OCR Text |
Show Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 Page 2 WorldeiNatiOn Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com Clarify Correct A photo in Monday's paper was mislabeled. The photo in the article about Michael Swaner was a picture of Swaner's father and three brothers. Nat'l Briefs New evidence found in NC missing girl case HICKORY, N.C. (AP) — Police are saying they have discovered new evidence in the case of a missing disabled North Carolina girl, but authorities are being tightlipped about what they have found. The Hickory Police Department said Thursday that detailing the evidence may jeopardize their investigation. Ten-year-old Zahra Baker has been missing since Oct. 9. Authorities think she is dead. Police have found her artificial left leg and are also testing a bone to see if it belongs to her. Zahra's stepmother, Elisa Baker, has been charged with obstruction of justice. Police say she admitted writing a bogus ransom note found after a fire was reported in the family's backyard the day Zahra was reported missing. Idaho burglary suspect found at bar LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — Police say it didn't take them long to locate an Idaho man suspected in the robbery of a Cedars Inn. Lewiston police say 40-year-old Donald Mosley Jr. was arrested less than 15 minutes after he walked into the hotel and demanded cash from the desk clerk late Wednesday. Police found Mosley at The Alibi, a bar located next to the hotel. Mosley was booked into the Nez Perce County Jail early Thursday and faces possible felony robbery charges. The Lewiston Tribune reports this is the second time Mosley has been arrested in recent weeks. In late October, police say he called in a fake fire report from a pay phone after he was declined a cup of coffee at a Lewiston fire station. G-20 nations gather at economic summit SEOUL, South Korea (AP) broader compromises. — The world's economies stand on Obama suggested the global the brink of a trade war as leadeconomy will function best when ers of rich and emerging nations countries let the markets set the gather in Seoul. value of their currencies, rather A dispute over whether China than trying to rig them. His mesand the United States are manipusage was aimed mainly at China, lating their currencies is threatenwhose trade surplus with the U.S. ing to resurrect destructive proexceeds that of any other trading tectionist policies like those that partner. Obama wants Chinese worsened the Great Depression. companies to sell more to their The biggest fear is that trade barown consumers, rather than rely riers will send the global economy so much on the U.S. and others to back into recession. buy low-priced Chinese goods. Hopes had been high that the President Hu Jintao assured Group of 20 could be a forum to Obama on Thursday that China forge a lasting global economic has an unswerving commitment recovery. Yet so far, G-20 counto pressing ahead with currency tries haven't agreed on an agenda, reform, said Ma Zhaoxu, spokeslet alone solutions to the problems man for the Chinese delegation. that divide them. But China doesn't want to The delegates have clashed in discuss its trade or currency particular over the value of their conflicts with the U.S. in an interPRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA arrives for the G-20 working dinner at the National Museum currencies. Some countries, like of Korea in Seoul, South Korea,Thursday. AP photo national forum like the G-20, said the United States, want China to Yu Jianhua, director general of But they're finding no common ground da Silva, warned that the world would let the value of its currency, the the Department of International on how to address a global economy go "bankrupt" if rich countries reduced yuan, rise. That would make Chinese Trade and Economic Affairs in the that's long been nourished by huge U.S. their consumption and tried to export exports costlier abroad and make U.S. Commerce Ministry. trade deficits with China, Germany and their way to prosperity. imports cheaper for the Chinese to buy. China and Taiwan this week Japan. A failure to agree on currency and It would shrink the United States' trade announced plans to restrict how much Exports to the United States powtrade in Seoul could intensify countries' foreign money moves into their mardeficit with China, which is on track ered those countries' economies for efforts to rig their currencies to gain an this year to match its 2008 record of kets. At the same time, a U.S. proposal years. But they've also produced enoradvantage. $268 billion. to limit trade surpluses and deficits to 4 "We can put people watching this But other countries are irate over the mous trade gaps for the U.S. because percent of a country's economy has run Americans consume far more in forsummit at ease by reaching a concrete Federal Reserve's plans to pump $600 into resistance. eign goods and services than they sell agreement that takes a step forward," billion into the American economy. "Targets are neither economiabroad. