in the team and doing exceptionally well, so it was disappointing it happened."
However, Beasley's international teammate Maurice Edu boosted his chances of playing at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa after making his first appearance this season.
The midfielder, who suffered a serious knee injury in the final SPL game of last season, came off the substitutes' bench for the final 15 minutes at Easter Road.
|
[
"What was it that Rangers conceded",
"What is the reason Madjid Bougherra will miss the derby",
"Who won the African Nations Cup?",
"What was the final score?",
"Who suffered a thigh injury?",
"Who scored the goal after 12.4 seconds",
"Who had the comeback?"
] |
[
"fastest goal in Scottish",
"African Nations Cup duty",
"Rangers",
"4-1",
"DaMarcus Beasley",
"Anthony Stokes",
"Rangers"
] |
question: What was it that Rangers conceded, answer: fastest goal in Scottish | question: What is the reason Madjid Bougherra will miss the derby, answer: African Nations Cup duty | question: Who won the African Nations Cup?, answer: Rangers | question: What was the final score?, answer: 4-1 | question: Who suffered a thigh injury?, answer: DaMarcus Beasley | question: Who scored the goal after 12.4 seconds, answer: Anthony Stokes | question: Who had the comeback?, answer: Rangers
|
(CNN) -- Rap star T.I. threw himself a going-away party Sunday night, less than two days before he was scheduled to begin serving a prison sentence on federal weapons charges.
T.I. performed to a packed crowd Sunday, days before he was to start a prison term.
The Grammy-winning rapper performed at Atlanta's Philips Arena before a packed house. He is scheduled to head to prison Tuesday to start a 366-day sentence.
During Sunday's concert, the 28-year-old reiterated a message that's become familiar in recent weeks: He wants others to learn from his mistakes.
"I'm doing the best I can to get out there, man, and put something positive on these young kids, man," T.I. said during the show. "I try my best. I need y'all help, though."
The rapper played to a sell-out crowd of 16,000 people, said Kenan Woods, a spokesman for the arena. T.I., whose given name is Clifford Harris, played through much of his catalog, including the hits "Whatever You Like," "Live Your Life" and the Grammy-winning "Swagga Like Us," Woods said.
At times in the show, Harris was joined on stage by fellow rapper Soulja Boy and by his five children and mother, Woods said.
He was greeted by a welcoming crowd, and some members of the audience held up signs supporting him.
Tickets for the show started at just $10, according to the arena, which called the event "T.I.'s Final Goodbye Bash."
Harris has been the subject of an MTV reality show, "T.I.'s Road to Redemption," in the lead-up to the prison term.
He was sentenced in March on weapons charges related to purchasing machine guns and silencers. In addition to serving prison time, T.I. was placed on house arrest, was given community service and was ordered to pay a $100,300 fine.
Though he had been in legal trouble before, Harris' current situation began when he was arrested just hours before he was to perform at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.
The rapper had provided a bodyguard with $12,000 to buy weapons. Harris was not permitted to own any guns, however, because he was convicted in 1998 on felony drug charges -- possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute -- in Cobb County, in suburban Atlanta.
After his arrest, he entered a plea agreement, which federal authorities called unique because it allowed the rapper to remain out of prison for a year while he performed community service.
Harris has already left a strong mark on the hip-hop genre, music experts told CNN, which should position his career well when he is released. Harris had been named to the Forbes list of top-earning rappers, making an estimated $16 million in 2006.
Some music industry observers have said T.I.'s prison term will only make him more popular.
"I think that if anything, it will gain him more fans and actually support his fan base, because he's talked about making a mistake," Emil Wilbekin, editor in chief of Giant Magazine, told CNN. "He's talked about taking care of the error of his ways."
The Atlanta rapper has expressed remorse for the situation.
"I would like to say thank you to some and apologize to others," he said at his sentencing in March. "In my life, I have been placed in the worst-case scenario and had to make the best of it."
In a March interview with CNN's T.J. Holmes, Harris said he no longer felt like he needed to carry weapons to protect himself. He said people should not idolize him for what he's gone through, but should take note of the fact that he has taken responsibility for his actions.
