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February 16, 2007 C HIMES NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS 5
Nuclear Iran threatens world safety
that if Iran were worse. When the first and sec- plying to Iran — probably with (Israel)? When and how does
to arm itself with ond interviews went to press, Germany and Russia — on the Italy, which is so committed
nuclear weapons, the three newspapers — justifi- construction of “The Bomb” to multilateral diplomacy,
there would be ably — created an international within the context of Iran’s en- intend to make itself heard in
no great danger. incident. Since one likes to say ergy sector. This, along with the key multilateral forums
Therefore, he that the only time a politician the growing dependence on (the United Nations and
anticipated that is sincere is when he’s mak- Iranian oil supplies, is becom- European Union) in response
if Iran were to ing a mistake, Chirac’s state- ing the most acute problem of to the repeated threats of
attack Israel with ment has, if nothing else, this century. Iran’s President Ahmadinejad
“The Bomb,” the substantial vir t ue of His words conf irm the — beyond the habitual generic
the sing ular sincerity — despite it being a concerns of the United States appeal for “talks” between the
consequence serious breach of diplomatic eti- and justif y the pressure it parties?
would be Israel’s quette. Like it or not, it’s not only has applied to a recalcitrant How will Italy contribute
destr uction of France but most of European Union, both to — in concrete terms and in co-
Iran’s capital, Europe that gives the enforce U.N. sanctions operation with our European
Tehran. Then, impression that it believes against Iran and to consid- allies and the United States
From the Editors: “Looking In” is a however, Chirac the Iranians are rac- erably reduce its economic — to averting a possible nuclear
weekly column that, through credible foreign realized he had ing to acquire a nuclear and trade relations with Tehran. war between Iran and Israel?
news sources, views the United States and its made a gross weapon. Still worse are the In addition to this, according to What, finally, is the Italina
involvement in world events through different error, and so intentions that underlie this the Americans, Italy is the E.U. government that D’A lema
lenses. The articles printed do not represent the reconvened the goal: to achieve the destruc- country doing the most busi- belongs to going to do, both
view of Chimes. All the content comes with journalists to tion of Israel. ness with Iranian companies domestically and bilaterally,
permission from watchingamerica.com. confess that he How to explain Chirac’s “involved in terrorism and to prevent revenue from its
thought he had indifference? The scenario rearmament.” For this reason, legitimate exports to Iran from
been speaking that he anticipates would sig- Chirac’s comments raise a becoming, even indirectly, part
Corriere della Sera, Italy “unofficially” off nify a change that he believes number of questions for Italian of the “illicit business” — as
the record and understood too is in the historic geopolitical Foreign Minster Massimo Washington charges — that
In an interview with “The late that he was actually speak- and geostrategic interests of D’Alema. would lay serious political
New York Times,” the “Herald ing “officially.” In the end, he France in the Middle East. It is What does he think of a and moral responsibility on its
International Tribune” and the contradicted much of what he also seen as beneficial in terms member of the United Nations doorstep? A clear and definitive
“Nouvel Observateur,” French said previously. of the technological assistance (Iran) that threatens the de- response would be useful and
President Jacques Chirac said Plugging the hole makes it that France itself admits to sup- struction of another member appreciated.
Six-party talks lead to N. Korea nuclear deal
das of its six signers, which also oil, a modest down payment on
Secretary of State Madeleine In the negotiations, envoys
Associated Press include China, South Korea, A lbright, said Americans a promised one million tons in debated who would pay for
Russia and Japan. should applaud the agreement, oil or aid of a similar value North Korea’s disarmament.