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak They see that move as a reckless and cally appropriate or appropriate from President Barack Obama told fellow said. selfish scheme to flood markets with a financial perspective," German leaders that the U.S. cannot just keep But Lee was unable to announce dollars. Chancellor Angela Merkel said. "What's borrowing lavishly and sending its a long-stalled free-trade deal with For now, the G-20 countries are important is that we don't resort to promoney overseas. Obama. That impasse between two expected to agree on noncontroversial tectionist measures." Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula close allies didn't bode well for any issues, like an anti-corruption initiative. Democrats pressing Pelosi to step aside WASHINGTON (AP) — In a fresh sign of turmoil among defeated Democrats, a growing number of the rank and file say they won't support House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a politically symbolic roll call when the new Congress meets in January. "The reality is that she is politically toxic," said Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley, one of several Democrats who are trying to pressure Pelosi to step aside as her party's leader in the wake of historic election losses to Republicans last week. Travelers disembark `nightmare' cruise SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Carnival cruise official says the unloading of passengers from the company's disabled ship Splendor is going better than expected. Senior Vice President Jim Berra says 2,500 passengers have disembarked since the ship was towed into San Diego Bay Thursday morning. The Splendor was carrying nearly 3,300 passengers and more than 1,100 crew members when an engine room fire disabled it off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday. Berra says the ship may be able to be repaired in San Diego and return to its base in Long Beach by Monday. Carnival has canceled Splendor's next cruise, which was scheduled to depart Sunday. LateNiteHumor Top 10 Things You Don't Want To Hear While Stranded On A Cruise Ship - Wednesday, Nov. 10 10. "You folks up for a 130-mile swim?" 9. "Psst, I've been stockpiling dinner mints in my pants." 8. "The Scurvy Support Group will meet at 11 a.m. on the Promenade Deck." 7. "Our best hope right now? Aquaman." 6. "Nice honeymoon." 5. "Giant squid!" 4. "Shecky and Leonard Makin are fighting over the last piece of garlic bread." 3. "Tips are still appreciated." 2. "The Regis Philbin Lounge Show will go on as planned." 1. "Is that the Coast Guard or Somali pirates?" HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI walks through Statuary Hall, on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday. AP photo Pelosi startled many Democrats with a quick postelection announcement that she would run for minority leader. She has yet to draw an opponent for the post. There's "starting to be a sense that this may not be as much of a done deal as people might have thought," Rep. Jason Altmire said of Pelosi's quest to remain the top Democrat. "If enough people come out and voice a little discomfort with the idea of her continuing on, maybe she would reconsider," said the Pennsylvanian, one of a handful of Democrats who said he won't cast a ceremonial vote for her. The election of a party leader occurs behind closed doors. One member of each party is typically nominated, and each lawmaker is then called by name to stand and declare a choice. Defections from party discipline are rare in such circumstances, but several Democrats said they would not support Pelosi. Despite the criticism, one prominent ally, Rep. George Miller of California, said Wednesday night that Pelosi enjoys the support of the "overwhelming number of members of the caucus" for a new term as party leader. Pelosi's spokesman, Brendan Daly, added that the speaker has strong support throughout the caucus and "is grateful for the confidence that her colleagues have placed in her to become House Democratic leader." Most of the Democrats who say they would not support Pelosi are moderates from conservative districts who have toiled to distinguish themselves from their liberal leader. "You would find an unusual number of people not voting for the nominee of their party" if Pelosi were the choice, said Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah. "There's a growing number of people in the caucus saying, 'Why's she running for minority leader in the first place?' We just got thumped in this election in a major way, and to act like we can just go back and do the same thing over again. It just seems like a very obvious situation when change is called for," Matheson said. