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Show Space shuttle was allowed to launch despite malfunction Michael Cabbage CAPE CANAVERAL Fla — Everything appearednor mal June5, 2002 tle ert “Moose” Cobb derailed the inquiry and declared the issue an Air Force matter last year accordingto investigators Canaveral had triedto stop the familiar with the case. Sources in Cobb's office said they were forbidden from interviewing Bridges and Pettit or requesting crucial information from theAir Force It was obvious to me that he didn’t want to make the agency (NASA) look bad,” cians couldnot verify that a theoffice. who spoke onthe Endeavour thund from Kennedy Space Center throughhazy afternoon skies Unknownto the public however. the’ Air Force's top two safety officials at Cape countdown. Air Forcetechni: critical backup systemused to destroy errant rockets was working properly In an apparently unprec edented move, the safety of ficers were overruled after a phone conversation between Brig. Gen. DonaldPettit, com- said a formerinvestigator in condition of anonymity. wouldn't do his job.” “He Cobb, a White Housepolitical appointee, is under invesligation by an administration integrity committee after being accusedof repeatedly quashingcasesandretaliating mander of the Air Force's 45th against those whoresisted. Roy Bridges. five current or formerinves. Space Wing. and KSC Director Endeavour launched minutes later inviolation of flight The Sentinel interviewed tigators in NASA’s Inspector : Primary DAILY sidering a run and Huntamen said a Western pet Continued from Al mary may prove beneficial to day. Delegates select presidential nomineesatnational party on Western issues. “They can choose to compete here or they can choose to avoid or neglect us all to- him or other candidates focused conventions States across the country with primarydates late in the feel particularly devalued when to hold a Western primary and en route to the East and West feels that's adequateto garner coasts without stopping to address issues importantto the area, such as energyresources, water rights and federal owner- attention for the region. finally be heard. “You almost have to get Ne- “Where you have a bloc of: the candidates from all parties — Republicans, Democrats, in- vada into that mix and maybe even Colorado to makeit a truly attractive package,” Fowler said. themselves to us. On the other hand, they get to hear what our issues are and (we can) perhaps Wyoming, Montana and Colorado host primaries on the same dayis probably a long shot. Westernstates having a primary at the sametime, youattract But having Nevada, Idaho, dependents — to comeand sell from them,”said state Senate ity because of concerns they wouldface retribution for rally suppoi* for a Western primary may be hampered by a multimillion-dollar price tag Cobb referred an e-mail in some states. — a price that many political observers say Coast (was) placed at UN KNOWN but INCREASED risk.” Despite thosefindings. NASAInspector General Rob- week to Madeline Chulumov: ich, his executiveofficer ‘Our audit office is working ona report on howthis safety matter has beenresolved,” Chulumovich said. “We've never stopped work onthis issue DOUGLAS C.PIZAC/AssociatedPress state’s presidentialprimaryto thefirst Tuesdayin February during a newsconference Tuesdayin the governor's office in Salt Lake City. Watchingat rearis HinckleyInstitute of Politics director Kirk Jowers, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and would be a gamble because Republicanpartystate chairmanJoe Cannon, left to right. Continuedfrom Al There was no word on when Taylorcould be sent back. Liberian officials were not immediately available for comment A one-time-warlord and rebel leader himself, Obasanjo granted Taylor asylum to helpend Liberia's 1989-2003 civil war, which Taylor had started. Obasanjowaslaudedat the timefor brokering peace and helping arrangeLiberia's transitional administration, but sure to hand Taylor to the war crimes tribunal. He said he wouldaccede to any request from a democrati- cally elected Liberianleader. Sirleaf, who's election in No- vemberendedLiberia's post- war administration, had said extraditing Taylor was not a priority for her government Her request for extradition while on an‘official visit to the United States, prompted specu lation that she had changed But a Western primarycould Onerisk is that the Democratic National Committee will likelyallowatleast twostates to hold primaries shortlyafter still be significant, said ChristopherHull, an expert in presidential primaries at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. “You'restill