"You shouldn't take the things that I've gone through, and the negative parts of my life, and admire me for that. If anything, admire me for how I've accepted responsibility for the part
|
[
"What did T.I. do two days before his prison term started?",
"When will T.I. prison term start?",
"who performed on sunday",
"To what was the rapper sentenced?",
"What was T.I. convicted for?",
"How long is his prison term?"
] |
[
"performed to a packed crowd",
"Tuesday",
"T.I.",
"federal weapons charges.",
"federal weapons charges.",
"366-day sentence."
] |
question: What did T.I. do two days before his prison term started?, answer: performed to a packed crowd | question: When will T.I. prison term start?, answer: Tuesday | question: who performed on sunday, answer: T.I. | question: To what was the rapper sentenced?, answer: federal weapons charges. | question: What was T.I. convicted for?, answer: federal weapons charges. | question: How long is his prison term?, answer: 366-day sentence.
|
(CNN) -- Rape has turned into a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the number of attacks on women having grown threefold over the past few years, human rights activists said Friday.
A Congolese rape victim, left, at the Heal Africa clinic in Goma on August 8, 2009.
Anneke van Woudenberg, senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, told Christiane Amanpour that 200,000 women and girls have been raped in Eastern Congo since 1998, and the condition of women has become more dire as the Congolese army has pressed a military campaign against armed groups in the countryside.
"Rape is being used as a weapon of war in eastern Congo. So we notice and we have documented that when armed groups walk into town, they will rape the women and girls, sometimes publicly, sometimes privately, in order to punish the local population," she said. "It's the easiest way to terrorize a community."
Congo has witnessed one of the worst humanitarian crises since World War II, with a death toll estimated at more than 5 million. Most of the dead have come not from direct violence, but the consequences of the fighting: disease and starvation. While the war formally ended six years ago, fighting persists in eastern Congo, and women are paying a high price. CNN visits a devastated community »
"One of the other sad realities is that the majority of those who are raped are adolescent girls, 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds, 14-year-olds. Their lives are often ruined by this. And I think we've got to take more seriously -- protection of civilians is not just protecting them from death. It's protecting them from rape," van Woudenberg said. Listen to more from van Woudenberg
There have also been reports of members of the Congolese army, particularly high ranking officers, attacking women. In May, the United Nations handed over the names of five top military officers accused of rape. Two of the senior officers are being detained in the capital of Kinshasa and the three others must report to authorities under close observation. They are awaiting trial.
Still more must be done, aid groups say, starting with the establishment of a special court made up of Congolese and international judges and prosecutors to investigate rape allegations.
"I think they've got to start holding to account the generals and colonels who are either themselves responsible or who allow their troops to rape. And so far, those are the guys that have been untouchable," said van Woudenberg. "No general has yet been held to account in Congo for rape, and it's high time that that changes."
Congo has taken some measures to try to curb the sexual violence. In 2006, its parliament passed a law criminalizing rape, with penalties ranging from five to 20 years. Penalties are doubled under certain circumstances, including gang-rape and if the perpetrator is a public official.
Kabila's wife, Olive Lemba Kabila, has launched a public campaign speaking out against rapes of the nation's women and girls.
The army has also started a zero-tolerance campaign in which commanders have emphasized to troops that they must respect human rights and protect civilians from harm, according to the U.N.
The United Nations maintains in Congo its largest peacekeeping force anywhere in the world. But the forces have been ineffective at stopping rape.
Jean-Marie Guehenno, the former head of U.N. peacekeeping, told Amanpour that the international forces face a serious problem: Too few troops assigned to the vast inaccessible reaches of eastern Congo.
"In the Kivu provinces, there are 10 million people," Guehenno said. "If one applied the counterinsurgency ratios that the U.S. Army thinks of -- say, 20 per 1,000 -- that would mean 200,000 troops in Congo -- 200,000 accountable troops."