A hard-won disarmament “We have a lot of work to but he predicted it would come if it ultimately disarms. One China, the United States, South
pact that the United States do,” U.S. Assistant Secretary under heav y questioning million tons of oil would be Korea and Russia agreed to foot
struck with North Korea on of State Christopher Hill told from both the right and the equivalent to more than two- the bill, though Moscow may
Tuesday requires the commu- reporters. “It’s certainly not the left. thirds of North Korea’s entire contribute in the form of debt
nist nation to halt its nuclear end of the process; it’s really He said, “I think a number oil consumption in 2004, ac- relief. Japan has refused to
programs in exchange for oil just the end of the beginning of people are going to ask the cording to the CIA Factbook. provide aid until Pyongyang
while leaving the ultimate of the process.” question, ‘Couldn’t this deal Hill said the aid package was fully accounts for the abduc-
abandonment of those weap- Nevertheless, the agreement have been concluded three or worth about $250 million at tions of Japanese citizens by
ons projects to a potentially marks a turnabout for North four years ago before North current prices. North Korea.
trouble-filled future. Korea, which rattled the world Korea conducted its nuclear
In a sign of potential prob- only four months ago when test and acquired enough ad-
lems to come, North Korea’s it tested a nuclear device. If ditional plutonium to build
state news agency said the Pyongyang follows through anywhere from six to 10 nuclear
country was receiving one mil- with its promises, they would weapons?’”
lion tons of oil for a “temporary be the first moves the commu- The accord, completed at
suspension” of its nuclear facili- nist state has made to scale back a Chinese government guest-
ties — and failed to mention the its atomic development since it house by negotiators from six
full disarmament for which the kicked out international inspec- countries after tortuous talks,
agreement calls. tors and restarted its sole oper- lays out an ambitious agenda.
It wasn’t clear if the report ating nuclear reactor in 2003. It sets a firm 60-day timetable
represented an attempt by the “These talks represent the for North Korea to seal its main
government to backtrack on the best opportunity to use diplo- nuclear reactor and begin ac-
deal, or was simply a statement macy to address North Korea’s counting for other nuclear Bush continues Iran push
of bluster for a deeply impov- nuclear programs,” President programs.
erished domestic audience that Bush said in a statement. “They Within that time, more talks On Wednesday President Bush continued with his propo-
Pyongyang has rallied around ref lect the common commit- are planned on ending the hos- sition that Iran is directly tied to attacks in Iraq through
the nuclear program as a cause ment of the participants to a tilities between North Korea the highest ranks of the Iranian government. However, the
for national pride. Korean Peninsula that is free and the United States and Japan highest uniformed military officials have denied the tie.
And by tackling so many is- of nuclear weapons.” that have made northeast Asia
sues in a process likely to take Robert J. Einhorn, a former a tense corner of the world. In Libby case nears closure
years, the deal could unravel, State Department official who return, North Korea will re-
pulled apart by differing agen- visited North Korea with then- ceive 50,000 tons of heavy fuel This week Scooter Libby decided not to call himself or
the vice president as witnesses in the CIA leak case. Libby’s
Chimps may have shared human stone age defense also decided to rest their case. When asked about
this turn of events, many analysts thought it would be dam-
aging to his case.
Associated Press
the size of cantaloupes The tools may predate
with pat terns of wear in- farming in the area but not Sports Illustrated picks swimsuit cover
dicating use to crack nuts. necessarily human contact,
Chimpanzees may have The rocks would have been said anthropologist Stanley H.
been using stone “hammers” For only the second time in the magazine’s history, a black
too large for human hands, Ambrose of the University of woman, Beyonce, will become the cover model for this year’s
as long as 4,300 years ago. An but about right for the larger, Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
international research team, swimsuit edition. Beyonce and Naomi Campbell are the
stronger hands of chimpanzees, There were early human hunt- only black women to be given this coveted spot.
led by archaeologist Julio the researchers said. er-gatherers in the region at the
Mercader of the University “It’s not clear whether we time, he said.
of Calgar y, Canada, said Mall shooting leaves questions
hominids invented this kind of If chimps and early humans
Monday it had uncovered stone technology, or whether shared this technology with a
the hammers, dated to that This week a Bosnian refugee, who dropped out of school
both humans and the great common ancestor between five earlier this year, entered a mall with a hand gun and shotgun
time, in the West African coun- apes inherited it from a com- million and seven million years
try Ivory Coast. It would be the and injured six and killed five. Police are still asking ques-
mon forebear,” Mercader said ago, there should be sites with tions as to what may have motivated the man.