playing a major New Hampshire and lowa, but before the restof the country role in making a decision about anearly date in the West for a Democraticprimary, said DonFowler, former DNC chairman and a memberof the Democrats’ Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling. Las Vegas and Phoenixalso are among11 cities vying to host the 2008 Demo- cratic National Convention. her mind underpressure from Competition for one of those early primaryspots will be fierce because the Democratic primarycontest would be over bythetimeit got to Utah and other states in February, Fowler said. U.S. officials who éould offer substantial aid. he'said. year and the primary's two top supporters won'tbe in office in 2007 because ofterm limits, said NevadaSecretary of State Dean Heller. There'slittle effort to change in Colorado, whereit would cost $5 million to fund a separate presidential primary, said there's no guaranteethe states could influence anelection. Nevada andArizonaare hasrecently come under pres- a Western primary. But the _ Legislatureisn't in session this Utah Gov. Jon HuntsmanJr. signs legislation that moves the leading candidatestolock up Taylor In Nevada,the governor andsecretary of state favor extract some commitments ire detailedin a 2005inter nal brieling on theincident requestfor aninterviewlast solute home run if we could add another twoto three states,” Huntsman said. But somefeel morestates are a necessity. Byjumpingto the front of the primary pack, Utah leaders believe the West's voice would mary bill But Huntsman’s abilityto NASA's Office of the Inspec tor General. The draft. a copy of which was obtainedby the Orlando Sentinel, concluded the “Entire Florida Central “We'vegot a critical mass today with Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.It would be an ab- shipofland eral Air Force Station, for this speaking publicly indeed the rest of the country,” Huntsman said. candidatesfly over the region public Those and other findings written by investigators with messagesent to the region and dential candidates. Voters in the fast-growing Mountain West Majority LeaderPete Knudson. who sponsored Huntsman’spri- story. All requested anonym- gether. If we are positioned early enough it does have in terms of the campaign season have become increasingly frustrated by what theyperceive as their irrelevancein selecting presi- General’s Office, as well as a safety official at Cape Canav- rules designedto protect the Sunday, March 26, 2006 HERALD whoruns forpresident. In 2008, in particular, it will be valuable to be in that position on both the Republican and Democratic side,” Hull said. He said thé West wouldinfluence who wins among candidatesstill remaining. Democratic strategist Mike Stratton, a Colorado man who also served onthe party's presi- mostclosely contestedstates in presidential campaigns. That's been a dramatic change,” he said. “If Utah goes on February 5th,all these candidates have to cometo Utah early in the schedule becauseit will be very, very important to win downthe field. It brings a tremendous amount ofattention to Utah and other Westernstates.” Utah has long been a GOP stronghold — President Bush DanaWilliams, spokeswoman for the Colorado secretary of state, Huntsmanhas said Colorado and Wyoming would be difficult to get on board,but still has hope for Idaho. Like Colorado, cost is a prohibiting factor. “Frankly, there are other priorities for that $1.2 million,” said Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysura. Persuading Montana legislators to spend $2 million to $3 million will also be a challenge won71.5 percentof the vote there, said Montana Gov.Brian here in 2004. Huntsman said Schweitzer. he's already getting interest from possible presidential nominees, including Sen. John Mc- with the Legislature having Utah'ssituation was unique, “Wehave growing popula- the West is diverse enough to tions and in recent years Colo- attract candidates from both morethan $1 billion in budget surplus to spend,a result of increased tax collections fueled byrecord population growth. Cost has been a sticking point in forming a Western primary before, when former Utah Gov. Nevada have beenfour of the Richardson, a Democrat, is con- the 2000 election. dential nomination commission, believesit’s important that both parties payattention to the West Cain, R-Ariz. McCain is scheduled to speak at the Colorado Republican convention May 13. Huntsman,a Republican, said “You'd just be sucking wind,” rado, New Mexico, Arizona and parties. New Mexico Gov.Bill Mike Leavitt attempted it for It’s that time of year again! 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