"The U.N. is in a tough spot, to be frank, because if it did not give any support to the Congolese army, probably the Congolese army might prey even more on the population," Guehenno said.
Part of the problem stems from the tactic applied by the Congolese
|
[
"What number of people in Congo die from disease and hunger resulting from the fighting?",
"How many women, girls raped in eastern Congo?",
"who is the army fighting in Congo?",
"How many women and girls have been raped in the Eastern Congo since 1998?",
"How many have died in Congo?",
"What are some results from fighting?",
"How many women are girls are raped in Eastern Congo since 1998?"
] |
[
"5 million.",
"200,000",
"armed groups in the countryside.",
"200,000",
"more than 5 million.",
"disease and starvation.",
"200,000"
] |
question: What number of people in Congo die from disease and hunger resulting from the fighting?, answer: 5 million. | question: How many women, girls raped in eastern Congo?, answer: 200,000 | question: who is the army fighting in Congo?, answer: armed groups in the countryside. | question: How many women and girls have been raped in the Eastern Congo since 1998?, answer: 200,000 | question: How many have died in Congo?, answer: more than 5 million. | question: What are some results from fighting?, answer: disease and starvation. | question: How many women are girls are raped in Eastern Congo since 1998?, answer: 200,000
|
(CNN) -- Rapid-fire TV news bulletins or getting updates via social-networking tools such as Twitter could numb our sense of morality and make us indifferent to human suffering, scientists say.
Scientists say updates on networking tools such as Twitter are often to quick for the brain to fully digest.
New findings show that the streams of information provided by social networking sites are too fast for the brain's "moral compass" to process and could harm young people's emotional development.
Before the brain can fully digest the anguish and suffering of a story, it is being bombarded by the next news bulletin or the latest Twitter update, according to a University of Southern California study.
"If things are happening too fast, you may not ever fully experience emotions about other people's psychological states and that would have implications for your morality," said researcher Mary Helen Immordino-Yang.
The report, published next week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Online Early Edition, studied how volunteers responded to real-life stories chosen to stimulate admiration for virtue or skill, or compassion for physical or social pain. iReport.com: Growing pains for Twitter, Facebook?
Brain scans showed humans can process and respond very quickly to signs of physical pain in others, but took longer to show admiration of compassion.
"For some kinds of thought, especially moral decision-making about other people's social and psychological situations, we need to allow for adequate time and refection," said Immordio-Yang.
She said the study raises questions about the emotional cost, particularly for young people, of heavy reliance on a torrent of news snippets delivered via TV and online feeds such as Twitter.
She said: "We need to understand how social experience shapes interactions between the body and mind, to produce citizens with a strong moral compass."
USC sociologist Manuel Castells said the study raised more concerns over fast-moving TV than the online environment.
"In a media culture in which violence and suffering becomes an endless show, be it in fiction or in infotainment, indifference to the vision of human suffering gradually sets in."
Research leader Antonio Damasio, director of USC's Brain and Creativity Institute, said the findings stressed the need for slower delivery of the news, and highlighted the importance of slow-burn emotions like admiration.
Damasio cited the example of U.S. President Barack Obama, who says he was inspired by his father, to show how admiration can be key to cultural success.
"We actually separate the good from the bad in great part thanks to the feeling of admiration. It's a deep physiological reaction that's very important to define our humanity."
Twitter, which allows users to swap messages and links of 140-characters or less, says on its Web site that it sees itself as a solution to information overload, rather than a cause of it.
This function, it says, "means you can step in and out of the flow of information as it suits you and it never queues up with increasing demand of your attention."
|
[
"What did the study say was too fast for the brain?",
"What do humans respond quickly to?",
"What could cause harm to the moral compass?"
] |
[
"updates on networking tools such as Twitter",
"signs of physical pain in others,",
"New findings show that the streams of information provided by social networking sites are too fast for the brain's \"moral compass\""
] |
question: What did the study say was too fast for the brain?, answer: updates on networking tools such as Twitter | question: What do humans respond quickly to?, answer: signs of physical pain in others, | question: What could cause harm to the moral compass?, answer: New findings show that the streams of information provided by social networking sites are too fast for the brain's "moral compass"
|
(CNN) -- Rapid-fire TV news bulletins or getting updates via social-networking tools such as Twitter could numb our sense of morality and make us indifferent to human suffering, scientists say.