earliest known use of tools by in a statement. chimp debris going back five
chimpanzees. But, he added, there weren’t million years and the earliest
The hammers were used to Anna Nicole kicks the bucket
any farmers living in this region human stone tool sites should
crack nuts, a behavior still seen 4,300 years ago, so it is unlikely show the kinds of debris found
in chimps in that area, the re- In what many expect to be declared a drug induced death
chimpanzees picked it up by at the chimp sites, Ambrose former playmate Anna Nicole Smith passed away. A legal
searchers said in a paper in the imitating villagers. said. “They absolutely do
online edition of Proceedings fight has begun for control of her child, who will inherit her
Others aren’t so sure. not.” wealth. Bill O’Reilly said this should be used as an anti-drug
of the National Academy of
Sciences. lesson for young Americans.
The finding may indicate
that a “chimpanzee stone age” Want to be an editor? Chrysler to make job cuts
began in ancient times, the re-
searchers say. The automaker announced this week that it will cut
The earliest reports of stone Get trained now and take over next semester 13,000 jobs or about 16 percent of its workforce in order
tool use by chimpanzees in to become profitable by 2008. Chrysler had losses of $162
this area date to the writings million compared to Ford’s billion dollar loses.
of Portuguese explorers in the Chimes@calvin.edu
1600s. Compiled by Aaron Walizer, National-World News Editor
The stones were about
6 NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS C HIMES February 16, 2007
U.S. reaches record trade deficit
their letter to Bush. Treasury Secretary Henry
Associated Press The Democrats noted Paulson has told Congress that
that more than three million a new high-level dialogue with
The U.S. trade deficit set manufact uring jobs have China holds the best prospects
a record for the fifth straight been lost since Bush took of- for convincing the Chinese to
year in 2006, reflecting a huge fice with about one-third of move more quickly to revalue
jump in America’s foreign oil those losses attributed to the their currency, but critics
bill and a record imbalance rising deficit in manufactured charge that tougher action in- Editor’s Note: Aaron Walizer spent the last seven years of his life
with China. The year ended goods. cluding the threat of economic in the U.S. military; some were spent in the Special Operations com-
with the December deficit in- Growing unhappiness over sanctions will be needed to munity, some being educated at West Point, and others as Airborne
creasing more than had been the trade deficit and lost man- force China to move. Infantry. Aaron also worked as an army contractor for the Joint IED
expected. ufacturing jobs played a role Economists believe that the Task Force. Aaron has former briefed Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld
The Commerce Department in a number of congressional worst may be over in terms of and Congress and has a unique world experience beyond that of the
reported Tuesday that the gap campaigns last fall, helping a deteriorating trade deficit. average college student.
between what America sells Democrats win control of both The 6.5 percent rise in the
abroad and what it imports the House and Senate for the deficit for 2006 followed much Is the Bush administration too disjointed to
rose to a record $763.6 billion first time in 12 years. larger percentage gains of 17.3 be effective?
last year, a 6.5 percent increase The latest trade gap comes percent in 2005 and 23.5 per-
from the previous record of at a critical time for Bush, who cent in 2004. Pro: Con:
$716.7 billion set in 2005. For faces the challenge of convinc- The biggest factor in last The president’s admin- Currently the Bush ad-
December, the deficit rose a ing Congress to extend the au- year’s increase was a surge istration is falling apart at ministration has shown that
bigger-than-expected 5.3 per- thority he needs to strike new in America’s foreign oil bill, the seams, and the tears are it is even more in control and
cent to $61.2 billion. free trade agreements with in- which rose to a record $302.5 now showing more than they focused than it has been in
The Bush administration dividual countries and pursue billion as the average price of ever have. The president in- the recent past. The change
attributed the string of deficits a global trade pact. a barrel of crude oil rose to an sists that there is a high level of power in the legislature
to the United States outpacing The current fast-track trade annual high of $58, reflecting Iran government tie with the has given the administra-
other countries in terms of promotion authority expires on a big jump last summer that insurgents in Iraq. This has tion a wakeup call which
economic growth. Officials July 1 and Democrats say it will pushed oil brief ly above $77 been contradicted by his top has expanded the way in
said that would continue to not be renewed without greater per barrel. military man on numerous which the president handles
pursue a strategy of opening protections for U.S. workers in The $763.6 billion deficit accounts and the two men his job. He is more accept-
foreign markets to U.S. goods the area of labor rights and the for the total year ref lected a have consistently said differ- ing of criticism. He is more
rather than erecting protec- environment. $836.1 billion deficit in goods ent things. This has created open with the press. He is
tionist barriers to keep out The new trade report showed trade and a $72.5 billion sur- a rift in the international centralizing the platform of
imports. that the deficit with China shot plus in trade in services, such communities, which are his administration. He is
“Our focus is on growing up 15.4 percent last year to to- as banking and insurance, already weary of the United taking new approaches to
our exports, growing our econ- tal $232.5 billion, the largest where the United States has States intelligence. The old problems.