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., strongly suggested as much in a statement in which he said he wouldn't back Pelosi "for House Democratic leader or any other leadership position in the Congress." Democrats lost at least 60 seats in last week's elections, with a handful of races yet to be settled. Many of the defeats came in conservative or swing districts. The prospect of substantial Democratic defections from Pelosi on the first day of the new Congress comes amid a heated debate about the party's future. Many liberals assert Democrats must reinvigorate core supporters by refusing to compromise with Republicans on key principles, while centrists argue they must tack to the middle to win over independent voters. Her decision to seek a new term as party leader has also set off a messy struggle between Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, currently the No. 2 Democrat, and Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the current No. 3. Hoyer is widely viewed as the voice of moderate Democrats in leadership, although his list of public supporters includes powerful liberals. Clyburn is the most powerful African-American in Congress. Other Democrats, eager for a smooth transition, note that if Pelosi were to withdraw, it would avoid a face-off between Hoyer and Clyburn. "It's still in play," Matheson said. But, he added, "without an alternative stepping up and saying, `Vote for me instead,' it makes it a little more difficult." AWOL soldier returns on Veterans Day NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — AWOL soldier Jeff Hanks said he walked away from the Army in the middle of a deployment to Afghanistan because his problems with anxiety and stress from combat have been ignored. On Veterans Day, he returned to face the consequences. The 30-year-old Army infantryman said he has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder since his 2008 tour in Iraq. He tried to seek treatment at Fort Campbell, Ky., last month during his mid-tour leave from Afghanistan. He said when his commanders failed to help and told him he would have to immediately go back, he instead went home to North Carolina. The specialist could face less-than-honorable discharge or jail after turning himself in Thursday at Fort Campbell. "All I wanted was to be treated. Going AWOL is not what I wanted to do," Hanks told reporters outside the gates of the Army post. He choked up when he talked about how his actions might affect his daughters, ages 5 and 3. "I am nervous but I'm ready to accept anything." Hanks said in an interview before he left his home in White Lake, N.C., that he chose to return on Veterans Day because he didn't want to exceed 30 days of being AWOL and face the more serious charge of desertion. Hanks' unit command has discretion over what happens now, but Hanks could face a court-martial and jail time if convicted, Fort Campbell spokesman Rick Rzepka said. "AWOL and desertion is a self-centered act," Rzepka said. "It doesn't only affect the soldier, but in a time of war puts other soldiers at risk." Hanks said he understands that his actions could be considered disrespectful to other veterans, but said the military would continue to see high rates of suicide and substance abuse if it ignores soldiers' mental health problems. Hanks is a member of the 101st Airborne Division, which has been deployed numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He said his PTSD dates to his 2008 deployment to Iraq. "I have had a lot of bad dreams, just reliving it all," he said. During his leave from his most recent deployment to Afghanistan, his family urged him to get help, but he told them he wanted to wait until he finished his deployment. As he was saying goodbye to his wife in the airport, a loud noise set off a panic attack and he had to be treated at an emergency room. He returned to Fort Campbell to seek behav- ioral health treatment, but when he was referred for a meeting with a therapist, he said he was told by his commanders that they wanted him medically cleared to return to Afghanistan the next day. He spoke to a therapist for less than two minutes and was instructed to get marriage counseling when he came back. Medical staff base their recommendations for deployment on the soldiers' conditions and their ability to perform duties safely, said Laura Boyd, a spokeswoman for Fort Campbell's Hospital. He said he thought about seeking treatment when he returned from Iraq but was concerned about how his fellow soldiers would react. Hanks deployed to Afghanistan in May. He said he showed signs of a concussion and still suffers headaches after a mortar landed near him in August and he can't forget the sound of wounded soldiers screaming in agony as they waited for a medical evacuation. "I know not getting on a plane to Afghanistan would have its consequences, but I felt like I had to do it because they have pushed me into a corner," he said. "My health and my family is more important to me than anything." |