Scientists say updates on networking tools such as Twitter are often too quick for the brain to fully digest.
New findings show that the streams of information provided by social networking sites are too fast for the brain's "moral compass" to process and could harm young people's emotional development.
Before the brain can fully digest the anguish and suffering of a story, it is being bombarded by the next news bulletin or the latest Twitter update, according to a University of Southern California study.
"If things are happening too fast, you may not ever fully experience emotions about other people's psychological states and that would have implications for your morality," said researcher Mary Helen Immordino-Yang.
The report, published next week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Online Early Edition, studied how volunteers responded to real-life stories chosen to stimulate admiration for virtue or skill, or compassion for physical or social pain. iReport.com: Growing pains for Twitter, Facebook?
Brain scans showed humans can process and respond very quickly to signs of physical pain in others, but took longer to show admiration or compassion.
"For some kinds of thought, especially moral decision-making about other people's social and psychological situations, we need to allow for adequate time and refection," said Immordio-Yang.
She said the study raises questions about the emotional cost, particularly for young people, of heavy reliance on a torrent of news snippets delivered via TV and online feeds such as Twitter.
She said: "We need to understand how social experience shapes interactions between the body and mind, to produce citizens with a strong moral compass."
USC sociologist Manuel Castells said the study raised more concerns over fast-moving TV than the online environment.
"In a media culture in which violence and suffering becomes an endless show, be it in fiction or in infotainment, indifference to the vision of human suffering gradually sets in."
Research leader Antonio Damasio, director of USC's Brain and Creativity Institute, said the findings stressed the need for slower delivery of the news, and highlighted the importance of slow-burn emotions like admiration.
Damasio cited the example of U.S. President Barack Obama, who says he was inspired by his father, to show how admiration can be key to cultural success.
"We actually separate the good from the bad in great part thanks to the feeling of admiration. It's a deep physiological reaction that's very important to define our humanity."
Twitter, which allows users to swap messages and links of 140-characters or less, says on its Web site that it sees itself as a solution to information overload, rather than a cause of it.
This function, It says, "means you can step in and out of the flow of information as it suits you and it never queues up with increasing demand of your attention."
|
[
"What has a USC study found about Twitter?",
"Who claims Twitter news updates are to fast for brain?",
"What do scans reveal about the brain?",
"What do scans show humans respond rapidly to?"
] |
[
"could harm young people's emotional development.",
"Scientists",
"showed humans can process and respond very quickly to signs of physical pain in others, but took longer to show admiration or compassion.",
"signs of physical pain in others,"
] |
question: What has a USC study found about Twitter?, answer: could harm young people's emotional development. | question: Who claims Twitter news updates are to fast for brain?, answer: Scientists | question: What do scans reveal about the brain?, answer: showed humans can process and respond very quickly to signs of physical pain in others, but took longer to show admiration or compassion. | question: What do scans show humans respond rapidly to?, answer: signs of physical pain in others,
|
(CNN) -- Rapper T.I., who was sentenced to a 366-day prison sentence in March, reported Tuesday to a federal prison complex in Forrest City, Arkansas, according to CNN affiliate WSB-TV.
T.I., left, performed to a packed crowd Sunday, days before he was to start a prison term.
The rapper -- whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr. -- was required to be at the prison before noon local time to begin serving his sentence on federal weapons charges.
According to news reports, officers from Forrest City and the prison set up a roadblock along Arkansas Highway 1 about one-tenth of a mile from the complex. Reporters were not allowed any closer to the prison.
T.I. threw himself a going-away party Sunday night at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, before a packed house. During Sunday's concert -- called "T.I.'s Final Goodbye Bash" -- the 28-year-old Grammy winner reiterated a message that's become familiar in recent weeks: He wants others to learn from his mistakes.