omy, reducing our unemploy- imbalance ever recorded with a competitive advantage over lack of a central voice being President Bush has also
ment and keeping inflation in any country. China surpassed other countries. conveyed cuts down on the realized he must change
check,” Commerce Secretary Japan as the countr y with Total exports of goods and legitimacy of the president’s his approach in order to
Carlos Gutierrez said in an the largest trade gap with the services jumped 12.8 percent intelligence claim. maintain his legacy. Bush
interview from New Delhi, United States in 2000 and has last year to an all-time high of The president’s choice for has seen his time in office
India. held the top spot since. $1.44 trillion. Imports, how- United Nations diplomat has running low and has rallied
But House Speaker Nancy China reported this week ever, also set a record, rising also created a similar black the troops. He was able to
Pelosi and other top Democrats that its surplus with the world by 10.4 percent to an all-time eye for the president in the stop debate several times on
sent Bush a letter urging him to increased in January by 67 high of $2.2 trillion. international community. non binding resolutions on
work with Democrats to craft a percent from the same month In addition to China, other W hile the president has his Iraq surge plan. This
new trade strategy to deal with a year ago. countries which set record trade been pleased by the recent stalling has slowed the mo-
the exploding deficits. American manufacturers gaps with the United States last nuclear deals reached with mentum on these measures
“The consequences of these contend China is unfairly year were Japan, an imbalance North Korea, which will and given him time to react
persistent and massive trade manipulating its currency to of $88.4 billion and Mexico, at disarm the country, Bolton to what is essentially a vote
deficits include not only failed keep it undervalued against $64.1 billion. has shown disg ust with of no confidence.
businesses, displaced workers, the dollar by as much as 40 The deficit with Canada, the whole process. Bolton The president has also
lower real wages and rising percent, which makes Chinese America’s largest trading part- insists that it shows the reworked his public image
inequality, but also permanent goods cheaper in the United ner, was $72.8 billion while United States is weak and since the midterm elections.
devastation of our communi- States and U.S. products more the deficit with the European that they will bow to nucle- Under the president’s guid-
ties,” the Democrats said in expensive in China. Union was $138.5 billion. ar threats. How can this be ance, the press secretary,
true though considering the Tony Snow, has toned
Dolphins join terrorism fight structure of the deals? The
United States has not had to
broker any part of the deal
down his responses. Snow
now takes time to explain
things as the president sees
consideration, but the preferred Dolphins also are trained f inancially. The United them despite a bias from the
Associated Press plan would be to send as many to detect underwater mines; States will get nuclear inspec- press. He now speaks nicely,
as 30 California sea lions and they were sent to do this in tors into the country, which in contrast to the harsh
Dozens of dolphins and Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins the Iraqi harbor of Umm Qasr has been a long standing manner he used while the
sea lions trained to detect and from the Nav y’s Marine in 2003. The last time the ani- goal, and the United States legislature was Republican.
apprehend waterborne attack- Mammal Program, based in mals were used operationally in will also see North Korea’s This has helped to raise the
ers could be sent to patrol a San Diego. San Diego was in 1996, when main nuclear reactor shut president’s approval in the
military base in Washington “These animals have the they patrolled the bay dur- down. recent weeks despite the
state, the Navy said Monday. capabilities for what needs ing the Republican National The president has also unpopular Iraq War.