"I'm doing the best I can to get out there, man, and put something positive on these young kids, man," T.I. said during the show. "I try my best. I need y'all help, though."
The rapper played to a sell-out crowd of 16,000 people, said Kenan Woods, a spokesman for the arena. T.I. played through much of his catalog, including the hits "Whatever You Like," "Live Your Life" and the Grammy-winning "Swagga Like Us," Woods said.
At times in the show, Harris was joined on stage by fellow rapper Soulja Boy and by his five children and mother, Woods said.
T.I. was sentenced in March on weapons charges related to purchasing machine guns and silencers. In addition to serving prison time, T.I. was placed on house arrest, was given community service and was ordered to pay a $100,300 fine.
Though he had been in legal trouble before, Harris' current situation began when he was arrested just hours before he was to perform at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.
The rapper had provided a bodyguard with $12,000 to buy weapons. Harris was not permitted to own any guns, however, because he was convicted in 1998 on felony drug charges -- possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute -- in Cobb County, in suburban Atlanta.
After his arrest, he entered a plea agreement, which federal authorities called unique because it allowed the rapper to remain out of prison for a year while he performed community service.
Harris has already left a strong mark on the hip-hop genre, music experts told CNN, which should position his career well when he is released. Harris had been named to the Forbes list of top-earning rappers, making an estimated $16 million in 2006.
Some music industry observers have said T.I.'s prison term will only make him more popular.
"I think that if anything, it will gain him more fans and actually support his fan base, because he's talked about making a mistake," Emil Wilbekin, editor in chief of Giant Magazine, told CNN. "He's talked about taking care of the error of his ways."
The Atlanta rapper has expressed remorse for the situation.
"I would like to say thank you to some and apologize to others," he said at his sentencing in March. "In my life, I have been placed in the worst-case scenario and had to make the best of it."
In a March interview with CNN's T.J. Holmes, Harris said he no longer felt like he needed to carry weapons to protect himself. He said people should not idolize him for what he's gone through, but should take note of the fact that he has taken responsibility for his actions.
"You shouldn't take the things that I've gone through, and the negative parts of my life, and admire me for that. If anything, admire me for how I've accepted responsibility for the part I
|
[
"When does his prison term start?",
"What was the rapper sentenced for?",
"What is the occupation of T.I.",
"On what day did T.I. perform?",
"When does his prison term begin?",
"How long is the prison term of T.I.",
"Who was sentenced for federal weapons charges?",
"What was the reason for the rapper's sentence?"
] |
[
"Tuesday",
"weapons charges",
"Rapper",
"Sunday,",
"reported Tuesday to",
"366-day",
"Clifford Harris Jr.",
"on federal weapons charges."
] |
question: When does his prison term start?, answer: Tuesday | question: What was the rapper sentenced for?, answer: weapons charges | question: What is the occupation of T.I., answer: Rapper | question: On what day did T.I. perform?, answer: Sunday, | question: When does his prison term begin?, answer: reported Tuesday to | question: How long is the prison term of T.I., answer: 366-day | question: Who was sentenced for federal weapons charges?, answer: Clifford Harris Jr. | question: What was the reason for the rapper's sentence?, answer: on federal weapons charges.
|
(CNN) -- Raul Gonzalez became the leading scorer in Real Madrid history after scoring twice in the 4-0 Primera Liga victory at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
Raul celebrates in familiar style after breaking Di Stefano's Real Madrid record against Sporting Gijon.
The 31-year-old moved two goals ahead of the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano with his 308th and 309th strikes in the famous white shirt.
Raul is also the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League and has helped the capital club claim six Primera Liga crowns during almost 15 years' service at the Bernabeu.
His first goal, in the 15th minute, came when Sergio Ramos found space down the right before crossing for Raul to volley home.
Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had not scored for Real since his 20 million euro move from Ajax, but finally broke his duck with a neat finish on 37 minutes to double Real's advantage.
Brazilian Marcelo skilfully slotted home the third goal to wrap the game up early in the second half before Raul netted again to complete a comfortable victory.
The win was Real's eighth consecutive Premier Liga success and ensured the defending champions closed the gap to runaway leaders Barcelona to 10 points.
On Saturday, Barca had to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Real Betis with Samuel Eto'o scoring both goals to take his tally to 23 goals for the season.
|
[
"Who broke their scoring record?",
"What is Raul Gonzalez' age?",
"Which team won on Sunday?",
"Who scored two goals?",
"Who is in the lead?",
"Who scored half the points in the Real Madrid win?",
"What does Real's eighth consecutive win do?",
"What is the point gap behind Barcelona?",
"Whose scoring record is broken?"
] |
[
"Gonzalez",
"31-year-old",
"Real Madrid",
"Gonzalez",
"Gonzalez",
"Gonzalez",
"closed the gap to runaway leaders Barcelona to 10 points.",
"10",
"Di Stefano's"
] |
question: Who broke their scoring record?, answer: Gonzalez | question: What is Raul Gonzalez' age?, answer: 31-year-old | question: Which team won on Sunday?, answer: Real Madrid | question: Who scored two goals?, answer: Gonzalez | question: Who is in the lead?, answer: Gonzalez | question: Who scored half the points in the Real Madrid win?, answer: Gonzalez | question: What does Real's eighth consecutive win do?, answer: closed the gap to runaway leaders Barcelona to 10 points. | question: What is the point gap behind Barcelona?, answer: 10 | question: Whose scoring record is broken?, answer: Di Stefano's
|
(CNN) -- Re-elected German Chancellor Angela Merkel is eyeing a new coalition to replace the "grand coalition" her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party shared with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in the previous parliament.
Angela Merkel has pledged to be "a Chancellor for all Germans".
If, as expected, Merkel forms a new coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FPD) it will have wide-reaching implications for Germans.
The FPD are more economically liberal than Merkel's previous partner, the SPD.
According to CNN's Fred Pleitgen, the FPD led by Guido Westerwelle will push for control of some key positions in the new government, including perhaps the finance ministry.
Pleitgen believes that economic policy is likely to change dramatically. "This means a whole lot more pro-business politics for Germany than in the past. You'll probably see tax cuts and it will probably mean smaller government than seen in the past four years," he said.
Speaking at a post-election news conference on Monday, Merkel said that the result is an opportunity to build a smaller government.
"If one looks at the majority relationships, we will be dealing with a smaller partner, the FDP," she said.
"We are happy to use this chance in very difficult economic times to secure jobs, create new ones and drive growth more decisively."
Merkel also pledged to be "a Chancellor for all Germans".
The election was disastrous for her rival, foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the SPD who saw their vote fall 10 percent from 34.2 percent in 2005 to 23 percent. The result is the SPD's worst result since World War II.
The results leave the CDU as the strongest party in the German parliament with 27.3 percent of the popular vote -- slightly down on the 27.8 percent it achieved four years ago.
Despite being the biggest party in the Bundestag, the vote marked one of the CDU's poorest showings in an election. But its traditional coalition with the Christian Social Union -- who won 6.5 percent of the vote -- means that the CDU/CSU bloc won 33.8 percent of the vote.
The biggest winners on election night were the Free Democratic Party (FPD) whose share of the vote rose nearly five percent from 9.8 to 14.6 percent.
|
[
"Who has the worst election night?",
"What is her promises to do for the second term?",
"Who was elected chancellor?",
"Who was Merkel expected to form a coalition with?"
] |
[
"Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the SPD",
"smaller government.",
"Angela Merkel",
"Free Democratic Party (FPD)"
] |
question: Who has the worst election night?, answer: Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the SPD | question: What is her promises to do for the second term?, answer: smaller government. | question: Who was elected chancellor?, answer: Angela Merkel | question: Who was Merkel expected to form a coalition with?, answer: Free Democratic Party (FPD)
|
(CNN) -- Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini believes his squad is now "complete" and ready for the challenge of a new Primera Division campaign.