In a notice published in this to be done for this particular Convention. failed to bring his own party The president also reached
week’s Federal Register, the mission,” said Tom LaPuzza, Sea lions can carry in their together. While the presi- out to the Democrats and
Navy said it needs to bolster a spokesman for the Marine mouths special cuffs attached dent may have been able to made himself more acces-
security at Naval Base Kitsap- Mammal Program. to long ropes. If the animal stall recent non binding reso- sible and more personable.
Bangor, on the Puget Sound LaPuzza said that because of f inds a rog ue swimmer, it lutions the outcome will not The president now meets
close to Seattle. their astonishing sonar abilities, can clamp the cuff around the be favorable. The stall has reg ularly with both the
The base is home to subma- dolphins are excellent at patrol- person’s leg. The individual can given Republicans time to be House of Representatives
rines, ships and laboratories ling for swimmers and divers. then be reeled in for question- swayed by strong Democrats leaders and the Senate lead-
and is potentially vulnerable When a Navy dolphin detects ing. to jump ship. Several weeks ers. He is also holding more
to attack by terrorist swim- a person in the water, it drops The Navy is seeking public ago there were only nine de- press conferences now than
mers and scuba divers, the a beacon. This tells a human comment for an environmen- fecting republicans, but that he has in the past. This gives
notice states. interception team where to find tal impact statement on the number could now be more the American people a way
Several options are under the suspicious swimmer. proposal. than double. Republicans to see into his thinking and
campaigning for president, better understand why he is
Mississippi sees insurance changes like Rep. Ron Paul and John
McCain, are also starting to
doing what he is doing. He
has opened the doors of his
secretive administration and
have dropped tens of thousands Mississippi. The company distance themselves from
Associated Press the stances of the president. invited the public.
of policies since the back-to- said the suspension would be- The president has also
back storm seasons of 2004 and gin Friday and continues until This is nothing new but the
number of defectors has pulled in the reigns of his
Mississippi’s largest home- 2005, when eight hurricanes hit the business climate in the state vice president who caused
owner insurer said Wednesday the state. is more palatable. grown.
The president has also lost some problems in the ad-
it has had enough of the “un- And in Louisiana, many As far as its current home- ministration, especially
tenable” legal and political insurers have stopped writ- owner and commercial policies the approval of the American
public. We no longer need with his support for torture
climate and are suspending ing new policies along that in the state, the company said in crisis situations. The
writing new homeowners and state’s coastline, said Amy in a statement that it continues Cronkite to tell us this in
an evening news program, vice president has been
commercial policies in a state Whittington, spokeswoman to assess its position in the given roles that are out of
still struggling to recover from for the Louisiana Department Mississippi marketplace “to we already know it, and the
numbers are worse than they the public’s eye. The vice
Hurricane Katrina. of Insurance. However, determine what further steps, president now oversees the
A spokesman for State Whittington said no company if any, are necessary.” were then. More than 70
percent of Americans want domestic wiretapping pro-
Farm Insurance Cos. said the has made a blanket decision The suspension does not gram which is now subject
decision was due in part to the eliminating all new business impact State Farm’s financial the Iraq War to end. More
than half of the Republicans to the F.I.S.A. courts. This
wave of litigation the company in that state, which — like services, banking products or move by the president shows
has encountered since the Aug. Mississippi — stretches hun- automobile coverage in the surveyed want the war to
come to an end. There is great ability and control of
29, 2005, storm. Mississippi is dreds of miles northward from state. his administration. He has
the latest state along the hur- the Gulf of Mexico. Mike Fernandez, vice presi- already a hole in that region
of the world and it is only been able to satisfy his vice
ricane-vulnerable Gulf Coast State Farm has more than dent of public affairs for State president and also redirect
to at least temporarily lose an 30 percent of the homeowner’s Farm, said Mississippi’s “We’re a matter of time before the
United States gives someone the vice presidents role and
insurer. policies and 8.5 percent of not in a position to accept ad- motivations.
In Florida, several insurers its commercial policies in ditional risk in this market.” a chance to fill it.
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