Manuel Pellegrini is encouraged with the performances of Cristiano Ronaldo and company in pre-season.
The Bernabeu club have invested heavily in their side over the summer, bringing in the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema in a bid to wrest the domestic and Champions League trophies away from rivals Barcelona.
The pre-season signs have been encouraging, and they rounded off their preparations with a 4-0 rout of Norwegian side Rosenborg on Monday.
Pellegrini is hopeful it will all come together again when they kick off their Spanish Liga campaign against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
"The pre-season has been very positive and we've managed to prepare the squad well, allowing every man to play more or less the same time," he told the club's official Web site.
"The team is solid in defence and has potential in attack. We keep possession more on our opponent's half of the pitch, allowing us to showcase our technical differences.
"This squad is complete. It gives us alternatives to try out different things. We still have to polish some aspects of our game, but I'm not worried about that."
Pellegrini has also been impressed by Ronaldo, although he believes the Portugal winger requires more time to settle in following his move from Manchester United.
"Cristiano Ronaldo needs a little time to adapt to his new team's style. Every player on the squad is working hard to be fit and play well," the coach added.
"Cristiano has experienced a change in style and now lives in a different country. He needs a little more time unlike those who already know La Liga."
Ronaldo himself is looking forward to the challenges ahead, with Real desperate to improve on their showing last term.
"The team is doing well. We are working hard and preparing for the start of La Liga," he said.
"I feel comfortable and relaxed. I am working hard and I am waiting for the league to begin. I'm sure things will turn out as we want them to.
"We must take things slowly, get in good shape and think positively at all times."
|
[
"what does Manuel Pellegrini say?",
"what is now complete",
"who is pellegrini",
"who is Manuel Pellegrini?",
"In what ways have the giants invested?",
"what has been encouraging",
"what has Real Madrid's pre-season form been?"
] |
[
"believes his squad is now \"complete\"",
"squad",
"Real",
"Real",
"heavily in their side",
"pre-season signs",
"very positive"
] |
question: what does Manuel Pellegrini say?, answer: believes his squad is now "complete" | question: what is now complete, answer: squad | question: who is pellegrini, answer: Real | question: who is Manuel Pellegrini?, answer: Real | question: In what ways have the giants invested?, answer: heavily in their side | question: what has been encouraging, answer: pre-season signs | question: what has Real Madrid's pre-season form been?, answer: very positive
|
(CNN) -- Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder fully expects to be leaving the Spanish giants next summer.
Metzelder, whose contract is up at the end of the season, has played just one Spanish Primera Liga match all campaign.
And the 29-year-old admits the Bernabeu giants are unlikely to offer him a new deal.
"All us players have hope but you also have to be realistic and I don't think the club will renew my contract," the Germany international told reporters.
"These have been two-and-a-half complicated years for me, but I don't want to talk about that. It is the coach who makes these decisions and as a player I have to accept it.
"I am professional and for that reason I will work until the end of the season and we'll see if I return to playing or not."
Metzelder insists, however, that whatever happens he will not be leaving Madrid in the winter transfer window.
"I don't think it's the right date to change clubs," he added. "Moreover, in Germany the teams will not pay a transfer for a player who five months later will be free. In any case, I am a player who always completes his contracts."
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have denied they have received a mega-offer from Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to buy them out.
Reports in Spain suggested the Sheikh was set to shell out one billion euros for Madrid and was due to meet club president Florentino Perez early in the new year for discussions.
However, Madrid insist the story is completely unfounded.
"Real Madrid wishes to inform that Real Madrid president Mr. Florentino Perez has had a great friendship for many years with his Highness, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan," read a statement on the club's official Web site.
"And that the so-called interest and the existence of any offer to acquire Real Madrid are false.
"His Highness has always shown tremendous respect for the club and understands that Real Madrid belongs to its members."
Sheikh Mansour, who is reportedly a Real Madrid supporter, is president of Abu Dhabi's Al Jazira Club, where he set up a twinning agreement with the Spanish giants in 2005.
|
[
"When will he be leaving?",
"Who is Real madrid's defender?",
"Which team does he expect to leave next summer?",
"Who expects to leave Real Madrid?",
"What number of matches has Metzelder played this season?",
"What does Real Madrid deny?",
"How many matches has the defender played all season?",
"What is the name of the Real Madrid defender?",
"Who will be leaving the Spanish giants?"
] |
[
"summer.",
"Christoph Metzelder",
"Spanish giants",
"Christoph Metzelder",
"one",
"they have received a mega-offer from Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to buy them out.",
"just one",
"Christoph Metzelder",
"Christoph Metzelder"
] |
question: When will he be leaving?, answer: summer. | question: Who is Real madrid's defender?, answer: Christoph Metzelder | question: Which team does he expect to leave next summer?, answer: Spanish giants | question: Who expects to leave Real Madrid?, answer: Christoph Metzelder | question: What number of matches has Metzelder played this season?, answer: one | question: What does Real Madrid deny?, answer: they have received a mega-offer from Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to buy them out. | question: How many matches has the defender played all season?, answer: just one | question: What is the name of the Real Madrid defender?, answer: Christoph Metzelder | question: Who will be leaving the Spanish giants?, answer: Christoph Metzelder
|
(CNN) -- Real Madrid moved six points clear in Spain after winning a fiery derby match against nine-man Atletico on Saturday and then seeing defending champions Barcelona suffer a shock first La Liga defeat this season.
Real marched to a 13th successive victory in all competitions, while Barca lost 1-0 at lowly Getafe -- who had won just once in seven games.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Jose Mourinho's side came from behind to win 4-1 at the Bernabeu, with Atletico having teenage goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent off in the 23rd minute for bringing down Karim Benzema when the French striker tried to go around him.
The 19-year-old was replaced by substitute keeper Sergio Asenjo, whose first job was to pick the ball out of the net after being beaten by Ronaldo.
Angel Di Maria made it 2-1 four minutes after the break when Ronaldo's intended pass to Benzema fell in his path, and fellow Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain pounced on a mistake by Diego Godin in the 65th minute.
Godin was also sent off for an 81st-minute foul on Higuain, who had been put through by Ronaldo's clever pass -- and the Portugal forward sent Asenjo the wrong way from the spot to make it 4-1.
Atletico had not beaten Real for 12 years, but started the match promisingly as Adrian finished off a fine move to give the mid-table visitors the lead in the 15th minute.
Barcelona, seeking to win the league for the fourth season in a row, succumbed to a 67th-minute header from Getafe defender Juan Valera after being caught napping at a corner.
The Catalan side poured forward in search of a last-gasp equalizer, but Lionel Messi had an injury-time effort ruled out when substitute Seydou Keita was judged to be offside and then the Argentina star hit the post as he failed to match Ronaldo's leading tally of 16 league goals.
Pep Guardiola's team will be hoping to reduce Real's lead in the first Clasico clash in the league this season in Madrid on December 10.
Third-placed Valencia bounced back from last weekend's home defeat by Real by winning 2-1 at mid-table Rayo Vallecano.
Brazilian striker Jonas put Valencia ahead in the 21st minute and Argentine midfielder Tino Costa made it 2-0 on 56, while Raul Talmudo scored a late consolation.
The win left Valencia one point behind Barca after 13 rounds.
|
[
"What did Real Madrid extend their lead to?",
"Who is six points up on Barcelona?",
"How many points was Jose Mourinho's team ahead?",
"Who did Madrid defeat?",
"which is the advantage of Real Madrid?",
"What place did Valencia end up finishing in?"
] |
[
"six points",
"Madrid",
"4-1",
"Atletico",
"six points",
"Third-placed"
] |
question: What did Real Madrid extend their lead to?, answer: six points | question: Who is six points up on Barcelona?, answer: Madrid | question: How many points was Jose Mourinho's team ahead?, answer: 4-1 | question: Who did Madrid defeat?, answer: Atletico | question: which is the advantage of Real Madrid?, answer: six points | question: What place did Valencia end up finishing in?, answer: Third-placed
|
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